| | | | | | | Presented By SiriusXM | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Dec 20, 2022 | | 👋 Good morning! Reply to this email with your favorite song from 2022. I'm gonna make a playlist and share it in tomorrow's newsletter. Today's word count: 1,576 words (6 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: 📺 The Gen Z problem |  Reproduced from Morning Consult; Chart: Axios Visuals America's youth doesn't have much of an appetite for live sports broadcasts — an alarming reality for an industry built on broadcasters' willingness to pay for media rights, Axios' Jeff Tracy and I write. By the numbers: 33% of U.S. Gen Zers (ages 13-25) don't watch sports at all, compared to 24% of U.S. adults, per two Morning Consult surveys run last month. - Gen Z is also more likely to stream sports (32%) than watch on linear TV (28%), a shift from the 2020 survey when they still preferred linear (32%) over streaming (22%).
- Adults, meanwhile, watch nearly twice as much sports on traditional TV (47%) as they stream (24%).
The big picture: Leagues like the NFL (Amazon) and MLB (Apple) have signed streaming-centric deals in recent years to meet young fans where they are. Yes, but: Simply getting in front of cord-cutting Gen Zers isn't going to turn them into fans — not if they aren't genuinely interested. - 26% of Gen Zers said "no ability to watch" was a reason they hadn't tuned into a sporting event on TV in a few years, so the streaming push will help reach that cohort.
- But a whopping 73% of Gen Zers said a reason they hadn't watched was because "I'm not interested in sports." It's imperative that leagues figure out how to get that number down.
|     | | | | | | 2. 💵 Snapshot: World Cup payouts |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | The World Cup is about pride, spectacle, and the beautiful game. It's also about money; lots and lots of money, Jeff writes. By the numbers: The 32 teams in Qatar split a record $440 million purse from FIFA, led by Argentina's record $42 million prize for lifting the trophy. - Argentina: $42 million (champion)
- France: $30 million (runner-up)
- Croatia: $27 million (third place)
- Morocco: $25 million (fourth place)
- Quarterfinalists: $17 million each for the Netherlands, Brazil, England and Portugal.
- Round of 16: $13 million each for the U.S., Australia, Japan, South Korea, Senegal, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
- Group stage: $9 million each for Mexico, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Serbia, Ecuador, Germany, Tunisia, Ghana, Iran, Uruguay and Wales.
Of note: Players don't get the money directly. Instead, FIFA distributes it to each national soccer federation to disburse however it wants. French players, for example, split 30% of their $38 million prize in 2018. The intrigue: The new CBAs inked this past spring by the USMNT and USWNT guarantee an even split of all World Cup prize money between the two teams. - After the U.S. Soccer Federation takes its collectively bargained 10% cut of the USMNT's $13 million prize, $11.7 million is left for men's and women's players to split — or $5.85 million per team.
- That means the USWNT will earn more from the men's round of 16 exit than they earned for winning both the 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cups ($4.46 million).
The big picture: This even split — which is unique among federations — came after years of legal battles and cemented U.S. Soccer's longtime slogan, "One Nation, One Team," as more than just a rallying cry. - "We're intrinsically tied now," USWNT forward Midge Purce told The Athletic ($). "When [the men] score, we'll cheer just a little bit harder."
- "We're gonna be cheering like crazy, because that's exactly what this CBA is. It's equal," said USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman.
| | | | | | | | 3. 🥇 USOPC proposes "open" category |  | | | Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios | | | | The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is encouraging sports federations to consider "open" categories to ensure transgender athletes have events to participate in, Jeff writes. The big picture: Though this represents a path forward for trans sports participation, it brushes aside the real issue, which is that trans women want to be able to compete against other women. State of play: Different sports organizations have their own rules regarding trans inclusion, usually involving testosterone levels and time spent undergoing hormone replacement therapy. - But those rules often change, creating a "landscape [that] may leave ... athletes feeling uncertain regarding their eligibility status," reads the USOPC's position paper, released Monday.
- Open divisions are not a novel idea — the British Triathlon Federation, for example, already has one — but the USOPC's broad influence could ostensibly lead to widespread adoption.
Between the lines: The proposal was based on the principle that science and "fairness" should guide all major decisions, AP notes. It is "fairness" that has always driven this debate. - Those opposed to trans athletes competing in their desired division argue that trans girls — like former Penn swimmer Lia Thomas — have an unfair physical advantage over athletes assigned female at birth.
- Those for inclusion argue that the science regarding physical advantages is inconclusive, and that it's unfair to force trans women into an open division that may not field enough participants for a legitimate competition.
The bottom line: This will be an ongoing discussion as sports federations consider the USOPC's recommendation, which represents something of a lateral move. | | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Get 4 months free of SiriusXM | | |  | | | | Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including NBA Radio, expertly curated ad-free music, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get four months free, and you can cancel anytime. See Offer Details. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images | | | | 🏈 Nine straight: Aaron Rodgers led the Packers past the Rams in Green Bay, 24-12, giving him his ninth straight victory on "Monday Night Football." Only Ken Stabler (11) and Steve Young (10) had longer streaks. ⚽️ New FIFA rankings: Brazil is still ranked No. 1 in the world despite crashing out in the World Cup quarterfinals. Argentina is now No. 2 and France is No. 3. 🏀 0-12: Cal men's basketball is 0-12 this season, the worst start by any team in major conference history. 🏈 Coach of the Year: Sonny Dykes, who led TCU to the CFP in his first year at the helm, has been named AP Coach of the Year. Well deserved. 🏒 84 games: The NHL has discussed expanding its regular season from 82 to 84 games to create more regional rivalry matchups, ESPN reports. | | | | | | | | 5. 🏀 Men's poll: First time in 56 years |  Data: AP; Chart: Axios Visuals Purdue and UConn — both unranked in the preseason — sit atop this week's men's college basketball rankings. Why it matters: This is just the second time ever — and the first time in 56 years — that two unranked preseason teams have occupied the top two spots in the AP poll. - The only other time was on Feb. 28, 1966, when Kentucky was No. 1 and Texas Western was No. 2.
- Those two teams ended up meeting in the national title game that year, with Texas Western (now UTEP) prevailing, 72-65.
- The Miners started five Black players that night, capping off a historic season that was the basis for the 2006 film "Glory Road."
State of play: The Boilermakers and Huskies are two of just four remaining unbeaten teams in D-I. - No. 1 Purdue (11-0) ... Seven-foot-four junior Zach Edey is the Wooden Award frontrunner, averaging 22.6 points and an NCAA-best 13.9 rebounds.
- No. 2 UConn (12-0) ... The Huskies have won all 12 of their games by double digits and have their highest ranking since 2009.
- No. 15 Mississippi State (11-0) ... The Bulldogs are one of just three teams allowing fewer than 53 points per game (52.1).
- New Mexico (11-0) ... Unranked by AP, but No. 21 in the NET, which is used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
| | | | | | | | 6. 🏈 NFL power rankings: Week 16 |  Table: Axios Visuals Six of the top seven teams in this week's rankings have clinched a playoff spot, and the Bengals are one win away from joining them. If the playoffs started today... AFC - First-round bye: Bills
- Opening matchups: No. 7 Dolphins at No. 2 Chiefs; No. 6 Chargers at No. 3 Bengals; No. 5 Ravens at No. 4 Titans
NFC - First-round bye: Eagles
- Opening matchups: No. 7 Commanders at No. 2 Vikings; No. 6 Giants at No. 3 49ers; No. 5 Cowboys at No. 4 Buccaneers
What we're watching: The East and South divisions look like they're playing different sports. All eight AFC and NFC East teams are .500 or better, while all eight AFC and NFC South teams are .500 or worse. Go deeper: How the NFL playoffs can go full chaos mode (SB Nation) | | | | | | | | 7. 🌎 The world in photos | | Still thinking about this play. Photo: Chris Unger/Getty Images LAS VEGAS — Sports. The best. Photo: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Photography. Jalen Green dunk. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images HOUSTON — Rules. | | | | | | | | 8. 📺 Watchlist: NBA doubleheader |  | | | Jalen Brunson and Ja Morant. Photos: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images; Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images | | | | Tonight's TNT doubleheader features the NBA's longest active winning streak and two MVP contenders going head-to-head. - Warriors at Knicks (7:30pm ET): Golden State is an NBA-worst 3-14 on the road; New York has won an NBA-best seven straight games.
- Grizzlies at Nuggets (10pm): Nikola Jokić (25.2 pts, 10.9 reb, 9 ast) vs. Ja Morant (26.7 pts, 6.7 reb, 7.7 ast) is must-see TV.
More to watch: | | | | | | | | 9. 🏈 NFL trivia |  | | | Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images | | | | The 2022 Rams have tied the 1999 Broncos for the most losses by a defending Super Bowl champion (10). - Question: Who did those two teams beat in the Super Bowl the prior season?
- Hint: Neither team has won a title.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 💵 1 big vision: Cuban's casino |  | | | Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images | | | | Mark Cuban has a Vegas-like vision for Dallas. He just needs Texas to legalize sports betting first. What he's saying: "My goal, and we'd partner with Las Vegas Sands, is when we build a new arena it'll be in the middle of a resort and casino," the Mavericks owner told the Dallas Morning News ($). State of play: Texas is America's largest untapped gambling market — for now. New legislation, set to be considered next month, would put the sports betting decision in the hands of the voters next November. | | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Stream NBA Radio on SiriusXM | | |  | | | | With NBA Radio on SiriusXM Streaming, hear live coverage of the regular season, playoffs and the NBA finals. What's in it for you: SiriusXM NBA Radio delivers expert analysis and real-time NBA news that true basketball fans need. See Offer Details. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Proud Millennial" Baker Trivia answer: Broncos beat the Falcons; Rams beat the Bengals 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. Editor's note: The fifth item in yesterday's newsletter has been corrected to state that Army hasn't had a football player drafted in the first round since 1947, not 1946. |  | | Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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