Coca-Cola Co., which previously owned a 30 percent stake in BodyArmor, is buying the remaining 70 percent of the sports drink brand from the company's founders and investors for $5.6 billion in a deal that values the company at $8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The estate of late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant will reportedly collect roughly $400 million for its stake in BodyArmor, with Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout also set to cash in. (The Wall Street Journal)
The NHL Players Association will hold a meeting of its executive board today after an independent investigation into the handling of a 2010 sexual assault allegation made by former Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach found that Donald Fehr, the union's executive director, was contacted twice about allegations, including by a Beach confidant. Fehr's future with the union is reportedly on the agenda for today's meeting, and several current and former players have publicly criticized the union's unwillingness to advocate for Beach in the aftermath of the allegations. (Sportsnet)
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated his belief that the College Football Playoff should either keep its current four-team format or expand the field to 12 teams, while expressing strong opposition to proposals that would establish an eight-team model featuring five Power Five conference champions, a guaranteed Group of Five slot and two at-large bids. School presidents are set to meet this week, and conference commissioners have meetings coming up regarding expansion. (The Athletic)
Adversity, awakening: Last season's outcry over the poor workout facilities at the NCAA women's championships leads to new potential direction Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal
Ideas about how to make the men's and women's basketball tournaments more equitable have flowed forth in the six months since — combining men's and women's Final Fours in the same city; creating a modified March Madness trademark for use with the women's tournament, which has already been approved; and taking the women's championship to the marketplace to determine its true media and marketing worth.
