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Morning Edition

April 30, 2025

FOS has learned that William Morris-Endeavor, one of the world’s top talent agencies, aims to sell its baseball representation business. We dive into why, with a longtime union dispute playing a big role.

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

WME Looks to Sell Off Baseball Agency Due to Union Pressure [[link removed]]

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

A long-simmering conflict of interest in baseball is coming to a head as talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) is now looking to sell its baseball representation business and exit the sport, sources told FOS.

The forthcoming move arrives after WME parent company Endeavor completed a long-planned move [[link removed]] to become a private company again, and is now controlled by majority shareholder Silver Lake. The private equity giant also owns Diamond Baseball Holdings, a dominant entity in Minor League Baseball team ownership, with 43 teams in its portfolio, including the Single-A Dayton (Ohio) Dragons [[link removed]], owners of the longest sellout streak in U.S. pro sports.

The MLB Players Association, which certifies MLB player agents, has long prohibited those agents from also having direct or indirect ownership of MLB or MiLB teams or related entities.

A similar situation emerged three years ago when the union took issue with Endeavor buying up MiLB teams and threatened decertification of WME agents. That was resolved when Endeavor sold the franchises to Silver Lake in August 2022 in a $280 million deal.

The prior separation of Silver Lake and the publicly traded Endeavor, however, ended with the latter’s privatization and near-total holding by Silver Lake, resurfacing the conflict-of-interest concerns. Instead of Endeavor selling WME Baseball, Silver Lake could choose to sell DBH to resolve the conflict, but that is unlikely. Silver Lake has since more than quadrupled the size of DBH from the 10 teams involved in the 2022 deal, and that entity has become a colossus in the affiliated minor leagues.

Each of the principals declined to comment, but a source familiar with the developing situation said, “There are ongoing conversations about getting this into [union] compliance.”

With the Endeavor privatization, that company is creating a new entity, WME Group, that will include the bulk of the WME talent agency, IMG Licensing, marketing agency 160over90, and nonscripted content business Pantheon Media.

WME Football, meanwhile, has been acquired by former Endeavor executive chairman Patrick Whitesell. That deal satisfied similar conflict-of-interest concerns from the NFL Players Association between the football representation and a partial ownership of the Raiders by Silver Lake co-CEO and managing partner Egon Durban.

In baseball, however, the situation appears to be going in a different direction; sources told FOS that Whitesell is not interested in buying the baseball representation business.

While WME Baseball is not necessarily on the scale of other major agencies in the sport, such as Boras Corp., it does have former All-Stars and MLB award-winners such as Cubs infielder/outfielder Ian Happ, Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker, and Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe as clients.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS NETWORK

NFL's Top Female Exec on Advancing in a Male-Dominated World

In this episode of Redefined, NFL Chief Revenue Officer Renie Anderson shares her inspiring journey from assistant to one of the league’s highest-ranking executives. She opens up about navigating a male-dominated sports world, the challenges of balancing career and family, and the lessons she’s learned while breaking glass ceilings in professional football.

If you’re looking for real talk on leadership, career growth, and what it takes for women to thrive in the world of sports, this episode delivers powerful insights and motivation.

Redefined is a Front Office Sports Network show that celebrates the stories, experiences, and realities of multi-dimensional women in sports who are redefining success. New episodes release every Wednesday and can be found on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and the FOS website.

Watch the full Redefined episode here [[link removed]].

NFL Draft Hits Historic Viewership Highs Thanks to Sanders Saga [[link removed]]

The Post-Crescent

Big drama in the 2025 NFL Draft equals big viewership.

The league said Tuesday that it averaged 7.5 million viewers across all networks and digital channels for the three-day draft, up 27% from a year ago, and the second-best total in league history behind only the 2020 event fundamentally altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The draft got off to a banner start on Thursday, [[link removed]] as Round 1 averaged 13.6 million viewers, an 11% boost from last year, and also the second-best Round 1 on record. As Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, projected as a top-five pick, fell into the fifth round, where he was selected by the Browns [[link removed]], viewers stuck around in robust numbers.

Friday’s coverage of Rounds 2 and 3 averaged 7.5 million viewers, again the second-best mark ever and up a whopping 48% from a year ago. Saturday’s coverage of Rounds 4-7, meanwhile, averaged 4.3 million viewers, setting a record for the top third-day draft audience and up 43% from a year ago. The situation around Sanders, not chosen until the 144th pick, as well as the intense debate around his falling stock [[link removed]], undoubtedly contributed to that new broadcast milestone.

The viewership numbers add to a historic turnout of 600,000 on-site in Green Bay [[link removed]], the league’s smallest market, tied for the second-best draft attendance in league history. While essentially a reading of names, the NFL Draft has soared to become the league’s biggest event outside of the season itself and serves as a critical bridge to the next season.

The league’s ability to turn seemingly mundane events into must-see attractions will soon resurface [[link removed]] with the May 14 unveiling of the 2025 regular-season schedule [[link removed]].

EXCLUSIVE

Wade, Parker Expected to Join Amazon NBA Coverage

Sources told Front Office Sports that Dwyane Wade and Candace Parker are expected to be part of Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage. Wade would be joining as a hybrid game and studio analyst. Parker would be a studio analyst for both NBA and WNBA games.

You can read Ryan Glasspiegel’s full story on the additions and the state of Amazon’s NBA team here [[link removed]].

For all of our sports media reporting, interviews, and columns, subscribe to the Tuned In newsletter [[link removed]], which will arrive in your inbox twice a week.

Shedeur Sanders Has NFL’s No. 3 Rookie Jersey After Draft Slide [[link removed]]

Michael Ciaglo-Imagn Images

Despite being the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, new Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has the third-best-selling jersey so far among incoming rookies.

The NFL released a list of the 10 best-selling jerseys from the 2025 NFL Draft, as of Monday (in order):

Jaguars receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter Titans quarterback Cam Ward Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter Packers receiver Matthew Golden Colts tight end Tyler Warren Bears tight end Colston Loveland

The jerseys are selling for $129.99 on the official NFL Shop website, which is run by Fanatics. While Hunter’s No. 12 jersey and Ward’s No. 1 jersey top the list, Sanders’s is shown as 00 for now. There is no Browns player currently wearing No. 2, which Sanders wore in college, but he is listed as an unsigned draft pick on Cleveland’s official roster page.

Ups and Downs

The hot-selling jersey for a fifth-round draft pick is the latest twist in the roller coaster of events around Sanders.

As Sanders was not picked during the first two days of the draft, eventually falling to the fifth round [[link removed]] on Saturday afternoon, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. stole the show [[link removed]] as he was utterly perplexed by franchises passing on the prospect. Sanders and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will enter a quarterback room in Cleveland that is five-deep—and extremely expensive [[link removed]].

Meanwhile, Sanders was prank-called [[link removed]] during the draft by 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich, the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, one of many instances of prospects getting pranked [[link removed]]. Additionally, on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that a tweet from President Donald Trump may have helped Sanders finally get picked [[link removed]].

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Register Before Prices Increase Tomorrow

We’re in a golden age for sports media. Live games are the most-watched programs on TV. Women’s sports are exploding. Giant streamers are joining the party. And sports documentaries have never been hotter properties.

But the landscape is shifting beneath our feet. The cable TV bundle that supported national and local sports TV media rights for decades is under severe pressure. The NFL could opt out early from its $111 billion media deals. And talent like Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee are launching their own companies, demanding more autonomy.

Join us in New York City this September for Tuned In [[link removed]], where we’ll sit down with leaders in sports media—from athletes and on-air talent to media moguls and league executives—to discuss where we are heading in the world of sports media.

Prices increase on May 1— register now [[link removed]] for the best price.

Loud and Clear NFL Gets With the Times

“How are we not utilizing everything that we see in all these other leagues?”

—Former NFL player and current CBS Mornings host Nate Burleson, on the league finally using Hawk-Eye technology to measure first downs in 2025. This follows several high-profile ball placements and first-down calls being made manually by referees to wide dispute.

Burleson appeared on the first episode [[link removed]] of the relaunched Front Office Sports Today. Check out the show—and subscribe to our YouTube channe [[link removed]]l to follow all the great videos we produce.

Conversation Starters Netflix released its first trailer for The Fall of Favre. Featuring reporting by FOS, the documentary will tell the story of Brett Favre’s pursuit of Jenn Sterger and his involvement in the Mississippi welfare case. It’s set to debut May 20. Watch the trailer now [[link removed]]. Washington Mystics rookie forward Kiki Iriafen didn’t keep a single cent of her first NIL (name, image, and likeness) paycheck while playing at USC. Instead, she gave that money to her parents [[link removed]]. George Kittle just became the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, but the 49ers star has a big portfolio off the field, too, including being co-creator of Tight End University. Check it out [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Nike Apologizes and Removes ‘Never Again’ Marathon Ad [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The billboard drew criticism for wording often linked to the Holocaust. Teen Sprinter’s Suit Against Gatorade Dismissed In Ruling Judge Admits Is ‘Unsatisfying’ [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]Issam Asinga blames Gatorade gummies for a positive drug test. Tennis Has Another Doping Mess On Its Hands [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]A Grand Slam doubles champion was banned 18 months. Question of the Day

Have you bought the jersey of a rookie who was drafted outside the first round?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Tuesday’s result: 68% of respondents said London will become the first city to host four Olympics, while 32% said it won’t.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]]

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