Rixon Sports Report - Thur. May 8th

NBA Ratings are up, we break down why (Front Office Sports).

Steph Curry is out for a week (ESPN/Shams).

Nike and A'ja Wilson sell out of her new shoe (USA Today).

Roster limit adjustments to hopefully appease Judge Wilken (Yahoo! Sports)

Disney agrees to licensing deal with Miral in Abu Dhabi to open a park there (New York Post).

University of Colorado Fan suing NFL for emotional distress (CBS Sports).

Transcript

Good morning, I’m Joe Rixon and this is the Rixon Sports Report for Thursday, May 8th, 2025.

The Front Office Sports newsletter with the full breakdown of NBA playoff ratings, up 6% from last year.  A strong eight game opening Easter weekend drawing an average of 4.4 million viewers is being credited for the boost.  This is up 17% from last year and the most watched opening weekend in nearly 25 years.  The Lakers elimination leads to the question: Can the NBA keep this up?  The Lakers had the most watched game this year, the most watched non-Christmas game and the most watch non-christmas, non-opening night game.  That was a tongue twister.  Will follow up on this over the coming weeks in light of this next piece of news:

Steph Curry is out for at least a week with his first career hamstring strain according to Shams from ESPN.   Curry underwent an MRI and will be evaluated next week.

Nike and A’ja Wilson are counting money today, as her new signature shoe sold out in minutes.  USA Today with the coverage.  The pink shoes went on sale 10am Wednesday morning and shortly thereafter the link for the shoes was no longer active.  They retailed for $110 for adults, $90 for kids.  More shoes should come in stock this week, with other variations of the shoe going on sale May 15th.

Ross Dellenger from Yahoo Sports with a great write up on the latest revision to the House Settlement, grandfathering in student athletes to be immune from proposed roster limits.  These exceptions include those currently on a roster, those who have been cut this year and high school recruits that committed to a university that ultimately cut their roster spot.  These exceptions allow schools to exceed roster limits.  If Judge Claudia Wiken accepts the settlement, a brand new world of revenue-sharing with student athletes begins July 1st.

Disney is entering into an agreement with an Abu Dhabi based entertainment corporation Miral to open up a new resort in the United Arab Emirates on Yas Island as part of a licensing deal with Miral covering the entire cost of construction with Disney overseeing creative design.  The New York Post with a good breakdown.  Yas Island is already home to several other theme parks, including Warner Brothers World and Ferrari World.

An anonymous University of Colorado fan is suing the NFL $100 million dollars citing “emotional distress and trauma from the drop of Shedeur Sanders in the NFL draft.  The lawsuit filed in Georgia cites “slanderous statements” about the Colorado Quarterback drafted by the Browns this past week and the claims that he "tanked interviews," "wasn't prepared" and "was too cocky" caused them harm.  The plaintiff cites The Sherman Antitrust Act, believing there to be collusion between the NFL teams and the Civil Rights Act for Intentional Infliction of Emotional distress and violations of consumer protection laws.  More on this story at CBS Sports

Thank you again for listening to the Rixon Sports Report.  Have a great Thursday!