Supreme Court case could change the nature of college sports
A Supreme Court case being argued this week amid March Madness could erode the difference between elite college athletes and professional sports stars. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON – A Supreme Court case being argued this week amid March Madness could erode the difference between elite college athletes and professional sports stars. In 1984, the high court rejected NCAA rules restricting the broadcast of college football. Currently, athletic scholarships can cover the cost of college athletes’ attendance at college. Whatever happens at the high court, how college athletes are compensated is already likely changing.
‘Mattress Mack’ makes million-dollar wager on Houston to win March Madness championship
HOUSTON – Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is making a $1 million bet that Houston will take the March Madness championship this year. The bet was placed with DraftKings on Houston at 9-1 to win, marking one of the largest March Madness wagers on record, according to DraftKings. If Houston takes the championship, the bet would win $9 million. Ad“Mack has established himself in the sports betting community with several historic wagers over the years, and we are thrilled to take his latest action on Houston at 9-1 to win the NCAA Tournament. More on KSAT:Senior savvy: Experience shines through in NCAA TournamentEmployers lose billions in productivity during NCAA tournament, research firm estimates
Employers lose billions in productivity during NCAA tournament, research firm estimates
The men and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments can cause some problems for employers when people watch the games during normal working hours. According to the work outplacement firm, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, INC., U.S. employers lose around an average of $13.3 billion in productivity during the tournament. The firm also estimated that “each hour spent on the games at work” can cost employers about $2.1 billion. AdThe Challenger firm said they encourage companies to embrace the problem, and instead, they could turn it into a bonding experience for their team by doing an office pool or hosting a viewing party on Zoom. This could also be a great stress reliever considering everything people have been through with the pandemic, the Challenger firm said, and it can pay off in the long run.
Betting sites offer software blocks for compulsive gamblers
(AP Photo/Wayne Parry)ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Some sports betting companies are offering tools that allow compulsive gamblers to block themselves from most online sites. Unibet last week announced it was making software from U.K.-based Gamban available to customers in the U.S. The software blocks thousands of licensed and unlicensed gambling sites and is constantly updated to add new ones as they appear. And states including New Jersey offer state-administered self-exclusion lists where gamblers can prohibit themselves from gambling for differing periods, or permanently. “We strongly support the ability of gamblers to self-exclude through both the operator and on their own personal devices,” he said.
Spurs players honor women’s greats, NCAA tournament in San Antonio with iconic jerseys
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Spurs players honored some of the greatest women’s college basketball players on Monday evening before their game against the Charlotte Hornets. Patty Mills honored his wife, Alyssa Levesque Mills, who played at St. Mary’s College. March Madness is in San Antonio so you know our guys had to rep 🔥 pic.twitter.com/napskp5OgD — San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 22, 2021“It was a good little touch obviously with the women’s NCAA March Madness here in San Antonio. AdMills said he had to get his wife’s jersey flown into San Antonio. The 2021 NCAA Women’s Tournament in San Antonio runs through early April.
March Madness is back, but it will be different in these 5 ways
While the brackets have been announced and games are set to take place, it will be a different viewing experience than normal. Here are the ways this year’s tournament will be different. A different schedule means Monday is part of the first week of games. Replacement teams were on standby until Tuesday deadline. If that would have happened to a qualifying team before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, a replacement team would have filled the spot.
Crowded bars: March Madness or just plain madness?
The NCAA Tournament and bars were made for each other, with fans of powerhouse teams like Gonzaga and longshots like Colgate pouring in to cheer their teams. This year, the tournaments back, and bars and restaurants, some shuttered for months, are open for March Madness, though things may look a little different. This year, the tournament’s back, and bars and restaurants, some shuttered for months, are open for March Madness, though things may look a little different. As for those who choose to watch at bars or restaurants, their experiences will vary depending on their location. AdIn Chicago, city inspectors cite bars and restaurants that violate strict capacity rules.
Gonzaga, Creighton, Iona? Where are these NCAA tourney teams located, anyway? A (surprisingly hard!) quiz
A general view as the Miami Hurricanes face the Wichita State Shockers in an NCAA men's basketball tournament game. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament starts later this week. Your next steps might include taking a deeper look at your favorite team’s chances, listening to the latest sports talk radio or filling out a bracket for your virtual office pool. In case you’ve ever looked at one of those brackets and wondered, “Where the heck is that school even located?” We have just the quiz for you. We’re grilling you on some of the more obscure teams.
Fewer brackets but same number plan bets on March Madness
But 8% fewer plan to fill out brackets pools because many offices remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Fewer Americans expect to fill out brackets for the NCAA's college basketball tournament this year, but the overall number of people making bets on March Madness should remain about the same as the last time the tournament was held, according to the gambling industry's national trade association. The American Gaming Association released figures Sunday predicting that more than 47 million Americans plan to make a bet — legal or otherwise — on March Madness this year. That's about the same number that said they planned to bet on the 2019 tournament. “The sports betting landscape has changed dramatically since 2019, and as a result, tournament betting has transformed,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said.
San Antonio business owners, locals rejoice over NCAA’s tournament announcement
SAN ANTONIO – Get ready for March Madness live and direct in San Antonio in a way like never before. On Friday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, along with NCAA representatives, announced that the entire NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Tournament would be hosted in San Antonio. “For the first time in tournament history, San Antonio and our surrounding communities will be the site for the 64-team NCAA women’s basketball championship,” Nirenberg said during a virtual news conference. Like, our city needs a breath of fresh air,” said Duane Cummings, a San Antonio resident. During the tournament, Nirenberg announced that he anticipates more than 35,000 room nights to downtown San Antonio.
Men's March Madness will be played entirely in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA announced Monday that all 67 men's basketball tournament games including the Final Four will be played entirely in Indiana in a bid to keep the marquee event from being called off for a second consecutive year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has already canceled scores of college basketball games this season, with postponements and COVID-19 issues nearly a daily occurance. Ball State, Butler, Indiana, IUPUI and Purdue will serve as host schools and the Horizon League will host games played at Lucas Oil Stadium, just a short distance away from NCAA headquarters. Gavitt said most of the Division I games will be played in the Indianapolis area, though some first-round games will be played at Indiana and Purdue. “Since 1940, our city has been the backdrop for 97 NCAA men’s tournament games, putting us at No.
NCAA approves plan for basketball players to access coaches
The NCAA Division I Council on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, approved a plan to allow college basketball players to start working with their coaches for the first time since the pandemic wiped out March Madness. The summer access period for men's and women's players will begin July 20. The summer access period for men's and women's players will begin July 20. The NCAA basketball tournaments were cancelled days before the fields were scheduled to be selected because of the coronavirus outbreak. It will also consider adding more activities for basketball players during the July 1-19 period.