This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! I hope you’re well today. Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win. We’re halfway through another week and it’s almost All-Star weekend! Fun! There’s always something on the sports calendar.
Speaking of always something and the NBA, can you believe that the Warriors tried to trade for LeBron James? I mean, what in the world?
My colleague Charles Curtis has more details and reaction here. To make a long story short, the Warriors called the Lakers about LeBron James after he did all of that virtual huffing and puffing.
The Warriors saw the discord and chose to make a call, ESPN reports. Draymond Green was ready to drive the bus down to LA with Jonathan Kuminga and the requisite salary to get it done, but Rich Paul shut it down. And now, folks, we know why we got that weird statement about James not requesting a trade.
None of this really matters. It’s going to give ESPN some good post-Super Bowl segments and be a good “What if?” scenario we’ll talk about for the next few months. In the end, this is a whole bunch of nothing.
And thank goodness it is. Because, well, can you imagine LeBron James on the Warriors? Teamed up with Steph Curry? Nah, man. That’s nasty work.
After all the battles those two have had? After all the trash fans on both sides have talked? Nah, man. It can’t be that. For those two sides to be united would be like Newman and Seinfeld becoming roommates. Some of you are probably too young to get that reference.
Like, yes, there’s mutual respect there now. I’d even go as far as calling it a friendship. But teammates? That’s a bridge too far, man. People already think the NBA is too friendly. This would be the ultimate “too friendly” friendship.
In the end, it’s not happening. So there’s nothing here to really worry abo…wait. WAIT A MINUTE. YOU SAY LEBRON IS A FREE AGENT THIS SUMMER? AND THE WARRIORS HAVE LOTS OF SALARIES TO TRADE?!? WAIT … HOLD ON! PLEASE.
NOOOOOOOOOO. *transmission ends*
The pieces of the CFP puzzle are coming together … and they’re expensive
As the days go by we’re starting to learn more and more what this new 12-team College Football Playoff is going to look like and where it’s going to be.
ESPN just agreed to a six-year, $7.8 billion deal (yes! with a B!) to broadcast the College Football Playoff through the 2031-32 season, The Athletic reports. ESPN will pay around $1.3 billion annually for those rights.
That’s…really expensive. You could buy pretty much every NFL team outside of the Dallas Cowboys with that much money.
Hey, NCAA, please pay the players.
The other pressing matter with the new CFP is the format. A proposed 5+7 format featuring the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked at-large teams is expected to be voted on by the CFP’s board of managers on February 20, ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports.
The decision has to be unanimous, though. And the Pac-12 is holding things up. Here’s why:
— The 5+7 format works for the Pac-12 considering it can’t get a conference champion bid right now because, well, it’s technically not a conference since it only has two teams. Seven at-large spots give Oregon State or Washington State a better chance at making the CFP.
— But the Pac-12 also wants to ensure that it continues to have this same revenue share in the CFP that it’s always had as the Pac-12 tries to rebuild itself over the next two years.
I’m not sure what the revenue share in the new contract will be, but it feels like a certainty that we’re looking at a 5+7 model for the new CFP. And the most notable thing here is that it’ll be worth billions.
Once again, NCAA, I ask that you please PAY. THE. PLAYERS.
Congrats, Shaq!
The Orlando Magic finally retired a jersey. Congratulations to Shaquille O’Neal. He was in the building as the Magic hung his jersey in the rafters on Tuesday.
celebrating a legend
#32 ♾️ pic.twitter.com/vdwlKKATyI
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024
Shaq now has his jersey retired with three franchises: The Magic, the Heat and the Lakers. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich have that same honor.
This was dope to see. Salute to the Magic for getting it done.
READ MORE: Here’s Cory Woodruff with more special moments from Shaq’s jersey retirement.
Quick hits: Why PrizePicks is paused in New York … SO. MANY. QBs. … And more
— Prince Grimes has the skinny on why PrizePicks is paused in New York. Long story short, there’s a ton of money involved.
— Charles Curtis has Field Yates’ first ESPN NFL mock draft here and there are so many QBs going in the first round.
— Even the Super Bowl referees knew Mahomes was going to win if you gave him the ball back. This is hilarious.
— Could Brandon Aiyuk be on the move? Maybe. He was nice about it though. Robert Zeglinski has more.
— Finally, someone coming to Kyle Shanahan’s defense. Here’s Robert again.
— Here’s Meg Hall on Mecole Hardman getting the game ball from the Super Bowl. Good for him, man.
That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. Tap in again tomorrow for more TMW. We’ve got results for the Knicks poll coming to you! Peace. We out.
-Sykes ✌️