• The Phoenix Suns will reportedly hire Detroit Pistons senior executive Josh Bartelstein as the team’s new chief executive officer, while general manager James Jones will remain in charge of basketball operations. Bartelstein, a 33-year-old who previously served as the Pistons’ executive vice president of business and basketball operations, would replace former Suns CEO Jason Rowley, who resigned last month as UWM Holdings Corp. CEO Mat Ishbia became the new owner of the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. (ESPN)
• The Memphis Grizzlies announced point guard Ja Morant will miss at least two games after the NBA launched an investigation after the star player livestreamed himself on social media early Saturday morning holding what looked like a gun inside a nightclub. In a statement, Morant, who recently signed a multiyear deal to be the face of Coca-Cola Co.’s Powerade, said that he accepts “full responsibility” for his actions and will “take some time away to get help.” (The Associated Press)
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is a top candidate to replace Bob Iger as CEO of the Walt Disney Co. when the latter executive is scheduled to retire in two years, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter. Silver joins a reported short list of other replacement candidates, including Disney entertainment co-chair Dana Walden and former Disney executive Kevin Mayer, the former TikTok CEO who is now the chief executive of Candle Media. (Fox Business)

Verstappen Runs Away With Formula 1 Opener

The New York Times

Reggie Miller out as part of March Madness announcer shakeup

Andrew Marchand, New York Post

Stan Van Gundy is expected to be in as a game analyst on CBS/Turner’s NCAA Tournament coverage and Reggie Miller is out, The Post has learned.

NFL Media bracing for major cost cuts

Ryan Glasspiegel, New York Post

NFL Media is preparing for cutdown day. Several sources told The Post that the league’s media division, which includes NFL Network, NFL Red Zone, NFL Films and NFL.com, is in the midst of a strategic review that will result in major cost cuts.

The High-Stakes World of Sports Insiders

Michael McCarthy, Front Office Sports

The rise of these stars signals a shift in sports media’s pecking order: We’re more reliant on insiders than ever. Information, and how fast we can get it, matters more than opinion.

For women’s sports, the media buys are becoming a big deal

Kaitlin Balasaygun, CNBC

An Ally Financial deal with Disney’s ESPN networks and the ACC shows a new model for raising the profile of women’s sports.

ESPN translates F1’s popularity into higher ad sales

Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal 

Every business metric around Formula One seems to be pointing upward, and ESPN says ad sales are no different, with a host of blue-chip brands signing on to sponsor the network’s nearly sold-out coverage this year.

The Steak House With N.F.L. Deals on the Menu

Kris Rhim, The New York Times

When the N.F.L.’s power brokers meet at St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis, trades, contracts and shrimp cocktail are all on the table.

Washington Commanders Status Check: Sale At Standstill

A.J. Perez, Front Office Sports

Sources told Front Office Sports that there are multiple factors as to why the process that just a week ago seemed to be coming to a crescendo has stalled. One source laid out the biggest: Jeff Bezos.

Durant tiebreaker lifts Suns over Mavs in showcase of stars

Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press

Durant scored 37 points, including the go-ahead shot, to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 130-126 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in a thrilling showcase of stars for both teams.

Time Is No Longer on Their Side

Adam Elder, The New York Times

Fans are eager to start the pitch-clock era, but baseball’s pitching coaches are hard at work trying to adjust to one of the biggest changes in M.L.B. history.

Citi Field Scores Record Revenue And Profit For New York Mets In 2022

Mike Ozanian, Forbes

According to a document reviewed by Forbes, the Mets generated revenue of $244 million at their ballpark last season and net income of $127 million, both record highs. The team’s previous best year was in 2009, its first year in the ballpark, when they generated revenue and net income of $180 million and $99 million, respectively. 

MLB says Clevinger won’t face discipline in investigation

The Associated Press

Major League Baseball said Sunday it will not discipline Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger after completing its investigation of domestic abuse allegations.

What NHL GMs are saying about a wild trade deadline — and if it could be the new norm

Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic

Are we looking at a trend or a one-off? No one can say for sure, of course, but the unprecedented number of trades in the period leading up to Friday’s NHL trade deadline sure makes you wonder.

The Marquee Names of College Basketball in Danger of Missing March Madness

Laine Higgins, The Wall Street Journal

A batch of Final Four regulars—including North Carolina, Michigan State and Villanova—have struggled in a season marked by parity in the top ranks. 

More Big Brands Brave the Rocky Terrain of Endorsement Deals With College Athletes

Patrick Coffee, The Wall Street Journal

Novel deals known as NILs—for ‘name, image, likeness’—have marketers excited at having a new raft of young influencers, but concerned by the unsettled legal issues as well as the perils of using amateurs as endorsers.

UCLA signs Chip Kelly to contract extension through 2027

Heather Dinich, ESPN

UCLA coach Chip Kelly has signed a contract extension through the 2027 season, the school announced Friday. UCLA finished 9-4 last season with a 37-35 loss to Pittsburgh in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, but his winning percentage has increased in each of his five seasons.

Big 12 looking west, Pac-12 looking for a TV deal: What we’re hearing on realignment

Max Olson and Stewart Mandel, The Athletic

Last July, weeks after USC and UCLA’s stunning Big Ten announcement, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff made a bold realignment prediction: “No Pac-12 school is going to the Big 12.” Eight months later, we may finally learn whether his confidence was justified or false bravado.

Texas Tech coach suspended for ‘racially insensitive’ comment

Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, ESPN

Texas Tech has suspended men’s basketball coach Mark Adams for what the school is calling an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment.”

Alabama’s crisis management in Brandon Miller situation ‘an outright fail’

Eric Prisbell, On3 Sports

There’s no certainty that Alabama coach Nate Oats could have said anything the past two weeks to completely stem the tide of criticism. But the athletic department’s handling of the Brandon Miller situation – and Oats’ comments in particular – ensures that the storm that has engulfed his program isn’t going away anytime soon.

LSU issues statement on academic misconduct after college athlete influencer Olivia Dunne promoted AI essay helper on TikTok

Jordan Hart, Insider

Louisiana State University is reminding students of its code of conduct after an influencer enrolled at the university promoted the use of an artificial intelligence-powered app for help writing essays.

MLS commissioner Don Garber discusses expansion, Apple TV deal and more in exclusive interview

Paul Tenorio and Pablo Maurer, The Athletic

On Thursday, Garber spoke to The Athletic, discussing all of the above topics, and also sharing his thoughts on a number of other issues — the possibility of promotion and relegation, changes to league governance and much more. 

Biggest loss in 90 years for Man U in 7-0 rout at Liverpool

James Robson, The Associated Press

Liverpool brought Manchester United crashing down to earth with a stunning 7-0 rout at Anfield on Sunday in the visitors’ worst competitive defeat in more than 90 years. 

Djokovic withdraws from Indian Wells amid U.S. visa row

Rory Carroll, Reuters

Novak Djokovic has formally withdrawn from the draw for the Indian Wells tournament, organisers said on Sunday in an indication that the world number one’s application for a COVID-19 vaccine waiver to enter the U.S. might have failed.

How top women executives in sports and betting are leading by example

Contessa Brewer and Jessica Golden, CNBC

At the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics conference, sports betting and diversity are among the themes this year.

Venus Williams and her dog star in Purina Pro Plan’s new campaign

Phoebe Bain, Ad Age

The tennis star helps kick off a challenge to get people to be more active with their pets.

World Baseball Classic returns for its fifth edition with more teams, major momentum

Erik Bacharach, Sports Business Journal 

This year’s tournament, the fifth iteration and first since 2017 after the 2021 WBC was canceled due to the pandemic, will be the biggest yet. Unfolding from March 8 to 21 at four locations across the globe — Miami, Phoenix, Tokyo and Taichung, Taiwan — it will include 20 teams, up from 16 in years past.

France Considers Putting its Biggest Sports Stadium on the Block

Tara Patel, Bloomberg

The French government will consider selling the country’s biggest sports stadium, the Stade de France, to the Paris Saint-Germain football club, according to a minister.

Jon Jones returns to win UFC heavyweight title in 1st round

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press 

Already widely considered the greatest UFC fighter, the 35-year-old Jones took Ciryl Gane to the mat just a little more than a minute into the first round and won with a guillotine choke at 2:04 in UFC 285.