— The wingspan of a massive moth found in the US. What did you think we were going to say?
Things Taking Over the Sports World
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Deshaun Watson
The Story
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson and the NFL have reached a deal.
Regarding?
Watson’s sexual misconduct allegations. Last year, more than two dozen women filed civil lawsuits against Watson, accusing him of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. The allegations date back to March 2020 when he played for the Texans. Earlier this month, a disciplinary officer initially handed Watson a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. But many said it was too lenient — including the NFL. But now, the NFL and the players association have reached a settlement.
Tell me.
Starting on Aug 30, Watson will serve an 11-game suspension without pay until Nov 14. He also has to complete a mandatory evaluation and treatment program and pay a $5 million fine. That money will go toward a fund to prevent sexual misconduct and support survivors. The NFL and Browns have also agreed to donate $1 million each to the fund. The QB says he’s “truly sorry” to the women impacted but still stands by his innocence. An attorney for the victims said the NFL’s settlement shows the league “doesn't care” about survivors and called for a longer suspension.
theSkimm
The NFL has long faced criticism for issuing short suspensions in response to personal conduct violations (see: Antonio Brown and Ezekiel Elliott). And some see Deshaun Watson’s punishment as yet another example of the NFL choosing profit over accountability.
The Big Ten
The Story
The Big Ten Conference has landed the biggest-ever TV paycheck for college sports.
Sounds...B1G.
Yesterday, the athletic conference announced a $7 billion deal over the course of seven years. The conference seems to have taken a page out of the NFL’s playbook to go big league. Under the new deal, the Big Ten will share its rights to football and basketball games with Fox, CBS, and NBC. But ESPN — the largest sports network in the US — apparently wasn't on board. The change goes into effect next July and comes as the Big Ten conference continues to expand. But many are calling for more changes.
Like?
Less game day, more payday. For years, the NCAA has said it doesn’t need to pay its college athletes because they're amateurs. (Ouch.) But after countless lawsuits, the NCAA has loosened some of its restrictions on players earning money from endorsements or social media. Not included: billion-dollar TV contracts. Now, this agreement’s got some wondering whether players should get a piece of the pie. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren says they’ll talk about it. But for now, it looks like college athletes will remain empty-handed.
theSkimm
One of the top conferences in the sports world just struck a major deal. And it’s expected to ramp up college athletics on the small screen. Game on.
And Also...This
What has updates...
The Mar-a-Lago search. Yesterday, a federal judge gave the DOJ a week to reveal parts of the affidavit used to obtain a search warrant on former President Trump’s Palm Beach home. The FBI had used the warrant to remove 11 sets of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago when investigating Trump for federal violations including violating the Espionage Act. The DOJ is against releasing the affidavit, arguing that making it public could interfere with their investigation. But the judge said the gov hasn’t convinced him that it should remain fully sealed. If released, the document could reveal the probable cause that warranted the unprecedented search of a former president's home.
...Oh speaking of things surrounding former President Trump, yesterday ex-Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to evading more than $1.7 million in taxes. He will serve five months in prison and five years of probation.
What doesn't have a seat at the popular table…
Cable TV. Yesterday, the media company Nielsen announced that cable TV is old news after streaming services drew more viewers than cable TV last month. In July, streaming services (think: Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube) made up over one-third of all TV usage in the US. Cable and broadcast snagged less, with cable trailing by less than 1% of the viewership and broadcast TV grabbing about one-fifth. Out of the streaming services, Netflix was the biggest star — with the hit show “Stranger Things” to thank for nearly 18 billion viewing minutes. But before streaming does a victory lap, it should keep in mind: one Nielsen employee reportedly said that broadcast and cable will likely “see some rebound” in the fall with football season.
What might make another star appearance…
The northern lights. Tonight, the phenomenon people normally travel for could be visible in parts of the continental US. That’s because explosions from the sun are hitting the Earth’s magnetic field and sending the aurora further south than usual. In other words: “The Golden Compass” fans — specifically in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon — this may be your night. Grab your daemon, get to a place with high elevation and lower light pollution, and look up. Oh my, starry-eyed surprise.
Here at theSkimm, we love a tidy, dust-free home. So we rounded up a few items that’ll get the job done so you don’t need to go heavy on the elbow grease. Check out:
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. A plastic-free, TSA-friendly oral care kit. Brighten up your mornings and nights with minty-fresh toothpaste tablets, a bamboo toothbrush, and more. Aka everything you need to say ‘bye’ to excess waste. And ‘hi’ to whiter teeth and fresher breath. Psst…Skimm’rs get 15% off.*
2. Products that'll get you in a good headspace. We rounded up items that’ll help you shake off burnout and unwind throughout the day. From simple things like drinking more water to really reflecting on your thoughts, this list has it all.
3. Our fave retailers for eyelgasses, sunglasses, and more. You don’t have to spend an arm and leg for some new frames — whether you’re in the market for computer glasses, transition lenses, or a polarized pair. Check out our picks.
4. The best sales to shop this week. From a sale on fall cozies at Aerie to toys for your doggo at Chewy, here’s what to snag for less. Go go go.
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
Skimm'rs
We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.
Getting resourceful…Kendra B (MA) and Bryn L (WI). They’re providing free teacher resources through their app Kikori — just in time for back to school.
PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
Skimm More
Midterm elections are just a few months away. And with election season comes political misinformation, particularly on social media. This week on “Skimm This,” we discuss how misinformation shows up on TikTok, its potential effects, and how to report it. Listen now.
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