The arena is getting old.

The arena game is now on in Dallas as the CEO of the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks franchise, Rick Welts, has thrown down the gauntlet and has told the world that the city of Dallas better get ready to help build the business an arena in town. If the answer is no, Welts will cross that bridge at that time. “Our commitment is to find a home in Dallas. That’s where we want to be. That’s where the city wants us to be and we’re going to pursue every single possible option to make that happen. We’re very much hoping to be able to invest significantly in the remaining time we are there (at the present arena). We need to be in a new arena for the 2031-2032 season. We’re on the clock,”

The problem with the Dallas 24-year-old arena is simple. There are not enough revenue generating tools available for the business. Once upon a time, people went to a game to watch a game, today there is a so-called fan experience program and the arena does not offer the amenities that Welts said “fans expect in 2025.”The Irving City Council has approved some zoning amendments that could pave the way for the construction of a Mavericks  arena-village on property that the Mavericks ownership possesses. The zoning changes would allow “an arena with a minimum of 15,000 seats and/or an indoor theater with a minimum of 4,000 seats” on the property. Additionally, there could be one or more luxury hotels, spas, pools and “may include Casino Gaming if authorized by the Constitution and laws of the state of Texas” within the property. Las Vegas could be in the mix as well although Mavericks ownership has attempted to knock down that rumor. Mavericks ownership wants someone to come up with public money for an arena.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

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By: J.T. Olsen – Bucs Report Special to Sports Talk Florida.

With the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. This was a pick that was admittedly surprising; not on my radar here at all. However, that has nothing to do with how good of a player he is, just that I didn’t expect this team to take a wide receiver in the first round. 

However, drafting a wide receiver in the first round is exactly what they did. After taking some time to adjust to that fact, we all have to step back and evaluate this pick in a vacuum for what it is. What type of player did the Bucs just draft?

In short, they drafted a really good one. Egbuka was ranked as the 21st overall player on my draft board and was a consensus first round talent. Here are some basics to help you get to know the Buccaneers first round pick.

Egbuka does most of his damage out of the slot. Think of players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Puka Nacua and of course Chris Godwin. These are the types of players who are comparable.

The hands are fantastic. He catches everything and keeps the chains moving. You would expect as much from the guy who had the most receptions in the history of Ohio State University history. 

What allows him to get to so many passes is his excellent body control. I don’t care if the pass is behind him or if it’s low or whatever; there’s a good chance that Egbuka will grab it. His catch radius is fantastic and much bigger than you’d expect from a guy who is just shy of 6’1. 

As you might expect, Egbuka does a lot of his work over the middle. He can make the gritty contested catches in traffic and well as threaten the safety deep. His speed might not be fantastic (running a 4.48 40 yard dash), but he has a knack for threatening the safety on deep corner routes.

One thing that stands out about Egbuka is his route running. Specifically his ability to find the soft spot in a zone defense. He’ll be a 22 year old rookie, but the way he finds open space you’d think he was a ten year veteran. 

Beyond just his ability on the field, Egbuka is a very high character player. He was a team captain last year on the national championship winning Buckeyes team. He’s also an iron man who started his last 40 consecutive games at Ohio State and was a multi time All Conference scholar athlete. 

Egbuka brings so many things to this Buccaneers offense. Toughness, intelligence, and one of the most consistent playmakers in recent memory. This is someone who compliments what the Bucs have in place currently, but it is also someone who can lead this offense in a few years. 

This might not be the defender that everyone was picturing for the Bucs, but this is a great pick. Don’t be surprised if Egbuka is considered one of the best slot receivers in the NFL this time next year. He is a plug and play difference maker who knows how to win a championship.

For more from J.T. click here, then make sure to follow him on Twitter.

Emeka Egbuka’s College Accolades 

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PHOENIX (AP) — Christopher Morel hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-4 on Thursday night.

Arizona led 4-3 before Yandy Diaz hit a tying run-scoring single off Ryne Nelson in the ninth.

Edwin Uceta (2-1) induced an inning-ending double play in the bottom half and Junior Caminero put the Rays ahead with a run-scoring double off J.P. Feyereisen (0-1) in the 10th. Morel made it 7-4 with his third homer and Pete Fairbanks worked around a walk for his fourth save.

Tim Tawa hit a solo homer for Arizona.

Diamondbacks starter Corbin Burnes was perfect until Diaz led off the fourth with a single and José Caballero hit a run-scoring double off him in the fifth. Burnes was pulled with one out in the sixth after he fumbled Caminero’s comebacker with a runner on third. He was replaced by Jalen Beeks, who gave up Morel’s run-scoring double to pull the Rays to 4-3.

Burnes allowed three runs — one earned — on three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

The Diamondbacks jumped on Rasmussen early.

Josh Naylor hit a run-scoring single in the first inning and Arizona scored two more off the right-hander in the second, on Thomas’ double and Corbin Carroll’s RBI groundout. Tawa led off the fifth with his fourth homer to put the Diamondbacks up 4-1.

Rasmussen allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five in five innings.

Key moment

Uceta snared Eugenio Suárez’s liner in the ninth to start an inning-ending double play.

Key stat

The Diamondbacks, one of baseball’s best defensive teams, had three errors.

Up next

Rays: RHP Shane Baz (2-0, 3.22 ERA) opens a three-game series at San Diego on Friday.

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (1-3, 5.60) will pitch in the opener of a three-game series against Atlanta on Friday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb