Georgia Tech AD J Batt is finalizing a new five-year deal that will "extend him at the school through 2029 and increase his compensation," according to sources. The deal "still needs formal approval" from the Georgia Tech Athletic Association later this week. Batt -- whose name has surfaced as a possibility for the Univ. of South Carolina AD job -- arrived at Georgia Tech in October 2022 and has "provided a fundraising and revenue-growth jolt at Tech, including the formal naming of Hyundai Field" (ESPN.com, 12/2).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris were on Capitol Hill Monday for a "series of meetings" concerning the RFK Stadium proposal"and other league matters," according to a source. The bill would give D.C. long-term control of the RFK Stadium site, clearing the way for the Commanders' potential return to the District (X, 12/2). Just a few weeks ago, in a surprise change of stance, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced his support for the bill after nearly a year of signaling his opposition to the matter -- leading to its passage in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. The bill will now head to the full Senate for a floor vote and, if passed, sent to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. The most likely avenue for passage is for the legislation to be attached to a larger spending bill rather than through a standalone vote (Wes Sanderson, SBJ).

N.Y. Jets owner Woody Johnson "will not be returning to England" as the ambassador to the U.K. for the Trump administration, as President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday that he is nominating investment banker Warren Stephens for the post. This does not mean Johnson -- who served in that role during Trump’s first term as president-- "could not wind up as an Ambassador to a different country or in a completely different role" in the administration, but "the belief around the Jets and the NFL was that his most likely destination was a return to London." While Woody Johnson served in his post from 2017-21, his brother, Christopher Johnson, oversaw day-to-day operations with the Jets. The "expectation" is that if Woody Johnson leaves in 2025, that Christopher "would again be in charge" (N.Y. POST, 12/2).

Avenue Capital Group Chair, CEO & co-founder Marc Lasry is "no longer in talks to purchase a controlling stake" in the NWSL's N.C. Courage. Sportico first reported the news. Lasry was reportedly "negotiating with current owner Steve Malik "  for a 60% stake in the team, valued at around $108M. Avenue cited "league restrictions around private equity investment" as to why the talks fell apart. Avenue added it "will continue to seek opportunities to invest in the teams and players" across the NWSL. The Courage most recently went through a funding round in August, raising $15M and "bringing in new investors" including tennis players Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur. Lasry sold his 25% stake in the Bucks in 2023 and "tried to bid on a controlling stake in Angel City FC earlier this year." Avenue has been raising money in a fund "aimed specifically at sports investment" (THE ATHLETIC, 12/2).  

NASCAR has "filed a motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit filed against them by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports." NASCAR in the filing called the plaintiffs’ complaint a “misguided attempt to dress up private business frustrations in antitrust garb.” NASCAR added 23XI and Front Row "fail to plead any reduction in competition, meaning they do not have the required antitrust injury to establish antitrust standing" and "aim to renegotiate contractual terms rather than address genuine anticompetitive behavior." 23XI and Front Row asked for "preliminary injunction that would allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025 while still proceeding with the lawsuit." The teams "initially withdrew their appeal of the first request denied in court before issuing another request last week with 'new evidence,' claiming that irreplaceable harm was imminent" (ON3, 12/2).

Andy Roddick’s “Served” podcast has partnered with Vox Media to handle the popular tennis show’s sales, marketing and distribution duties.

Launched in early 2024, “Served” has released more than 50 episodes between weekly installments and special editions, amassing more than 100,000 subscribers across YouTube, Spotify and Apple. The show offers listeners and viewers various modes for keeping up with tennis, from interviews with top players and executives to spirited, news-of-the-day discussions between Roddick, veteran tennis journalist Jon Wertheim and producer Mike Hayden.

Vox Media will leave creative control with Roddick and Co., who are building out a media company of their own called Served Media. Where Vox intends to step in is in advertising sales and cross-promoting “Served” with its other audio properties.

“We want to enable them and empower them to do what they do best, which is make a great show and focus on building out amazing content to super-serve their audience,” said Vox Media Executive Director/Podcast Business Lillian Xu. “Then, we come in and we try to support all other parts of the business.”

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Talent agency Gersh is "closing a deal to acquire" You First, a Madrid-based sports and branding agency that has 22 offices in 14 countries and about 300 employees. You First reps clients in soccer, basketball and other areas, including sports leagues and teams. You First CEO Juan Aisa, a former pro basketball player in Spain and France, co-founded the company in 2002. In recent years, Gersh has "remained primarily a mid-tier television and film shop" (PUCK, 12/2).

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is moving its trophy presentation from Newport Beach, Calif., to the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas on Dec. 9 as part of the National Football Foundation’s festivities, which include the foundation’s own award ceremony and the induction of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.

The trophy, named in honor of former 49ers star DB Ronnie Lott, commemorates one defensive player every season for his play on the field and work in the community. Ohio State S Caleb Downs, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Indiana DL Mikail Kamara and Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton are finalists for the award.

Lott, a board member of the NFF, hopes that by bringing the two events together, college football’s current stars will meet and receive career and life advice from legends of the past.

“These kids get to bump shoulders with Hall of Fame players,” Lott said. “Being associated with all of these people goes a long way. We talk to many of them during and after their careers.”

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Fanatics has announced the return of Fanatics Fest NYC, which will take place from June 20-22, 2025 at the Javits Center. From Dec. 5-8, fans who attended Fanatics Fest this year will be eligible to purchase tickets for the 2025 event during an exclusive presale. The general public on sale will begin on Dec. 13 (Fanatics).

The Gerard Pique-backed 7x7 soccer effort Kings League will see a U.S. squad fielded next month during the Kings World Cup Nations tourney in Turin, Italy, with boxer/influencer Jake Paul serving as one of the “team presidents” for the U.S. squad. Paul will also aid in the league's content production (SBJ).

The Texas Legends, the G League affiliate of the Mavericks, reached a multiyear partnership with Dallas-based KFAA and parent company TEGNA to make KFAA the official broadcast partner of the team. The deal will see more than 20 Legends games broadcast free on KFAA (Texas Legends).

The Penguins Foundation, the charitable arm of the Penguins, gave a $114,000 grant to the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland, which "unveiled a renovated recreation and wellness center." Partnership with the NHL club "began with the development of 'Cool Zones' throughout UPMC facilities, which offer extra behavioral and emotional support to kids ages 3 to 12" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE , 12/2).

NBCSPORTS.com went with the header, "Hudson Swafford wants to return to the PGA Tour, but there’s still no pathway back." Swafford, the "embodiment of the hypothetical question that has consumed professional golf for nearly 2 ½ years," watched last month’s PGA Tour fall finale "with a mixture of envy and relief." Swafford was one of the original 17 players suspended by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in June 2022, shortly after participating in the first LIV Golf Invitational Series event, for violating the circuit’s policies on conflicting event and media rights releases. From that first wave of suspensions, the "unanswered question has loomed over the professional game: Would players like Swafford ever be allowed back into Tour-sanctioned events?"

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