The thing about Greg Sankey is…
1. The Thing About Greg Sankey
I’m obviously frustrated with the Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12 right now. Not only did the schools in those conferences vote to align with Fox Sports on the Crown, but the rumor going around is that their league offices pressured their men’s basketball programs to play in the Crown even in instances where they weren’t contractually obligated. Why not let schools make their own decisions? Business relationships is the explanation. And isn’t that the point of college sports?
Say what you will about Greg Sankey, but the SEC’s primary goal isn’t to create a good product or make the most money. The SEC’s primary goal is to win. This is part of what makes the SEC so often loathsome to non-SEC fans: Sankey aggressively pushes for things like multiple SEC automatic bids to the College Football Playoff. Sure, this will make them the most money, but that’s not the point. The point is to win.
Contrast that to Brett Yormark, whose primary goal seems to be to make a splash. Contrast it to Val Ackerman, whose primary goal seems to be maintaining a brand where existing Big East fans feel comfortable. Contrast it to Tony Petitti, whose CBS Sports Network past set him up well for the Big Ten’s eternal Big Ten Network obsession. Of course Yormark loves the Crown’s substance-less flash. Of course Ackerman feels beholden to a potentially punitive TV partner. Of course Petitti thinks of sports as a collection of TV contracts. Meanwhile, Greg Sankey is trying to get SEC schools to win.
2. Why a Texas Sympathizer Wanted Chris Beard at A&M
Texas fans should hate Chris Beard. The guy was perfectly set up to succeed at Texas. He was the most supported men’s basketball coach Texas has ever had. Whatever your views on his domestic violence incident, he blew the opportunity, and it left Texas up shit creek. Yes, Texas has made its own mistakes, but it made the perfect hire at the perfect time, and Chris Beard blew it for the Longhorns.
Unfortunately, not as many Texas fans realize this as should. I’d been hoping that the ones who don’t would get it a little more once they saw Beard in maroon and white.
3. Is Rob Manfred Juicing the Whole League?
I don’t know if the Rays have had a home game yet, but the A’s have, and balls were flying out of Sutter Health Park. This, on top of the torpedo bats. This, on top of the special balls they only use when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are batting. (The Judge theory was built on some statistical crimes, but the concept is believable.)
Does Manfred want all the records to fall? Is Manfred looking for the first 100/100 season? Is he looking for it out of Brent Rooker?
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