- This week’s SBJ Sports Media Podcast features co-host Austin Karp checks in on the NBA Finals, Pat McAfee’s looming payday and the lack of star power at the French Open. He also chats with ESPN’s Sean McDonough about the thrilling Golden Knights-Hurricanes series in the Stanley Cup Final and SBJ soccer reporter Alex Silverman about the FIFA World Cup.
- Karp also reports on several viewership numbers Thursday: Spurs-Knicks delivering 23.8 million viewers on ABC/ESPN in Monday night’s Game 3; the lack of star power hurting the French Open finals; and the Belmont Stakes was down 3% on Fox/FS1 this year.
- Army agreed to a 20-year sponsorship deal with USAA, as SBJ’s Ben Portnoy reports the agreement is believed to be one of the more significant in recent college sports memory and among the most lucrative in the Group of Six.
- UFC star Conor McGregor has been quiet by his standards since his return to the Octagon was announced, but Dana White said he’s “extremely confident” the fight is happening and is pleased that the Irishman has been reserved, writes SBJ’s Adam Stern.
- Puma is using the World Cup to debut the Ultra Nitro 7, its newest soccer cleat. That public rollout began Wednesday, notes SBJ’s Chris Smith.
- Smith also writes that French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain will open its Ici C’est Paris La Maison activation Thursday as part of the club’s efforts to create cultural touch points with soccer fans for the World Cup.
- State Farm introduced AI-powered social content during Wednesday night’s NBA Finals Game 4 featuring Stan — the talking State Farm Stanchion Pad behind the basket — reacting to Knicks-Spurs, notes SBJ’s Joe Lemire.
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