Sports News--Few suspended, Unionizing opinion

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Michael Rubin, executive chairman of sports licensing and retail giant Fanatics Inc., has reportedly participated in meetings in recent months to see if there's a path for his company to enter into the regional sports network business, though sources said no such move is imminent. Rubin's presence in the meetings is an indication of how concerned sports executives are about the future of the RSN business, which has been a major revenue stream for sports teams over the past 30 years. (Sports Business Journal) The Fritz Pollard Alliance, a diversity group that works closely with the NFL, called on the league and the Las Vegas Raiders to take remedial action following the reveal of emails sent by Raiders coach Jon Gruden in 2011 in which he wrote that NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, who is Black, "has lips the size of michellin tires." The league condemned the language used by Gruden in the email but declined to comment on whether it would discipline the coach, while Gruden, who was not employed by the league at the time, apologized for the remarks while insisting he is not a racist. (The Washington Post) RedBall Acquisition Corp., a SPAC led by RedBird Capital Partners' founder Gerry Cardinale and Oakland Athletics executive Billy Beane, confirmed a report that it is in talks to merge with SeatGeek in a deal that would take the privately held ticketing business public. A person familiar with the matter said a deal, if reached, could be announced as soon as this week. (Bloomberg)

COLLEGE SPORTS

Not Even Alabama Is Immune From College Football's Upset Machine Alanis Thames, The New York Times It was the Aggies' first win over Alabama since Johnny Manziel, who was on the Texas A&M sideline on Saturday, led the team past the Crimson Tide in 2012. And it was the first time that one of Saban's former assistants (Fisher was Louisiana State's offensive coordinator under Saban in the early 2000s) beat him. San Jose State president resigns amid sex abuse fallout The Associated Press The president of San Jose State University resigned Thursday after the university agreed last month to pay $1.6 million to 13 female student-athletes whose complaints about being sexually assaulted by an athletic trainer were mishandled. Mary Papazian, who served as the university's president since July 1, 2016, will step down at the end of the fall semester on Dec. 21, officials announced Thursday. Gonzaga coach Mark Few suspended for two exhibition games, season opener Jim Meehan, The Spokane Spokesman-Review Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who was cited for driving under the influence last month near Coeur d'Alene, has been suspended for the team's two exhibition games and the nonconference season opener against Dixie State on Nov. 9. He's expected to return for Gonzaga's probable top-five showdown against Texas on Nov. 13 at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Prouty could play key part in decision on whether college athletes could unionize Liz Mullen, Sports Business Journal Dave Prouty's position on the NLRB could be important to college sports following a memo issued by the new, Biden-appointed general counsel late last month deeming certain student athletes "employees." The designation is important because only employees can form unions. LSU will no longer require proof of COVID vaccination, negative test to enter Tiger Stadium Caroline Savoie, The Baton Rouge Advocate LSU says it will no longer require fans to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative test to enter Tiger Stadium for football games. The move comes amid a "consistent and significant decline in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the state of Louisiana and in the Baton Rouge area," the university announced on Twitter Friday.

---Morning Consult
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