📰🏟️ Zuckerberg + Seahawks
Plus: Big 12 strikes first-ever PE deal…
1) Big 12 strikes first-ever private equity deal
The Big 12 conference presidents have officially agreed to a long-discussed private capital deal with PE firms RedBird and Weatherford Capital.
- Their new 5-yr pact is the first publicized private-equity deal in major college sports history.
- It includes an infusion of $12.5M+ to drive Big 12 development and growth, with PE firms expecting a certain return.
- These firms hold no ownership in the conference, and the deal won’t change the Big 12’s operations or governance, per commissioner Brett Yormark.
Private equity enters college sports
2) NBA’s Eastern Conference is a dogfight
The Pistons won last night to keep their playoff hopes alive, meaning all 4 1st-round series in the East will go at least 6 games—which hasn't happened since the 1st round became best-of-7 (2003).
- In the West, the Rockets beat the Lakers last night to narrow their deficit to 2-3, becoming the 16th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after being down 0-3.
- Tonight’s action features a trio of Game 6s: the Knicks (3-2) vs. Hawks, Celtics (3-2) vs. 76ers, and Timberwolves (3-2) vs. Nuggets.
3) Zuckerberg, Cook interested in buying Seahawks
At least 4 potential buyers have reportedly expressed interest in buying the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, who went up for sale 10 days after winning Super Bowl LX in February.
- The list includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook, per FrontOfficeSports.
- Analysts say the Seahawks will likely fetch between $8B and $10B+, which would break the NFL record set in 2023 (Commanders; $6.05B).
- Other teams have sold minority stakes since then, with the Dolphins last month selling 1% at a reported $12.5B valuation.
Silicon Valley is coming for Seattle
4) White Sox slugger Murakami hits HRs—and not much else
Japanese rookie 1B Munetaka Murakami, who Chicago signed in the offseason, enters today tied with Yankees superstar Aaron Judge for the most homers in the MLB (12).
- Murakami also hasn’t hit any 2Bs or 3Bs, making him the first player since at least 1900 with 10+ HRs before any other kind of extra-base hit to begin his career.
- Overall, ~61% of Murakami’s plate appearances have been homers, strikeouts, or walks—higher than the all-time record for a full MLB season (58.8%).
- His .939 OPS also ranks among the top hitters in the league this season.
The ultimate three-true-outcome hitter
5) LIV establishes new board after Saudis pull funding
The breakaway LIV Golf league announced a new board this morning, after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund confirmed it’s pulling funding after the 2026 season.
- The PIF has invested $5+ billion in LIV Golf since its first tournament in June 2022, including a reported ~$100M/month on operations this year.
- LIV’s new board says it’s working to secure other financial partners for the league beyond 2026.
- At the same time, multiple LIV players have reportedly reached out to the PGA Tour to explore a potential path back, though it’s unclear how lenient the PGA will be.
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