November 10, 2022

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No, LeBron James did not request a trade after all. Twitter’s controversial revamp of its verification process caused a lot of confusion [[link removed]] among sports fans, allowing several fake accounts to drop bogus bombshells from the likes of Adam Schefter, Aroldis Chapman, and King James.

MLP-VIBE Merger Creates Future of Pro Pickleball [[link removed]]

Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch

The pickleball war is over before it ever really began.

Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association Tour’s VIBE Pickleball League will merge to form one global, co-ed, team-based league, MLP’s Steve Kuhn and PPA’s Tom Dundon announced in a joint statement.

“Coming together as one team league allows us to build much bigger events, offer more prize money, enhance player development, pursue larger media and sponsorship deals,” the league announced.

The combined league will continue using the Major League Pickleball name and format. It also plans to boast [[link removed]] the top players in the world and maintain [[link removed]] the high-profile team owners it has accumulated in recent months.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and the duo [[link removed]] of Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters were all confirmed by MLP.Anheuser-Busch — which purchased [[link removed]] an MLP team Tuesday — is staying on.Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was the first of six VIBE owners announced [[link removed]] on Nov. 3.

A league source would not confirm the number of teams or schedule format to Front Office Sports.

Pickleball Planet

The strategic merger leaves the pickleball world with two major pro circuits: Major League Pickleball and the Association of Pickleball Professionals Tour.

The latter promotion focuses more on individuals than teams.

A’s Pursue Oakland, Vegas Projects Amid Election Upheaval [[link removed]]

D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland A’s remain in discussions for a new ballpark in both their home city and Las Vegas, but their negotiation partners are changing.

“I know [team president Dave Kaval’s] working tirelessly in both spots,” said [[link removed]] A’s general manager David Forst. “We’re just looking forward to having a new ballpark somewhere.”

Last month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that a new stadium in Oakland “just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”He later partially modulated his outlook, saying, “We’re in a stadium situation that’s really not tenable. I mean, we need to do something to alter the situation.”

Oakland is waiting to see how much funding it receives from the Department of Transportation and other sources to help cover infrastructure costs related to a potential $12 billion development at Howard Terminal.

Elections Have Consequences

Though the A’s are unlikely to strike a deal with Oakland before mayor Libby Schaaf leaves office, she is projected [[link removed]] to be replaced by Loren Taylor, who also supports the project.

Both Taylor and runner-up Sheng Thao abandoned city council seats to run for mayor.

Meanwhile, the Nevada governor’s race remained too close to call with incumbent Steve Sisolak trailing Joe Lombardo with 77% of the vote counted.

Sisolak has told [[link removed]] Kaval and Manfred that there is little appetite in Nevada to offer public funds for an MLB ballpark, which could dampen the A’s prospects of moving there.

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Newcastle Owners Invest $80.6M in Premier League Club [[link removed]]

NUFC

Newcastle United will receive an injection of $80.6 million after being sold late last year.

In October 2021, a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund — Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund — purchased [[link removed]] Newcastle for $409 million in an arduous and controversial sale.

Before the deal was completed, activists had called on the Premier League to consider Saudi Arabia’s alleged human rights violations, arguing that a deal would be sports-washing on the Saudi Kingdom’s behalf.

As a result, the consortium’s purchase was made separately from the Kingdom.

Since last year, the ownership group has invested $510.5 million in Newcastle.The consortium owns 80% of the club.Property developers Simon and David Reuben own 10%.The remaining 10% is owned by PCP Capital Partners.

Newcastle is in the midst of a promising Premier League season, currently sitting third in the table behind Arsenal and Manchester City.

Intriguing Offer

Before the PIF purchased Newcastle, Manchester United owners Kevin and Edward Glazer reportedly offered [[link removed]] the PIF a 30% stake in the fellow Premier League club worth $787.7 million.

In 2019, PIF chairman Mohammed bin Salman expressed interest in Man U but denied any deal to be imminent. The PIF would purchase Newcastle for the promise of majority ownership.

Teqball Sets Sights On LA Olympic Games [[link removed]]

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

As pickleball only gets hotter in the U.S., another growing sport is looking for a similar spark.

Officials of Teqball — a soccer-and-ping pong hybrid — are looking to add [[link removed]] the sport to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Born in Hungary around a decade ago, Teqball is more popular overseas than in North America, but it won’t be going into the U.S. market blindly.

In January, The Teqball Group and FITEQ, the sport’s governing body, entered [[link removed]] an $850,000 agreement with ESPN to livestream 12 U.S. events and six tape-delayed highlight shows.In April, Teqball signed soccer great Carli Lloyd as its first U.S. ambassador.As of January, Teqball reportedly [[link removed]] had relationships with 17 MLS teams, all of which had tables in their facilities.

USA Teqball counts 1,000 professional players and 500,000 amateurs in the country.

There are currently no collective bargaining agreements, salary minimums, or broadcast deal shares in the U.S., and there is no union.

In 2021, Teqball generated $15 million globally, and its World Cup had a $200,000 purse.

Teqball Timeline

Teqball USA began a university tournament system earlier this year, with 400 colleges now owning tables and balls.

“No sport has ever been an Olympic sport without going through the collegiate pathway,” Teqball USA CEO Ajay Nwosu said [[link removed]].

Teqball, which is played by Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Neymar Jr., has also been added to the 2023 European Games, 2023 Asian Beach Games, and 2024 Bolivarian Games.

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In our latest episode, Ernest Baker, editor in chief of Front Office Sports, sits down with DAZN’s North American CEO Joe Markowski to talk about the rise of streaming across sports, how growing up in London influenced his career, and why women’s sports are the future.

Listen now [[link removed]] or watch on YouTube [[link removed]] for future episodes releasing every Wednesday.

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Conversation Starters From home runs to Hail Marys, Atmosphere Sports is bringing sports back to the center with scores, highlights, and more. Learn more [[link removed]].* District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine announced [[link removed]] there will be a “major announcement” related to his office’s investigation of the Washington Commanders on Thursday. After her appeal on marijuana possession charges was denied last month, Brittney Griner has been moved [[link removed]] to the Russian penal colony where she is expected to serve the rest of her eight-year sentence. Today's Action

NFL

08:15 PM

Falcons (-145) at Panthers (+125)

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Flyers (+115) at Blue Jackets (-135)

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07:30 PM

Georgia Southern (+145) at Louisiana-Lafayette (-170)

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Would you consider getting your teeth professionally whitened?

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Wednesday’s Answer

32% of respondents think pickleball will be a major U.S. sport.

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