No bigger winner in the business of sport this week than the Florida Panthers
Article content
The Association, on the other hand, is playing an NBA Finals Game 7 for the first time in nine years, when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Moreover, the NBA is in one of those scenarios where they'll have a compelling storyline and first-time champion, either way. That won't fully mitigate against the small-market matchup when it comes to TV ratings, but it will at least make the most of the showdown between the 25th biggest TV market in the U.S. (Indianapolis) and the 47th largest (OKC).
It was also a bullish week for emerging sport business tycoon Mark Walter, who announced that he will be adding the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA to his impressive list of sport properties, one that has featured the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012.
The deal between Walter, who is building on a personal net worth that was estimated at US$6.1 billion in February, and the longtime Buss family ownership group values the Lakers at US$10 billion, a record franchise transaction in North American pro sport.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Clayton Kershaw wins 3rd straight start, Miguel Rojas homers in Dodgers' 6-5 win over Nationals
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw persevered through five tough innings to win his third consecutive start, and Miguel Rojas hit a two-run homer in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. Kiké Hernández had two doubles and scored two runs, and Shohei Ohtani added an RBI single for the defending World Series champions. Los Angeles has won six of seven, improving to 6-2 on its 10-game homestand. Kershaw (3-0) yielded solo homers by Amed Rosario and Riley Adams, but held Washington to five hits and repeatedly escaped trouble. Tanner Scott gave up CJ Abrams' one-out homer in the ninth before finishing his 15th save. Pinch-hitter Luis García Jr. had a two-run double in the seventh for the Nationals, who opened a nine-game Southern California road trip by falling to 3-15 in June. Washington snapped an 11-game losing streak on Thursday. MacKenzie Gore (3-7) gave up a season-high six runs — five earned — seven hits and four walks while pitching into the sixth for the Nationals. He has one victory in his last 11 starts. Hernández doubled and scored in the third when Mookie Betts beat out the relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play. Betts then scored on Abrams' throwing error, and Andy Pages added an RBI single. Adams homered in the fifth, but Rojas' homer chased Gore in the sixth. Bench coach Danny Lehmann managed the Dodgers while Dave Roberts served a one-game suspension after his ejection from LA's loss to San Diego on Thursday. Key moment After García's two-out double with the bases loaded, Washington had two runners in scoring position when Nathaniel Lowe hit a tailing fly to left. Michael Conforto dove forward and made a dramatic catch. Key stat Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The 37-year-old Kershaw has won three straight starts for the first time since April 2023, coming through when the Dodgers' rotation is badly depleted by injuries. Up next Los Angeles' Dustin May (4-4, 4.46 ERA) faces Washington's Jake Irvin (5-2, 4.23) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Angels manager Ron Washington out indefinitely because of health concerns
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will be out indefinitely because of health issues, and bench coach Ray Montgomery will manage Friday night's series opener against the Houston Astros. Washington, 73, experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series against the Yankees. He was cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with the team Thursday night and underwent a series of medical tests on Friday. General manager Perry Minasian announced Washington's status before the game. The Angels did not specify what symptoms Washington is experiencing, but said the manager was able to address the team in the clubhouse along with Minasian on Friday, and he was planning to watch the game from the GM's Angel Stadium suite. Washington was not made available to the media. 'Wash has not felt great the last couple of days,' Minasian said. 'We want to make sure he's 100% before he's back in the dugout and managing. How long it's going to take, I don't know. I don't expect it to be too long. 'We all know how important this is for all of us, but health is more important than anything, and me personally, I'm not letting him back in the dugout until I know he's 100% OK. I love the guy too much.' Washington, who managed the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011, was hired by Minasian before a 2024 season in which the Angels lost a franchise-record 99 games. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Angels entered Friday night's game at 36-38 —- 6 1/2 games behind the Astros in the AL West. The Angels are 15-6 in one-run games, a major league-best .714 winning percentage, and 5-0 in extra innings. 'He wants to manage–I don't know if he's ever missed a game–but at the end of the day, you have to make tough decisions,' Minasian said. 'For me, I want to make sure the guy is absolutely healthy, and physically, he's in the right place before we put him back in the dugout. 'We play some close games. They're not the types of games you can sit back, kick your feet up and just watch. They're pretty tight games, stressful games, and I want to make sure he's good to go health-wise before he gets back in the dugout.' ___ AP MLB:
Vancouver Sun
9 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver could see 'real impacts on service levels' with budget-tightening: Internal memo
Vancouver residents could see reductions in service levels as a result of city council's direction this week to tighten the budget, the city manager advised staff in an internal memo obtained by Postmedia News. On Thursday, Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie emailed municipal staffers across departments, notifying them the city is 'implementing immediate measures across the city,' including delaying 'non-essential hiring' and restricting spending on travel, training, equipment and external service contracts. Mochrie's email came one day after council directed city staff to find efficiencies for next year's budget to reduce pressure on property taxes. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Against a 'backdrop of escalating costs,' council has asked city staff to figure out how to mitigate tax and fee increases for residents and businesses, Mochrie wrote. He noted that 'some scenarios may involve real impacts on service levels, operational budgets and future capital plan investments.' Mochrie wasn't available for an interview Friday, but responded to Postmedia by email, saying: 'Although we are aiming to protect direct public services as far as possible, we expect that deferred hiring and other interim expenditure reductions will impact department operations. It is too early to identify specific departments or quantify potential impacts.' A challenging financial environment has put pressure on both public and private sector employers in B.C. and across the continent . Seattle City Hall has had a hiring freeze in place since last year, and in April, staff were instructed to reduce or eliminate spending in several areas, The Seattle Times reported . Earlier this month, The Ottawa Citizen reported that the City of Ottawa is freezing hiring and spending. Other North American cities have implemented similar measures. Mochrie said that while Vancouver is 'implementing immediate restrictions on hiring and other expenditure control measures,' this does 'not amount to a full hiring freeze.' 'Through the remainder of 2025, we will continue to fill vacant positions as necessary to avoid significant reductions in services to the public,' Mochrie wrote. It wasn't immediately clear which types of positions would be deemed 'non-essential' or 'necessary.' Earlier this week, the city's finance department delivered a mid-year budget update to council, projecting that maintaining existing service levels and planned infrastructure investments for the 2026 budget would likely mean a property tax increase between six and seven per cent. At Wednesday's council meeting , Mayor Ken Sim said local residents and businesses can't bear further tax increases right now, and introduced a motion directing staff to prepare budget 'scenarios' for next year with property tax increases of 3 1/2 per cent or less. In an emailed statement Friday, Sim said: 'Pretending that we are not in a tough economic climate is not an option.' 'Vancouverites are facing challenging times. We are doing everything within our power to ensure that we are easing the burden on taxpayers while protecting front-line staff and core services,' Sim said. 'Having had additional conversations with the city manager and city leadership team, I am fully confident that planning for the 2026 budget and interim measures to keep costs under control will result in minimal impact to city service levels.' City council is expected to finalize the 2026 budget in December. dfumano@
