In N.Y., Bill Madden wondered how the MLBPA ever deemed Roc Nation Sports Owner Jay Z "worthy of certification as an agent." And how much longer is the MLBPA "going to turn its back on what other agents are contending have been blatant violations of union regulations?" Though Desiree Perez is "not listed as an employee, officer or agent" of Roc Nation Sports, she "apparently was very much front and center in the negotiations" between the Mariners and 2B Robinson Cano. An MLB source said that there have been "ongoing discussions with the union about Jay Z, discussions that have heated up considerably in light of all the Desiree Perez revelations" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/20).
SPLIT DECISION: MMA JUNKIE's Fowlkes & Downes discussed Bellator's first PPV event, which aired last Saturday. Downes wrote, "They didn’t deviate from their usual formula too much. They delivered what I expected. I would watch it again, but content is king." He added, "I’m not sure Bellator’s roster is deep enough to put on pay-per-view cards with regularity." Fowlkes wrote it "felt way more like MMA without a net than your standard UFC event does." Downes noted the event "improved Bellator's status." However, Bellator Chair & CEO Bjorn Rebney "sidestepped questions about the initial gate," and that is "probably not a good sign" (MMAJUNKIE.com, 5/18).
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: In Indianapolis, Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute President John Ketzenberger wrote in a special feature that recovery for open-wheel racing in the U.S. "resembles the economy" during the recession: "low and slow." Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar "aren't standing still, and their marketing departments are charging ahead." New events such as the Rev party and the Verizon Indycar Series Grand Prix of Indianapolis "show imagination and promise" (INDYSTAR.com, 5/17).
