Bulls-of-the-Week
There are three teams carrying some extra buzz in North American pro sport, with two of them going into the weekend as the only undefeated teams left standing in their respective leagues. At the top of the charts are the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 9-0 in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes and company will put the winning streak on the line Sunday in the biggest matchup of Week 10, with the Chiefs traveling to Buffalo to play Josh Allen and the 8-2 Bills at Highmark Stadium. It’s an example of how parity, national marketing and the NFL television juggernaut allow the league to easily draw more than 20 million American viewers to a game featuring two of the four smallest markets in the U.S.
On the hardcourt, the Cleveland Cavaliers are adding a little bit of extra interest in the Emirates NBA Cup in-season tournament, driving their record to a perfect 13-0 going into the weekend. It’s the first time that the Cavs have slammed their first 13 games, and represents the longest winning streak in franchise history.
Meanwhile, the 15-2 Winnipeg Jets feature the best record in the entire NHL. That franchise record sees them seven points ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and eight in front of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are second among Canadian teams to date this NHL season.
Yet it’s in the ownership suite where we find our primary bull-of-the-week — the biggest winner this week in the business of sport. That is the suite held by B.C. Lions governor Amar Doman, named as the recipient of the Commissioner’s Award on Thursday night in recognition of his outstanding service throughout the nine-team CFL. Doman has been the prototypical owner since he first acquired the Lions from the estate of the late David Braley in 2021 — not only saying all the right things, but doing them. He has made a sizeable investment in the franchise, recognizing the need for the Lions to engage young fans as part of their best efforts to get to the stage where they are consistently selling out the lower bowl at B.C. Place.
Doman’s stock — and his satisfaction level — would be even higher if his Lions were playing this weekend in their first Grey Cup hosting opportunity in 10 years. Yet there’s not much more that a community, league or sport could ask for in an owner. Doman knows this is a long-term play and that there remains plenty of work to do to make the B.C. franchise and the CFL something that can deliver a return on his investment and philanthropy. Best of all, Doman is prepared to be a leading face of the franchise, giving the community not only his financial stewardship but his vision, passion and sense of commitment.
Bears-of-the-Week
A reminder that money can’t buy you everything — consider that the top-six highest-paid starting pitchers in Major League Baseball earned a combined $233 million US this past season, one in which they totalled 21 wins between them. That’s a pricetag of more than $10 million per win.
Tom Mayenknecht is the host of The Sport Market on Sportsnet 650 on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Vancouver-based sport business commentator and principal in Emblematica Brand Builders provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sport business stories that matter most to fans. Follow Mayenknecht at: x.com/TheSportMarket.