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Michael Rubin reportedly mulling bid on NFL's Panthers....Oak View Group gets $100M investment from Silver Lake...."MNF" has a new play-by-play voice for '18

Fanatics' Michael Rubin Reportedly Looking To Bid For Panthers

Fanatics Founder & Exec Chair Michael Rubin is "looking into a potential bid" for the NFL Panthers, and it is "possible Rubin could bring on a partner," according to sources. Rubin's net worth reportedly is around $3B, and sources added that he "likely would not have the ability to buy the team on his own." Fanatics' business relationship with the NFL, which "includes an equity investment, isn't likely to be a barrier." One source said, "Michael is part of the next generation of where sports and business is going" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 3/11). Rubin is "considered a serious bidder," and he "enters the fray with formal bids due in a couple weeks, as NFL ownership prefers to get a deal approved by the owners meetings in May" (ESPN.com, 3/11).

Source: Oak View Group Gets Investment From Silver Lake

Oak View Group is "getting a large cash infusion" from S.F.-based private-equity firm Silver Lake. A source said that the firm is offering more than $100M "in exchange for an undisclosed equity stake in the two-year-old company." That a tech-focused private-equity firm is "taking a stake in a venue company signals how valuable the live-events business has become as well as the growing role technology plays in how venues, teams, artists and fans interact at those events" (WSJ.com, 3/11).

McDonough Out As "MNF" Voice; Will Call ESPN CFB Games

By John Ourand

ESPN has decided to move forward next season with a completely new announcing team for "MNF," two months after Jon Gruden officially left the booth. In a release late Friday, ESPN said that Sean McDonough, “MNF’s” play-by-play voice for the past two seasons, will return to college football. Sources said Joe Tessitore will step in as “MNF’s” new play-by-play voice; the network has not decided on an analyst. The N.Y. Post was the first to report that Tessitore would replace McDonough.

McDonough’s agent Sandy Montag described the decision as mutual, saying that when ESPN’s Exec VP/Content Connor Schell and Senior VP/Events & Studio Production Stephanie Druley first proposed it, McDonough jumped at the chance to return to college football. The two sides had been in discussions for the past month about the best way to move forward, resulting in a new multiyear deal that will see McDonough call a weekly high-profile college football game, plus the CFP semifinal that Tessitore had called in previous years. “College football is where he belongs,” Montag said. “If you think of Sean McDonough’s brand, it’s really college football. Given what’s been going on in the last month (as ESPN searched for Gruden’s replacement), he felt this was the best move for him going forward.”

Montag described McDonough’s past two years at “MNF” as the "experience of a lifetime” for the announcer. McDonough also will call marquee college basketball games, The Masters Par 3 contest, as well as the CFP Championship on ESPN Radio.

Fervor Builds At Valspar Champ. With Woods In Contention

getty images

Tiger Woods today is seeking his first PGA Tour win since '13 at the Valspar Championship, and with his presence, attendance records "have already been shattered" and TV ratings have been "through the roof." The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort yesterday was "filled to capacity," and "hopeful optimism gave way to bona fide fervor" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/10). Yesterday saw "arguably the largest crowd" in the tourney's history (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/11).

On Friday, when Woods gained a temporary lead, fans "crashed the PGA Tour's app" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/11). Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer said with Woods contending, "People that don’t normally watch, they watch" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 3/11). ESPN’s Michael Collins said, “I've talked to a couple of volunteers that have worked here since the tournament's been here, and they all said the same thing. They have never, ever seen crowds this big" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/10). It "isn’t too dramatic to say that, given how far Woods has fallen from his dominant days, a win Sunday might be as significant as any" in his career (N.Y. POST, 3/11). Woods began the final round one shot back of leader Corey Conners (THE DAILY). 

IndyCar Drivers Bullish On Series Landscape As Season Starts

IndyCar's '18 season begins today with the Firestone GP of St. Petersburg, and there is an "overall sense of solidarity, stability and an awareness of the duty each member" of the series has in cultivating its future. The series' momentum "is tangible." Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay said, "This is definitely a different landscape in open-wheel racing than we’ve seen for quite some time now. As far back as I can remember, this is the healthiest we’ve been as a series." Tony Kanaan added, "Look at the all of the teams, look at the sponsors, the new drivers. At least since ‘The Split,’ this is the healthiest we’ve been. And I’m not just saying that to make IndyCar look good. There’s proof" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/9). The INDIANAPOLIS STAR's Jim Ayello: "5 Things I Think Ahead Of The IndyCar Season-Opener In St. Petersburg."

College Tourney Attendance Notes: Big East Draws Well At MSG

Several conference basketball tournaments wrapped up yesterday, with the Big East drawing its highest attendance number in five years of the current 10-team format at MSG. The tourney drew capacity crowds in three of the five sessions this week, including yesterday's Villanova-Providence title game at 19,812. Overall, the tourney averaged 18,789 fans, up from 17,556 last year. Other attendance notes: 

  • Last night's Virginia-North Carolina ACC Championship game drew 18,157 fans to Barclays Center. Last year's Duke-Notre Dame title game at Barclays drew 18,109 fans.
  • Yesterday's Kansas-West Virginia Big 12 title game drew 17,718 fans to Sprint Center in K.C. Last year's Iowa State-West Virginia finale drew a crowd of 18,972 at the same venue.
  • The Arizona-USC Pac-12 championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas drew 16,501 fans. Last year's Arizona-Oregon title game at T-Mobile Arena had a crowd of 18,927 (THE DAILY).

TBS Ready To Debut New-Look NCAA Selection Show

The NCAA Tournament Selection Show for the first time today will be "televised on TBS instead of its longtime home, CBS," beginning at 6:00pm ET. Turner "designed a new studio on its Atlanta campus for the show, which will have a live audience this year." All 68 teams will be "revealed within the first 10 minutes of the two-hour show, eliminating any drama about who is left on the bubble." The full regional brackets "will be shown over the next half-hour" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/11).  

The plan for the show was "not surprisingly" greeted this week with "considerable skepticism." The decision to announce teams separately from matchups "seems like a way to drag out the proceedings through four extra commercial breaks" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/9). There has been some "squabbling that the quick revelation of the full field will take away some of the suspense of the show" (STLTODAY.com, 3/10). TBS "promises to reveal the matchups within the first hour" of the show (AJC.com, 3/9).

Vikings Hope New HQ Gives Team Competitive Edge

The Vikings on Friday opened their new TCO Performance Center for public tours, and team GM Rick Spielman said there is not "another building like this" in the NFL. In addition to a 174-seat auditorium, the new facility "features a nearly 7,000-square-foot trainer's room that includes a 'concussion room' where brain injuries are treated." The Vikings also hope a "roughly 1,400-square-foot draft room, modernized with computer programming instead of magnets, will help boost accuracy" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 3/10). The Vikings moved into the new 227,000-square-foot HQ "after the NFL combine" on Friday. Players, coaches and support staff will have "access to amenities not available at every NFL facility." Among the highlights of the HQ:

  • A 6,500-square-foot outdoor stadium.
  • Four outdoor grass fields.
  • An indoor practice facility.
  • All-new equipment in the 6,100-square-foot weight room.
  • A virtual-reality simulator.
  • Memorabilia, art and photos displaying HOFers and other former players.
  • A digital draft board comprising 40 55-inch television monitors (ESPN.com, 3/10).

More Than 187,000 Fans Register For NFL Draft Ticket Lottery

The NFL on Friday said that more than 187,000 fans across the country "have registered for a ticket lottery" that would get them inside AT&T Stadium for the NFL Draft, held April 26-28. The league "plans to make more than 60,000 tickets available to watch the three-day proceedings." Registration will "remain open after Wednesday for the NFL Draft Experience outside the stadium as well as standby tickets to get inside" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/10).

Colleagues Remember Dick Enberg In Ceremony At Petco Park

Late broadcaster Dick Enberg yesterday was "fondly remembered by former broadcasting partners, athletes and friends on a drizzly morning at Petco Park" during a celebration of life service. The two "prevalent themes were baseball, which was Enberg’s first love, and his fondness for summing up big moments with his call of 'Oh, my!'" Among the speakers at the event were Enberg's former basketball broadcasting partner Billy Packer, Pro Football HOFer Dan Fouts and Ann Meyers Drysdale, the wife of late Baseball HOFer Don Drysdale, who called Angels games with Enberg (AP, 3/10).

Speakers at the event where those who "knew him best," and their words shaped the "person beyond the persona." Videos from celebrities Enberg "had impacted" during his career were shown, including from Bill WaltonMary CarilloJim NantzPete Sampras and Dan Dierdorf (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/11).

Kevin Ollie Fighting UConn Decision To Fire Him For "Just Cause"

Fired UConn men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie will "fight to retain his job and contest UConn's decision to fire him" for what the school yesterday said is "just cause." Ollie is a member of UConn's branch of the American Association of University Professors, a union that "represents thousands of faculty members around the country." Sources said that few college basketball coaches "possess union protection." However, Ollie's contract "stipulates he's entitled to a hearing within the next 15 days to defend himself against the school's claim that it has the right to fire him with 'just cause'" (ESPN.com, 3/10). ESPN’s Jeff Goodman: "They don’t want to pay him. That’s the big thing. ... They owe him $10 million and they don't want to pay him" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 3/10).

Speed Reads....

Facebook on Friday announced a partnership with MLB to air 25 weekday afternoon games this season, and sources said that the league "will receive" $30-35M (AP, 3/10).

The Opening Ceremony of the Pyeongchang Paralympics on Friday included a "record 567 athletes" parading into the Olympic Stadium (N.Y. TIMES, 3/10).

The most-read story on BostonGlobe.com this morning notes 42 players on the team's first three Super Bowl-winning teams have "allegations in a landmark class-action concussion suit" against the NFL and Riddell. In all, more than 340 former Patriots or their estates "have sued" the NFL and Ridell (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/11). 

The National Bobblehead HOF unveiled a limited-edition bobblehead of Gold Medal-winning U.S. curler Matt Hamilton. The bobbleheads are available for preorder exclusively in the HOF and Museum Online Store. The bobbleheads cost $25 and are expected to arrive in June (Bobblehead HOF).

Yesterday marked the "first time in more than a decade" that matches at the ATP/WTA BNP Paribas Open "were postponed a day." Rain also caused delays in '16, but those "were relatively short and matches resumed the same day" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/11).

The NHL Rangers on Friday "signed a renewal agreement with Spectra by Comcast Spectacor" to keep the XL Center as the home of the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/11).

Quick Hits....

"The NFL is wrong. The NFL is wrong, they're wrong. I'm not telling them to give me zillions of dollars. I don't want zillions of dollars. I just want to be treated with respect" -- Former NFLer Mark Gastineau, asking NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to help him and other former players dealing with football-related health issues (AP, 3/10).

"Unless your coach and program are dealing with it, nobody cares. They want the game. They want to fill out their brackets. It's like steroids in baseball. We've been paying players in basketball and football, and the NCAA continues to fiddle" -- ESPN's Jay Bilas, on how the federal investigation into college basketball is not affecting the NCAA Tournament (N.Y. TIMES, 3/11).

"I see on TV today, too many guys all trying to develop schticks. You don't feel it's genuine, it's not real, it's coming through the screen, you can feel it, it's just manufactured" -- ESPN's Dick Vitale, on the current state of sports broadcasters (N.Y. POST, 3/11).

"That's it for 'SportsCenter.' The honor was mine, ladies and gentlemen" -- ESPN's Michael Smith, signing off on his last time hosting "SC6" on Friday ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/9).

Weekend Hot Reads....

The BOSTON GLOBE writes under the header, "Here's Why It Was Such A Bad Offseason For Baseball's Free Agents." The MLB offseason "seems unfinished" even though the league is more than halfway through Spring Training, as "elite talent remains on the board." Baseball’s wealth of unemployed free agents "stands in drastic contrast to what existed just two winters ago." Then, one free agent after another "achieved incredible wealth and security through massive long-term deals." Since the end of '17, there have been only "three deals" of at least $100M and three more of at least $50M.

The L.A. TIMES writes under the header, "LeBron James Doesn't Need To Be In L.A. To Enhance His Brand, But It Couldn't Hurt." In the past, the Lakers have "sold the power of being a star" in L.A. to potential free agents. James, though, is "already a star." James is "already a player in the entertainment industry." And all indications are that when James makes his free agency decision this summer, that decision "will be about basketball, not everything else." But can L.A. "still serve as a selling point?" Can it "still be a boon to his brand?" 

Elsewhere

Twitter Me This....

Today's Back Pages....

The Weekend Rap offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:


N.Y. Post

N.Y. Daily News
 Newsday Boston Herald Chicago Sun-Times Philadelphia
Daily News

Hit The Ground Running: The Week Ahead

THE DAILY's week ahead: March. 12- 18. 

TUESDAY

• NCAA Tournament: First Four begins (Dayton Arena)

 

THURSDAY

• PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational begins (Bay Hill Club, Orlando)

• NCAA Tournament: Round of 64 begins (PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh; Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita; American Airlines Arena, Miami; Taco Bell Arena, Boise)

 

FRIDAY

• NCAA Tournament: Round of 64 continues (Spectrum Center, Charlotte; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit; Bridgestone Arena, Nashville; Viejas Arena, San Diego)

 

SATURDAY

• NASCAR Xfinity Series California 300 (Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.)

• UFC Fight Night: Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Volkov (O2 Arena, London)

 

SUNDAY

• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 (Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.)

 

If you know of any events that should be in our calendar, send them to mmiceli@sportsbusinessdaily.com.