Month: November 2023

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban agreed to sell a majority of his NBA club to the family of Dr. Miriam Adelson, widow of the late GOP donor and majority shareholder in Las Vegas Sands, Sheldon Adelson. Patrick Dumont, Miriam Adelson’s son-in-law, now serves as the president and chief operating officer of the family’s Las Vegas Sands company, one of the world’s most well known hotel and gaming companies. Miriam Adelson has a fortune estimated at $33 billion by Bloomberg.

According a statement released by the NBA on behalf of the prospective new owners: “The Adelson and Dumont families have entered into binding purchase agreements to acquire majority ownership and the right to serve as Governor of the Dallas Mavericks.”  The Adelson and Dumont families said in the statement: “The Dallas Mavericks are one of the world’s most successful and recognizable sports franchises. The team has won an NBA championship, has a long history of attracting international superstars and has been supported by a dedicated and passionate fanbase and leadership group led by Mark Cuban…We look forward to partnering with Mark Cuban to build on the team’s success and legacy in Dallas and beyond.”

The statement indicates Cuban will maintain a significant role with the NBA franchise, and will keep partial ownership of the Mavericks franchise, remaining in control of basketball operations. The prospective new owners would be in control of the NBA’s seventh most valuable franchise, which is worth about $4.5 billion.

Miriam Adelson’s husband, Sheldon Adelson died in 2021 at 87.  Meanwhile, Cuban recently revealed that he would be leaving the ABC TV series “Shark Tank” after the show’s next season.

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The New York Jets announced they have opened the 21-day practice window for quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ comeback from a torn Achilles tendon, exactly 11 weeks after he had surgery. Rodgers turns 40-years-old on Saturday.

Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut with the Jets on Sept. 11 and had surgery two days later. The operation included a “speed bridge” procedure, which helps expedite the healing process. Jets Coach Robert Saleh said that Rodgers will be limited at practice and is not cleared for contact, and emphasized that it’s not a sign that Rodgers will play again this season – just the next part of the four-time NFL MVP’s rehabilitation process. Said Saleh: “For Aaron, what he will be doing in practice is no different than what he’d be doing on the field, with regards to certain drills and individual (drills). Instead of throwing with staff members, he’s throwing with teammates.”

The Jets will later make a decision whether to activate Rodgers, or if he’ll spend the rest of this season on injured reserve, at the end of the 21-day period. Sais Saleh: “We’re not there yet. A lot of guys coming off (injured reserve) are usually not ready to play football. There’s usually still a little bit of a health concern there. So you use these 21-day windows to see where they’re at. We’re so far away from that. But the mindset for this is more of a progression in his rehab. He’s been cleared for functional football activity. He’s not cleared to fully play football.”

Saleh said at a press conference:  “He’s sacrificed so much already for the organization…it’s a testament to who he is as a human … I think it’s sooner than anybody (anticipated), I think it’s a credit to him. I know we’re getting caught up in trying to create a narrative around him, but the true narrative is he’s old-school in the sense he is driven. Is there motivation to be the first to ever do it? Sure, but that’s OK. That’s his ‘why’ — that’s why he’s (doing it). It’s a mentality that I think young guys should be able to grab. He loves this organization, he wants to be with his teammates, he wants to be here.”

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The Athletic’s James Boyd reported that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shared that Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is set to undergo thumb surgery that will sideline him multiple weeks, posting on X:  “#Colts owner @JimIrsay confirms the injury and tells @RomeovilleKid that Jonathan Taylor will have surgery tomorrow and miss a couple weeks. Source says no decision on Injured Reserve yet. It’s possible and will be decided later this week.”

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport had earlier reported that Taylor had suffered a thumb injury that would put his status into doubt, but that no decision has been made as to whether Taylor will be placed on injured reserve, which would guarantee he would miss at least four games. Rapoport added that a decision will be made later this week.

Taylor missed the initial four games of the 2023 season due to an ankle injury sustained last year. Amid his injury woes, he was also involved in a contract standoff that concluded with him receiving a three-year, $42 million contract extension in October.

Taylor tallied a season-high 23 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown in a Week 10 win over the New England Patriots before rushing for a season-best 91 yards and two scores in 15 carries on Sunday in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing through the second half against the Bucs with his thumb injury

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According to a report from ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane is signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

The veteran Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery following the 2022-23 season and has been rehabbing ever since. The 35-year-old, three-time champion relocated his family to Toronto in order to rehab from surgery during the past six months.

Kane spent the first 16 seasons of his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks before the franchise traded him to the New York Rangers prior to last season’s trade deadline. where he registered just 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 regular-season games.  Kane has tallied 451 goals and 786 assists throughout his NHL career, while helping Chicago win three Stanley Cups in the 2010s. Kane currently has the fourth-most points among active players, while his goals are the sixth-most among active players.

Kane had met with several teams in recent weeks, including the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.  Kane will be reunited with star winger Alex DeBrincat on the Red Wings, who he skated on a line with during his time in Chicago.

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