This is my final SBJ Media. Thank you to everyone who read and supported this newsletter since it launched before the pandemic. It’s scary to leave a place you love after more than 17 years, and I love SBJ.
Diamond agrees to pay most MLB teams in full
Diamond agreed to pay most of its MLB teams a full rights fee this season, as part of a deal the two sides worked out -- but still haven’t signed -- last week, sources said.
Three teams are not part of that agreement -- the Twins, Guardians and Rangers. The Rangers and Guardians have long-term deals with Diamond. The Twins’ deal expired at the end of last season.
By the end of this week, Diamond committed to put in offers for those teams -- presumably at lower rights fees than they have been paying.
If those teams do not accept the new deals from Diamond, their local rights will revert to MLB -- just like the local rights for the Padres and Diamondbacks did last season.
An interesting part of the deal, per sources, is that MLB is pushing to add a provision that if Diamond Sports defaults on any of these rights deals this season, MLB will gain control of Diamond’s stake in YES Network. Diamond, which owns 20% of YES Network, is unlikely to agree to such a provision.
Further complicating matters is a Wall Street Journal reportthat Amazon has been negotiating for an investment in Diamond that would include “a multiyear streaming partnership.” As part of the Diamond deal being discussed, Diamond would continue running its RSNs.
“Diamond has received support from a select group of creditors for proceeding with the talks. Any transaction is subject to bankruptcy-court approval and could still fall through,” per the WSJ’s Lauren Thomas and Joe Flint.
Goodbye, Chris LaPlaca
The scene in Plantsville, Conn.’s Aqua Turf Club last Wednesday felt like an outtake from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Around 130 current and former ESPNers gathered to fete Chris LaPlaca, the much liked and well-respected ESPN executive who is retiring after a sterling 43-year run in Bristol.
A who’s who of notables addressed the crowd Wednesday night, including Rosa Gatti, George Bodenheimer, Jimmy Pitaro and LaPlaca’s former intern Adrian Wojnarowski. Their speeches all carried similar themes: They discussed the impact LaPlaca has had on his colleagues over the last four decades.
When LaPlaca took the mic, he reflected on how much of the uncertainty that is hitting the media business today mirrors the challenges ESPN faced 43 years ago. He pointed to common attributes that existed in Bristol 40 years ago -- and still are evident today -- a commitment to journalism combined with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Odds & Ends
- Woj got up in the middle of LaPlaca’s speech and hurriedly left the room. He returned minutes later. During his quick departure, he broke news via X that the NBA suspended Draymond Green indefinitely -- a post that has collected 38 million views. “I asked the NBA not to announce the suspension between 8-8:15pm,” he deadpanned.
- “SportsCenter” anchor Kevin Negandhi emceed the event. Chris Berman was in attendance. Current executives who attended included Burke Magnus, Roz Durant, Chara-Lynn Aguiar and Tina Thornton. Special shout-out to former ESPNer Keri Potts, who flew in from London for the event.
- In keeping with LaPlaca’s heritage, the night carried an Italian theme -- from the event’s name (“Ciao Chris”) to parting gifts of LaPlaca La Pasta-branded pasta noodles.
An 'Omaha' Family Feud
Want to know how competitive Peyton Manning is? Omaha Productions held its first company offsite in L.A. on Thursday, and the company president thought it would be a good idea to host an Omaha-themed “Family Feud.”
It should be no surprise that Peyton Manning led his team to victory, I’m told.
The day included a conversation with Manning, a motivational speech and magic show from NFL Pro Bowler Jon Dorenbos and a brand research presentation from ESPN's former head of research, Barry Blyn.
Speed reads
- Congrats are in order for UCLA AD Martin Jarmond, who Ohio University named its 2024 Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus honoree. Jarmond graduated from OU’s MBA/MSA dual-degree program in 2003.
- RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale talked about how he wants to shake up college sports and media at our recent Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. Here are my key takeaways from our conversation in Las Vegas.
- The upcoming feature film “The Boys in the Boat” is about a journey so improbable that “you wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t actually true,” director George Clooney told my colleague Erik Bacharach.
- SBJ is finishing out the year with our Year In Review awards. For best sports documentary, we went with "Bill Russell: Legend" on Netflix. For best sports movie or TV show, that went to "Air," which focused on Nike's move to land Michael Jordan. ESPN's Scott Van Pelt took home the award for best media talent, while Monumental Sports Network was our best in local media.
- NBC Sports is making a run at Geoff Ogilvy in its search for Paul Azinger's replacement on its golf broadcasts, sources told SBJ's Josh Carpenter. Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open winner, has gained more notoriety in golf circles in recent years for his knowledge of course architecture, as well as his opinion on current matters.