General
DraftKings’ Legal Betting Shows How Big Gambling Can Be
Eben Novy-Williams and Hailey Waller, Bloomberg
DraftKings Inc., which launched in 2012 as a fantasy-sports company, is already on its way to doing more business in real gambling. The company’s legal sports and online casino businesses in New Jersey have soared to a third of overall revenue, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins said in an interview.
Berman named new NLL deputy commissioner
Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal
The National Lacrosse League has hired longtime NHL executive Jessica Berman as deputy commissioner, making her the first woman to hold that title for a professional men’s sports league in North America. The league will announce the hire this week and is creating the position to help Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz’s increasing workload that is the result of expansion, among other initiatives.
Louisiana defeats Curacao for first Little League World Series title
Louis Casiano, Fox News
Louisiana won its first Little League World Series (LLWS) title on Sunday, defeating the international champions of Curacao 8-0, led by a two-hit shutout by pitcher Egan Prather. The team from the suburban New Orleans town of River Ridge began its offensive breakthrough in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits.
NFL
Andrew Luck Retired Early. Will Other Players Follow?
Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street Journal
As Andrew Luck left the field last night, a smattering of boos rained from a crowd. Midway through a meaningless preseason game, Indianapolis Colts fans learned something quite meaningful: that their star quarterback planned to retire at 29 years old.
ESPN.com Went Down After Adam Schefter Teased Andrew Luck Story
Kyle Koster, The Big Lead
A shell-shocked nation, responding to a push notification from ESPN announcing the shocking news that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is retiring, logged on to ESPN.com to read the story. That proved problematic as the pesky 503 and 502 errors reared their ugly little heads.
Why the ‘Funding Rule’ is eyed as a top issue in NFL-NFLPA CBA talks
Daniel Kaplan and Nicki Jhabvala, The Athletic
As the NFL and NFLPA begin their early labor negotiation dance, the usual issues have been floated: the players’ share of revenue, expansion of the regular season and playoffs, the franchise tag terms, and the always popular commissioner’s disciplinary authority. There is one underground issue, however, that the NFLPA appears ready to make a central one — long overdue in the minds of many agents: the rule that owners must pre-fund contract guarantees by putting the entire sum in escrow.
With Time Running Short, Patriots Unlikely to Make White House Visit
Ken Belson and Michael Crowley, The New York Times
The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. Yet, as the new N.F.L. season approaches in two weeks, it is all but certain they will not have the customary congratulatory ceremony at the White House, an event that has often been tense or divisive under President Trump.
20 NFL games advertisers can’t afford to ignore
Anthony Crupi, Ad Age
Picture Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell steamrolling his way through a Pop Warner offensive line staffed with members of the footie-pajamas set, and you’re about halfway to understanding the almost farcical dominance the NFL has over the TV marketplace. Imagine the 6’ 8”, 300-pound Campbell absolutely dismantling a scrawny seven-year-old trussed up in ill-fitting shoulder pads before flinging a second combatant (who’s even scrawnier and very likely wearing a “PAW Patrol” T-shirt under his jersey) into a pyramid of halftime oranges.
Former NFL player’s son, accused in the deaths of his parents, taken into custody in Mexico
Jake Russell and Michael Errigo, The Washington Post
The son of a former NFL player was taken into custody in Mexico on Saturday, after his parents were found fatally shot in their Minnesota home last week. Barry and Carol Bennett’s son, Dylan Bennett, was found at a hotel in Cancun, Mexico, according to a news release from the Todd County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota.
NBA
Yormark on time with Nets and what’s next
John Lombardo, Sports Business Journal
Brett Yormark announced his resignation as chief executive officer of BSE Global on Aug. 16, the same day it was announced that Joseph Tsai would be taking over full ownership of the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center in a deal valued at $2.35 billion.
Dwight Howard Eyes a Chance at Redemption With the Lakers
Sopan Deb and Scott Cacciola, The New York Times
Dwight Howard, once one of the most dominant players in the N.B.A., is poised to get yet another shot to resurrect his troubled career, this time in a return to the Los Angeles Lakers. Howard, a 33-year-old center who spent a contentious season with the Lakers in 2012-13, has agreed to a buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies, and he is expected to sign a non-guaranteed deal with Los Angeles after the buyout is official and he clears waivers, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Down and out Down Under, US seem vulnerable for World Cup
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
The U.S. men’s basketball team had never lost to Australia. It had gone nearly 13 years without losing a game with an NBA-stocked roster. It was in the midst of the longest winning streak in team history.
Cavs owner Gilbert finally home after stroke
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert finally is back at his home in Detroit, nearly three months after suffering a stroke. Gilbert spent three weeks in the hospital before being transferred to a rehabilitation center in Chicago.
MLB
Abuela, Chef, Boss: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Grandmother Feeds the Majors
James Wagner, The New York Times
The brown sugar bubbled in the pan. The marinated goat meat sizzled when added.
‘Like morons’: Fashion reviews dim for MLB weekend uniforms
The Associated Press
Terry Francona took one look at Cleveland’s all-black uniforms and turned into a fashionista. His review? Not good.
NHL
What’s next for Evgeny Kuznetsov in the wake of IIHF drug suspension?
Scott Burnside and Tarik El-Bashir, The Athletic
So, what now for Evgeny Kuznetsov? What now for a rising star laid low by a shocking positive drug test by the International Ice Hockey Federation that prompted a heavy four-year ban from international competition and subsequently led to Kuznetsov seeking help via the NHL/NHLPA jointly run substance abuse and behavioral health program?
Soccer
Matthew McConaughey Continues String of Celebrity MLS Investors
Eben Novy-Williams, Bloomberg
Major League Soccer teams are the new hot investment for celebrities. In the past two months alone, three MLS teams have added celebrities — film, music and sports stars — to their ownership groups.
Play Now, Pay Later: How Loans Became Soccer’s Favored Accounting Tool
Rory Smith, The New York Times
On the surface, Paris St.-Germain’s victory against Strasbourg in February 2018 was unremarkable. It was unusual that Strasbourg took an early lead, but it only lasted four minutes. Julian Draxler equalized. Neymar scored, Angel Di Maria scored. P.S.G. led by two goals after 22 minutes and won by 5-2. Strasbourg was just another opponent swatted aside on its parade to the French title.
Racing
IAAF head Coe discusses Bolt, Coleman, Semenya
Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press
Usain Bolt’s absence may feel like a giant void for fans, including IAAF President Sebastian Coe, when the world athletics championships begin next month. Bolt retired after the 2017 worlds, taking a haul of gold medals and jaw-dropping world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200 with him.
Golf and Tennis
Lightning strike injures fans at East Lake after storms suspend Tour Championship play
Kevin Cunningham, Golf.com
The third round of the 2019 Tour Championship took a scary turn when a lightning strike injured several fans at East Lake Golf Club. Early reports say that none of the injuries sustained are life-threatening.
Men’s Tennis Waits (and Waits) for New Blood
Ben Rothenberg, The New York Times
Marin Cilic remembers looking up and seeing the confirmation that he had achieved a dream. His name on a screen with “Champion of US Open 2014,” after he defeated Kei Nishikori to claim his first Grand Slam title.
US Tennis Association Serves Gender Gap Truths in Women’s Equality Day Ad
Erik Oster, Adweek
When the U.S. women’s national soccer team raised awareness of the gender pay gap in professional sports earlier this year, they were following in the footsteps of another pioneering athlete who’s featured in a new campaign timed for Women’s Equality Day.
Rory McIlroy Caps Season With a Win at the Tour Championship
Karen Crouse, The New York Times
Rory McIlroy’s rolling stroll up the final fairway Sunday at the Tour Championship contained little of the theater of last year’s walk, when he was nearly swallowed up by the swarm of spectators that fell in line behind Tiger Woods, who was closing out his first win since 2013. Playing in the final pairing with Woods, McIlroy receded into the background, finishing six strokes back in a tie for seventh.
IHG is kickstarting its revamped Rewards Club growth strategy with major USTA deal
Katie Deighton, The Drum
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has mapped out a sponsorship strategy with the US Tennis Association (USTA) that will touch almost every brand in the hospitality company’s portfolio. Kicking off across the US Open, the deal is a cornerstone in IHG’s strategy to strengthen and centralize its loyalty program.
College Sports
Accusers in Ohio State doctor scandal top 300
Kantele Franko, The Associated Press
Lawyers for men suing Ohio State University over decades-old alleged sexual misconduct by a team doctor say the growing number of accusers has topped 300. Totals confirmed to The Associated Press put the group’s size in the same ballpark as the initial wave of plaintiffs who got $425 million from Michigan State University to settle claims related to Larry Nassar , the now-imprisoned gymnastics doctor accused of molesting hundreds of women and girls.
Fox out to ‘win noon’ as it schedules college football games for generally underserved window
John Ourand, Sports Business Journal
I have spent my career writing about the importance of prime-time television — the most profitable programming block for any TV network and a time when most people are in front of their TVs. That’s why Fox’s move to schedule its highest quality college football game in the noon window on Saturdays this season is so intriguing.
Esports
Echo Fox partners fail in attempt to secure temporary restraining order against Rick Fox
Noah Smith, The Washington Post
The partners of esports franchise Echo Fox were denied by a Los Angeles court in an attempt to secure a temporary restraining order against Rick Fox, the former actor and Los Angeles Laker who has been one of the most prominent mainstream figureheads in competitive video gaming. The partners are seeking to remove him from the esports organization he helped create, as a feud over the future of the outfit’s team in the League of Legends Championship Series appears bound for further legal drama.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
At the U.S. Open, Serena Williams’s story line eclipses all others
Chuck Culpepper, The Washington Post
While yet to strike even one two-ounce tennis ball at a U.S. Open that will rustle to life Monday, Serena Williams has added yet another distinction to her astounding collection. Somehow, all the way right up next to 2020, she will serve as the loudest story at this loudest Grand Slam, the last of the decade.
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