Champions League Is Back: More Teams, More Money...More Everything

Plus, basketball is expanding its reach—which cities are ready to host the next party?

September 18, 2024

Sports. Culture. Curated Daily.

The Man City courtroom drama is finally ready to unfold. The Sky Blues, with a legal team as stacked as Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven, are charged with too many financial violations to count, and the fallout could be unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Somewhere, Ryan Murphy is already working on a script.

We’ve talked enough about Nike’s downfall, so what about their eventual comeback story? After all, the shape of a swoosh is initially a dip, but it’s followed by a long, long rise.

NY Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant, or “Big Ellie” as her friends call her, still runs the world. She makes it look easy, but don’t get it twisted—being the baddest mascot in the world comes with a lot of work.

Travis Kelce’s endorsement value is double that of any NFL player not named Patrick Mahomes. We’ll let you guess why.

Collectors have identified an infamous pair of Air Jordan 1s that MJ himself once wore around his neck for a photoshoot. They sold at auction for $325K. Between this and his old house finally selling, the Jordan market has never been hotter.

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Do you hear that sound? THE CHAMPIONNNNNNS. That’s right Champions League soccer has returned with 36 clubs vying for the cup and a brand new format that’s confusing fans across the world.

In soccer, as in everything, cash is king, and the Champions League is the biggest financial driver in the sport, especially for clubs whose bids stem from smaller leagues. Switzerland’s Young Boys can basically outspend the entirety of their home league combined with their share of UCL earnings.

But more money, more problems. The UCL is a cash cow for the sport, but it puts a strain on players who are already stretched thin by grueling schedules—could a strike be on the horizon? Man City’s Rodri sure thinks so.

Oh, and along with a new format, they updated the song. Don’t worry, they still yell THE CHAMPIONNNNNS at the end.

@tntsports

The updated Champions League anthem makes it's debut 🎶 #UCL #AstonVilla #ChampionsLeague

Even the broadcast is getting a new look, with David Beckham set to host alt casts of matches through the final stretch of the tournament. The ManningCast is calling their lawyers as we speak.

The Champions League broadcasters were already crushing it—CBS’s “UEFA Champions League Today” might be the best kept secret in sports television, with banter on par with any show in the American sports media landscape. How can you not be romantic about football?

With the record-shattering WNBA season coming to a close and the NBA season on the horizon, we’ve got basketball on the brain. What does basketball have on the brain? Expansion. The W just teased what we hope is several new teams coming soon. The Golden State Valkyries tip off play next year, is Portland next?

They’re not alone. The NBA has been linked to potential expansion for the better part of a decade, with teams in Las Vegas and Seattle both largely seen as matters of “not if but when.” When might be coming, and soon. 

It’s not just more teams, but more global interest. The trailer for Netflix’s new docuseries “Starting 5” just dropped, and the Harlem Globetrotters are back on TV. The business of basketball is booming.

Beloved NBA big Boban Marjanovic is heading to the EuroLeague to play for Turkish club Fenerbahce. While his deal includes a potential out should an NBA team request his services, it’s worth celebrating him now just in case this is the end. 

Boban, just know you were one of the best—in basketball, in commercials for State Farm and Goldfish, in getting killed by John Wick.