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Franchises

NL Franchise Notes: Alderson Credits Wilpons, Katz For Changing Perception Of Mets

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said the perception "has changed" about the franchise being viewed as a small-market team. Alderson: "That’s a credit to [co-owners] the Wilpons and Saul Katz. I think they realized that we were gonna have to go through a dry period at the major league level at least to get back to where we wanted to be, and at the same time, they were prepared to invest in the team when the time was right. I think they’ve demonstrated that” (N.Y. POST, 2/12).

COMING HOME? In Chicago, Mark Gonzales writes under the header, "Timing's Right For Cubs To Bring Mark Grace Back To Organization." An official return of the former Cubs player would "strengthen the link between the franchise's best players of the 20th century and the current cast." Grace in an ambassador role "would fit seamlessly." As a former assistant hitting coach, Grace would be "wise enough not to step on the feet of the Cubs' current instructors." Grace's two alcohol-related arrests can "serve as a lesson to younger players as Grace has stayed out of trouble the last four seasons." He remains "in good standing" with the D-backs after serving as a broadcaster there from '03-12 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/13).

THE NAME GAME: In Pittsburgh, Bill Brink reported the Pirates signed a "15-year naming rights agreement" for their Spring Training ballpark in Bradenton, Fla., changing the name from McKechnie Field to LECOM Park. The field originally was named after former Pirates manager Bill McKechnie, who was "at the helm for a World Series title in 1925." The new home clubhouse is now "named after him." The Pirates have "played spring training games" at McKechnie Field since '69 (POST-GAZETTE.com, 2/10). In Florida, Doug Fernandes notes terms of the deal "weren't disclosed," but in August, Publix Super Markets agreed to pay $3M "over the next 15 years for the right to have its name affixed" to the Tigers' facility in Lakeland (Sarasota HERALD-TRIBUNE, 2/13).

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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