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Franchise Notes

The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts reports "talk that Rogers Communications decided to get back in the hunt for the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan's majority share of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., was dismissed by a source close to the situation." The source said that there is "nothing of any consequence happening at present and that any mention of Rogers is speculation at best." The source added that "no one has yet come forward to look at MLSE's books" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/6).

THREE UP: In N.Y., Kosman, Robbins & DeCambre cite sources as saying that "at least three suitors have expressed interest this week in buying a minority stake in the Mets -- adhering to the terms that the team's owners find acceptable." The potential bids, "if they hold up through these early rounds," would allow Mets owners Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz "to retain control of the team." The Mets are seeking $200M for up to a 49% stake. Sources said that the three groups that "have expressed their intent to buy a minority stake" include the team of BTIG co-Founder Steve Starker and Marquis Jet co-Founder Ken Dichter; a group led by SkyBridge Capital Managing Partner Anthony Scaramucci; and a group led by Goldman Sachs Global Securities Division co-Head David Heller (N.Y. POST, 4/6).

RING'S THE THING: In Ft. Worth, Anthony Andro reports some MLB Rangers fans are "turning the pewter replicas of the American League Championship rings into green." The rings distributed to fans before Monday's Mariners-Rangers game "have become a hot commodity on eBay, with 103 of them on the auction site as of Tuesday afternoon." Rings have been selling for "more than $75, and one seller is asking $149.99." The Rangers "ordered around 26,000 of the rings at about $4 each." That number was "expected to cover everyone at the ballpark for a typical Monday crowd," but in addition to the ring giveaway there "were $4 tickets available in the upper deck." That "helped lead the way for walk-up sales of more than 6,000 and an attendance of 37,618" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/6).

REINING IN THE SPENDING: In London, Rory Smith reports Liverpool Owner John Henry "has admitted he was shocked by the sky-high wage bill the club was paying for a squad suffering from a chronic lack of depth and quality when his Fenway Sports Group consortium completed their takeover at Anfield in October." In an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, Henry said, "There was a huge multi-year pay-roll for a squad that had very little depth." While FSG officials "will continue to recruit after making clear their intentions in January" with the signing of several players, the ownership group "believes the wage bill has to present better value for money" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/6).

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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