John Ourand

John Ourand

@ourand.bsky.social

Sports Correspondent, Puck

2.8K followers79 following522 posts

John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

The Varsity * It's been a good week for Cathy Engelbert. * The surest sign that MLB's work stoppage will be long and bloody. * NFL takes on the prediction markets. * MLB's latest offer to the players. * A Big Ten-SEC challenge may be coming to a football field near you. puck.news/newsletter_c...

puck.newsThe Skydance Sports Prognosis & NFL’s Kalshi SmackdownOct 8, 2026 John Ourand Welcome back to The Varsity, back in D.C. after a whirlwind New York trip. Pod alert: We’re about a week into the NHL season, so I asked my fellow Terp, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, ...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

Plus, now that the media merger of the century is official, what becomes of Skydance’s myriad sports rights deals?, from untouchables to the possibly disposable. And that’s all before it has to renegotiate with the NFL and possibly hunt down international soccer rights. puck.news/skydance-has...

puck.newsCut Day at TNT SportsThe media merger of the century is finally official, leaving the sports world wondering what will become of Skydance’s myriad sports rights deals, from the untouchables to the possibly disposable. And...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

The Varsity * There's a reason why CBS and Fox NFL Week 1 is down big, and it has nothing to do with Nielsen changes. * A minority investor in the Atlanta Braves is so concerned about a work stoppage, he wants John Malone to sell the team. * Florio signed a book deal. puck.news/newsletter_c...

puck.newsNFL Ratings Real Talk & A Braves Sale NonstarterSep 15, 2026 John Ourand Welcome back to The Varsity and congrats to John Tornow, Puck’s C.T.O., whose Tortured Backfield Dept. looks like the team to beat in Puck’s ultra-competitive office fantasy f...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

While several platforms are doing their best to re-create the bygone days of switching between games at the push of a button, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Plus, a conversation with analyst Michael Nathanson about Roku-Fox upshots, MLB lockout what-ifs, and more. puck.news/can-streamer...

puck.newsDesperately Seeking Channel-Surfing NirvanaPlatforms are trying to re-create the bygone days of switching between games with one button. Plus, Michael Nathanson on Roku-Fox.
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

Football is back, and that means Pat McAfee is everywhere. After a summer in which sports media tried to unpack his megadeal with ESPN—which still hasn't been announced, for the record—his omnipotence says almost everything one needs to know about the business. puck.news/mcafeeconomi...

puck.newsMcAfee of the UniverseAfter a summer in which much of the sports media tried to unpack his megadeal with ESPN—which remains unsigned, for the record—his omnipotence says almost everything one needs to know about the state of the business.
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

The only surprising element of the NBA’s punishment of the L.A. Clippers is its severity—and how ferociously Steve Ballmer, the league’s richest owner, is fighting back. Is this a harbinger for future governor-on-league violence? puck.news/ballmers-def...

puck.newsBallmer to the WallThe only surprising element of the NBA’s punishment of the L.A. Clippers is its severity—and how ferociously Steve Ballmer, the league’s richest owner, is fighting back. Is this a harbinger for future...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

Plus, with volatile forces (the transfer portal, the Lakers and Seahawks valuations, football’s international endgame, etcetera) reshaping the business of sports, Sportscorp C.E.O. Marc Ganis—the NFL’s “33rd owner” and Roger Goodell whisperer—shares the inside story. puck.news/marc-ganis-o...

puck.newsConversations With the Goodell WhispererWith volatile forces (the transfer portal’s Wild West, the Lakers and Seahawks valuations, football’s international endgame, etcetera) reshaping the business of sports, Sportscorp C.E.O. Marc Ganis—th...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s attempt to land a pair of players who previously signed NFL deals struck a nerve with just about everyone in college football this week. Was the act so audacious that Congress will have to take a harder look at the Protect College Sports Act? puck.news/lane-kiffins...

puck.newsLane DrainLSU coach Lane Kiffin’s attempt to land a pair of players who previously signed NFL deals struck a nerve with just about everyone in college football this week. Was the act so audacious that Congress ...

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The Brian Lehrer Show
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@puck.news sports correspondent John @ourand.bsky.social talks about skyrocketing sports team valuations, a new private equity investment in the Yankees, and the potential 2027 MLB lockout. Listen: wnyc.org/browse/shows...

wnyc.orgThe Soaring Price of Sports Teams | WNYCJohn Ourand, sports correspondent at Puck, talks about skyrocketing sports team valuations, a new private equity investment in the Yankees, and the potential 2027 MLB lockout.
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

For all its triumphs—the big-name talents, the rivalries, the broad-based appeal—even the WNBA’s most ardent fans are worried its success is too driven by social and political issues. And no one seems confident that leadership can make the most of their momentum. puck.news/newsletter_c...

puck.newsWNBA Polarization & Disney+’s Sports PushJohn Ourand Welcome back to The Varsity. It promises to be a big weekend in the Ourand household. We’re taking our youngest to Villanova for her senior year, our final college move-in. How many popes ...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

The Varsity * Mark Walter looked into letting Charter out of its Lakers’ and Dodgers’ deals early for a lump sum payout. Those talks went nowhere. * A bull case for Tony Romo's return to CBS. * Inside NBC's Preakness deal. puck.news/newsletter_c...

puck.newsWalter’s Desperation Play & The Billionaire Sports HedgeAug 18, 2026 John Ourand Welcome back to The Varsity. By the time this hits your inbox, I will be noshing on crab cakes with Michael Nathanson from a Camden Yards suite. Let’s go O’s! R.I.P. to Bill R...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

With the sale of the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, pro sports is increasingly functioning as a blue-chip asset class—and a hedge for fortunes made in tech, finance, and A.I. puck.news/mark-ein-on-...

puck.newsThe Case for Billion-Dollar TeamsWith last week’s sale of the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, pro sports is increasingly functioning as a blue-chip asset class—and a hedge for fortunes made in tech, finance, an...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

While some media types wonder if Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have minted the top of the market for franchise ownership, a whole new tidal wave of money is beginning to look at this asset class as a hedge against A.I. and other macroeconomic factors. puck.news/are-the-lake...

puck.newsAre the Lakers Really Worth $12 Billion?While some media types wonder if Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have minted the top of the market for franchise ownership, a whole new tidal wave of money is beginning to look at this asset class as a hedg...
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

Plus, most MLS insiders assumed that Larry Berg would sail into the commissioner’s office to replace Don Garber. But it took four votes for him to vanquish David Nathanson, perhaps suggesting that the MLS ownership has some quiet dissent in its ranks. puck.news/inside-mls-s...

puck.newsThe Shootout for the Future of MLSMost insiders assumed Larry Berg would sail into MLS’s top job. But it took four votes to beat David Nathanson—hinting at quiet dissent in its ranks.
John Ourand
@ourand.bsky.social

The Varsity * New MLS commissioner Larry Berg meets the press. * Analytics firm Samba puts some numbers to the first few F1 races on Apple TV. * The knives are out for Gianni Infantino. Plus, agent Gideon Cohen explains why the market for on-air talent is drying up. puck.news/newsletter_c...

puck.newsIron Gianni & Apple’s F1 SpinoutAug 4, 2026 WELCOME BACK! You’re receiving a complimentary version of The Varsity as a welcome gift to new readers. Start a free 14-day trial to unlock access to Puck.   John Ourand Welcome back to Th...