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5-POINT FRIDAY, JANUARY 4th, 2019

Shauna Rush

Updated: May 25, 2020

This article was originally published on January 4th, 2019.


Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.

What I've been listening to -


This week I was listening to Roman Mars' (@romanmars) podcast 99 Percent Invisible. I stumbled across the interesting story about Tom O’Grady (@TOGradyChicago) and The Barney Design. The episode delved into how O'Grady developed the NBA jerseys of the '90s, especially the famous Barney Design of the new expansion team the Toronto Raptors.

Tom O'Grady's Barney Design. Credit: 99percentinvisible.org

Soccer news that I'm following -


It has been reported that Susanna Dinnage will no longer be taking up the position of CEO, at the Premier League. Dinnage had been due to succeed Richard Scudamore this month, and described as “the outstanding choice,” but dropped a bombshell on Sunday when she informed the Premier League she had changed her mind. With a source stating Dinnage changed her mind "after getting cold feet about the public scrutiny that comes with the job." The five-person nominations committee, chaired by Bruce Buck, Chelsea chairman, has now restarted the recruitment process.


Collegiate Athletics story I'm interested in -


Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott announced the "Pac-12 NewCo" plan was announced. This would see private investors owning 10% equity in the newly formed entity in exchange for a $500M investment, was "introduced to the conference presidents and chancellors at their mid-November meeting and was subsequently discussed in a conference call in December." The sale is aiming to boost the conference's revenue shortfalls. As Pac-12 schools are reportedly earning $15 million less than Big Ten schools.


World Cup news I'm excited by -


Gianni Infantino has stated that FIFA should if possible increase the size of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Changing the structure of the tournament from 32 teams to 48 teams. FIFA had previously voted in 2017 to increase the size of the tournament starting from 2026. However, Infantino is wanting to bring the change forward to 2022. The expansion could now see Saudi Arabia being brought in to help hold the additional games.

What I've been watching -


Battle of the Sexes by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Based on the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King, played by Emma Stone (@stone_nobrien), and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs, played by Steve Carrell (@SteveCarell), which became the most-watched televised sports event of all time.

Have a wonderful weekend, all!


Jonathan

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