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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.

Sports

Sen. Ted Cruz (R) supports the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for its "unapologetic criticism" of the Chinese government and willingness to pull out of China over the missing tennis player Peng Shuai, the Texas lawmaker wrote in a letter this week.

Why it matters: Peng, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, has not been seen in public since she accused China's former vice premier of sexual assault earlier this month. Her disappearance has led to growing international concern.

State of play: WTA chair Steve Simon has received an email purportedly from Peng in which she claims she is resting at home, but told CNN he doubted the email's validity.

The WTA, which has called on Chinese officials to investigate her sexual assault allegations, is willing to pull its business from the Chinese market and lose millions of dollars to ensure Peng's safety, he said.

What he's saying: "Peng Shuai has long been one of the most impressive athletes and tennis stars in the world, and an inspiration for young women competing across the globe," Cruz wrote in a letter to Simon that was shared with Axios. She showed "remarkable, breathtaking bravery" in making her allegations public.

"The PRC and CCP are sending a message to their population and to the world: criticism of the regime will not be tolerated, victims of abuse must remain silent, and the international community is expected to fall into line."

"Unfortunately, far too many industries and organizations have done exactly that in order to access Chinese markets," Cruz said. "In contrast, you and the WTA have taken the stance that the PRC and CCP’s crimes cannot and will not be tolerated."

"The unapologetic criticism of the kind you and the WTA are bringing to bear pose a salient — and perhaps the most salient — threat to their power. Again, I congratulate the resolve you and the WTA are showing, and stand ready to support you in any way that I can."

The big picture: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that the Biden administration is demanding "independent, verifiable proof" of Peng's whereabouts. 

Fellow top athletes have also voiced concern about Peng and her previous allegations.

Cruz backs WTA's willingness to pull out of China over Peng Shuai

The Women's Tennis Association has "taken the stance that the PRC and CCP’s crimes cannot and will not be tolerated."

Photo of Ted Cruz's face up close as he is speaking

Sen. Ted Cruz,(R-Texas) at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Ted Cruz

China

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

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration is "deeply concerned" about tennis player Peng Shuai's disappearance and is calling on the Chinese government to provide "independent, verifiable proof" of her whereabouts. 

Why it matters: Peng has not been seen since she accused China's former vice premier of sexual assault earlier this month. China's state-controlled media suppressed all reporting on the case.

The big picture: Peng wrote a lengthy social media post accusing a former vice premier of China's ruling party of sexual assault, per AP, but the post has since been removed. 

China's state-owned broadcaster CGTN released an email purportedly from Peng saying that she was safe. Many have called into question the email and believe it was not written by her, including the head of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).   

CEO Steve Simon that the WTA was willing to pull business from China until Peng was accounted for. 

Many tennis athletes including Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have also expressed concern for her safety. 

What they're saying: "[Any] report of sexual assault should be investigated and support a woman's ability to speak out and take accountability," Psaki said at a press conference on Friday. 

"[We will] continue to stand up for the freedom of speech and we know the PRC has zero tolerance for criticism and a record of silencing those that speak out and we continue to condemn those practices," Psaki added. 

White House wants "verifiable proof" of Peng Shuai's whereabouts

Peng has not been seen since she accused China's former vice premier of sexual assault earlier this month.

Peng Shuai during a match in the 2020 Australian Open. Photo: Fred Lee/Getty Images

Axios Sports

The NFL has strengthened its COVID-19 protocols leading up to Thanksgiving, as cases rise across the league and the nation.

Driving the news: Every person, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks inside team facilities between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1. Players, coaches and staff will be tested post-Thanksgiving weekend.

This comes after the NFL had 81 confirmed positives between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13, the most of any two-week period this season.

The big picture: Coronavirus cases rose by 20% nationwide over the last two weeks. Just 59% of Americans are fully vaccinated as families make plans to convene, per the CDC.

The last word: "This virus is doing what this virus does," said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. "We don't understand why surges start [or] why they end."

Go deeper: Masks reduce COVID incidence by 53%, study shows (Axios)

NFL to enforce stricter protocols as COVID surges

The NFL had 81 confirmed positives between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13.

General view of the National Football League logo inside of MetLife Stadium.

National Football League (NFL)

NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL

Nashville

Axios Nashville

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is investigating an allegation that a referee used the N-word against a 14-year-old player during a girls basketball game Wednesday night at Smyrna High School.

The leader of Nashville charter school STEM Preparatory Academy sent a letter saying the incident was a vivid illustration of "institutional racism" embedded in athletics and the TSSAA itself.

What happened: A girls basketball game between STEM Prep and Smyrna ended abruptly after the alleged incident.

"Multiple students and parents witnessed" the referee use the racial slur against a STEM Prep player, according to a statement from the school.

What they're saying: STEM Prep CEO Kristin McGraner called on TSSAA to permanently suspend the referee, review its hiring practices, and institute diversity training for all employees.

"For our athletes to go to a school-sanctioned event and be dehumanized by an adult official is traumatizing, and our entire school community is in pain, particularly our Black and Brown students who experience systemic racism every day in this world," McGraner said in a statement.

The other side: TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress tells Axios the organization had statements from witnesses who contradicted each other.

 At least one person said an official used the slur, others said it was another player, and others said it wasn't used at all, according to Childress. The investigation is ongoing. 

"We are trying to get the truth," Childress says.

Meanwhile: The Daily News Journal reports TSSAA sent three letters Thursday reprimanding STEM Prep for behavior during the game.

One letter issued a $500 fine for the coach forfeiting the game and pulling the players off the court, and also included a $250 fine for unruly fan behavior.

The other letters concerned STEM Prep players ejected from the game, which a spokesperson for STEM Prep says happened during the interaction at the heart of the investigation.

The latest: Rutherford County Schools issued a statement Thursday afternoon pledging to cooperate with the investigation.

The district is sharing game video and making witnesses available for interviews, according to the statement.

TSSAA investigates slur allegation

"Multiple students and parents witnessed" the referee use the racial slur.

A letter from STEM Prep CEO Kristin McGraner to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. Image courtesy of STEM Prep

Racism

News

Atlanta

Axios Atlanta

On Sunday, Atlanta United faces off against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium in the first round of the 2021 Major League Soccer playoffs.

Why it matters: Atlanta United won its first (and thus far only) MLS Cup in 2018, but sat out last year's tournament.

If you don’t follow the team, don’t worry, we’re here to help, with the help of our friends.

Who to watch: On the Atlanta side, it’s Santiago Sosa, a defensive midfielder who’s been out since an injury since Oct. 20th — the last time the Five Stripes played the New York team. 

“Atlanta has felt his absence keenly in recent weeks,” Payson Schwin, a Dirty South Soccer contributor, tells Axios. “Sosa will need to step up big to support his backline as they cope with a potent NYCFC attack that features MLS MVP candidate Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos.”

Don't forget Josef Martinez, Jillian Sakovits, an MLS and Atlanta United host and sideline reporter, tells Axios. 

The 2018 MLS MVP is coming off a golazo against FC Cincinnati that secured Atlanta United a playoff spot. "Josef during the playoffs is a whole other beast," Sakovits says. "I am eager to see what [Martinez] has in store after he and his team missed the 2020 playoffs completely."

Know their weak spots: Key NYCFC defensive players are out due to injuries.  

Atlanta must contain Castellanos and midfielder Maxi Moralez, says Jason Longshore, an Atlanta United commentator and host of Soccer Down Here. If they do so, "[the team] will absolutely have opportunities to get at the NYC defense."

New terrain: Yankee Stadium is a unique venue. "Needless to say, soccer wasn't meant to be played there," Sydney Hunte, a Dirty South Soccer contributor, tells Axios. "[B]ut on NYCFC's end it's been able to use that to its advantage."

Know your tunes: Fan groups Terminus Legion and Resurgence have a handy round-up of supporter chants.

Who to follow: In addition to the sources above, check out Felipe Cardenas, Doug Roberson, Rob Usry, among many others.   

What’s next: The fun starts at 3pm on ABC and ESPN Deportes.

A casual fan’s guide to Atlanta United’s MLS Cup playoff

On Sunday, Atlanta United faces off against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium in the first round of the 2021 Major League Soccer playoffs.

Atlanta United FC goalkeeper Brad Guzan jumps to make a save during a match against NYCFC.

Brad Guzan makes a save. Photo: Rich von Biberstein for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Serena Williams is the latest top athlete to speak out about Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai on Thursday, calling for an investigation into her disappearance amid concern for her safety.

Why it matters: Peng, 35, has not been seen in public since she accused China's former vice premier of sexual assault earlier this month. China's state-controlled media suppressed all reporting on the case.

The allegations on Peng's social media page were removed earlier this month, and China's state-controlled media has suppressed all reporting on the case, AP reports.

Tennis authorities have called for a full investigation into the allegations by the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion.

Williams joins tennis stars including Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic who've drawn international attention to Peng's disappearance. 

Driving the news: On Wednesday, China's state-owned broadcaster CGTN released an email purportedly from Peng, in which she claims she is fine and appears to deny her previous allegations. 

But her fellow tennis players, as well as the head of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), have cast doubt on the email's authenticity.

What they're saying: "I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai," Williams tweeted. 

"I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time.

“Not sure if you’ve been following the news but I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused," Osaka wrote on Twitter. "Censorship is never ok at any cost.”

"Honestly it's shocking that she's missing," Djokovic said, according to AFP. "There's not much more to say than to hope that she's ok and it's just terrible... I can imagine how her family feels, you know, that she's missing."

Worth noting: The WTA has called on Chinese officials to investigate Peng's sexual assault allegations.

Fears grow for China's missing tennis star

China's state-controlled media has suppressed all reporting on the case.

Peng Shuai of China looks on during her match against during the Connecticut Open in 2017.

Peng Shuai. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Media Trends

Axios Media Trends

NBCUniversal on Thursday announced that it had edged out rivals for the coveted rights to broadcast Premier League soccer games in the U.S. for the next six years. 

Why it matters: The deal allows NBC to hold onto its existing Premier League rights, which will help the company drive subscribers to its streaming service Peacock. 

Details: The new deal gives NBC exclusive rights to air all 380 Premier League matches to U.S. audiences across NBCUniversal's array of linear and streaming platforms, including NBC, USA Network, Peacock, Telemundo and Universo.

The deal has a reported value of $2.6 billion over six years, which roughly triples the value of its current annual rights deal, per Sports Business Journal. 

NBC has had rights to air English Premier League games in the U.S. since 2013. 

In a statement, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, said, “NBC Sports has significantly strengthened the popularity of the League in the United States in that time through its fantastic coverage and promotion."

The big picture: The deal is a loss for NBC Sports rival ESPN, which had been eyeing the Premier League rights via a combined bid with CBS, per Sports Business Journal. 

ESPN has been leaning heavily into soccer to support its streaming platform ESPN+. It won the rights to air European's La Liga games in the U.S. in an eight-year deal beginning this past August. It secured U.S. rights to stream Germany's Bundesliga in 2019.

NBC retains English Premier League rights in 6-year deal

The new deal gives NBC exclusive rights to air all 380 Premier League matches to U.S. audiences.

Illustration of a goalie about to be hit by a giant soccer ball

Soccer

Media

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Photo: Found Image Holdings/Corbis via Getty Images

The Sunshine State is having a college football season to forget.

Driving the news: Entering Saturday, Florida's seven FBS programs are a combined 28-42. None are ranked, and just one has a winning record.

The big picture: Florida is a recruiting hotbed, and its schools have appeared in eight national title games in the BCS and CFP eras, tied with Alabama for the most of any state.

But the three traditional powers — Florida, Florida State and Miami — have fallen behind in recent years, losing games they used to win and losing in-state recruits they used to land.

The Gators are in shambles after barely beating FCS Samford, the Seminoles are likely headed for their fourth straight losing season, and the Hurricanes have vastly underperformed their preseason No. 12 ranking.

Barring a miracle, all three schools will finish outside the top 25 for the first time since 1978. Heck, even UCF has fallen into mediocrity after emerging as a national power a few years ago.

The bottom line: Florida football has been fading for a few years. But not even the biggest haters saw this season going as badly as it has.

"In college football terms, this is as improbable as eating a bad meal in New Orleans or being unable to find a blackjack table in Las Vegas. You almost have to try to fail this dramatically."

Florida's football woes

Entering Saturday, Florida's seven FBS programs are a combined 28-42.

College football

 Kingsley Eguakun #65 of the Florida Gators in action against the LSU Tigers during a game at Tiger Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

NCAA

The world's second-most popular sport is preparing to make a splash stateside.

What's happening: The U.S. on Tuesday was named co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup, a major global event that will take place a year after Major League Cricket — a domestic T20 league — debuts.

The backdrop: As MLC builds out its infrastructure, including a flagship stadium in Dallas, it will do so with the World Cup in mind. The U.S. will host 18 matches in 2024, while co-host West Indies will host 37.

Currently, there's just one World Cup-ready venue in the U.S. (Central Broward Park in Florida), with Dallas slated to open in late-2022 as the second. That number will have to grow before 2024.

Of note: Minor League Cricket, MLC's little brother, launched this summer, playing 200 matches at a variety of venues across the country.

The big picture: Cricket's 2.5 billion fans worldwide trail only soccer's 4 billion. The U.S. is home to just 30 million of those fans, but that number has more than doubled over the past decade.

"The cricket World Cup is one of the most-watched events in the world," Tom Dunmore, MLC's VP of marketing, tells Axios. "This will bring hundreds of millions of eyeballs to cricket in the Americas."

While traditional test cricket's five-day format may be a hard sell for an American audience, T20 matches are fast-paced and last just two to three hours. "It's really easy to get hooked on," says Dunmore.

Zoom out ... Consider soccer 30 years ago: FIFA's decision to award the U.S. with the 1994 World Cup was contingent on creating a top-tier domestic league. Two years later, MLS was born, and 25 years after that, the USMNT is ranked 13th in the world.

Looking ahead... The ICC has another goal in mind, too: Bringing cricket back to the Olympics, where it's been absent since 1900. They're aiming for 2028 — in Los Angeles.

Cricket sets sights on America

The U.S. was named co-host of the 2024 T20 cricket World Cup.

Illustration of a cricket wicket, ball and bat styled as a deconstructed US flag

The 25 highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports all make at least $8 million and include 14 from the NFL, seven from the NBA and four from college, per a new report from Sportico.

Top 10: Bill Belichick ($18M), Pete Carroll ($12M), Sean Payton ($12M), Andy Reid ($12M), Gregg Popovich ($11.5M), Mike Tomlin ($11.5M), Nick Saban ($10.7M), Jimbo Fisher ($9.5M), Kyle Shanahan ($9.5M), Steve Kerr ($9.5M).

What to watch: Michigan State is reportedly set to offer Mel Tucker a historic 10-year, $95 million extension.

Go deeper ... Report: College teams paid over $500 million in dead money over 11 years

The 25 highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports

Fourteen are from the NFL, seven from the NBA and four from college, according to Sportico.

Illustration of an $100 bill with football helmet on Benjamin Franklin's head.

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sister Jean and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers announced Tuesday that the school will be moving from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Atlantic-10 in 2023.

Why it matters: Loyola-Chicago is the 24th D-I school in the past five months to announce a new league affiliation — a reshuffling that began in July with a shocker: Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC in 2025.

State of play: The Sooners and Longhorns are moving because as good as the Big 12 is, the SEC is better and more lucrative. That decision has had a domino effect, with schools now playing musical chairs.

Joining SEC (2025): Oklahoma and Texas (from Big 12)

Joining Big 12 (2023): Cincinnati, UCF and Houston (from American); BYU (independent)

Joining American (2023): UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA (from C-USA)

Joining C-USA (2023): Liberty and New Mexico State (independent); Jacksonville State and Sam Houston (from FCS)

Joining Sun Belt (2023): Old Dominion, Southern Miss and Marshall (from C-USA); James Madison (from FCS)

FCS moves (2022): Incarnate Word (Southland to WAC); Texas A&M Commerce (D-II Lone Star to Southland); Austin Peay (OVC to A-Sun)

Non-football moves (2023): Loyola-Chicago (MVC to A-10)

The big picture: The European Super League may have failed, but the idea behind it — money over everything — is alive and well in America.

Oklahoma and Texas will turn the SEC into a 16-team juggernaut, bringing college football closer to creating a super league of its own.

New rivalries will be born (or re-born, in the case of Texas-Texas A&M) — but only after old rivalries and beloved traditions die.

The bottom line: This isn't the first, nor will it be the last major wave of realignment. But amid a time of drastic change in college sports, it could end up being the most significant.

Catching up on the college conference realignment wave

Amid a time of drastic change in college sports, this realignment wave could end up being the most significant.

Illustration of the U.S. with arrows around it

National Collegiate Athletic Assocation (NCAA)

The Titans this week ascended to the top of the Axios Sports' NFL power rankings after extending their winning streak to six games.

Respect has been hard to come by for the Titans. Despite knocking off AFC contenders Buffalo and Kansas City in October, they'd been slowly creeping up the rankings.

Following Sunday's win over the Saints, the Titans climbed three spots to No. 1.

Why it matters: The top ranking validates the belief this is the Titans' best chance at a Super Bowl in more than a decade.

Axios Nashville is calling it: Super Bowl or bust.

Titans claim top spot in NFL power rankings

Tampa Bay

With two weeks left in college football's regular season, there's not a single major Florida program ranked anywhere close to the top 25 and just one team in the Sunshine State with a winning record.

All this despite the fact that Florida is among the top states for producing college football talent.

Driving the news: After the Gators lost to LSU in the middle of October, our state didn't put a team in the Associated Press top 25 rankings for the first time since 2011. It's embarrassing.

What they're writing: "In college football terms, this is as improbable as eating a bad meal in New Orleans or being unable to find a blackjack table in Las Vegas. You almost have to try to fail this dramatically," wrote USA Today columnist Dan Wolken.

You know who's ranked higher than any team from the Sunshine State? The Utah Utes. And the San Diego State Aztecs. And the University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners.

Flashback: Forget UF, FSU and Miami. Remember that week in 2007 when USF was ranked #2? Those were the days.

What we're (now) watching: Over in the FCS, Florida A&M is 8-2. Let's go Rattlers!

And, as Axios Sports' Jeff Tracy points out: Even though UCF has taken a bit of a step back after three incredible seasons from 2017-19, it's set to join the Big 12 in 2023, which should give Florida its fourth "major" program.

The sad state of Florida collegiate football

There's not a single major Florida program ranked anywhere close to the top 25.

Axios Tampa Bay, anchored by Ben Montgomery and Selene San Felice, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

Friday's sports stories