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The A’s in the week since the lockout ended have traded All Stars Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Chris Bassitt, among others, and team President Dave Kaval confirmed the ongoing ballpark issue is the “lone reason this team does not have a higher payroll or sign star players who are traded and sign extensions elsewhere.” Kaval said, “We play in an antiquated facility 10 years past its useful life, so we operate at a big disadvantage and that makes it harder for us … to monetize the success and really have a much higher revenue stream.” He said a new ballpark is “what is going to be required to kind of change the paradigm here” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/18).

NBC, CBS and Fox “have not shown much -- if any – interest” in MLS’ TV rights beginning in ’23, according to sources. Fox has been an MLS broadcast partners “in some form since 2003, but the network has scaled back its coverage since the onset of the pandemic.” Sources said that Turner Sports “engaged in talks with MLS early in 2022,” and while Turner “remains interested in MLS as both a linear and digital property … the network’s discussions with the league have effectively been put on pause as WarnerMedia works through the final stages of its merger” with Discovery.

Sources added that current MLS partners ESPN and Univision do not “appear to be interested in offering a paradigm-shifting deal for a league that has long struggled to attract strong viewership” (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/18).

Longtime Florida State radio announcer Gene Deckerhoff announced his retirement Friday "after nearly 50 years covering the Seminoles." Deckerhoff, who turns 77 in May, will "step away following his radio broadcast of FSU’s spring football game Saturday, April 9." He has been "behind the microphone at FSU football games" since '79. He just "completed his 48th season calling FSU men's basketball games" and called FSU baseball games "that were televised" (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 3/18). Deckerhoff, who also has been the Buccaneers’ play-by-play announcer since '89, will "finish his commitment to the Buccaneer Radio Network." It is "not immediately clear how long that commitment lasts." He said, "Who knows, maybe broadcast another Super Bowl" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/18).

ESL Gaming has secured a multiyear partnership with Monster Energy, leveraging the brand’s long history as a partner of the company’s DreamHack gaming festival series. The move significantly expands Monster’s esports presence, including its first foray into mobile esports. Details were not disclosed. Monster will now serve as a global partner for the ESL Pro Tour, ESL Pro League, ESL Challenger, ESL One, DreamLeague, and the recently announced Snapdragon Pro Series. Monster will also remain a partner of ESL’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive analytics platform, CS: GO Hub.

Monster has been a DreamHack partner since ‘14. In ‘20, DreamHack merged with ESL to form ESL Gaming while retaining the DreamHack brand for its various global festivals.

NASCAR will debut a new ad during Sunday's race at Atlanta that looks to set the stage for the heart of its season now that the early part of the campaign is done. NASCAR is coming off an initial run that included the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum, Daytona 500, three-race West Coast swing and the debut of the seventh-generation car model. NASCAR grouped those races as part of its "NASCAR Returns" presented by Geico part of the season.

The new spot, via 77 Ventures Creative, uses the "I Am NASCAR" thematic that first debuted last season. It will run through the Talladega race in late April and aims to underscore the depth of storylines going on throughout the sport -- with a voice over saying, "Catch all that?" It also includes interspersed clips of drivers like Denny Hamlin calling Alex Bowman "an absolute hack" and Kevin Harvick slamming his helmet on the roof of his car in anger after an incident with Chase Elliott last season. This portion of the season will lead into the summertime military themed "NASCAR Salutes" presented by Coca-Cola part of the season.

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Rxd3 Ventures, the investment firm co-Founded by Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, participated in a $55M Series D funding round for at-home connected rowing company Hydrow. Rx3 previously invested in Hydrow’s $25M round in '20 (Andrew Cohen, SportTechie).

Efforts to legalize sports betting in Kentucky "notched a key victory Friday, when the state House passed a measure to regulate the wagering and reap revenue from the venture." The bill now "goes to the Senate after clearing the House on a 58-30 vote" (AP, 3/18).

With NYCFC advancing to Concacaf Champions League's two-leg semifinals April 5-14, the club's MLS match vs D.C. United on April 9 at Citi Field has been "moved to later in season," and is now scheduled for Aug. 31 at Red Bull Arena (TWITTER.com, 3/18).

"That just shows the power of the people and those promotions. They really work and the amount of people that hit that server at the same time is just unbelievable" -- SportsGrid co-Founder & President Louis Maione, on the DraftKings server being down for about 20 minutes due to traffic from an NCAA Tournament promotion ( “Squawk Box,” CNBC, 3/18).

Texas Tech is featured in an edition of March Madness Confidential, showing the men's basketball team's trip to California for its first round game against Montana State. 

82 -- number of countries represented on MLS rosters this season. The Canadian contingent of 46 players "is second only to the 350 players from the U.S." (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/18).