Front Office Sports Today

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman applauds the city’s rise as a sports destination with one exception: the Oakland A’s. Mayor Goodman told Front Office Sports that she believes the team’s plans at the Tropicana site don’t make sense and that the team ought to stay in Oakland. She also discussed a potential NBA team there, and how the city will adjust in future years hosting Formula 1 to mitigate harm to small businesses.Plus, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held his annual Super Bowl press conference, FIFA announced the World Cup final host, Inter Miami’s international tour has disappointed Lionel Messi fans, and the Kansas City Royals made one of the biggest signings in baseball history.

The NFL has embraced sports betting with its first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, but the league’s gambling by-laws present a maze of potential hazards for the hundreds of players that will be in Sin City for the week. Players on NFL rosters have to navigate detailed regulations on casino events and the rules around sportsbook locations. The situation is primed for rule breaking, whether intentional or accidental. Plus, Kylian Mbappe has reportedly picked a new team, NHL players will participate in the next two Winter Olympics, and we dive into the strange world of Super Bowl ads with USA Today’s Rick Suter.

A documentary film on Providence and its former head basketball coach Ed Cooley from an anonymous social media user known as “Blue Demon Degenerate” caused a huge stir. The project raises questions about creator content and journalistic ethics. The doc has rippled throughout sports media and prompted an apology from writer Jeff Goodman over messages he sent to the filmmaker.Plus, a University of Tennessee lawsuit against the NCAA presents another threat to amateurism, and Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari.

Peter Angelos has agreed to sell the Baltimore Orioles after owning them for 31 years. The new ownership group is led by private equity executive and Baltimore native David Rubenstein. It includes Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Grant Hill, as well as former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and prompts questions on how this will alter team operations and whether it will lead to the sale of the Washington Nationals. Sam Dingman, co-host of the Orioles podcast The Rumor, joins the show to discuss what this means for the team and their fans.Plus, the PGA Tour has secured a $1.5 billion investment that could rise to $3 billion as it continues to negotiate with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal bolsters the future of the leading golf organization as it works to determine the future of the sport.

Newly released deposition transcripts revealed insensitive statements by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. In one instance Goodell referred to former NFL players who committed suicide and left notes asking for their brains to be studied, saying, “I think players who want to participate in the research necessary to advance science is a positive thing for us.”Plus: the second half of our conversation with Tom Brady, in which he discusses how he's preparing to take over as Fox’s lead color commentator and why he wants to own an NFL team.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit

Tom Brady joins the show to tell us why he is merging his wellness company, TB12, and apparel company, Brady Brand with the footwear and apparel company NOBULL. Brady and NOBULL owner Mike Repole discuss the deal, and the shared vision they are bringing to the venture. The merger is set to be one of the defining moves of Brady’s post-playing career.Plus: With two popular teams, the spectacle of Las Vegas, and a possible Taylor Swift appearance, Super Bowl LVIII is shaping up to be one of the most-watched and expensive sporting events ever.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit

Paramount Global is exploring a sale as cord cutting continues to eat into its margins and its deal for NFL rights creates as many problems as it solves. CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins for an in-depth report on the trajectory of the legacy media company, and its longtime competitors, Comcast, Disney, and Fox.Plus, Jannik Sinner claims his place in tennis’ youth movement with an Australian Open victory, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is nearing an extension, and the NFL teased something happening in Accra, Ghana.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit

A trial brought by the National Labor Relations Board has produced uncomfortable moments for representatives of USC, as schools and the NCAA hope to maintain the amateurism model and prevent college athletes from becoming employees. Reporter Amanda Christovich reports from Los Angeles on some of the trial’s head-turning moments.Plus, North Carolina is legalizing sports betting just in time for the ACC and NCAA tournaments, Ohio State is spending big to topple Michigan, and we look into the future of sports economics, including the role of private equity and the viability of major events like the Olympics with Deloitte analyst Pete Giorgio.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit

The Los Angeles Times became the latest major media outlet to announce deep cuts to its staff. The paper will not have a traveling beat writer with the Dodgers in Shohei Ohtani’s first year with the team. The cuts speak to broader issues in the media world, as legacy publications look for a sustainable model.Plus, Salt Lake City is looking to become the next big sports hub, Doc Rivers’ departure could mean Doris Burke’s time to shine, and former Miami Marlins president David Samson joins to discuss the struggles the Oakland A’s are having in securing funding for their new stadium, the changes coming to local sports broadcasting, and why Red Sox fans are mad at the team’s ownership.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit

Netflix has leapt into the live sports ring with a 10-year deal for WWE’s Raw, worth more than $5 billion. The move gives Netflix a weekly live program with a devoted audience, and could augur further steps into sports. We also look at a potential labor strike by MLS referees and another viewership record broken by the NFL.Plus, ESPN’s Jay Bilas joins to discuss the state of college basketball as the NCAA attempts to cling to amateurism and prevent college athletes from gaining employment status. Bilas argues that the NCAA is attempting to apply standards to college athletes that don’t exist for anyone else in the American economy.This episode is sponsored by:Autotrader: autotrader.com/seeitfindit