🏆Crosby Passes Hall of Famer

Mavericks raise ticket prices, MLB's ESPN TV Deal, Pete Rose's return, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
March 04, 2025

🏒 Hockey

NHL Referees to Begin Wearing Apple Watches

Officials will get haptic notifications during the game, including game clock countdowns, penalty clock countdowns and jersey numbers of which players are in the penalty box at a given time.

This technology has been in tested and refined for the last few seasons at certain indoor venues, but Saturday marked the debut of the watch in an outdoor setting.

The normal in-game environment – with roaring crowds and lightning-fast speeds – has certain challenges when it comes to communication between officials, and an outdoor environment can be even more challenging.

That’s where the NHL Watch Comms App comes into play.

Penguins' Sidney Crosby passes Hall of Famer for 10th on all-time assists list

In Pittsburgh's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, Crosby passed Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for 10th all-time in assists.

Crosby now has 1,050 assists in 1,333 games in 20 seasons with Pittsburgh. Howe, meanwhile, recorded 1,049 assists in 1,767 games in 26 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers. 

🏀 Basketball

Mavericks raise ticket costs, cite 'investments' in team, fans

The Mavericks revealed on Monday that they are raising season-ticket prices for next season, just weeks after dealing star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Mavericks said season tickets will go up by an average of 8.61% next season and the increase is due to "ongoing investments in the team and fan engagement."

The Mavs have dealt with widespread fan discontent since last month's trade that sent the popular Doncic to the Lakers

Joel Embiid Out for Rest of Season

Joel Embiid's season is over, the Sixers said on Friday afternoon. A plan of action to treat his left knee is not yet finalized, but the team determined he was medically unable to play.

"The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee. After further evaluation, it has been determined that he is medically unable to play and will miss the remainder of the season to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.”

This season began with Embiid inking a three-year contract extension worth a projected $193 million — tying him to the Sixers for five years when adding the two remaining seasons on his current deal — and declaring that his intention was to remain with the franchise for his entire career.

⚾️ Baseball

MLB Potentially Reinstating Pete Rose in Surprise Turn

Baseball Hall of Fame voters could soon reconsider inducting one of the sport’s most polarizing figures.

Statistically speaking, Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s all-time hit leader, would be a lock for induction into the hall were it not for his off-field decisions.

In 1989, Rose was banned from baseball for life following evidence that he had gambled on games while serving as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently took to his social media platform Truth Social to call for Rose’s posthumous removal from the ineligible list.

Following that call, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly decided to consider a request to remove Rose from the ineligible list.

MLB Plots a New TV Model After Striking Out With ESPN

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed MLB commissioner Rob Manfred that ESPN believes baseball's TV rights are declining in value and that they intended to use an opt-out clause to exit their current $550 million per year contract. 

ESPN proposed renegotiating for a significantly lower amount, around $200 million per year, but Manfred rejected the suggestion outright.  

Under the current system, the league sells the rights to nationally televised regular-season and playoff games—like the inventory ESPN is relinquishing—and divides the revenue among all 30 teams. 

🏈 Football

Jimmy Johnson retires from Fox Sports After 30 Years

TJimmy Johnson, the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach who won two Super Bowls and a college national championship, announced his retirement from Fox Sports on Monday after being part of its NFL coverage for most of the network’s 31 years.

The 81-year-old Johnson made the announcement during an appearance on The Herd With Colin Cowherd.

❝

“The most fun I ever had in my career, that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships, was at Fox Sports”