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Good morning! We have trivia today.
Explainers: This deal could change NFL viewing
To the normal sports fan, what happens in media boardrooms can be boring and tedious. Yadda yadda, rights deals, big money numbers, whatever. Let me fast forward to when my favorite team is on the TV.
But those tedious things have a profound impact on where and how we find our favorite team on the tube. There’s no better example than the exclusive report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, which we linked in yesterday’s newsletter, detailing how an ESPN and NFL Media acquisition could happen.
It’s so important I thought we should touch on it again, briefly. Two points:
- If a deal between the sides goes through, it would radically change how most of us watch the NFL. ESPN would acquire NFL Media, meaning things like Red Zone and NFL Network would appear on ESPN platforms, among other possibilities.
- Which addresses the larger question (and concern for the Worldwide Leader): How does ESPN survive in the changing digital landscape? As viewers have shifted away from cable, ESPN’s market share has decreased. Acquiring NFL Media’s programming would be a massive selling point for the company’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service, which will cost around $30 per month. Having Red Zone as a selling point there would move the needle.
Andrew’s report is a fascinating read, and it explains the tangible ramifications of this potential deal well. We should probably prepare for a new viewing experience soon.
Let’s keep moving:
News to Know
Hockey Canada verdict coming today
A judge will render a verdict today in the trial of five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team charged with sexual assault stemming from an incident that year. All five players have pleaded not guilty, and the case has rocked the hockey world in Canada. Read a recap of the trial, and then head to our live blog for coverage of the verdict as it breaks today.
Commanders, D.C. close to stadium deal
The Washington Commanders and D.C. City Council are nearing an agreement to build a new stadium at the old RFK site, sources told The Athletic’s David Aldridge. Everyone seems very pleased with the progress, and the final Council vote could happen next week. This all comes despite President Donald Trump’s threat last week to hold up the deal to force a name change. See more in David’s story.
More news
- ESPN’s Pat McAfee apologized to Mary Kate Cornett months after amplifying false rumors about the Ole Miss student. Read his full comments.
- Los Angeles FC is pushing hard to sign Tottenham Hotspur legend Son Heung-min, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio reports.
- MLS held its All-Star Game last night … without its biggest star.
- England will face Spain in Sunday’s Women’s Euros final after Spain’s thrilling late win over Germany yesterday.
- A Georgia football commit was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly participating in a drive-by shooting. More here.
- Dolphins OT Bayron Matos was airlifted to a medical facility after suffering an injury in practice yesterday.
- Jannik Sinner has rehired fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, the man responsible for purchasing the wound spray at the center of Sinner’s doping case. Read our full report.
- NASCAR will race on an active military base for the first time. See details here.
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Trivia: Let’s talk about ‘old’ people
There’s a tweet I love about the juxtaposition of what constitutes “old” among normal folk and “old” among professional athletes:
You: “I’m only 35, I have my whole life ahead of me.”
Sports Broadcaster: “Here comes the oldest player in the league. He’s 32. A miracle.”
— Troy Johnson (@_troyjohnson) May 19, 2024
We’ve been pondering older athletes this week, too, as Royals pitcher Rich Hill and tennis legend Venus Williams — both 45 years old — returned to the top of their respective sports. Our news team, thusly, devised a fun quiz. A great sample question for Pulse readers:
Sometimes the truth can be even stranger than fiction. Which of these players was older?
- Bernie Mac’s character returning from retirement in “Mr. 3000,” or
- The oldest player in MLB history to record a hit
Take the full quiz here. It’s a delight. We’ll run the answer tomorrow, too, in Pulse Picks.
What to Watch
📺 WNBA: Aces at Fever
7 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Will Caitlin Clark play? Remains to be seen, but this is still a fun game between two teams stuck in the middle of the standings. A’ja Wilson probably won’t win MVP, but she’s averaging 31 points per game in her last three regular-season contests. She’s enough to watch this game.
📺 MLB: Mariners at Angels
9:38 p.m. ET on MLB Network
Seattle is solidly a wild-card team for now, but we watch, of course, for the Big Dumper. Cal Raleigh has 39 home runs, which means he’s still on pace for 62 home runs this year. If it wasn’t for Aaron Judge’s existence, we’d be losing our minds over this.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
The MLB trade deadline is less than a week away. We’ve updated our big board with the top 50 players that could be moved. Buckle up.
Wait, the Brewers are the best team in baseball? Eno Sarris explained how this team cannot stop winning, despite its own actions.
The NHL offseason has fizzled a bit for the moment. Let’s check back in on the concern-o-meter for the league’s pressing issues, which include growth, Connor McDavid and more.
Here’s an interesting story from earlier this week on Premier League ticket prices for each team and, most importantly, how those prices affect transfer spending.
Brooks Peck flipped through a binder of Michael Jordan cards that every ‘90s kid seemed to have … and let us know how much they’re worth now. Click for dollar signs.
A related note: If you’re attending The National Sports Collectors Convention on July 31 and you want The Athletic to help you find a specific card there as part of a video project, email us at collectibles@theathletic.com.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Matt Rhule’s comments about his Nebraska predecessor Scott Frost. Read them here.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Venus’ tennis return.
(Top photo: Aaron M. Sprecher / Getty Images)