• YES Network announced the launch of a direct-to-consumer subscription service for fans in the region to watch games involving the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty without a cable subscription or satellite TV provider. The platform, which is not available to out-of-market fans, will cost $24.99 per month or $239.99 annually but consumers who subscribe before the end of April will pay $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually. (New York Post)
• Minor league baseball players reached an initial five-year collective bargaining agreement with MLB, more than doubling players’ salaries, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The minimum salaries for Double-A players will rise from $13,800 to $27,300 and Triple-A players’ wages will increase from $17,500 to $35,800, while players for the first time will get paid in the offseason. (The Associated Press)
• The Washington Nationals sale has reportedly been paused so ownership and management can operate the MLB franchise without any distractions in 2023, though sources said the Lerner family is expected to resume the process following the season. Sources said the Nationals, which have been for sale for about a year, and the Baltimore Orioles have disagreed over the value of their local TV rights with regional sports network MASN, resulting in a delayed sales process. (Sports Business Journal)

Worth keeping an eye on today 

• MLB Opening Day has arrived. Here is the full 15-game schedule, and a reminder of the new rules.

The Dodgers Lead Our 2023 MLB Forecast — But They’re The Weakest Favorite In Years

FiveThirtyEight

WWE CEO Nick Khan offers insight on upcoming Pac-12, NBA, and WWE media deals

Sean Keeley, Awful Announcing 

Khan made an appearance on The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast on Wednesday and he had a lot to say about WWE, the NBA, the Pac-12, and more.

Men in Blazers, Hollywood’s Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire

Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter 

Roger Bennett, one half of the podcast frequented by stars like John Oliver and Matthew McConaughey, is signing new talent — including superstar Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano — to build a “full-throated media network.”

Has ‘Ted Lasso’ boosted soccer’s popularity in the U.S.? We asked the experts

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, whose portfolio includes Apple TV and Apple TV+, insisted that the success of “Ted Lasso” wasn’t a factor in the company’s decision to invest billions in soccer. “But it doesn’t hurt,” he said.

MLB broadcasters adapting to faster pace under new rules

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press

Major league pitchers and batters aren’t the only ones going on the clock this season — big league broadcasters have also been using spring training to adjust to baseball’s new rhythm amid a series of rules changes.When the season opens Thursday, Major League Baseball will usher in an age of sharper, quicker and more concise commentary.

Opening Day a go on Bally Sports San Diego after Diamond Sports makes Padres payment

Jeff Sanders, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Diamond Sports Group paying the Padres before grace period expires Wednesday would keep games on Bally Sports San Diego.

Jim Trotter’s contract with NFL Media has no arbitration clause, opening the door for a lawsuit in open court

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

When it comes to being sued, the NFL prefers the ultimate home-field advantage — private arbitration ultimately controlled by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. If/when former (as of Friday) NFL Media employee Jim Trotter sues the league for the termination of his employment, the league may have to play a true road game.

MLB Network announces studio lineup for 2023 season, with ‘High Heat,’ ‘MLB Now’ airing two hours earlier

Joe Lucia, Awful Announcing

MLB Network announces studio lineup for 2023 season, with ‘High Heat,’ ‘MLB Now’ airing two hours earlier. Notably, High Heat and MLB Now are moving up the schedule to 11 AM and 12 PM, respectively, and the Matt Vasgersian-hosted Pregame Spread will not return.

NFL hits highs in diverse executives, lacks in head coaches

Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

The NFL took another step at the owners meetings to increase diversity throughout the league while continuing to face criticism and a lawsuit for lack of representation among head coaches.

Is the NFL Ready for A Four-Team European Division?

A.J. Perez, Front Office Sports

A four-team European division would be unprecedented. The NFL has never expanded by more than two teams at a time (Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995), and the league’s 32nd team (Houston Texans) was added in 2002. 

NFL owners remain divided on Thursday night flex scheduling

Mark Maske, The Washington Post

NFL team owners left the three-day annual league meeting Tuesday without agreeing to a flexible scheduling plan for Thursday night games or finalizing a contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell.

NBA roundup: Kings halt longest playoff drought in NBA history

Reuters

Malik Monk scored 19 points off the bench and the Sacramento Kings ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history with a 120-80 thumping of the host Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

NBA’s Jalen Green Partners With Liquid Death in a Bloody Fun Hoops Game

T.L Stanley, Adweek

The canned water brand dives further into mainstream pro sports and continues to mash up horror and comedy in its marketing.

On Opening Day, Teams Put Their Best Arms Forward

Benjamin Hoffman, The New York Times

Aces around the majors are ready to go, with the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole facing Logan Webb of the Giants and the Mets’ Max Scherzer facing Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins.

New categories have MLB starting 2023 with 35 sponsors — with more on the way

Sports Business Journal

MLB enters the 2023 season with 35 sponsors — a roster that league officials said will grow over the next few weeks as “a number of new deals being finalized will be announced after Opening Day” based on specific activation plans, reports SBJ Research Director David Broughton.

MLB unveils technology updates for 2023 season including pitch clock telecom, new bat tracking data in Statcast

Joe Lemire, Sports Business Journal 

The league has no plans yet for augmented reality or alternate broadcasts but they are working on a metaverse project.

Phoenix sues Tempe to stop Arizona Coyotes development deal

Sam Kmack, Arizona Republic 

Phoenix is suing to stop Tempe’s $2.1 billion deal with the Arizona Coyotes, a move destined to reignite an inter-city conflict over a proposed entertainment district that appeared to have died out four months ago.

Congressional hearing highlights challenges of NCAA’s strategy of pursuing federal NIL legislation

Steve Berkowitz, USA Today

For the first time since Republicans gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 elections, a panel of lawmakers on Wednesday turned its attention to the NCAA’s ongoing issues in dealing with college athletes making money from use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

How Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Became College Basketball’s Must-See Star

Rachel Bachman, The Wall Street Journal

The long-shooting guard also excels at passing—and filling arenas.

UConn Wins a Lot of Men’s Basketball Titles—When It Makes the Tournament

Robert O’Connell, The Wall Street Journal

The Connecticut Huskies men’s team often doesn’t even reach March Madness. But when it gets there, it tends to win the whole thing.

A different March Madness: Online hate for the athletes

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press

College administrators and coaches alike have warned for several years that students and athletes are facing increasing mental-health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. And never have there been more outside voices that not only scrutinize every move players make on the court, but impact their emotional well-being away from it.

Facing Criticism, a Gambling Company and a University End Their Deal

Kevin Draper, The New York Times

The decision by PointsBet and University of Colorado Boulder came as the industry released guidelines meant to limit how sports betting is marketed on campus.

It’s Northwestern vs. Evanston Neighbors Over a New $800 Million Stadium That Will Host Concerts and Serve Booze

Douglas Belkin, The Wall Street Journal

The most dramatic action in this suburb of Chicago has always played out in Northwestern University’s pancake-yellow stadium on football Saturdays. This spring, though, the hardest hits are coming from some of its neighbors.

China’s Soccer Experiment Was a Flop. Now It May Be Over.

Tariq Panja, The New York Times

China poured billions into its bid to become a major player in the world’s most popular sport. A decade later, it has little to show for that investment.

Indonesia stripped of U-20 World Cup hosting rights – FIFA

Rohith Nair, Reuters

FIFA on Wednesday stripped Indonesia of the right to stage this year’s Under-20 soccer World Cup, over what an Indonesian official said was a failure to honour its commitments to the tournament.

Exiled Ukraine Football Club Ramps Up $43 Million FIFA Fight

Hugo Miller, Bloomberg

Ukraine’s title-chasing soccer club FC Shakhtar Donetsk has complained to the European Union’s antitrust watchdog after governing body FIFA allowed star players it claims were worth more than €40 million ($43 million) to leave for free following Russia’s invasion last year.

Pickleball Slam: Roddick, Agassi, McEnroe, Chang take swings

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press

Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) is producing the Pickleball Slam. The idea, HS&E co-CEO David Levy explained, was for bold-faced names from one racket sport to help promote another.

EA is laying off 6 percent of its workers

Emma Roth, The Verge

The layoffs come as the game publisher looks to reprioritize investments and cut down on office space.

2026 FIFA World Cup Bay Area Host Committee Names Zaileen Janmohamed as CEO And President

Matt Traub, SportsTravel

Janmohamed will lead preparations for 2026 and drive effort to pursue and secure additional events for the Bay Area.