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Streameast — the world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform — has been shut down after a year long investigation, according to a leading United States-based anti-piracy organisation. The network of 80 unauthorised domains generated 1.6billion combined visits over the past year, providing free access to global sports fixtures, including Europe’s top football leagues and competitions, such as the Premier League and Champions League, as well as the NFL, NBA and MLB.
ABC/ESPN demotes Doris Burke, promotes Tim Legler
ABC/ESPN has demoted Hall of Fame broadcaster Doris Burke from its NBA Finals team and promoted network commentator Tim Legler to its No. 1 team, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Thursday. Legler will pair with longtime lead play-by-player Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson for the network’s finals broadcasts. Jefferson recently agreed to a new contract with ESPN after working his first finals in June. Burke was on the finals team for two years, becoming the first woman in history to serve as an analyst for one of the traditional four major North American sports leagues championships (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL).
Fanatics has lost its appeal against FanFirm Pty Ltd., a small Australian company, to sell Fanatics-branded apparel products in Australia, following a lengthy litigation process that began in 2010. Until last year, Fanatics LLC sold licensed sports apparel under the Fanatics brand for major U.S. sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) in Australia via its website. In contrast, FanFirm has held trademarks for “Fanatics” across several classes, including clothing and sportswear, and has held “first user” rights in Australia, being active in various forms since 1997.
While discussing work/life balance with fellow ESPNers — reporter Jeremy Schaap, MLB insider Jeff Passan and NFL insider Adam Schefter — Shams Charania explained that his social life has suffered significantly due to his career. “I’ve had to walk out on dates, like I’ve had to walk out on a lot of social events,” Charania said during ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters” on Thursday. “My friends don’t really like me. That’s why it’s very hard to have a consistent relationship because you know the time that requires and you know the time that they deserve, rightfully. And there are just moments where I’m just always going to choose this as of right now.”
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: We're not competing with the NBA, our competitors are Apple and Google
A recent email regarding Ken Belson’s upcoming book — EVERY DAY IS SUNDAY: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut — shares a quote Commissioner Roger Goodell private made in the aftermath of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. “We’re not competing with the NBA or MLB,” Goodell said. “Our competitors are Apple and Google.”
When Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, the NBA no longer had any African American majority franchise owners. But with the announcement of former MLB star Alex Rodriguez becoming a co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he says Black and Hispanic ownership is now a part of the NBA. “I’m hoping that the trend continues,” Rodriguez said to Andscape following an introductory news conference at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 11. “But as far as being someone with Black and Brown skin, I’m representing a lot of good people out there. Give credit to [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver, who championed this transaction. I’m grateful for that.”
The league collection includes NBA and MLB sports teams from L.A. (Dodgers and Lakers), Chicago (Bulls, Cubs and White Sox) and New York (Mets and Knicks), offering Mitchell & Ness Jerseys, hoodies, t-shires and hats repping the teams and Blackpink.
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Jabari Smith, at $24.4 million, would have been the highest paid NBA player as late as the 2007-08 season. Stephen Curry was the NBA’s highest paid player during the 2019-20 season and the first to crack the $40 million threshold; that would make him just the 29th-highest paid player next season. The NBA will have 16 players earn at least $50 million during the 2025-26 season; the NFL, MLB and NHL will have six between them.
Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx top executives Ethan Casson and Ryan Tanke are stepping down from their roles, the biggest front-office changes so far as the organization prepares to enter a new era under new ownership. The two leaders, who have spent a total of more than 45 combined year with the organizations, announced their plans to step down in a joint letter sent to staff members Friday. Neither announced plans for where they will go next, and the new ownership team — led by former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez and e-commerce executive Marc Lore — has not publicly identified any possible successors for their roles.
Before hearing their names called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at Barclays Center in Brooklyn next week, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will be taking center stage at two other iconic New York sports venues. The former Rutgers basketball stars will each throw out the first pitch at a local MLB game over the next week.
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