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The Omicron surge and China's increasingly scrutinized authoritarian practices provide the backdrop for this year's winter games.

Beijing Winter Olympics

Sports

National

The men’s and women’s tennis tours have stripped Wimbledon, one of tennis' four Grand Slams, of ranking points after tournament organizers banned Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the tours announced on Friday. 

Why it matters: The tours' decision could lead to countermeasures, including the Grand Slams aligning to make more decisions independently of the ATP or WTA, the New York Times writes.

Without ranking points, Wimbledon will be essentially played as an exhibition. The other lead-in events in Great Britain were not stripped of ranking points, although the WTA placed three tournaments on probation.

The big picture: Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, hasn't barred athletes from specific countries since the aftermath of World War II.

It is currently the only Grand Slam to ban Russians and Belarusians.

What they're saying: The All England Club said in a statement that it stands by the ban, citing the government's decision to limit Russia's global influence in the country. 

"In addition, we remain unwilling to accept success or participation at Wimbledon being used to benefit the propaganda machine of the Russian regime," the statement said, saying the country's state media has "an acknowledged history of using sporting success to support a triumphant narrative to the Russian people."

"We believe these decisions to be disproportionate in the context of the exceptional and extreme circumstances of this situation and the position we found ourselves in, and damaging to all players who compete on Tour."

Former Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky also said on Twitter that the ATP's decision made it a "shameful day in tennis.”

"Never would expect that anyone can stand on the side of invaders and murderers… but it seems to me that even my fellow players feel sorry for invaders and collaborants from rus/blr," he added.

The other side: After the war began in February, Russia and Belarus were barred from team events. Some called for a full ban, while others argued that Russian and Belarusian athletes — some of whom have spoken out against the war — shouldn't be punished.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a statement issued by Wimbledon on Friday.

Tennis tours penalize Wimbledon for banning Russian, Belarusian players

Wimbledon is currently the only Grand Slam to ban Russians and Belarusians.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Trevor Bauer's arbitration hearing regarding his unprecedented two-year suspension under MLB's domestic violence policy begins Monday.

Why it matters: The outcome will be seismic for MLB and Bauer's career and could impact the NFL as it continues navigating the Deshaun Watson saga.

Catch up quick: Bauer last pitched on June 28, 2021. Sexual assault allegations against him surfaced two days later and MLB promptly placed him on paid administrative leave.

Bauer's accuser alleged that he assaulted her during two consensual sexual encounters. He doesn't deny the encounters but argues his accuser explicitly requested via text that he choke and slap her.

Another report surfaced in August 2021 regarding a different woman who'd previously leveled similar accusations against Bauer. As MLB's investigation continued, the league repeatedly extended Bauer's paid leave.

Three weeks ago, MLB finally announced its decision: a 324-game suspension without pay (two seasons), the longest ever under the league's seven-year-old domestic violence policy. That same day, a third woman came forward.

Bauer, who has denied any wrongdoing and stands to lose roughly $60 million, appealed the punishment, becoming the first player to do so under the policy. Now an arbitrator will determine if his punishment stands or will be reduced.

The big picture: The outcome of Bauer's arbitration could inform how the NFL handles Watson's punishment in the wake of a similar scandal. Both athletes were accused of sexual assault by multiple women but never charged criminally.

The bottom line: MLB's domestic violence policy was widely viewed as a response to the NFL's Ray Rice incident. Seven years later, it may be the NFL following MLB's lead.

The Trevor Bauer case looms over MLB and NFL

The outcome will be seismic for MLB and Bauer's career, and could impact the NFL, too.

Axios Pro Rata

American investors are beginning to dominate European soccer in a way that American players never have.

Driving the news: A majority of the English Premier League's top 20 teams will have U.S. owners, once Todd Boehly's purchase of Chelsea F.C. goes through.

And it will close, through despite some British media drama about loan repayment to Russian oligarch and current owner Roman Abramovich.

RedBird Capital Partners reportedly is nearing a deal for AC Milan, besting Bahrain-domiciled Investcorp. That would be a wash, since the team is currently owned by Elliott Management.

Sixth Street Partners yesterday agreed to invest $380 million into Real Madrid for a 30% stake in future stadium revenue (minus season ticket sales). 

Last year, Oaktree Capital bought a 31% stake in Inter Milan, Area Management bought a 34% stake in La Liga's Atlético and 777 Partners bought Serie A club Genoa. 

Plus, let’s not forget actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying Wrexham A.F.C. Okay, Reynolds is Canadian, but still...

Be smart: This is about low barriers to entry, particularly as compared to North American sports leagues. 

The NFL and Major League Baseball frown on institutional (i.e., PE fund) ownership of teams, while the NHL is a bit more amenable and the NBA just recently opened its arms.

Owners also are a bit pickier about who they let into the club, whereas European soccer has turned a blind eye to most everything other than the purchase price.

The bottom line: So far, there's been very little blowback from supporters or governments (speculation that the U.K. would seek to block a non-British buyer of Chelsea, for example, was unfounded). 

The U.S. investor bet is that fans don't mind non-local ownership, so long as it's married to increased investment in player payroll and stadium amenities.

American investors keep scoring European soccer teams

American investors dominate Europe's top sport in a way that American players never have.

In this illustration, a soccer ball is kicked by someone wearing sports gear and socks with money printed on them.

Soccer

Economy & Business

Nashville

Axios Nashville

It would cost Metro $1.8 billion through 2039 to fulfill its obligations to the Tennessee Titans under the current lease agreement at Nissan Stadium, according to a report the team presented to the Sports Authority on Thursday.

Why it matters: The obligation of the current lease deal is a crucial comparison because the Titans and Mayor John Cooper are negotiating a deal to build a new enclosed stadium next to Nissan.

Cooper said last week the current lease deal is too burdensome for Metro and a new arrangement — one that removes the long-term financial obligation without tapping the city's general fund — is in order.

By the numbers: According to the Titans' report, Metro's total obligation is divided between $945 million — to renovate Nissan and reimburse the franchise for capital costs it has already incurred — and the $894 million it would owe to maintain the stadium through the end of the lease.

A provision of the lease requires the stadium to be kept in a condition similar to other sports venues built around the same time.

The report was produced by consultants for the Titans at the Sports Authority's request, a Titans spokesperson tells Axios.

Yes, but: Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes suggested the Cooper administration should consider funding its own study to determine if the Titans' estimate is accurate.

Cooper spokesperson TJ Ducklo said in a press release, "We have no plans to commission another study to tell us what we already know: renovating the stadium would cost Nashvillians hundreds of millions of dollars."

What he's saying: Titans CEO Burke Nihill tells Axios that the team is confident in the estimate.

Even if another study produced a different dollar figure, Nihill says the conclusion would be the same: "The Sports Authority is facing a large unfunded obligation under the current lease."

Details: Cooper's administration filed the capital improvement budget last week estimating a new stadium will cost up to $2.2 billion.

Cooper says the stadium will be paid for with sales tax revenue produced by fans attending the games and hotel taxes paid by tourists visiting Nashville.

By comparison, there is no funding stream to cover the vast majority of the current lease obligations, which are paid out of the city's general fund.

The Titans, along with the NFL, are expected to contribute in the neighborhood of $700 million. And Gov. Bill Lee's budget that passed this legislative session included $500 million in bonds toward a new stadium.

Report: Stadium lease would cost city $1.8B

It would cost Metro $1.8 billion through 2038 to fulfill its obligations to the Tennessee Titans.

Football

Politics

Columbus

Axios Columbus

These four baseball cards share something in common. Can you guess it? 

I found them among thousands of other baseball, football, basketball and Pokemon trading cards unearthed during a recent attempt at spring cleaning.

The intrigue: At first, I thought I'd stumbled upon cardboard gold.

The trading card industry exploded during the pandemic, Axios' Jeff Tracy wrote last year, as sports fans stuck at home lived vicariously through their cards. 

Yes, but: It turns out most of my collection is worthless. 

Card makers oversaturated the market with junk in the late 1980s and 1990s, which is around when the four cards above featuring MLB players from the Central Ohio area were produced — sorry fellas.

Included are Pat Borders and Paul Householder of Columbus, Allan Anderson of Lancaster and Kent Mercker of Dublin.

The intrigue: Mercker, a Dublin Coffman graduate, followed up an 18-season pitching career by becoming a pickleball sensation. 

📬 Hey, collectors: My loving, well-organized wife would love it if any Axios Columbus readers want to make an offer on thousands of sports cards. 

If you're interested, email columbus@axios.com.

Meanwhile, I'll be taking my Pokemon cards to a local card shop, as it turns out there's a greater market for Pikachus than Paul Householders (sorry again, Paul). 

Where to go: Should you discover a card collection of your own, or want a fill of nostalgia, here are three card shops to check out:

Hartman's Sports Card Shop on Morse Road. 

Unearthing cardboard gold and junk

What to do with your collection of sports and Pokemon cards.

Four former MLB stars with a shared connection. Photo: Tyler Buchanan/Axios 

Detroit

Axios Detroit

Data: Legal Sports Report; Table: Thomas Oide/Axios

Michigan is eighth in the nation in the amount of money bet on sports since 2018, Axios' Jeff Tracy reports.

Americans have wagered more than $125 billion on legal sports bets since PASPA was overturned four years ago.

Why it matters: The figures put into perspective the popularity of sports betting and quantify the value to local governments.

State of play: 30 states plus Washington, D.C., have live, legal sports betting markets. Five more have legalized it but are not yet operational.

Zoom in: The new industry is also a boon for Detroit, since casinos pay taxes to the city on sports betting receipts. 

The city expects to take in $74.6 million from online gaming and sports betting taxes next fiscal year, up from $71.1 million this year. 

The new income is among the main reasons why Detroit's revenue is recovering from pandemic lows better than expected — and exceeding pre-pandemic levels — according to a biannual fiscal report.

The latest: In April, $371.2 million was bet online on sports, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. 

That's nearly an 18% decrease compared to March.

Michiganders wager billions on sports

Michigan is eighth in the nation in the amount of money bet on sports since 2018.

A Russian gymnast who wore a pro-war symbol on his uniform supporting the invasion of Ukraine has received a one-year ban, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced on Tuesday.

The big picture: Ivan Kuliak won the bronze medal in the parallel bars at a World Cup competition while Ukraine's Illia Kovtun won gold. Kuliak wore a 'Z' symbol taped to his leotard on the podium next to Kovtun.

The 'Z' has been displayed on the Russian military's tanks and has become a symbol of support for the invasion of Ukraine, CNN writes. 

Details: FIG said Kuliak must return his bronze medal and is not allowed to compete at any FIG events for one year. 

Flashback: Kuliak told Russian state media he would "do exactly the same" if given another chance​, CNN reports.

"I saw it with our military and looked at what this symbol means. It turned out [it means], 'for victory' and 'for peace,'" Kuliak​ said.

​"I didn't wish anything bad on anyone, I just showed my position. As an athlete, I will always fight for victory and stand for peace," he added

What's next: Kuliak has 21 days to appeal the decision. 

Russian gymnast receives 1-year ban for wearing pro-war symbol

Ivan Kuliak taped a 'Z', a symbol of support for the invasion of Ukraine, to his leotard on the podium next to a Ukrainian gymnast.

A man with the 'Z' symbol on a t-shirt holds photos of relatives killed in the Second World War during the Inmortal Regiment march in the streets of Moscow. The 'Z' has become a symbol of support to the russian army. Photo: STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The U.S. Soccer Federation reached a historic collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday to pay all national players equally, including at World Cups. 

Why it matters: The U.S. women's national soccer team engaged in a yearslong fight with the federation for equal pay. In February, their gender-based pay discrimination lawsuit was settled for $24 million, with the federation promising to equalize pay between men's and women's teams in all competitions.

The big picture: The federation announced separate "first-of-their-kind" collective bargaining agreements for both teams that will run through 2028 and ensure equal pay for all competitions, per the press release.

"Under these agreements, U.S. Soccer becomes the first Federation in the world to equalize FIFA World Cup prize money awarded" to its men's and women's teams, the statement read.

Per the equalization agreement, the unequal FIFA prize money from the men’s and women's World Cup matches will be pooled collectively and then divided equally among members of both teams. 

Worth noting: The federation has also agreed to provide childcare for men's senior national team members during all training camps and matches, a benefit that it has provided to the women's team for 25 years, per the press release.

What they're saying: “This is a truly historic moment. These agreements have changed the game forever here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world,” Cindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer, said in the press release.

“They said equal pay for men and women was not possible, but that did not stop us and we went ahead and achieved it,” Walker Zimmerman, a member of the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association leadership group, added in the press release.

“I feel a lot of pride for the girls who are going to see this growing up, and recognize their value rather than having to fight for it," U.S. forward Margaret Purce said in a statement, AP reported.

U.S. Soccer reaches landmark equal pay agreement

“This is a truly historic moment. These agreements have changed the game forever here in the United States."

Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC) and Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride) of United States celebrate whit her teammates after winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match 

Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan celebrate after winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match. Photo: Jose Breton/NurPhoto via Getty Images

NW Arkansas

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Watching the Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race is like watching a chess match moving 45 mph on two wheels. But you don't have to be Garry Kasparov to be thrilled by it.

Driving the news: The 45-year-old event — the oldest multi-day cycling stage race in North America — is being held in Fayetteville Thursday through Sunday. 

Why it matters: One study estimated all cycling activity in NWA led to an economic benefit of more than $137 million in 2017, before some major events like the Cyclo-cross World Championship and U.S. Pro Cup were added to the area's calendar.

Molly Rawn, executive director of Experience Fayetteville, told Axios the January Cyclo-cross World Championship likely had an economic impact of $5 million, with about 17,000 people attending the event. 

Race director Bruce Dunn hopes to draw about 5,000 spectators, compared to an estimated 2,000 in recent years. About 800 amateur and pro competitors will come from all 50 states and 27 countries this year. 

Yes, and: The race is part of the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour and on the Union Cycliste Internationale Americas Tour, meaning it's a stepping stone for competitive pro cyclists.

State of play: At 45 years old, the age when most athletes slow down, the Joe Martin Stage Race is turning a tight corner into a headwind and doubling down. Dunn secured the coveted May time slot after the Amgen Tour of California announced it would go on hiatus. 

Iffy weather and the ever-fluid Easter holiday meant the race's traditional April timing wasn't as popular with competitors. 

And, Dunn landed a title sponsorship from Walmart in February, which helped bring an entertainment venue with a beer garden and live bands adjacent to the most spectator-friendly part of the race. This party will be at the Walton Arts Center parking lot on West Avenue. 

The race on Sunday promises to be so exciting that it'll be broadcast on the Global Cycling Network.

All that means there will be more international eyeballs on Northwest Arkansas and its world-class cycling venues.  

Details: Each day of the race counts as a stage, and each stage has a winner that's ranked by time. The overall race winner is the fastest cyclist or team when the timed results of all days are combined. 

Races Thursday through Saturday are multi-mile road races in the countryside. 

Sunday's race is a 1.2-mile circuit around downtown Fayetteville — 16 laps for pro women and 30 for pro men. Race speeds spike going down Dickson Street before riders grind up Spring Street and then Church Avenue to the finish line at Center Street. 

What they're saying: The criterium course is "punchy," Dunn told Axios on a recent walk around the circuit. The total elevation change for the 1.2 miles is 92 feet. 

Compared to an average of 100 feet per mile on NWA's mountain bike trails, it means some road racers will be challenged more than usual and that no matter who's ahead the day before, they have to perform at their peak on Sunday.  

Of note: One thing the race is known for is equitability between genders. Historically, it has had pro fields of about 55% male and 45% female. 

Equal prize money will be distributed among the top 20 male and female athletes in the overall standings. 

See the spectator event guide for Sunday's criterium  

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Joe Martin Stage Race kicks off 45th year

Watching the race is like watching a chess match moving 45 mph on two wheels.

The criterium race in 2019. Photo: Kai Caddy

Northwest Arkansas

Three days after Mayor John Cooper's administration filed the capital improvement budget showing a new Titans stadium project would cost $2 billion, officials told Metro Council the actual dollar figure was $2.2 billion.

Metro Council members were alerted to the clerical error during Monday's budget and finance committee meeting.

Why it matters: The capital improvement budget is a spending wish list. If the cost of a project exceeds what is budgeted, it must be amended.

It would take 27 council votes to pass such an amendment — a high bar to clear.

Yes, but: Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes tells Axios he believes the newly filed CIB needs to be amended regardless. 

Mendes takes issue with the description of how a new covered Titans stadium would be funded. 

The document says the stadium will be partially paid for with user-generated sales tax revenue, which Mendes contends is an incomplete description. But the actual amount of sales tax that would be used to pay for the stadium is substantially more than that, he says.

What he's saying: "It's not just people buying Cokes and hotdogs at the stadium," Mendes says. "It's sales tax collections from the massive [approximately 130-acre] development around the stadium."

"Clerical error" increases Titans stadium project estimate

Officials told Metro Council the actual dollar figure was $2.2 billion, not $2 billion.

Nissan Stadium. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

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