• The MLB Ownership Committee approved hedge fund manager Steve Cohen’s bid to purchase the New York Mets after reviewing a vetting of Cohen and details of the proposed transaction, according to people familiar with the matter. Cohen, who would own a 95 percent stake in the team once the deal closes, still needs to undergo a review by the commissioner’s eight-member Executive Council before the sale is put to a final vote among the full slate of owners, but his clearance of the Ownership Committee review reportedly all but assures he will be the team’s new owner. (Sportico)

• MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league’s 30 teams combined for $3 billion in operating losses this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the league to reduce its regular-season schedule to 60 games, none of which were played with fans in attendance. Manfred also said he hopes to permanently allow more than 10 teams to qualify for the postseason beyond, but he does not expect the league to adopt the 16-team format employed for the shortened season and stressed a desire to “preserve the importance of our regular season.” (The Associated Press)

• Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s regional sports network business and its creditors are preparing for a possible restructuring of approximately $8 billion in debt, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign of pressures on the sports industry, and specifically RSNs, amid the pandemic. Bondholders of Diamond Sports Group LLC, the Sinclair subsidiary that owns and/or operates 23 RSNs, have hired legal and financial advisers as the company grapples with the lack of local live sports programming due to the pandemic and the loss of distribution deals with pay-TV providers, including Dish Network Corp. (The Wall Street Journal)

Craig Carton’s WFAN return is imminent: Evan Roberts favorite to partner with him
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

Craig Carton is expected to sign a contract shortly that will bring him back to WFAN in afternoon drive time, The Post has learned. At the moment, Evan Roberts is the leading candidate to be Carton’s partner, according to sources. He is the only internal candidate FAN is considering.

Now That’s More Like It: Bama-Georgia Game Delivers Familiar Ratings Highs
Anthony Crupi, Sportico

If it didn’t quite live up to the pre-game hype, Saturday night’s showdown between the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs served as a reminder that the SEC still moves the ratings needle. According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, Alabama’s 41-24 victory over Georgia averaged 9.61 million viewers and a 5.3 household rating on CBS, making it the most-watched, top-rated college football game of the 2020 season.

NLCS Game 7 hits post-hiatus high, LCS still down 30 percent
Sports Media Watch

The Major League Baseball League Championship Series averaged approximately 3.58 million viewers across FOX, FS1 and TBS, down 30% from last year (5.13M) despite both series going seven games for the first time since 2004. This year marks the least-watched LCS on record.

Big Noon ratings thus far suggest the 9 a.m. kickoff could double Pac-12 audience for night games on FS1
Jon Wilner, The San Jose Mercury News

The Kansas State-Arkansas State early-season broadcast on Big Noon produced a 1.1 rating and 1.8 million homes. Those numbers are double what the Pac-12 typically gets for a late start on FS1 and on the high side of the ratings for a night broadcast on ESPN.

Saints and Mayor LaToya Cantrell compromise on 3,000 fans at Panthers game
Amie Just, The New Orleans Advocate

The New Orleans Saints and Mayor LaToya Cantrell have reached a compromise to let 3,000 fans attend this weekend’s game against the Carolina Panthers and potentially more for subsequent home games, the team announced Tuesday. Three thousand tickets for season ticket holders will be available for Sunday’s game, serving as the beginning of a phased-in approach for fan attendance at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Washington Football Team’s placeholder name could remain into next season, new president says
Nicki Jhabvala and Les Carpenter, The Washington Post

The Washington Football Team could begin the 2021 season still with its temporary name, team president Jason Wright said in a recent television interview. Over the past three months, the team has removed old signage from its facilities, undergone a uniform makeover and raised a new flag with its temporary logo and name outside its training center in Ashburn, Va.

Indiana Pacers hire Toronto Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren as head coach
Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a multiyear deal to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren as their head coach, sources told ESPN. Bjorkgren, a disciple of reigning NBA Coach of the Year Nick Nurse, sold the Pacers on his history of innovation, adaptability and winning in his time as an NBA assistant and G League head coach, according to sources.

Clippers officially reach coaching agreement with Tyronn Lue
Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times

As Tyronn Lue continues to reach out to potential candidates to join his staff, the Clippers finalized their new coach’s five-year contract and officially announced his hiring Tuesday. Lue, who coached Cleveland to the 2016 NBA championship after a midseason promotion and most recently served as an assistant coach last season under Doc Rivers, also interviewed for openings in Houston and New Orleans.

Pandemic World Series draws smallest crowd in over century
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

A crowd of 11,388 attended the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday night’s World Series opener, spread in groups of up to four, mostly in alternate rows and none directly behind each other among the forest green seats. They wore masks, but many fans ignored the requirement for facial coverings except while eating or drinking at their ticketed seats.

Rawlings Sporting Goods To Purchase Easton Diamond In Bat, Ball And Glove Tie-Up
Barry M. Blom and Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico

Rawlings Sporting Goods Inc. has come to terms on an agreement to purchase competitor Easton Diamond Sports LLC, the companies announced Tuesday. Rawling is owned by Major League Baseball and Seidler Equity Partners, whose chief owner is Peter Seidler, the managing partner of the San Diego Padres.

Alexandria condiment startup snags a major ballpark deal — and sets the table for 2021
Sara Gilgore, Washington Business Journal

Alexandria condiment startup True Made Foods just knocked a new revenue deal out of the park — and over the Green Monster. The 5-year-old bottled sauce maker locked in a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox as the exclusive condiment provider to Fenway Park starting in 2021, said founder and CEO Abe Kamarck in an interview.

Blackhawks publish letter to fans confirming team is rebuilding
Josh Beneteau, Sportsnet

“We’re committed to developing young players and rebuilding our roster,” read the letter, published Tuesday. “We want more than another window to win; we want to reach the summit again, and stay there — an effort that will require a stockpile of emerging talent to complement our top players. The influx of youth and their progression will provide roster flexibility and depth throughout our lineup.”

University of Michigan stay-in-place order won’t impact Wolverines athletics
Tom VanHaaren, ESPN

The Washtenaw County Health Department issued a stay-in-place order Tuesday for University of Michigan undergraduate students beginning immediately because of a rise in COVID-19 cases, but the order will not impact athletic activity at this time.

Warde Manuel: Playing football could reduce Michigan athletics deficit by $20M
Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News

Michigan AD Warde Manuel said the Big Ten’s decision to reinstate the football season and play eight games with a plus-one divisional crossover matchup will help cushion the blow of revenue losses triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Based on our estimates, if we do have the ability to play the games this year and get through everything, our deficit would go from $100 million to about $80 million,” said Manuel.

CSU football opener against New Mexico canceled due to COVID-19 issues
Kevin Lytle, Fort Collins Coloradoan

The eight-game football season is now down to seven. The Mountain West has called off the Colorado State football team’s season-opener due to coronavirus concerns in New Mexico. The Rams were scheduled to host New Mexico at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Labor Dept: Women basketball coaches at UConn were underpaid
Pat Eaton-Robb, The Associated Press

The University of Connecticut has agreed to pay a total of just under $250,000 to seven women, including four members of Geno Auriemma’s 2014 women’s basketball coaching staff, after the U.S. Labor Department found they had been underpaid when compared with men in similar positions. The Labor Department said it found that significant pay disparities remained “even when legitimate factors affecting pay were taken into account.”

University of Iowa athletics spends $230K on hotel stays for coronavirus-positive student-athletes
Erin Jordan, The Cedar Rapids Gazette

The University of Iowa Athletic Department has spent more than $230,000 since June putting about 180 COVID-19-positive student-athletes up in hotel rooms and paying for their food. The total includes $192,713 on 1,665 nights in an undisclosed Iowa City area hotel between June 1 and Sept. 30.

Gregg Marshall’s abusive behavior predated Wichita State, former Winthrop players say
CJ Moore and Dana O’Neil, The Athletic

As Wichita State conducts an internal investigation of its head basketball coach because of allegations of verbal and physical abuse, seven players from Marshall’s time coaching at Winthrop (from 1998 to 2007) painted a picture of Marshall — menacing, belligerent, prone to sudden outbursts — similar to the one former Wichita State players have detailed.

Ex-Lady Raiders hoops coach sues Texas Tech for discrimination
Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Former Texas Tech women’s basketball head coach Marlene Stollings filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday saying her termination in August was a result of discrimination. The lawsuit, which does not seek a specified amount for damages, alleges counts of breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, defamation and sex discrimination in violation of the right to equal protection under the United States Constitution and in violation of Title IX.

Opendorse Launching New Products Ahead Of NCAA’s NIL Vote
Michael Smith, Sports Business Daily

Opendorse, the tech company that connects brands with athletes, will launch two new products in late ’20 focused on the developing name, image and likeness marketplace in college athletics. With the NCAA preparing to vote on NIL rights in January, Opendorse said it is forming Opendorse Deals and Opendorse Monitor to better organize its offerings for the college space, while also enhancing oversight and security in a new marketplace of 460,000 college athletes who are expected to have NIL rights next year.

UEFA Prize Money To Be Cut For Next Five Seasons
Martyn Ziegler, The Times (UK)

Prize money in European club competitions will be cut for the next five years due to the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Uefa has told its 55 member associations that £514 million has been lost from its club competitions, the Champions League and the Europa League, last season due a reduction in TV and sponsorship income caused by delays forced by the virus.

Phoenix Rising FC relinquishes hosting rights for 2020 USL Championship Final after earning home-field in part due to forfeit
Tim Sullivan, Louisville Courier Journal

Having tied Louisville City FC in total points and victories thanks to a forfeit by San Diego Loyal, Phoenix Rising had earned hosting priority based on a third tiebreaker: goal differential. But because that forfeit was the result of San Diego’s protest of an alleged homophobic slur by Phoenix forward Junior Flemmings, Rising management recognized what might have been a glaring optics issue.

Grand Prix returns to St. Petersburg as COVID-19 positivity rate rises
Josh Solomon, Tampa Bay Times

Mayor Rick Kriseman on Tuesday addressed the challenges facing the city this week as it hosts an international sporting event that will be attended by thousands of fans while the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 rises in Pinellas County. Up to 20,000 fans will be allowed to attend this weekend’s race — but that doesn’t include the people who could be drawn downtown by the race.

Tiger Woods keeps open possibility of adding Houston event ahead of Masters
Rex Hoggard, Golf Channel

Tiger Woods’ schedule heading into a major, particularly the Masters, has always been a familiar and successful blueprint, but that all changed in 2020. The relocation, or in the case of The Open Championship, cancellation, of majors has forced players to rethink their schedules and scramble for ways to peak at the most important events.

Gaming Organization 100 Thieves Signs With CAA
Natalie Jarvey, The Hollywood Reporter

The agency will work with 100 Thieves, known for its professional League of  Legends and Valorant teams, to expand its content business into new areas and will work with the company across representation areas, including digital content, talent, film, television and podcasts. CAA also recently signed superstar streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins for representation in all areas.

LCS players’ association not re-electing executive director Hal Biagas
Jacob Wolf, ESPN

The North American League of Legends Championship Series Players Association has decided not to re-elect lawyer and former agent Hal Biagas as their executive director after a three-year stint that saw him become the first to hold that role. A replacement for Biagas has not been decided by the players, as they will run an election for their player-led executive committee this offseason before electing a new executive director.

Esports network VENN raises $26 million Series A round
Sara Fischer, Axios

The Video Game Entertainment and News Network (VENN) will announce Tuesday a $26 million Series A investment round co-led by BITKRAFT Ventures, an eSports and gaming venture capital firm, as well as Nexstar Media Group, executives told Axios. The network started out in streaming, but will now be moving some of its shows to linear television through its strategic partnership with Nexstar.

Complexity Gaming expands Miller Lite partnership into streaming
Andrew Hayward, Esports Insider

Complexity Gaming and Miller Lite have announced an expansion of their previous partnership, with the focus shifting from live, in-person activations to streaming and content creation. Complexity streamers and players who are of legal age to drink alcohol will host themed streams in partnership with Miller Lite, complete with refreshed branding.

No End In Sight For Make-Goods
Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal

For sponsors and their agencies, it’s been make-good season since the pandemic began — and it will be for some time to come. “Since March, we’ve been either negotiating or renegotiating,’’ said Momentum Worldwide Chair & CEO Chris Weil, whose client roster includes heavy sports spenders like American Express, Verizon and Subway.

Trump Collides with the World of Baseball
Alex Kotlowitz, The New Yorker

Todd Ricketts is a member of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs; he and two siblings make up the board. He also happens to be the finance chair of the Trump Victory Committee, a joint effort of the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign, which makes him the chief fund-raiser for Donald Trump’s reëlection.

What MLB’s Top Strategy Officer Learned About Fan Engagement During a Fan-less Season
Jameson Fleming, Adweek

Chris Marinak, MLB’s chief strategy and operations officer shared with Adweek what the league learned from this unorthodox season, including that it had to nail the fundamentals—recreating the in-stadium experience and building a virtual community for fans.

A Conversation About Race and Diversity in Esports and Gaming
ESPN

ESPN Esports reached out to Ezra “Samsora” Morris (Super Smash Bros. pro), Erin Ashley Simon (host and journalist, VENN), Amanda Stevens (journalist and diversity and inclusion consultant) and Malik Forte (producer and host, formerly Overwatch League) to learn more about the issues that affect Black people in the gaming industry, including the challenges Black players, content creators, hosts and casters face and what teams, organizations and streaming platforms can do to foster a more diverse community.