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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 15h

SCOOP: The Houston Dash are in advanced talks to sell for $120M to RHC Group.

RHC's founder is Richard Hsiao, a 24 y/o Bucks superfan and son of a Chinese billionaire who disappeared from public in 2017 under sketchy circumstances. #NWSL

More at Sportico 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Dash Near $120M Sale to Group Led by Son of Disappeared Chinese Mogul

The NWSL's Dash are in talks to sell for $120M to Richard Hsiao's RHC Group. Hsiao, 24, is the son of imprisoned Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 12d

In today's Club Sportico essay, we're talking about a 1961 law that helps form the bedrock of the NFL's $22+ billion business.

How serious are the politicians that say the law might be under threat?

club.sportico.com/p/nfl-sports...

“The only person that ever made the NFL quiver”

There are many reasons for the NFL’s massive success. Are we overlooking its antitrust exemption?

club.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 21d

I wrote today about growing pains at the NWSL and WNBA.

The two women's league, both undergoing rapid commercial growth, are also facing labor issues, expansion challenges, and in the soccer league's case, a real threat overseas.

www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...

Big-Time Women’s Sports Are Experiencing Growing Pains

The NWSL and WNBA are undergoing massive commercial growth. That hasn't come without growing pains around expansion, labor and investment.

www.sportico.com

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Reposted by Eben Novy-Williams

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨

As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick, @sportico.bsky.social went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996.

He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵

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Reposted by Eben Novy-Williams

RedditCFB @redditcfb.com · Aug 28

This is a great series of visual breakdowns, check it out!

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨

As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick, @sportico.bsky.social went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996.

He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵

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Reposted by Eben Novy-Williams

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · Aug 28

Lee Corso's headgear picks would be a really cool addition to his @sports-reference.com page

cc: @sportinfo247.bsky.social @sean-forman.com

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨

As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick, @sportico.bsky.social went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996.

He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Read the full Sportico story from Lev Akabas

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Head Games: A Data Dive Into Lee Corso’s 430 Mascot Picks

Lee Corso has made 430 headgear picks during his career on ESPN's College GameDay. We broke down the data from every angle possible.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Finally, Corso's year-by-year-breakdown.

Lee struggled in the 2015-2018 range, but has come roaring back...

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Full conference by conference breakdown

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Lee Corso is 17-0 when picking USC 🛡️ !
And 8-0 picking against VaTech 🐦‍⬛!

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Here's his breakdown by mascot. He prefers cats 🐱 to dogs 🐶, and also cats 🐱 to birds 🦅.

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

Here's Lee Corso's picks home vs. away 👇

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨 Lee Corso Data Viz 🚨

As the College GameDay host approaches his final mascot pick, @sportico.bsky.social went back through all 430, dating back to Oct. 1996.

He's 286-144 (66.5%) through the years. A quick thread 🧵

1 16 31

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 18

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 18

Today's Club Sportico round-up hits on an absurd trading card, the collapse of an athlete's Hollywood story, Aaron Rodgers' helmet fiasco, and more...

club.sportico.com/p/trading-ca...

Trading cards have gone too far

Plus: The NFL's favorite contrarian strikes again, Jim Dolan outdoes himself, and 'Advantage, Ms. Maristany Zuleta De Reales.'

club.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 15

If you want to better understand Michigan's ~$30 million spying fine relative to the Wolverines balance sheet...

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 14

🤔🤔🤔

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 13

SCOOP: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has an agreement in place to buy the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.

His group intends to keep the team in Oregon. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Tom Dundon to Buy Portland Trail Blazers From Paul Allen’s Estate

Tom Dundon is leading a group that is buying the Portland Trail Blazers. The group intends to keep the NBA franchise in Portland.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 13

BREAKING: The Pohlad family, one of MLB's longest-tenured owners, will keep control of the Twins after exploring a sale. LPs coming in instead. No path to control.

More at @sportico.bsky.social w/ @soshnick 👇

www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Pohlads to Keep Control of Twins Amid Minority Stake Sale

The Pohlad family will keep control of the Minnesota Twins after exploring a potential sale. Instead the team will bring on a few minority partners.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 8

This week's weirdest sports story isn't about the WNBA, or even sex toys. It's about memecoins, betting, and the economy of virality.

Today's Club Sportico installment 👇
club.sportico.com/p/the-sex-to...

The sex toys are a red herring

Green dildos aren't the real story. Sports' latest ugly trend is more about Polymarket, memecoins, and the financialization of virality.

club.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Aug 7

SCOOP: The Chicago Bears' current owners--the McCaskey and Ryan families--have reached an agreement to split the ~2% stake previously owned by Andrew McKenna.

The deal values the Bears at an NFL record $8.8 billion. More at
@sportico.bsky.social 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Bears Valued at $8.8B as Current Owners Share McKenna Stake Sale

The Chicago Bears owners, the McCaskey and Ryan families, will share the equity held by Andrew McKenna in a deal that values the team at $8.8 billion.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Jul 30

Wrote today about the commercial undertones to Deion Sanders' cancer presser:

- He included two brands he co-owns
- He featured two other companies that pay him
- He's both a patient and a former paid spokesman of UCHealth
- UCHealth pays Buffs millions

More 👇
www.sportico.com/business/com...

Even in Cancer Reveal, Deion Sanders Revs Marketing Engine

Deion Sanders' cancer reveal featured products from companies that he owns, and nods to companies that endorse him, plus a major Buffaloes sponsor.

www.sportico.com

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Jul 29

As college sports change dramatically, some things don't.

Today Daniel Libit and I wrote about the web of overlap between Maryland athletics, search firm TurnkeyZRG, and Ohio State 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

How the Key Turns: Maryland and College Sports’ Reciprocal Economy

Maryland AD Jim Smith reunites with ex–Ohio State AD Gene Smith as part of a telling arrangement involving the executive search firm TurnkeyZRG.

www.sportico.com

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Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · Jul 18

There are nine schools that are primarily DII and DIII that are sharing revenue with their athletes.

Here is that list, via @sportico.bsky.social

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Reposted by Eben Novy-Williams

Michael McCann @mccannsportslaw.bsky.social · Jul 17

SCOOP: The NFLPA fires arbitrator who ruled NFLPA then-president J.C. Tretter's comments about running backs faking injuries for contract leverage violated CBA, which requires both PA and league use best efforts to carry out duties. @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social & I have more @sportico.bsky.social:

NFLPA Fires Arbitrator Who Ruled on JC Tretter ‘Fake Injuries’ Case

NFLPA fired an arbitrator who ruled NFLPA then-president JC Tretter violated CBA by discussing ruling backs faking injuries for contract reasons.

www.sportico.com

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