5-POINT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th, 2018

This article was originally published on November 30th, 2018.

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.

Baseball news that excites me -

The Oakland Athletics unveiled a 'bigger than baseball' mega-ballpark deal that includes a 'jewel box' waterfront stadium at Howard Terminal. The plan would also see the current Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum site turned into a tech and housing hub that would keep the Oracle Arena as is, while stripping the massive stadium there down to a low-rise sports park and amphitheater. The A's expect to complete the privately financed, 34,000-seat ballpark in time for the start of the 2023 season.

The soccer story that shocked me -

The Swiss soccer club FC Basel's 125th anniversary caused some controversy in the past week. While the men's team sat down to enjoy a three-course meal at a swanky gala to celebrate its 125th anniversary, the women's side was not invited. Instead, the women's team was given the job of selling raffle tickets to over a thousand guests. After finishing their work, the women were then given sandwiches to eat in a different room.

Rugby League news that intrigues me -

The 2019 National Rugby League (NRL) grand final could be the last one played in Sydney for the foreseeable future. If an elected New South Wales Labor party makes good on their promise to stop stadium infrastructure spending. Labor leader Michael Daley has turned the stadium debate into an election issue. Vowing to redirect the entire A$1.5 billion allocated for stadium upgrades toward investment into schools and hospitals.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg (@Todd_Greenberg) responded, "Clearly, if we don't have the very best stadiums, we will have to look at alternatives. Our expectation is that the memorandum of understanding will be acknowledged and executed, which effectively means we will continue to play grand finals here and they will continue to build the stadiums around the network. ... If that position changes, that forces us to make some changes to our strategy." Sources state that Queensland and Victoria are ready to "pinch the ­famous grand final from Sydney."

Cricket news that interests me -

After a successful Women's World Twenty20 last month. Cricket's world governing body, The International Cricket Council (ICC), has submitted a bid for women's Twenty20 cricket to be included at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. The ICC will make its presentation, in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to an assessment panel early next month. "We would like cricket to lead the way in the Commonwealth in inspiring more young girls to take up sport regardless of their background or culture," says ICC CEO David Richardson.

Woman's soccer story that I am researching -

Players in England's fully-professional Women's Super League are "at risk of being sacked by their clubs if an injury or illness sidelines them for more than three months." A clause found "deep in the small-print of the standard contracts used by WSL teams" says that clubs are "at liberty to offload players in such circumstances providing they offer them three months' notice." Norwegian international Maren Mjelde (@MarenMjelde), who plays for Chelsea Women, said "It is very disappointing. No players choose to be injured. I have not heard any clubs have made use of the clause but it's horrible that it’s in the contracts. It should be removed."

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Jonathan