Cowboys || B's Set to Replace A's || Mark Cuban Selling Majority Stake in Mavericks and What are you doing Warriors? (includes which teams made KO round) || Uh Oh Sports Illustrated || Funny News.
Cowboys || B's Set to Replace A's || Mark Cuban Selling Majority Stake in Mavericks and What are you doing Warriors? (includes which teams made KO round) || Uh Oh Sports Illustrated || Funny News.
Edition #27
Intro
Hello, hello everybody. This is really looking like a Texas sports edition. Why? We’re talking about the Cowboys and the Mavericks. This also looks like a Bay Area sports edition. It’s pretty rare that I have two teams in the same city in one newsletter, but that’s just what happened. I also found some funny things while on the internet that I would like to share with you guys. I don’t wanna make this stuff long, so let’s get started! Please send this newsletter to ALL of your friends.
(We ain’t going in order)
Uh Oh Sports Illustrated
Drew Ortiz, the outdoors enthusiast featured in Sports Illustrated, turned out to be a mystery outside the magazine's pages. Despite his bio highlighting a passion for camping, there was no trace of him online, and his profile picture was up for sale.
But Ortiz wasn't alone in this enigma. An unnamed source spilled the beans that several Sports Illustrated authors were actually AI-generated. These virtual writers not only had fictional backgrounds but also crafted content with an unusual, almost alien, tone. One of Ortiz's articles even cautioned about playing volleyball without a real ball.
Adding to the intrigue, another insider revealed that not only were the authors fake, but some of the articles were too – crafted by artificial intelligence. When we questioned The Arena Group, Sports Illustrated's publisher, the AI-generated authors mysteriously disappeared from the site, leaving behind unanswered questions.
Initially silent, The Arena Group later pointed fingers at a contractor for the content. The abrupt vanishing act of these AI-generated authors leaves us pondering the extent of artificial intelligence in shaping Sports Illustrated's content.
Cowboys…
The Cowboys have the second-hardest schedule coming up. Here’s there schedule.
All time PST. (I set it that way.)
Let’s break it down.
Seahawks (Eliminated in the NFC Wild Card)
Eagles (NFC Champs)
Bills (Eliminated in the AFC Divisional Round)
Dolphins (Eliminated in the AFC Wild Card)
Lions (Close to making playoffs, lost versus Aaron Rodgers. This year's record 8-3. Playoff-Caliber team)
Commanders (Not making playoffs, easy game, and best game to bench the starters.)
Now with how the seeding is, the Cowboys are making the playoffs.
The teams below them are 6-5 and 6-6. The top teams in the hunt are 5-6 and 4-7. They’re making the playoffs. Wild card or division is the question and at this point, the Eagles campaign is a runaway train. After this game against the 49ers (look at Friday’s edition for the takeaways), they have one of the easiest strengths of schedule!
Cowboys fans can’t be super confident about the playoffs, though.
The Seahawks are known for reviving themselves later in the season. The Vikings may have lost Joshua Dobbs’s magic, but with Justin Jefferson, anything can happen?
Now here are my Cowboys predictions of wins and losses and why.
Seahawks vs Cowboys: Cowboys. 41-35
Both of these teams are coming off a week of rest (Thursday to Thursday). Seattle couldn’t pick up its offense all game, while the Cowboys offense could not stop rolling. Daron Bland vs maybe DK Metcalf will be SUPER interesting to watch, and he WILL get a pick-six in the game. Once again, Seattle will struggle on offense, but their defense will keep them in this game. Without a good offense, though, you can’t win football games.
Eagles vs Cowboys: Eagles
Yes, yes. You might think this is biased, but this is absolutely not. The Cowboys are coming off a long week of rest after facing the Seahawks, who are not of the same caliber as the 49ers. I’m only giving it to the Eagles because I think that, A.J. Brown, will finally loosen up and start getting open! I would expect Daron Bland to get Devonta in this game since he’s doing super good and I have Big Play Slay getting a pick. The 49ers are better than the Cowboys and whether the Eagles win the game or not, they will know what to fix versus another top-tier team in the Cowboys.
The next few ones I will not explain, but give a score.
Cowboys vs Bills: Cowboys 28-10
This Cowboys defense is lethal. The bills are falling apart.
Cowboys vs Dolphins: Cowboys 38-24
The Dolphins will probably not be competing for the playoff push. Their schedule eases up and then picks up again at the end. I don’t expect Tyreek to get many mins but Tua will still play, that’s why they get 24 pts.
Lions vs Cowboys: Cowboys: 19-15
Cowboys vs Commanders: 21-7
Backups game.
Mark Cuban Selling Majority Stake in Mavericks
(ESPN)
The Adelson family is in serious discussions to acquire a substantial share of the Dallas Mavericks, as per sources. It's anticipated that Mark Cuban will retain his role as the team's governor, maintaining control over all basketball decisions. The proposed agreement is estimated to be valued at around $3.5 billion, and if finalized, it would undergo a league approval process expected to take several weeks, according to The Associated Press.
To fund this potential acquisition, the Adelson family is reportedly selling close to $2 billion in stock from the Las Vegas Sands Corp., based on an SEC filing. The filing noted that the sale aims "to fund the purchase of a majority interest in a professional sports franchise pursuant to a binding purchase agreement, subject to customary league approvals." Miriam Adelson, a medical doctor and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and the Miriam Adelson Trust are identified as the sellers in the filing.
If the entire $2 billion from the stock sale goes toward the purchase, the Adelson family could acquire at least a 57% stake in the NBA team, based on the $3.5 billion valuation. NBA ownership transitions typically require a thorough vetting process, lasting several weeks, and subsequent approval from the league's board of governors.
This development follows previous discussions between the Sands group, led by Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law Patrick Dumont, and Mark Cuban about potential plans for a casino entertainment district in Dallas. The proposed district would include a new arena for the Mavericks. However, this plan hinges on the legalization of gambling in Texas, a cause that Cuban has actively supported in conversations with state politicians.
Mark Cuban, who has owned the Mavericks since 2000, recently announced his departure from the television show "Shark Tank" after the upcoming 16th season.
Funny News 1
Well, maybe not funny, just interesting.
Pop-tarts. Breakfast. I’m not a huge fan of it (bc I haven't eaten a lot of it), but they are pretty good. Well, guess what!
Pop-Tarts® Will Unwrap the First-Ever Edible Mascot at the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl
The winning team of the upcoming Pop-Tarts® Bowl will go home with far more than just bragging rights and a Championship Trophy; they can also expect a belly full of the first-ever Edible Mascot. Because when Pop-Tarts® tackles College Football, no rituals are safe.
"For sixty years, Pop-Tarts has sacrificed everything in the name of Crazy Good flavor, so why wouldn't that include our beloved Football Mascot, too?" said Heidi Ray, Senior Director of Marketing, at Pop-Tarts. "Since we announced our title sponsorship of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, fans have been speculating on the larger-than-life game day experiences we will be tackling, and this is the first of many traditions that fans can expect Pop-Tarts to upend on game day."
Pop-Tarts recently unveiled a new Creative Direction featuring Agents of Crazy Good. An ingenious crew that comes fully frosted and ready to challenge expectations for where the brand can show up next. All while rallying for a chance to be fan’s next snack. The Pop-Tarts Bowl Mascot is an IRL manifestation of this campaign; it will run around the stadium interacting with fans and, when the final whistle blows, transform into a game-winning snack for the victors, just like in our most recent advertisements.
Stay tuned next week, following the Bowl Matchup Announcements, for additional Crazy Good moments Pop-Tarts® has in store for the first-ever Pop-Tarts Bowl, from concessions and Fan Fest to the entertainment on and off the field.
The 2023 Pop-Tarts® Bowl airs live on ESPN, on December 28 at 5:45 p.m. ET. The post-season showdown will unfold as representatives from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences face off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
What the heck are you doing Warriors?
The warriors. Up 24. Had a chance to win it and advance to the KO bracket of the in season tournament.
Lost by 1 to the kings after two late turnovers from Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Moses Moody had basically all their points in the 4th quarter.
I can’t talk about this warriors team anymore…
Here’s the box score
Btw, the Kings missed 12 free throws and Malik Monk had a lucky three to win the game for the Kings.
But enough about these teams, who’s in the KO stage?
Milwaukee, Indiana, the Lakers, the Kings, Boston, New York, Cleveland, Orlando, and Brooklyn.
B's Set to Replace A's
No tea, review today, sry.
If the Oakland A's move to Las Vegas, a group of Oakland fans plans to start their own team called the Oakland Ballers, or the B's for short. Led by friends Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel, they've hired former Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu to help run the team. The B's aim to play in the Pioneer League starting this summer, and they've already raised $2 million to support the team.
Freedman and Carmel didn't want to wait for the A's to leave before ensuring there'd still be professional baseball in the East Bay. They wanted to start playing in 2024, even though the A's will continue to play at the Oakland Coliseum for the 2024 season.
The B's ownership group has big plans, including expanding seating at Laney College's stadium, where they'll play. The team's acceptance into the Pioneer League, known for its affiliation with MLB, adds excitement to the 10-team league spread across Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado.
While the B's won't have a formal link with a major league team, they will be part of the MLB partner leagues, experimenting with new ideas like a home run derby-style "knockout round" to determine the game's winner. The founders emphasize building a great fan experience, drawing inspiration from local fan groups like the Oakland 68s.
Carmel and Freedman, both fans themselves, will take on leadership roles. Carmel, a movie producer, becomes the chief experience officer, while Freedman, an entrepreneur, will be the chief executive officer. They picked the name B's as a fun twist on the A's and also chose Ballers to honor a friend. Their goal is to create an organization that stands on its own merits, welcoming everyone, even A's owner John Fisher, to support their team.
The B's team will include players who were part of affiliated baseball or those not selected in the MLB draft. With Wakamatsu's coaching experience, the founders aim to establish the B's as a lasting part of Oakland's sports tradition.
Freedman emphasizes, "We're not here to replace what we lost. We mourn what was lost. What we're here to do is say there's a tradition in Oakland. We get to continue that. We believe when Oaklanders come together, nothing can stop us." Carmel adds, "We're by Oakland. We're for Oakland. We're not going to leave Oakland."
Conclusion
Long haul today people. If you made it, comment “Done.” If you don’t feel like it, do it anyway. Send any feedback at sportssquare@substack.com or thebest616161@gmail.com. Send any questions in the comments or the chat. Have a good day!