📰🏟️ Et tu, Ippei?

Good afternoon. The top sports stories of the day are at your fingertips. Just keep scrolling.

—Kyle

1) University of Utah nearing landmark private-equity deal

The Utes are reportedly finalizing a first-of-its-kind agreement with PE firm Otro Capital to create a for-profit entity that would operate the school’s athletics business.

• The deal also includes a capital infusion of ~$500M from Otro and prominent Utah donors, who would essentially be purchasing a stake in the for-profit entity.
• Utah would retain majority ownership and be the sole decision maker for the new entity, called Utah Brands & Entertainment.
• If completed, the deal would mark the first college sports-private equity partnership in history.

Inside the landmark PE agreement

2) Ohtani, A’ja Wilson win AP Athletes of the Year

LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani won his fourth AP Male Athlete of the Year award yesterday, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods for most all-time. 

• Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson was awarded her first AP Female Athlete of the Year award earlier today, becoming just the fifth basketball player ever to win (a list that includes Caitlin Clark).
• Both Ohtani and Wilson won MVP awards in their respective leagues last season, and also led their teams to championships in the MLB/WNBA.

3) MLB free agency heats up

Two of the biggest deals this MLB offseason were signed yesterday. 

• First, the Dodgers signed former Mets closer Edwin Díaz to a 3-yr, $69M deal making him the highest-paid reliever in baseball (by annual value).
• Then, the Phillies handed slugger Kyle Schwarber a 5-yr, $150M contract, reuniting the NL home run leader with the team he’s played for the past four seasons.
• Several high-profile free agents are still available, including OF Kyle Tucker, IF Alex Bregman, 1B Pete Alonso, and OF Cody Bellinger.

What’s next after Schwarber, Díaz deals

4) NHL could pull players out of Olympics due to unsafe ice

NHL players are set to play in the Olympic Winter Games in just a few short months for the first time in 12 years. But their participation has been threatened by several factors.

• Following delays, construction of the main hockey arena is now set to be finished on February 2, or just three days before the women’s tournament begins.
• Additionally, all Olympic arenas will host three games/day for nearly three weeks straight, challenging the resiliency of the ice.
• NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly this week said if players feel the quality of the ice is unsafe, then the league will pull out of the Olympics.

Inside the Olympic hockey drama

5) Ohtani gambling scandal to be adapted for TV

A TV project regarding Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for LA Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani who stole ~$17M from his boss to fund a major gambling habit, is currently in development at Starz, per The Athletic ($).

• In all, Mizuhara placed over $300M in bets between 2021-2024—siphoning funds from Ohtani’s personal bank account as needed—and racked up nearly $41M in debt.
• The new show will be written and run by Alex Convery (Air), and directed by Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift). The cast and release date is currently unknown. 

Dive into Hollywood's latest bet

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