• DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, told player agents to work in concert during the league’s upcoming free-agency period to make sure clubs aren’t using the reduced salary cap for the upcoming season as an excuse to limit player salaries, according to a source who attended the virtual meeting, and that it is OK for them to “collude” to ensure the best possible deals for players. Smith reportedly told the agents that the union expects the salary cap for the 2021 season to be close to the $180 million minimum it negotiated with the NFL, and that the 2022 and 2023 salary caps could also be impacted by pandemic-related revenue losses. (ESPN)

• AT&T Inc. announced it will sell a 30 percent stake in its subscription-video unit, which includes DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse, to private equity firm TPG Capital for $1.8 billion in a deal that will see the unit spun off as its own entity with an implied enterprise value of $16.3 billion. The move sets the stage for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, the league’s out-of-market package, to change hands after the 2022 season, and both Amazon.com Inc. and the Walt Disney Co. are believed to be interested in picking it up. (Sportico)

• The White House said there “hasn’t been a final decision” on whether the United States would boycott the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games in protest of human rights violations by the Chinese government, marking a shift from earlier this month when press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was not considering “changing our posture or our plans as it relates to the Beijing Olympics.” Jon Mason, a spokesperson for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the committee opposes boycotts “because they have been shown to negatively impact athletes while not effectively addressing global issues,” but a growing number of Republicans are calling for President Joe Biden to make such a move. (CNBC)

• John Geddert, a former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, committed suicide hours after being charged with 20 counts of human trafficking of a minor, and one count each of first-degree criminal sexual assault, second-degree criminal sexual assault involving a minor, racketeering and lying to a police officer by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Geddert, who coached the women’s Olympic team that won gold at the 2012 London Games, was the fourth person to be charged in connection to the Nassar scandal that has engulfed USA Gymnastics since 2016. (The Detroit News)

Mike Greenberg lands coveted NFL Draft gig on ESPN
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

Greenberg takes over for Trey Wingo, who was let go by the company at the end of last year. Greenberg, 53, receives the position over “Monday Night Football” play-by-player Steve Levy, “Sunday NFL Countdown’s” Sam Ponder, “Monday Night Countdown’s” Suzy Kolber and “NFL Live’s” Laura Rutledge. 

Yahoo Sports Is Joining The NBA’s Alternate Sports-Betting Broadcasts
Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico

Yahoo Sports is joining with the NBA in its production of betting-centric broadcasts. Starting with Friday’s showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies, Yahoo talent will be featured on the NBABet Stream, a weekly alternate broadcast on NBA League Pass. The Verizon unit will also start distributing the feed as part of its own League Pass platforms.

Australian Open joins ranks of declining sporting events
Sports Media Watch

Continuing the steady drumbeat of sports ratings declines, Australian Open viewership fell by more than a quarter. The Australian Open averaged 272,000 viewers across the ESPN family of networks, down 27% from last year (371K). The tournament began three weeks later than usual, with the opening night of play airing opposite the Super Bowl.

Ex-Washington Football Team employees pressure NFL to make harassment probe public
Beth Reinhard and Mark Maske, The Washington Post

Twenty former employees of the Washington Football Team who say they witnessed or endured sexual harassment by team executives demanded Thursday that the NFL make public its investigation into the team’s workplace. The letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell is part of a campaign by former employees and women’s rights groups to ramp up pressure on the league and hold team owner Daniel Snyder accountable for what they describe as a “sexually hostile work environment.”

Teams optimistic for full capacity in 2021
Ben Fischer, Sports Business Journal

NFL teams increasingly believe full stadiums are a realistic goal for 2021. Their optimism is informed by lower virus caseloads around the country, an improving vaccine distribution program, and a resulting change to the public opinion dynamics for local politicians and bureaucrats. With the improving COVID stats, governors, local officials and public health authorities feel pressure to be more aggressive in re-opening.

NBA investigating bigotry allegation against Utah Jazz vice president Dennis Lindsey
Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

The Utah Jazz are cooperating with an NBA investigation into former guard Elijah Millsap’s allegation that executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey made bigoted comments during a 2015 end-of-season meeting, the team announced Thursday. The probe will include the sharing of detailed notes taken in the April 2015 meeting that was attended by Millsap and three Jazz officials, sources said.

Hennessy’s NBA deal now includes global rights
Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal

Eleven years after the NBA signed its first corporate sponsorship in the spirits category, it has its first with global rights. Moet Hennessy has expanded its NBA sponsorship rights from domestic to global, allowing use of NBA IP to market its flagship Hennessy cognac brand as the “official spirit of the NBA” worldwide.

Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving happy to push discussion for Kobe Bryant as NBA’s logo
Malika Andrews, ESPN

One day after posting on social media that he would like to see the NBA logo changed from Jerry West’s silhouette to Kobe Bryant’s, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving reaffirmed his stance and said he is OK if he’s a leader of the conversation. Irving said Thursday night, “I want that to be something in history that is changed forever, that our generation was part of that change.”

Mets Hire Chief Revenue Officer Jeff Deline Away From Maple Leafs And Raptors
Eben Novy-Williams and Scott Soshnick, Sportico

The New York Mets have hired Jeff Deline, an executive with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, as their new chief revenue officer, according to multiple people familiar with the hire. The decision was announced to Mets staffers earlier this week, according to two of the people. Deline currently holds the same position at MLSE, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors.

Great American Ball Park capacity announced for Reds
Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Thursday that Great American Ball Park will be at 30 percent capacity for the 2021 season. The Reds will use pod-style seating that separates ticket groups from each other to keep fans safely distanced.

A’s Howard Terminal stadium project could be derailed by recent appeal
Alex Coffey and Steve Berman, The Athletic

When the A’s hopes of building a stadium at Oakland’s Laney College fell through in 2017, the team quickly shifted gears and began planning a new ballpark at Howard Terminal.The A’s seemed confident heading into 2020 that they would be able to move into their new home for the 2023 season, but multiple delays have made that an impossibility, something A’s president Dave Kaval acknowledged in a phone interview this week.

Sharks’ latest coronavirus tests are all negative, Saturday game remains as scheduled
San Francisco Chronicle

A day after having to postpone one game because of coronavirus protocol issues, the Sharks announced Thursday afternoon that Saturday night’s home game against the Blues is expected to played as scheduled. On Wednesday, the NHL announced that Thursday night’s game against Vegas had been postponed and shortly after it was confirmed that Tomas Hertl had been put on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.

NHL grows engagement for Future Goals effort
Sports Business Journal

The NHL is seeing growth in engagement for its Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher Program presented by SAP, now in its second year. The league saw a 164% increase in voting from January ’20 to January ’21.

NCAA Tournament bracket contingencies set for teams and replacements if they are affected by COVID-19
Matt Norlander, CBS Sports

The organization released a two-page document that outlined its plans for how to adjust, should a team included into the field be unable to compete after the bracket is unveiled. The NCAA’s statement reads that once the bracket (in both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments) is “finalized and released, teams will not be reseeded, nor will the bracket change.”

Texas regents approve Sarkisian $34.2 million contract
Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press

University of Texas System regents on Thursday approved a six-year, $34.2 million guaranteed contract for new football coach Steve Sarkisian. The regents also approved more than $21 million in guaranteed contracts for Sarkisian’s staff. Three of his top assistants got three-year guaranteed contracts worth more than $1 million annually.

Gamecocks avoid major punishments from NCAA over Lamont Evans violations
Michael Lananna, The State

Former South Carolina men’s basketball assistant coach Lamont Evans violated NCAA ethical conduct rules, according to a decision released Thursday by the Division I Committee on Infractions. As a result of Evans’ actions, South Carolina self-imposed several penalties that the NCAA accepted, but avoided more severe penalties that come with a Level 1 violation — the most severe violation possible — such as scholarship reduction, vacated wins or a postseason ban.

Industry vet hopeful vaccine rollout brings full football venues
Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal

College football will play a significant role in the re-opening of sports. That’s the viewpoint of Mark Dyer, whose company, Taymar Sales U, manages outbound ticket sales for eight schools. Dyer, the founder & CEO, today signed his ninth school, Old Dominion, and has a few more in the pipeline.

CF Montréal loses soccer legend, marketing reach as Henry departs
Montreal Gazette

Not long after the team underwent a major rebranding — changing its name and uniforms, if not necessarily its identity — Club de Foot Montréal arguably has lost its biggest marketing tool, manager Thierry Henry. With the start of its Major League Soccer training camp scheduled for March 8, the club announced Henry’s resignation Thursday morning for family reasons, some 15 months following his hiring in November 2019. 

Next NBA Top Shot? Soccer Digital Card Company Raises $50 Million in Funding
Darren Rovell, Action Network

As NBA Top Shot takes over the collectible world, with more than $200 million in marketplace sales in the last month, other digital collectibles are seeing a significant bump. The focus has helped Sorare, a digital card site focused on soccer, raise an impressive $50 million from investors including influencer and early tech investor Gary Vaynerchuk and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Speedway Motorsports rolls out COTA sponsors for NASCAR weekend
Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal

Speedway Motorsports has rolled out the first three sponsors of its NASCAR event at Circuit of the Americas the weekend of May 23, with EchoPark and Pit Boss Grills taking naming rights for the Cup and Xfinity Series races, respectively. Terms of the deals are not being released, but assets include a broadcast advertising package with Fox Sports, at-track signage, hospitality suites and VIP dignitary roles.

Busch, Nascar Will Let 1 Fan Name the Cup Series Race at Kansas Speedway May 2
David Cohen, Adweek

What if Busch, the official beer of Nascar, told you that you could name the Nascar Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway May 2—for $1? The beer brand and the league teamed up on the contest, and the name chosen by the winning fan will become the official title of the May 2 race across the country, appearing on the logo, tickets, Nascar.com, race merchandise and the grass at Kansas Speedway.

Haas pulled Grosjean IndyCar sponsorship after Bahrain crash
Chris Medland, RACER

Gene Haas was set to sponsor Romain Grosjean’s IndyCar ride until the Frenchman’s massive accident in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Grosjean was left with burns to his hands in the fiery incident, which left his car split in two after it got stuck in a guardrail on the opening lap of the race, and he missed the final two rounds of the Formula 1 season while recovering from his injuries.

Tiger Woods transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
Adam Schupak, Golfweek

Two days after suffering serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash, Tiger Woods has been transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his doctor. Woods, 45, was moved to a different facility roughly 20 miles away “for continuing orthopedic care and recovery,” said Dr. Anish Mahajan, interim CEO and chief medical officer of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where Woods originally was taken to the level 1 trauma center and treated following his accident early Tuesday morning in Rolling Hills Estates, California.

RBC Canadian Open likely to be canceled for second straight year due to COVID-19
Brian Wacker, Golf Digest

For the second straight year, the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open appears likely to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple sources tell Golf Digest. An official announcement on the fate of the tournament, scheduled for June 10-13 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, is expected within weeks.

Invisalign sponsorship gives Golden Guardians something to smile about
H.B. Duran, Esports Insider

San Francisco-based Golden Guardians, the esports affiliate of NBA’s Golden State Warriors, has announced a partnership with Align Technology, Inc., the makers of Invisalign clear braces. As the ‘Official Smile Partner’ of Golden Guardians, Invisalign will be featured on the team’s jerseys and on activations across TV, digital media, and social channels.

Sports Licensing Giant Fanatics To Launch In China With New Joint Venture
Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes

Fanatics today announced plans for a 50-50 joint venture with Hillhouse Capital that will open up the sports licensed market in China to Fanatics’ global partners. Hillhouse is an Asia-focused private equity firm with a deep investment background in online retailers, including Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and tech conglomerate Tencent.

Crypto collectibles are selling for thousands — and celebrities like Mark Cuban are cashing in
Ryan Browne, CNBC

NBA Top Shot, a platform created by Dapper Labs in partnership with the basketball league, attracted $147.8 million in sales in the last seven days, according to NFT data tracker CryptoSlam. Even Mark Cuban and other celebrities are cashing in on the NFT craze. The billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner has auctioned digital goods online and owns some himself.

One of Las Vegas’ biggest hotels will soon have a podcast studio in its lobby
Ashley Carman, The Verge

Wynn Resorts announced today that it’s investing $3.5 million in Blue Wire, a sports podcasting network, in a deal that’ll include the build out of a podcasting studio in the Wynn Las Vegas’ lobby. That studio will host Blue Wire podcast personalities as well as star athlete guests to entice people to visit the hotel, get excited about sports, and hopefully place bets on them.

Rights groups target sponsors like Airbnb for Beijing Games
Stephen Wade, The Associated Press

Sponsors of the Beijing Games want the Olympic connection, but they risk damaging their brand because of reported human-rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetans and other minorities in China. A small core of international lawyers and activists have branded these the “Genocide Games” and are pressuring sponsors, the IOC and world sports federations to investigate. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Gamechanger App Unveils Highlight-Clip Feature
Randall Williams, Sportico

The power to share your child’s latest highlight-worthy play now rests in the palm of your hand, thanks to a new feature just added to GameChanger, a youth sports-focused app wholly owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods. What started out in 2010 as essentially a Little League scorekeeping tool has grown into a team management program that connects parents, tracks advanced stats and now can livestream games.

‘Super Follows’ on Twitter could give athletes another way to control their messaging – and it’ll cost ya
Donovan Dooley, Deadspin

If athletes are allowed to charge for premium content on their Twitter feeds, who knows how much additional revenue they could rake in. You might even see athletes be even more open about their day-to-day lives to attract more “Super Followers ” — and subsequently more dollars.

Inside the battle for Stanford Olympic sports: ‘For us, this thing isn’t over until they take us off the Stanford athletics page’
Christopher Kamrani, The Athletic

Powerful alumni want answers. Parents of student-athletes want more transparency. And the estimated 240 athletes who will see their Stanford careers come to an end — if they haven’t already — have no choice but to lean into the fight.