Paramount Sale at Major Fork in the Road

The Pro League Network is carving out a unique space in the sports landscape with properties such as Slap Fight, Putt Putt, and Carjitsu. These novel sports are produced as digital-first properties to catch the attention of social media users among others. PLN founders Mike Salvaris and Bill Yucatonis join the show to discuss how they are building a sports media company for today’s fans. Plus, NBA commissioner Adam Silver floated potential expansion cities, and the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup Final has caused a strange political fight in Canada.

The NBA is having one of its most dramatic periods in recent memory with a historic rights deal expected to be announced in the same month as its finals and draft. ESPN’s Bobby Marks joins the show to explain how each of those will shape how teams build toward a future in which the salary cap is set to reach enormous heights. Plus, bids are coming in for Everton, two non-MLB events drew huge crowds at historic MLB stadiums, and the French Open wrapped up.

Sports drinks have long been closely allied with sports, but as media has changed to help athletes grow their personal brands, sports drink brands have adjusted. BodyArmor CMO Tom Gargiulo joins the show to discuss how he approaches the shifting performance-drink market. Plus, two finals broadcasts will break barriers, the NHL is looking for its Drive to Survive moment, and we explore the state of golf one year after the announced deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia.

Harry Marino led the charge to unionize minor league baseball players, eventually securing massive pay and benefit increases. Now he is turning his attention to a larger project: organizing non-union sports workers from coaches to stadium workers. He joins the show to explain what worked with the minor leagues and how he intends to build on that success with this next project under his new organization, Sports Solidarity. Plus, the Chiefs, Browns, and Panthers are all seeking public funds for new NFL stadiums or major renovations and JJ Redick could parlay a podcast into a head coaching gig.

The College World Series is preparing for its 74th year in Omaha, but it has only recently asserted itself as a key part of the NCAA calendar. CWS executive director Amy Hornocker joins the show to discuss the past, present, and future of the event. Plus, MLB banned one minor league player and suspended four more for gambling on baseball, while FanDuel neared a naming rights deal for MLB’s primary regional broadcaster.

Paramount and Skydance are reportedly closing in on a merger that would see the CBS-parent change hands. CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins the show to explain the final hurdles remaining for the deal and what it will mean for the media landscape. The long-discussed deal could lead to more among major media companies. Plus, the Stanley Cup Finals will provide one more test for the NHL’s banner year and Real Madrid celebrated a championship by signing a global superstar.

The ACC is working to keep FSU and Clemson from leaving, and that fight has put the conference in a legal battle with Florida’s attorney general. The other Power 4 conferences and ESPN have joined the ACC in a fight to keep media contracts private. Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich joins the show to break down the situation and its implications. Plus, FOS reporter AJ Perez digs into the strange case of Dov Kleiman’s popular NFL news aggregator account and whether it was quietly sold. The WNBA is getting more attention, and that could lead to changes in the game, and a Division III baseball team outlasted its own school.

Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, will use a modified court, different formats, and new ways of compensating and accommodating athletes. With each player making at least six figures and holding equity in the league, Unrivaled will boast the highest average salary of any women’s sports league. President Alex Bazzell joins the show to explain the league’s approach, its player-focused facilities, and how it will interact with the WNBA. Plus, Red Bull is buying a minority stake in Leeds United, Formula 1 could triple its entry fee, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League wrapped up its historic first season.

Indiana hosted the most recent NBA All-Star Game and is a regular stop for some of the top college contests, including Big Ten Football championship games and Final Fours. Indiana Sports Corp president Patrick Talty joins the show to discuss how the organization works to bring in big events, what makes a sporting event worthwhile, and why they are hosting Olympic swimming trials in a football stadium. Plus, MLB incorporated stats from the Negro Leagues into its official record, Greenland is making a move on the global soccer stage, and Nebraska gave its volleyball coach a raise for a very specific reason.

Four Bay Area teams have moved are are planning to, with the 49ers and Warriors relocating in the area and the Raiders and A’s going to Las Vegas. Andy Dolich, who was an executive with the A’s, 49ers, Warriors, and other teams, joins the show to examine the fates of each team and explain why going from Oakland to Las Vegas is a downgrade for the A’s. Plus, the NFL schedule could get reconfigured and MLB’s most maligned umpire calls it a career after reaching a settlement with the league.