October 17, 2023

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I remember Reebok’s initial forays in pro sports — especially how the Reebok Pump became a pop culture staple in the early 1990s — as well as the company’s subsequent decline into relative anonymity and changing ownership. So it’s fascinating to see Reebok’s latest moves, recruiting former spokesmen and Basketball Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson to leadership positions and moving into NIL deals. I wouldn’t bet against The Diesel and The Answer.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Netflix Finally Joins Live Sports Space With Golf [[link removed]]

Netflix

The newly created Netflix Cup — a made-for-television event developed by the streaming giant — is hardly on the level of an established golf major or championship in another top sport. But it does represent Netflix’s first move into live competition — and the entire business of sports will be paying close attention.

Expected for months [[link removed]] and building on a series of well-received sports documentaries, the Nov. 14 Netflix Cup golf tournament — featuring Formula 1 and PGA Tour athletes from the company’s popular “Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing” docuseries — will serve as a lead-in to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Staged in Las Vegas, the Netflix Cup will represent a key test of both the company’s ability to handle the mechanics of live sports streaming and the crossover appeal of golf and auto racing stars. Each of four competing pairings will include an F1 driver and PGA Tour golfer, somewhat similar to the format of Warner Bros. Discovery’s celebrity golf showcase, “The Match.”

“We love to see how our sports series have brought increased fandom to sports leagues and competitions all over the world. The Netflix Cup will take that energy to the next level,” said Gabe Spitzer, Netflix vice president of nonfiction sports.

Both the PGA Tour and F1 have sanctioned the event, which is seen as a trial balloon for the company without incurring the heavy cost and multiyear commitment of top-tier live sports rights. Prior Netflix bidding efforts for live rights to sports properties such as F1 ultimately lost to more aggressive competitors, but the company has streamed some live events in other genres, to varying degrees of success.

“We’re not anti-sports, we’re pro-profit,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, at an investor conference late last year.

Despite that sentiment, Netflix has remained under close watch as a potential bidder for rights by many leagues as they look to navigate a media landscape facing unprecedented disruption. The company has also looked [[link removed]] into outright acquisitions of sports entities such as the Premier Lacrosse League.

NFL Open To Active Players Joining Olympic Flag Football [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK — The NFL is encouraging active players to participate in flag football’s newly approved [[link removed]] inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling it the “pinnacle” of the sport on the global stage.

Responding to a Front Office Sports question at fall league meetings in New York, NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said the league will be working with key entities such as the NFL Players Association and national governing body USA Football to create a pathway for players to compete in those Games.

“We understand the desire,” O’Reilly said. “We think it’s a great opportunity, because the player interest is real and palpable. There’s a desire to work through with these stakeholders and get to that outcome for July [2028].”

O’Reilly’s comments amplify those made recently by current stars such as Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill [[link removed]] and former league standouts such as Rob Gronkowski [[link removed]] and Dez Bryant [[link removed]], all of whom have been public about their desire to play in the Olympics.

“Clearly in the leadup to the announcement, and then [Monday], there was a lot of excitement, as you might expect, from great NFL athletes and NFL legends who love the idea of representing their country on an Olympic stage,” O’Reilly said.

Such a move would bring the NFL more in alignment with other leagues such as the NBA and NHL, which have featured its top athletes in the Olympics for many years. With baseball’s reentry into the 2028 Olympics, dialogue has resurfaced [[link removed]] for potential MLB player participation.

O’Reilly said the league intends for the debut Olympic flag football tournament to coexist on the calendar with NFL team operations such as training camps. To that end, the majority of the July 2028 dates for the Los Angeles Olympics will likely occur before the veteran training camp reporting dates for NFL teams.

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WNBA Players Have Fewer International Opportunities Than Ever [[link removed]]

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The WNBA’s profile is arguably greater [[link removed]] than ever, and the recent news of the league’s expansion [[link removed]] will only increase its cache. But the brighter media spotlight can cover up a less promising reality for its players.

With an average [[link removed]] salary of $113,295 — exponentially lower than their male counterparts — many players often look overseas for additional opportunities to supplement their incomes. Those international options are quickly dwindling.

Russia was taken off the table in the wake of Brittney Griner’s 10-month imprisonment [[link removed]] and the country’s invasion of Ukraine, leading many WNBA players to avoid the country in protest. Now, Israel is also not an option.

The Israeli Female Basketball Premier League — which had been a fruitful development ground for younger WNBA players — has suspended play indefinitely in the wake of the country’s ongoing war with Hamas. If and when play resumes, some WNBA players remain reluctant to go there.

“Honestly, my gut feeling is saying no,” said [[link removed]] the Las Vegas Aces’ Alysha Clark, who has spent the last five offseasons playing in Israel. “I’d prefer to stay home and be with my family, be in the market in Vegas, and do that type of thing.”

Common Theme

Nearly half the league’s 144 players played in countries such as Australia, Israel, Italy, and Turkey during the past offseason. That attraction applies even to top players, as the 2023 WNBA maximum salary is $234,936. Even with a potential ceiling of $700,000 with bonuses and player marketing agreements, their earnings remain a fraction of those in men’s pro sports.

With the 2023 WNBA season nearing [[link removed]] an end and several countries experiencing various levels of instability, finding new places to play has become harder than ever.

“I just want to find somewhere else to play, get the experience,” said the Connecticut Sun’s Leigha Brown. “At this point, I’m not picky — I just want to find something.”

Conversation Starters Set to open next year, the $1.2 billion future home of the LA Clippers, the Intuit Dome will feature [[link removed]] power at every seat, an ACRE scoreboard, twice as many toilets than other NBA arenas, and “The Wall” — no suites, 51 rows, and a dedicated section for fans. The Dallas Cowboys’ Spanish radio broadcast team didn’t get a booth at SoFi Stadium Monday night — so they called the game from the main press box. Listen in [[link removed]]. The Cowboys and Post Malone officially opened [[link removed]] their own themed Raising Cane’s restaurant in Dallas. With a 32-foot Cowboys star over the drive thru and a custom silver exterior vinyl wrap, the venue offers a merch vending machine, plus team and artist memorabilia.

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Are You One of The Best Employers in Sports?

Whether it’s great leadership, focus on diversity, equity and inclusion or commitment to employee wellbeing, the Front Office Sports Best Employers in Sports Award [[link removed]]recognizes organizations who do right by their employees.

How do we determine who wins the award? We don’t — employees do! The award is based entirely on anonymous survey results from sports industry professionals.

Responses will be evaluated in collaboration with our primary research partner, Canvs [[link removed]], using patented AI technology free from all subjectivity and human bias. There is no word count limit and you can even use slang, text abbreviations, sarcasm or emojis to complete the survey.

There are only three more days to take the 2023 employee survey! Take the survey [[link removed]] by October 20 for a chance to recognize your company as one of the best in the business.

Editor's Picks Reebok Signs Angel Reese to Brand’s First Major NIL Deal [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]It’s the first signing under new president of basketball Shaquille O’Neal. Phoenix Mercury Reportedly Make Nate Tibbetts Highest-Paid WNBA Coach [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]The hire has been met with some criticism on WNBA social media. Expansion Teams at Forefront of NWSL’s ‘Turning Point’ [[link removed]]by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]San Diego Wave FC set an NWSL attendance record this season. Careers in Sports

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