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Oh là là New Orleans

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The NFL will play its first regular-season game in Paris next season with the New Orleans Saints named Monday as one of the participants.

The game will take place at the 80,000-seat Stade de France, France’s national stadium which served as the host site for the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “Paris is one of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural cities with tremendous success in hosting global events that unite fans on the biggest stages. Playing our first-ever regular-season game at the impressive Stade de France, together with the New Orleans Saints, underlines our continued global growth ambitions and we look forward to bringing the NFL to our passionate fans in France.”

The Saints have international marketing rights in France, where the NFL claims to have more than 14 million fans.

“This moment is special not only because of the strong cultural connection between Louisiana and France, but also because we will compete before a growing Saints fan base in Paris,” said Saints team owner Gayle Benson.

Also Monday, the NFL announced it is returning to Madrid in 2026 with a new multi-year agreement.

The league staged its first game in Spain during the 2025 season when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime on Nov. 16.

The game drew 78,610 fans to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium, which will once again serve as the venue under Monday’s deal.

“It is an honor and a privilege for Real Madrid to host the NFL once again at the Bernabeu stadium,” said Real Madrid director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno. “We experienced a historic first NFL Madrid game a few months ago, and this new agreement will allow the alliance between our club, the Community of Madrid, the City Council and the NFL to continue, strengthening the image of our capital and the Spanish brand around the world.”

The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Dolphins have marketing rights in Spain, where the NFL counts 11 million fans.

In addition to Paris and Madrid, the NFL in 2026 will play its first-ever game in Australia in Melbourne with the Los Angeles Rams as one of the participants. There will also be three games in London and one each in Munich, Germany, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Feb. 1st

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Bill Belichick as depicted on his unauthorized book cover (by Ian O’Connor)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, hands-down the greatest coach in pro football history, was snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters and will not be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Football aficionados everywhere were stunned at the news of Belichick falling short of the necessary 40 of 50 votes to become a first-ballot, no-brainer selection to the Hall. The news leaked to multiple media outlets on Tuesday, January 27th or about nine days before the NFL Honors show plans to announce the Canton Class of ‘26 on February 5 – in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.

The voting outcome, apparently broken to Belichick on January 23, casts a pall on the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The only comparisons might be snubs to the likes of Red Auerbach (Celtics) and John Wooden (UCLA) in basketball, Scotty Bowman (Montreal Canadians) in ice hockey, Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) in soccer, or, maybe to the likes of the NFL’s Vince Lombardi.

According to an early ESPN report the coach was “puzzled” and “disappointed” by his inability to secure enough support to be “on to Canton.”

“Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” Belichick reportedly asked an associate, referring to the NFL Super Bowl championships he won as head coach of the New England Patriots. He also won two more Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. To another associate, he said, “What does a guy have to do?”

The coach is right.

This snub is an all-timer.

For the record, Belichick has:

  • 333 career victories, including playoffs, second only to Don Shula’s 347
  • 12 Super Bowl appearances and eight wins, six as a head coach of New England and two as a New York Giants assistant coach

Not having Belichick in the Hall this year is like the great actress, Katharine Hepburn, never winning an Oscar, or like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola never being recognized as great film directors by the Academy. Or, maybe like The Beatles or the Rolling Stones being snubbed at the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland?

Not inviting Bill Belichick to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is like not inviting Santa to Christmas. It’s like not naming Jack Nicklaus, Arnie Palmer and Tiger Woods to the foursome you’d love to play a round with at Augusta. It’s like telling Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to await a call from Springfield, or telling Larry Bird and Magic Johnson they should’ve played hopscotch instead of NBA basketball.

“Sorry,” Coach Dean Smith (Carolina) and Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), you might’ve tried a different profession, “there’s no room for you at the Inn.”

To NASCAR driver and all-time great Richard Petty? “Hey, “take another lap at the Daytona 500 before you expect anything close to gaining immortality.”

To Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Bobby Orr, or Pele – go take a powder.

To John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell or Sally Ride, “try another profession, maybe try to stay grounded.”

To Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III, “Go take a dip in the Hudson before you come calling in Canton.”

To Jack Nicholson? “Sorry, you can’t handle the truth.”

Yes, snubbing Bill Belichick really took balls, fully inflated balls.

If Bill Belichick was on Secretariat at The Belmont, they would’ve told him to go race another mile at Aqueduct.

If Belichick were hitting home runs in Japanese baseball, they would’ve said, “Sadaharu Oh – No.”

If Belichick was Rodney Dangerfield, in his prime? “Hey, we hope you can take a joke.”

“Eh, no more Tonight Shows for you, Rodney, and by the way, your wife – yeah, your wife was fat and ugly. “In fact, she was so fat, when she went dancing in high heels, she struck oil. And, when we took her to the MACYs Thanksgiving Day parade, she was wearing ropes.”

Bill Belichick just “Don’t get no respect.”

That lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T prompts the question: Is there another side to this strange Super Bowl coin? Is there a reason Bill Belichick wasn’t invited to pro football’s prom? Did Indianapolis’ Bill Polian have something to do with tainting the vote, making Belichick wait – doing a year penance from alleged high NFL crimes and misdemeanors – namely SpyGate and DeflateGate?

He claims he did not.

“As a Hall of Fame member and selector, I realize the import of what we do,’’ Polian said during his Wednesday appearance on SiriusXM Radio. “I’ve always tried as a selector to make these difficult choices with the utmost objectivity.

“I’ve said on SiriusXM Radio and numerous other media outlets that I believe Coach Belichick to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. My vote confirms that.’’

Pretty strong statement, but in my first hand experience of dealing with the various NBA postseason awards, it wasn’t uncommon to have voters write one thing, say another thing, then vote a third way.

Were their co-conspirators in the January 13th psuedo-meeting of Pro Football Hall voters? It was reported that meeting attendees gave-up Polian as the one who brought up the Patriots’ scandalous ways, and maybe Polian and his Colts’ coach Tony Dungy had their say?

No one wants to go on the record, and Polian denied the accusation of tipping the vote in the meeting.

Lastly, where does Patriots’ franchise owner Robert Kraft stand in this messy mix? Kraft is up for Pro Football Hall induction this year, too. At the time of the reports, it was not known whether Kraft had enough support or if he, too, would be left in NFL limbo. Would he dare go to Canton side-by-side with Big Bill (and Jordan)?

Regardless, they’ll be saying, “Wait ‘til Next Year,” to BB.

Instead of being enshrined at Canton, Belichick will need to wait in the Red Zone – somewhere near Akron, maybe?

Yeah, next year? What do you think Bill Belichick will do next year?

He just might tell them to “Go to Hall”

red blue and green heart shaped decor

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As long as the subject of lack of respect to Bill Belichick has come up so prominently, it might be time to look at some others who “Don’t Get No Respect.” There are a few to highlight.

  • Winter Olympics Ice Hockey: The event is right on our doorsteps, ice hockey at the Winter Olympic Games – it gets no respect. Clearly, TEAM Canada gets a load of respect from our neighbors to ‘da North, but in the USA, casual sports fans more of less say, ‘let me know when they can win a gold medal.’ And, it’s the same way for the women. Ever since Cammi Granato took the gold with TEAM USA in ‘98 at Nagano, there’s been a general lack of interest in the US, and that includes 2002 when the USA took home silver in a 3-2 loss to Canada. (See below).
  • The Preakness: Yes, “the Preakness “don’t” get no respect. Pimlico Race Course is only 6.5 miles from Inner Harbor Baltimore but the downtrodden horse racing venue gets little to no attention other than one day a year. The Preakness, held at Pimlico every May, is the second leg of a potential Triple Crown in horse racing, but as of late, some thoroughbred horse owners do some load management and don’t even enter the Preakness, thus avoiding the heat, humidity and only a two week break from the first race of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby.
  • The French Open: The Australian Open serves up the new tennis season, Wimbledon highlights the summer grand slam schedule and the U.S. Open crowns the champions of the season. Lost in the shuffle is the French Open – more often called Roland Garros – as the venue and tournament itself (not to mention the tournament logo) are named after a French aviator. It’s a great tennis tournament, the ultimate competition on clay surface, but it’s lost in the shuffle.
  • The Athletics, the Clippers, the Nets and the Raiders: The Swingin’ A’s were once World Champions, the Raiders had the NFL in the palm of their hands – both teams well established in Oakland. Nowadays, forget it. Lost franchises they are. The Nets were once high and mighty with Julius “Dr. J” Erving leading the club to ABA titles. The Clippers? Perennial also-rans toiling next to the LA Lakers. The Clippers? They Don’t Get No Respect.
  • Aqueduct Racetrack: Aqueduct Racetrack, a thoroughbred horse racing facility in South Ozone Park and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, NY (near JFK Airport), is a dump. Built in 1894, and 11 years senior of Belmont Park (1905), Aqueduct is the ultimate hang for low life gamblers. You gotta love it, but Aqueduct Don’t Get No Respect.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Wednesday in Prince Spaghetti Day, but Monday, this Monday is Red Sox Truck Day! The departure of the Red Sox equipment truck for the club’s Spring Training home at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, is scheduled for Monday, February 2. The truck will be loaded at 7:00am and is scheduled to leave Fenway Park for the 1,480-mile trip from Fenway to Fort Myers between 11:00am and 12:00 Noon. The famed equipment truck, which will depart from Fenway Park on the Van Ness Street side of the ballpark, will be led by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who will be tossing soft Red Sox baseballs to fans. As always, the truck will carry an assortment of baseball equipment and supplies, including:

  • 20,400 baseballs
  • 1,100 baseball bats
  • 200 batting gloves
  • 200 batting helmets
  • 320 batting practice tops
  • 160 white game uniform jerseys
  • 300 pairs of uniform pants
  • 400 t-shirts
  • 400 pairs of socks
  • 20 cases of bubble gum
  • 60 cases of sunflower seeds

The celebration of Truck Day has been a Red Sox tradition since 2003, signaling the unofficial start of Spring Training.

Former EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas (file)

HEADING OUT: While EuroLeague Basketball is at the crossroads once again, the league’s Board has decided to move on from their third CEO in recent memory. Gone are Jordi Bertomeau and his interim replacement in longtime EuroLeague consultant Marshall Glickman of American descent. Now, it’s bye-bye to the CEO who guided EuroLeague over the last three years.

“After consideration by the ECA Board, my duties as CEO of Euroleague Basketball come to an end, wrote now departing CEO Paulius Motiejunas of Lithuania in a statement. “While this may sound like sad news, my overwhelming feeling today is one of pride and gratitude.

“The last three years have been incredibly intense, demanding, and deeply rewarding. I have learned immensely, and together with an outstanding management team, clubs, and partners, we have made meaningful and measurable progress.

“During my tenure, we achieved milestones that speak to both growth and sustainability – always with the long-term interests of European basketball in mind. Among them:

  • 44% growth in overall revenues
  • 50% growth in team economic distributions
  • 50% growth in sponsorship revenues over the last two years
  • 3x-5x increase in Final Four value compared to the previous most successful edition
  • 3x growth in content views, reaching more than 1.1 billion
  • 4x growth in ELTV revenues
  • Unlocked the Middle East market, expanding the league’s footprint and exporting the European game to an entirely new region
  • Launched the new FFP Competitive Balance Standards, a first in European sports
  • And perhaps most importantly, built a revamped front-office structure – fit for purpose, resilient, and ready to take the league to the next level, regardless of who sits in the CEO seat.

“None of this progress was ever about one individual. It belongs to the fans – the ones who fill the arenas, stay up late, argue, celebrate, and pass the love for this game from one generation to the next. They are the soul of European basketball. Alongside them, the Euroleague Basketball team, the clubs, and our commercial and strategic partners work relentlessly behind the scenes to strengthen the league.

“European basketball today stands at a crossroads. Its growth and increasing value naturally attract external interest. The responsibility is to ensure this growth remains rooted in our culture, traditions, and collective model, rather than becoming a tool for external control or short-term financial gains that do not revert into further investment in European basketball. Protecting European basketball is not about resisting change; it is about shaping it wisely, from within, and with unity.

“From the sidelines, I will continue to support the success of European basketball and of Euroleague Basketball, confident in the strong foundations that have been built and in the people who will carry this work forward. Thank you for the journey. The mission continues,” concluded Motiejunas.

Deal or No Deal?

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – The NFL said Sunday that the Seattle Seahawks were not fined for failing to comply with league ownership requirements to sell the team, contrary to a report of a $5 million penalty in the Wall Street Journal.

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“As we told the WSJ yesterday on the record, the team was not fined,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Pro Football Talk on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal article on Saturday included the league’s denial as well as the team — through a spokesman for Vulcan, Inc., the late Paul Allen’s company that manages the Seahawks — declining to comment on the fine.

The league and other owners are putting pressure on the trust that has controlled the franchise since owner Allen died in 2018, to sell the Seahawks, according to the article. League rules require controlling ownership be an individual, not a larger entity such as a trust, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

Allen, a Microsoft co-founder who also owned the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, made the stated intention that the teams eventually be sold, with proceeds going to charity. His sister, Jody Allen, is executor of the trust.

Multiple reports on Friday said the Seahawks are up for sale immediately after Super Bowl LX next Sunday, when Seattle faces the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif.

“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale,” the Paul G. Allen Estate said in a statement on Friday. “We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but I have no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.”

The Trail Blazers went on sale in September 2025 and reportedly are being sold for more than $4 billion to a group of investors led by Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Paul Allen’s estate does not include a hard deadline to sell the Seahawks, but one term expired in 2024 that would have required 10% of the proceeds to go to the state of Washington.

Per Sportico last summer, the Seahawks were valued at $6.59 billion, in the middle of the pack for NFL teams. Forbes’ December 2024 list of worldwide sports franchise values put the Seahawks in a tie for 24th place with the Los Angeles Dodgers at $5.45 billion.

The latest purchase of an NFL club was the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders in 2023. ESPN cited an anonymous team executive saying the Seahawks could be sold for $7 billion to $8 billion.

The highest-valued sports franchise is the Dallas Cowboys, listed by Sportico at $12.8 billion and by Forbes a year earlier at $10.1 billion.

Paul Allen spent $200 million in 1997 to buy the Seahawks from Ken Behring at a time when there was talk of the team relocating.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Trade Hicks

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BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today traded right-handed pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox, along with cash considerations and two players to be named later, in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later.

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Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 38.

Hicks, 29, recorded a 6.95 ERA (52 ER/67.1 IP) with 58 strikeouts in 34 games (nine starts) during 2025 between the San Francisco Giants (13 games, nine starts) and the Red Sox (21 games). The right-hander was acquired by Boston along with three other players in exchange for Rafael Devers on June 15, 2025. Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native owns a 4.41 ERA (206 ER/420.1 IP) in 275 career Major League games (37 starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals (2018-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2023), Giants (2024-25), and Red Sox (2025).

Sandlin, 24, posted a 4.50 ERA (53 ER/106.0 IP), 107 strikeouts, and 40 walks between Double-A Portland (17 games, 13 starts) and Worcester (15 games, one start). Ranked as one of Boston’s top 15 prospects by both MLB.com (No. 8) and Baseball America (No. 11), the right-hander was twice named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week in 2025 (May 26-June 1 and June 16-22). Originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the Oklahoma native was acquired by the Red Sox via trade on February 17, 2024. He owns a 4.38 ERA (113 ER/232.0 IP) with 279 strikeouts in 65 career minor league games (47 starts).

 Ziehl, 22, posted a 4.12 ERA (49 ER/107.0 IP) with 90 strikeouts and 19 walks in 22 games (21 starts) across three levels in 2025, his first professional season. The right-hander began the season in the New York Yankees organization, pitching in 14 games (all starts) for Single-A Tampa, one game for High-A Hudson Valley, and one start for Double-A Somerset. He was traded to the White Sox on July 30 and recorded a 4.01 ERA (11 ER/24.2 IP) in six starts for High-A Winston Salem over the remainder of the season. The South Carolina native was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami. He is ranked among the White Sox’ top prospects by both MLB.com (No. 14) and Baseball America (No. 21).

NFL Network, RedZone Channel – SOLD!

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Will the ghost of John Facenda please report to the SportsCenter set in Bristol?

You’ve been sold.

Government regulators approved ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, linear rights to the NFL RedZone Channel and other league media assets in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN, the NFL and ESPN announced late Saturday night.

The blockbuster deal was formally announced last August pending reviews by the Justice Department and other non-US antitrust authorities, which are now complete.

“With the closing, we will begin integrating NFL employees into ESPN in the months ahead,” ESPN and the NFL said in a joint statement. “As we look to the future, NFL fans can look forward to expanded NFL programming, greater access to NFL Network, innovative Fantasy experiences and unparalleled coverage of America’s most popular sport.”

The deal will bring major NFL media properties under the Disney-owned network and expand ESPN’s football offerings across both traditional and streaming platforms.

The National Football League gave up 100% ownership of the NFL Network for 10% of ESPN, which is valued in billions of dollars.

Under the agreement, NFL Network and RedZone will be integrated into ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service while remaining available via cable and satellite. The RedZone brand could translate to a similar offering in other sports to which ESPN has broadcast rights.

NFL Fantasy will merge with ESPN Fantasy, creating the official season-long fantasy platform of the league.

As part of a second agreement between the sides, ESPN will also gain rights to license three additional NFL games per season for 28 total. Seven of those games will be broadcast on NFL Network — these three new ones and four that will shift from ESPN to NFL Network. The NFL doubleheaders on Monday nights will cease, while NFL Network again will have four international games for a total of seven games each season.

The merger does not impact coverage of Super Bowl LX next week, with viewers unlikely to see changes until April at the earliest, when NFL Media employees become part of ESPN.

The NFL will retain ownership of key properties including NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com and the NFL Podcast Network, and will continue producing and distributing the digital version of RedZone independently

–Field Level Media

NFL Salary Cap to $301.2 Million

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – NFL teams were informed on Friday that the 2026 salary cap is projected to increase from 2025’s record ceiling to between $301.2 million and $305.7 million. The new NFL numbers were first reported by the NFL Network, seemingly, a credible source.

This season, clubs each had a limit of $279.2 million, a $23.8 million increase from 2024. The projected number for next season is a boost of more than $20 million and almost $100 million more than the cap of $208.2 million in 2022, when it first crossed the $200 million barrier.

The league’s rise in prosperity and popularity has been reflected in TV rights deals with its broadcast partners and impacted the annual salary cap, which was $120.37 million in 2011.

The cap has risen yearly since 2011, except for 2021 when the league prioritized recovery from the pandemic, including loss of live attendance gate and concessions profits.

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With:

Maye Day! Maye Day!

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report)New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed practice Friday due to illness, coach Mike Vrabel announced.

“He would have been at practice today if not for the illness,” Vrabel said of Maye, who also has been limited by a sore right shoulder.

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The team is preparing for Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara. Maye was listed as a limited participant because of the shoulder issue during an estimated practice on Wednesday as well as Thursday’s session.

Vrabel was asked how Maye’s shoulder responded to limited participation on Thursday.

“I would say favorably, he’s fine,” Vrabel said on Friday. “However you label limited, that’s how much he practiced. It wasn’t full. So if it’s not full, it has to be down as limited.”

Maye talked to reporters after Thursday’s session and said he “felt good.” The second-year player said he threw during practice in the Patriots’ field house and didn’t think he would be limited for the Super Bowl.

“That’s why you spend time; that’s why you have trainers,” Maye said. “I think it’s just been one of those things where it’s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I’ll do whatever I can to feel 100%, and I’m sure I’ll get if not there, as close as you can — 99, or do whatever I can to make sure I’m throwing and do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Maye, 23, landed on his right shoulder during a 13-yard run in the third quarter of New England’s 10-7 win over the host Denver Broncos last Sunday in the AFC title game.

Maye has started every game this season for New England, including playoff victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Broncos.

He led the NFL with a 72.0% completion rate and 113.5 passer rating while throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Maye has four TD passes and two interceptions in the postseason.

With a victory over the Seahawks, Maye will be the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

The Patriots also continue to practice this week without linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle) and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee/illness). Spillane was injured during the AFC Championship Game, a contest that Landry missed.

-Field Level Media

Askew Leads ‘Nova

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Villanova connected on 13 3-pointers – led by five from Devin Askew – as the Wildcats improved to 16-5 and 7-3 in the BIG EAST with a win over Providence at home on Friday night.
Friday, Jan. 30
Villanova 87, Providence 73 – Box Score
Devin Askew scored a game-high 20 points, connecting on 5-of-8 from beyond the arc as Villanova used its long-distance shooting to propel it to a win over Providence.  The opening eight minutes of the game saw three ties and three lead changes before a 13-3 Nova run pushed the lead to 10 (28-18) with 9:16 left in the half.  The Wildcats would not trail the rest of the way.  In the second half, a 3-pointer from Providence’s Stefan Vaaks got the Friars within eight (59-51) with 9:51 to play, but a 13-1 push from Nova put the game out of reach. In addition to Askew, four Wildcats reached double-digits in the scoring column – Tyler Perkins added 19 points and six boards; Acaden Lewis had 12 points and eight assists; Bryce Lindsay finished with 11 and Matthew Hodge 10.  Providence was led by Vaaks’ game-high 25 points, as the freshman made 10-of-18 shots from the floor including five 3-pointers.  Jaylin Sellers added 16 and Ryan Mela 14.
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Of  Note:
Saturday’s Action: Four games are set for Saturday, beginning with a trio of early afternoon tips – Marquette at Seton Hall (Peacock/NBCSN) and Georgetown at Butler (TNT/HBO Max) and noon ET and DePaul at Xavier (FS1) at 1 p.m. ET. Saturday’s action concludes with UConn visiting Creighton at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Saturday, Jan. 31
Peacock; NBC Sports Network
Marquette at Seton Hall – Noon ET
John Fanta (pxp); Jordan Cornette (analyst)
TNT; HBO Max
Georgetown at Butler – Noon ET
Brian Anderson (pxp); Grant Hill (analyst); Andy Katz (reporter)
FS1
DePaul at Xavier – 1 p.m. ET
Jack Kizer (pxp); Nick Bahe (analyst)
FOX
UConn at Creighton – 8 p.m. ET
Tim Brando (pxp); Donny Marshall (analyst)

Game Changers in Pro Futbol Biz

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SEATTLE – (Staff Report from Official Company News Release) – Arkero, a new platform using Artificial Intelligence to effectively run the day-to-day operations of complex organizations in sport, recently announced a $6 million pre-seed funding round, and partnerships with professional sports organizations in the MLS, NWSL in the United States, along with users in the English Football League.

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The investment was led by Roger Ehrenberg at Game Changers Ventures, with participation from Alexis Ohanian (776), David Tisch (BoxGroup), Garuda Ventures, Founders’ Co-op and strategic investors including Adrian Hanauer of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign.

Arkero’s first partners include the Seattle Sounders, Seattle Reign, San Diego FC and Bolton Wanderers FC. Initial deployments focus on integrating AI into match day planning and season ticket renewals to help teams streamline coordination, reduce manual work, and operate with greater clarity across disconnected tools.

In early deployments, the Sounders and Reign project over 50% improvement in efficiency savings around matchday planning in 2026 alone, driven by reduced manual work, faster decision-making, and fewer operational errors.

Arkero centralizes operational data, workflows, and decisions into a single system, allowing business teams to plan, execute, and adapt in real time – without adding headcount or new layers of complexity. Because it is being built by operators who have run clubs themselves, Arkero reflects the realities of sports businesses: small teams, complex events, constant deadlines, and no margin for error. As a result, teams gain back time, clarity, and confidence – and can focus on growing the business rather than managing around broken processes.

“I own a football club. I’ve sat in the meetings, lived the chaos, and felt the cost of running a business on Excel and email,” said Shivaas Gulati, CEO of Arkero,“ The opportunity exists because this is broken from the inside.”

After leaving Remitly, the $8 billion IPO company he co-founded in 2022, Gulati joined the ownership group of English club Southend United FC, a 119-year-old club competing in the National League. Drawing on his hands-on experience from Southend United – and advising organizations such as the Seattle Sounders – Gulati has applied the operational discipline and best practices developed at Remitly to the global sports industry, a market exceeding $500 billion annually.

“On and off the pitch, our business is about constantly looking ahead to identify what we can do better and how we can use technology and the right partners to gain a competitive edge,” said Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer. “Our investment in Arkero is aligned with this approach, accounting for not just where we are as an organization today, but where we need to be going forward.”

“We made intentional decisions to prioritize how our teams could be optimized through AI,”said Hugh Weber, President and Chief Business Officer of Sounders FC. “Partnering with Shivaas and the Arkero team allowed us to embed AI into our operating system rather than layering on software which has made the technology a durable part of our culture.”

““We look for companies that have a clear grasp of where both sports and business are headed, near term and long term,” said Roger Ehrenberg of Game Changers Ventures. “While many are still debating how AI fits into real business solutions, Arkero is delivering tangible results. They’ve already demonstrated real impact with partners like the Sounders and the Reign, and we’re proud to support them as they scale.”

Seahawks Super Sale?

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A week before the Seattle Seahawks will play in the Super Bowl, the team denied multiple media reports on Friday that it will be up for immediate sale following the title game.

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Paul Allen owned the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers until his death in 2018. The clubs are currently controlled by his trust under the management of his sister, Jody Allen. Paul Allen’s request was that the teams eventually be sold, with the money going to charity.

“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale,” a club spokesman said in a statement on Friday. “We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but I have no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.”

Per Sportico last summer, the Seahawks were valued at $6.59 billion, in the middle of the pack for NFL teams. Forbes’ December 2024 list of worldwide sports franchise values put the Seahawks in a tie for 24th place with the Los Angeles Dodgers at $5.45 billion.

The latest purchase of an NFL club was the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders in 2023. ESPN cited an anonymous team executive saying the Seahawks could be sold for $7 billion to $8 billion.

The highest-valued sports franchise is the Dallas Cowboys, listed by Sportico at $12.8 billion and by Forbes a year earlier at $10.1 billion.

Paul Allen spent $200 million in 1997 to buy the Seahawks from Ken Behring at a time when there was talk of the team relocating.

The Seahawks, who joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976, will make their fourth Super Bowl appearance when they oppose the New England Patriots on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif. Seattle lost in the title game to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2005 season, beat the Denver Broncos for the championship after the 2013 season and fell to the Patriots for the crown after the 2014 season.

–Field Level Media