Top Stories

  • NFL owners are expected to address a proposal from the league’s diversity committee during a virtual meeting tomorrow that would improve third-round draft picks for teams that hire minority candidates as head coaches or general managers, according to sources. The proposal, which is said to have the support of Commissioner Roger Goodell, is reportedly among a series of diversity-related initiatives set to be discussed and would require approval from 24 of 32 clubs. (ESPN)
  • NASCAR resumed its Cup Series without fans in attendance at Darlington Raceway,  becoming the first major motorsports competition to return to action amid the coronavirus pandemic and marking the start of a 20-event stretch for the sanctioning body’s three series across seven Southern states through June 21. NASCAR declined to test participants and personnel for COVID-19 ahead of The Real Heroes 400, which Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick won, but implemented a range of new health protocols, including having Fox broadcasters call the race remotely, limiting the number of personnel on site for each car, requiring the use of face masks, contact tracing and social distancing. (The Associated Press)
  • Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson bested Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in the  TaylorMade Driving Relief exhibition skins match without fans in attendance at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., marking the return of live professional golf to television amid the pandemic. The match, during which players wore microphones and carried their own bags to avoid close contact with caddies, went on for more than four hours, primarily because NBC’s skeleton camera crew required additional time to get in position on each hole. (The Associated Press)

Chart Review

Events Calendar (All Times Local)

05/18/2020
Leaders Week Direct Begins – Virtual
05/20/2020
LEAD1 – How COVID-19 Will Change College Sports? – Virtual
View full calendar

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Media

Trump Looks Forward to the Return of Sports With Crowds
Bill Pennington, The New York Times

In a telephone appearance during a televised charity golf exhibition on Sunday, President Trump enthusiastically supported the return of live sports events during the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, at roughly the halfway point of a skins game match involving four of the PGA Tour’s top golfers — Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff — Trump praised NBC for carrying the event, then called for a more robust resumption of activities in all sports.

Coke Ends 7-Week TV Ad Hiatus For Nascar’s Return
E.J. Schultz, Ad Age

Coke came back to TV, ending a seven-week absence that began in the early days of the pandemic. The soda brand ran an ad on Sunday during Fox’s coverage of Nascar, which returned to the track after a two-month coronavirus-induced break. 

Houston Astros Cheating Scandal Docuseries From LeBron James’ Uninterrupted Coming to Quibi
Will Thorne, Variety

Quibi and LeBron James’ Uninterrupted sports media company are teaming up for a new docuseries about a cheating scandal that has gone down in baseball infamy. The short-form content platform has ordered “Sign Language” (working title), a series which aims to give viewers an inside look at the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal and its unprecedented fallout.

State Farm Wraps Up Its MVP Performance in The Last Dance Doc With New Ad
Doug Zanger, Adweek

The brand bookended the feat with another co-branded spot in the last two episodes featuring sportscaster Linda Cohn and sports commentator Keith Olbermann, where a few more predictions are made.

Sinclair Broadcast Group to Pay Sports Broadcast Technicians $3 Million
Dave McNary, Variety

Sinclair Broadcast Group will pay more than 1,000 of its eligible freelance sports broadcast technicians $2,500 each in the second phase of its assistance program, Variety has learned exclusively. A company spokesman said Friday that the payment — a response to the COVID-19 pandemic — will total more than $3 million.

NFL

NFL owners to vote on whether to allow Rams to borrow $500 million more for SoFi Stadium
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times

NFL owners will vote Tuesday on whether to allow the Rams the ability to borrow $500 million more than previously approved for the construction of SoFi Stadium. The request, first reported by the Athletic and later confirmed by The Times, comes two years after owners passed a record debt waiver of $2.25 billion for the $5-billion venue, scheduled to open this season as the new home of the Rams and Chargers.

NFL teams can reopen facilities if protocols met, local regulations allow
ESPN

In the memo sent to the 32 NFL teams, commissioner Roger Goodell wrote that clubs could begin using their facilities starting Tuesday, provided they meet a preestablished set of protocols and have permission under state and local regulations. Teams that are not ready or permitted to open by then can do so as soon as they meet the necessary criteria.

LA Chargers leverage huge reach with “Bolt Up Your Small Business” initiative
Bob Williams, SportBusiness

The National Football League team is offering one small business in California a free, three-month digital and promotional partnership over the summer, from June 1-August 30, in a sweepstakes competition. The winning company will receive banner adverts across the Chargers’ official website; two pieces of video content (30 seconds and 60 seconds) distributed through Chargers’ social-media platforms, the Chargers website and YouTube channel, and a co-branded lead generation sweepstakes promoted by the team.

NBA

Clippers will reopen their team practice facility Monday
Andrew Grief, Los Angeles Times

Starting Monday, the Clippers are reopening their Playa Vista practice facility for the first time in two months to allow players to conduct limited and voluntary workouts, as well as rehabilitation and physical wellness activities, a person not authorized to publicly discuss the plan told the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers reopened their facility in El Segundo on Saturday.

Why NBA stars and billionaire owners are letting Adam Silver lead the league’s revival
Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

Because the league office was warning and preparing owners and teams weeks before The White House, Silver earned an extra level of credibility on these issues of the virus. Owners also understand that Silver is the best messenger to reach players on the financial strain approaching the NBA.

MLB

MLB proposes medical and safety protocols to players in 67-page document
Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, The Athletic

The procedures outlined in the document are subject to union approval and thus could change. The operations manual for the abbreviated 2020 season, a copy of which was obtained by The Athletic, covers medical and testing protocols for COVID-19, spring training, facility protocols, on-field operations, league operations and transactions, travel, and player and staff education.

With no fans, revenue sharing among rich and poor teams will be unlikely in 2020
Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, The Athletic

For 2020, Major League Baseball is likely to halt revenue sharing among the clubs. That decision is not final, a league official said, but it is the expectation of owners and other top executives in the sport.

2020 MLB draft to be held remotely on June 10-11
Jeff Passan, ESPN

Major League Baseball plans to hold the 2020 MLB Draft remotely, according to a memo obtained by ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday. As of now, teams are not allowed to have draft rooms and will do all drafting via video conference.

How Cubs executives are planning for a potential reopening at Wrigley Field
Patrick Mooney, The Athletic

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts and a group of Cubs executives joined broadcaster Len Kasper and season-ticket holders for Thursday’s conference. “The fact is that for the Cubs about 70 percent of the revenue that comes into our organization comes in on day of game. It comes in through selling tickets. It comes in through selling concessions. It comes in through the ballpark experience.”

NHL

NHL making progress on 24-team format, sources say
Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic

The NHL-NHLPA Return to Play committee talked throughout the weekend, sources said Sunday, with more talks expected over the next day or two. While there remains work to be done, and nobody involved is ready to say 100 percent where this is headed, sources confirm progress was made this weekend on a 24-team format for return to play.

College Sports

Sources: BC’s Martin Jarmond finalizing deal to become UCLA athletic director
Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports

Boston College athletic director Martin Jarmond is finalizing a six-year deal to become the new athletic director at UCLA, according to multiple sources. BC made a strong push to keep Jarmond the past 48 hours after UCLA’s interest became clear the last few days.

Football still a possibility at big 3 Cal State schools
Bernie Wilson, The Associated Press

The California State University system’s plan for a mostly virtual fall semester due to the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t necessarily close the door on football at its three schools that play in the far-flung Mountain West Conference. San Diego State is looking at having football players return to campus no earlier than July 7 and is making plans to play the season as scheduled, athletic director John David Wicker said.

Sources: NCAA D-I Council Voting to Lift Moratorium on On-Campus Activities Starting June 1
Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated

Officials can cross a major hurdle Wednesday in football’s return. The NCAA Division I Council, a 40-member decision-making body made up of key college athletics figures, could lift a nation-wide moratorium on on-campus summer activities, multiple sources told Sports Illustrated, creating a pathway for schools to welcome back their athletes as soon as June 1.

A gut punch: Akron’s men’s golf team eliminated by budget cuts
Brentley Romine, Golf Channel

According to the university, Akron plans to cut $65 million from its yearly budget to accommodate the heavy economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, with athletics looking at a 23-percent budget reduction. That equates to about $4.4 million.

Without Fans, Some College Football Games Won’t Make Financial Sense
Billy Witz, The New York Times

Now, as it increasingly appears that the college football season will be played with restrictions — if it is played at all — college administrators and event promoters are busy wondering how games like Alabama-U.S.C. pencil out if crowds are prohibited or limited. There are close to 30 games that are scheduled for the regular season for neutral sites, in neither team’s home stadium.

Bye buy games? G5 could lose millions in Power 5 payouts
Ralph D. Russo, The Asssociated Press

Guarantee games, or buy games, are essential to many athletic departments that field Division I football teams but have far smaller budgets than those at Power Five schools. If coronavirus disruptions cause Power Five teams to play more or only conference games, it could leave huge holes in the athletic budgets of schools already stretched thin.

‘Bridgegate’ scandal to be examined in corruption trial involving Adidas
Mark Schlabach, ESPN

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ordered defense attorneys and federal prosecutors in the first college basketball corruption trial involving Adidas to submit briefs addressing the impact, if any, of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the “Bridgegate” scandal in New Jersey.

Soccer

Calls for Bundesliga to ‘tighten up’ hygiene after hugs, kisses
AFP

A senior German politician expects the Bundesliga to “tighten up” instructions on how to celebrate goals after some players hugged – breaching strict hygiene protocol – when the league resumed this weekend. The German season restarted on Saturday after a two-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic with clubs having agreed to draconian hygiene guidelines in a plan approved by the German government.

Champions League, Europa League to be finished by August, says president Aleksander Ceferin
Jefferson Lake, Sky Sports

UEFA is planning to complete the Champions League and Europa League seasons by August, says president Aleksander Ceferin. The majority of European league seasons were suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic but several leagues have announced plans for a restart in the coming weeks.

CVC and Italy’s Serie A in exclusive talks over €2.2bn deal
Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli et al., Financial Times

Buyout group CVC Capital Partners has launched exclusive negotiations with Italy’s top football league over a €2.2bn deal designed to reshape the finances of one of Europe’s top competitions. Talks between the parties have become more serious in recent weeks, with CVC proposing to acquire 20 per cent of a new company that will manage Lega Calcio Serie A’s broadcasting rights from 2021, the international trademark for the league and its commercial development, according to several people briefed on the plans.

Racing

Silverstone agrees terms with F1 for back-to-back races
Alan Baldwin, Reuters

Formula One and Silverstone have agreed terms for two races without spectators at the circuit this season, subject to government approval, the track’s managing director Stuart Pringle said on Friday. The British Grand Prix, a home race for Mercedes’ six times world champion Lewis Hamilton as well as seven of the 10 teams, is scheduled for July 19 but that could change as the sport redraws a calendar ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golf and Tennis

We’re Out of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer—and Golf Pushcarts?
Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street Journal

Pushcarts are one of the unlikeliest products being hoarded during the pandemic. Warehouses are empty of them, retailers are too, and there even is pushcart price gouging.

Tennis: ATP, WTA and ITF extend suspensions due to COVID-19 pandemic
Reuters

The ATP Tour and International Tennis Federation (ITF) have extended their suspensions of professional tennis until July 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they said on Friday. The ATP and WTA announced in April that they were suspending all tournaments until July 13, with the WTA saying on Friday it had further suspended four events due to be held in July.

Esports

US reportedly sees highest video game spending in first quarter of 2020
Nádia Linhares, Dot Esports

U.S. consumers spent a record-breaking $10.86 billion on video games in the first quarter of 2020, according to the latest NPD Group report. That’s a nine-percent increase compared to the same time period, from January to March, last year.

General

Endeavor’s Pro Bull Riders Will Allow Fans in Arena at South Dakota Event
Scott Soshnick, Variety

Professional Bull Riders, which is owned by UFC parent Endeavor, will allow fans – albeit not a packed house – to attend a July event in South Dakota. PBR becomes the first sports organization to welcome fans back into the arena since the major U.S. sports leagues paused their seasons last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research

The immensity of MLB’s plan to return through a daunting health-and-safety protocol
Jeff Passan, ESPN

What’s most striking about Major League Baseball’s 67-page health-and-safety protocol outlining an attempt to return amid the coronavirus pandemic isn’t its little, snicker-worthy details. It’s the immensity of it all, the right-there-on-paper, brass-tacks accounting of what it looks like to bring back a professional sport in the middle of a global pandemic.

Fair playoffs never were NHL’s priority — so why start now
Larry Brooks, New York Post

Not much draws a belly laugh these days, which is why I am so thankful to hear from the folks who are flipping out over a hypothetical 24-team Stanley Cup playoff because such a tournament might be lacking in the integrity department.

Will merger and acquisitions deal-making return this year?
Chris Russo, SportBusiness

Russo, chief executive of Fifth Generation Sports LLC, writes, “While it is unlikely that a large volume of new transactions will be completed over the next several weeks, there is a possibility that robust M&A activity could resume in the third and fourth quarters this year.”

Morning Consult