DENVER (AP) — A group of high-profile ski racers and snowboarders, along with executives and board members, are challenging their sport’s governing body to reconsider a lucrative investment opportunity that could be worth more than $400 million.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) was approached on Nov. 30 with a proposal from CVC Capital Partners, a company that’s invested over the years in Formula 1, soccer teams, rugby squads and women’s tennis.
Titled “Project Snow,” CVC was potentially offering an approximately $420 million (400 million euros) investment for a 20% shareholding in the commercial rights of snow sports ranging from snowboarding to cross-country skiing to Alpine skiing.
FIS responded days later in a letter to CVC officials that it was “very well capitalized and has no current need for further funding to help to deliver its strategic plans.”
Prominent athletes in the sport drafted and signed a letter — a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press — that urged FIS President Johan Eliasch to “reconsider your position on CVC’s proposal and to engage promptly in a constructive dialogue with them.”
There were nearly 60 athletes, executives and FIS council members who attached their names to the letter. The list included Olympic Alpine skiing medalists such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Lara Gut-Behrami, Marco Odermatt, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Sofia Goggia, along with Olympic freeski slopestyle champion Alex Hall and snowboarder Maddie Mastro. Also on the list was US Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt along with council members from Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Austria, to highlight a few.
“We disagree that many of the tasks outlined in the CVC proposal have been completed as part of the FIS global strategy,” read the athletes/executives letter, which was sent last Friday. “While there have been improvements in the digital area, there has been a notable lack of progress in most commercial, marketing and product development areas that are critical to grow our sports. This includes growing prize money and other improvements for athletes, which we know is becoming more of an issue for them, especially for certain disciplines.”
FIS is looking to make Infront Sports & Media its media rights partner. The organization hopes to centralize its international media and broadcast rights.
On Tuesday, FIS addressed the situation in a statement, saying, “The letter, which has since been circulated in the media, suggested that FIS dismissed a compelling offer from CVC for the media rights of ski and snowboard competitions without proper consideration due to the centralization process of international broadcast and media rights with Infront. This claim is false.”
It clarified that, “CVC’s proposal was unrelated to the centralization of media and broadcast rights. It was an investment proposal for the creation of a joint venture to manage all commercial rights associated with FIS and its member federations.”
FIS said Eliasch met with CVC representatives. Eliasch is among the candidates campaigning to take over for Thomas Bach as the next president of the International Olympic Committee.
“If raising capital becomes necessary, FIS would engage a financial advisor to conduct a transparent process, ensuring the best possible terms,” FIS added. “Currently, FIS is well-capitalized and does not require additional funding to execute its strategic plan.”
CVC has more than 25 years of experience investing funds in sports, media and entertainment projects. Its portfolio of former and current investments counts Formula 1, MotoGP, the French Football League, rugby, volleyball, cricket and the World Tennis Association.
The athletes and executives who signed their names to the letter addressed to Eliasch want to see more conversations take place. They want more transparency in negotiations.
“We would request that there is a pause in fully finalizing the Infront agreement until there is a proper discussion with CVC (and others as appropriate),” the letter read. “We would then expect that the options, plus pros and cons of each are then thoroughly discussed with the Council before a final decision on how best to move forward is made.
“To reiterate, we generally are all for centralization, but understandably want to ensure that the agreement we potentially enter into is the best one strategically and financially for all stakeholders.”
Jadyen Mentzer’s two goals propelled Hollidaysburg to a 3-0 victory over Greater Johnstown at Galactic Ice Tuesday night in high school ice hockey action.
Cole Hartman scored the final goal off an assist by Brody Duey for the Golden Tigers, while Noah Breton earned the shutout by stopping 21 shots.
SCORE BY PERIODS
Greater Johnstown 0 0 0 — 0
Hollidaysburg 0 1 2 — 3
First period: none.
Second period: H-Mentzer (unassisted), 3:14.
Third period: H-Mentzer (unassisted), 13:33; H-Hartman (Duey), 12:21.
Girls hoops
Portage defeated
MARION CENTER — Kendall Bednarski’s 11 points were tops for Portage in a 61-35 loss to Marion Center.
The Lady Mustangs, which fell behind 29-20 at the half, were outscored 19-6 in the fourth quarter.
MARION CENTER (61): Av. Ruddock 1 5-8 7, Al. Ruddock 5 2-2 12, Haggerty 1 2-2 4, Shadle 4 2-2 12, Miller 5 4-4 15, Black 3 0-0 6, Silvia 0 0-0 0, Zamborsky 0 0-0 0, Mantini 1 2-2 4, E. Burns 0 1-2 1, A. Burns 0 0-0 0. Totals – 20 18-22 61.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Portage 12 8 9 6 — 35
Marion Center 16 13 13 19 — 61
3-point goals: Portage 4 (Bednarski 3, Noll); Marion Center 3 (Shadle 2, Miller).
Records: Portage (2-3 overall, 2-1 Heritage Conference); Marion Center (5-0, 2-0).
JV: Marion Center won 17-14. High scorers–B. Burkett, P, 4; Zamborsky, MC, 10.
Rifle
Huskies falter
EBENSBURG — Despite getting personal best scores from Alena Nagle, Karli Schoop and Andrew Clapper, Bishop Carroll suffered a 1,382-34 to 1,262-17 loss to Everett in the opener for both teams.
Lukas LaSalle was the top shooter as he lead the Warriors with a 283-9.
Nagle shot a 271-6, Schoop finished with 270-4 and Clapper ended with 250-3 to set their new highs.
According to Google’s Year in Search report, the world was surfing the web for news about the US election, the latest iPhone release, blockbuster movie releases, TikTok trends and style advice.
The results, Google told TechCrunch, aren’t just the most popular searches — that would be, for instance, the weather — but rather a list of people, places and things that became more popular this year or “had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2024 as compared to 2023.”
News about Copa America was the most-searched subject in 2024 around the world. REUTERS
Globally, coverage of sporting events took first place in searches, with Copa América taking the top spot, followed by the UEFA European Championship and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In the US, news about the election, the New York Times’ game Connections and the Yankees fell among the most-searched terms of the year across the board.
Sean Combs, known as Diddy, was the top-searched musician globally. Ethan MillerAmericans’ most-searched “aesthetic” was “Mob Wife.” Tamara Beckwith/NY POST
When divided into sub-categories, Americans searched for Trump more than Harris, JD Vance and President Joe Biden, and in searches for celebrity deaths, users looked up news about the passing of Toby Keith, who died this year after battling cancer, more than any other.
Payne, who died this year, was one of the most-searched people when it came to celebrity deaths, per Google. GC Images
Around the globe, the top-searched TV series was the Netflix hit “Baby Reindeer,” while “Inside Out 2,” released this summer, was the most-searched flick both globally and in the US. Domestically, it was followed by “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “It Ends with Us” and “Saltburn.”
It was also the year of the martini, as the Porn Star Martini — followed by the buzzy US Open Honey Deuce and the viral Hugo spritz — took first place for the most-searched cocktail in the country, while dirty martinis placed fifth, lychee martinis took sixth lemon drop martinis fell at ninth.
Meanwhile, on-trend Americans searched for the viral “mob wife aesthetic” — marked by micro skirts, large fur coats and voluminous hair ‘dos — more than any other. “Brat” landed at fourth place on the style “aesthetic” list, while “office siren” placed seventh.
Fashion-forward users also searched for the “back in style” fads that saw a resurgence in 2024, “are skinny jeans back in style?” being the most-searched query after the snug-fitting denim was revived by Gen Zers this year.
Searches (Global)
Copa América
UEFA European Championship
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
India vs England
Liam Payne
Donald Trump
India vs Bangladesh
iPhone 16
Olympic Games Paris 2024
Catherine, Princess of Wales
News (Global)
U.S. Election
Excessive heat
Olympics
Hurricane Milton
台風 気象 情報 台風 第 10 号 (Japanese for “Typhoon Weather Information Typhoon No.10”)
According to Google’s Year in Search report, the world was surfing the web for news about the US election, the latest iPhone release, blockbuster movie releases, TikTok trends and style advice.
The results, Google told TechCrunch, aren’t just the most popular searches — that would be, for instance, the weather — but rather a list of people, places and things that became more popular this year or “had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2024 as compared to 2023.”
News about Copa America was the most-searched subject in 2024 around the world. REUTERS
Globally, coverage of sporting events took first place in searches, with Copa América taking the top spot, followed by the UEFA European Championship and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In the US, news about the election, the New York Times’ game Connections and the Yankees fell among the most-searched terms of the year across the board.
Sean Combs, known as Diddy, was the top-searched musician globally. Ethan MillerAmericans’ most-searched “aesthetic” was “Mob Wife.” Tamara Beckwith/NY POST
When divided into sub-categories, Americans searched for Trump more than Harris, JD Vance and President Joe Biden, and in searches for celebrity deaths, users looked up news about the passing of Toby Keith, who died this year after battling cancer, more than any other.
Payne, who died this year, was one of the most-searched people when it came to celebrity deaths, per Google. GC Images
Around the globe, the top-searched TV series was the Netflix hit “Baby Reindeer,” while “Inside Out 2,” released this summer, was the most-searched flick both globally and in the US. Domestically, it was followed by “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “It Ends with Us” and “Saltburn.”
It was also the year of the martini, as the Porn Star Martini — followed by the buzzy US Open Honey Deuce and the viral Hugo spritz — took first place for the most-searched cocktail in the country, while dirty martinis placed fifth, lychee martinis took sixth lemon drop martinis fell at ninth.
Meanwhile, on-trend Americans searched for the viral “mob wife aesthetic” — marked by micro skirts, large fur coats and voluminous hair ‘dos — more than any other. “Brat” landed at fourth place on the style “aesthetic” list, while “office siren” placed seventh.
Fashion-forward users also searched for the “back in style” fads that saw a resurgence in 2024, “are skinny jeans back in style?” being the most-searched query after the snug-fitting denim was revived by Gen Zers this year.
Searches (Global)
Copa América
UEFA European Championship
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
India vs England
Liam Payne
Donald Trump
India vs Bangladesh
iPhone 16
Olympic Games Paris 2024
Catherine, Princess of Wales
News (Global)
U.S. Election
Excessive heat
Olympics
Hurricane Milton
台風 気象 情報 台風 第 10 号 (Japanese for “Typhoon Weather Information Typhoon No.10”)
We have now moved into the postseason schedule for the 2024 college football season where the rest of the calendar year and first month of 2025 will be filled with bowl games and the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. Conference championship weekend marks the true conclusion to the season that was, as most of the 134 FBS teams have played their final game with the same combination of players and coaches that they carried for much of the fall.
That’s not to say that we here at CBS Sports are done ranking teams. No, we will circle back after the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 20 for one final edition of the CBS Sports 134, our comprehensive ranking of every FBS team. But this is the penultimate update — a snapshot of how our voters view the entire college football landscape as we transition into the season of the coaching carousel, transfer portal and bowl games.
With only 18 teams in action over conference championship weekend, you won’t find many huge swings in the rankings, but there is some notable shuffling in response to those nine results. Georgia took over Texas’ spot at No. 2 after downing the Longhorns in an overtime thriller in the SEC Championship Game, while teams like Penn State (down two spots to No. 5) and SMU (down four spots to No. 10) also dropped following conference title game losses.
There is still no change at the top thanks to Oregon proving itself against the Big Ten’s best yet again and finishing the season with a 13-0 record as the only undefeated team at the FBS level. With Saturday night’s win, the conference’s newest power became the first team in Big Ten history to defeat Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State in the same season.
College football experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports contribute ballots each week, which are averaged together for our rankings. You can see the top 25 below and 26-134 on our rankings page.
1
Oregon
13-0
1
2
Georgia
11-2
5
3
Notre Dame
11-1
4
4
Texas
11-2
2
5
Penn State
11-2
3
6
Ohio State
10-2
7
7
Indiana
11-1
8
8
Tennessee
10-2
9
9
Boise State
12-1
10
10
SMU
11-2
6
11
Arizona State
11-2
11
12
Alabama
9-3
12
13
South Carolina
9-3
14
14
Ole Miss
9-3
15
15
Miami
10-2
13
16
Clemson
10-3
17
17
BYU
10-2
18
18
Iowa State
10-3
16
19
Army
11-1
23
20
Colorado
9-3
20
21
Illinois
9-3
21
22
UNLV
10-3
19
23
Syracuse
9-3
22
24
Memphis
10-2
26
25
Missouri
9-3
24
Biggest movers
No. 41 Marshall (+8): The Thundering Herd were underdogs heading down to Lafayette but played like favorites in an impressive 31-3 win against Louisiana. Marshall finished the year at 10-3, and though they are going through a coaching transition with Charles Huff off to Southern Miss and Tony Gibson taking over, the program seems to be in a good spot heading into 2025.
No. 50 Jacksonville State (+7): An eight-game winning streak was snapped in the final week of the regular season with a 19-17 loss to WKU, but our voters were quick to jump back on board after seeing the Gamecocks thrash the Hilltoppers in the rematch. After being WKU 52-12 in the Conference USA title game, JSU is off to the Cure Bowl to face MAC champion Ohio.
No. 42 Ohio (+5): Speaking of the Bobcats, Ohio also was a team that took a seemingly tight matchup and blew it open over conference championship weekend. Miami (OH) won the regular season meeting 30-20, but the Bobcats raced out to an early lead and never looked back in the conference title rematch, claiming the program’s first MAC title since 1968.
No. 19 Army (+4): The Black Knights have carried an impressive win count all season but lacked for the high-end wins and finally got their best win of the season in the AAC title game by beating Tulane, a team our voters have inside the top 30.
No. 22 UNLV (-3): This is just a small step back for UNLV after losing to top-10 Boise State. The Rebels finish the regular season with a 10-3 record and back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Mountain West, but they now move forward without Barry Odom, who accepted the head-coaching position at Purdue.
No. 34 Louisiana (-3): Injuries at the quarterback position derailed what appeared to be a conference championship path for Louisiana, but the season has still be considered a success. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 10-3 with the only regular season conference defeat coming by two points to South Alabama, but a 31-3 final score in the Sun Belt title game is worth a slight adjustment in the rankings.
No. 10 SMU (-4): Like the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, our voters were hesitant to install too much rankings punishment for the heartbreaking defeat in the ACC title game to Clemson. The Mustangs enter the CFP with an 11-2 record and a combined margin of defeat of just six points while also carrying the nation’s 11th best scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 17.7 points per game.
No. 78 Western Kentucky (-7): Last week’s rankings movement featured WKU moving up 18 spots after beating Jacksonville State in the final game of the regular season, so this adjustment from the voters taking some of that support back in the wake of a 40-point loss to that very same team in the Conference USA title game.
‘As soon as you use your looks, you’re objectifying yourself and no one will take you seriously’
Published Dec 10, 2024 • Last updated 23 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Paige Spiranac posted a reply to a viral tweet about women in sports broadcasting.Twitter
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Paige Spiranac fired back at a viral tweet slandering female sports broadcasters while outlining the vicious double-standard that many women in sports face.
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The popular golf influencer posted a video on Monday, going off on X user T.J. Moe for his incendiary tweet about seeing a group of women giving pre-game analysis before a college football tilt on ESPN.
“Who actually wants to watch three women stand around and talk about football? I do not,” Moe wrote with a screengrab of three women speaking during a segment on Saturday morning.
“Let me clarify: No one wants to listen to 3 women talk football. Men are better at it– it’s like asking cats to bark,” he added. “I issue no apology and no retracts.
“Most people agree with me, they’re just afraid to say it. Carry on with your outrage.”
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Among many others, Spiranac took issue with Moe’s comments.
The former college golfer explained how plenty of successful broadcasters and coaches did not play the sports they cover or coach past the high school level.
Then, she delved into the unfortunate cycle that women in sports must contend with.
I’m sure this take will provoke only kind comments and absolutely no one will tell me to shut up because of what I like to wear lol pic.twitter.com/6EsBpIQ25T
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“So, let’s break it down, you’re a woman who wants to work in the sports industry and you have a deep understanding of sports and you have a right to be there,” Spiranac said.
“However, you’ll never get the highest opportunities because men only wanna listen to other men talk about sports.”
She explained that this often forces women in the industry to rely on their looks to get ahead and the criticism that brings.
“So you use whatever else you have in your toolbox to get opportunities, maybe that’s your looks,” she added. “As soon as you use your looks, for example, you’re objectifying yourself and no one will take you seriously.”
Spiranac brought up the double-standard of the situation, citing golf sensation Nelly Korda posing for the coming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue – something the influencer also has done in the past – and saying that women often have to objectify themselves while marketing towards men.
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“Your counter is women can talk about women’s sports, but women’s sports don’t get the funding, which means they don’t get the eyeballs. And men wanna watch men play sports,” Spiranac said.
“Women try to market themselves outside their sport. Nelly Korda doing (Sports Illustrated), they’re condemned for even though men do the (ESPN) Body issue.
She closed the clip by encouraging women to be themselves, no matter what push back they receive.
“Wear what you wanna wear, say what you wanna say, do what you wanna do because no matter what you do, how you do it, you will always get push back and someone will always have something to say.
“So do what you want to do and keep pushing,” Spiranac closed the clip.
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Spiranac hasn’t been shy about standing up for herself against those critical of her for embracing her sexuality.
She recently fired back at critics for the double-standard and selective support of women.
Spiranac reposted a tweet about Sabrina Carpenter from September which complimented the pop singer for embracing her sexuality while reaching a mainly female audience.
“Sabrina Carpenter is genius for how she embraces her sexuality but still keeps women as her target audience,” read the tweet by another X user named Paige.
“Like how is she performing in lingerie and I still feel like it’s not for men at all? I can’t comprehend it, but I love it.”
Sabrina Carpenter performs at Outside Lands Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.AP Photo
Spiranac, who aims more for a male audience with her social-media content, replied: “I dislike how women pick and choose when it’s okay to support other women for embracing their sexuality depending on if it appears to be for the female or male gaze.
“Women should be able to embrace their sexuality if that’s what makes them feel empowered,” she continued. “One shouldn’t be called a genius while the other is called an attention whore for doing the same exact thing.”
I dislike how women pick and choose when it’s okay to support other women for embracing their sexuality depending on if it appears to be for the female or male gaze. Women should be able to embrace their sexuality if that’s what makes them feel empowered. One shouldn’t be called… https://t.co/5SKyeeLl4A
So, which venue is the home – and which one is the summer holiday bach – or crib, for the southern folk?
Kane Williamson departs on day three at Hagley Oval. Photo / Photosport
Hagley Oval is one of Christchurch’s great post-earthquake stories.
In 2011, Lancaster Park was condemned by the February 22 earthquake. 130 years after it was opened, the ground that hosted New Zealand’s test cricket debut in 1930 (40 test matches in total) and scores of other sporting events was no longer the centre of Canterbury’s sporting universe. Better was to come. Much better. And it had been planned well before the ground shook.
“We started looking back in the late 1990s to go back to a cricket-specific venue and Hagley ticked all the boxes really. This started in 1996-97 when Super Rugby came on board and Chris Doig [NZ Cricket CEO at the time] and I [formed] a bit of a team,” says Lee Robinson, chairman of the Canterbury Cricket Trust.
Make yourself at home. A full house at Hagley Oval in Christchurch for the first test of the 2024/25 season. Photo / George Heard
“Looking at all the options, we kept coming back to Hagley because it had that tradition. The trees had been planted for a cricket oval back in 1851.”
Hagley Oval may be a new test venue but, as Robinson alludes to, its history goes back to an anniversary match in the middle of the 1800s to mark a year since the founding of the settlement of Christchurch.
“The England settlers came here on those four ships and one of the first things they did was create a cricket ground just a wee bit further south from where Hagley Oval is at the moment,” says Robinson.
Just over a decade after the ground held its first match, it was hosting first-class cricket between Canterbury and Otago, in early 1865. The following year, a pavilion was installed. The Canterbury Cricket Umpires Association Pavilion is still at the ground today and is thought to be New Zealand’s oldest sports building.
Hagley Oval during the lunch break of day one in the first test between the Black Caps and England. Photo / George Heard
Hagley hosted its first test in 2014, the Boxing Day test against Sri Lanka. Current England coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum scored 195 (and had figures of 1-0-3-0) in a big win for the hosts. Ten years later, the venue is iconic. A purpose-built test venue with a nod to the game’s roots. And the Roots approved.
“I’ll never forget, you know, Matt Root, who is Joe Root’s father, just saying to me ‘Look, this is fantastic for our family. We come out to New Zealand in our winter, we can get up in the morning, go and have a coffee, walk to the cricket’ through our Botanic Gardens,” says Robinson.
The travelling Barmy Army are also big fans of the Christchurch ground.
Zak Crawley signing the bat of a young Black Caps supporter at Hagley Oval during the first test. Photo / George Heard
“Hagley Oval is just ridiculous. It’s like walking through your sort of local park, and suddenly there’s an international test ground in the middle of it,” says Barmy Army General, Chuck Adolphy.
A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, appears to show the England team travelling to the ground on Lime scooters on the morning of the first test.
Bus ❌ Taxis ❌ Electric scooters ✅
The @englandcricket team arriving at the Hagley Oval in style 🛴🤣
“It’s just an easy thing to do. The bars and the hospitality industry love it because people just walk through town and just enjoy it,” says Robinson.
“What we have got is something that has that Village Green approach to cricket. Take the kids along, sit on the bank, take the deck chairs and picnic baskets along, that’s what Hagley provides.”
Hagley Oval on a 30C day while the Black Caps play England in the first test of the summer. Photo / George Heard
Hagley can also provide a challenge leaving after a full day of sun and fun.
One Barmy Army supporter broke his arm falling down the bank at Hagley. It was unclear how much “fun” he’d had beforehand.
Robinson, who was recently made a New Zealand Cricket life member for his work, including the upgrade of Hagley Oval, says the governing body was founded in Christchurch and until recently was based in the Garden City. The high-performance centre is still located at Lincoln University.
“If people would like to refer to it [Hagley Oval] as the home of cricket, we won’t say no,” says Robinson.
The Basin is a lot more forthright about claiming the title. The ground’s own handle on X (formerly Twitter) declares itself “the home of cricket in New Zealand”.
The Basin Reserve, looking back at the Museum Stand (left) and the R.A. Vance Stand (right) during a break in play. Photo / Photosport
The case for the Wellington venue is based more on the historical acts that it has hosted, and there’s no denying it has seen some of New Zealand Cricket’s finest hours.
McCullum’s 302 against India (beoming first New Zealander to make a test triple century), Martin Crowe’s 299 – and his world-record partnership of 467 with Andrew Jones (v Sri Lanka 1991) – the first test win against England in 1978 and many more.
Brendon McCullum celebrates bringing up a triple century against India at the Basin Reserve in 2014. Photo / NZME
It hosted New Zealand’s second test – and therefore, when Lancaster Park was decommissioned as an international venue, the Basin became New Zealand’s oldest test venue. It also houses the New Zealand Cricket Museum in a magnificently restored stand.
There is undoubtedly a soft spot for the ground among most New Zealand cricket lovers. Some softer than others.
“I do believe that every time you come to the Basin Reserve, you feel like summer’s officially started, with the greatest respect to Hagley Oval and … the lovely people in Christchurch, but there’s something about this place,” said Scotty Stevenson during TVNZ’s coverage – instantly disrespecting Hagley Oval and the lovely people in Christchurch.
He was at the time lobbing up the gentlest of full tosses to New Zealand Cricket CEO and overt Wellingtonian, Scott Weenink.
“I always have to be careful that I’m not too biased towards the Basin Reserve. But it really is a very, very special ground,” said Weenink.
Tom Blundell is bowled out on the second day of the second test. Photo / Photosport
The purist’s love affair with the Basin Reserve was probably enhanced by the fact that for many years it was New Zealand’s only true cricket ground. Lancaster Park, Eden Park, Carisbrook and McLean Park are/were all dual-purpose and slightly (or woefully) misshapen grounds – sharing their seasons with rugby. The Basin also hosts some winter codes – but it is, in the main, a cricket ground.
Since the early 1990s they’ve had company in that space. Seddon Park, University Oval in Dunedin, Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and, of course, historic Hagley Oval. Each are true cricket grounds – admittedly of varying sizes, so one of the Basin’s previously unique features is no longer unique. A long-lived history isn’t unique to the Basin either – Eden Park can rival that.
First test win? Eden Park. Lowest test total? Eden Park.
Success? The Basin has seen the home side prevail on 23 occasions with a success rate of 33%. The Black Caps’ success rate at Hagley is double that – admittedly over a much shorter period and in a very different era. But they win more matches in the 03.
The debate will continue for many summers to come – and rightly so – but with every test, Hagley Oval is becoming more and more … homely.
Touch champs
St Bede’s College of Christchurch are national touch champions after a 5-4 win against Westlake Boys High School at the National Secondary Schools tournament in Rotorua at the weekend.
St Bede’s had earlier defeated Hamilton Boys’ High School in a high-scoring semifinal (11-7) and Otago Boys’ High School in the quarters (7-6).
St Bede’s College, 2024 National Secondary Schools Touch Championship winners. Photo / Facebook
Nelson College were beaten by Westlake in the other semifinal, finishing 4th overall.
Columba College of Dunedin were pipped 4-2 by Hamilton Girls’ High in the girls’ competition, bringing their unbeaten run to an end. Both Columba and their local rivals St Hilda’s (Dunedin) had come through pool play unbeaten before they met in their semifinal.
Columba defeated St. Hilda’s 4-2 to progress to the final.
In the mixed competition, St Andrew’s College also fell one short – going down 11-7 to Mahurangi College in their final.
South Otago High School made an impressive run to the semifinals before finishing fourth, while Rangiora High School, Rolleston College and Lincoln High School all finished in the top 10.
Party poopers
Despite some raucous hometown support, Canterbury’s top golfers couldn’t get it done at the recent Interprovincial championships at Russley and Harewood Golf Clubs in Christchurch.
The 2024 event saw the introduction of a “stadium” that overlooked the ninth and 18th greens at Russley. The platform encouraged a party atmosphere with food, music and refreshments.
Spectators overlook the 18th green at the 2024 Interprovincial Golf Championships at Russley Golf Club in Christchurch.
Russley general manager Tony Marriott told the Herald that around 2000 spectators attended the event, above what would usually be expected.
Marriott says the players and the spectators gave overwhelmingly positive feedback to the innovation and says the bar has been set for future events.
The Canterbury women had the local crowd making plenty of noise but ultimately lost narrowly to Auckland in their semifinal (3-2).
Auckland were then outclassed by a young North Harbour side (3.5-1.5) in the final.
The “party hole” overlooking the ninth and 18th green at Russley Golf Club during the 2024 Interprovincial golf championships.
Canterbury also lost the semifinal of the men’s competition to Bay of Plenty (4-1). Only Cooper Moore – the national amateur champion – was able to get a win for the red and blacks.
Bay of Plenty then lost the final to defending champions Auckland – 3-2.
Canterbury had beaten Auckland in pool play on Friday and were looking likely to make the final, before Bay of Plenty spoiled the party.
Heading into the 2024 season, there were rumblings among college football observers that BYU head coach Kalani Sitake might be on the hot seat.
His Cougars had stumbled down the stretch in 2023, losing five of their last six games to end up 5-7 and miss out on a bowl game.
Fast forward a few months and the tone is completely different.
For much of the season, Sitake was in the conversation for national coach of the year honors as BYU won its first nine games on its way to a 10-2 season and a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.
Instead of having to worry about getting let go, Sitake had his contract officially extended, a move that was announced on Saturday.
BYU seniors Connor Pay and Tyler Batty definitely weren’t surprised.
“He deserves it, for sure,” Pay said during Monday’s press teleconference. “He’s deserved it for a long time. I’m glad they finally got it done.”
Pay has played for Sitake since 2020 and said that experience has led him to clear conclusions on Sitake’s value.
“I don’t think there is a better man to lead BYU,” Pay said. “All you have to do is spend a few minutes with him and you can just tell that he resonates everything that BYU represents. As a player, I’ve gotten to be around that leadership for the last four-and-a-half years, and have a living representation of the man I want to be one day. It’s easy to have the right desires to do what is best for the team when you have a leader like that.”
Pay applauded Sitake for his dedication to the university and promoting the ideals of BYU.
“He has turned down a lot of money and a lot of other opportunities to stay here because he loves this school and loves us as players,” Pay said. “We don’t know any details, but I hope the school is rewarding him for that loyalty and everything he has done for the program.
“We’ve had three 10-win seasons in the last five years are there is a very short list of coaches in the country who have done that and I promise you he is the lowest paid one. I’m really glad they were able to get this done and I hope he is here for decades more.”
Batty said that this group of Cougar seniors is proud of how they developed under Sitake’s direction and turned it into wins on the field.
“Each successful season that we’ve had has been a reflection of Kalani and the way he pours his heart and soul into this program,” Batty said. “He’s moving it in the right direction. I’m super-excited about that extension. It’s huge. I know that any guy who has played for Coach Kalani would also be super-excited because they know him and know the way he operates. BYU will be in good hands for the foreseeable future, which will be awesome.”
For his part, Sitake didn’t make a big deal about the extension although he did acknowledge that it had been part of a whirlwind week which included early signing day last week, the Valero Alamo Bowl invitation on Sunday and the opening of the transfer portal.
“Since our last game against Houston, there’s been a lot going on,” Sitake said. “As the head coach, obviously my contract is something I wanted to get done, so I’m happy that I’m sitting in this position where I’m going to be the coach for a long time.”
He said from a management standpoint he can now turn his attention to trying keep the coaching staff intact.
“I’m trying to find ways to keep making investments in the program so we can get our players in a better position to have success,” Sitake said. “The administration made a commitment to me that that is really important and it is high on the priority list, so we are going to be working on that. I’m looking forward to get that done as soon as possible.”
Eddie Khayat, a York County Sports Hall of Famer who played and coached with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as part of a near five-decade career in football, died Friday evening in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 89.
Khayat played 10 seasons in the NFL and was best known as a starting defensive tackle with the Eagles’ 1960 NFL championship team. He also served as the franchise’s head coach during the 1971 and 1972 seasons as part of a three-decade coaching career.
As coaching took Khayat around the country, he made his home and raised his family in York, leaving an indellible mark on the local sports lanscape. He was instrumental in the continued development of the York Special Olympics, most notably hosting an annual celebrity golf tournament with former Eagles teammate George Tarasovic. The tournament raised nearly $1 million over its 30-plus years and was renamed in its founders’ honor in 2015.
Edward Michel “Eddie” Khayat was born Sept. 14, 1935, in Moss Point, Mississippi. He starred at Moss Point High School and Tulane University. After first cracking the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 1957, he joined the Eagles in 1958 and worked his way into the starting lineup. Philadelphia went 11-2 in 1960 and won the NFL title over the Green Bay Packers. Khayat remained with the Eagles through 1961, returned to Washington from 1962-63, came back to Philadelphia from 1964-65 and capped his 10-year career with the Boston Patriots in 1966.
Khayat’s coaching career began as the New Orleans Saints’ defensive line coach from 1967-70. He then initially joined the Eagles’ staff as an assistant but was named head coach three games into the 1971 season after Jerry Williams was fired. Khayat’s short tenure at the helm included a draconian hair and dress code that was unpopular among players. After leaving Philadelphia, Khayat served as a defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions (two stints), Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Colts, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers between 1973 and 1993. He also had head coaching stints with the Arena Football League’s New Orleans Night (1991), Nashville Kats (1997) and Carolina Cobras (2003).
In addition to the York County Sports Hall of Fame, Khayat is a member of the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame and the Mississippi State Hall of Fame. He and the rest of the 1960 Eagles were inducted collectively into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Khayat is survived by his wife, Deborah, and his two sons, Edward Jr. and Bill. Bill Khayat was a three-sport standout at York Catholic and is in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame; he went on to set collegiate records as a tight end at Duke University before coaching at both the NFL and college levels. Eddie Khayat is also survived by his brother, Robert, a former Pro Bowl kicker for Washington and presently the Chancelor Emeritus of the University of Mississippi.
Memorial service information will be announced at a later date.
Not so long ago, sports and entertainment were separate: each had their own distinct place in our minds.
In the streaming era, that has become somewhat blurred. If anything, we now have to filter through all the types of content available to entertain us, rather than having to search from a limited range of offerings.
Sport is now a form of entertainment, competing against a broad range of direct and indirect competitors who are essentially fighting over their slice of the cake in this attention economy.
Sports and sports teams have had to adapt quickly to this changing era through different methods, such as how they use social media.
Sport, as a whole, ticks those four boxes quite well (but only when it is being played). Just look at the Matildas’ World Cup phenomenon in 2023.
Our need to be entertained is now constant, even hourly. Previously, this presented a challenge for sports: how to keep and maintain connection with audiences when sport wasn’t being played?
Content competitors, such as YouTube, have something for us to watch 24/7.
Sports and sporting teams then realised they had to start to provide content when games weren’t being played to keep relevance and resonance with their markets. And do so with the four E’s in mind.
Say hello to your brand new social media feed.
Early on this content was hit and miss. But in the past few years it has picked up to the point where the four Es are being ticked off by most teams.
This engagement can all draw in extra money via ticket sales, memberships, merchandise and experience packages, such as Hawthorn’s social media-fuelled financial boost last season.
There has also been assistance from successful fly-on-the-wall documentary series on everything from the Australian cricket team, to Formula 1, to cycling, which have deepened resonance between brand and consumer.
So how to judge success in this area? The ultimate compliment of social media content is the share. And some teams, such as Greater Western Sydney in the AFL, are getting more and more.
Success, right? Maybe, but there are other criteria to consider.
Brand personality and connection
Success in marketing is rarely binary. Another important dimension to why sports have started to have more fun with their social media feed relates to brand personality and brand connection.
These theories are the bedrock behind how we value brands, and how brands have been slowly moving away from formal to fun.
We connect with brands that fit our personalities. Have an outdoorsy identification? Say hello to SUVs like Ford Ranger, or clothing like Kathmandu. Sophistication? Apple. Beachy? Billabong.
However, sport has a treacherous path to walk on this.
Ultimately, the core content is the sporting contest. If it veers away from the on-field battles and results too much, it runs the risk of losing connection with the loyal supporters who become confused over what the brand stands for.
There are also risks through simple human error and poor decision-making by those who run the social media accounts – the Monty Panesar tweet by Cricket Australia in 2013 being one case in point.
More recently, after the 2024 AFL draft, St Kilda was left red-faced after sending a message to a wrong number instead of a player they had just drafted. The club at least had fun with their blunder, posting their mistake on social media.
And of course there are numerous examples on social media where individual athletes, via secondary association, such as Stephanie Rice’s tweet, can result in brand damage.
At the same time, silence in the digital era means losing connection, relevance, and eventually value.
And if sports truly want to say they represent all, and not just the core fans, they need to find ways to grow that connection.
The new AFL team Tasmania Devils – set to enter the league in 2028 – are a good example of a club that is doing that, maintaining a balance between functional offering and entertainment.
A whole new ball game
Content is here to stay and sporting clubs are still learning how to use this strategy effectively. If they stop now, they will become a secondary content provider in our minds rather than a primary one.
A decade or so ago, most sports and teams used social media primarily to relay match day updates and results, news and merchandise opportunities.
Now, social media is as integral as any other marketing strategy, and the digital environment is fought over just like teams do on the field, court or pitch.
