August 28, 2023

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It appears conference realignment drama is going to persist through at least the start of the college football season as Cal and Stanford still don’t have a home for 2024 — and don’t seem to be making the desired progress.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour season is over [[link removed]] but LIV Golf is thinking big for 2024, FIFA is getting involved in the Spanish soccer federation scandal, and the A’s are close to choosing a temporary home while their new home in Las Vegas is built.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Cal, Stanford Reportedly Want To Join Big 12 If ACC Talks Stall

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 college football season begins in earnest this week but two of the remaining four Pac-12 teams are putting all their focus on finding a home for 2024.

Stanford and California have been linked to potential ACC expansion, but progress has been slow. Now, the two schools may be thinking about finding a way into the Big 12, too.

According to a recent report [[link removed]] in the San Francisco Chronicle, Cal and Stanford have already begun exploring the possibility of joining the Big 12 in the event that joining the ACC doesn’t work out. It is unclear what steps the schools have taken in relation to a potential Big 12 move.

Despite the reported new efforts, the Big 12 may not even be interested in the two universities. The Action Network reported [[link removed]] the conference has not had conversations with any of the remaining Pac-12 schools and has no intention in engaging with those schools.

Earlier this month, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yorkmark said [[link removed]] the conference was done expanding “right now” and was happy to have 16 teams for the 2024 season.

Taking The Blame

Arizona State — one of four Pac-12 schools joining the Big 12 next year — issued a self-imposed one-year bowl ban [[link removed]] amid an NCAA investigation for possible infractions incurred under former head football coach Herm Edwards.

ASU finished 10th in the Pac-12 last season, with a 3-9 overall record. The Sun Devils made three bowl games under Edwards from 2018-21.

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FIFA Suspends Spanish Federation President As Scandal Escalates

FIFA

FIFA on Saturday provisionally suspended Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, for at least 90 days following his unsolicited kiss of Jenni Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final, marking the latest flashpoint in a quickly escalating scandal that has rocked the sport.

The governing body was moved to act after Rubiales defiantly refused to resign amid mounting pressure, calling the calls to step down a “social assassination” by “false feminists.” The Spanish national team then threatened [[link removed]] to not take the field until Rubiales’ removal.

Rubiales and the federation are also prohibited from contacting or attempting to contact Hermoso or her inner circle. The suspension is pending disciplinary proceedings opened Thursday against Rubiales.

“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all persons, and therefore condemn with the utmost vigor any behavior to the contrary,” the organization said.

The dispute represents an ugly coda to what had been a highly successful [[link removed]] WWC event. And even after the FIFA suspension, tension continued between Hermoso and Rubiales. Hermoso has been adamant that she “felt vulnerable and the victim of aggression, an impulsive, sexist act which was out of place and with no consent on behalf.”

But the Spanish football federation responded to FIFA’s action by accusing Hermoso of changing her story. “The facts are what they are, and no matter how many statements you put out to distort reality, it is impossible to change what happened. The peck was with consent.”

At least 11 coaches and technical staff members across Spanish women’s soccer have resigned in condemnation of Rubiales.

NWSL’s Show of Support

The rising issue has also forced other soccer leaders to respond.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said leaders of leagues, federations, and governing bodies “must protect our players,” noting that the “actions by the Spanish federation are unconscionable.”

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LIV Golf Optimistic For Banned Players’ Future Integration Into PGA Tour

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The PGA Tour concluded its season on Sunday, but LIV Golf has three more events on its schedule and remains bullish on operating as normal next year.

Despite the controversial league’s uncertain future as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund negotiates a definitive agreement with the PGA Tour, LIV’s 2024 schedule could be unveiled before its next tournament in Chicago from Sept. 22-24.

“We’re putting the final pieces to that,” acting COO Gary Davidson told Front Office Sports. “I would be surprised if we didn’t have it within the next couple of weeks.”

Details have been scarce on a timeline for banned players potentially returning to the PGA Tour, but LIV appears to see a clear path forward, encouraging its golfers to play wherever and as much as they want outside of its 14 planned events per year.

“We want them to compete in our team events and commit to that,” Davidson said. “… But outside of that, we think it’s good for the game for players to go and play elsewhere.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan originally said he didn’t see LIV existing alongside the PGA Tour but complications with completing the framework agreement could mean that LIV will be operating [[link removed]] as its own entity until at least 2025.

A task force has been developed by the PGA Tour to determine how to allow banned players back and best compensate players who remained loyal. The PGA Tour will host 10 more events in 2023 under its new fall series, and the Ryder Cup takes place in late September.

A’s Closer To Choosing Temporary Home During Vegas Stadium Construction

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland A’s are close to a decision on a temporary home while a new ballpark is built in Las Vegas, with three leading candidates.

A’s president Dave Kaval said the team will likely either stay at Oakland Coliseum, or else choose between the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park and Las Vegas Ballpark, home to Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate. “I think those are the three most likely scenarios and how that plays out,” Kaval said [[link removed]].

Since the A’s current Coliseum lease expires after the 2024 season and the new Las Vegas ballpark isn’t projected to open until 2028, the temporary location issue has been among the most problematic [[link removed]] in the team’s relocation saga.

Three Different Problems

The three facilities on the list all present further potential issues.

The A’s hold MLB’s worst attendance at the Coliseum, and that situation — as well as fan disgust [[link removed]] with team owner John Fisher and the facility’s deterioration — isn’t likely to improve with three more seasons of play there.

Oakland is also reportedly [[link removed]] pushing MLB for additional concessions in return for the team staying at the publicly owned Coliseum, including leaving the A’s name behind upon moving to Las Vegas, and perhaps regaining an franchise in eventual league expansion.

Playing at Oracle Park would cut heavily into revenue opportunities for Giants Enterprises, which books ancillary events at the ballpark and is an arm of Oakland’s Bay Area rival. Two MLB clubs also haven’t shared a home stadium since the 1974-75 New York Mets and Yankees both played at Shea Stadium during renovations to the former Yankee Stadium.

Las Vegas Ballpark features major league amenities but is subject to extreme temperatures in the summer — and would need a seating expansion from the current capacity of 10,000.

The final decision will ultimately be driven by MLB, with the MLB Players Association also involved.

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Conversation Starters Coming off an AAC Championship and a Cotton Bowl victory, Tulane has unveiled [[link removed]] Phase I of its new football facility. Mike Trout and Tiger Woods have finalized [[link removed]] course-routing on their New Jersey golf club, Trout National – The Reserve. Opening in 2025, the property will offer an 18-hole course by TGR Design, an expansive putting course, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, and lodging. This week, Illinois finished $40 million worth of renovations on its Ubben Basketball Complex. Take a tour [[link removed]]. Editor's Picks Broncos’ Stadium Gets $100M Makeover Under New Ownership Group [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]Upgrades include a 72-foot tall, 225-foot wide video board. ESPN Settlement with Keyshawn Johnson Clears Move to FS1 [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Johnson had about $18 million left on his multiyear deal with ESPN. How ESPN and Fox Became College Football’s Broadcast Duopoly [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]] and Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]There's ESPN and Fox -- and then there's everyone else. Question Of The Day

Would you be interested in attending a Formula 1 race?

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Friday’s Answer

Of those who work, 30% of respondents work remote, 34% work in-office, and 36% work hybrid.

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