- The First Whistle
- Posts
- The First Whistle: Leave the NCAA
The First Whistle: Leave the NCAA
Lowest ___ NBA Finals in years, PED use allowed in ___ ___, Peyton Manning joins ____ ownership, and MORE!
December 11, 2025
Hi ,
What if the SEC and Big 10 left the NCAA?
You may think that’s a crazy question, but ask yourself this: Why should they stay?
You are the two most powerful conferences in all of college sports. You generate the revenue. You have the media and licensing power. You own your narratives. You have all the leverage. So why be bound by the rules and restrictions of Big Brother?
Read here about why this isn’t as far-fetched as you may think. Scroll to the bench to find out how the changes could affect other conferences.
— Avery Glover
The SEC and Big 10 should... |
Current Offerings:
Pacers-Thunder Is lowest-payroll NBA Finals in years
The 2025 NBA Finals, featuring the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, marks the first time that neither finalist is a luxury-tax payer. With payrolls of $169 million and $165 million respectively, both teams are examples of successful roster building strategies that don’t exceed financial thresholds. Their paths to the Finals underscore the potential for small-market franchises to compete at the highest level through strategic planning and fiscal discipline.
|
PED use allowed in new Enhanced Games, set for May 2026
Enhanced Games will debut in May 2026 in Las Vegas, offering Olympic-style events where athletes can use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Backed by investors like Peter Thiel, the league is promising major financial incentives and positioning itself as a science-driven alternative to traditional anti-doping rules. Officials from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency are raising health concerns, but organizers say transparency and regulation will set a safer new standard in elite competition. |
U.S. group including 49ers Enterprises buys majority stake of Glasgow club Rangers
A U.S.-based consortium led by 49ers Enterprises and health insurance entrepreneur Andrew Cavenagh has acquired a 51% stake in Scottish soccer club Rangers. The group plans an immediate investment of £20 million ($27 million), pending shareholder approval. Cavenagh will serve as board chairman, with 49ers Enterprises president Paraag Marathe as vice chairman. They aim to elevate the club's performance and return it to the top of Scottish football.
|
Vince McMahon launches new company
Vince McMahon has established 14TH & I Holdings, a private investment firm focusing on the sports, media, and entertainment sectors. The company, registered in Connecticut, aims to engage in private equity investments and entertainment production. Former WWE executive Brad Blum is listed as president. This venture follows McMahon's resignation from WWE/TKO amid legal challenges and his sale of significant TKO shares.
|
Sha'Carri Richardson among adviser-owners of Athlos league
Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson has joined Gabby Thomas and Tara Davis-Woodhall as founding adviser-owners of Athlos, a new team-based track and field league launching in 2026. Designed by and for athletes, Athlos will feature city-hosted meets and a championship at the end of the season. Backed by Alexis Ohanian, the league aims to increase visibility and compensation for track stars while giving them a direct voice in its structure and growth.
|
Peyton Manning joins ownership group for Denver NWSL team: What to know
Peyton Manning has joined the ownership group for Denver’s upcoming NWSL franchise, set to debut in 2026. This marks his first venture into team ownership, adding to his growing post-NFL business portfolio. Manning joins a diverse group of investors, including Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and says he’s proud to support women’s sports and help build a club that represents Colorado.
|
As TNT NBA era ends, Charles Barkley calls ESPN move an ‘honor’
TNT officially ended its 36-year run of NBA coverage after the Pacers-Knicks series, with on-air talent offering emotional farewells. Ernie Johnson and Kevin Harlan emphasized gratitude, while Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley looked ahead to their move to ESPN. TNT’s “Inside the NBA” will continue under the new $77 billion media rights deal, airing on ESPN starting next season with the same cast and production team.
|
ChatGPT at Work: Free Resource Bundle
Power up your productivity with Mindstream's exclusive ChatGPT toolkit, designed for professionals who want to work smarter, not harder.
Your free bundle includes:
ChatGPT Decision Flowchart
Advanced Prompt Templates
2025 AI Productivity Guide
Task Automation Framework
Industry-Specific Use Cases
Join thousands of AI-powered professionals by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Get the complete bundle instantly after signup - no extra steps required.
The Father-Son Duo Revolutionizing Homebuilding
Paolo and Galiano Tiramani founded BOXABL with a disruptive idea: bring factory efficiency to homebuilding. Today, new homes can roll off their assembly lines in ~4 hours – already building 700+. Now, they’re prepping for Phase 2, combining modules into larger townhomes, single-family homes, and apartments. And until 6/24, you can share in their growth.
*This is a paid advertisement for Boxabl’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.boxabl.com/#circular
Start 3/Bench 2
⬆️ Saquon Barkley. Eagles star Saquon Barkley is the official cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, with the standard edition featuring his iconic backwards hurdle from last season. - Nick Shook
|
Friday Replay
Check out this week’s social media posts from Vestible and our founders 👇👇
