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NBA Franchise Note: Leonsis Quiet About Grunfeld's Future Despite Improved Play

In DC, Mike Wise notes Wizards and Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis will not discuss the future of Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld "just as he won’t talk about" the future of Capitals VP & GM George McPhee. All Monumental Sports & Entertainment business "apparently will be handled this summer." While McPhee "may need a Stanley Cup playoff run of at least two or more rounds to warrant an extension, the signs of Grunfeld being re-signed are growing daily." Wise: "I thought Ernie was finally toast ... but the recycling king did it." The Wizards have "a very good core group, with its two best players 20 and 23 years old, respectively" and have "put themselves in position salary-cap wise to spend in free agency the next two seasons" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/7).

THINK TANK: CBS Sports Network's Tony Luftman said the idea that some NBA teams are tanking this season for a better draft pick is "terrible" for the NBA. He said, "The saddest part of this is that it's the moral failure of the NBA to allow this system to continue. The essence of competition is seeking victory, and yet you're rewarding teams for losing." But CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel said, "The 76ers aren't trying to lose, they can't win. They're not any good" ("Rome," CBS Sports Network, 3/6).

IGNORANCE IS BLISS? Knicks fans planning are planning a rally on March 19 to protest Owner James Dolan's handling of the team, but ESPN's Max Kellerman said the team's supporters are "missing it again." Kellerman: "We have to ignore (the team), boycott them until Dolan sells the team. Do not protest because it shows you're still interested" ("SportsNation," ESPN2, 3/6).

DINO DIGS: The Raptors on Thursday formally announced the return of their original purple jersey for select home games next season when they celebrate their 20th anniversary in the NBA. The uniform top features the Raptors font in silver with the team's dinosaur motif in action with basketball in hand (Raptors).

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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