NASCAR driver Stephan Parsons didn’t have much luck with his cryptocurrency-sponsored car. The “DogeCar” crashed on lap 71 during Saturday’s Xfinity race, but that won’t be the last of the DogeCar or NASCAR’s relationship with cryptocurrency. Cars have been sponsored by everything from adult diapers to rock bands. So, NASCAR’s […]
Business and Commerce
Jordan Rookie Card Sale Sets New 2021 Low – But There’s a Catch
A 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan PSA 10 rookie card – perhaps the most iconic basketball card ever produced – set a record low sale for this year on eBay by auctioning for just $180,100 this week. While this could partially be an indicator of a softening card market after it […]
California Could Merge Fantasy Sports and Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Fantasy sports meets pari-mutuel wagering and spawns visions of an endless revenue stream for California. That’s the dream, and an actual possibility, by this coming August if a proposal by the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) gains traction with the California Horse Racing Board. CARF officials presented the proposal […]
Louisiana, New Hampshire Latest States Welcoming HHR Machines
Two more states joined the Historical Horse Racing machine parade this week, when Louisiana and New Hampshire passed legislation approving HHR machines. On Tuesday, the Louisiana Senate passed SB 209 by a 32-3 vote. That gives off-track betting facilities license to install up to 50 HHR machines per OTB facility. […]
Oaklawn Park Proposes Meet Extension Into December
Oaklawn Park announced a proposal for a historic extension of its racing season Monday, adding December race dates to its calendar to create a 66-day season at the Arkansas track. Under the proposal, Oaklawn would open its meet Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 and run through Sunday, May 8, 2022. By […]
Beckett Grading Services Pauses Most Options to Clear Backlog
Following the lead of PSA, which also saw overwhelming demand, Beckett Grading Services will stop accepting most card grading submissions on Monday as it works to clear its backlog. The company made the announcement on its website this week, in a post discussing its plans for the National Sports Collectors […]
‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale Believes Where You Bet the Horses Matters
When Jim “Mattress Mack†McIngvale was looking for a site on which to drop a $2.4 million wager on Essential Quality to win the Kentucky Derby, he remembered what he was at heart. McIngvale has been called many things over the years. An entrepreneur. A furniture magnate. A media darling, […]
Maine’s Governor Proving Biggest Roadblock to Sports Betting Legalization in State
Maine lawmakers are carefully trying to craft an online gambling bill that will appease Gov. Janet Mills, who previously rejected sports betting legislation last year. Legislators introduced four sports betting bills in 2021, three of which were removed from consideration in the Legislature Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs on […]
NYRA Giving Vaccinated Fans a Shot to See Racing at Saratoga
The New York Racing Association and the State of New York want to give racing fans seeking a seat at storied Saratoga this summer a literal shot in the arm. All eager fans have to do for a shot at visiting the famed track is to get a COVID-19 shot. […]
NBA Africa Launches with Backing from Dikembe Mutumbo, Grant Hill, Joakim Noah
On Monday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league will launch NBA Africa, a new entity that will handle all business on the continent, including managing the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Investors in NBA Africa include former NBA stars Dikembe Mutumbo, Grant Hill, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng. Nigerian […]
Trainer Powell Puts In Santa Anita Park Record $150K Claim on Filly
Trainer Leonard Powell set a Santa Anita Park claiming record last Saturday when he put in a $150,000 claim for Nimbostratus, a 3-year-old French-bred filly. Powell’s claim destroyed the previous record of $125,000, set in 1997. Santa Anita fielded three $100,000 claims this meet — remarkable numbers, even at one […]
Opening a Sports Card Store, Part 5: Lessons Learned After a Month
They say that most small businesses don’t turn a profit in the first year. My sports card store turned a profit after my first month. The wild early success of my new store, Cullman Sportscards & Fun Shop, shows the demand for a card shop in north Alabama. And it […]
Babe Ruth Baseball Card Auction Could Top Records
One of the world’s most valuable sports card collections will soon go up for auction, and a famed Babe Ruth baseball card from the lot could break sales records, experts say. Dr. Thomas Newman, a Florida neurologist, died at age 73 in January from complications caused by COVID-19. His wife, […]
Sportswear Roundup: UA Fined, Gap Rising, Nike Dissed Again
Nike lost another high-profile deal as Olympic gymnast Simone Biles signed with the Gap’s Athleta brand. Earlier this year, Kobe Bryant’s estate failed to renew its longstanding deal with Nike. Meanwhile, Under Armour was fined $9 million for misleading investors. Nike can’t be happy with the defection of two gold […]
Breeding Goliath Spendthrift Farm Pulls Horses from Baffert’s Barn
The fallout from trainer Bob Baffert’s latest failed medication test took a troublesome turn for the Hall of Fame conditioner when breeding colossus Spendthrift Farm removed several horses from his barn. The Daily Racing Form reported that Spendthrift’s Following Sea was transferred to Todd Pletcher’s barn. Along with that, Spendthrift […]
DraftKings Stock Tanks Despite Positive Earnings Report
It appears that good news doesn’t always prompt positive results. At least that’s what happened at DraftKings, which saw its stock tumble early this week despite a better-than-expected first-quarter earnings report. The company reported a loss of 36 cents per share, better than the 41 cents per share that analysts […]
Former Hornets Players Support North Carolina Sports Betting Effort
Two former members of the Charlotte Hornets have joined the fight for legalizing sports betting in North Carolina. Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry joined team president Fred Whitfield, as well as Carolina Hurricanes president Don Waddell, in visiting with state lawmakers to tout the benefits of legal wagering in the […]
Better than the Oscars? Kentucky Derby Ratings Jump from 2020
NBC Sports announced strong ratings for Saturday’s telecast of the 147th Kentucky Derby, producing Total Audience Delivery numbers of 14.5 million viewers for the opening leg of the Triple Crown. Putting those numbers into perspective, the Derby drew better numbers than the final round of the Masters. For the first […]
Ohio Sports Betting Bill Coming This Week
A state senator said Monday that he plans to introduce a sports betting bill in the Ohio Legislature on Thursday. Ohio Sen. Kirk Schuring said on 1450 WHBC Monday morning that he’s working “very diligently†on the bill in conjunction with Senate Majority Leader Matt Huffman. “It’s right now 250 […]
‘Adios, City!’ All In on Messi Staying at Barcelona. On One Condition
Messi changed his mind on leaving FC Barcelona and has informed president Joan Laporta that he intends to extend his contract. He asks for signings that would strengthen the team and put it back on the Champions League favorites’ plate. Leo Messi runs out of contract at Camp Nou in […]