April 10, 2023

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The Toronto Blue Jays have unveiled their new Outfield District at Rogers Centre, which features a host of amenities: five distinct “neighborhoods,” social areas with games, outfield balconies, standing drink rails, new bleacher seating, and a home run landing pad. Check it out [[link removed]].

Athletes Jon Rahm Pockets Record $3.24M With First Masters Win [[link removed]]

Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Network

After severe winds — that blew down three trees [[link removed]] — and torrential rains suspended play on Friday and Saturday, it appeared the Masters might not finish in time to crown a champion by Sunday evening.

But Jon Rahm overcame the elements and won his first green jacket with a score of 12-under par — elevating his case to be called the best player in the world.

The 28-year-old hung around leader Brooks Koepka through the first three days, then took advantage of Koepka’s weak Sunday to take home his second career major championship after his win at the 2021 U.S. Open.

Scottie Scheffler — whom Rahm had been exchanging OWGR No. 1 rankings with — finished tied 10th at 4-under.

Rahm takes [[link removed]] home a Masters-record $3.24 million for the win — a $630,000 increase from [[link removed]] 2022 when Scheffler won. The record 2023 purse of $18 million is a $3 million jump from 2022.

It brings Rahm’s on-course earnings to $13.29 million for the 2023 season — pulling him ahead of Scheffler ($12.12M) on the money list [[link removed]].

A Lot to LIV For

Although Koepka collapsed down the stretch, he and Phil Mickelson — who tied with Koepka for second place — provided a respectable showing for LIV Golf.

The pair will each take home $1.59 million (the average of the second- and third-place winnings) for their efforts — a far cry from the $4 million Koepka earned by winning at LIV’s most recent event in Orlando.

At 52, Mickelson became the oldest player in Masters history to have a top-five finish, and his final-round 65 was the lowest Masters round ever for a player over 50.

Law LIV Goes on Offensive During Antitrust Hearing [[link removed]]

Chris Pedota-USA TODAY NETWORK

LIV Golf hasn’t had the best run with its legal arguments [[link removed]], but its lead lawyer remained on the offensive in an attempt to halt the skid.

Attorney John Quinn alleged at Friday’s hearing as part of the LIV Golf-PGA Tour antitrust case that the PGA Tour played a significant role in backing protests ahead of LIV’s U.S. debut last year.

“We’ve learned that the [PGA] Tour has orchestrated a grassroots campaign against LIV Golf,” Quinn said. “They chartered a private jet to fly protestors — including, shockingly, members of [9/11 Justice] and victims of 9/11 — to conduct these protests in effect to actually create this Saudi taint.”

Front Office Sports was the first outlet to delve into the background of 9/11 Justice [[link removed]], which was founded days before LIV played in Portland last July. The group also spent more than $200,000 on ads attacking LIV’s Saudi ties.

LIV is almost entirely funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and the PGA Tour has pushed for months to subpoena PIF for documents and to depose fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

Before Friday’s hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman upheld a ruling [[link removed]] that both PIF and Al-Rumayyan are subject to discovery in the case. PIF is appealing that decision.

That appeal and other issues in the case led Freeman to push back the case schedule. The trial, originally slated to begin in January, won’t start until later in 2024, although Freeman did not set a new trial date.

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Deals Cubs to Sell CBD Drinks at Wrigley in MLB First [[link removed]]

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs are making history with a drink.

The team will be the first [[link removed]] MLB team with a CBD sponsor and first to sell CBD drinks at its stadium.

The Cubs are working with Chicago-based MYND Drinks, which will have signage and beverages in three flavors at Wrigley Field. The product met the criteria for working with MLB teams by receiving the NSF Certified for Sport designation.

The team is leaning into CBD’s relaxing qualities to promote the deal: The Cubs are releasing a guided meditation [[link removed]] on YouTube, narrated by their radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes.

MLB is the first major sports league with a CBD sponsor, having linked up with CBD company Charlotte’s Web in an exclusive multiyear deal inked last October.

While cannabis remains illegal federally, the 2018 farm bill opened the door to CBD sales by differentiating between hemp and marijuana. MYND launched the following year.

Cannabis is legal for adult use in Illinois and 20 other states, plus Washington, D.C., and Guam.

The NBA eliminated [[link removed]] cannabis testing in its latest collective bargaining agreement and allowed players to invest in cannabis companies, plus sports betting companies and NBA and WNBA teams.

Law U.S. Department of Education Releases Policy on Transgender Athletes [[link removed]]

The Greenville News

The Biden Administration is aiming for the middle of the spectrum with its transgender athlete policy.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education proposed [[link removed]] rules that would prohibit schools from blanket bans on athletes participating in school sports based on their gender identities.

The policy would allow schools to consider grade, sport, and level of competition in introducing rules on whether a student can play with groups fitting with their gender identity. Twenty states have introduced blanket bans on transgender athletes.

Also on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied [[link removed]] an emergency request by West Virginia’s Attorney General to overturn a lower court’s decision and allow the state to ban a 12-year-old transgender student from competing in a track and field competition. The student will be allowed to race in a group fitting with her gender identity.

Last month, the World Athletics Council banned transgender women from competing in women’s categories at high-level track competitions, including the Olympics.

The NWSL is revisiting its policy on transgender athletes. Currently, the league allows [[link removed]] players designated female at birth, regardless of gender identity. It also allows players transitioning to female, provided their testosterone levels are within the typical range for a woman.

Conversation Starters Know an up-and-coming young professional changing the game in the business of sports? Nominate them for the Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award [[link removed]]. Nominations now open through May 2.

LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark became the talk of women’s college basketball during March Madness — but neither star will participate in Monday night’s WNBA Draft, and instead will return to school. FOS reporter Doug Greenberg examines [[link removed]] each player’s eligibility for the pros — which looks different from their male counterparts. The minds behind the Masters have lorded over media partners CBS and ESPN for decades, controlling coverage, narratives, and even the language. If announcers step out of line, August National is ready to order a Code Red — just ask Gary McCord. FOS senior writer Mike McCarthy looks into [[link removed]] the Masters’ tight grip on its iconic tournament. The Masters’ famous green jackets cost only $250 to customize, but they’re really priceless. You can earn it by beating the world’s best golfers or by joining one of the globe’s most exclusive organizations. FOS senior writer Mike McCarthy explores [[link removed]] the meaning and value of sports’ most coveted piece of fabric.

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Front Office Sports Today They Said What?

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

“The way we conceptualize the strike zone is based on the way humans have called the strike zone for a long time. It’s not a perfect strike zone. It tends to give more latitude in certain situations, to certain pitchers … The [robotic umpire’s] perfect strike zone gets rid of those human touches.”

— Sports Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri on the difference between strike zones called by robots vs. regular umpires during the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today.

Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

Today's Action

MLB

08:38 PM

Nationals (+200) at Angels (-240)

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NBA

06:30 PM

Hawks (+170) at Heat (-200)

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NHL

08:30 PM

Predators (+165) at Flames (-195)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Question Of The Day

Do you drink vodka?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]] N/A [[link removed]]

Friday’s Answer

53% of respondents drink coffee regularly, 13% drink coffee often, 10% drink coffee occasionally, and 8% drink coffee rarely.

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