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Leagues and Governing Bodies

AFL, Players Union Making Progress On Labor Talks As Season Opener Looms

AFL Players Union Exec Dir Ivan Soto Thursday "indicated progress has been made” on reaching a new CBA, according to Austin Lyon of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Soto said, "The likelihood of a work stoppage has been reduced. The league has communicated with me and alluded that they will have something to present, maybe as early as today." Soto Wednesday said a strike was "likely." He noted that once he “receives an offer from the league, it would take about an hour to review, and player reps would have to approve the deal in time to avoid replacement players being used.” Lyon reports the AFL has “vowed to use replacement players” if a deal is not reached in time for the start of the season Friday night. The players and league are “trying to reach terms on a collective bargaining agreement, and the players are upset over low salaries.” Lyon notes most AFL players make $400 per game.” AFL Orlando Predators Managing Partner Brett Bouchy said that “offering refunds to ticket-holders for games involving replacement players hasn't been discussed” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/9). In Tampa, Brandon Wright notes AFL players on Wednesday “overwhelmingly voted in favor of advancing a possible strike.”  During the '11 season, three "marketing" players per team “were paid $1,000 per week while the rest made $400.” All players this season are set to earn $400 per week, with the "exception of starting quarterbacks, who are scheduled to make $1,650” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/9). In San Antonio, Richard Oliver reports players as part of the labor discussions “have asked the league to open its financial records.” But AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz said that there are “no plans to do so.” He added players “have the absolute right to strike or do a work stoppage.” Kurz: “The owners then have the lawful right to replace them and put on a football game” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 3/9).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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