• Sources close to the situation said the NBA, NHL and MLB are expected to soon begin buyout talks with Diamond Sports Group LLC, which operates 21 regional Bally Sports networks and is said to be possibly headed to a bankruptcy filing as it hemorrhages cash. Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., which owns Diamond Sports, is expected to propose giving Diamond’s equity to creditors and selling the operation — which insiders say may fetch $3 billion — to the trio of professional sports leagues, sources said. (New York Post)
• Qatar does not intend to punish soccer fans caught committing minor offenses such as public drunkenness at the upcoming World Cup, according to people familiar with Qatari briefings to foreign police. Public drunkenness can normally result in a prison sentence of up to six months, but World Cup organizers told diplomats and police from participating soccer countries that they intend to be flexible toward minor infractions. (Reuters)
• The San Francisco Giants will announce today that three-time World Series champion Buster Posey has joined his former team’s ownership group, which includes 30 partners. Posey, whose specific ownership stake was not disclosed but is said to be “almost certainly very small,” will also serve on the Giants’ board of directors. (The New York Times)
• The Colorado Avalanche signed Nathan MacKinnon to an eight-year contract worth $100.8 million, making him the highest-paid NHL player, with a $12.6 million annual salary, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. MacKinnon’s salary surpasses that of the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, who set the prior record after signing an eight-year, $100 deal with the team in 2017. (The Associated Press)

MLB Fans Support Adding a Pitch Clock to Speed Up Games

Morning Consult

MNF doubleheader ratings offer good news and bad

Paulsen, Sports Media Watch

Vikings-Eagles averaged 12.86 million viewers on ABC and Titans-Bills 7.92 million on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes in a split Week 2 Monday Night Football doubleheader, with the two games combining to average 20.6 million in the two hours in which they overlapped.

Fan arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on Sunday

Jake Trotter, ESPN

A fan was arrested for allegedly throwing a water bottle at Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam in the final moments of Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets. Jeffrey Miller, 51, was arrested Sunday on complaints of assault, failure to comply with a lawful order, disorderly conduct, according to the police report. 

Thomas, Revis, Freeney headline 1st time Hall candidates

Josh Dubow, The Associated Press 

Six-time All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thomas, shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis and speedy pass rusher Dwight Freeney headline the list of nine first-year eligible players picked among the 129 nominees for the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

N.F.L. Players Union Quietly Seeks New Leadership

Ken Belson, The New York Times 

The group’s executive director, DeMaurice Smith, was nearly ousted from the role after negotiating a contentious 2020 labor deal. Candidates are lining up to replace him as soon as next year.

NBA fines Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards $40K for anti-gay comments on social media

Jamal Collier, ESPN

Edwards made anti-gay comments while observing a group of people standing on a sidewalk during a video posted to his Instagram story last week. The video has been deleted, and Edwards acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate, the league said in a news release.

With His 60th Home Run, Aaron Judge Continues March on History

James Wagner, The New York Times 

Judge, the Yankees’ superstar outfielder, became the sixth player to reach the milestone and is one short of tying Roger Maris’s American League record of 61.

P.K. Subban, Zdeno Chara announce NHL retirements on same day

Justin Tasch, New York Post 

A pair of Norris Trophy winners announced their retirements from the NHL on Tuesday morning. P.K. Subban revealed on social media he was leaving the league after 13 seasons, right after Zdeno Chara posted on Instagram that he was hanging up his skates after 24 seasons, signing a one-day deal to retire with the Bruins. 

Arizona Coyotes land NHL’s first Native American jersey sponsor, sign multiyear agreement with Gila River Indian Community

Greg Wyshynski, ESPN

The Arizona Coyotes have announced a multiyear sponsorship agreement with the Gila River Indian Community, marking the first time that a Native American tribe will have advertising on an NHL team jersey. Players will wear patches for Gila River Resorts & Casinos on their home jerseys this season, the first time the NHL is allowing teams to have advertisements on their sweaters.

Bedlam Series Between Oklahoma, Oklahoma State To End When Sooners Join SEC

Brett McMurphy, Action Network 

Both of the schools’ athletic directors told Action Network the series will end once Oklahoma leaves the Big 12 for the SEC in 2025. The Bedlam Series began in 1904 — three years before Oklahoma became a state.

ACC relocating headquarters to Charlotte from Greensboro

David Teel, Richmond-Times Dispatch

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips informed Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan of the decision Tuesday morning, moments after the conference’s university presidents and chancellors unanimously approved the relocation during a virtual meeting.

Pac-12 commissioner says he doesn’t expect any more teams leaving for Big Ten, Big 12

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN 

Speaking on “Canzano & Wilner: The Podcast,” Kliavkoff said the Pac-12 remains unified despite rumors of additional Big Ten expansion and the Big 12’s aggressive pursuit of Pac-12 members.

Qatar’s World Cup preparations: Are the 2022 hosts ready for November?

Mark Ogden, ESPN

The 2022 World Cup is just two months away. Twelve years after being awarded the rights to host the tournament, the tiny Gulf state of Qatar has built the stadiums, opened five-lane highways and a $36 billion Metro system, and undertaken a huge construction effort on a grueling timeline to ensure that fans from all over the world can attend the four-week competition. 

Chelsea sack senior executive after claims of sexual harassment over inappropriate messages

Matt Law, The Telegraph

Club terminated contract of commercial director after allegations that included sending sexually explicit video to a football finance agent. 

In land of Maradona and Messi, fans jostle for World Cup stickers

Lucila Sigal, Reuters 

In convenience stores around Argentina, kids – and their parents – are caught up in a new craze: the hunt for soccer World Cup stickers that have driven the already sport-mad country into a frenzy and left many shops with no stock left to sell.

Barcelona forecast 274 mln euros profit this season

Manasi Pathak, Reuters 

Barcelona said it recorded a profit of 98 million euros ($98.27 million) for the 2021-22 financial year and forecast a 274 million euros profit for this season. 

Ares Weighs Joining Bid for French Football Team Lyon

Irene Garcia Perez et al., Bloomberg 

The alternative asset manager is in talks about potentially backing Textor’s bid for the French club’s owner OL Groupe SA, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Textor has been seeking additional capital after US investor Bill Foley indicated he may significantly scale back his funding commitment to the deal, the people said. 

Rights groups ask sponsors to press FIFA, Qatar on migrant worker compensation

Shrivathsa Sridhar, Reuters 

FIFA’s partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer’s governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

Monaco GP to stay on F1 calendar until 2025

Jonathan Noble, Autosport.com 

Formula 1 will continue to race in Monaco until at least 2025, after a new contract was announced on Tuesday.

Roger Federer to discuss his retirement on Wednesday

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press 

In Roger Federer’s case, the farewell news conference will come before the beginning of what he’s said will be the last competitive tennis event of his career. Federer is in London and has been practicing ahead of the Laver Cup, an event founded by his management team that begins Friday with the fifth edition of its Team Europe vs. Team World format.

LIV Golf players urge OWGR chairman to grant ranking points

Frank Pingue, Reuters 

All 48 players who competed at LIV Golf’s event outside Chicago over the weekend sent a joint letter to Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Chairman Peter Dawson urging him to award ranking points to competitors on the Saudi Arabia-backed series.

‘Valorant’ esports is entering a new era. It took some ‘hard’ choices.

Mikhail Klimentov, The Washington Post 

Riot Games’ president of esports talks turning down teams applying for partnership, sports marketing and engaging with the Middle East.

Girls Are Leaving High School Basketball, and Here’s Why

Rachel Bachman, The Wall Street Journal 

More sports options, single-sport athletes and the physical demands of the game have depressed participation even as the women’s college and pro games grow. 

Two veteran sports execs launch firm aiming to invest up to $50M in early-stage companies

Lillian Rizzo, CNBC 

Two longtime sports executives are launching an investment firm they say will back startups capitalizing on the growing opportunities at the intersection of sports, media and entertainment. Velocity Capital Management said Tuesday it will invest up to $50 million in early-stage companies with enterprise values of up to $2 billion.

Despite War and Griner’s Arrest, American Men Hoop in Russia

Jonathan Abrams, The New York Times 

While American female basketball players have largely stayed away from Russia, dozens of American men have sought pay and career development in the country.

Pickleball is exploding, and it’s getting messy

Rick Maese, The Washington Post 

With multiple pro tours and new venues everywhere, pickleball’s growth shows no signs of slowing down.