Latest news with #ScottSoshnick
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sporticast 466: The Home Run Derby's Slam Dunk Contest Problem
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including Monday's Home Run Derby. The event, part of MLB's All-Star festivities in Atlanta, is missing the sport's biggest names. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani aren't hitting. Neither are Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Manny Machado, Elly De La Cruz or Bobby Witt Jr. The Home Run Derby appears to have a similar problem to the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest: The sport's biggest stars, the ones fans most want to see perform, don't want to participate. More from MLB National TV Ratings Are on a Heater at the All-Star Break NFLPA Head's Carlyle Gig Hid in Plain Sight, but Not on Union's Website Ex-NBA Players Union Head Tamika Tremaglio Joins Secretariat The hosts talk about why that is. Is it fear of embarrassment? Lack of meaningful prize money? Concerns over injury? They also talk about ways the event could be improved. For example, is there an avenue to involve pitchers? The All-Star Game starters, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, are a more enticing duo than any two players in Monday's Home Run Derby. Next the hosts talk about the latest at the NFLPA. Union executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. is under fire after multiple reports that he agreed to hide from players the result of an arbitration decision regarding NFL owners possibly colluding on player contracts. Howell has also been consulting for the Carlyle Group, the private equity fund, which was recently given the go-ahead to buy passive minority stakes in NFL teams. The hosts then discuss the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea upset PSG on Sunday to claim the title, which included a $40 million prize. The event was considered by many as a tune-up for the FIFA men's World Cup in North America next year. The hosts discuss the controversy leading up the event, the aftermath and where it goes from here. They close by hitting on a few other topics, including takeaways from the Wimbledon final and some interesting business stories coming out of the Tour de France. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sporticast 468: ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us'
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the latest with the WNBA's CBA talks. The women's basketball league and its players are still in negotiations over a new labor accord. A meeting over the weekend at the league's All-Star festivities in Indianapolis did not appear to yield much progress. Players then took the court at the game in black shirts that read, 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' More from NBA Seeks Supreme Court Review of 'Bork Bill' Case After Split Rulings Former NFLPA President JC Tretter Resigns in Latest Union Shakeup WNBA Players Say 'Pay Us' as Commish Offers Sunny CBA Outlook The hosts talk about the unique dynamics of this labor negotiation, and how much—if at all—to view it through the lens of recent CBA negotiations in major men's leagues. On one hand, players are publicly demanding things that far richer leagues don't share with their players. On the other hand, we've seen other women's leagues recently shoot past the richer men's leagues in terms of what they offer players. The hosts talk about the role that Unrivaled may be playing, either outwardly or inwardly, in the talks. They also talk about the growing anti-player sentiment among conservative media outlets. It seems possible that President Donald Trump could at some point weigh in as well. Speaking of Trump, he said over the weekend that the NFL's Washington Commanders and MLB's Cleveland Guardians should both revert back to their prior names. The two teams changed their mascots in the past half decade because of imagery and language that many considered racist against Native Americans. Trump went as far as to suggest that he could slow the Commanders' push for a new stadium if they don't revert back—even though it's unclear how he might do that. The hosts close by talking about the unraveling of the NFLPA. The football players association has been mired in controversy over the past week, including reporting about collusion with owners, misuse of union funds, allegations against executive director Lloyd Howell from a previous job, and potential conflicts of interest surround Howell and his ongoing consulting for the Carlyle Group. Howell resigned last week, as did chief strategy office (and former president) JC Tretter. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sporticast 467: What Is ‘Revenue,' Anyway?
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a curious clause in the contract of new Maryland athletic director Jim Smith. Smith's contract says he'd earn a bonus equal to his base salary—the biggest bonus in his deal—if the Terrapins' revenue increases by $50 million by the 2029-30 school year. The school told Sportico that its definition of 'revenue' tracks with that used in the NCAA's annual reporting. That format includes student fee money, government support and direct institutional support as 'revenue,' meaning Smith could theoretically earn that bonus without his athletic department actually generating any more money. Maryland spent about $133 million on athletics in fiscal 2024, with $18 million coming from those subsidy categories, according to data in Sportico's college finance database. More from Novel Finish to MLB All-Star Game Arrives Too Late to Save TV Ratings All-Star Rookie Duo Gives Mystics Stability Amid 'Uncertain' Future MLB All-Star Game Makes History With Home Run Tiebreaker Next they talk about the MLB All-Star Game. If the Home Run Derby was devoid of stars, the game itself delivered, particularly in its final moments. Tied 6-6 after the ninth inning, the contest was decided by a Swing-Off featuring three players from each team. The hosts talk about why the biggest names—like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani—were also absent from that contest, but why it was so successful anyway. Namely, the players themselves seemed to care about it. That trickles down to fans. They also discuss Juan Soto's reaction to not making the All-Star Game. The Mets slugger, who is on a $765 million contract, lamented his exclusion by citing the money he missed out on. Soto's contract reportedly has a $100,000 All-Star bonus. They close by talking about the WNBA All-Star weekend, the status of the league's ongoing labor talks, and a new case study about the New York Liberty. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sporticast 465: The Tour de France Is Back
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including new financial details about the recent sale of Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. According to a recent Sportico story, the $580 million deal assigned the NWSL team a $100 million valuation. That's a significant jump from the roughly $2 million that the team's previous owner, David Blitzer, paid to reactivate the team as an expansion franchise just a few years prior. Blitzer may not have made a sizable return on his investment in the MLS club, but the NWSL club was almost certainly a profitable transaction. Advertisement More from Next the hosts talk about the Tour de France. One of pro cycling's most prominent French teams announced this week that it would change ownership for the 2026 season. The deal was announced during the biggest race on the annual cycling calendar. The hosts talk about the economics of cycling teams and the way in which French labor law makes riders more expensive for teams based in France. Next they react to this week's Penn State men's hockey news. The program was a club team 15 years ago; this season it made its first Frozen Four appearance, and the Nittany Lions just landed Gavin McKenna, the biggest recruit in college hockey. McKenna is expected to be taken No. 1 overall in next year's NHL draft, and his decision to go to Penn State reflects the rise of NIL money across the NCAA, a new change in NCAA hockey eligibility rules, and the rapid rise of PSU's program. They close by talking through a handful of other topics. They include BYU freshman basketball phenom AJ Dybantsa signing a new partnership with Fanatics, and FIFA opening a new New York office in Trump Tower, the latest example of the global soccer governing body seeking a cozy relationship with the current U.S. president. Advertisement (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sporticast 461: Golden State Is the WNBA's Most Valuable Team
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen break down our recently published 2025 WNBA Valuations. The Golden State Valkyries debuted at the top of the rankings with a worth $500 million—or 10 times what the franchise paid in expansion fees in October 2023. Golden State benefits from its affiliation with the NBA's Warriors and San Francisco's Chase Center, but the new team has also quickly built a business all its own, buoyed by new season ticket holders (and high-paying floor seat guests). Advertisement More from With franchises rising, expansion fees are too. Cleveland could pay $250 million to join the league starting in the 2028 season. Scott and Kurt also discuss what the latest team valuations mean for ongoing collective bargaining discussions with players. In particular, Scott reflects on the comparison to NBA battles of the '90s—and one specific star who could be playing a Michael Jordanesque role for the women today. NBA affiliation has benefited W teams amid recent growth, giving franchises more ability to harness a boom in interest. New media partners in the coming years will further establish the league's position in the American sports firmament. The popularity of college basketball has contributed to the WNBA's success as well. Is it only a matter of time before GSV's new position atop the league's financial charts is challenged? The hosts also touch on an NHL head coach taking a minority stake in hockey equipment company CCM, plus a big day for the Sporticast's Focus Group of One. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
