📰🏟️ Clown show

Good morning. In today’s edition: The proposed law that could shape the future of college sports, old-heads in the MLB, and much more.

—Peter & Kyle

On the clock: This newsletter takes ~3.53 minutes to read (940 words).

Enjoying these emails? Help us grow by forwarding one to a friend.

Did someone you know do this^ to you? Subscribe here for free.

🏛️ CONGRESS

This proposed law could shape the future of college sports

Move over, Belichick: There’s a new most-important bill in college sports.

The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, the most comprehensive bill connected to college athletics in decades, is set to be put up for a vote in the US House of Representatives, after two House committees gave it the thumbs-up along party lines yesterday (Republicans for, Democrats against).

The measure, which still has to pass the Rules Committee but could make it to the full floor as soon as September, would standardize name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules across states in the wake of the House v. NCAA settlement, among other things.

The NCAA and power conferences are pretty stoked

The institution-friendly SCORE Act would grant the NCAA antitrust protections, while also stipulating that athletes not be classified as employees, stripping their ability to collectively bargain.

Some of the bill’s other provisions include:

• Athletes would be able to profit off their NIL, but a college sports governing body would be able to set certain rules and restrictions surrounding these deals.
• The NCAA, College Sports Commission, and conferences would be protected against challenges to compensation rules, eligibility rules, and transfer rules. However, some athletes’ rights protections remain, such as a minimum for the cap on revenue-sharing compensation and a guarantee players can transfer at least once without penalty.
• If a school has coaches on their payroll who earn more than $250k/year, they have to offer certain medical benefits and sponsor a minimum of 16 sports.
• Increased regulations around sports agents and their relationships with athletes.

But…Pushback is mounting, with hangups mostly around the antitrust exemption and eliminating the ability for collective bargaining. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) dubbed the SCORE Act the “national championship of all heists,” while players’ associations of several pro sports leagues released a joint statement voicing opposition to the bill. 

SCOREboard: The measure is likely to pass the Republican-controlled House, but would require the approval of seven Democratic senators to clear the Senate—a bar analysts say it’s unlikely to meet in its current form.

Elsewhere…Questions downstream from the House v. NCAA settlement—like where do NIL collectives fit in?—continue to be answered as court proceedings play out.

🔥 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTICLE

The must-have routine for any golfer

Hours under the sun take their toll on your skin. Luckily, the Golfer’s Bundle from Particle provides hydrated, protected, and healthier-looking skin without the hassle.

• Particle Invisible Sunscreen™ prevents sunburn and long-term damage with no greasy/white residue
• Particle Face Cream makes skin look and feel smoother, while reducing dark spots and sagging skin—works within days

If you don’t look and feel better after 30 days, you get your money back. No questions asked.

⏱️ CATCH UP QUICK

Headlines de la semaine

🏈 NFL training camp officially kicked off. All 32 teams have now opened camp, after the Falcons and Steelers became the last to do so yesterday—meaning conversation has turned to the handful of top players who aren’t participating due to contract disputes. They include Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (last year’s NFL sack leader), Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, Cowboys DE Micah Parsons, and Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart. However, the list doesn’t include many second-round picks who had previously been holding out for more guaranteed money. Of the 30 such players who were unsigned a week ago, just one is still without a contract today—Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, who was arrested for domestic violence on July 12.

⚾ Rich is not quite over the Hill. The Kansas City Royals called up SP Rich Hill from Triple-A to start against the Cubs on Tuesday, where he allowed a respectable three runs across 5 IP against the league’s best offense. The appearance means Hill has now played for 14 different MLB teams, tying the all-time record set by SP Edwin Jackson. At 45 years and 133 days old, Hill is also the oldest pitcher to appear in an MLB game since Jamie Moyer in 2012.

🥊 Congress could shake up the boxing world. A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers introduced a bill yesterday to update federal regulations around pro boxing for the first time since 2000. Unlike other sports, Congress has had direct oversight of boxing regulations since the 1950s to help protect the sport from organized crime. Congressional lawmakers’ latest proposal would allow the creation of alternative organizations to the four sanctioning bodies that currently oversee boxing. The measure is supported by TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC and WWE, which launched a new boxing venture earlier this year.

💬 WORD ON THE STREET

Overheard

"Absolute clown show."

A Maryland fire department is in hot water after flooding a local baseball field because a stray foul ball damaged a pickup truck parked by the station.

Water you doing, bro? Players on the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, a collegiate summer team, posted a video showing a fire hose unleashing gallons of water onto their field, reportedly in retaliation for the errant hit.

• The July 17 incident “created a pond in center,” leading to a canceled game that night. 
• Their next home game two days later was also scrapped “due to rain and field conditions.”

After drying out, the Thunderbolts filed a formal complaint with local Maryland authorities. Fire department officials issued an apology and confirmed one of their trucks was used in the incident, which is under investigation.

📰 NEWS

What else is happening

• The Washington Commanders and local DC officials reached an agreement on amended deal terms surrounding the team's new $3.7B stadium. The news comes a few days after President Trump threatened to interfere in the deal unless the Commanders changed their name back to the Redskins.
• Fenway Park workers are set to go on strike at noon on Friday, should a new proposal not be submitted by the ballpark’s food service and facilities provider Aramark prior.
• The Rockies signed Oklahoma high-school shortstop Ethan Holliday, the #4 pick in last week’s draft, to a contract that includes a $9M signing bonus—the highest in league history for a high schooler.
• Venus Williams, 45, became the oldest woman to win a pro tennis singles match in over two decades. 
• JPMorgan released the 10th annual edition of its Sports Rights Almanac. Front Office Sports has the takeaways.

🔥 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONLINE PILATES CLASSES

Sacred ground, cultural immersion: Cambodia adventure

Join Lesley Logan for a life-changing cultural journey—perfect for athletes and Pilates newcomers alike. The retreat is October 12-17 in Siem Reap, and combines gentle movement sessions, mindset workshops, and sacred Temple exploration.

• 🌄 Includes: beginner-friendly sessions, Angkor Temple tours, shared accommodations, all meals, and airport transport
• 💪 Retreat close to the legendary Angkor Fitness, a classic old-school gym rife with culture

🤔 TRIVIA

Just throwing it out there

You already know that Rich Hill on Tuesday became the oldest pitcher to appear in an MLB game since Jamie Moyer in 2012.

But can you name the oldest player to ever appear in an MLB game?

🌐 WEB GEMS

Interesting things to click

⚾ Explore: Jeff Passan’s ultimate MLB trade deadline preview. Teams have until 6 pm ET on July 31 to finish wheeling and dealing (if any do at all; like we covered on Tuesday it’s been a pretty slow year).

🏈 Worth a read: Inside the NFLPA’s meltdown.

🧠 Fun fact: The Colorado Rockies snapped a 220-game streak without a shutout win—the third longest in MLB history—after turning in a 6-0 victory over the Cardinals yesterday.

🟣 Balance: Each day, Tangle breaks down the biggest political story with real depth—and gives you the left, right, and center takes. Read Tangle and make up your own mind.*

*A message from our partners

🤔 ANSWER

Satchel Paige, who pitched in an MLB game in 1965 at the spry age of 59 years, 80 days