Earlier this week, the NFL finally took its first step toward treating marijuana as a pain management tool, rather than a suspension-worthy drug.
Driving the news: The NFL and the NFL Players Association have formed two committees to review the league's use of prescription pain relievers while also researching marijuana and other "alternative therapies."
An electronic radar system called TrackMan will soon be calling balls and strikes in the Atlantic League, an independent East Coast league that has emerged as MLB's testing ground for new rules and equipment initiatives.
Driving the news: The first step in this adventure began last Thursday at parks in Bridgewater, N.J. (Somerset Patriots) and New Britain, Conn. (New Britain Bees).
19-year-old pitcher Carter Stewart has agreed to a six-year, $7+ million contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, a groundbreaking deal that could change baseball.
Why it matters: The MLB's financial model limits the bargaining power of amateurs, pays minor leaguers sub-poverty-level wages and keeps players locked into below-market contracts through their peak years.The only reason players put up with this is because there's no alternative. Stewart may have just created one.
