Connecticut Sun as good as gone to Houston
Nine MLB teams pay luxury tax. Is John Harbaugh the next Giants coach?
Good morning, all! Happy weekend!
You knew it was just a matter of time. You knew, even though there had not been much news lately, the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun would eventually pick up their ball and move to Houston. Their departure becomes more of a reality with each passing day.
On Friday ESPN reported that talks between the owners of the NBA’s Houston Rockets and the Mohegan tribe, owners of the Sun, have intensified. Connecticut no longer fits professional basketball’s template.
When the WNBA’s Orlando franchise was floundering and the league needed an entity to come to the rescue, the Mohegan tribe came calling and saved the franchise. Like a bag of rotten apples, Connecticut is now being tossed into the garbage. The NBA, which pulls the WNBA’s strings, wants that league’s franchises to be located in cities where the NBA has a team. If the owners of the WNBA teams also own NBA franchises, all the better.
Connecticut is now a has been, no matter how much the Sun’s loyal fan base supports the team. The WNBA used the region, when it was needed, now it is ready to toss it to the curb. Such is the reality of big league sports, and in the mindset of the NBA and WNBA, Connecticut is not big league. Oh, expect to hear the usual plaudits, once the sale is completed. “Connecticut helped grow women’s basketball with UConn. They have loyal fans, and we hope they will make the trip to nearby New York City to watch the Liberty.” Blah! Blah! Blah!
I am not about to tell fans what they should or should not do. It is their choice. But when the NBA pushes the Sun out of Connecticut, and they will, I know what I will do. I will say good riddance to both the NBA and WNBA. My rooting interest in basketball will end, once the men’s and women’s college basketball seasons are over. You can take the pro game, its contrived NBA Cup and it’s much-too long regular season, and stick it where the sun don’t (sic) shine.
Broadcasters revolt and other thoughts:
The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents legacy media, is launching a campaign, fearful of losing its relevance, and it is using sports as the avenue to deliver its message. The NAB is launching a campaign to keep live sports on TV. The NAB says fans are upset more games are shifting to streaming, meaning more fees and paywalls sports fans must deal with to follow their favorite sports. But could it be, fans will benefit by paying a streaming fee for a specific package rather than getting their sports lumped in with other programming? It will be interesting to watch whether the NAB’s efforts are successful or a cry that falls on deaf ears.
The numbers are in and nine MLB teams must pay a competitive balance tax for 2025. Naturally, the two-time defending champion Dodgers lead the way, having to fork over $169.4M. Here is the list:
Dodgers: $169.4MM
Mets: $91.6MM
Yankees: $61.8MM
Phillies: $56.1MM
Blue Jays: $13.6MM
Padres: $7MM
Astros: $1.5MM
Red Sox: $1.5MM
Rangers: $190K
When the LA Rams intercepted Sam Darnold yet again on Thursday night and led the Seattle Seahawks, 30-14, with eight minutes and change left in the game, I went to bed. I had the Seahawks winning and covering their favored 1.5-point spread. Imagine my surprise, when I awoke and found out Seattle staged a dramatic comeback and won in OT, 38-37. It turns out the Seahawks were 0-155, when trailing by 16 or more points in the fourth quarter, until Thursday night. ESPN also quoted some Seahawks as saying they witnessed some Rams players laughing at them, when the score was 30-14. As it turns out, the Seahawks had the last laugh and are now in first place (12-3) by one game over the Rams (11-4) with two games left in the regular season.
Turns out the sale price of the Pittsburgh Penguins is $1.7B. That is the number the Fenway Sports Group, which also owns the Boston Red Sox, will get for selling the NHL franchise to a Chicago-based, family-owned firm. I wonder if the Red Sox will now go out and sign a high profile free agent with their new windfall.
Speaking of which, Mookie Betts said this week in a podcast, he never wanted to leave the Red Sox, despite the success and championships he has earned with the Dodgers. The Sox did not want to give Betts a long term contract, as he approached free agency, and peddled him to LA. But you already knew that.
After I wrote in Friday’s letter about the slow activity on the baseball trade front, things sure picked up, didn’t they? The Baltimore Orioles continue to be active, acquiring right-hand pitcher Shane Baz from Tampa Bay. The Rays were also involved in a three-way deal with the Pirates and Astros. Busy, busy Friday.
The drumbeat is starting for John Harbaugh in Baltimore. One website story is pondering whether the Ravens Sunday night game against the Patriots will be the head coach’s last home game as Ravens coach. Harbaugh is the franchise’s longest tenured coach, hired in 2008. The late Bill Walsh once said an NFL coach usually wears out his welcome, after coaching the same team for 10 years. Harbaugh has certainly surpassed that. I will write, what I said in my video in Friday’s newsletter: Do not be surprised if John Harbaugh is the next coach of the New York Giants.
And on that note, have a superb Saturday and thank you for reading the newsletter.
DAN