The Power Alliance

August 25, 2021

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning,

College athletics is in a spiral, and things just got interesting. Plus, the Paralympics are underway in Tokyo and the MLS All-Star Game takes center stage tonight in L.A. Only two weeks until football.

Letter Rip!

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NCAA

Power Struggle: Meet the Alliance

Photo: Justin Tafoya / Getty Images

Big Ten, Pac-12 & ACC Announce Formal ‘Alliance’ to Collaborate on Future of College Sports

 

The collegiate sports landscape is changing before our eyes, and another twist made headlines on Tuesday. Three of the NCAA’s Power-5 conferences — the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC — officially announced a conference alliance that’s been described as a “collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics.” What that means exactly remains to be seen, but the alliance was built to focus on NCAA governance with the SEC and Big 12 undergoing drastic changes.

 

How We Got Here: The NCAA’s amateur model fell on its face just a few months ago when the collegiate athletics governing body announced that student-athletes could finally earn money off their name, image and likeness. That change has brought a dramatic shift to the college sports landscape, and it left two Big 12 juggernauts — Texas and Oklahoma — bolting for the SEC where they can ultimately make more money and have more recruiting success.

 

Alliance in Action: This new formation of the other three Power-5 conferences is simply a show of unity. By being on the same page about the ongoing changes in college athletics, the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC are essentially aligned on the same goals while the college sports model goes through drastic changes.

 

In the end, it’s a vote of confidence for the NCAA. But this so-called “alliance” is nothing more labels. There has been no official document signed by any of the three conference commissioners.

 

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: To Combat SEC Power, Other Power Conferences Team Up

The Athletic: Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC Announce Alliance to Work Together on CFP, NCAA Governance

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PARALYMPICS 🏅

The Paralympics Takeover

Photo: NurPhoto / Getty Images

Opening Ceremony: Tokyo’s Run as Host of the World’s Top Athletes Isn’t Over Yet

 

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may have come and went, but the action continues in Japan for the next two weeks with the Paralympic Games. For those unfamiliar, the Paralympics are the Games for athletes with disabilities in six main categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, visual impairment, spinal injuries and a category classified as “other.” But a disability doesn’t take anything away from the athletic achievements of the world’s top athletes. Competition is just as fierce. The opening ceremony is in the books. Let’s re-run the medal count!

 

Paralympics Schedule

August 24 — September 5

 

Paralympic Sports to Watch

Archery

Badminton

Cycling

Equestrian

Football

Judo

Powerlifting

Rowing

Shooting

Swimming

Table Tennis

Taekwondo

Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Tennis

 

Let the (next) Games begin!

 

Watch: Best Moments From the Paralympics Opening Ceremony

 

Additional Storylines

NY Times: Paralympics Open With Empty Stands But a Bigger Stage

Yahoo! Sports: ‘Heartbreaking’ Scene at Paralympics Ceremony as Afghanistan’s Flag Carried by Volunteer in Place of Missing Athletes

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MLS

The MLS All-Star Game Preview

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Tonight: MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX Stars (9:00 pm ET, FS1)

 

The 2021 MLS All-Star Game is finally here, and the stakes are higher than ever before. This year’s one-of-a-kind match is the first ever battle between MLS and Liga MX stars. Instead of East vs. West, it’s the U.S.-based players against their Mexican counterparts in a highly competitive showdown. The U.S. men’s national team recently beat Mexico (1-0) in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, but this is league vs. league at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

 

Selecting the Rosters

This year’s unique spectacle features 28 MLS players selected by fans and media (13), All-Star head coach Bob Bradley (13) and MLS commissioner Don Garber (2). The top player at each position in the fan vote receives a spot in the starting nine. Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan was named the captain.

 

MLS All-Star Roster | Liga MX Roster

 

The Skills Challenge

Before the 90-minute game is a flurry of skill events between various members of the MLS and Liga MX. They include: Shooting Challenge, Touch Challenge, Cross & Volley Challenge, Passing Challenge and the Crossbar Challenge. | Skills Challenge Participants

 

It’s an all-star showcase unlike any before, and it starts tonight. We’ll have full coverage in tomorrow’s edition.

 

Additional Storylines

MLS: 5 Things to Know About the 2021 MLS All-Star Game

FOX Sports: Alexi Lalas & David Mosse Breakdown the MLS All-Star Game (Video)

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🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Yankees Win Streak Hits 11 Games

Another night, another win for the Yankees. New York’s win streak reached 11 games with a 5-4 win over the Braves on Tuesday. That’s the longest win streak for the franchise since 1985. Giancarlo Stanton and D.J. LeMahieu both went yard in the win.

 

🏀 WNBA: Fowles Catches Fire in Record-Setter

Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles made WNBA history on Tuesday night with a 29-point, 20-rebound performance for the ages. The 35-year-old added four steals and three blocks to become the first player in league history with a 20-20-3-3 game as the Lynx took down the Storm (76-70).

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THE STORYLINES

🏈 Locker Room Access Denied

With COVID-19 still raging, the NFL is mitigating risk whenever and wherever it can in 2021. That includes a strict vaccine policy and limited access to players and locker rooms for media members. (Yahoo! Sports)

 

⚽️ The $188 Million Mbappe Bid

Amid the arrival of Lionel Messi, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe is rumored to be on the transfer block. Real Madrid made a $188 million offer for the 22-year-old, who’s contract expires next summer. PSG immediately denied. Game on. (ESPN)

 

🏀 Kobe Celebrations on ‘Mamba Day’

One day after Kobe Bryant’s would-be 43rd birthday, the world continued to honor the basketball legend on Aug. 24 (8-14), also known as ‘Mamba Day.’ Let the Kobe tributes roll on… (FOX Sports)

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📰 THE HEADLINES

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