Expanding on the issue of wealth inequality among sports owners with @mikevorkunov.bsky.social : why the net worth of your team’s owner matters more today

The @pablotorrefindsout.bsky.social reporting that Steve Ballmer may have circumvented the NBA salary cap underscores one under-covered trend: the exploding wealth inequality between (already super rich) sports owners. Since 2019, the wealth gap between Ballmer and the bottom tier has grown >3X

The Arena: Can Tennis Connect With Young Fans Through the Metaverse and TikTok? Read more from @germanotes.bsky.social 👇 https://bit.ly/41vjn9X

This was the inevitable next step after Paris 2024 opened the floodgates to product placement www.ft.com/content/4db4...

One of the biggest stories in the sports industry that not enough people are talking about is the recent trend of major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS) establishing their own, in-house venture capital funds. I spent a month digging into it: www.theinformation.com/articles/spo...

Say hi if you’re in the arena: [email protected] 🙃

I reported an offensive Caitlin Clark fake video on X to try and get it removed. Instead, I saw how deeply the platform is letting women down. My story on one of the most disturbing issues affecting women in the age of AI, and X's failure to curb it: www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/indi...

In May, I wrote about the proliferating scourge of online hate speech against athletes, particularly in the WNBA. That day, one of the owners of the Chicago Sky emailed me, asking to be introduced to some of the security experts I interviewed. Today, they announced a partnership:

Big Nike news: the company is going *back* to internal organization by individual sports, 5yrs after ex-CEO John Donahoe streamlined into men's, women's, and kids silos. In short, new CEO Elliott Hill is undoing everything Donahoe implemented. I wrote about these risks in '21

This week, Faith Kipyegon will try to become the first woman to break the 4-minute mile, an almost unthinkable athletic feat. Behind the race is Nike, which is using the stunt to further its own impossible goal: making athletic gear entirely via 3D printing www.theinformation.com/articles/com...

When a gambler harassed her at a track meet this week, Gabby Thomas got him banned from FanDuel. After exiting Roland Garros, Jessica Pegula shared a cascade of death threats on her IG. Athletes in individual sports have to fight online abuse alone. And betting is making it worse ⬇️

The WNBA says it has “not substantiated” allegations of racist fan behavior at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse during the Sky-Fever game. Regardless, the allegation itself led to actual abusive discourse on social media, according to experts who are independently reporting it to the platforms

The WNBA spent its offseason boasting of a new program to combat hate speech. Then came the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese foul and a maelstrom of alleged fan racism. I spoke to service providers who work w/ Team USA, the NCAA and others to fight athlete harassment. Why the W isn't doing enough:

The WNBA spent its offseason boasting of a new program to combat hate speech. Then came the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese foul and a maelstrom of alleged fan racism. I spoke to service providers who work w/ Team USA, the NCAA and others to fight athlete harassment. Why the W isn't doing enough:

Huge retail news. Nike is coming back to Amazon, years after breaking up with the ecommerce giant because it didn't crack down on counterfeiters. Now, as Nike is trying to rebound from slumping sales and a failed DTC strategy, the swoosh needs the everything store. Scoop w/ @theowayt.bsky.social

Creator Economy: Sports Influencers Edge Into Journalists’ Turf Influencers are increasingly crowding into the space once dominated by sports journalists. That’s good, but there are drawbacks, writes our columnist @germanotes.bsky.social. Read more👇

Remember when sports leagues would vigilantly police people sharing game highlights on social media? Nowadays, the sports establishment is cozying up to YouTubers, Instagrammers, and TikTokers, hoping content creators can convert distracted Gen Zers into dedicated sports fans ⬇️

The WNBA Draft kicks off tonight, and with it some of the highest demand for jersey sales. Last year, the W was caught flat-footed without enough Caitlin Clark gear. I spoke with sources in front offices and at retailers to get a fuller picture of what's different this year:

The WNBA has a bittersweet problem: the league is growing too fast to keep up with fan demand for jerseys, hoodies, and everything Big Ellie. Inside details on what teams are asking the W and Nike for (hint: white jerseys) + how everyone is prepping for the 2025 draft ⬇️

Figure skating and basketball are actually similar sports. You want to see people hit their jumps/ shots, and of course who wins and loses. But at their best, they’re about watching people get in a flow state and put on a show. Like Steph Curry in the gold medal game. And Alysa Liu last night.

New: Nike is collaborating with Alex Morgan & Sue Bird's startup Togethxr to release their "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" apparel, underscoring demand for women's sports merch as well as Nike's continued bet on collabs with emerging brands (ie NikeSkims)

Who's that paying a record $6.1B for the Boston Celtics? Presenting @theinformation.bsky.social power list of tech moguls who own sports teams. It's a snapshot of how tech money is flowing into sports, and our corresponding feature reveals the intersecting influence of both industries⬇️

Spring cleaning and found a real piece of OG tech (!!)

New York City bodegas are trying to keep prices of bacon egg and cheeses down by using liquid eggs. Patrons are NOT having it. Platonic ideal of a local economic story. www.nbcnewyork.com/new-york-cit...

Today is going to be a hall of fame day on WFAN

This year’s NBA All Star broadcast was a reflection of the chaotic media era we are in: a bittersweet farewell to TNT and cable and the concept of a coherent 3-hr broadcast; the injection of YouTubers and celebrity analysis and a format primed for bite-size highlights.

Has anyone bought these, what’s happening here

Adam Silver says the reason that the Steph-Sabrina 3pt shootout didn’t happen this year is because “we just weren’t feeling it….it just felt forced.”

Welcome, Weekenders! In this edition of Weekend: tech’s AI-driven nuclear dreams; a vibe shift in nuclear investing; plus the NBA invades tech’s turf. Read more from @germanotes.bsky.social👇

hello from SF 👋 hoping to see many of you at All Star weekend but if you’re in tech / venture capital etc and want to talk sports industry while I’m in town drop me a line: [email protected]

This is the funniest possible week to resurface this idea.

Apropos of PGA-PIF deal under review by DOJ: PGA Tour says commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with President Trump today and "asked the President to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just reiterated the likelihood of an international Super Bowl, as well as the likelihood of an overseas NFL franchise. We tackled the how and why it might happen in @theinformation.bsky.social this weekend www.theinformation.com/articles/wha...

Quote that Mavs GM Nico Harrison gave to Fortune last month for its profile on the new Nike CEO

how'd I do

From a business POV, if the Luka trade sets a precedent for front offices that no one is untradeable, it could accelerate a generational break in sports fans declaring loyalty to players > teams. There's already documented evidence that Gen Z behaves this way; if you run a franchise, why risk this?

The Arena: What Netflix and the NFL Could Both Want International growth is a preoccupation across sports—and streamers. And for pro football, nothing would be bigger than an overseas Super Bowl. Read more from @germanotes.bsky.social👇

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the Super Bowl could head overseas one day. How could America’s biggest television, music, and sporting spectacle be exported to London or Berlin? And why? I asked around the industry: www.theinformation.com/articles/wha...

Hi hi hi, I've got a new Arena column landing tomorrow. But as I'm settling into this new role as a columnist, I've been thinking about how to keep dialogue open with readers. Should I be more chatty here? What's everyone watching, sports-wise?

For my latest column, I visited TGL and Unrivaled, two new sports leagues debuting this month trying to modernize golf and women's basketball. Join me on the South Florida Startup Sports Tour as we dissect the perks and risks of launching a new league www.theinformation.com/articles/spo...

For my 1st feature @theinformation I spoke to Sabrina Ionescu, Nike, Moolah Kicks & more about consequential debate within women's sports: should female athletes–& the companies behind them–cater exclusively to female audiences? Or should they create products for men & women alike?

The Arena: Introducing our new coverage of the business and future of sports! The sneaker wars have a surprise twist: Female basketball stars can outsell men. Read more from @germanotes.bsky.social 👇

Today is my first day at @theinformation! My new email is [email protected]. Sports people — or anyone with a good story— lets be in touch 😊

This was metal

New platform, new job! Joining @theinformation.bsky.social next month to write features on the business of sports, the coolest beat in the world. More soon! t.co/nJW3jo5COY