The 2011 NFL lockout may send less financially savvy players into high interest loans, critics claim. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Joshua Hess/JWR Hashkafa)

The average consumer-level same day loan comes with a 15 to 25 percent fee per $100 loaned. Considering the relatively small dollar amount of these instant payday loans, the fee generally doesn’t break the bank. However, the 2011 NFL lockout has given rise to high-dollar variation of such loans, which the media has dubbed “lockout loans,” reports Yahoo! Sports. Players without paychecks because of the labor dispute who find themselves in financial distress are being solicited by lending agents with offers.

Lockout loans: When 36 percent APR is dangerous

While a 36 percent APR attached to consumer same day loan of $300 or $400 produces too little revenue for a lender to operate, NFL lockout loans for more than $60,000 at as much as 36 percent APR generate a lot of interest very quickly. Yet players from at least 16 NFL teams have already applied for such large-scale instant payday loans, writes Yahoo! Sports.

The NFL Players Association lockout fund has helped some players, but clearly the response to high-risk lockout loans indicates that some players haven’t curbed their extravagant lifestyles in the absence of their paychecks. The NFLPA advised players to save at least three game checks from the previous season in anticipation of the 2011 lockout, but insiders report that the advice may not have been heeded. In addition, the NFLPA has urged players to refinance their homes, fly coach and pursue moneymaking opportunities like autograph signings and speaking engagements in this extended off-season, writes MSNBC.

Why do NFL players have money problems?

Sports psychologists suggest that star athletes are surrounded by enablers from a relatively young age. By the time players reach the professional ranks, it is not uncommon for them to lack real world financial knowledge, as they’ve never had to take responsibility for such things. Throwing millions of dollars at someone who may have grown up poor can also open the door to myriad temptations. This is perhaps why as many as 80 percent of retired NFL players have declared bankruptcy, according to a Sports Illustrated estimate. MSNBC indicates that as many as 380 of the NFL’s 1,700 players live from paycheck to paycheck, even though the average NFL annual salary in 2010 was $1.87 million. The rookie average was $320,000, but after taxes and agents, money problems can occur if players aren’t careful.

A dissenting voice in support of lockout loans

Sherard Rogers, a financial adviser to a number of NFL athletes, told Yahoo! Sports that lockout loans are a legitimate product that meets player demand. While franchises will endure, players who live to spend can run into trouble.

“Every NFL team was valued at over $1 billion, so they can weather the storm of a lockout. But could players if there weren’t resources to cover this short-term labor dispute?” asked Rogers. “The key is to figure out how to solve the short-term liquidity issue and put the pieces in place to ensure they don’t have this liquidity issue again.”

Sources

MSNBC

Philly Sports Column

The Real Athlete Blog

Yahoo! Sports

Both sides are feeling the ‘deal heat’

The NCAA tournament generates billions of dollars in broadcast rights, advertising revenue and betting on games in office pools. Image: CC JSmith Photo/Flickr

The economic impacts of March Madness, the annual Division 1 NCAA basketball tournament, add up to billions of dollars in costs and revenues. From the cost of TV advertising to the money bet in office pools, March Madness money has effects that permeate multiple levels of the economy. For the schools of college basketball teams that qualify for the NCAA tournament, much more is at stake than a championship trophy.

March Madness money

March Madness creates billions of dollars of economic impact in large part because it occupies a sweet spot on the American sports calendar. The NCAA basketball tournament is the only major sporting event in the U.S. that occurs after the Super Bowl and before opening day of the Major League Baseball season. March Madness money trails only the NFL playoffs in television advertising revenue, which is the motivation for CBS to pay the NCAA $10.8 billion for the rights to broadcast the tournament for the next 14 years. That works out to a $771 million check CBS has to write every year for the opportunity to lose money covering the games. Advertisers pay CBS about $100,000 for a 30-second spot in round one and up to $1.2 million per spot in the finals. In 2010, CBS cleared $651 million in advertising revenue on the tournament; the NFL playoffs generated $793.8 million.

Schools compete for NCAA credit units

While CBS loses money on March Madness, the NCAA rakes it in. In addition to selling the broadcast rights, the NCAA makes tens of millions more from ticket sales and sponsorships. In total, March Madness money accounts for 96 percent of NCAA revenue. For money-losing college basketball teams, being selected for the tournament is an opportunity to narrow the average operating deficit of $850,000. According to the NCAA, in 2005-06 the average Division 1 men’s basketball team generated $480,000 in revenue and had $1.33 million in expenses. For a team making the tournament, each game earns one NCAA credit unit. The NCAA doles out 126 credits units each year. An NCAA credit unit was worth $206,020 for the 2007-08 season. A team advancing to the finals earned five credits worth more than $1 million, which is divided among the schools in its conference. In 2007-08, the big winner was the Big East, where 16 schools collected about $1.2 million each.

March Madness and the workplace

The economics of March Madness extend far beyond the games. It has been estimated that millions of college basketball fans bet more than $7 billion on the NCAA tournament, $1 billion more than the Super Bowl. The obsession with March Madness also affects the workplace. About 8.4 million private sector work hours will be lost in the next three weeks to coverage of the tournament, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Multiplied by the average hourly wage of $22.87, that’s $192 million in wages. The cost of the drain on Internet speed from workers streaming basketball games has not yet been calculated.

Sources

Wall Street Journal

Toronto Star

MSNBC

Media Life

The spendthrift ways of many players may weaken their union's position against team owners in the NFL labor dispute. Image: CC Keith Allison/Flickr

Many people may assume that players in the National Football League, with their high salaries, escape life’s personal finance challenges. But a large percentage of NFL players live paycheck to paycheck — like most people — and financial hardship is an issue in the NFL labor dispute.  NFL owners know that many players could go broke during a lockout and are prepared to wait until the union gives in.

NFL player salaries and the lockout

The NFL labor dispute blew up on March 12, and the team owners locked out the players’ union. If the dispute isn’t resolved quickly, the 2011 NFL season could be canceled and players won’t be paid. NFL players may have more money than most people on average, but that doesn’t mean they know how to manage their personal finances. For many NFL players, their everyday expenses include big bar tabs, fast cars and luxury homes. MSNBC reports that according to financial experts familiar with the NFL, about 380 of the league’s 1,700 players live paycheck to paycheck. This is despite the fact that the average NFL player salary for the 2010 season was $1.87 million. But considering that the NFL rookie minimum salary is $320,000, that average is skewed heavily because of a few superstars. Most rank-and-file NFL players, who earn in the low six figures after paying taxes and their agents, could be in serious financial trouble.

NFL players and bankruptcy

NFL players are notorious for neglecting their personal finances. Sports Illustrated estimated that nearly 80 percent of retired NFL players have declared bankruptcy. More than a few NFL players make more headlines with their financial problems than with their play on the field. Luther Elliss filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after making $11.6 million playing for the Detroit Lions from 2000 to 2004. Heisman Trophy winner Raghib “Rocket” Ismail went broke after earning about $18 million playing for 10 years. Current New York Jets backup quarterback Mark Brunell filed for bankruptcy last June despite earning more than $50 million during his career. A player for the Philadelphia Eagles told Philadelphia Sports Daily that broke teammates have asked him for personal loans of up to $100,000.

NFLPA financial advice too little too late?

NFL owners, flush with cash, may believe that players who can’t afford to miss any paychecks won’t be willing to hold out to get what they want. In an attempt to mitigate those circumstances, the NFLPA gave its members a personal finance handbook as the lockout approached. The NFLPA handbook advises players to save 25 percent of their annual salary. Other advice includes “socializing with a purpose,” refinancing mortgages and flying coach. The handbook also suggests public speaking engagements and autograph sessions to make ends meet while the union is locked out. But the advice may be too little too late for many NFL players. For players who haven’t already planned ahead for the NFL lockout, a handbook isn’t going to be a lot of help this late in the game.

Sources

MSNBC

Yahoo! Sports

Fox Business

Adam Wainwright will be out for the entire season. CC by bk1bennett/Flickr

Yahoo! Sports reports that St. Louis Cardinals ace pitcher Adam Wainwright won’t be winning any games in 2011. The right-hander will be out for all of 2011 and some of 2012 while rehabilitating from elbow surgery. Combined with the news that the team was unable to get star slugger Albert Pujols to sign an extension, 2011 could turn out to be a long season for the redbirds.

With Adam Wainwright down, St. Louis becomes a tough sell to Albert Pujols

The Adam Wainwright elbow injury, the St. Louis Cardinals confirmed, will require Tommy John Surgery, aka an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction. It involves the replacement of the damaged elbow ligament with a tendon taken from either the forearm, hamstring, knee or foot. The reason it is often called “Tommy John” is because that was the name of the first person to get the surgery. Major League pitcher Tommy John got the surgery in 1974 when it was still experimental.

Adam Wainwright’s prognosis was confirmed Thursday at the St. Louis Cardinals’ training facility in Jupiter, Fla. The 29-year-old pitcher relies heavily upon the curveball, so full elbow ligament flexibility is essential. Pitchers Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook will be relied upon for the Cardinals 2011. It’s a tough spot to fill; Wainwright won 39 times in the past two seasons.

St. Louis might not make it past July

It is unlikely that Albert Pujols will re-sign with the St. Louis Cardinals if a replacement for Adam Wainwright doesn’t show up for 2011. It will be hard for the Cardinals to replace Pujols mid-season because of no-trade provision in his contract. Without an adequate substitution for Wainwright, the best the Cardinals may be able to hope for is that Pujols will drop his no-trade clause so they can get something back from whichever team is willing to pay Pujols the $30 million a year, 10-year contract he wants.

Information from

Fox Sports

Wikipedia entry for Tommy John surgery

Yahoo! Sports

German brewer Erdinger is trying to increase its North American market share by marketing no-alcohol Alkoholfrei at sporting events. Image: CC Allan Gathman/Flickr

A German brewing company is aggressively marketing its brand of non-alcoholic beer as a sports drink. Erdinger of Bavaria is hoping that its  Alkoholfrei defies the downward trend of non-alcoholic beer sales in the past decade. Erdinger claims that Alkoholfrei helps athletes recover without the dehydrating effects of alcohol.

Erdinger bets U.S. has a taste for Alkoholfrei

Beer has a long tradition of being associated with sports marketing in the U.S., but positioning a non-alcoholic beer as a legitimate sports and fitness beverage is a new idea. Erdinger has been promoting Alkoholfrei as a fitness beverage in Europe since 2001. Alkoholfrei has grown popular in Europe and Erdinger hands out free samples at both grass roots sporting events and major competitions. Erdinger products are sold in 45 U.S. states, and the brewery has decided to step up promotion efforts for Alkoholfrei to increase its market share in North America. At a February World Cup biathlon event in Fort Kent, Maine, elite European athletes on the podium held huge mugs of Alkoholfrei along with their skis and rifles.

Beer: the isotonic sports drink

Erdinger Alkoholfrei looks like beer, with an auburn color and foamy head. The non-alcoholic brew allegedly tastes like beer as well. The brewing company markets the brand as an “isotonic” sports and fitness beverage, rich in carbohydrates and vitamins that help athletes recover from a workout or competition. Along with ethanol, beer generally contains sodium, potassium, carbohydrates and B vitamins, but trainers and sports nutritionists say the levels of those regenerative compounds in beer are not high enough to make a difference in recovery for serious athletes. At least without the alcohol, Eerdiner Alkoholfrei will help athletes rehydrate.

Will real German beer taste matter to Americans?

In the U.S., non-alcoholic beer hit the mainstream in the 1990s with O’Douls from Anheuser-Busch and Sharps from Miller. But sales for those brands have been in decline for more than a decade. Erdinger is trying to convince Americans that Alkoholfrei tastes like real German beer in a way the other non-alcoholic beers don’t. At nearly $10 a six-pack for Erdinger Alkoholfrei, whether Americans can accept that price for a German beer with no buzz or a European energy drink without the sugar high remains to be seen.

Sources

Associated Press

USA Today

Business Week

Super Bowl betting hit the Las Vegas sports book hard when the favored Packers covered the spread and the Steelers covered the second half line. Image: CC MarkyBoy81/Flickr

In the Super Bowl betting arena this year, the house didn’t win. Las Vegas bookmakers took a bath when the favored Green Bay Packers won by a decisive margin. It is expected to be the worst loss for Las Vegas bookies on the Super Bowl since 1993.

Super Bowl doomsday for Vegas casinos

Super Bowl betting turned into a worse-case scenario for the Las Vegas sports book. As 2 1/2-point favorites, the Packers delivered for the betting public in its 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevada gaming officials won’t release the official numbers until Tuesday, but several factors converged that are expected to result in big net loss for casinos. The Packers were favored and they covered the 3-point spread. There were reports of at least two $1 million bets on the Packers. The Super Bowl over/under was set at 45.5 points and most of the public bet Packers/over in a game that totaled 56 points. Plus, with Pittsburgh showing signs of life near halftime but down by 11, the Vegas second half  line favored the Steelers by 2 1/2-points and they covered.

Vegas book hit by double whammy

The Las Vegas sports book lost on the Super bowl because amateur gamblers tend to bet on the favorite and think the over/under is too low. Sports books hope the favorite wins, but doesn’t cover the spread in a low-scoring game. If the favorites fail to cover in the win, the bet on them loses. Because the Packers were favored by 2 1/2 and won by six, gamblers betting on Green Bay enjoyed a big payday. To make matters worse for the Vegas sports book, it favored the Steelers by 2 1/2 in the second half. Pittsburgh started the second half down by 11. A wave of gamblers realized they could bet on the Steelers, 2 1/2-point underdogs before the game began, as 8 1/2-point underdogs in the second half. Losing by just six, Pittsburgh delivered for those bettors as well.

The house doesn’t always win

Super Bowl Sunday is the busiest gambling day in the year in Las Vegas and usually a big harvest for the casinos. But the Las Vegas sports book found itself getting hit by bets on both teams in Super Bowl XLV. In 2010, $82.7 million was bet on the Super Bowl in Vegas. The Casinos collected $6.8 million. Estimates for Super Bowl betting in 2011 at Las Vegas are as high as $95-$100 million. Las Vegas lost $2.6 million in 2008 when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots. In the other nine Super Bowls since 2000, the casinos have averaged a take of $9.07 million.

Sources

Los Angeles Times

Business Insider

Las Vegas Review Journal

Jeannine Edwards stood up to Ron Franklin's sexist putdowns. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Ray Paulick/Paulick Report)

Ron Franklin may be highly esteemed for his work as a college football announcer for ESPN, but his workplace acumen when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex clearly leaves a great deal to be desired. According to Sports By Brooks, Franklin was pulled from his announcing duties on Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl radio broadcast by ESPN executives because of inappropriate comments made to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards during a pre-game meeting before Friday’s Chick-fil-A Bowl. Ron Franklin allegedly called Jeannine Edwards both “sweetcakes” and an “—hole.”

The Ron Franklin/Jeannine Edwards meltdown, in context

During the Chick-fil-A Bowl pre-game meeting, Ron Franklin was speaking with co-announcers Ed Cunningham and Rod Gilmore. When the subject came up of Gilmore’s wife recently having been elected mayor of Alameda, Calif., Jeannine Edwards attempted to join the discussion with her colleagues.

Franklin quickly told her, “Why don’t you leave this to the boys, sweetcakes.” When Edwards openly objected to being spoken to in such a manner, Franklin said, “OK then, —hole.”

Fired from the Fiesta

Jeannine Edwards immediately reported Ron Franklin’s sexist conduct to ESPN management. As a replacement for Franklin could not be found for that day’s game, he was allowed to broadcast the Chick-fil-A Bowl. However, ESPN college football coordinating producer Ed Placey, as well as ESPN programming executives Norby Williamson and Mark Gross, replaced Ron Franklin with Dave Lamont for the Fiesta Bowl broadcast on New Year’s Day.

It is unclear at this time whether ESPN will take further action regarding Ron Franklin’s remarks to Jeannine Edwards. Franklin is in the first quarter of a two-year contract that calls for him to work 35 events for ESPN each year of the contract.

Not the first Franklin fracas

Ron Franklin once had an incident with Holly Rowe, another female sideline reporter. Reportedly, during the broadcast of a Purdue University football game in 2005, Franklin addressed an on-air comment by Rowe in a condescending manner and called Rowe “sweetheart.” Franklin was not disciplined and the matter was handled internally.

UPDATE: Ron Franklin has been fired by ESPN.

Sources

Sports By Brooks

Ron Franklin on speaking one’s mind

Will Selva was accused of plagiarizing his script from the Orange County Register. Image: emdot / Flickr / CC-BY

Will Selva, anchor for the ESPN news network, has been suspended after being accused of plagiarism. The passage at issue was reportedly copied without attribution from Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register. This is just the latest incident highlighting the debate about the cost of and credit for news content.

Will Selva suspended for alleged plagiarism

On the overnight program “Highlight Express,” anchor Will Selva talked about the Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs game. The majority of that on-air spot was taken word-for-word from an Orange County Register column about the same game, written by Kevin Ding. Will Selva did not offer any credit for the content while he was on the air. He did issue an apology on Wednesday for what he called a “mistake.” Reportedly, Will Selva had copied the column over to his script while doing research and “forgot to rewrite it.” In a statement, Will responded to the allegations by saying

“I made a horrible mistake, and I’m deeply sorry. I sincerely apologize for my sloppiness, especially to Kevin Ding, viewers and colleagues.”

Will Selva suspended indefinitely

In response to the accusations of plagiarism, the ESPN network has indefinitely suspended Will Selva. Accidental or not, plagiarism of content is proving to be a very sticky issue for many media outlets. Recently, magazine “Cooks Source” has been called out and lambasted online for stealing content from just about every source available online. With 24-hour news networks and a constant online stream of content, plagiarism is both easier and more tempting than ever. ESPN has said that it will take “appropriate action” in researching and addressing Will Selva’s mistake, but the bigger issue is whether there is a strong enough system of content protection online. Some think a content protection system is impossible online, and plagiarism will be an ongoing issue for online content creators.

Source

FanHouse

New York Jets cheerleaders can get away with sticking their legs out on the field, but Sal Alosi's salary suffered when he tripped an opposing player during a game. Image: CC Ed Yourdon/Flickr

Sal Alosi wasn’t thinking about his salary when he tripped an opposing player running down the sideline Sunday. The New York Jets strength coach, a former college linebacker, impulsively stuck a leg out to trip a Miami Dolphin covering a punt return. Sal Alosi’s salary took a major hit when he was fined and suspended for the rest of the season without pay for his actions.

The Sal Alosi trip

Sal Alosi’s salary as the strength and conditioning coach for the New York Jets is about $200,000, if a tweet from Jay Glazer at Fox Sports can be considered accurate. In the heat of the moment, Alosi probably wasn’t thinking about all the bills he pays with that salary or the sweet interest rate on loans he qualifies for with that kind of income. When a player for the Dolphins, a hated rival of the Jets, ran out of bounds down the sideline, he just couldn’t help himself. And now his cash flow will be severely impinged by the Sal Alosi trip. With the holidays almost here, he could take out a payday loan if it weren’t for the fact that Alosi won’t be getting anymore paydays for the rest of the season.

How bad did Sal Alosi’s trip hit his salary?

Sal Alosi’s salary of $200,000 a year is pretty good money for the average person. But in the National Football League, $200,000 a year is minimum wage. For his inexplicable lapse in judgment, which brought down more public enmity on a team already despised for its bravado, Alosi was fined $25,000 by the Jets. He was also suspended without pay for the rest of the season, which may include a playoff run and the subsequent bonuses. Sal Alosi’s salary pencils out to $12,500 a game. With three games left in the season, Alosi’s salary takes a $62,500 hit — a 31 percent pay cut. A fine from the league hasn’t been announced yet, but Alosi should expect to drain his bank account further.

Act immortalized by Sal Alosi trip video

Alosi apologized for his dirty deed. But any mea culpa for such a stupid act is too little, too late. Most people expect him to be looking for a job after the Jets lose in the playoffs and once again disappoint legions of New York football fans who believe they are entitled to greatness. “Coach trips player” is a hard search term to live down, especially when the Sal Alosi trip video is one of the hottest trends on the Internet. Sal Alosi’s salary may never recover.

The Sal Alosi trip video

Sources

Bleacher Report

Business Insider

New York Daily News

New Big Ten logo

The new Big Ten logo, revealed on Monday morning, does away with attempts to integrate numbers into the text. When the Big Ten included 11 teams, the Big Ten logo integrated the number 11. Because the new Big Ten logo would have to integrate 12 teams, the designers have chosen a simpler option. The “Big Ten” logo is simply the two words “Big” and “Ten.” The “I” and “G” of “Big” suggest the number 10. It is a very simple logo that is easy to reproduce just about everywhere.

Integrating the new Big Ten logo

The new Big Ten logo integrates the logos of the 12 teams in two groups. There are now six “Legends” teams and six “Leaders” teams. There are 10 different options for the new Big Ten logo, some of which integrate the “Legends” and “Leaders” team logos. In short, the new Big Ten logo is as much of a compromise as is possible. The Big Ten logo is a minor issue when it comes to college football, but the millions — if not billions — of dollars involved definitely is anything but a minor issue.

Big Ten versus Big 12 conference

At the point the Big Ten conference was adding a 12th member, there was discussion of renaming the conference Big 12. However, the Big 12 conference already exists. The most interesting aspect of the Big 12 versus Big Ten conference is that the Big Ten will now have 12 members, and the Big 12 conference is dropping down to 10 members. The new Big Ten logo integrates all 12 members but doesn’t change the name.

Sources

Wikipedia
BigTen.org

The football bowl system has serious flaws, but it means lots of money. Image: Flickr / aheram / CC-BY

In college football, the 2010-2011 bowl schedule is the biggest deal there is. Not only does the football bowl schedule determine the social lives of those who follow college bowls, it involves much more. There have been calls to reform the college football bowl schedule and system, but the amount of money involved means it may not happen anytime soon.

2010 bowl matchups schedule finalized

The full list of 2010 bowl matchups has been finalized. The 2010 college football bowl schedule starts at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 18, and runs until Jan. 10, 2011. These bowl matchups pit various college football teams from dozens of conferences against one another. In the end, the BCS National Championship Game determines the winner of the NCAA Division I Football season.

2010 and 2011 college football bowl schedule means money

College football is, put mildly, big money. Not only for the colleges involved, but for  television networks and advertisers. Just taking a look at the names of the 2010 college football bowls gives a feeling for how big of business it is. The “Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl,” the “Tostidos Bowl,” the “Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi,” even the “Little Caesars Pizza” bowl. The sponsorships for these games easily hit millions of dollars. The payout, per-team, for the football bowl games run from $750,000 to $17 million.

Calls to reform the college football bowl schedule

With so much money at stake, there are lots of players beyond the football teams in the football bowl game system. This is the only NCAA sport that is not determined by a standard system that matches winners against winners. The college bowl system relies not only on the win-loss ratios of teams, but on computer rankings and conference champions. There have been calls to reform the college football bowl system to give smaller teams a more fair shake, but with the huge amount of money involved, it is not likely it will be reformed in the next few years.

Sources

Wikipedia

The 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup host choices are a mix of politics and social commentary. Image: Flickr / stevendepolo / CC-BY

In a long-awaited announcement, soccer’s governing body has confirmed who will be the 2018 World Cup host and 2022 World Cup host. The 2018 World Cup tournament will be hosted in Russia. Qatargot the nod for the 2022 World Cup. Both countries are “New Lands” for soccer. Despite the excitement, the Federation International Football Association is now facing calls to reform.

2018 World Cup in Russia

Russia beat out three other bidders and will host the 2018 World Cup, despite the fact that Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin did not visit FIFA for the bid process, calling it an “unscrupulous competition,” and that was considered damaging to the bid. Russia’s World Cup bid was based on the argument that Russia is a “growing market” for soccer.

Qutar to host 2022 World Cup

Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup, making it the first time the soccer tournament will be held in a Middle Eastern country. Qatar was considered a long-shot bid, and FIFA had expressed concern that the heat in Qatar would make the 2022 World Cup “unhealthy” for some competitors. Qatar promised it would air-condition stadiums. Though it is a tiny country in the Persian Gulf, Qatar marketed itself as a “strong” option for a statement about “trusting” the Middle East.

Changes to the FIFA World Cup process

Though the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts have just been announced, some are calling for a change to the bidding process. Some reformers are asking that the bid process for World Cup hosts be kept to one World Cup at a time. Others are asking for a more politically neutral review of the bids. The FIFA World Cup is a huge political and economic event, and the bid process and awarding of hosts is sure to remain controversial.

Preparing for the Brazil World Cup in 2014

Before the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, however, Brazil will host the tournament in 2014. The country has been making big preparations for the tournament that is expected to bring in more than 170,000 jobs and 80,000 foreign tourists. In many circles, the 2014 Brazil World Cup is seen as a preparatory event for the 2016 Olympics. Favelas, the shanty towns often controlled by drug lords or organized crime, are being cleaned out. The cost is high, but residents hope these high-profile sports events prove to be an economic boon.

Sources

InfoSurHoy
FIFA.com

George Washington University student Kye Allums will continue to play women's basketball, although he is transitioning from a female identity to a male identity. Image: Flickr / ryan_fung / CC-BY-SA

Kye Allums, a George Washington University student and basketball player, has sparked a controversy. The female-to-male transgendered athlete has been cleared to play women’s basketball. The decision was made in cooperation with the NCAA and George Washington University.

Kye Allums transitions to a male identity

Kye Allums was born a female and grew up very much a tomboy. The 21-year-old George Washington University student has said in interviews that he “always felt like a man trapped in a woman’s body.” Over the last few months, Kye has been transitioning to a male identity. In a statement, the 5′ 11″ guard said “I didn’t choose to be born in this body and feel the way I do.”

Kye Allums to play in NCAA women’s basketball

Kye Allums originally started playing NCAA women’s basketball for George Washington University on a scholarship. Kye still wishes to compete in basketball, though his transgender identity created a difficult situation for the University and the NCAA. The National Center on Lesbian Rights and Women’s Sports Foundation offered guidance to the school. The compromise reached allows Kye Allums, who is still physically female, to continue competing in women’s basketball as long as he does not undergo testosterone or drug therapy. Testosterone above what is naturally produced in the body is banned in student athletes, according to NCAA rules.

The difficulty of gender-divided sports

Though Kye Allums is the first transgendered athlete to play in NCAA basketball, this is not the first time the issue has been confronted. The physical gender of Olympic athlete Caster Semenya was under question for years. Lana Lawless, a male-to-female transgender golfer, is suing the LPGA for the right to compete as a professional female golfer. There are some questioning whether the separation of men’s and women’s athletics should just be done away with. Either way, until sports are all co-ed, the issue of transgendered athletes’ physical sex vs. their gender identity will continue to come under debate.

Source

CNN.com

The Home Run Derby 2010 winner may get the publicity, but charitable organizations are the real winners in the Go to Bat promotion. (Photo: ThinkStock)

The midpoint of the 2010 Major League Baseball season is upon us, and that means it’s time for Home Run Derby 2010. While the star-studded exhibition means nothing in the official standings or a player’s final statistics, there is a partnership between Major League Baseball and State Farm insurance – the “Go to Bat” program – which means something more to various charitable organizations. Fans choose their favorite organization and players swing for the fences. Charitable donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and a trip to the 2010 World Series are up for grabs.

Home Run Derby 2010: Grand slam for charity

The “Go to Bat” program is designed to make a difference in the community, and Home Run Derby 2010 is a reminder of how Major League Baseball and State Farm are committed to making a lasting impact on their communities, beyond the playing field. Fans who registered at the “Go to Bat” website earlier in the 2010 season are selected randomly by State Farm for individual weekly prizes (a $100 charitable donation to that fan’s selected charity). By playing an online Home Run Derby 2010 game through State Farm’s website, fans can increase their chance of being selected (and their charity’s chance of winning). Ten total winners will be chosen, and one will win a trip for two to the 2010 World Series. The “Go to Bat” competition extends through the second half of the MLB season and ends on September 26.

More charitable gold at Home Run Derby 2010

It doesn’t matter whether it’s Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Vernon Wells or Chris Young who sends the most home runs into the bleachers at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America will come out on top. That’s because State Farm will donate $3,000 per homer hit during Home Run Derby 2010, and $17,000 if a player hits the “Gold Ball” out (when a batter has only one out remaining). In addition, one local chapter of the BGCA will win $50,000, while the seven others from the Orange County, Calif., area will take home $10,000 each. Finally, State Farm will give the fan-selected charity that receives the most overall support and additional $25,000.

Who will win Home Run Derby 2010?

Go with Miguel Cabrera. He’s the hottest hitter of the group as competition commences.

Sources:

PR Newswire

MLB.com

“Home Run Derby” game show – back when the players actually needed the money

LeBron James could help Miami but hurt the NBA. (Photo: Wikipedia)

LeBron James has decided to pack his bags and bring his highly marketable talents from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. The free agent deal will team “King” James with noted stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and give head coach Pat Riley yet another opportunity to show why he’s one of the greatest motivators in NBA history. This spells big business for the Heat and Miami and a proverbial kick to the shins for the Cavaliers and Cleveland, but as Bloomberg and other media outlets speculate, is the LeBron James deal actually bad for the NBA?

LeBron James on a Heat super-team is bad for broadcasting

ABC, ESPN and Turner Broadcasting all hold the rights to broadcast NBA games, and it’s safe to say that ratings for their LeBron James/Miami Heat games will top the charts. But when too much talent is concentrated on one team, it takes much of the steam out of broadcasts of the rest of the NBA. The same holds true for gate receipts. NBC Commissioner David Stern surely wants all teams to be successful, but the truth is that most people want to see starts like LeBron James play. As former CBS Sports President Neal Pilson told Bloomberg, “You can’t just show Miami all the time and certainly the TV carriers benefit when you have attractive stars and personalities on multiple teams.”

Interestingly, if LeBron James had signed with the New York Knicks (a team that was in the running), it would have been broadcasting and marketing serendipity. Per Nielsen numbers, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are the top three U.S. TV markets. Miami clocks in at number 17.

‘The Decision’ – Milking it for all it’s worth

LeBron James and posse created an hour-long online program called “The Decision,” which the James camp claims was “prompted by the unprecedented attention and interest” sports fans have in LeBron’s every move. Bloomberg indicates that everyone from the University of Phoenix and Microsoft to Coca-Cola and McDonald’s had a sponsorship stake in the manufactured event. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America even made $2.5 million for being associated with the LeBron James navel-gazing special, so good for them.

And if the Miami Heat lose?

Cleveland and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will no doubt be happy. Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer newspaper ran a full front page photo of LeBron James walking away, with the headline “Gone” and a subheading that draws attention to the lack of NBA Championship rings on LeBron’s fingers. Dan Gilbert staged a press conference in which he called James a narcissist and condemned his “shocking act of disloyalty” to Cleveland. James’ “heartless and callous action,” according to Dan Gilbert, will spread his “curse” to Miami, a team which Gilbert insists will not win a championship before his Cavaliers. Clearly, “King” James should have something to prove.

Sources:

Bloomberg

True/Slant

Going where opportunity for advancement is greatest

I am woman. Watch me race. (Photo: Wikipedia)

After an interminable barrage of gender verification tests by the International Association of Athletics Federations, South Africa’s Caster Semenya has finally been approved to resume the practice of her career of choice. It only took 11 months for the IAAF to determine whether Caster was a man or a woman, and throughout the trying ordeal, Semenya was barred from practicing her trade. An IAAF press release confirms that affirmed female Caster Semenya, 19, can “compete with immediate effect,” reports NBC Sports.

Caster Semenya will compete at the World Junior Championships

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada will be the scene for Caster Semenya’s return as she competes in the World Junior Championships on July 19. That is all that is known coming out of the long IAAF investigation, as the organization is keeping its no doubt exhaustive testing methods and findings confidential. For her part, Semenya is reportedly quite happy. Speculation as to whether she had to undergo a special medical procedure has yet to be proven, and conditions of the IAAF settlement with Caster Semenya have not been revealed.

A South African hero – what’s ambiguous about that?

After Caster Semenya’s dominant gold medal performance in the 800 meter run at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, reports of Semenya’s inconsistent gender testing results surfaced. Allegedly, tests detected that Semenya had both female and male genitalia. South Africa rallied behind its new international sensation while the IAAF dragged its feet in making a final determination as to whether she could continue to compete. In the interim, the world media had a field day with a topic that remains controversial. Yet as legal training methods and supplements continue to blur the line between man and woman, the idea of a unisex society is gradually becoming more science fact than science fiction. Caster Semenya could be seen as a harbinger of a new breed. But what is certain is that the IAAF now considers her a woman and will allow her to compete against women as is her legal right, reminds Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing Caster Semenya.

What do you think about Caster Semenya?

Was she treated fairly by the IAAF? Does she have an unfair advantage against other female athletes? Or should other female athletes consider using all the legal means at their disposal to get ahead in their chosen field of employment? Amateur athletics may not pay a salary, but success leads to commercial endorsements. Caster Semenya has shown enough skill on the track (and courted more than enough controversy, perhaps through no fault of her own) to make a comfortable living. We welcome your thoughts.

Sources:

NBC Sports

Go to YouTube to check out this video on ambiguous gender and get more info on Semenya. Contains profanity:

The Angry Aussie

Pac Ten expansion plans view University of Texas as the ultimate prize in a move that will alter the entire college sports landscape. Flickr photo.

Pac Ten expansion is threatening to turn the college sports landscape that most fans grew up with upside down. The possibility of Pac Ten expansion is having a ripple effect that is affecting both the Big-10 and the Big-12 conferences. The objective of Pac Ten expansion is enhanced revenue from television contracts. The big prize is Texas, a current member of the Big-12 coveted for its huge national following.

Pac Ten expansion scenarios

A handful of Pac Ten expansion scenarios were laid out at a conference of Pac Ten athletic directors in San Francisco on June 6. ESPN reports that plans range from a full merger with the Big 12 to merging with six current Big-12 schools, including Texas, to adding Colorado and Utah to staying intact as is. An expanded Pac Ten could launch its own TV network and generate huge amounts of money. Big-12 schools Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado were said to be on the Pac Ten’s shopping list at the conference.

Pac Ten expansion all about TV dollars

Pac Ten expansion is being discussed as the Big-12 conference has found itself under siege from both the east and west. In addition to Texas, the conference with other big name schools such as Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri hasn’t managed to keep pace in television dollars with other major conferences. The Big-10, a conference with its own TV network that doled out $22 million in TV revenues to each of its members last season, has made overtures to Nebraska and Missouri. Big-12 members only got between $7 and $12 million. According to the Sports Business Journal, the Southeast Conference leads all conferences with TV contracts from ESPN and CBS worth $205 million annually. The Pac Ten’s contracts with ABC/ESPN and Fox are worth $45 million.

The Pac-16 megaconference

No one is expecting Pac Ten expansion anytime soon, but Orangebloods.com, reports that Pac Ten commissioner Larry Scott will invite Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Colorado and Oklahoma State to join the Pac Ten this week. The Pac-16 mega-conference would probably be divided into two leagues, one composed of the eight original conference teams and the other made up of the newcomers plus the two Arizona schools.

No more Big 12 schools?

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the Big 12 has reportedly given Nebraska and Missouri an ultimatum: commit to the conference by Friday, June 11 — with the assumption being that if they don’t, everyone will go their separate ways. If the that scenario comes true, with Nebraska and Missouri defecting to the Big-10, the Big-12 would be left with Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. Perhaps the Big 12 could convince Colorado and Utah to come its way, and shore things up with Texas Christian and Southern Methodist. But its doubtful the conference could survive as the Little-8. And its doubtful that the conference expansion spree is a good thing for college sports fans.

Looking for Bay to Breakers Race Results

In order to get an official time, the runner (or walker) must cross the timing mats at both the Start and Finish lines. The official results will be posted on the Bay to Breakers website at www.baytobreakers.com. A week after the race, Official Finishers Certificates will be available to the participants, also on the website. A special souvenir edition of the San Francisco Examiner has the top 10,000 timed finishers and is available on the Monday following the race. For the first time this year, registered participants who finish the race had the option of signing up to have their official start time, finish time and overall race results texted to them for an additional cost of $3 for the first cell phone number and $1 for each additional cell phone number.

Where did the Bay to Breakers name come from?

The name comes from the race itself. The race starts at Bay (the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero), and runs west through the city to finish at the breakers (the Great Highway which is adjacent to the Pacific coast, where breakers crash onto Ocean Beach).

Bay to Breakers History

Bay to Breakers was started as a way to lift the city’s spirits after the devastation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It is considered the longest consecutively run footrace in the world. During World War II sometimes there were fewer than 50 registrants, but they still ran. The Bay to Breakers race held May 18, 1986, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest footrace with 110,000 participants. Currently the average is between 70,000 and 80,000 participants. This year there was an attempt again at another Guinness record. Participants attempted to build the longest human centipede.

Did they do it? Did they break the record? Did you run? How did you do? How did the elite runners do? Check the Bay to Breakers race results to see!

Apparently, 22-year-old mojo is rather different than 16-year-old mojo. (Photo: Sports in Pop Culture)

Guerdwich Montimere clearly subscribes to the notion that high school represents “the best days of our lives.” The 22-year-old graduated from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2007. A basketball star, he helped lead his team to the state semifinal before going on to a brief playing career at an Illinois junior college. Perhaps he couldn’t pay tuition without an installment loan. By 2009, the American citizen from Haiti must have realized he wanted more of the basketball life, but that he wasn’t quite good enough for playing time – that is, unless he was playing against 15-year-olds. So he made what he felt was a logical choice: He posed as a 15-year-old and enrolled at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. As the Odessa American reports, Guerdwich Montimere (aka Jerry Joseph) has been arrested for his little game.

Guerdwich Montimere charged with using false identification

Not long after Guerdwich Montimere enrolled as an alleged 15-year-old junior at Permian, he moved in with head basketball coach Danny Wright. Wright considered him “a family member” and was devastated by news of Montimere/Joseph’s deception. “The whole school of Permian embraced that kid. He deceived us and played on everyone involved’s emotions,” Wright told the American. School athletic director Leon Fuller was absolutely flabbergasted: “I feel like I was hit by a ton of bricks. In my 50 years in education, I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

The Florida connection

Reports indicate that Permian High School received a hot tip from unnamed sources in Florida. Would that be Montimere’s less creepy, more morally grounded friends or family? Whatever the case, that tip is what led immigration to Jerry Joseph’s door. Their investigation led to Joseph’s unmasking as Guerdwich Montimere.

At least they have football

Odessa’s Permian High School is famous for its football program, so much so that it inspired the book “Friday Night Lights,” which in turn inspired a popular television series of the same name. Guerdwich Montimere’s grab for playing time on the hardwood forced the Permian Panthers boys’ basketball squad to forfeit the entire season in which he played.

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The UVA Lacrosse death has left a great emptiness on the field. (Photo: ThinkStock)

The recent UVA Lacrosse death has delivered a somber blow to a University of Virginia campus that had been riding a wave of excitement as graduation approaches. The deceased Yeardley Love, 22, was a beloved daughter, friend, teammate and student, reports CBS News. The spiritual keystone of the women’s lacrosse team was looking forward to being on a national championship team this season, but sadly that will not come to pass. Area police found the deceased Yeardley Love in her apartment, and the first officer on the scene noted various physical injuries on site that could have been deadly, and police have a suspect in custody. This runs counter to the previous rumor that Yeardley Love had died from alcohol poisoning.

George Huguely suspected in UVA Lacrosse death

The UVA Lacrosse death case has brought senior men’s lacrosse player George Huguely into the fold as the primary suspect. Huguely is currently being charged with first-degree murder. Specific details regarding the investigation are still under wraps until the investigation is complete. Love’s body is being held in Richmond for an autopsy while Huguely’s friends and teammates are interviewed further regarding his relationship with Yeardley Love.

Police have indicated that George Huguely has been cooperative

Exactly what “cooperative” means in relation to the UVA Lacrosse death investigation is unclear at this point, but if one were to intuit any meaning from the police spokesman’s words and tone when he spoke with the Today show (see video below), it could be that George Huguely knows he’s in trouble and may be willing to own up to some degree of wrongdoing. What a change from what we usually see in grisly death stories … perhaps he isn’t using a lawyer?

Yeardley Love was an angel to friends and teammates

UVA Athletic Director Craig Littlepage found Yeardley Love to be a model citizen who always sought to help others. He noted to the media that she was “described as an angel by teammates and friends.” UVA President John Casteen exclaimed in a release published on the university’s website that the UVA Lacrosse death has robbed the school and the world of a bright young woman who clearly was making the most of her journey toward a very bright future. Yeardley Love was a humble star in all aspects of her life on the University of Virginia campus. “She deserves to be remembered for her human goodness, her capacity for future greatness,” wrote Casteen.

George Huguely also appeared to be a standout young man

CBS News indicates that George Huguely was an All-America who attended Landon School in Bethesda, Md., where he played on the varsity lacrosse and football teams. By his senior year of prep school, he was co-captain of the lacrosse team, school spokeswoman Jean Erstlin told police. Indications are that if he indeed took the life of Yeardley Love, even by accident, it would be a terribly shocking event that nobody who knew him would have expected. More information will be made available at the completion of the police investigation.

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