Big Announcement Inside

Happy Tuesday, sports culture enthusiasts. We’ve got a very special announcement. Our newsletter has become sentient. 

@offball.news

We’ve been keeping a secret… #fyp #sports #newsletter

That’s right, I’m putting a face behind (under?) the OffBall Daily name. That name is Ashtyn Butuso (mine). I’ve actually been “ghostwriting” this thing for the better part of a year, and I’m getting my call up to the big leagues. The TL;DR about me is that I’ve worked in sports for my whole adult life. I’ve been at places like Pac-12 Network (RIP), Google, Rain Delay Media (where I produced Henrik Lundqvist’s “Club 30” podcast), and co-founded Flagrant Magazine. All of that to say I love the culture of sports—and I love talking about it with all of you. 

But expect no major changes; you’re still getting the same newsletter, just with a little more of what we in the biz like to call “perspective.” Every morning, I’ll be delivering you what I consider to be the best of sports culture.

On Tuesdays, we’ll have a special section, which we’re calling “Go Off.” It’s still going to be very OffBall—positive, vibey, insightful—but think more op ed-y. Also, my friend Daniel-Yaw Miller, writer of our pesky little brother newsletter, SportsVerse, will be joining me from time to time, and sometimes even going rogue himself. 

I’ve been a fan since I could walk and talk (but I promise to remain impartial and agnostic here), and I understand how powerful sports can be in community building—or even just a daily dose of serotonin. I hope you enjoy the ride, because you’re stuck with me! (For legal purposes, that is not true).

…they said they want Stan Verrett and Neil Everett back (on TV). The former SportsCenter hosts, who were at the SC desk from 2009 until 2023, announced they’ll have a Twitch show together—airing Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Payton Talbott doesn’t care what you think of his crop tops or stripper poles or his pal Frank Ocean. And might we suggest you stop speculating about his personal life because he’s paid to beat people up. 

Caitlin Clark from the logo? Caitlin Clark is a logo. Last night, Nike dropped Caitlin’s logo ahead of her apparel and signature shoe drop. The full apparel collection will drop October 1, and the shoe release is slated for 2026.  

Baseball isn’t baseball without an organ. White Sox organist Nancy Faust basically invented walk-up songs and revolutionized the game in the process. For over 40 years, she poked fun at opposing players through music. Even when it was TMI. 

Stewie merch is almost here. After she posted her Stew York hat, fans demanded they get one too. And since she’s a merciful queen that rules with a generous fist, she was like “Ok.” The Stew York collection drops tomorrow.