🔗 Fanatics Next Target, Youth Sports
Via: Source
Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball tournament and scouting service, is expected to officially agree soon on a multi-year memorabilia deal with Fanatics for an undisclosed amount. The deal involves Fanatics producing and distributing trading cards, collectibles and other memorabilia of Perfect Game athletes beginning later this year.
While it’s seen as a landmark deal for Perfect Game, the contract has stoked worries among a group of baseball agents, many of whom believe Perfect Game’s requirement that amateur players sign away their name, image and likeness rights to participate in tournaments is exploitative, unethical and costing players future earnings.
Fanatics is a gross company that is quickly becoming a monopoly in the sports apparel world (FTC while I applaud your actions vs tech companies, found another for you). Now they are targeting youth sports, and asking them to sign over rights. Youth sports is already in a bad place where costs are out of control, but this seems like a really big step into a worse place.
🔗 If You Are Not Paying You are the Product ,Maybe Not?
MLK said that “the law can’t make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me.” It’s impossible to get tech bosses to believe you deserve care and decency, but you can stop them from abusing you. The way to do that is by making them fear you — by abolishing the laws that create lock-in, by legally enshrining a right to privacy, by protecting competition.
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Agree or disagree with Corey Doctorow you can’t say he does not have a point of view that is backed up with facts and research. I have no idea how is he able to put out so much good stuff. I agree with his overall thesis here. If you want markets (especially in tech) to work you have to start with privacy laws and enforcing laws surrounding competition. For the first time in a generation the US government seems to be understanding this. That is not to say they will not take losses given the makeup of the courts, however you keep going and you keep trying. You can’t have “free markets” without competition and that is a big part of the equation that has been forgotten going on 50 years.
2024 NBA Playoffs Picks
Eastern Conference
First Round
Celtics 4 Heat 1
Cavaliers 2 Magic 4
Knicks 4 76ers 2
Bucks 2 Pacers 4
Second Round
Celtics 4 Magic 0
Knicks 4 Pacers 3
Eastern Conference Finals
Celtics 4 Knicks 2
Western Conference
First Round
Thunder 4 Pelicans 2
Clippers 4 Mavericks 2
Nuggets 4 Lakers 3
Timberwolves 1 Suns 4
Second Round
Thunder 3 Clippers 4
Nuggets 4 Suns 2
Western Conference Finals
Nuggets 4 Clippers 1
NBA Championship
Celtics 4 Nuggets 3
2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Picks
Eastern Conference
First Round
Rangers 4 Capitals 1
Hurricanes 4 Islanders 2
Panthers 3 Lightning 4
Maple Leafs 4 Bruins 3
Second Round
Rangers 2 Hurricanes 4
Maple Leafs 4 Lightning 3
Eastern Conference Final
Hurricanes 4 Maple Leafs 2
Western Conference
First Round
Stars 4 Golden Knights 3
Jets 2 Avalanche 4
Canucks 2 Predators 4
Oilers 3 Kings 4
Second Round
Stars 4 Avalanche 2
Kings 4 Predators 3
Western Conference Final
Stars 4 Kings 1
Stanley Cup Final
Stars 4 Hurricanes 3
What Arriving in Heaven Looks Like
Never Misses
You are guaranteed to have a good day when you start with this. No menu needed when they just ask “the normal?”
— Darren Cohen (@handle.invalid) Apr 12, 2024 at 8:09 AM
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2024 MLB Predictions
National League
| East | Central | West |
|---|---|---|
| Braves | Cubs | Dodgers |
| Phillies | Cardinals | Giants |
| Mets | Reds | Padres |
| Nationals | Brewers | Diamondbacks |
| Marlins | Pirates | Rockies |
American League
| East | Central | West |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays | Twins | Astros |
| Yankees | Tigers | Mariners |
| Rays | Guardians | Rangers |
| Orioles | Royals | Angels |
| Red Sox | White Sox | A’s |
playoff teams are bold
Post Season
First Round Buys
| NL | AL |
|---|---|
| Braves | Astros |
| Dodgers | Blue Jays |
