• The Pac-12 Conference signed a five-year contract making George Kliavkoff, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Resorts International, its next commissioner beginning July 1, a choice that surprised many in the industry given the executive’s lack of experience in college athletics. The conference’s presidents and chancellors reportedly picked Kliavkoff based on his robust media background at MLB Advanced Media and NBCUniversal, his experience running MGM’s massive live events business and his track record managing changes like the ones currently facing college sports. (Sports Business Journal)
• The MLB Players Association filed a grievance accusing the league of not making a good faith effort to play as many games as possible last season amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is seeking $500 million in damages, according to sources, and the league subsequently filed a counter-grievance. The league has reportedly asked the union to fast-track its grievance, given that the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, but even an expedited grievance process would take months to conclude. (New York Post)
• The Walt Disney Co. announced that ESPN has acquired the English- and Spanish-language U.S. media rights for Spain’s top soccer league, La Liga, under a deal that insiders said is worth $1.4 billion over eight years, the most any soccer property has received for its U.S. media rights. The company also revealed a pared-down rights renewal with MLB through 2028 that will see ESPN air fewer weeknight games than under the current agreement. (The Washington Post)
• Days after the expiration of their exclusive 30-day negotiating window, former MLB player Alex Rodriguez and former Walmart Inc. e-commerce chief Marc Lore reached an agreement to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves from owner Glen Taylor for $1.5 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiation. Taylor previously said that the sale, which still needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, is contingent on Rodriguez and Lore keeping the franchise in Minnesota. (The Associated Press)

MLS player salary breakdown: Top earners, highest-spending teams, best and worst values
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Chris Webber out at TNT on eve of NBA playoffs

Andrew Marchand, New York Post

Chris Webber and TNT have agreed to part ways Thursday on the eve of the NBA playoffs, The Post has learned. Webber, 48, had been with TNT since 2008.

NBC’s khaki-wearing data king Steve Kornacki will spread his wings in a new deal

Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times

Under his new multimillion-dollar four-year contract, Kornacki will have a role in NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games and Triple Crown horse racing. He will also break down statistics on NBCU’s regional sports channels, which carry NHL, MLB and NBA games in several major markets.

beIN SPORTS to keep on fighting despite losing LaLiga rights, says exec

Christopher Harris, World Soccer Talk

Executives from beIN SPORTS said the network will continue broadcasting in the United States even though it has lost its flagship property, Spain’s La Liga, to rivals ESPN. beIN has the rights to France’s Ligue 1 through the end of the 2023/24 season, as well as Copa Libertadores/Copa Sudamericana, the Turkish Super Lig, CAF Champions League, African cup competitions, NISA and a host of other sports.

Pete Blackburn Joins Bally Sports

Barrett Sports Media

Barrett Sports Media has learned that Pete Blackburn has joined Bally Sports. He is the regional sports networks’ face of NHL coverage. Blackburn comes from CBS Sports.

NFL responds to Tony Buzbee’s concerns regarding the Deshaun Watson investigation

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

“The allegations are very concerning and the league immediately began investigating the matter under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to PFT. “The investigation includes gathering information, monitoring law enforcement developments and conducting interviews with relevant people willing to participate with counsel present.”

NFL’s hottest-selling tickets for 2021 schedule: Tom Brady’s Bucs, Raiders, Patriots, Cowboys

Daniel Kaplan, The Athletic

Since the schedule became official, the secondary ticket market is sending signals on what fans feel are the must-have games. And there is a new bottom-feeder in terms of the average price of a get-in ticket, the New York Jets.

Miami Heat retire ‘Vice’ uniforms after years of dominating sales

Aaron Dodson, The Undefeated

Miami’s last home game of the regular season Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers marks the end of this storied uniform era. The Heat will suit up in Vice jerseys for what may be the final time as the team prepares to head in a different direction with its uniforms in this year’s playoffs and next season.

Breanna Stewart is first WNBA player in a decade with signature shoe in Puma deal

Victoria Hernandez, Los Angeles Times

Breanna Stewart became the first woman in more than 10 years to have a signature shoe when she announced her partnership with Puma on Wednesday. The Seattle Storm star signed a multiyear deal that includes the creation of her own sneaker.

NBA creates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award

Martenzie Johnson, The Undefeated

The NBA has created a new award in honor of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league’s all-time leading scorer and a noted civil rights activist, that will recognize a player who best embodies his striving for social justice and racial equality, the league announced Thursday. The winner of the inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award will be announced during the playoffs and will receive $100,000 from the league to donate to an organization of his choosing.

LeBron James talks about his new Pepsi deal as he unveils first campaign with Mtn Dew Rise

Jessica Golden, CNBC

Pepsi unveiled its inaugural advertising campaign with James on Thursday. A new ad, shot earlier this year, features James imagining what his life would be like if he coasted instead of “rising above” each and every day.

Gleyber Torres tests positive for COVID-19 as Yankees’ outbreak grows

Dan Martin, New York Post

Gleyber Torres was placed on the COVID-19 injured list after receiving the results of a positive test, the team announced before Thursday’s series finale against the Rays. Torres is the eighth member of the organization to test positive — all of them were fully vaccinated, making them “breakthrough positives.”

NHL missed out on nearly $3.6 billion in revenue in 2020-21 because of limited attendance

Sean Shapiro, The Athletic

Even with new, more lucrative television deals with ESPN and Turner Sports, the NHL continues to be a gate-driven league. And missing out on nearly 21 million fans in the regular season isn’t a fun math exercise for NHL owners or players.

NHL announces Stanley Cup playoffs schedule, North Division last to begin

The Canadian Press

The NHL released its schedule for the opening round of the 2020-21 playoffs on Thursday, with the all-Canadian North Division starting its series a couple of days later than the U.S.-based divisions. Playoff action in the all-Canadian division kicks off next Wednesday when the Edmonton Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets.

Brian Leetch resigns from job as Rangers adviser

Mollie Walker, New York Post

Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, who served as the Rangers’ hockey operations adviser since 2017, resigned from the organization on Thursday, The Post has learned. Leetch’s resignation comes on the heels of CEO Jim Dolan’s dismissals of former president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton, as well as Drury’s decision to relieve David Quinn of his head-coaching duties.

Secret Cup women’s tournament final games to be held in Calgary’s Saddledome

The Canadian Press

The final three games of Canada’s Secret Cup women’s hockey tournament will be played in Calgary’s NHL arena. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA) has partnered with the Calgary Flames for its Dream Gap Tour tournament May 24-30 in Calgary.

New Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff tackles football head on: “We know where our bread is buttered”

Jon Wilner, The San Jose Mercury News

At one point during the media session, Kliavkoff, whose tenure begins July 1, sketched out a plan to improve Pac-12 football and voiced his support for an expansion of the College Football Playoff. “The solution for elevating Pac-12 football is a combination of addressing structural changes and a more focused approach to recruiting,” he said.

Barstool Sports offers a place to play for women’s teams who missed out at NCAA Baton Rouge Regional

Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek

Barstool’s Sam Riggs Bozoian, shocked by the NCAA’s controversial cancellation of the Baton Rouge regional without a single shot being played, wanted to give the 12 teams that didn’t advance a chance to compete. Bozoian plans to host a pre-championship of sorts May 20-21 in Arizona.

Ohio State investigation: Massage therapist targeted football players for sex

Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

A 41-year-old woman solicited Ohio State football players and engaged in sex with some of them after offering massages, the university revealed in a report issued Thursday afternoon. The investigation arose from a complaint filed on March 14, 2020, with the Medical Board of Ohio alleging that the woman had offered free therapeutic massages to football players as a way of initiating sexual interactions and then demanding payment.

Stanford Faces Two Lawsuits for Decision to Cut Sports

Billy Witz, The New York Times

One suit, filed by eight athletes, is claiming fraud and breach of contract, arguing that Stanford did not disclose to recruits that it was formulating plans to drop the sports, which, the suit said, had been in the works for years. The other suit is asking for an injunction on behalf of five women, arguing that dropping their sports would violate Title IX laws.

‘A Competitive Advantage’: In College Football, the Push for Vaccination Is On

Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated

Some schools, such as Ohio State, Notre Dame and Navy, have at least 90% of their football team vaccinated. Others, like Clemson, Charlotte and Ole Miss, are below the 20% mark. And then there are those like Tennessee, Oregon State and Troy, hovering around 50–60%.

NCAA Corporate Sponsorships Are for 90 Championships. They Revolve Around One.

Rachel Bachman, The Wall Street Journal

CBS and Turner don’t sell individual sponsorships to specific sports. They sell broad NCAA sponsorships, typically to companies that are interested in men’s basketball. That setup makes it challenging for sports like women’s basketball and gymnastics to build support from sponsors, often one of the largest sources of revenue for sporting events.

2021 Gold Cup schedule unveiled, featuring new format

The Athletic

The schedule for the 2021 Gold Cup released Thursday features some twists, including a revamped knockout stage, simultaneous group games and group placements for the play-in winners. The 16th edition of the Gold Cup begins on July 2, with a preliminary round featuring 12 countries vying for the final three spots in the 16-team group stage.

Crypto.com Coppa Italia sponsorship provides “pilot project” for Lega Serie A’s NFT push

Matthew Williams, SportBusiness

Lega Serie A sees its NFT-focused Coppa Italia deal with Crypto.com as a trial run for a bigger deal under which the tokens could open a new revenue stream for Italian clubs. After initial discussions in late March, an agreement between the cryptocurrency exchange and the Italian league operator was announced earlier this month ahead of the final of Italy’s flagship domestic cup on May 19.

Gossage to step down as TMS president

Kelly Crandall, RACER

Eddie Gossage will step down as the president of Texas Motor Speedway after the NASCAR All-Star Race at the track next month. Bruton Smith named Gossage the general manager of Texas Motor Speedway in 1995, and added president to his resume in 2004.

Annika Sorenstam to compete in first U.S. Women’s Senior Open in USGA return

Mechelle Voepel, ESPN

It has been 13 years since three-time U.S. Women’s Open winner Annika Sorenstam played a United States Golf Association event. But that will change this summer, as she is scheduled to compete in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open Championship July 29 through Aug. 1 at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Connecticut.

HyperX strikes 2021 NHL Gaming World Championship partnership

Ivan Šimić, Esports Insider

Gaming peripherals company HyperX and the National Hockey League (NHL) have announced a one-year esports-focused strategic partnership. The agreement will see HyperX become the official gaming headset supplier of the 2021 NHL Gaming World Championship.

FaZe Clan announces Kai Henry as Chief Strategy Officer

Tom Daniels, Esports Insider

North American esports and lifestyle organisation FaZe Clan has announced the hiring of Kai Henry as its Chief Strategy Officer. As part of his new role, Henry will oversee all of FaZe Clan’s creative strategy, which includes being tasked with ‘expanding and steering’ the organisation’s creative hub.

USOPC to Congress: Beijing Olympic boycott not the solution

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press

A boycott of next year’s Beijing Olympics will not solve any geopolitical issues with China and will only serve to place athletes training for the games under a “cloud of uncertainty,” the head of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee wrote to Congress on Thursday. CEO Sarah Hirshland sent the two-page letter that put a more official imprint on the long-held USOPC stance that Olympic boycotts harm athletes and do little to impact problems in host countries.

Japan to expand virus emergency ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press

Japan is set to further expand a coronavirus state of emergency, currently in Tokyo and five other prefectures, to nine areas as the government is determined to hold the Olympics in just over two months. Japan has been struggling to slow the infections ahead of the Games.

Nine West partner offers to buy Reebok for over $1B

Josh Kosman, New York Post

Offers to buy Reebok started rolling in this week with the licensing company behind Nine West and Frye offering around $1 billion for the money-losing sneaker label, The Post has learned. Jamie Salter’s Authentic Brands Group teamed up with Wolverine World Wide, the footwear maker behind Merrell shoes and Hush Puppies, to offer slightly more than $1 billion for the brand, a source said.

Under Armour ready to start doing sponsorship, endorsement deals again

Holden Wilen, Baltimore Business Journal

After parting ways with the likes of Misty Copeland and UCLA, sportswear maker Under Armour Inc. is ready to start adding to its roster of athletes, universities and teams again. Following a series of restructurings over the past four years and the impact of a global pandemic that forced the company to cut back, CEO Patrik Frisk said Baltimore-based Under Armour is once again in a position to do some deals.