• The family of the late Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk received nine bids to buy the NHL club, including offers of more than $900 million, which would be a record for an NHL team, according to a source familiar with the process. The list of prospective buyers — which includes Montreal Canadiens investor Michael Andlauer and a group led by actor Ryan Reynolds — will reportedly be trimmed down in the coming days. (Sportico) 
• Talent agency WME Sports acquired BDA Sports, the firm founded by agent Bill Duffy that represents NBA players such as Luka Doncic and RJ Barrett. The Endeavor Group Holdings Inc.-owned WME Sports bought the remaining shares of the agency after purchasing a minority investment in BDA Sports in 2020, while Duffy will lead WME’s basketball division. (ESPN)   
• Georgetown fired men’s basketball coach Patrick Ewing after the star alum went 75-109 over six seasons, the program’s second-worst winning percentage to date. (USA Today) Meanwhile, California men’s basketball coach Mark Fox was also relieved of his role following a 16-game losing streak that resulted in a 3-29 season, the school’s worst-ever campaign. (The Associated Press)

The Lionel Messi project has failed at PSG – and nobody really cares

The Athletic

Bob Iger Talks Succession Plans, Hulu, and ESPN 

Brian Welk, IndieWire 

In a little over 30 minutes, Bob Iger covered a lot of ground in his Morgan Stanley conference appearance Thursday. Among the topics on offer: how he’s working with the board to find his successor, how he values Hulu, and what’s in store for the standalone ESPN.

NBA and Genius Sports expand deal to include next-gen data platform and broadcast augmentations 

Steve McCaskill, SportsPro 

The National Basketball Association has expanded its relationship with sports data firm Genius Sports to include enhanced analytics and deeper integrated innovations for the NBA League Pass streaming service.

Dick Vitale declined CBS offer to call NCAA tournament game this year 

Jimmy Traina, Sports Illustrated 

Legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale has never called an NCAA tournament game for a U.S. audience in his career. CBS and Turner tried to change that this season, but he declined the offer.

Billionaire Mitchell Rales joins Josh Harris’s bid to buy the Commanders

Liz Clarke and Mark Maske, The Washington Post

The Potomac billionaire, a co-founder of the Danaher Corporation and owner of Glenstone Museum, lends considerable strength to bid.

Jets’ optimism growing in Aaron Rodgers chase, sources say 

ESPN

The New York Jets are becoming more confident in their chances of landing quarterback Aaron Rodgers, sources close to the situation told ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Thursday.

Houston Texans Lose 5th-Round NFL Draft Pick, Fined For Deshaun Watson Salary-Cap Violation 

Coty M. Davis, Sports Illustrated

The Houston Texans are now down to 10 picks entering the 2023 NFL Draft, with the team forfeiting their fifth-round pick (No. 137 overall) for a salary-cap violation involving former star quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Grizzlies tried to address Morant’s actions before gun video 

Clay Bailey, The Associated Press 

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Thursday that members of the organization had spoken to All-Star guard Ja Morant about his off-the-court conduct before he posted a video in which he appeared to be displaying a gun in a strip club.

Fred VanVleet fined $30K, says officiating criticism ‘unfortunate’ 

Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN

Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet was fined $30,000 by the NBA on Thursday for his blistering criticism of official Ben Taylor that came after a 108-100 loss to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night.

How the Kings Rejoined the NBA Elite

Chris Herring, Sports Illustrated 

Sacramento’s up-tempo attack is lighting up the league—and the Sactown skies.

Sources: Baltimore Orioles want to market naming rights for field 

Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal

The Orioles have quietly been taking Camden Yards naming rights to market this year, according to sources.

Aaron Judge signs deal with Jordan Brand 

Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal

Yankees RF Aaron Judge, the reigning AL MVP, has joined the roster of Jordan Brand athletes. That comes after Judge confused many last season by wearing Adidas, Nike and New Balance on the field.

Captain America

Tyler Kepner, The New York Times 

When Mike Trout agreed to play in the World Baseball Classic, other stars flocked to join the United States squad. “I want in.”

Wild star Kirill Kaprizov will miss three to four weeks with lower-body injury 

Austin Nivison, CBS Sports 

The Minnesota Wild have announced that star forward Kirill Kaprizov will miss for three to four weeks with a lower-body injury.

Kansas coach Bill Self to miss Big 12 tournament for medical procedure 

Eddie Timanus and Cydney Henderson, USA Today

Kansas Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self will miss the remainder of the Big 12 tournament after undergoing a procedure, the university announced on Thursday. 

Iowa athletics department to cover full race bias settlement 

The Associated Press

A race discrimination lawsuit filed against the University of Iowa by former football players will be settled using funds entirely from the school instead of having taxpayer money cover half of the $4.2 million deal, the university’s president said Thursday.

The death of Jamea Harris, the Alabama players involved, and the families torn apart 

Michael Rothstein et al., ESPN

The story of Jamea Harris’ death starts as Tuscaloosa celebrated the No. 4 Alabama men’s basketball team’s 106-66 throttling of LSU.

Hazing, Naked Skates and a ‘mental-health Hunger Games’: the dark side of Harvard women’s ice hockey 

Hailey Salvian and Katie Strang, The Athletic 

Over the last month, The Athletic spoke to more than 30 individuals who played for Harvard or were associated with the program from this season and going back more than 20 years.

Italy’s Serie A to discuss financing options for media business 

Elvira Pollina, Reuters 

Italy’s Serie A will on Monday ask its 20 clubs whether they want to kick-off a process to study proposals by private equity firms and banks interested in investing in the top flight soccer league’s media business, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Vinícius Júnior again target of racist insults in Spain 

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 

The Spanish league filed another complaint to authorities on Thursday following racial insults aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior.

Canada Soccer releases CBA proposal amid dispute with women’s team 

Amy Tennery, Reuters 

Canada Soccer released details of its proposed collective bargaining agreement with its national teams on Thursday, after the women’s team launched a protest over pay equity issues and budget cuts last month.

Paris Saint-Germain Considers Bid for Stade de France 

Benoit Berthelot and Jenny Che, Bloomberg 

French football club Paris Saint-Germain is interested in buying Stade de France, the country’s biggest sports stadium. 

Split verdict for ex-Fox execs in soccer rights bribe case 

Bobby Caina Calvan, The Associated Press 

A former Fox executive was convicted Thursday of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to nab broadcasting rights to the World Cup and other top soccer matches. A second ex-executive was acquitted.

J.R. Smith Was Lost After the NBA. Golf Became His Guide. 

Jonathan Abrams, The New York Times 

Smith was bored and confused when his basketball career abruptly ended in 2020. His search for self took him to a golf team at an H.B.C.U.

Patrick McEnroe chosen new Tennis Hall of Fame president 

The Associated Press 

Former player and current TV analyst Patrick McEnroe will be the new president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and USTA Foundation chief executive Dan Faber was chosen as the Hall’s new CEO.

Lawyers: Former NBA star Shawn Kemp fired in self-defense 

The Associated Press

Former NBA star Shawn Kemp acted in self-defense when he exchanged gunfire in a Washington parking lot while trying to retrieve a stolen cell phone and other items, his attorneys said Thursday.

Kansas legislature passes bill to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports 

Reuters 

Kansas’ Republican-led legislature on Thursday passed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from playing girls or women’s school sports if they were born male.

Jake Paul challenges Floyd Mayweather Jr. to ‘real fight’ after fracas 

Mike Coppinger, ESPN

Jake Paul said Thursday that he was leaving the Cavaliers-Heat game on Wednesday in Miami when he was approached by Floyd Mayweather and a large group of people accompanying him.

Who Should Jack Up the Car in a Nascar Pit Stop? The Answer Is in the Numbers 

Robert O’Connell, The Wall Street Journal 

In a Southern California lab, Joe Gibbs Racing turns to biomechanical data to decide which football and baseball washouts will become superstars at hauling tires and hoisting cars.