The secret market dictating World Baseball Classic rosters
How a lesser-known insurance company threw a wrench into the upcoming international baseball showdown.
On the eve of the World Baseball Classic, we dove into the insurance market that is keep a number of stars--Francisco Lindor, Jose Altuve, Elly De La Cruz, Mike Trout--out of the tournament.
Here's the latest @clubsportico.bsky.social breakdown ๐
club.sportico.com/p/world-base...
27.02.2026 16:34 โ
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This is wild. Anyone else get this when they google "World Cup Schedule 2026"??
25.02.2026 19:10 โ
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How not to shoot a gold medal goal
Plus: Olympics judging bias, morals clauses, and a fun tanking fix.
Today's @clubsportico.bsky.social Pick Six:
- The golden goal camera angles ๐คข
- Figure skating bias โธ๏ธ
- The Jerome Tang Threshold ๐ฝ
- Mick Cronin ๐
- Mark Cuban on affordability ๐๏ธ
- a tanking fix, via the @thepwhlofficial? ๐
club.sportico.com/p/how-not-to...
23.02.2026 16:27 โ
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Giannis Antetokounmpo had himself a week
The Greek Freak has always been a different type of NBA star. Last week he redefined what that means.
In the past two weeks, Giannis Antetokounmpo partnered with Kalshi, bought into a soccer team, invested in a startup, launched a candy brand, flirted with trades and posted memes on X.
Today's @clubsportico.bsky.social is about the evolution of a humble star ๐
club.sportico.com/p/giannis-an...
13.02.2026 17:11 โ
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Get the ๐ out. Here's the latest @sportico.bsky.social valuations for all 154 team in the big five U.S. leagues:
๐ด NFL - $7.13 billion average
๐ NBA - $5.51 billion average
๐ข MLB - $2.82 billion average
โซ๏ธ NHL - $2.1 billion average
๐ต MLS - $767 million average
10.02.2026 15:03 โ
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NFL Fans May Need a New Punching Bag
The internet loves to make fun of Sam Darnold. Does a Super Bowl ring change that?
"On a hypothetical depth chart of mocked NFL players, Sam Darnold is QB1"
In todayโs Club Sportico, we ask whether a Super Bowl ring will change how the internet talks about the Seahawksโ quarterback:
club.sportico.com/p/sam-darnol...
09.02.2026 15:51 โ
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Netflix vs. YouTube is daytimeโs hot new drama
Now starring your favorite sports podcasters???
Netflix vs. YouTube is daytime's new hot drama.
Today's Club Sportico essay breaks down what's really happening with Netflix's push into sports podcasts. It might not be what you think...
club.sportico.com/p/netflix-sp...
30.01.2026 17:45 โ
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omfg
16.01.2026 17:48 โ
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'Moneywall' could be baseball's next frontier
The Kansas City Royals just revealed a whole new type of analytics for teams to exploit. Why isn't this more common?
The Kansas City Royals are moving their outfield walls after a careful analysis--done by a computer science PHD--of their current roster of hitters and pitchers.
Why isn't this more common? Today's Club Sportico post dives deep into... Moneywall!
club.sportico.com/p/moneywall-...
16.01.2026 17:47 โ
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Our Year-End News Quiz
How well did you follow the biggest sports business news of the last 12 months?
How well did you follow the money in sports in 2025?
Take the Club Sportico year-end quiz!
club.sportico.com/p/sports-bus...
02.01.2026 14:06 โ
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Our Year-End News Quiz
How well did you follow the biggest sports business news of the last 12 months?
How well did you follow the money in sports in 2025?
Take the Club Sportico year-end quiz!
club.sportico.com/p/sports-bus...
02.01.2026 14:06 โ
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Whittinghamโs Michigan Gig May Cost Grandkids Free Utah Tuition
Whittinghamโs decision to accept a new coaching job at Michigan rather than retire comes with consequences for his progeny.
Here's a fun one: Had Utah been Kyle Wittingham's last job, his 11 grandkids would all have been able to attend the University of Utah for free.
His taking the Michigan job appears to have terminated that benefit. More from @daniellibit.bsky.social at Sportico ๐
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
29.12.2025 17:01 โ
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Sportico Email Alerts & Newsletter Preferences
Sign up for @sportico.bsky.social newsletters here:
cloud.email.sportico.com/signup/
24.12.2025 13:20 โ
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Chiefs Land Record $1.8B in Public Money to Cross Kansas State Line
The Kansas City Chiefs are moving to Kansas. Their $1.8 billion in public subsidy money is the highest total ever for a U.S. stadium project.
BREAKING: The Chiefs are set to receive $1.8 billion (!) in public money for a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas. That's the largest public subsidy ever for a U.S. sports stadium project. More coming for practice facility, too.
www.sportico.com/business/rea...
22.12.2025 21:30 โ
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USTA Near Deal to Tap Australian Open Boss as Next CEO
The USTA's CEO search has narrowed to Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia and the director of the Australian Open. He is nearing a deal.
BREAKING: Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is in advanced talks to become the next CEO of the @USTA, sources tell Sportico.
Tiley has experience running both a governing body and a grand slam. Process comes at a critical time for global tennis. More ๐๐พ
www.sportico.com/personalitie...
12.12.2025 20:24 โ
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Can you figure out what's happening in these three circles?
In today's Club Sportico essay, @jacobfeldman.bsky.social lets you in on a fun little trivia challenge: deciphering the oddities in the NFL's Sunday TV map.
12.12.2025 17:36 โ
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College football makes FIFA look competent
Plus: How the World Cup schedule gets made and why Notre Dame has already lost fans' sympathy
In today's Club Sportico early week missive, we're talking about the College Football Playoff selection process, which managed to make even a surreal World Cup draw look sane and well managed...
club.sportico.com/p/world-cup-...
08.12.2025 18:45 โ
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Sunk-Cost Football: UMassโ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS
UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.
UMass has been FBS's worst football team since it moved up in 2012. Its struggles include spilled hydraulic fluid, a failed stint at an NFL stadium 90 miles away, and unmet "pie-in-the-sky" projections.
Now the school is doubling down. More w/ Daniel Libit ๐
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
24.11.2025 14:32 โ
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This morning in the Spanish capital, Real Madrid president Florentino Pรฉrez proposed amending the team's fan-controlled structure slightly, to allow the club to sell a passive 5% equity stake.
He believes that could provide the team $500+ million. More via Club Sportico ๐
23.11.2025 13:52 โ
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Real Madrid is prepping a delicate balancing act
The worldโs most valuable soccer team has historically been unable to court new owners. Now itโs trying to raise ~$1 billion without losing its soul.
Today at @sportico.bsky.social, we're talking about the delicate balancing act underway at Real Madrid.
Can the world's most valuable soccer team court $1 billion in investment while keeping its fan-controlled structure?
club.sportico.com/p/real-madri...
21.11.2025 16:56 โ
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Real Madrid is prepping a delicate balancing act
The worldโs most valuable soccer team has historically been unable to court new owners. Now itโs trying to raise ~$1 billion without losing its soul.
Today at @sportico.bsky.social, we're talking about the delicate balancing act underway at Real Madrid.
Can the world's most valuable soccer team court $1 billion in investment while keeping its fan-controlled structure?
club.sportico.com/p/real-madri...
21.11.2025 16:56 โ
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Steph Curry is wearing Nikes?!
Plus: A soccer league's existential crisis, AI ticketing, and skiing on top of the world.
Happy Monday. In this week's Pick Six, we're talking about:
๐ The two shocks of Curry's Under Armour separation
โท๏ธ Skiing on top of the world
๐ Advertising that I actually enjoy watching
๐ซ โNow there are sort of good bots and bad botsโ
โฝ The NWSL's Rodman problem
club.sportico.com/p/steph-curr...
17.11.2025 15:28 โ
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Apple, MLS Deal Will End in 2029 With Revised Payment Structure
MLS and Apple's streaming rights agreement will now end three and half years early, letting the league explore new partners after the 2026 World Cup.
SCOOP: @jacobfeldman.bsky.social and I got details of MLS's
revised Apple deal
- Ends in June 2029 (3.5 years early)
- Apple gave up 2027 opt-out
- MLS gets: $200M in 2026, $107M for 2027 "sprint" season, $275M in final two seasons
Via @sportico.bsky.social ๐
www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
14.11.2025 19:01 โ
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Under Armourโs CEO Just Did the Thing He โCouldnโt Imagineโ
Under Armour is cutting ties with Steph Curry's brand, the latest in its billion-dollar cutback of sponsorship deals with leagues, teams and athletes.
Two years ago, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said he "couldnโt imagine Under Armour without Stephen [Curry], or Stephen without Under Armour"
Today, his company and its biggest endorser announced the unimaginable. More via @sportico.bsky.social ๐
www.sportico.com/business/com...
14.11.2025 02:33 โ
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