In N.Y., Keith Kelly writes the "apparent front-runner" to purchase SI is a "buyout group that includes" motivational speaker Tony Robbins and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert. Sources said that three other suitors, including Penske Media, WME and The Hill Owner Jimmy Finkelstein, "are said to have dropped out of the running." One of the "rumored suitors for Time magazine is said to be private equity firm TPG" (N.Y. POST, 7/20).
BIDDING WAR: DEADLINE.com's Dade Hayes wrote one question still pending regarding the Disney-Fox acquisition is who will "emerge as a buyer" for the Fox-owned RSNs, a $20B-plus portfolio whose sale is "required by the DOJ" (DEADLINE.com, 7/19). LHB Sports President & CEO Lee Berke said Disney "may offer" the RSNs up to a "number of buyers as compared to one single buyer." Berke: "In that case, with a number of interested parties and different strategies, they may very well drive up the price" ("Closing Bell," CNBC, 7/19).
TALK THE TALK: The MORNING READ's John Hawkins notes NBC golf analyst Justin Leonard is a "guy whose verbal skills and experience as a former top-level player seemingly would make him a candidate to replace Johnny Miller," who has "hinted that he might retire at the end of the year." There is "no doubt" that Leonard could "blossom into an excellent lead analyst, but it might take some time." His "superb sense of humor is built on dry wit and sarcasm, two components that don’t always translate to a large, seriously minded audience." Miller has been golf’s "ultimate polarizing figure for decades" (MORNINGREAD.com, 7/20).
ATHLETIC FIT? In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cites sources as saying that The Athletic has "emerged as the leading candidate to sign NBA insider Shams Charania, while there is a strong possibility he eventually will have a TV component as well." Charania, 24, has "developed into one of the top transaction news-breakers in basketball, competing with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski." Charania and Yahoo Sports "broke up this week after they could not agree on financial terms" (N.Y. POST, 7/20).
