Welcome back to The Varsity, my twice-weekly private email on the sports media industrial complex—the moneybags, power players, egomaniacs, and the genuinely nice people sprinkled in among them. Happy British Open Day to all who celebrate.

Since I spent the early part of this week attending MLB’s All-Star Game festivities, this private email is chock-full of items I picked up in Dallas-Fort Worth, including a readout of my informative chat with commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the state of his league. I also spent time in Dallas reporting on the NBA rights auction, since we have, mercifully, entered the five-day window in which David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery can exercise its matching rights. Yes, yes, I know that matching rights have become The Varsity’s favorite new drinking game, forcing my well-heeled readership to knock back a sip upon every mention as they once did for cliff path, glide path, etcetera. Don’t blame the messenger: Now, drink!

Speaking of which… for those getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar, this is the last call to stop forwarding this private email to your colleagues and pals who should be paying full freight. Click here to atone. I know I say this every week, but this time I’m serious: The next person caught red-handed forwarding my work will be subject to Marchand’s 18-minute TED Talk in defense of the designated hitter.

Okay, let’s get to it…