Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open saga and other big moments in tennis are getting the “Drive to Survive” treatment.

The ATP Tour, ATP Media, WTA Tour, and all four Grand Slam Tournaments are working with Netflix on a documentary series, beginning with this month’s Australian Open.

The tournament has had plenty of drama off the court, as top-ranked Djokovic was deported from Australia after he refused to get vaccinated against COVID, contracted the virus, and acknowledged making false statements on documents regarding his whereabouts prior to traveling to the country.

He loses out on a shot at a record 21st Grand Slam championship and up to $2.1 million in prize money.

• The series will be produced by Box to Box Films, who also made Netflix’s hit Formula 1 series “Drive to Survive.”
• The racing docuseries is credited with a huge increase in F1’s popularity, especially in the U.S. The 2021 season averaged 931,000 viewers through its first 14 races – up 53% from 2020 and 40% from a comparable period in 2019.

The tennis series will document both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

Netflix’s Sports Play

Netflix has shown a growing appetite for sports after the strong reception of “Drive to Survive” and the Michael Jordan-focused docuseries “The Last Dance,” which it made available for streaming after its ultra-successful broadcast debut on ESPN.

It’s working on a series chronicling golf’s PGA Tour, also modeled after the F1 show. Last year, it released documentaries on Naomi Osaka and Colin Kaepernick.

The company has not ventured into live sports, but CEO Reed Hastings said he would consider bidding on F1 rights, should they become available.

The Chicago Bears could leave the iconic Soldier Field sooner than expected, as the team aims to close its purchase agreement for the Arlington International Racecourse by early 2023.

The Bears first expressed interest in the venue in June 2021, submitting a bid to purchase it as a potential site for a new stadium. The team later signed a purchase agreement for the property in September valued at $197.2 million.

• The 326-acre facility is roughly 30 miles north of downtown Chicago.
• Escrow on the Arlington property won’t close until the end of 2022 or in Q1 2023.
• Benefits of the site include increased stadium capacity, an option for an enclosed stadium, and a potential sports betting lounge.

Bears’ Current Home

Chicago city officials have insisted that the Bears could remain at Soldier Field — their home since 1971 — as the team’s lease runs through 2033, according to WGN News. However, the Bears could pay $84 million to the city to leave the historic venue after 2026.

Soldier Field, which is owned by the Chicago Park District, underwent renovations between 2001-2003 at a reported cost of $733 million, including $432 million in taxpayer dollars.

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot says she wants to keep the Bears in the city and is willing to work with the team to improve Soldier Field’s viability as a year-round venue.

The Major League Baseball Players Association wants Endeavor’s agency to choose a side between players and owners.

The MLBPA warned agents in Endeavor-owned WME Sports that they will be decertified if they don’t divest from the company, according to The Athletic.

Union regulations forbid player representatives from directly or indirectly holding an ownership stake in a major or minor league team. Endeavor purchased 10 minor league teams in December through its recently launched Diamond Baseball Holdings, and appears interested in more.

• WME’s baseball division is also facing a separate challenge: Excel Management filed a claim with the MLBPA against Endeavor and agents James Murray IV and Michael Stival, claiming that Endeavor induced the agents to violate contracts with Excel.
• WME lost one of its big names in November when Billy Eppler left to become general manager of the New York Mets.
• The MLBPA’s action could have high stakes: WME represents Carlos Correa, who is predicted to secure the largest contract in a free-agent class that has already scored one $325 million deal.

Lockout Drags On

Major League Baseball presented a deal framework to the MLBPA on Thursday, which reportedly got a cold reception from the players.

Owners reportedly remain staunchly opposed to allowing players to reach free agency before six years of service time, which was the status quo under the last collective bargaining agreement.

This year, several Power 5 schools offered some of the most lucrative football coaching contracts in history. At least one lawmaker is going after them as a result.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) has launched an investigation into three schools — LSU, Michigan State, and Miami — over whether they still deserve tax-exempt status.

Pascrell, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, asked the schools to provide information arguing why their football coaches’ multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts aren’t examples of an “abuse” of their non-profit standing.

LSU’s Brian Kelly and MSU’s Mel Tucker will both make $95 million over 10 years. Miami’s Mario Cristobal will make $80 million over 10, per The Athletic.

It’s unclear whether the probe will have any teeth.

“Having coaches who make millions of dollars annually might raise some eyebrows, but it doesn’t violate any of the rules that pertain to tax-exempt organizations,” Boise State professor Julie Mercado told Front Office Sports.

But it “may indicate that further regulation is under consideration” regarding taxation of non-profit salaries.

Growing Chorus of Voices

In December, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said, “Professional-level payouts for college coaches are only possible because colleges and the NCAA illegally collude to directly restrict compensation for the mostly Black athletes.”

During oral arguments in the Alston case last April, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas noted, “It strikes me as odd that coaches’ salaries have ballooned, and they are in the amateur ranks, as are the players.”