Welcome to the Sunday 7 (actually Sunday 8, but who’s counting)…
Hope all is well. Coming to you from my hometown of Washington, D.C. as we gather to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday (and fight all the traffic for the UFC fight at the White House)…
A decision by a state court judge in Lubbock County, Texas, rocked the sports world this week; I look at it from a couple different angles. I also analyze a couple NFL contract extensions, one that brought me deja vu and one of the most important player in the league. And I discuss the Knicks who, by the time you read this, may have won the NBA Championship.
Hope all is well. Coming to you from Washington D.C., where we're celebrating my mother's 90th birthday. Big week all around.
A state court judge in Lubbock, Texas just shook college sports to its foundation. Brendan Sorsby placed roughly 9,000 bets as a student-athlete — including on his own team — and the NCAA issued a permanent ban. Then came the lawyers. Then came a two-game suspension instead. I've been watching the TRO playbook get run on college sports for years, but this one has everyone losing their minds — peer schools, conference commissioners, attorneys general. I'll tell you what I actually think, including the part nobody wants to admit about why we all keep watching anyway.
I also got some nostalgia this week looking at two NFL contract extensions. The Christian Watson deal has two clauses I created at the Packers 25 years ago — and I'll show you exactly how they protect Green Bay while still paying Watson. And Patrick Mahomes just signed a deal worth over half a billion dollars that I think is actually a win for the Chiefs — not Mahomes. I'll show you why with one number: Dak Prescott.
Plus the Knicks, who by the time you read this may be NBA Champions.
Before we get into it — two things worth your time this Father's Day weekend:
I've had a lot of titles in my career. Player agent. Team executive. Law professor. Journalist. But the one that matters most is Dad. If you have a sports dad — someone who watched games with you, argued about contracts, called you after the draft — you know exactly what I mean. A Sunday Seven Premium membership makes a genuinely great Father's Day gift. Full weekly breakdowns, Daily Dose videos, behind-the-paywall analysis on contracts and what really goes on in the decisions that shape sports. This weekend only: yearly access is $19.99 instead of $29.99 — for yourself or to gift to someone else. → mysunday7.com/upgrade
And if you haven't pre-ordered my book yet — Smarter About Sports ships July 14. Order before then at smarteraboutsports.com and I'll give you 30 days of premium newsletter access on me.
This week's Sunday 7 — actually Sunday 8, but who's counting:
The Sorsby ruling — and what it means for college sports
The outrage, the hypocrisy, and why everyone will still watch
How I'd actually fix this mess — and why collective bargaining isn't the answer
The Christian Watson contract — and the two clauses I invented
The Mahomes extension — massive number, but who really won?
The Knicks and my one complaint about ESPN's coverage
Tweet of the Week
Quote that I Wish I Said
Settle in and learn…
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