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Sports & Politics Intersect: Cubs owner up for Heritage Foundation post
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sports & Politics Intersect: Cubs owner up for Heritage Foundation post

Front Five: The top stories that shaped both sports & politics this week

"To be a part of a family that brings a World Series championship to these fans would be one of the greatest legacies you could imagine." - Tom Ricketts, chairman and co-owner of the Chicago Cubs

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Todd Ricketts, who co-owns the Chicago Cubs with his immediate family and serves as a board member for the team, is being considered for president of the Heritage Foundation.

The highly influential conservative think tank rose to prominence when Ronald Reagan became president in 1980 – a relationship the Heritage Foundation makes no secret of, dedicating an entire page on their website to it. They also have close ties to the Trump administration, playing a major role in staffing it during the transition. Just this Tuesday, Trump delivered a big tax speech at the Heritage Foundation's annual President's Club Meeting. 

Todd Ricketts and his family were influential players during the 2016 presidential election cycle. He helped raise money for Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's failed presidential bid. The Ricketts were also anti-Trumpers until he won the GOP nomination, at which point they threw money into his campaign. In November 2016, Trump nominated Todd Ricketts to serve as deputy commerce secretary – the number two position at the Department of Commerce – but Ricketts withdrew his bid because he couldn't untangle himself from financial conflicts of interest. 

Ricketts as president of the think tank is far from a certainty. Also under consideration for the job is Marc Short, White House director of legislative affairs. 

"The board has identified and is continuing to interview a handful of well-qualified finalists for the position," Sarah Mills, spokesperson for the Heritage Foundation, told the Washington Post. 

"When we have something to announce, we'll announce it."

- Fidel Martinez


Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Images

“We’ve received notice from the ownership that at a press conference they are going to announce they are jointly pursuing that plan in Austin as well as continuing conversations about a possible new stadium in Columbus.” - CEO of Columbus Partnership Group on learning that Anthony Precourt wants to move the team to Austin 

The Columbus Crew SC will relocate from Ohio to Austin, TX for the 2019 season if the team is unable to secure public funding for a new stadium in Columbus, according to a press release distributed by Crew SC Communications

In the same press release, Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV) CEO and Crew chairman Anthony Precourt said, “This Club has ambition to be a standard-bearer in MLS, therefore we have no choice but to expand and explore all of our options. This includes a possible move to Austin, which is the largest metropolitan area in North America without a major league sports franchise.”

While nothing is set in stone yet, there’s something that feels off about PSV choosing Austin as their desired destination. PSV and the MLS approached Austin mayor Steve Adler to gauge any interest in having professional soccer in Austin. After discussions about Columbus relocating to his backyard, he was asked why the city didn’t take the expansion route, and he revealed that bringing soccer to Austin isn’t a priority. 

The MLS has plans to expand and add four more teams, and Austin did not place a bid to land any of them. Adler was interviewed on Austin’s local Fox affiliate, and while he seemed mildly excited about the prospect of the Crew landing in Texas, he did reveal that he has no interest in publicly funding a stadium. 

“I had a chance to talk to the team,” Adler began. And I told them that [...] I wouldn’t support public funding for a stadium, and they understand that. So these are going to be interesting conversations.” 

In Columbus, fans are clearly not happy at all with being blindsided with the news that the team could potentially move to Austin. Precourt has, in turn, blamed those very fans and the city for why the team is exploring other options. “Our last match of the season, with the playoffs on the line, we had 11,000 people — in a building with a 20,000 capacity,” he said about relocating. “Are we getting the support we need to build a new stadium? That’s what we’re waiting on.

There is a small chance that a stadium deal could workout in Columbus, but it appears that Precourt has his eyes set on Austin. He’ll have to wait until the city votes on it in December.

- Phillip Barnett


Adam Hunger/USA Today Images

"Mr. Dolan is a long-time friend and supporter of President Trump. His contribution is a matter of public record, and was made by Mr. Dolan as a private citizen." - Jonathan Supranowitz, New York Knicks spokesperson

James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks, wrote a check for $125,000 to Donald Trump's re-election campaign after the president disinvited the Golden State Warriors from the traditional championship White House visit. The Warriors had already decided not to go to the White House prior to Trump pulling their invite. 

According to reports, the check Dolan wrote out was dated September 28, less than a week after the September 23 Trump tweet that disinvited the reigning NBA champions. 

Dolan's support of Trump offers a contrast to how prominent figures have responded to the current administration. LeBron James, one of sports' biggest global icons, has been critical of Trump, famously calling him a "bum" on Twitter. It's not just the players. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has made no secret of his views. Then there's Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs head coach who has led the team to five NBA championships. Pop has repeatedly called out Trump over a slew of issues. He had some choice words for Trump just this week.

"This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others," Popovich said of the president's claim that President Obama and other predecessors didn't call the families of soldiers killed in action. 

Despite the fact that the NBA is largely seen as the most progressive of all the major sports leagues, James Dolan proves that not everyone involved in professional basketball feels the same way. 

- Fidel Martinez


Catalina Fragoso/USA Today Images

“There was a series of discussions. I think all the suggestions, in my opinion, were excellent and I think the owners in the room ... I think were very supportive and feel good about their participation. I wouldn’t say support, I would say, their sense of - we have a responsibility too on these social issues like we all do as Americans.” - Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons owner 

On Monday, the NFL owners met with several players to discuss the ongoing national anthem protests started by Colin Kaepernick to raise awareness about police brutality and racial inequality. 

The owners were originally planning to discuss whether they should force their players to stand for the national anthem, but chose to open their meeting to players and representatives from the NFL Player's Union instead. According to a joint statement released by the NFLPA and the league, it was a promising encounter.

"Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities," the statement read. "NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change." 

It appears that the statement is more than just words. On Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin co-authored a letter in support of a prison reform Senate bill.

But if the NFL – both its players and owners – are willing to move beyond the divisiveness, Trump and his supporters are most decidedly not. The Trump campaign has been using Mike Pence walking out of the Colts/49ers game because players kneeled to raise money. 

Despite the progress, the issues over the national anthem protests are far from resolved. Colin Kaepernick still doesn't have a job, and as a result has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owners colluded to blacklist him. And although he faces an uphill battle in his case, Kaep has the support from some of his fellow players. Earlier this week, Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks said that owners could not make progress with players until they made things right with Kaepernick.

- Fidel Martinez


Mark Sobhani/Getty Images

“This city and MGM Resorts are synonymous with world-class entertainment. With its culture of diversity and inclusion, MGM Resorts is an ideal fit for the WNBA.” - Lisa Borders on the Stars moving to Las Vegas

The Stars are one of the WNBA’s original franchises and they’re moving cities for the second time in franchise history. The team got its start in Utah, and after 14 years in San Antonio, the team is moving to Las Vegas. As things stand right now, there is very little known about what else is changing. The team name and colors may or may not change, but Bill Laimbeer will join them in Las Vegas as the head coach and President of Basketball Operations.

The Stars were purchased by MGM and will play games at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Lisa Borders, WNBA president, said, “Las Vegas has been on our radar screen for some time” and that they’ve been working on this deal for months now. 

The Stars are the third professional sports team to land in Las Vegas and will be the second to play home games there next season. NHL’s Golden Knights began their inaugural season in Las Vegas this season and the Oakland Raiders will move to Sin City for the 2020 season. 

- Phillip Barnett

Of note: 

  • Corruption in international sports is a sport in and of itself. The latest allegations towards FIFA involve Qatari businessman and Paris St-Germain chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi, who is accused of previously trying to bribe a secretary of the governing body in return for lucrative broadcasting deals with certain countries for future World Cups. In a second, separate and wide-ranging investigation, Senegalese official Papa Massata Diack is trying to defending himself against multiple charges of corruption that include covered-up doping tests and vote-buying for international competitions, including the Olympics.

  • Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban offered his thoughts on the differences between the NBA’s handling of protests during the national anthem and those of the NFL. He also reiterated his stance on the NFL’s "real structural problems," adding that “20 years from now half of NFL rosters being international guys because parents aren’t going to let their kids play tackle football.”

  • The longtime home of the Utah Jazz, Vivint Smart Home Arena (formerly the Delta Center) underwent a $125 million renovation that brought the franchise to modern times, at least in terms of arena experiences in the NBA. The Salt Lake Tribune spoke about the process with the Miller family, who placed ownership of the franchise into a trust after the death of team patriarch Larry Miller in 2009.

  • While President Donald Trump may want players who protest during the national anthem to be fired, at least they wouldn’t be locked up for doing so. In Hong Kong, fans who have booed the Chinese national anthem could possibly spend 15 days in jail and face further criminal charges, according to a new law passed by the Chinese government. Hong Kong citizens have jeered during the anthem as a response to the desire to remain autonomous from the mainland after it was handed over from British rule in 1997.

  • The athletic department at the University of Minnesota has been raising funds in order to finance its Athletes Village. Having already raised $105 million for the project, the school will add $61 million in short-term and long-term debt, including bonds from companies that recruit students from the school such as TCF Bank, 3M and Land O’Lakes.

  • Considering the charged climate around the NFL regarding the national anthem as well as the president, FiveThirtyEight analyzed the political leanings of the fan bases for each franchise. The study looked at self-reported survey data, Google search trends, and the vote share of the 2016 presidential election between then-candidate Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

  • New York City mayor Bill de Blasio hasn’t been rooting for the New York Yankees in the team’s playoff push. Why? Because de Blasio was actually raised in Cambridge, where he grew up a Red Sox fan. (His predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, also grew up in Boston, but had no problem shedding said Red Sox fandom during his time as mayor.)

  • Speaking of the Yankees, the iconic franchise is the latest traditional sports outfit to take a turn into eSports. The team is investing into Vision Esports, a holding firm that manages three separate companies, including Echo Fox, which was founded by former NBA sharpshooter Rick Fox.

  • Hannah Mouncey, an Australian transgender athlete, was ruled ineligible for the Australian Football League’s women’s draft. Though she would meet the blood testosterone standards from the International Olympic Committee, the AFL referred to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act, which allows for athletes to be discriminated against based on sex and gender, “if strength, stamina or physique is relevant.”

  • In the ongoing battle between Calgary local officials and the NHL over a new arena for the Flames, it looks as if the reelection of Naheed Nenshi to a third term as mayor represents a flashpoint. While The Globe and Mail believe that the city’s offer to the team was more than generous compared to the other Canadian franchises, the Flames’ director of communications and media relations Sean Kelso tweeted that Nenshi being reelected was worse than the United States electing Donald Trump as president.

  • A female Taiwanese baseball umpire who is hoping to open up a baseball school in her home country spoke about the instruction and mentorship she’s received from the NHL. Through her participation with the Global Sports Mentoring Program, Po-Chun Liu was mentored by Susan Cohig, the NHL’s SVP of Business Affairs and Integrated Marketing, learning about developing a business strategy to implement her vision.

- Jason Clinkscales

For the record books: This week in sports politics history


Bettmann/Getty Images

"They are going to have to send me home, too; because I protested on the victory stand." - Ralph Boston upon learning that the IOC suspended John Carlos and Tommie Smith

On October 17, 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos finished first and third, respectively, in the 200 meter dash at the Mexico City Olympic Games. On October 18, both Smith and Carlos were stripped of their medals, credentials and were forced to head home because they raised their fists as a form of protest as to what was happening in their home country. 

The photo of Smith and Carlos raising their fists is one of the most iconic photos in sports history, and was decided just moments before they received their medals. Both men were a part of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which tried to encourage black athletes from participating in the ‘68 Olympic Games. 

The protest wasn’t the only during the ‘68 games, but the one that received the most criticism at the time. Black athletes walked onto podiums barefoot to symbolize poverty and wore beads and scarves to protest lynchings. Lee Evans, Larry James and Ron Freeman – the three men who swept the 400 meter run for the USA – wore black berets on the podium for their medal ceremony. 

During a time where NFL player protests are consistently taken out of context, it’s important to go back nearly half a century to find that black athletes have struggled for decades to get their message across to the nation. In 1968, in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, athletes attempted to do their part, but their message was not received by those who needed to hear it most in the same way that Colin Kaepernick’s message is still being misconstrued. 

- Phillip Barnett 

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