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TGL II Back on Schedule

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – (Wire Service Report) – The second season of TGL will begin Sunday, Dec. 28, with a rematch of the inaugural championship series.

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The simulator golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced Monday that the defending champions Atlanta Drive GC and the New York Golf Club will face off in the season-opening match. It will be played at 3 p.m. ET and be broadcast on ABC while competitors CBS and Fox carry Week 17 NFL games.

Atlanta Drive GC feature Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover. New York’s team is made up of Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.

Atlanta swept New York in the best-of-three championship series last March to wrap up the first season of the league, which plays 15-hole matches in a purpose-built arena in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

TGL announced that the full schedule will be published in September. The TGL season will run through March.

–Field Level Media

White Named to NFL Players’ Post

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – Less than three weeks after NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned amid numerous allegations of impropriety, the union elected David White as it interim executive director.

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White is the chief executive officer of consulting firm 3CG Ventures and the former national executive director and chief negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). He was a finalist for the NFLPA post when a the board of 32 player representatives elected Howell in June 2023, according to multiple media reports.

NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin said in a statement regarding the move by the Board of Player Representatives to appoint White, “This decision is the result of a comprehensive, player-led process. We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.

“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership. David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.”

White added in a statement, “I am grateful to the NFLPA’s player leadership for entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility to guide their union as interim executive director. It’s a duty I do not take lightly, and I’m committed to reestablishing trust and ensuring the union is serving its members best. I look forward to working with the entire NFLPA team to protect players’ health and safety, secure their financial well-being, and further strengthen their voice to shape their futures.”

Howell stepped down on July 17 to no longer be a “distraction” for the NFLPA. During his tenure, he allegedly reached a confidentiality agreement with the NFL over a collusion case, worked for a private equity firm approved to pursue NFL minority ownership stakes and made inappropriate charges to the union, include a strip club visit.

Pogacar Wins Shortened Tour de France

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PARIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia claimed his second straight and fourth career Tour de France championship on Sunday in rain-soaked Paris.

Pogacar, who also won in 2020 and 2021, became the sixth man to win the world’s most prestigious cycling competition at least four times.

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The 26-year-old joined France’s Jacques Anquetil (five) and Bernard Hinault (five), Belgium’s Eddy Merckx (five), Spain’s Miguel Indurain (five) and Britain’s Chris Froome (four).

Pogacar finished four minutes and 24 seconds ahead of rival Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, the race winner in 2022 and 2023. Germany’s Florian Lipowitz was third, 11 minutes behind.

Belgium’s Wout Van Aert was the first across the Stage 21 finish line in the French capital, collecting his 10th career stage win in the Tour de France.

Due to hazardous conditions and the threat of crashes on the slippery streets, race organizers announced about 50 kilometers into Sunday’s 132.3-kilometer trek from Nantua that all times would be frozen with 50 kilometers to go.

The change all but guaranteed victory for Pogacar, although he still had to finish the race to be declared the winner.

–Field Level Media

Globetrotters to Conduct Open Tryout

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HARLEM – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will be hosting the club’s first-ever open tryouts to help select athletes for their Centennial season in 2026.

The Globetrotters’ tryouts will take place in the early fall with the final team being assembled and announced in November. The organization’s goal is to expand and elevate the talent within its ranks and to act as competitive offering for men and women hoopers around the globe for 2026

The Globetrotters continue to add athletic team members, which has been reflected in recent years in the signing of former LSU captain Alexis Morris and this past year with the addition of 6-5 rookie forward Asanti “Cash” Price (Columbia, SC), who signed a contract with the NBA G League’s Texas Legends, the affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. Price was one of six rookies signed to the Globetrotters this past November and had the option to return to the club when his G League time ended, which he did.

“We are creating one of the most unique, once in a lifetime opportunities for talented athletes and entertainers,” said Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios. “The (opportunity is) to be part of the Centennial of the most iconic global sports and entertainment property.  The right athletes will have that special element of ‘showpersonship’ that the Globetrotters have been known for. It should make for a fun and exciting way to uncover our next group of stars.”

This past year Globetrotter athletes set a new and high bar for excellence on and off the court, bringing their talents to 50 locations around the world and an additional 46 cities in North America.  The Globetrotters anticipate bringing in approximately 30 athletes to the tryout. It will be the first step of a months-long process in selecting the athletes for the Centennial team.

Over the many years, the Globetrotters legacy has seen athletes ranging from Wilt Chamberlain to Connie Hawkins to to Lynette Woodward create lasting memories in the basketball world.

Sports Biz: Mets Pop-Up

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Guest Column, by JAMES GUMINA

This past weekend, I attended the Strat-O-Matic event at the Mets House in New York to cover one of the final events at the Mets’ Union Square pop-up shop. The event, taking place in a city dominated by Fanatics Fest, was a wonderful reminder that sports are all about communities.

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Fanatics Fest, and events like it, are driven by impressions, revenue, and spectacle, whereas the Strat-O-Matic event at the New York Mets store was purely a celebration of the game and its fans. I was there for about an hour and a half and did not have a single item pushed on me. I played Strat-O-Matic for the first time in years against a longtime fan and player (He very generously reminded me of the rules).

Our game took a backseat to our conversation about his experiences playing the game, and his love for it over the years. He told me all about the 12-person Strat-O-Matic league he has played in for the past 30 years, complete with full seasons and championship rings (which did not look dissimilar to the NFL rings that I saw at Fanatics Fest).

I happily watched him give Hal Richman, the founder of Strat-O-Matic, an honorary championship ring and tell him about the impact the game had on his life. I heard another avid player talk about his father introducing him to the game back in the 1960s and how he has been hooked ever since, so much so that he owns every single MLB set that has been released by the company.

While the setup was not fancy—a few folding tables in the back of the store, game boxes for people to take and use, and some pizza—it did not deter new and old fans of the game from swapping stories and playing head to head versus one another.

I got to meet both Hal and his son, who is the current CEO of Strat-O-Matic, and it immediately became clear to me that this type of event was perfectly in line with the SOM ethos. It is a game all about a shared love of sports and for well over 60 years has been bringing people together in communities just like this one, from local Strat-O-Matic clubs, to leagues, to friendly living room games.

In addition to the game and event, the venue was also an interesting branding initiative by the New York Mets.

The pop-up, which closed June 25th, was one of the regularly scheduled NYM special events, like player meet-and-greets and book signings, as well as regular merchandise sales. The space offered exclusive perks and benefits for fans, as well as interactive exhibitions like an augmented reality swing analysis station that many of the Strat-O-Matic players took advantage of.

While always designed to be a temporary “pop-up,” I really admired the space and thought that it was a great community-oriented brand activation that allowed for events like the Strat-O-Matic day for fans of all ages.

The Mets have been doing a lot right in the marketing department recently, and I think this was no exception.

Blazers Not in Knight’s Future

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PORTLAND – (Wire service Report) – Nike founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight believes it’s too late in the game for him to buy an NBA franchise. Knight, 87, issued a statement citing his age as a primary roadblock to purchasing the Portland Trail Blazers. The team is on the market and being sold by the estate of Microsoft legend Paul Allen.

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“Five years ago, when I was a younger man, I had a great interest in being a part of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. However, at my current age, I can confirm that I no longer have interest in acquiring the team,” Knight said in a statement issued by Nike.

Allen owned the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Blazers and a 25 percent stake in the Seattle Sounders (MLS) when he died at age 65 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2018.

Allen bought the Blazers in 1988 for $70 million and the franchise has a valuation of more than $3.5 billion, according to Sportico. The Boston Celtics recently sold for $6.1 billion.

The Seahawks and the minority stake in the Sounders are not for sale, according to the trust’s announcement of plans to sell the NBA franchise.

His sister, Jody Allen, is the acting governor of the Blazers and executor for the Paul G. Allen Trust. Jody Allen declined Knight’s offer — made in partnership with Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Alan Smolinsky — to buy the Blazers for more than $2 billion in 2022, according to reports.

Paul Allen’s will directs the existing trust “to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy.”

–Field Level Media

76ers Building New Arena

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The ownership group of the Philadelphia 76ers and Comcast Spectacor on Monday announced plans to build a new arena in South Philadelphia that will open in 2031.

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The announcement of the new arena, which will also be home to the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, comes a day after the 76ers abandoned plans for a $1.3 billion arena in downtown Philadelphia. This arena is a 50-50 joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Comcast, which will have naming rights to the arena.

“Today’s announcement is great news for the City of Philadelphia,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a joint statement.

In addition, the venture will include a 50-50 effort between HBSE and Comcast to invest in the revitalization of Market East in Center City, where the new arena was originally slated to be built.

Sunday’s decision was a surprise, coming weeks after the city council voted to approve the NBA team’s move to Center City. However, Chinatown residents and activists had protested the project.

“By committing to both investments, the partnership will create thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in economic activity for the city, region and state, and enhance commitments to create economic opportunity in neighborhoods across Philadelphia,” the joint statement reads.

The Sixers and Flyers currently play in the Wells Fargo Center, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor. Their lease expires in 2031.

The new arena in South Philly will also host touring acts and special events.

–Field Level Media

Major Damage to “The Trop”

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TAMPA-St. PETERSBURG  – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Tampa Bay Rays organization will assess the damage done to Tropicana Field, inflicted on Wednesday night as Hurricane Milton bore down on the region.

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The roof at the stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., broke apart amid the wind and rain from the Category 3 hurricane. The Rays didn’t address whether the “Trop,” as it is called, will be playable to start the 2025 season.

“During the past couple weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We are devastated by the damage incurred by so many,” the team noted Thursday afternoon in a statement posted to social media.

“Our priority is supporting our community and our staff. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt by the damage to our ballpark last night. Over the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field. In the meantime, we are working with law enforcement to secure the building.

“We ask for your patience at this time, and we encourage those who can to donate to organizations in our community that are assisting those directly impacted by these storms.”

The stadium, initially called the Florida Suncoast Dome when it opened in 1990, has been the Rays’ home since the franchise played its first game in 1998. It had been set to serve as a staging area for first responders in the storm.

Tropicana Field cost $138 million to build. The 1.1-million square foot building was covered by what the team media guide calls “the world’s largest cable-supported domed roof,” which is “made of six acres of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass and supports itself with 180 miles of cables connected by struts.”

It was built to withstand winds up to 115 mph.

The Weather Channel reported wind gusts of up to 102 mph in St. Petersburg. Parts of the downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg were drenched by as much as 17 inches or rain, per the report.

There was good news at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however. NFL Network reported Thursday that the stadium and the Bucs’ practice field sustained only “cosmetic” damage.

–Field Level Media

Pac-12 Reloads with Four Schools

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SAN RAMON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Mountain West representatives Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State will join the Pac-12 in the 2026-27 academic year, the latter conference announced Thursday morning.

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The Pac-12 board of directors unanimously approved the additions of the four schools to join Oregon State and Washington State, the last two remaining schools after an offseason that saw 10 members jump to other power conferences. Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Southern California moved to the Big Ten; Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State shifted to the Big 12; and Cal and Stanford joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State officially will join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.

“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue bold cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress, to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes. I am thankful to our board for their efforts to welcome Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, and San Diego State University to the conference. An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”

The NCAA gave the Pac-12 until July 2026 to have a minimum of eight universities if the league is to remain part of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Mountain West additions still leave the league two short, although officials are pursuing additional options.

The four schools joining the Pac-12 would have to pay an exit fee of $18 million. The Pac-12 also would owe the Mountain West $43 million for taking schools away, part of the deal it reached to arrange scheduling of football matchups for Oregon State and Washington State this year.

MWC commissioner Gloria Nevarez released a statement late Wednesday to address reports that the four schools were exiting the conference.

“The Mountain West Conference is aware of media reports regarding the potential departure of several of our members, and we will have more to say in the days ahead,” Nevarez said. “All members will be held to the Conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart. The requirements of the scheduling agreement will apply to the Pac-12 should they admit Mountain West members. Our Board of Directors is meeting to determine our next steps. The Mountain West has a proud 25-year history and will continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

Colorado State and San Diego State have been in the Mountain West since the league’s founding in 1999. Boise State joined the conference in 2011, and Fresno State followed in 2012. One of those four schools won or shared the league’s football championship in 10 of the past 12 seasons.

“We are ecstatic to be joining the Pac-12 Conference,” San Diego State athletic director John David Wicker said. “While we are grateful to be a founding member of the Mountain West with 26 years of success in the conference, we are excited at what lies ahead with these new opportunities. We will continue to compete for conference championships on the field and to graduate leaders in the community.”

–Field Level Media

The Boston Celtics | For Sale

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report with Team News Release) – Investors with deep pockets willing to purchase a champion can line up for bidding on the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

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The franchise is available for purchase, according to a team issued news release.  The imminent sale comes on the heels of a record 18th NBA title secured last month, as the league’s most storied franchise defeated the Dallas Mavericks in a five-game NBA Finals.

No purchase price was reported. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated the franchise’s value at $4.7 billion.

The potential sale comes at a time when the Celtics could approach a record payroll — and payroll tax to the NBA — with All-Star and MVP candidate Jayson Tatum discussing a contract that would make him the league’s highest-paid player.

Boston Basketball Partners was formed in 2002 and it completed the purchase of the Celtics on New Year’s Eve of that year from previous owner Paul Gaston for $360 million. Reports at the time indicated the actual sale price was $310 million since $50 million of debt was not assumed by the new ownership group.