The NBA is at a crossroads with free speech and a growing audience overseas. Billions of dollars are at stake after controversy sparked from a tweet by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey that China did not approve of. Dan digs deep with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.
While the NCAA stands firm against the new California law allowing college athletes to accept endorsement money, college coaches have mixed views about the legislation and what it means.
What they're saying: Some coaches, like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, believe the law is simply a sign of changing times. Others are waiting to see how the new change will play out in California, where it's likely to face legal challenges ahead of its implementation in 2023, before making a judgment call.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver just wrapped up a live press conference in Japan, where he took a much stronger stance than in an earlier statement.
The big picture: Silver stood behind Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and his tweet, stating that freedom of expression is a long-held NBA value that is not up for compromise.
Injured Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was fined $5,000 for wearing his Apple Watch on the sidelines during a recent game, per ESPN.
The big picture: Devices that are capable of transmitting voice or data, with the exception of those approved by the league (like coaches' headsets or the Surface tablets), are not allowed on NFL sidelines. Apple, which got a whole lot more than $5,000 worth of free marketing, was a big winner.
Ohio State and Georgia are tied at No. 3 in this week's AP poll, while Florida surged to No. 7 following a huge win at home over Auburn, who fell to No. 12.
What's next ... Next week is loaded with Top 25 matchups: (1) Alabama at (24) Texas A&M, (7) Florida at (5) LSU, (6) Oklahoma at (11) Texas, and (10) Penn State at (17) Iowa.
A single tweet from Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey escalated into a geopolitical crisis over the weekend, pitting America's democratic ideals and the NBA's progressive brand against the influence of Chinese money.
The backdrop: On Friday night, Morey tweeted an image that read "Fight for Freedom. Stand for Hong Kong" in reference to the pro-democracy protests that have been going on there for months.
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