Thinking out loud…while wondering what Conor McGregor, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dak Prescott could have in common?
• If you believe some things never change in the sports world, just wait a few more months.
• Will we recognize the place?
• Sure, we'll slowly be returning to some sense of normalcy with stadiums and arenas filling again, with bars and restaurants becoming part of our routines again…but what about the actual games that will be played?
• Professionally speaking, not much will change. Football will dominate, baseball will flippity-flop like a fish out of water, basketball will only be good in the last two minutes…and the hockey postseason will feature intensity that could illuminate a lightbulb.
• College sports? Amateurism in its truest sense flew the coop years ago, thanks largely to the proliferation of cable and television rights fees, and the subsequent national branding campaigns of many schools and leagues.
• Colleges and universities – perhaps except at places like the University of Hartford – know that athletics can pay for a lot of school supplies, and sports can bring in new students (alums and donors, too) like insects drawn to bug-zapper.
• By next fall, however, the divide between the haves and have nots in college sports could be as wide as ever. And the gap may be almost impossible to close.
• Here's a news flash: Nothing is amateur about amateur or college sports any longer. If you didn't know this already, then your head is buried in the pompons.
• Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules and laws are set to go into effect in eight different states in less than two months, on or about July 1st. Unless the NCAA (or Congress) come up with their own rules and regulations to govern an athlete's ability to earn income from marketing their personal NIL rights, schools in those states will have a DECIDED recruiting advantage.
• Think of it as going to a gunfight without bullets in your holster. If you're recruiting an athlete against a school that will allow them to earn income off of their own name, image or likeness?
• You'll lose.
• Former Miami and Georgia football coach Mark Richt told the New York Times this week: "When I was playing college football, my priorities were girls, football and then school. Now it's going to be money, girls, football, school."
• He's not wrong. Or have you forgotten what it's like to be a college kid?
• The NCAA is pushing for a national set of rules for all schools to follow. Congress has been working trying to find compromises among all the legislation filed at the state level. The Senate is far ahead of the House working on any compromise, at last check.
• Many schools are moving quickly to align themselves with NIL vendors – so they can offer a plan, at least, to their current student athletes, as well as future ones.
• Which means, hold onto your hat, cowboy. The wild west is venturing east, north and south. Soon. Maybe as soon as seven weeks from now.
• And how about this – international students presently hold "F" visas that only allow a very limited amount of on-campus employment while in the U.S. If they sign an NIL deal with a company, they potentially could have their visas revoked…according to current law.
• By the way, the NCAA Division I council is meeting this next week to discuss criteria for "two-time" transfer student-athletes to gain immediate eligibility.
• Wait, wut? Will 'none' be a consideration?
• URI's David Cox dipped into Rhody's past to hire a new assistant coach this week, bringing Todd Bozeman back to Kingston. Bozeman most recently was a head coach at Morgan State (2006-19) and Cal, resigning from Cal in 1996 after admitting he gave money to the parents of a recruit.
• Bozeman was also named the nation's top mid-major coach in 2009 while at Morgan State. He will certainly be a veteran presence on the Rams' bench with 17 years of head coaching experience. Bozeman played at URI from '82-'86 under Claude English and Brendan Malone and replaces Kevin Sutton on the coaching staff.
• If anyone is paying attention, apparently Ivy sports will return in the fall. The Ivy Council of Presidents came down from Mt. Olympus to make that decree last week.
• Good news for Brown hoop, too – they're scheduled to participate in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, along with Northeastern and Creighton, November 19-22.
• CBS' Jon Rothstein reported this week the Atlantic 10 – Mountain West challenge is not expected to be played next season. It was called off due to the pandemic last year.
• Bryant hoops have picked up Tulane transfer Ben Callahan-Gold. The 6-7 forward played prep ball at Northfield Mt. Hermon.
• Among the potential new NCAA hoop rules for next season, flopping should be a technical foul. Head-bobbing and faking getting bumped off screens should also earn a whistle. Hope this one passes.
• But up to six personal fouls per player? Nope. Learned that the hard way 30 years ago in the Big East, did we not? We'll also learn if history will repeat itself next month as the Playing Rules Oversight Panel kicks it around.
• Kudos to Bryant lax for claiming the NEC title for a sixth time. The Bulldogs are ranked in the Top 20 in the three national polls, and as a reward get to face perennial power (and 4th ranked) Virginia Sunday in the NCAA Tournament.
• PC's Nate Leaman is joining the coaching staff of the U.S. Men's National hockey team as an assistant for 2021. Which also includes head coach Jack Capuano – a Cranston native and former Maine star.
• And staying with the hockey theme here for a moment, ex-Mount St. Charles star Brian Boucher is being picked up as NHL TV talent for ABC/ESPN with their new broadcast deal…after proving himself most capable while working for the NBC Sports Network.
• Another Cranston native (and former BU star), David Quinn, was part of the purge conducted by the New York Rangers this week and let go as head coach after only three seasons.
• The NFL schedule release is almost as big these days as the kickoff to the season. Give pro football props for staying front-and-center with fans. It's overkill, but it works.
• The Patriots have the 19th rated schedule strength-wise, down from #1 last year. That alone should put the team in position to win 10 games. What they do from there, is up to the Cam/Mac conundrum at QB.
• October 3rd: Legend vs. GOAT. October 17th: Jerry and Dak vs. Robert and Mac?
• The first bit of bulletin board material? Uttered by one Tom Brady, Sr. on the radio this week: "We expect to beat the Patriots rather handily."
• Uh huh. Good, good…let the hate flow through you.
• The seven-week stretch beginning on Halloween that will see New England travel to play the Chargers and Panthers, then come back home for the Browns before going out to face the Falcons, home against the Titans and away again for the Bills and Colts?
• It will be like trying to hold your breath under water for a whole minute.
• And it's liable to be quite uncomfortable before you get to the end. There ain't no catching your breath.
• Trying to get this straight – the NFLPA wants rookies to skip voluntary workouts and minicamp? Are they gonna hire these guys when they're cut from a team because they never showed up? Stupid is as stupid does.
• Certainly, the Players' Association serves a necessary purpose. But it's good to hear that Patriots' players have pretty much ignored the NFLPA and showed up for workouts, to be honest.
• But the larger issue has yet to be covered – or even discovered – by much of the mainstream media.
• Vaccinations. Apparently, several (many?) Patriots' players are against getting them. Which pretty much defies description, considering what they went through with Covid protocols last year…and they can reduce – or eliminate – much of that this year if they get the shots.
• And don't use the 'they don't know what they're putting in their bodies' excuse. They know exactly what they put in their bodies. Which also defies description here…because this can help them, and others around them.
• Like family. And their co-workers. What happened to no "I" in T-E-A-M?
• It will be a story to watch for over the next couple of weeks, with in-person meetings eligible to take place beginning May 24th.
• Tweet of the Week, from @Super70sSports: "Tim Tebow could take up the oboe next week and some f****** orchestra would sign him next month."
• Part of the rock 'n roll of my youth left us last weekend, as one-time rock video vixen Tawny Kitaen passed away at the age of 59. She was superb in the 1984 film "Bachelor Party" with Tom Hanks. And she could act, too.
• Anyone recall when she was married to ex-Angels' and Indians' pitcher Chuck Finley, and arrested for domestic violence back in 2002? Three days after the incident, Finley filed for divorce.
• Speaking of fights…the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders fight drew 73K fans to AT&T Stadium in Texas last weekend. The crowd set an indoor, US boxing attendance record…not to mention a pandemic crowd record, as well.
• Not for nuthin', but the English Premier League hopes to have full stadiums for their next season. But to start, venues will be at 50% capacity or 4000 fans, whichever figure is lower. Larger outdoor stadiums may seat up to 10K.
• Forbes: The 50 most valuable sports teams jumped 9.9% in value from last year, 55% from five years ago. What pandemic?
• ICYWW, the Patriots rank #8 in global value, #2 in the NFL; up 38% in value over the past five years.
• The Red Sox are the 20th most valuable team at $3.47 billion, a 51% change in value over five years.
• The Celtics are tied for 25th at a worth of $3.2 billion, up 52% over the last five years.
• There are no hockey teams ranked in the global Top 50.
• And soccer teams? Their value, as a group, grew 30% from 2018 to 2019.
• Which is a big reason why the Minnesota Vikings (and their owners) are closing in on a purchase of Orlando City FC in MLS and the NWSL Orlando Pride.
• Speaking of new owners – ARod now owns the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, along with Marc Lore, formerly of Walmart, subject to NBA approval. $1.5 billion. Think the Yankees overpaid?
• Jaylen Brown's out. Does this mean the Celtics' team 'chemistry' automatically improves?
• Not laying any of the C's problems just at Brown's feet. But it's pretty clear right now – some of these guys don't want to be here, and don't play well with others.
• Brad Stevens has earned the right to work through these issues, for at least another year. But Danny needs to provide him with an assist, ya' know?
• Russell Westbrook broke the Big O's (that's Oscar Robertson for those of you historically challenged) with his 182nd career triple-double this week.
• He has been on a tear. And suddenly, the Washington Wizards may be a team to pay attention to. Westbrook has averaged triple-doubles in three of his last four full seasons – the first to do that since Robertson accomplished the feat in 1961-62.
• But is Westbrook about his "numbers," or is he about making his team better – and winning? Can you do both?
• On his record-breaking night, surpassing Robertson's record that stood for 47 years, his Wizard's lost. He missed a shot at the buzzer.
• And NBA viewership, heading into the postseason, is down 13% compared to last year's Covid-bubble. However, the metrics say the league's audience is the youngest of all major sports leagues – those 35 and younger comprise 27% of the audience, according to the Sports Business Journal.
• That tells me – the game ain't what it used to be for those north of 35, amiright?
• Note to Alex Cora – stop using Matt Andriese out of the pen when you are tied or have the lead. Mop up duty only. Thanks.
• Zen question: Are the Red Sox really one of baseball's best teams this season, or has the rest of the league simply fallen to their level of play? Be honest with your answer.
• I know it doesn't matter, because it is what it is. But answer the question.
• Shucks. Ralph Lauren has reached a new partnership with MLB to create a special collection of clothing…for the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and Cardinals. But not the Red Sox, yet.
• There is also, as Pete Abraham reported in the Globe, some vaccine hesitancy within the Red Sox organization – including some on the roster in Worcester. It would be nice to know…with fans re-investing in the Sox organization this season, that the players feel likewise and would reinvest in the fans who support them.
• And as far as the potential cultural divide on the vax? Fellas, you work in the U.S. 'Nuff said.
• As Worcester's Polar Park has opened to great fanfare with a smaller, Covid-caused crowd – and it should – what does Pawtucket do about 79-year-old McCoy Stadium as it sits empty?
• Pawtucket mayor Don Grebien told the Globe this week there is hope, and interest, from a couple of independent teams for next year.
• There is also consideration of site improvements and infrastructure around the old park to turn it into a showcase, potentially, for local high schools.
• ICYMI, Pawtucket sued the baseball team in January, claiming the team failed to repair and 'upkeep' the old stadium as required by contract. The team denies the claim.
• But based on the eye test…McCoy is currently showing every bit of its' 79-year age, as the much-ballyhooed 1999 makeover is as gone as dust blowing across the infield.
• Let's be perfectly clear here. Politics killed the Pawsox. And your taxes are still going to go up, even without paying for some of the state subsidies that might have kept the team here.
• C'mon man, it's Roe Die-land. Some things will never change. Old habits, and old ways, never go away.
• Meanwhile, it's just damn sad. It still hurts, and it probably will for a while. Just sayin'.
• And as for the new soccer complex still being planned, and talked about? Believe it when you see it.
• Another of the institutional talents has left the ranch at ESPN, with the news from Kenny Mayne that he is a 'salary cap casualty,' as he called it.
• Kenny is one of the most uniquely talented people I have ever come across. He's bound to land somewhere – loved Trey Wingo's tweet: "Welcome to the other side, brother…it's nice out here."
• Loved my time working at the so-called World Wide Leader, with so many talented people. But Wingo is spot on. I've said it often – Mickey Mouse can be a real rat.
• But – Mickey is keeping MLB (Sunday Night Baseball) on ESPN through 2028, with a renewed deal this week. And Mickey also earned $1.1 billion in fiscal quarter two for 2021, despite a 13% drop from last year. Disney+ continues to grow.
• Front Office Sports reports SportsIQ, a betting software company, raised $7 million in seed funding that included contributions from Theo Epstein, Fenway Sports Group President Michael Gordon, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy and the Kraft Group.
• This week's sports wagering nugget: Goldman Sachs predicts the sports betting market will be worth nearly $40 billion by 2033.
• Ok, so the major sports leagues in the U.S. lost a combined $14.1 billion during the pandemic. But that didn't seem to affect a select few. Forbes reported this week that four individual athletes earned more than $100 million – even during our national downtime.
• Conor McGregor landed the biggest punch, earning an astounding total of $180 million. Soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also earned nine figures, as did Dallas Cowboy QB Dak Prescott. Whoa.
• LeBron James just missed out on the mark, earning $96.5 million last year. Prescott received a $66 million dollar signing bonus from Jerry World for a big chunk of his bucks. Life is Good.
• Only five other athletes in history have made $100 million or more in a single year. TB12 ranked 9th on the list of top earners in 2020, at $76 million.
• Which will probably be the cost of two tickets to that game against the Patriots at Gillette on October 3rd, amiright?
Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? It's your chance to "think out loud," so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrooke@weei.com.
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