As Gotham FC's governor and lead owner, Carolyn Tisch Blodgett is capitalizing on the moment: she's turning a championship soccer club into a breakout New York brand with the reach, relevance, and staying power to lead the next era of sports.
Tisch Blodgett — shared her approach to investing in women's athletics, including leveraging fandoms and AI technologies, as part of Business Insider's The Long Play.
Interviewed by Nathan McAlone, Business Insider's deputy editor covering media and advertising, Tisch Blodgett said that her marketing background has been invaluable for building strategy in the business of sports.
Carl Timpone / BFA
New York Giants and Gotham FC co-owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett is betting on AI to transform women's sports into a major moneymaker.
"If AI can make you more efficient, that totally changes where women's sports can go," Tisch Blodgett said at Business Insider's The Long Play event on Thursday afternoon.
Tisch Blodgett, who's the lead owner of Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League, sees AI as a way to reduce the costs of running a sports business without cutting corners.
"There's a lot of parts of a sports team that are just expensive to operate. It's expensive to operate a stadium, it's expensive to operate a ticketing team, expensive to operate a marketing team," Tisch Blodgett said.
Those struggles are heightened for women's sports, which historically haven't gotten the same level of investment as men's sports.
Carl Timpone / BFA
"The revenue was not high enough to really justify building out an entire business team, and the business model just didn't really work," Tisch Blodgett said of women's sports.
Tisch Blodgett made a name for herself by starting sports-focused venture capital firm Next 3, which has invested in Gotham FC, the Los Angeles Golf Club in golf league TGL, Premier Lacrosse League, and lottery ticket site Jackpot.com.
The Gotham FC owner has had a front-row seat to running sports since she was a kid: Her family bought half of the NFL's New York Giants in 1991. The Tisch family runs Loews Corporation, a hotel and insurance conglomerate worth about $22.9 billion.
Under the Tisch's ownership, the Giants have won two Super Bowls. Tisch Blodgett has already matched that title count in the three years she's owned Gotham FC — though building a winner hasn't been easy.
Tisch Blodgett felt firsthand the challenges that women's sports teams face after taking over Gotham FC in 2023. The New York-based team had talent, as it went on to bring home its first title months later.
But success on the pitch hadn't translated to a winning business. Gotham FC didn't have its own business office when Tisch Blodgett took over, and players shared a practice field with a club team of 16-year-old boys.
While Gotham FC had "a great product on the field," Tisch Blodgett said, "attendance was really low" due to a lack of awareness.
"It was clear that the people that came really liked it, but it was very small," Tisch Blodgett said of Gotham FC's fanbase in 2023.
Carl Timpone / BFA
Tisch Blodgett has since flipped the script. This July, Gotham FC sold out Citi Field in Queens, drawing over 42,000 fans in what she said was the biggest women's sports event ever in New York City.
Gotham FC announced in July that it would call Queens home starting in 2028 — a major upgrade from its current stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, which is difficult to reach from New York City by public transit.
One key to Gotham FC's success has been gathering feedback. Tisch Blodgett, who led marketing for fitness giant Peloton before starting Next 3, said learning from fans "makes the whole business smarter" and has been crucial to the soccer club's growth.
"Fan feedback is incredibly important to me — it's how we run our organization," Tisch Blodgett said. "After every game, we send out a survey to every person that attended, essentially saying, 'Did you like it? Would you recommend it to a friend?'"
Gotham FC's Net Promoter Score — which measures how likely customers are to recommend the brand to a friend — rivals Apple, Tisch Blodgett said.
"It makes every person in the organization understand what we're building towards in a much more efficient way," Tisch Blodgett said.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis is recovering after going through a medical emergency, his father announced.
Lewis suffered the emergency while in the Buffaloes’ facility on Wednesday and was quickly transported to a hospital.
It’s unknown what exactly Lewis is dealing with, but his father wrote a statement on X explaining the situation.
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"He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support," T. Carlton Lewis wrote. "Please respect Julian and the Lewis family’s privacy. We will have no further comment at this time."
The Buffaloes responded to OutKick’s request for comment.
"Colorado Athletics extends our full support to JuJu and his family through this medical emergency. He remains in the thoughts of every CU player, coach, and staff member and we will continue to assist in any way we can in his full recovery. His health and well-being remain our top priority during this time," the statement said.
Lewis, a 19-year-old sophomore with the Buffaloes, began the season as the team’s starting quarterback. However, head coach Deion Sanders made the decision to bench him after four games.
His last appearance came on Sept. 26, a loss to the Baylor Bears, before the ball was turned over to junior Isaac Wilson.
It hasn’t been much better for Wilson, though, as the Buffaloes are 0-3 since he took over on offense. The Buffaloes are now 2-5 on the year and dead last in the Big 12 with an 0-4 conference record.
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The day before Lewis suffered his medical emergency, Sanders was asked by the media if he’d turn back to his sophomore signal caller because of the skid for his team.
"That’s on him," Sanders responded, via BuffsTV. "I don’t think you could find a player in this program — or you may could find some bitter players that have left and didn’t want to leave, but life is what it is — but I don’t treat people unfairly. I don’t play games with young men and their careers and hate on folks.
"If I’m anything, I’m too forgiving and very, very kind. …You’ve got to always understand that we may know a little more than you do, because we’re inside the locker room. We’re there. We understand what happens."
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This season, Lewis has thrown for 733 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions across his four starts.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that traffic jams are the absolute worst.
There is nothing more infuriating than coming home from work or driving to an event like a game or a concert and seeing nothing but brake lights ahead.
If you're anything like me, after the blinding rage wears off, you often wonder what caused the jam to begin with.
Usually, it's because some idiot missed his exit and decided to merge across six lanes of traffic or a college kid who's home on break was texting and driving before rear-endeding someone, but how about when a longhorn busts loose from the farm and leads the cops on a wild chase across a two-lane road?
What, you've never had that happen to you before?
MISSING 1200-POUND GIRAFFE GRACIE FOUND 2 WEEKS AFTER WANDERING AWAY FROM RANCH IN VIRAL SEARCH
It turns out several of the motorists in Putnam County, New York, were treated to a traffic jam of bovine origins when a four-year-old cow named Maggie caused a pileup when she escaped from the friendly confines of Little Cabin's Farm in nearby Carmel, NY.
The video is absolutely hysterical (mostly because I'm not the one behind the wheel) and features police cars and civilians alike trying (and failing) to wrangle the clearly agitated animal as she darts in between several stopped vehicles.
One of the civilians is even seen brandishing a tree branch to use as a whip to try and corral Maggie back onto the other side of the road.
While traffic is at a dead stop in the one lane, the oncoming lane has cars driving at full speed, and one of them even had to slam on their brakes as Maggie scampered back to the grassy shoulder.
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VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS MASSIVE BISON POPPING TOURIST VEHICLE'S TIRE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
She's lucky some Kia didn't turn her into ground beef!
According to local news affiliate WABC, Maggie was on the loose for four days before finally being brought home, giving drivers all over Putnam County a reason to breathe easier.
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What's even crazier is that Maggie is also pregnant, which might explain some of her erratic behavior.
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All's well that ends well, though, and it's nice to know she's back on the farm where she belongs.
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.
Over the hump and safely onto the other side of the week. Is this the biggest weekend of the year to date?
I think it might be.
We've got football all weekend long, obviously. Duh. More importantly, we also have Halloween, which lands on a Saturday. I did some big J digging, and it's the last time that'll happen until 2037. True story. Eleven years! Lord knows what this place will look like in 11 years, but I assume if this column is somehow still alive, it'll be run by a robot. That's almost a guarantee.
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Beyond all of that, we also get an extra hour of Halloween this weekend! That's right. The dreaded "fall back" weekend is upon us. I loved this time of year in college, but that was, admittedly, a long time ago. Nothing hit better than being at a party and seeing the iPhone 4 clock switch back to 1 a.m.
It was the best.
But I have kids now, and they do not care what the clock says. So, come Sunday morning when it says 5:30, they'll be up and ready to roll.
"Just put them to bed later!"
Doesn't work for a 2-year-old, folks. They don't care. Hard hats on, parents. We're all in this together.
On that note, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Lane Kiffin, somehow, finds something else to complain about. College football fans ain't having it.
Nor should they.
What else? I've got Paige Spiranac teasing her Halloween costume ahead of the big day, another subdued baseball celebration last night, and where did this MLB postseason rank for you?
I gotta be honest ... it wasn't great. And now we're going into a lockout.
The vibes aren't the best right now! But we'll get into it.
Grab you a tiny violin for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!
Let's get this ball rolling, because the rain has finally stopped here in Florida for the first time since Sunday and I've got a pumpkin patch to get to before it starts back up.
Big weekend of college football, as I said earlier. Now, I hate to jump ahead a week, but Lane Kiffin has left me no choice.
For about six months now, fans have had Nov. 7 circled on their calendars. It's shaping up to be, arguably, the greatest weekend of college football ever.
And, of course, Alabama-LSU. That's the big one, right?
... Right?
...... RIGHT?!
"If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what’s been going on, they must have just been on Mars the last four months. So I guess when I look at it that way, I’m not surprised."
So, Lane Kiffin sent shots at the SEC for next weekend's big game not being in primetime, which is hilarious for a couple different reasons.
So, when Lane was at Ole Miss, everyone was out to get him. Now, he's at LSU and ... everyone's out to get him?
See a pattern? It's silly. I used to love Lane Kiffin, by the way. He was a content machine. He was fun, and likable, and somewhat relatable.
Now? I think he just whines a lot.
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I'm not alone:
For what it's worth, LSU is 1-7 since 2012 against Alabama in night games in Baton Rouge. Perhaps Lane should be thanking ESPN/SEC for this one?
OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big night of FOOTBALL!
PS: I know there's an NFL game on tonight, but don't forget about college. Did you know there's a game on ESPN tonight with an OVER/UNDER set at 76.5?!
That's right. North Texas and FAU. A biggie. Does anyone here have the stones to take the over when it's at that number? I think I'll dabble.
Speaking of stones ... how about the Milwaukee Brewers just quietly completing one of the most dominant postseason runs of all time? Think about it.
They manhandles the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and then pretty much had their way with Tampa ...
And then treated winning it all like they'd just polished off a three-game sweep of the Marlins in June:
Thoughts? I've honestly thought all the celebrations this postseason have been pretty t(l)ame. There's certainly something to be said about "acting like you've been there before."
I get that ...
Except this was Milwaukee's first ever World Series title! And that's what we got? I don't know. Just seemed a bit off.
Frankly, this whole postseason did:
I love baseball. I watch every Red Sox game all year long. I'm a 162-er. I'm not trying to knock it here ... but yeah, it was a bad postseason. Sometimes it just happens, right?
The best part was watching the Dodgers lose. I think we can all agree on that, right? But otherwise, there really weren't any moments. I guess you could point to Milwaukee's walk-off against Mason Miller a month ago as a pivotal moment. That was fun.
But you just never really felt it, right? Again, sometimes that's just the way it goes. You're not gonna bat a thousand every year.
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Regardless, we're gonna be BEGGING for one of these games in about six months when all we're talking about is salary caps and floors.
Sadly, winter is here — and I fear it's gonna be a long one.
OK, that's it for today. I'll be damned if I end it on a sour note, so here's Paige Spiranac's Halloween tease on the way out.
Zoinks!
Sophie Cunningham said on a podcast that she has at least 20 stalkers threatening her and that the FBI is investigating the harassers.
The post Sophie Cunningham Says FBI is Investigating ’20 Stalkers’ Threatening Her appeared first on Breitbart.
The Chicago Bears are going all-in.
The Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and 2027 fourth-round pick, the Titans announced Thursday.
The cost is steep, as Simmons is the first defensive tackle since 1967 to be traded for multiple first-round picks, according to ESPN. Since the Titans drafted Simmons with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has been one of the best defensive tackles in football.
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The four-time Pro Bowler has recorded 414 tackles and 46.5 sacks in 106 career games. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the organization is forever grateful for Simmons.
"There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ’Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes," Strunk said in a statement.
"Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team."
The Bears are 5-2, and the acquisition of Simmons will help shore up a questionable defensive line. While the Bears are still generating plenty of sacks, those have largely come from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs rather than defensive linemen.
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Simmons, who led the Titans with four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended, is a major upgrade to a defensive front that has ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate since Dennis Allen took over as defensive coordinator in 2025. The Bears' 28.8% pressure rate is tied for 20th in the NFL, according to StatRankings.
Not only are the Bears adding Simmons to their defensive line, but star defensive end Montez Sweat is also set to return on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks after a two-game suspension.
At 5-2, the Bears are second in the NFC North behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (6-0). The Bears hope adding Simmons can help them overtake the Vikings atop the standings and earn a home playoff game in January.
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Simmons will help the Bears not only this season but also for the next several years after signing a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2030 season.
The Titans, on the other hand, are 1-6 and have traded away one of their franchise cornerstones. Entering the season, they hoped to contend in the AFC South with new coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, entering his second season.
Instead, they are in the AFC’s basement and appear further away from contention than ever, as Ward has struggled mightily this season.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive Thursday. Perhaps more importantly, they spared the WNBA a title celebration in the middle of a workday.
The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 at State Farm Arena, evening the best-of-seven Finals at 3-3 and forcing a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Reese struggled to shoot the ball for a third consecutive game, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. She grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists but also committed six turnovers.
THE WNBA'S DRAMA-FILLED SEASON COMES TO A CRASHING END
That made it three straight games with more turnovers than made field goals for the Dream star. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Reese shot 9-for-38 from the floor (24%) and turned the ball over 15 times.
This time, Atlanta had enough offense around her. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21, combining to make nine of their 13 three-point attempts.
Their shooting also ensured that the WNBA’s championship would be decided in prime time.
The league moved Game 6 from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to 12:30 p.m. Thursday to accommodate an arena doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State fans back home had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. to watch their team try to win its first title.
There had also been questions about where the Valkyries would celebrate if they won.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that a championship celebration could be moved to a practice court to accommodate preparations for the Hawks game. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to make sure any championship won Thursday was celebrated on the court.
But that sounded an awful lot like damage control from the WNBA. Winning a championship and then moving the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needed the floor would have been a terrible look for the league.
Atlanta’s win made the issue moot.
The crowd deserved credit for showing up under the circumstances. State Farm Arena was largely filled for a Thursday afternoon, although there were more empty seats and the building was quieter at the start than it had been for Games 3 and 4.
Fans who spoke with OutKick outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and difficult travel times to attend. Tiffany Hayes’ father, Renard Hayes, blamed the league and Atlanta for the scheduling predicament.
DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT BEFORE TI’S 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SINGS WNBA FINALS ANTHEM
Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, this time performed by rapper T.I.’s 10-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris. It was their sixth consecutive absence during the Finals.
Once the game began, Atlanta quickly took control.
The Dream made six of their eight first-quarter three-point attempts and built a 32-15 lead. Reese made only one of her four shots in the period, but contributed four assists, including passes that set up three of Atlanta’s threes.
Atlanta pushed its advantage to 25 points in the second quarter and took a 46-26 lead into halftime.
Golden State narrowed the deficit in the third, but Atlanta still led 63-47 entering the fourth.
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Reese scored five points in the final period, making a driving layup and a three-pointer with Atlanta already leading by double digits. She finished 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.
The Valkyries eventually got within eight. Gabby Williams completed a three-point play with 1:15 remaining, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 77-69 and fouling Howard out of the game.
Gray answered on the next possession, making a three-pointer off a Reese assist with 56 seconds left. That restored Atlanta’s double-digit lead and provided the final points of the afternoon.
Gray finished 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. Howard made four of her six three-point attempts, while Atlanta went 13-for-30 as a team.
Williams led Golden State with 26 points but shot 8-for-22. The Valkyries made just 22 of their 70 field-goal attempts.
Kiah Stokes, whose defense had been a major factor throughout the series, went scoreless and failed to block a shot in 20 minutes. That ended her streak of six consecutive playoff games with at least three blocks.
Reese and the Dream head to San Francisco for Game 7, with both franchises one win from their first championship.
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And the WNBA gets to award its trophy Saturday night, with no Hawks game waiting on the same floor.
William Contreras is on top of the world right now.
The Milwaukee Brewers star catcher was named World Series MVP for his outstanding performance at the plate and behind the dish. During the process of the Brewers’ 4-1 series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Contreras also made history.
During the series, he stole a base and threw out four runners attempting to steal, including American League stolen base leader Chandler Simpson. He became the first catcher since Bill Dickey of the New York Yankees in 1938 to steal a base and throw out the opposing team's leading base stealer in a World Series victory, according to OptaSTATS.
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"I don’t want to offend any of the other catchers in the league. The last thing I want to do is offend any of them," Contreras said, speaking through a translator. "But sitting up here today, champion of the world, I feel like I’m the best catcher in the league. Again, that’s no disrespect to any of them. That’s the last thing I want to do. But today I feel like I’m the best catcher in the world."
Throwing out Simpson is no easy feat, as he stole 46 bases during the regular season and five more in the postseason.
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The 28-year-old catcher was omnipresent during the World Series, hitting .381 with four RBI while anchoring the Brewers’ elite pitching staff, which held the Rays to just 11 runs in five games. Contreras also excelled with the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, winning 10 of his 13 challenges.
"He's our pit bull. You don’t just walk up and pet him. There’s a chance you get nipped," manager Pat Murphy said.
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Contreras became the eighth catcher to be named World Series MVP, joining Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (1981 co-winner), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.
Contreras has been a linchpin in the Brewers' lineup since they acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. This season, Contreras hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 147 games before elevating his performance in the postseason.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour recently told Reason's Nick Gillespie there's a "big group" of lawmakers in both parties who are "actually" in favor of prediction market platforms. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown is not one of them.
On Wednesday, Brown filed criminal charges in state court against Kalshi, Mansour, and fellow co-founder and chief operating officer Luana Lopes Lara. Mansour, Lopes Lara, and Kalshi are charged with one count of general gambling promotion, a class A misdemeanor; one count of pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony; and 12 counts of online gambling promotion, a third-degree felony.
The feud between Kalshi and Utah has been brewing for quite some time. In August, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby found that federal law did not preempt Utah from enforcing its anti-gambling laws against Kalshi, meaning the platform could not legally operate in the Beehive State. Last week, Utah filed a civil suit against the prediction platform alleging it had continued to engage in a "brazen pattern of unlawful conduct." The criminal case comes a day after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed its lawsuit to block Utah from enforcing its anti-gambling laws against Kalshi.
Even though it's been illegal to use Kalshi in Utah since August, Special Agent Scott Eggerman of the Attorney General's Office was able to "create an undercover Kalshi account, using an undercover name and an undercover Visa Debit Card," according to Wednesday's complaint.
All of Eggerman's personal user information identified him as a Utah resident with a local phone number and bank account through a "Utah-based banking establishment." Over two weeks, Eggerman spent $114.87 on a dozen wagers spread across the NFL, MLB, a local college football game, and a Major League Soccer match involving Utah-based Real Salt Lake. In one instance, he lost $20 on a wager that the Troy Trojans football team would upset the Utah State Aggies.
Utah argues Eggerman should never have been able to set up an account, let alone place any wagers on the platform. When Kalshi challenged Shelby's ruling, it asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit for an injunction while the appeal proceeded. However, in September, the 10th Circuit denied Kalshi's request for an injunction pending appeal, meaning Shelby's order remained in effect while the court considered the case.
"A federal court has already ruled that Utah's gambling laws apply to Kalshi," Brown told Deseret News. "Kalshi kept taking bets from Utahns anyway. That is illegal, and we're putting a stop to it."
Utah joins Arizona as the only two states to pursue criminal charges against Kalshi. However, the prediction platform has more than 20 lawsuits and cease and desist actions pending across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The issue might soon come before the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the NFL, 39 states, and Washington, D.C., filed amicus briefs, arguing that conflicting decisions in the 6th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeals left them unsure whether the states or the CFTC has regulatory authority over prediction markets.
Kalshi is a supporter of Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes Reason. In a statement to the Deseret News, a Kalshi spokesperson called the criminal charges a "crazy overreach" and said Brown was "playing politics." With Shelby's ruling still in effect, so long as Utah considers Kalshi a gambling platform, its continued operation violates state law. Still, the criminal charges are an attempt to strong-arm Kalshi into acquiescing to his demands instead of letting the pending court case play out.
Utah acknowledges that there's been a "rapid increase in volume on the Kalshi platform" from users in the Beehive State. Yet its attorney general seems intent on restricting adults in the state from spending their money as they see fit.
The post Utah Files Criminal Charges Against Kalshi Co-Founders appeared first on Reason Magazine.
© Ricardo Arduengo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
If you're a fan of a team that's struggling, it's easy to feel like your home stadium or arena is haunted, and a new survey just crowned the most haunted sports venue in North America.
Arlington, Texas' AT&T Stadium takes the top spot, which makes sense because on more than one occasion we've seen expressions on the faces of Dallas Cowboys players as if they had just seen a ghost.
This info comes to us from The Sports Geek, which employed a more scientific approach to this than I've ever seen in an episode of "Ghost Hunters."
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They scored 47 venues across the US and Canada based on their haunted lore, age, proximity to burial sites, and, finally, an "other" category for the rest of each one's ghoulish attributes.
In a shocker, Jerry's World — which opened in only 2009 — out-ghosted Dodger Stadium and 112-year-old Wrigley Field for the top spot.
Man, this really puts my long-running argument of there being no new ghosts to shame...
Former stadium employee Selena Sixtos wrote an article in 2018 for Dallas Sports Fanatics in which she cites several odd occurrences. These included some poltergeist-like activity in a kitchen, a chill around a room named after legendary coach Tom Landry, and an incident in which she heard someone in a bathroom stall, only for it to be unoccupied.
Which, in fairness, is actually way down the list of scary things to find in a stadium restroom, but creepy nonetheless.
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The stadium is also built next to a graveyard, per The Dallas Observer, and a worker was killed in an accident during its construction. That helps account for why it was able to overcome its comparatively young age.
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The most shocking thing of all is that the stadium might be the first to top a "most haunted" list with no sightings of Civil War soldiers or early or 20th-century widows.
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I like that. Nice to see ghosts switching it up a little.
College basketball season is almost here, and it is one of my favorite times of the year. I love basketball in general, and getting more of it is even better. When the season starts, we usually see a lot of mismatches because many teams start their season against inferior opponents. However, we also see a lot of softer lines as the books try to figure out how the teams are playing. Before the games start, it makes sense to look at some future bets because we can hold onto them and hedge later on.
As with many seasons, Duke comes in as one of the betting favorites. Duke is +550 to win the national championship right now. I think that is mostly because they do have one of the best recruiting classes in basketball, but they also are a public team. You typically either love or hate the team. I am not expecting them to win every game, but they shouldn't have more than three or four losses in the regular season. I don't think there is much value in betting on them at +500.
Florida is the next favorite in the market at +600. That's mostly because of their returning players rather than a recruiting class. They don't even rank in the top 100 this season. The Gators went 27-8 last year, and they won the Championship two years ago. Considering they have three of their top four leading scorers returning from last year, they should be in a strong position. They have a lot of upperclassmen as well, which usually means they are a bit more poised and should be ready to go. I like them better than Duke, but I think there are better options overall.
FLORIDA GATORS' RUEBEN CHINYELU WITHDRAWS FROM NBA DRAFT, LIKELY CEMENTS UF AS PRESEASON NUMBER ONE
UConn has won two of the past four national championships. They were in contention to win again last year. They return Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball this season, which gives them a strong backcourt. Their recruiting class ranks 18th overall in the nation. They also added some really good players in the transfer portal, including Nikolas Khamenia and Najai Hines. I am an open Dan Hurley hater, but he's good at his job. I will grab UConn at +1250 to win the title, as I think this team will make at least an Elite 8 appearance.
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Texas has the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation for this season. The big key for the Longhorns will be seeing how everyone can gel together. Most of the transfers are four-star recruits, but I don't really think any of them had super impressive seasons last year. They have two forwards coming from high school who already played together at Dynamic Prep in Dallas, Texas. That could provide some familiarity right away. Texas at +1900 is worth a look, but I don't think they win the national title, so this is mostly a hedge ticket.
Kansas hasn't quite been the elite team we've seen in previous years. However, they have a good recruiting class coming into their program this year. Tyran Stokes, the top incoming freshman, is going to lead the squad. He comes to a Kansas team that was 24-11 last year. The Jayhawks lost Darryn Peterson, but they also lost the other three leading scorers. The Jayhawks have a good coach, and I do think there will be some struggles early, but they have the potential to come together and win the championship. I'll grab them at +3000 as well.
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Charles Barkley did not appreciate seeing LeBron James practicing his golf swing on the court during the middle of the national anthem ahead of his Philadelphia 76ers debut earlier this month.
President Donald Trump blasted James after the incident, calling him a "total disgrace," and while Barkley made it a point to say he doesn't care what the President has to say about anything, the two see eye to eye when it comes to James disrespecting the anthem.
"I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all," Barkley began when asked about the moment on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing your golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever where you can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem."
This is not the first time James has decided that the middle of the national anthem was an opportune time to work on his golf swing.
Last Christmas, while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, James got in a few practice swings ahead of his team's eventual loss to the Houston Rockets.
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While Barkley mentioned always being allowed to protest, it doesn't appear that James was protesting anything in this instance, but instead simply not being able to stand still and disrespecting the anthem in the process.
"I look at it, I'm supporting the troops when I stand for the national anthem," Barkley continued. "I'm standing there for free speech, so even though I believe in free speech, I think you have to be very careful with the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I think it's important, and I think it's significant."
James' faux golf swings in the middle of the anthem have understandably drawn attention and criticism, but perhaps the most disrespectful stunt he's pulled during 'The Star-Spangled Banner' came back in 2023.
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As a late arrival to his courtside seats at USC to watch his son, Bronny James, play for the Trojans, LeBron made his entrance during the middle of the anthem, with a hat on, and sat in his seat while the rest of the arena was standing and showing respect to the United States.
Heiress Harris, the 10-year-old daughter of rapper T.I., sang the national anthem before Thursday's Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. But, as has been the case all series, the players weren't on the court for the performance.
Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor just before the young Black singer began "The Star-Spangled Banner," marking their sixth straight absence for the anthem in this series.
OutKick interviewed fans outside State Farm Arena prior to Game 6. They offered different views on the practice, with some wanting players on the floor and others defending their choice to leave.
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One defender of the practice was the father of Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes.
"This is America, by the way, and I’ve served this country, so they can choose what they want," Renard Hayes told OutKick.
Asked whether, as a veteran, he had an issue with the absences, he said he did not.
"I don’t have an issue with it because it’s not a disrespect of the flag," he said.
Hayes’ father, who said he lives in Florida, had criticized the game’s 12:30 p.m. start, blaming the league and Atlanta organization for the scheduling situation. On the anthem, however, he defended the players’ freedom to decide.
The game was moved from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to accommodate a doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Golden State entered Thursday leading the best-of-seven series 3–2 after winning Monday’s Game 5, 64–55, with a chance to clinch its first championship.
One Dream fan told OutKick she believed everyone should stand for the national anthem.
A male Valkyries fan said he respected the players’ opinions and beliefs but wanted them on the floor.
VANCE CONDEMNS 'DISGRACEFUL' WNBA NATIONAL ANTHEM WALKOUTS, SAYS PLAYERS SHOULD SHOW MORE GRATITUDE
"I do think they should be out there," he said.
Other fans were less troubled by the absences.
"They’ve been doing it for years," another Dream fan said. "And that’s their choice. It is what it is."
A woman who said she represents Valkyries center Kiah Stokes offered a similar view.
"I think it’s their decision," the representative said.
For one man attending with a female Dream fan, the question was more complicated. Asked whether he considered the absences disrespectful, he said, "Me personally, maybe a little bit."
OUTKICK READERS BLAST WNBA PLAYERS FOR HIDING DURING FINALS NATIONAL ANTHEM
"But it doesn’t concern me that much either," he added. "Not particularly bothered by it."
Another Dream fan attending with his family said he respected the anthem and the players’ ability to decide whether to participate.
"But we live in a country where you have a choice, so I gotta respect it," he said.
During media availability in Atlanta on Oct. 23, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase described the absences as part of the team’s pregame routine.
Those interviews were OutKick’s first opportunity to ask the anthem questions directly after attending all 13 formal press conferences during the first three games without being called on.
"We’re two years in," Nakase said. "That’s been part of our pregame."
Asked who established the routine and why, she said, "I really don’t know."
OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that you’re off the court?"
"I’m with my staff, so I’m focused on my plays," Nakase said.
Golden State’s public relations staff then moved to the next reporter. OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied that the team’s absence was a protest.
"No," she said.
Asked why the team was off the floor, Williams responded: "That’s been the routine for like, seven years now."
An Atlanta public relations representative moved to the next question after Dream coach Karl Smesko declined to explain his team’s absences.
"We’re just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.
Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his team’s absences, he said, "No."
Dream guard Rhyne Howard was asked about calls to exclude players from Team USA over their anthem conduct during the WNBA season.
Howard said she did not think she had been on the court for the anthem at any point during her tenure in Atlanta. She also defended her commitment to representing the United States internationally.
"When I go put on USA jersey I’m out for the national anthem every time, there’s no doubt about it," Howard said.
OutKick asked Howard why she was not on the court for the anthem with the Dream.
Howard and an Atlanta public relations representative both responded, "Next question."
WNBA policy and team decisions remain questions
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The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sidelines or on the foul line during the national anthem.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017. The provision remains in the 2026 rulebook.
OutKick has asked the WNBA to clarify its current requirements and enforcement, whether discipline is planned or under consideration, and whether teams have received instructions about being on the floor.
The inquiries to the WNBA and both teams began after Game 1 on Oct. 17, with follow-ups Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. OutKick also contacted the NBA league office on Oct. 20 about its role in the matter.
OutKick has also asked Atlanta to confirm an arena employee’s account that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the floor before games, including whether they remain there during the anthem.
During Game 4, I attempted to observe what Atlanta’s players do after leaving the court. Arena staff said my credential did not grant access to that area and escorted me to my assigned media seat.
The WNBA, NBA and both teams’ front offices have not responded to OutKick’s emailed requests for comment about the anthem absences. The player and coach responses came during media availability.
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Six games into the Finals, fans disagree about whether the players should be on the court for the anthem. The teams still haven’t explained why their preparations require leaving it.
The New York Yankees are still catching strays.
The Bronx Bombers were obliterated in the postseason, getting swept in the American League Division Series and tying their longest World Series drought since winning their first in 1923.
When the Milwaukee Brewers won their first-ever Fall Classic, the Yankees continued to be a topic of conversation.
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National League Championship Series MVP Jake Bauers handed manager Pat Murphy the ball from the final out, and the two shared a hug. Murphy then shared some words with Bauers.
"You're going to be a rich f---er. Just remember when you were on that horses--- Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'This is the way we used to do it,'" Murphy appeared to tell his first baseman.
Bauers spent one season with the Yankees, and it was the only time since 2016 they missed the postseason after going 82-80 in 2023. Bauers hit .202 with New York and was traded in the ensuing offseason.
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In any case, the Yankees have been criticized a decent amount since their elimination by executives, media, and even their own legends.
Alex Rodriguez said the team's "philosophy" has to change, and Derek Jeter hinted that the Yankees don't do the "little things."
CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Posada, two of whom have their numbers retired in Monument Park, have also lambasted the organization for their postseason failures since 2010.
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Bauers had the best season of his career this year, as his .266/.389/.484 slash line represented all the best marks of his career. He also hit 26 homers and drove in 86 runs, both career highs.
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