🎣 Messi Takes The Bait

I often think about how I’m glad I don’t have to skydive to get my fill of adrenaline.

This week, I’m thankful I’m not rich enough to ever be tempted to submerge 13,000 ft to see the Titanic.

Here’s what’s on tap for today:

🗞 The Big Story: Messi’s Secret Saudi Deal

📉 Biggest Loser: Why NCAA 24 is Never Coming Out

🏆 Winner’s Circle: Wembanyama’s $1M Feet

🗞 The Big Story

The world has finally settled down after Messi made the decision to turn down a reported $1.6 billion from the Saudis and come to America to join MLS’s Inter Miami.

But even though the history books will likely reflect on this decision as an “inflection point” for American soccer that “stood in the face of Saudi Oil money,” that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Because the greatest footballer of all time actually did sell out to the Saudi Kingdom, he just got away with it.

Now, my initial take on Messi’s move to Inter Miami was that it was a lifestyle decision.

I mean, he already has a $9 million waterfront condo in South Beach and while I’ve never been to Riyadh, I don’t know how a city can get much better than aqua-blue water and 85 degrees year-round.

Not to mention the risk playing in a place like Saudi Arabia poses to the legacy of the G.O.A.T.

But as the dust has settled around the World Cup Champion, new details have emerged around Messi’s existing involvement with the Saudi government.

And it’s far more nefarious than putting on any jersey.

You see, in an exclusive report by the New York Times released on June 18th, an anonymous source shares the insane details of a contract Messi signed all the way back in January of 2021 to be an official tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.

This agreement is part of a laundry list of initiatives the Kingdom is undertaking to diversify its economy away from being so oil dependent and whitewash the fact that the country isn’t really all that great for women, LGBTQ+ folks, or people who disagree with the monarchy.

But nevertheless, Messi agreed to a deal that helps promote travel to the Gulf state and the terms of this contract are wild:

• Messi will be paid $2 million for a minimum of one family vacation per year lasting five days or two vacations of three days each.

  • All travel expenses and five-star accommodations were to be fully paid for by the Saudi government for Messi and up to 20 of his friends and family.

• Another $2 million will be paid to Messi for promoting Saudi Arabia on his social media accounts 10 times per year.

  • This is to be separate from the promotion of his vacations to the country.

• $2 million more is earmarked for his participation in an annual tourism campaign.

• With another $2 million to be paid for charitable work and appearances.

In total, Messi will be paid $25 million over 3 years - in spite of family members of Saudi dissidents urging him to reject the deal because of his role in helping “launder” the kingdom’s reputation.

But clearly, Messi felt that the opportunity to get paid millions to take an all-expenses-paid, five-star vacation was just too good to pass up.

It also seems like this deal played a much larger role in his decision to join Inter Miami than I previously thought.

I mean, if you consider Messi’s opportunity cost of going on a few vacations and posting on social media (things he was likely going to do anyways), that’s way easier and less risky than changing the trajectory of your whole career.

And besides, why put all of your eggs in one basket - especially when that basket kills journalists and is located in the middle of the desert?

They do, however, need to work on making Messi’s posts look less forced…

📉 Biggest Loser

Were you excited for NCAA 24 to be released next summer? Well, I have some bad news for you.

That ain’t happening.

Now, I predicted this back in May when it came out that each DI college football player - from Caleb Williams to the backup punter on James Madison - would be paid the same amount.

I estimated that the payout would be in the neighborhood of $2,000, but I gave EA Sports too much credit.

Since it’s now being reported that every athlete in the game will receive just $500 and no royalties.

But that’s not even the most interesting part.

That’s because back in 2021 and 2022 EA and a company called The Brandr Group had been in contact multiple times about EA’s plans to offer athletes NIL money to be featured in the game according to Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports.

This led The Brandr Group to start hiring itself out to 54 DI schools across the country to facilitate group licensing agreements with EA.

Essentially Brandr was going to help these schools and their athletes negotiate with EA to get everyone paid.

But then in May 2023, EA announced they were working with a different company, called OneTeam Partners, to help facilitate group licensing deals with athletes.

This new deal allows athletes to individually opt into being a part of NCAA 24 without the involvement of the Brandr Group.

Which, naturally, upset the Brandr Group which thought they were going to be the ones who would be facilitating those deals.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that The Brandr Group has publicly stated that they think $500 per athlete is below fair market value.

But they also allege that EA at some point said schools would be able to receive 10% of the revenue the game brings in.

And this is really what the whole lawsuit is about.

As Amanda Christovich points out on Twitter, this lawsuit isn’t about getting athletes paid more - it’s about the fact that The Brandr Group wants negotiating rights so they can get a piece of the pie.

And they’re essentially alleging that EA illegally cut them out of this deal.

Now, athletes and schools currently have until June 30th to opt into the game but after this mess, there’s no way this game is coming out next year.

Especially when it’s still not confirmed that the following 12 teams have agreed to be a part of the game:

• Air Force

• Arizona State

• Army

• Clemson

• Georgia State

• Kentucky

• Navy

• New Mexico

• Notre Dame

• Pittsburgh

• Troy

• USC

Via stickskills.com

🏆 Winner’s Circle

Here’s a little inside baseball; I write this newsletter every Thursday afternoon and release it on Friday morning.

But I don’t have to wait until Friday morning to know that Victor Wembanyama went first overall to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft.

In fact, I could bet $60,000 on that happening and only net $300.

But instead, I’ll keep that money and start investing in Wemby’s training routine that’s been developed to help the 7’5” Frenchman prevent the kind of foot injuries that have been plaguing NBA 7-footers for decades.

Part 1 - Sleep & Nutrition

Wembanyama trainer ensures the top draft pick eats five meals per day, consisting of all-natural foods.

Victor also gets 10-11 hours of sleep per night to ensure added stress and fatigue aren’t added to his 230 lbs. frame.

His trainer notes that the goal isn’t for Wemby to put on weight, it’s to strengthen the muscle that’s already there.

Part 2 - Hand-Eye Coordination Warm-Ups

Upon arriving at the arena, you’ll see Wemby start juggling tennis balls and go through a variety of other fast-twitch muscle exercises.

Part 3 - Foot & Core Mobility

Wembanyama’s feet are 14 5/12 inches long (size 21) and like most bigs, he’s at risk of stress fractures in his feet from supporting his massive frame.

That’s why his trainer puts him through a rigorous stretching routine which is done completely barefoot and includes exercises that are meant to strengthen both his core and his big toes.

Wemby’s trainer reportedly focuses most on the big toes by putting bands around them and forcing Victor to create tension by pulling them apart.

Now, it’s unclear how much this training regiment costs. It’s reported that LeBron spends $1.5M per year on his training, diet, and recovery.

Regardless, it’ll all be worth it if Wemby can make it to his supermax in one piece.

⏱ In Other News:

• The SEC announced they’ll be ditching divisions in 2024, and the BIG 10 quickly followed suit.

• A group of 25 athletes, including Joe Burrow, just invested $5 million into 100 acres of farmland in Northern Iowa.

• Michael Jordan is the best, worst basketball executive of all time

• The NBA is moving to Vegas in 2025 (probably)

If you made it this far, then you’d love the podcast I do every week!

This week we cover:

• The DraftKings vs. Fanatics sports betting battle

• Apple Vision Pro’s plan to take on sports

• The rise of TikTok’s sports godfather, Frank Michael Smith

• We draft sports leagues we’d most want an expansion franchise in

Also available on Apple Podcasts

👋 I’ll be back next week, leave a comment with suggestions for topics… I don’t get many so you know I’ll see them lol