The NFL used the Super Bowl to get Arizona voters to approve MLK Day.

On February 2^nd, 1967, there was a challenge to the National Basketball Association’s claim to basketball superiority. The American Basketball Association was created and league organizers sold 10 franchises to investors in Anaheim, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oakland and Pittsburgh. The ABA folded in 1976 with the NBA taking in four franchises in Denver, in Indianapolis, in San Antonio and in Uniondale, New York. Since 1976, the NBA has ruled basketball. Now the NBA and its ownership group have decided that it is time to explore Europe not just as an off one market but to plant teams on the continent despite the fact there is an established league operating. The NBA is thinking that even though we do take Europe’s best players, we can offer a better product on the continent and that could mean battling the existing league or poaching local teams in places like Madrid, Spain or Greece. In the Basketball Association of America or the NBA’s history, the BAA or NBA took teams from the National Basketball League and the American Basketball League in the late 1940s. The NBA could establish a permanent presence in Europe very quickly.

“We are looking very closely to see if there’s an opportunity to professionalize the game to another level here, to create a larger commercial opportunity,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “And not just because commercial opportunity suggests you can grow revenue, but because we believe that with markets, if you can create proper incentives, you can get significant additional investment. And ultimately, that’s the way to grow the game at all levels.” According to the Spanish news agency Relevo, there has been some communication between the NBA and Madrid owners to gauge the Madrid ownerships’ interest in joining the NBA. There is a long way to go and politicians might have a say in the process but the NBA wants Europe.

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

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

After working out a restructured deal with Ballys Sports, now known as FanDuel Sports Networks all of the Tampa Bay Rays will be available on local cable, satellite and some streaming services. Rays have another broadcasting partner this season they can access on Amazon Prime Video is offering streaming through an ad-on.

Viewers will need a subscription to Amazon Prime Video in addition to the $19.99 monthly fee for streaming sports. A Prime Video membership can cost $14.99 a month or $139 per year. Prime video offers a 50% discount for students.  A seven-day free trial is provided to test out the service.

“This relationship with Prime Video gives fans another way to watch their favorite local teams and underscores the essential role our distribution partners play in driving our future growth. We’re excited to offer a seamless and convenient way to stay in the game,” said Eric Ratchman, President of Distribution and Business Development for Main Street Sports Group.

Furthermore, Lightning games will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network Sun in North and Central Florida. Rays games will broadcast to the entire state. You can stream live sports on Prime Video through multiple devices if you download the app to your streaming device.

On top of Prime Video’s broadcast, you can also watch Lighting games covered by FanDuel Sports Network Sun with an ESPN-plus subscription.

For Rays fans, a season pass option will cover the entirety of the upcoming season on Prime Video.

Additionally, other Florida sports teams’ fans such as the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat or Miami Marlins can watch through the purchase of a FanDuel Sports Sun and FanDuel Sports Florida bundle. This bundle costs $29.99 a month, on-top of an amazon prime subscription

One of the most prolific sluggers in the history of Major League Baseball and current FOX Sports MLB studio analyst Alex Rodriguez will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports to begin the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 2.

Florida resident Rodriguez is a 14-time MLB All-Star and a 2009 World Series champion with the New York Yankees. The 22-year veteran ranks fifth on the all-time home run list with 696 and has hit more grand slams than any other MLB player in history. Rodriguez, a three-time MLB Most Valuable Player, also is the chairman and chief executive officer of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm he founded in 1995, which backs world-class startups and partners with leading global companies across real estate, sports and entertainment.

Rodriguez’s participation heralds the inaugural race of the new partnership between INDYCAR and FOX Sports, which has been highlighted in recent weeks with driver-focused promotions during FOX NFL playoff broadcasts – including Super Bowl LIX which delivered an average audience of 127.7 million viewers to secure the title as most-watched Super Bowl of all time. Personality-driven TV spots featured three-time and defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, two-time and defending Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden and seven-time INDYCAR SERIES race winner and rising star Pato O’Ward.

FOX will air all 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races live in 2025, with two additional opportunities during Indianapolis 500 qualifying May 17-18 creating a series-record 19 network windows. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsports series in North America with all races broadcasting on network television.

Baseball icon Rodriguez joins a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers as he leads the field to green in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride was taken by music superstars Diplo, Jon Bon Jovi and Riley Green, actors Judge Reinhold and Dylan Sprouse, reality TV star Mary Bonnet and American Olympic gold medalist Sam Watson during last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

Coverage of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding begins at noon ET on FOX and FOX Deportes. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on the FOX Sports app.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a thrilling and demanding set of ovals and road and street circuits. The full schedule is available here.