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- The First Whistle: 977-1
The First Whistle: 977-1
Chargers & 49ers sell ___ stake, ____ sues NCAA for eligibility, NFL approves ____ for Olympics, and MORE!
December 11, 2025
Hi ,
In 977 games, no team has ever been able to accomplish this. Not one.
You’re leading by 14 or more in a playoff game, 2:50 remains on the clock. Statistically, you can’t lose this game. That is, until Wednesday night, when one team made history in the most gut-wrenching way.
Scroll down to the bench to find out which team defied the odds this week with a heartbreaking and statistically impossible loss. 👇👇
— Avery Glover
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NFL approves ownership stakes: Arctos, Woodson join ranks
The NFL approved four new team stake sales, including Arctos Partners acquiring an 8% stake in the Los Angeles Chargers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson buying a 0.1% stake in the Cleveland Browns. Other deals include the Khosla, Griffith, and Deeter families purchasing a 6% stake in the San Francisco 49ers and a group of businessmen acquiring a 1.1% stake in the Miami Dolphins. These transactions reflect the NFL's growth and increasing team values, with the 49ers valued at $8.6 billion in the Khosla deal.
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Paul Allen estate says Trail Blazers officially for sale
The Portland Trail Blazers are officially up for sale by the estate of late owner Paul Allen, with the proceeds going to philanthropic endeavors. The team, valued at $3.6 billion, was bought by Allen in 1988 for $70 million and is expected to sell for a record price between $3 billion and $5 billion. The Allen estate has hired Allen & Co. and Hogan Lovells to manage the sales process, which will continue into the 2025-26 NBA season. Potential bidders include billionaire Nike founder Phil Knight, who previously offered over $2 billion for the team in 2022.
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Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler files lawsuit against NCAA, challenging redshirt rule for fifth year of eligibility
Tennessee basketball player Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility, arguing the redshirt rule unfairly limits his playing and earning potential. Zeigler played four consecutive seasons without redshirting and claims the rule is an unlawful restraint of trade. He is seeking a preliminary injunction to compete in the 2025-26 season.
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Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian takes minority stake in Chelsea FC women’s team
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has purchased a 10% stake in Chelsea FC Women for 20 million pounds, valuing the team at 200 million pounds. Ohanian, who is also a part-owner of Angel City FC alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger, believes Chelsea FC Women has the potential to become a global women's sports brand and predicts that billion-dollar clubs in women's soccer will emerge in the near future.
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Power conferences working on contract to bind schools to new enforcement rules, with strict punishments
The power conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC) are drafting a contract that would require member schools to adhere to new enforcement rules and penalties for athlete compensation, even if state laws contradict them. Schools that refuse to sign risk being evicted from their conference. The contract would also exempt the College Sports Commission from lawsuits and require schools to pursue arbitration instead. This move aims to combat state laws that allow schools to bypass NCAA rules, but legal experts question the enforceability of such agreements, particularly for public universities.
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The Sky aren’t contenders. Sky-Fever is a box office rivalry anyway
The Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever have developed a significant rivalry in the WNBA, fueled by stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and proven by their record-breaking attendance and viewership. The Fever defeated the Sky on Saturday with a 35-point blowout win. Despite the competitive imbalance between the two teams, the hype persists and the tickets are continuing to sell. Last year’s June 23 game between the teams averaged 2.3 million viewers and was the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. The WNBA has scheduled five meetings between the teams, including three primetime games and two games at the United Center in Chicago.
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NFL votes to approve player participation in flag football at 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
The NFL announced that its players will be eligible to compete in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Each NFL team can send one player to the Olympics, plus an additional international player if designated. This move aligns with the NFL's vision to expand its international footprint and inspire new generations of players. The decision has been welcomed by the International Federation of American Football and the IOC, with anticipation building for potential matchups featuring NFL stars. The flag football tournament will feature six men's and six women's teams, each with 10 players, competing in a five-on-five format.
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The key to a $1.3T opportunity
A new real estate trend called co-ownership is revolutionizing a $1.3T market. Leading it? Pacaso. Led by former Zillow execs, they already have $110M+ in gross profits with 41% growth last year. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. But the real opportunity’s now. Until 5/29, you can invest for just $2.80/share.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
Start 3/Bench 1
⬆️ Brock Purdy. The San Francisco 49ers signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a $265 million, five-year extension, with $181 million in total guaranteed. - 49ers
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