Chinese video-streaming service Tencent cut last night's broadcast of an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks after Celtics center Enes Kanter posted a video calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a "brutal dictator" and urging him to "free Tibet." A prominent Celtics fan account on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, said it was suspending updates on the team based on Kanter's comments, while others on the platform called for a boycott of the NBA. (The Washington Post)
FIFA said it will schedule a vote on its plan to make the World Cup a biennial event for Dec. 20 despite opposition from powerful players in the global soccer landscape. A person familiar with the thinking of UEFA and CONMEBOL, the governing bodies of soccer in Europe and South America, respectively, said the organizations are considering seceding from FIFA altogether, and the heads of several European national federations also reportedly raised that possibility during a Tuesday meeting with FIFA officials. (The Wall Street Journal)
Former Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich, who was fired earlier this week for his refusal to comply with the state's vaccine mandate, plans to sue the university for illegal termination, according to attorney Brian Fahling, who accused athletic director Pat Chun of "discriminatory and vindictive behavior." Fahling said in a statement that Rolovich sought an exemption from the mandate based on his "devout" Catholic faith, but that it was denied by the school. (ESPN)
COLLEGE SPORTS
Bob Huggins says major conferences should create own college basketball postseason event, ditch NCAA tournament Myron Medcalf, ESPN
As the collegiate landscape changes amid conference realignment and the NCAA's future remains in flux, West Virginia men's basketball coach Bob Huggins said it's time for the major conferences to split from the other schools and create their own postseason tournament, so they can control the sport's most significant financial stream.
How Outback Is Teaming Up With College Football Stars In The NIL Era Erika Wheless, Ad Age
Outback Steakhouse is dipping its toes into the NIL waters. The restaurant has signed its first seven college football athletes to be part of its TeamMATES program, which will help raise money for local and national causes.
Bueckers' NIL Hesitancy Amanda Christovich, Front Office Sports
From her on-court dominance to sky-high follower count, Paige Bueckers is one of the most marketable players in college basketball — if not all of NCAA sports. But while other athletes of a similar caliber have been cashing in, the superstar has been unusually quiet on the NIL front.
Recruiting Ranking The Contenders: Five-Star WR Tristen Keys