The House Judiciary Committee is "launching an investigation" into F1 and its U.S. owner, Liberty Media, to "demand answers about the sport's decision to deny Andretti Global a spot on the grid." Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a letter accused the sport of engaging in "anticompetitive conduct" by rejecting the American team’s bid to enter F1 in 2025 or 2026. The letter was addressed to Liberty President & CEO Greg Maffei and F1 President & CEO Stefano Domenicali. Jordan demanded documents and communications about the "process for evaluating the entry of new teams" into the sport. Former F1 champion Mario Andretti visited Capitol Hill last Wednesday and spoke at a news conference with lawmakers "to pressure the sport to admit Andretti Global" (NBCNEWS.com, 5/7).

Jordan's letter asserted that delaying Andretti's entry into F1 "for even one year will harm American consumers to benefit failing Formula 1 teams." He has asked for a briefing "as soon as possible and no later than May 21." Last week, several Congress members wrote to F1 asking for answers over the Andretti decision (MOTORSPORT, 5/7).

Groups of private equity investors "may soon be allowed to buy as much as 30%" of NFL franchises, as a "special NFL committee is meeting to examine the league’s ownership rules."  Proposals under discussion would let buyout firms "individually acquire" as much as 10% of a team. Talks are "ongoing and the percentages may change." The owners will present their findings in Nashville over three days starting May 20, during the second of four annual league meetings. Under current proposals, those buyers "would have to set up a fund dedicated to NFL team ownership, rather than using a vehicle that invests more broadly" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/7).

The Hurricanes and Rangers were tied 3-3 and battling in the final minute of Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs series when the ESPN broadcast "suddenly went dark" with 50 seconds to play in regulation and "accidentally cut to the pregame scenes in Dallas." Game 1 of Stars-Avalanche "was supposed to be nationally televised on ESPNU, not ESPN." But ESPN stayed on the Stars-Avalanche broadcast "for about 20 seconds" before cutting back to Madison Square Garden (SI, 5/7).

ESPN "managed to add some extra stress to the proceedings" for viewers with a "clearly inadvertent broadcast mistake" (USA TODAY, 5/7). That wasn't the only hiccup during the final minutes, as the live ads on the board "temporarily flashed 'Hurricanes win!'" about halfway through the extra period, "despite neither team having scored" (N.Y. POST, 5/7).

The Sharks won the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery last night, giving them "the first crack at drafting top prospect Macklin Celebrini" during next month’s NHL Draft in Las Vegas. It’s the first time the Sharks have had the first-overall pick. Sharks GM Mike Grier said after winning, "I was thrilled. It’s a big moment for the organization and the fans here to be able to have the opportunity to draft someone like Macklin. It was a tough year for us. To have this opportunity, we couldn’t be more excited." The Sharks entered the day with the "highest odds of winning" the lottery at 25.5% after ending the NHL season with the league’s worst record at 16-41-7. The team will also come away with the 14th pick in the draft, as they own the Penguins' first-round pick from last summer's Erik Karlsson trade (THE ATHLETIC, 5/7).

This year's draft is the first since 2010 in which the picks "went unchanged through the lottery process." Rounding out the top five after the Sharks in the 2024 draft will be the Blackhawks, Ducks, Blue Jackets and Canadiens. The upstart Utah franchise is poised to pick sixth (SI, 5/7).

Puma reported a decline in first-quarter earnings, posting $93.9M in net profit for the period, compared with $126.1M a year ago, on sales that fell 3.9% on year after they were "hit by unfavorable currency effects." The sportswear company said that the market "continued to be volatile" and that its retail partners "still had elevated stock levels." But despite the decline, the company has "begun to invest into its first brand campaign in a decade" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/8).

The company’s operating expenses had "fallen in the first quarter, inventory levels improved and costs like freight were also down." Footwear sales rose 3.1% to $1.27B, while apparel fell by 2.4% to $653.8M and accessory sales decreased 3.2% to $336.2M. Despite the "flattish results," the brand "confirmed guidance for the year." For all of 2024, Puma "still expects sales revenues to grow in the mid-single digits" (WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY, 5/8).

Noteefy, an automated golf booking service, has completed a seed capital round for an undisclosed amount as it looks to grow its technology. Currently, more than 350 golf courses or resorts use Noteefy. Phoenix Capital Ventures led the round and was joined by VC firm Perot Jain, TRT Holdings (Omni Hotels & Resorts owner), the Keiser family (Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley Resort owner) and the Bitove family (Raptors founder). Whistling Straits, Streamsong and TPC Scottsdale are among the courses currently using Noteefy (SBJ)

The non-profit charged with attracting and operating sporting events in Charlotte will run a free-to-play parlay contest around results from three Memorial Day weekend events, hoping to piggy-back on the state’s recent adoption of sports betting to elevate awareness. Operated by the Charlotte Sports Foundation, the Queen City Parlay contest invites entrants to predict the total goals scored in an MLS game between Charlotte FC and Philadelphia United, the total time in NASCAR’s Coca Cola 600 and the fastest times in the women’s and men’s divisions of the Meck Mile, a street race and festival the group will launch this year. Winning entrants will be selected randomly, with tickets and gear as prizes. The Charlotte Sports Foundation, Charlotte FC and Charlotte Motor Speedway will donate $1 per entry, up to $15,000, to Veterans Bridge Home, a local non-profit. The contest, which is not associated with a sportsbook, runs through May 24 at QueenCityParlay.com.

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp chats with basketball writer Tom Friend about the pending NBA media deal. Cindy Brunson of NBC and the Phoenix Mercury is our Big Get this week. The sports broadcasting pioneer talks the upcoming WNBA season, with a dash of Olympic chatter. Later in the show, SBJ media writer Mollie Cahillane gets us set for the upcoming network upfronts.

Auburn AD John Cohen has inked a two-year contract extension which extends his contract through October 2029 (AL.com, 5/7).

Penn State’s BOT will hold a meeting on May 21 to vote on approving the $700M Beaver Stadium renovation plan. Construction is "expected to begin in January 2025 and wrap up ahead of the 2027 football season" (TRIBLIVE, 5/7).

Pioneer Baseball League club Oakland Ballers will be "exclusively partnering" with KPIX/CBS Bay Area and televising the team’s nine Friday night home games on KPIX+ 44 Cable 12, KPIX’s sister station in S.F. (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 5/7).

YAHOO SPORTS goes with the header, "Please save 'Inside the NBA.'" Monday’s edition of "Inside the NBA" was "memorable because it wasn’t particularly memorable;" this is what the show is "seemingly every night -- entertaining, informative, opinionated, unpredictable, hysterical, authentic, smart and fun." This was just another example, not an "all-timer like when Charles Barkley was challenged to a footrace by a 69-year-old ref he had declared too old, or when he caused an uproar by claiming there were no good looking women in San Antonio" or even when the show would "deftly delve into politics or social issues or pop culture." No, what made Monday special is that it "might be one of the last editions of the greatest sports show ever created and arguably one of the best television shows as well."

Also:

• Revenue sharing in college athletics is coming, but only collective bargaining will provide a true solution.
• The price of loyalty: PGA Tour pros from Jordan Spieth to Adam Scott to Chesson Hadley react to the PGA Tour's equity ownership plan.
• It’s time for Robo Umps in MLB -- and for good reasons.

Ben, my friend. You think you do, but you have no idea what this series of events meant to me. My only explanation for the opportunity and the timing is, as @petermayermusic writes in his song "Loose in the World" is that this was all "the hand of the Divine." Blessings on you… https://t.co/kyoUxM6S7T

— Ernie Johnson (@TurnerSportsEJ) May 8, 2024

The Marlins return for Christian Yelich

Lewis Brinson: Currently playing in the Mexican League
Isan Diaz: Playing with Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League
Monte Harrison: Playing college football
Jordan Yamamoto: Head baseball coach at Dwyer High School https://t.co/tu9T3liRJV

— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) May 7, 2024

The @uconnwbb ties run deep 🥹

We love a good reunion between @MuhlNika, @iamchristynw, & @DianaTaurasi! pic.twitter.com/L9Dme96P0S

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 8, 2024

"She’s introduced in an 1845 novella in which she wears a short skirt with her mantilla thrown back to show her shoulders."

"Who is Carmen?"