THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week's newsmakers:
WIN: MLS -- Major props this week to DON GARBER and his staff for significantly expanding MLS' presence on both broadcast and cable TV. While Fox Soccer had been a partner since '03, moving from a cable network with 39 million homes to one with 76 million had to be a no-brainer. The three-year deal with NBC Sports also aligns all of the league's TV contracts for expiration in '14, at which point MLS would be set to go to market with two packages -- English and Spanish -- instead of three.
LOSE: TONY BRUNO -- The nationally syndicated talk-show host provides yet another reminder that what you say on Twitter can quickly land you in hot water. In the aftermath of a bench-clearing brawl between the Phillies and Giants, Bruno hammers Giants manager BRUCE BOCHY and calls a Giants pitcher an "illegal alien." Despite quickly removing the post and apologizing, Bruno's poor judgment lands him a week suspension.
DRAW: UFL -- Heading into its third season, the league's financial struggles cause it to suspend operations for its Hartford franchise, leaving it with four teams for '11. Finances also lead the league to cut the game schedule from eight games per team to six. However, having some sort of season as opposed to an all-out collapse has to count for something. Looks like Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE will have one more opportunity to prove the viability of the league in a crowded sports marketplace.
