May 10, 2024

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The WNBA season is drawing near, and it’s Caitlin Clark against the world (we’ll explain). … The drama around Diamond Sports Group never seems to end. … What’s trash for most people is gold for Lionel Messi. … Front Office Sports Today breaks down dealmaking in MLB. … And we look back on one of the most commercialized on-ice moments in NHL history.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]] and Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Arena Schedule Shuffle: Clark, WNBA Also Dealing With the NBA and NHL [[link removed]]

The Indianapolis Star

Caitlin Clark played in her new home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, for the first time Thursday night, as the Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 83-80 in their second and final preseason game before the WNBA season begins next week. The former Iowa superstar scored 12 points during her 32 minutes on the court in front of roughly 13,000 fans [[link removed]]—that’s nearly double any one Fever game last season in which Indiana averaged [[link removed]] a crowd of just over 4,000 per game.

The much-hyped matchup was originally scheduled for Friday night, but it was moved up one day due to the Pacers’ needing the venue to host the Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series in the NBA playoffs. There are no more schedule conflicts for the remainder of the Indiana–New York series, but if the Pacers are to rally from an early 2–0 deficit, a trip to the Eastern Conference finals could potentially disrupt Fever home games scheduled for May 28, May 30, and June 1. While bumping a preseason game up 24 hours didn’t appear to cause any big issues, interfering with regular-season games early into Clark’s rookie season would certainly create headaches for both the NBA and WNBA on a team and league level.

It’s all a sign that the continued rise of interest in the WNBA presents yet another wrinkle in the busy springtime happenings at arenas that are already juggling NBA and NHL postseason games on short notice, in addition to previously scheduled concerts and other events.

The Fever are one of six WNBA teams to share their full-time arena with an NBA or NHL team, and, this month, they have road games scheduled at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The NHL’s Kraken and Kings both made the playoffs but have since been eliminated. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have each decided to move one home game against Indiana later this season into larger NHL and NBA arenas in their respective cities.

Game Time

Outside of the start of the WNBA season, four venues in particular are still juggling busy schedules in the second rounds of the NBA and NHL playoffs: Madison Square Garden [[link removed]], Boston’s TD Garden, American Airlines Arena in Dallas, and Denver’s Ball Arena. While operators are used to quick turnaround routinely during the regular season, the postseason presents a unique challenge as schedules aren’t officially set until teams advance to the next round.

MLB Team Broadcasts Threatened As DSG-Comcast Dispute Escalates [[link removed]]

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

With a little more than a month to go before Diamond Sports Group attempts to get legal confirmation of its bankruptcy reorganization plan, the company’s distribution dispute with Comcast is now taking a much more public and angry turn.

Less than a week after the end of a prior DSG-Comcast carriage agreement and resulting blackout [[link removed]] of those channels to consumers, the Bally Sports parent went on the offensive by issuing a lengthy statement and open letter [[link removed]] to fans, all aimed at pointing blame at the No. 2 U.S. cable carrier.

“[Comcast’s] Xfinity hasn’t been willing to engage in meaningful discussions, nor will they put the channels back on while we continue to work through this,” DSG’s letter read in part.

As DSG also prompted fans to send Comcast their own letter, prewritten by DSG, in protest of the blackout, the company went on to say that “Comcast Xfinity’s extreme stance is hurting fans, leagues, and teams.”

DSG went on to say that “the stakes are high” in the Comcast dispute, and there is little debate on that front. The company is due to bring that reorganization plan to the bankruptcy court for approval June 18. DSG has previously said [[link removed]] that its prior deals with Charter, Comcast, and DirecTV collectively represent about 81% of its total distribution revenue, and that distribution revenue forms the vast majority of the entire Bally Sports business. Beyond those industry-leading carriers, DSG networks also are not carried on major entities such as YouTube TV, Dish Network, and Hulu Live.

Comcast disputed many parts of DSG’s public statements, particularly the claim that it is unwilling to engage in talks.

“Bally Sports chose not to exercise a right to extend their contract and they declined multiple offers, so now we no longer have the rights to their programming,” Comcast said in a statement provided to Front Office Sports. “Nearly 70% of our customers who received these networks didn’t watch them. We are moving forward with our plan to proactively credit millions of customers for the costs associated with them. Most will automatically receive $8 to $10 per month in credits.”

Broader Implications

The DSG-Comcast battle in part represents a particular flash point in an ongoing struggle for regional sports networks of all types to adapt to a rapidly changing media landscape that includes accelerating cord-cutting, as well as increasing pushback on many fronts to the costs associated with RSN programming.

In the meantime, individual pro teams carried by the affected Bally Sports RSNs, and their fans, are directly impacted by a carriage battle in which they have no direct role. MLB’s Braves, Marlins, Tigers, and Twins are among those foremost feeling the initial brunt of the blackout.

“We are disappointed in the stalled negotiation between Bally Sports Detroit and Comcast, and the inconvenience it may cause for Tigers fans,” the club said. “The Tigers have no voice in the matter, but are hopeful the two sides will come to an agreement as soon as possible.”

SPONSORED BY DICK’S SPORTING GOODS

Journey to the Starting Line

For this year’s 128th running of the Boston Marathon [[link removed]], the cutoff time was 5 minutes, 29 seconds faster than the qualifying standards, unfortunately resulting in more than 11,000 runners being turned away. But Dick’s Sporting Goods jumped in to give three of them a second chance to run Boston.

Dick’s Sporting Goods teamed up with Front Office Sports and the Boston Athletic Association to identify and chronicle three deserving athletes [[link removed]] to receive race bibs: John Neusch, Carly Curcuru, and CJ Reuland. These Boston locals, all of whom have qualified but have never run in the Boston Marathon, will now have the opportunity to achieve their long-sought-after goal.

Watch John, Carly, and CJ’s journeys to the starting line here [[link removed]].

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY The Art of the MLB Deal

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Former Marlins president and current podcast host David Samson (above, right) knows all about the art of the MLB deal. He joins the show today to illuminate the reasons behind the Luis Arraez trade, the problem with Oakland owner John Fisher’s math, and the science of relocation.

🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]].

ONE BIG FIG Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

$370,000

The amount set as the starting guide price for the auction [[link removed]] of the famous napkin that first committed Lionel Messi (above) to play for Barcelona when he was 13. While out to dinner with Messi and his father, Barcelona sporting director Carles Rexach asked the waiter for a piece of paper but was instead handed a napkin, on which he formally agreed to sign the rising soccer talent. British auction house Bonhams is selling the napkin, which currently has a bid of $275,000. Bidding is open for another week, and Bonhams projects it could reach $620,000.

TIME CAPSULE May 10, 1970: An NHL Moment Without Equal?

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

On this day 54 years ago: Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr scored a game-winning, overtime goal [[link removed]] in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Blues, sealing Boston’s championship sweep. Orr was tripped immediately after the goal, and the resulting image of him soaring through the air became known as the “flying goal,” and it still stands as arguably the single-most famous event in NHL history.

Also called simply “The Goal,” the Orr score was captured by Boston Record-American photographer Ray Lussier and the iconic image is actively merchandised more than half a century later, including by the NHL [[link removed]], official licensee Fanatics [[link removed]], and even Orr himself [[link removed]]. Orr’s famous goal also has become a statue outside of TD Garden (above) and was unveiled on the 40th anniversary of the event. Beyond the dramatics of the goal itself, the score further sealed Orr’s status as not only one of the NHL’s all-time greats but also an icon across all sports. And for Orr, it marked a dramatic peak within an epic year that included wins of the NHL’s Hart, Norris, Ross, and Conn Smythe trophies, as well as of Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award.

SPONSORED BY DICK’S SPORTING GOODS

Celebrating National Runners Month

Gear up for the 15th annual National Runners Month [[link removed]] at America’s No. 1 Running Destination, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Get your next pair of running shoes fast with One-Hour Pickup, Same-Day Delivery, and more convenient ways to shop. Plus, enjoy the latest launches [[link removed]] from top running brands like Hoka, On, Nike, Brooks, ASICS, New Balance, Adidas, and more.

So, get ready for your next mile [[link removed]] this May with a fresh pair from Dick’s Sporting Goods in celebration of National Runners Month.

Conversation Starters Maine unveiled $45 million in renovations for its men’s and women’s hockey teams as part of $170 million in upgrades for Black Bear athletics. Check it out [[link removed]]. Fourteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan has officially signed [[link removed]] the most lucrative homegrown contract in MLS history with the Philadelphia Union. As per the deal, the U.S. teen will be transferred to Manchester City when he turns 18, with Philadelphia potentially receiving up to $5 million. Lionsgate is in the process of developing a TV series [[link removed]] centered on the betting scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The untitled project is characterized as “a tale of trust, deceit, and the allure of fortune and celebrity.” Editors’ Picks NBA Says Reporter Interaction Factored Into Patrick Beverley Suspension [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]He’ll sit out four games at the start of next season. How an ‘Extremely, Extremely Rare’ Contract Created the Villanova Knicks [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Josh Hart’s second contract was unique in its structure, his agent and an expert say. Rick Carlisle’s Wild ‘Small-Market’ Rant Is the Pacers’ Last Shot [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Carlisle blames officiating for the Game 2 loss at MSG. His players disagree. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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