Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Let's get right to it.
Good morning to everyone but especially to...
Getty ImagesMIKE GRIER
Yesterday, the San Jose Sharks hired Mike Grier to be the team's general manager. He will be the first Black general manager in NHL history.
Grier, 47, played 14 seasons as a right-winger in the NHL, most recently in 2010-11. He suited up for the Oilers, Capitals, Sabres and Sharks and played over 1,000 career games, amassing 162 goals and 221 assists.Following his playing days, Grier served as a scout for the Blackhawks from 2014-18. He was the Rangers' hockey operations advisor last season.Grier's older brother is Dolphins GM Chris Grier, and their father, Bobby, has worked as an NFL coach and executive and is currently a consultant with the Dolphins.Mike Grier joins San Jose at a time of major change. Doug Wilson stepped down from the job in November after nearly two decades with the franchise, and Grier will replace interim GM Joe Will. The Sharks fired head coach Bob Boughner on Friday and have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, the longest drought in franchise history.
Oh, and free agency begins one week from today.
Honorable mentions
Chet Holmgren's NBA Summer League debut: 23 points (on nine shots!), seven rebounds, six blocks, four assists. That'll do.Max Scherzer struck out 11 in his return from the IL.Robert Griffin III says he's ready to return to the NFL.And not such a good morning for...
THE PAC-12
The offseason of conference realignment has taken another huge turn: The Big 12 is in "deep discussions" to add several Pac-12 teams, as first reported by CBS Sports college football insider Dennis Dodd.
Though the Big 12 is already adding BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in 2023, given those last two bullet points, the Big 12 "cannot afford to... stand pat," a source told CBS Sports. And it doesn't appear it will. Here's why:
Dodd: "Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah bring an annual average value (AAV) that at least matches the 12 members of the Big 12 set to remain with the league once Texas and Oklahoma leave in 2025. ... The Pac-12's projected AAV dropped significantly from $500 million annually (approximately $42 million per school) to $300 million ($30 million) for the remaining 10 teams after the league lost USC and UCLA..."This is, obviously, another huge blow to the Pac-12, which entered negotiations for its next media rights deal yesterday. While Colorado pledged its commitment to the Pac-12, the flagship programs have already decided to leave, and more could be on the way out shortly.
The Pac-12 said it would start exploring expansion options last week, but the conference is very much in a state of utter chaos. As of last night, the Pac-12 and ACC were discussing a "loose partnership" that could include a championship game in Las Vegas. You can follow our realignment tracker in the following days to stay up to date with all of this craziness (friendly hint: You're probably going to need it).
