Masters Week, NBA Owner Drama, Anthony Joshua Return and Carter's HOF Entry.
Business and culture news from the world of Sport.
Masters Week is Here: Let’s Look at the Economics
It’s finally here, the Masters at Augusta National!
Last year's Masters saw a surge in viewership, with millions tuning in to witness the drama unfold. The final round of the tournament attracted up to 15 million viewers at its peak, with over 16 million viewers in total. This marked a significant increase in overall viewership compared to the previous year (10.1 million), making it the most-watched golf event on any US network in the previous five years.
One thing I love about the Masters is that despite its immense popularity, the tournament maintains its unique approach to broadcasting and sponsorship. Augusta National Golf Club allows major television networks to broadcast the tournament free of charge, retaining full control over the broadcast to preserve the event's mystique and tradition. While this may mean foregoing potential profits, the Masters prioritizes maintaining its prestigious reputation above anything else.
For some detailed economic stats, tournament earnings and betting odds for this week, check out the full article I wrote on Baller Golf.
NBA Owner Drama
Mortgage tycoons Dan Gilbert and Mat Ishbia have harboured a longstanding animosity towards each other, despite their low-key rivalry largely flying under the radar.
Both from Michigan and boasting ownership of NBA teams—Gilbert (Cavaliers) and Ishbia (Suns) —their competitiveness in business has persisted for over a decade. Initially perceived as mere fodder for business headlines, the feud took a notable turn recently, gaining traction in the sports world.
The spotlight intensified when ESPN delved into the Gilbert-Ishbia conflict, shedding light on Ishbia's history of subtle jabs at Gilbert's Rocket Mortgage. Although the relationship between the two was characterized as non-confrontational, a statement from a Gilbert representative downplayed any notion of rivalry, citing a lack of direct interaction between the two moguls.
However, this narrative swiftly shifted following the release of an investigative piece by the hedge fund-cum-news platform, Hunterbrook. The exposé meticulously examined the potentially fraudulent and anti-competitive practices attributed to Ishbia's company, UWM. Particularly damning was a purported voicemail recording of Ishbia expressing vitriol towards Rocket Mortgage:
“We f***ing took those c***suckers down, f*** them, and we’re gonna keep f***ing sticking it to them forever,” Ishbia said of Rocket in the recording, according to Hunterbrook. “I f***ing hate them with all my heart and we’re gonna keep kicking their ass every f***ing day.”
Tell us how you really feel!
This revelation not only deepened the rift between Gilbert and Ishbia but also thrust the feud into the limelight and gained attention in the sports world.
Read the main piece from ESPN here: Billionaire mortgage battle: Inside the owner rivalry of Cavs' Dan Gilbert and Suns' Mat Ishbia
Anthony Joshua Eyes September Return
The former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs), from London recently secured a second-round knockout victory against boxing newcomer and UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
That was fine for a tune-up fight but Joshua is eager to reengage world-class opponents in the ring. His promoter, Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing), has strategically arranged four consecutive fights aimed at boosting Joshua's confidence following his previous setbacks against Oleksandr Usyk.
However, some fans are understandably growing weary of this approach and want Joshua to face top-tier opponents without succumbing to the challenges he encountered against Usyk and Andy Ruiz.
But it seems that something more interesting is on the horizon.
“Around September is when I’ve been told – I was hoping for June,” said Joshua to the Johnathan Ross show when asked when he’d next be in actions.
“I’ve got some time to go on dates now and mingle a little bit. I’m training at the minute. I’ve got two months before I get into training camp.
“No, [I don’t know the opponent], but I think what they’re saying is, ‘Be patient,’ because you’ve got Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk for all the belts. And then once that’s done, hopefully, I can kick down the door and get my opportunity.”
Boxing in general, even more so the heavyweight division, has a serious issue when it comes to matching up the top fighters and this is frustrating for fans. I think the industry needs to be careful because the UFC has gained a huge amount of market share in the combat sports world and it’s no surprise considering the best often face the best and this is what fans are thirsty for.
In heavyweight boxing, we seem to have these WWE-style storylines between the likes of Joshua, Fury, and Wilder, with everyone accusing the other party of “ducking” fights because they believe the opponent is scared when in reality, it’s because none of them can drop the egos and agree on how to split the pot of gold.
They all have deals with different broadcasters which creates a challenge, the promoters want to protect their fighters because any loss can lead to less money next time around and the boxers themselves all believe they deserve the lion’s share of the purse. All of this occurs while they comment about how boxing is “for the fans”.
If it was really about the fans, Fury and Josua (both British) would just split the purse down the middle and fight at Wembley Stadium in London for 90,000 (which they could sell out twice over) and ensure their British fan base could experience this generational fight, rather than going to Saudi to fight in front of what looks like maybe 10,000 people (at best) and has been slammed by many as a soulless atmosphere.
Can you sense my frustration? ha
Anyway, hopefully soon we can get back to seeing some big heavyweight contests. I think we all deserve a round-robin of Joshua, Fury, Wilder and Usyk for the next 3-5 years in front of crowds who have a deep-rooted passion for the sport.
Remember the recent Fury and Wilder Trilogy? More of that, please!
Vince Carter: Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Eight-time All-Star Vince Carter leads the pack for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024, along with 2004 NBA champion Chauncey Billups and four-time WNBA champion Seimone Augustus.
When speaking at a news conference for The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame at the NCAA college basketball Tournament, he said he was afraid it was a prank.
“It was April 1, so April Fools’ Day. So, just curious. So when I received the phone call, I stepped outside. I needed all the fresh air I could get, just in case,”
Thirteen players will take their place among basketball’s immortal group.
Vince Carter
Chauncey Billups
Seimone Augustus
Bo Ryan
Michael Cooper
Walter Davis
Michele Timms
Jerry West
Doug Collins
Dick Barnett
Harley Redin
Herb Simon
Charles Smith
A deserving recognition for a great talent and personality. Shout out to the whole class of 2024.
Thanks for reading, David Skilling.
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