The Bearded Gang

The 2013 World Series has been full of controversial calls, crazy endings, a plethora of offense and a lot of facial hair.  The Boston Red Sox and their beards are now just one game away from clinching their 8th World Series, and first since 2007.  The Red Sox have been known this season for the beards that the majority of their players have been growing throughout the year.  This is a hard nosed team that wants to win.  

It overall has not been a very good series for the Cardinals, who have had a tough time shutting down the Sox offense, and one man in general.  David Ortiz is batting a whopping .733 in the World Series, and has been driving in run after run, yet the Cardinals continue to pitch to him and let him have these opportunities.  The Cardinals leash is as short as it can get now with a deciding Game 5 coming up in Boston.

American Football in London?

The NFL has been trying their best over the past few years to really reach out and start to expand their market into London.  In 2014 there will be 3 games in London, similar to past years, however the NFL has had serious thoughts of making a possible 8 game schedule into London.  However Peter King of SI puts it pretty frank saying there will be a problem trying to sell a team as bad as Jacksonville to London, and it will be a problem taking a home game away from a successful team's fans in America.  The game on sunday between Jacksonville and San Francisco pulled in a whopping attending of 83,559.  The NFL might want to start seriously considering a few more games in London if for attendance purposes only.

Hurricane of Problems

The Miami Hurricanes football team has finally found out their sentence after a 2 1/2 year investigation of their football program.  The Canes got a light slap on the wrist from the NCAA by not receiving a bowl ban, and only losing 3 scholarships a year over the next 3 years.  This investigation was sparked due to a man named Nevin Shapiro, the NCAA was weary of his interactions with the Men's Football and Basketball teams at Miami.  Mr. Shapiro is a convicted felon who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for being the mastermind before a $930 million Ponzi scheme.

If you ask me I think the NCAA turned a blind eye to whatever was happening in Miami.  The investigation took entirely too long for Miami to receive such a minimal sentencing from the NCAA.

Can't Win? No Tickets Sold.

The New York Giants have consistently been one of the most powerful teams in the NFL, year after year putting out a good product on the field for their fans to watch and cheer on.  All of that, including winning 4 Lombardi Trophies since the mid-1980's.  This season however has been one that many would like to forget.  The 0-6 Giants got their first win last night against the Minnesota Vikings in prime time on Monday Night Football.  Because of this horrid start ticket prices have dropped in the secondary market by 40%.  It is a shame that such a loyal and avid fan base as the Giants have to go through a season such as this, but every fan base does at some point.  However no one was expecting this to happen this season, just two years off a Super Bowl win.

Advertise Here

The Pacers have reached a deal with a sponsor that is a first of a kind.  They reached a deal with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to sponsor on their home court.  This is the first deal an NBA team has made with a corporate entity to sponsor on the hardwood.  The NBA is only allowing one sponsor to be on the floor, placed in two different spots on the floor.

I hope this sponsorship doesn't get out of hand in the NBA and they don't become like the WNBA and end up with sponsors on their jerseys.  In the end for corporations its all about the money.

Above is the court side sponsorship.

The Next NBA Superstar

Andrew Wiggins is the next big thing in the game of basketball.  The 18-year old Canadian basketball sensation will be a freshman this year at the University of Kansas playing under coach Bill Self.  It has been rumored that the market for an endorsement deal for the young Wiggins could potentially be bigger than LeBron James' when he entered the league.  Rumors of his contract have been in the area of 140-180 million over 10 years.  An absolutely absurd contract, just to sponsor one NBA player.

Adidas and Nike are the two main suitors for Wiggins.  Both companies have a lot of money invested in crucial players in their specific companies.  Because of that, it will be interesting to see which company decides to spend the most money and lock up Wiggins for the long term.

New Format, New Jerseys

Nike took over the NFL clothing rights last year, and has slowly but surely been making their impact be felt in the uniform design.  They hadn't made their "big splash" until Wednesday when they unveiled the new Pro Bowl uniforms.  As many have said, these jerseys have a large striking similarity to the Oregon Ducks uniforms.

They are flashy, vibrant and give the NFL and the Pro Bowl a whole new look.  They will no longer follow the classic blue and red format for the NFC and AFC jerseys.  The Pro Bowl will also no longer follow the classic format of the teams being selected as NFC and AFC players, instead this year it will be somewhat like a draft format.

These jerseys are a great idea, whether they don't appeal to everyone or not.  You can't make everyone happy in your decisions.  The Pro Bowl is by far the least watched or cared about All-Star event between Basketball, Baseball and Football.  This is an attempt to give the Pro Bowl new life and try to rejuvenate the NFL fan base to watch.

The New Ralph Wilson

The Buffalo Bills just released the first drawings of the renovations they plan to make to their stadium in 2014.  Some of the renovations include, easier and bigger entry ways, wi-fi throughout the stadium, and new and bigger HD video boards.  With the stadium renovations and restorations, this also will include a 22% space increase for the restrooms.  

All of these improvements seem as if they are for the fan to have a better experience.  The Bills are an up and coming franchise in the NFL and this will be another large step in the right direction for their organization, for even though they are not the most successful, they have a great and loyal fan base.

Mr. Agent Jay-Z

Musician and Businessman Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z is now officially certified by the National Basketball Players Association.  His certification includes the ability to negotiate player contracts.  The NBPA agreed to certify Mr. Carter in June, however he needed to sell his minority stake in the NBA team, the Brooklyn Nets.  The NBA received official confirmation that Mr. Carter sold his stake to new head coach and former NBA Point Guard, Jason Kidd, thus leading to his official certification.  Jay-Z's official agency is known as Roc Nation Sports.

Jay-Z has developed a terrific business model to follow, and is one of the most successful businessmen out there right now.  Not only does he control a life that many dream of, but also controls it terrifically.