šŸ”Ø Construction halted at Titans Stadium

Fans slam WNBA salary request, NFLPA and NFL collusion, MLB extends gambling investigation, and more!

Author

Sportie Newsletter
July 21, 2025

šŸˆ Football

NFLPA, NFL agreed to keep collusion findings secret

The NFL and senior leaders of the NFL Players Association struck an unusual confidentiality agreement that hid the details of an arbitration decision from players, including a finding that league executives had urged team owners to reduce guaranteed player compensation, multiple sources told ESPN.

On Jan. 14, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there wasn't sufficient evidence of collusion by owners in contract negotiations with quarterbacks after the record, fully guaranteed contract signed by quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022.

Any such collusion to keep salaries down would violate the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the union.

Construction halted at new Tennessee Titans Stadium after noose found at site

Construction on a new enclosed stadium for the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tennessee, has been halted after a noose was found at the construction site.

ā€œWe are requiring additional antibias training for every person on site, and work will resume only after a site-wide stand-down focused on inclusion and respect,ā€ a statement from the alliance reads.

The alliance has launched an investigation and is offering a reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible.

šŸ€ Basketball

Fans slam WNBA stars for protesting their pay

Caitlin Clark and her fellow WNBA players wore T-shirts telling league bosses to 'pay us what you owe us' as talks over a new collective bargaining agreement stalled during All-Star week.

Negotiations between the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association have continued in Indianapolis but failed to reach a deal and erase the friction between the two sides.

The players' top priorities are greatly increased salaries and a revenue sharing plan. In the WNBA, players reportedly only receive 9.3 per cent of league revenue which is way less than athletes in most other sports leagues.

NBA Rookie Dubbed 'Chinese Jokic' Has Fans in a Chokehold

There's only one Nikola Jokic. But one incoming NBA youngster does a pretty darn good impression of him.

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen flashed some of his Joker-esque qualities in his Summer League debut Friday.

The Chinese center's final stat line was nothing to write home about. Yang finished with 10 points on 3/7 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

However, Yang's performance proved that the box score never tells the full story. He thrilled fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center with some slick passes that a 20-year-old big man has no business making against NBA-level competition.

āš¾ļø Baseball

MLB extends its investigation of Guardiansā€™ Luis Ortiz

Major League Baseball, in agreement with the MLB Players Association, announced Friday that it will extend the leave of absence for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz through Aug. 31, while continuing its investigation into gambling allegations involving Ortiz.

On July 3, MLB announced that Ortiz in agreement with the MLBPA was being placed on a non-disciplinary leave of absence through the All-Star break while it investigated him.

It was later confirmed by league sources that Ortiz was being investigated for possible involvement in gambling while he was pitching for the Guardians.

MLB Investigating Braves Coach After Gesture

The MLB is investigating Atlanta Braves assistant coach Eddie PĆ©rez after he apparently gestured towards his head while in the midst of a squabble with New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the Yankees' 12ā€“9 victory on Saturday night at Truist Park, according to The Athletic.

The back-and-forth between PĆ©rez and Chisholm occurred in the sixth inning, and seemed to stem from the Yankees second baseman's actions while he was standing on second base.

Evidently, PĆ©rez took exception to Chisholm's apparent sign-stealing.