#81: My New Year's Wishlist

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. It's nice to have a goal to work toward, of course. If not, what has this all been about?

But resolutions can handcuff you, giving you a sense of failure if you don't complete the goal(s) that you put in front of you.

Instead, I like to have a wishlist. Some of the items on the wishlist are things that I'm directly in control of, while the others are items that are out of my control.

Hence the wishing.

A WNBA and WNBPA CBA Resolution

We are now reaching two months since the initial deadline for the WNBA and WNBPA CBA negotiations. And the latest news is that the WNBPA has approved a strike "when necessary."

Now, I'm of the belief that we can already consider what has happened a work stoppage, and it's semantics to argue otherwise.

I had a nice back and forth with ESPN's Kevin Pelton about that on Bluesky.

I respect Kevin's perspective, but it really is semantics. The big issue in the way is free agency, which is coming up in the matter of weeks – at least for negotiations.

The two sides still seem to be worlds apart. It may involve Adam Silver and more NBA men at the table, which yikes.

The league responded with the following:

The two sides are still looking to close the gap on many issues, including salaries, revenue sharing values, and housing.

With the news that Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets, wants to buy the Connecticut Sun and move them to Houston to revive the Comets, it's actually a strike against the league.

Please, tell me, why the NBA and its owners are continuing to buy up franchises for tens of and hundreds of millions of dollars when "the league constantly loses money."

It's because it's bullshit. It's a trite talking point that has been used for years, but as the team valuations continue to soar, it doesn't allow WNBA teams or the league to cry poor anymore. So by arguing that they won't increase the revenue sharing to the requested 50 percent – to fall in line with the NBA – they'll need a new slant.

Let's look at The Athletic's reporting for the latest:

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association recently proposed that players receive roughly 30 percent of total league and team revenue, sources with knowledge of the discussions told The Athletic. Under the WNBA’s latest salary system proposal, players would receive less than 15 percent of total league and team revenue, with that percentage decreasing over the life of the CBA, based on the league’s revenue projections.

In the union’s proposal, the salary cap would be determined by taking the players’ share of the previous season’s total revenue, subtracting the cost of various player benefits, and dividing that number by the number of teams, sources said. Some of those benefits include medical insurance costs, local transportation costs and housing. The union is proposing mandatory league and team audits to ensure accurate accounting and transparency, the sources said.

In the first year of the agreement, players would receive 29 percent of the prior season’s gross revenue, with a one-time adjustment applied to reflect the WNBA’s new 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal going into effect next season. In each subsequent season, the players’ share of total league and team revenue would increase by one percent, with players earning 34 percent of the prior season’s gross revenue in the final year of the proposed CBA.

As previously reported, the WNBA is proposing a system in which a portion of league revenue would be shareable, with 50 percent of that portion going to players. How that shareable metric is determined is unclear, but it is not expected to comprise the league’s total revenue. It would result in average salaries projected to be at least $500,0000 and a projected $1.2 million of total compensation for max players in the first year of the agreement. The latter figure would be expected to rise over the agreement’s duration.

More Teams Trying

This can be applied across sports, but I'm looking at baseball with this one. It is so refreshing to have a team that I root for actually care and try. The Blue Jays came within inches of winning the World Series this past year, and instead of resting on their yannys, they have actively improved their team this offseason with the signings of Dylan Cease, Cody Pence, and Tyler Rogers. They are still in the mix for Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, too.

Even the Pittsburgh Pirates look like they are trying this offseason. Now, there is a lot of "being interested in" top free agents and then what they are actually doing. But the Pirates acquired Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, and Jhostynxon Garcia.

Not quite your Blue Jays or Dodgers signings, but still good moves to improve their team.

The Angels are taking a different approach by looking at different reclamation projects, while the Orioles are looking to ignore last year's disappointment by signing Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley and trading for Shane Baz.

It's why it's frustrating to see so many teams sit there and do nothing. Both New York teams come to mind, as well as the Cincinnati Reds who were going after Kyle Schwarber because he's from that area in hopes that it would boost ticket sales.

Try to win. I promise that your fans want that more than anything.

Finding a Home for my ACL Story

I worked on a story in March and April – a story that was two-plus years in the works – after getting the green light from my editor at The Athletic. It was an in-depth piece about ACL injuries in women athletes and the science behind it.

I spoke to so many experts on the record, including top surgeons, athletic directors, athletes, and coaches for the piece.

I'm proud of how it turned out.

But the issue is ... I was ghosted. I filed my pieces for March Madness, and after filing that piece, I haven't heard from the editor since. Texts. Emails. Calls.

Nothing.

So, the piece is sitting in limbo.

I can either bill The Athletic and get paid for the work, but then I would forfeit the ability to use the piece elsewhere, which is the goal.

I've had a few places show interest, but they are smaller places. Usually I don't care about that, but when I went on the record with these folx, they were told it would be for The Athletic.

I have to have it run at a place that is comparable for those professional relationships.

I'm not giving up on it. I've sent it to a number of places, and I'll keep sending it around.

It's a really good piece. I just want to find it a home.

A Milestone Birthday Getaway

I don't care about 5s and 10s. We rely on them too much. I used to set meeting times at a job for 10:03 to 10:33 for example.

I was told to stop it.

But for my 40th next year, I find myself caring about it more. I'm not sure if it's a mid-life breakdown or anything like that, but I want to celebrate the time that I have here.

Who knows if I make it to 50, you know?

So I have the goal in mind to take a birthday getaway with just me.

I just don't know what is acceptable and what isn't.

A week away? Ten days? International? Staycation? Baseball stadium tour? Covering a WNBA game in Toronto?

I have a lot to figure out, but I really want to do this, so I hope this helps with accountability.

NIL Governing Body

I'm happy that the players are finally getting paid. I wasn't always in that camp. I remember, distinctly, in 2015, I was playing basketball with my friends Andrew and John.

I argued that players shouldn't be paid because they were students.

Wow, way to lick to boot, Waterloo.

I was wrong. I was really wrong.

But while I am thrilled that they are getting paid, I do think there needs to be some type of governing body around NIL. I know there's no single governing body, but rather a complex system at play.

But it makes it hard following players and caring what they do at a school knowing there's a good chance they will transfer the following year.

Get your bag and go to the place that gives you the best opportunity, but there were more than 11,000 college football players who entered the transfer portal after the 2024 season.

There has to be a middle ground, no?

Growing My Audience Here

My numbers have been pretty stagnant here, and that's OK. I'm at 111 subscribers, and I've averaged about one per month over the last couple of months.

This is for fun, so I'm not too concerned about it, but I do want to make sure that I keep this engaging and entertaining.

What's the solution?

I'm not sure, honestly. I stick to just Bluesky and Instagram, so maybe that limits my reach?

Perhaps a watchalong or a giveaway?

Tell a friend to tell a friend. Let me know if you have topics or guests you want to see here.

I'm open to ideas.

Until Next Time

The fact is, I'm tired and running on fumes. I'm off work until January 5, so I'm looking forward to recharging. I'm planning to put a newsletter out Friday, but if I don't, I'll see you here next week in this spot.

Have a great holiday!

I love you awesome nerds.