March 2, 2022

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OTD in 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game, a record that will likely never be touched. At the time, Wilt was making $100,000 in salary and endorsements, or $760,000 today — not even the veteran minimum.

MLB’s Last Work Stoppage In 1994-95 Proved Costly

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

On Tuesday, the MLBPA unanimously agreed to reject the league’s “final best offer.” Now, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced [[link removed]] the cancellation of the first week of the season.

It’s the first time since 1994-95 that the league has canceled games due to a labor dispute.

Lost player paychecks [[link removed]] and owner revenue are foregone conclusions. The question now is if 2022’s work stoppage will have as devastating an effect on baseball as the one 27 years ago.

The ‘94 World Series was canceled by the players’ strike — the first and only time a championship had been missed since 1905.The Montreal Expos, who had the best record in the league at the time of the strike, might’ve won the World Series.Following the strike, the Expos had to slash payroll — the first domino to fall in a slide that culminated in a move to Washington, D.C. a decade later.Attendance plummeted in the 1995 [[link removed]] season to 25,048 fans per game, down from 31,240. The league would not reach pre-1995 numbers again until 2006.

MLB is well aware of its waning popularity — the implementations of the pitch clock and limited mound visits are indications that the league acknowledges a lack of fan engagement.

The league has already lost fans with the lockout — a lost season would be baseball’s biggest blow in decades.

Luka Doncic Vindicating $207M Extension and Porzingis Trade

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Far from struggling — as some predicted — the Mavericks and Luka Doncic are surging after the deadline trade of Kristaps Porzingis.

Since Doncic became Dallas’ Lone Star [[link removed]]on Feb. 10, the three-time All-Star is averaging 35.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists with a 114.7 offensive rating — and the Mavs have won nine of 11, good for the 5-seed in the West.

Luka entered the season as the MVP favorite (+400) but began the campaign out of shape [[link removed]] and injured his ankle in November, dropping his odds dramatically.

He likely won’t win the award as the seventh-favorite (+3000*) with 20 games left. But his historic run at least proves he was indeed worthy of this summer’s max extension.

When his $207 million max extension kicks in next year, he’ll have the third-largest contract in the NBA behind Giannis Antetokounmpo ($228M) and Steph Curry ($215M). He’s only making $10 million this year, the fifth-highest annual salary on the Mavericks.He became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1966 to record multiple games with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists.

Meanwhile, Porzingis still hasn’t played a single game for a Washington team currently out of a play-in spot.

His injury history and remaining three-year, $101 million contract only further vindicated Dallas’ decision.

SPONSORED BY NIKE

How Nike Is Leveling the Playing Field

The fight for racial equality has gained much needed attention and amplification from people and organizations throughout the sports industry, including Nike.

Check out [[link removed]] the recent conversation between Ernest Baker, Editor-in-Chief at Front Office Sports, and Jarvis Sam, Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Nike as they go into detail about the company’s approach towards celebrating Black History Month through three initiatives:

The Black Community Commitment 2022 Black History Month Product Launch The Future Movement

Watch now [[link removed]].

Max Verstappen Ties Lewis Hamilton with Record $53M Contract

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

In December, Max Verstappen squeaked by legend Lewis Hamilton in the final race of the season for his first Formula One World Drivers’ Championship.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old joined Hamilton at the top of the highest-paid F1 drivers list, agreeing to a multiyear deal with Red Bull Racing for a reported $53.3 million a year.

With seven-time champ Hamilton in the final stages of a storied career at age 37, Verstappen’s meteoric rise positions him as the future face of Formula One.

At 17 years, 166 days, he became the youngest driver to compete in an F1 race (2015 Australian Grand Prix).At 18, he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix to become the youngest F1 Grand Prix winner.Verstappen’s 10 wins in 2021 snapped Hamilton’s streak of seven straight years with the most F1 victories.He has a reported [[link removed]] net worth of $60 million.

His stunning victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — in which he passed Hamilton on the last lap to win by 2.256 seconds — also made him the first Dutch F1 World Drivers’ Champion.

Verstappen will begin defending his title when the 2022 season kicks off March 20 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But for at least one more season, Hamilton (+145*) remains the favorite for the championship over the young superstar (+285*).

Making Headlines

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Tennis: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina defeated Russian Anastasia Potapova in the opening round of the Monterrey Open; the World No. 15 said any prize money she earns from the tournament will go toward the Ukrainian army. The champion receives $31,000.

NFL: The Cardinals announced contract extensions for general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury through the 2027 season.

Golf: Tiger Woods won the inaugural Player Impact Program, which measures a golfer’s popularity. Woods received a bonus of $8 million for winning; second-place Phil Mickelson received $6 million.

Today's Action

NHL

07:38 PM

Sabres (+300) at Maple Leafs (-370)

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NBA

08:10 PM

Kings (+200) at Pelicans (-250)

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NHL

07:38 PM

Blues (-105) at Rangers (-115)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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

Written by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Anthony Puccio [[link removed]], Chris Kuc [[link removed]]

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