Caplin

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@LalimesMartian Get Gardner macdougal

[Caplin @Capper_71]

Where’s Kodak black?

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

This is Jim Thorpe. Look closely at the photo, you can see that he's wearing different socks and shoes. This wasn't a fashion statement.

It was the 1912 Olympics, and Jim represented the U.S. in track and field. On the morning of his competition, his shoes were stolen. Luckily, Jim ended up finding two shoes in a garbage can.

That's the pair that he's wearing in the photo. But one of the shoes was too big, so he had to wear an extra sock. Wearing these shoes, Jim won two gold medals that day.

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@worldhockeyrpt My atom AA coach used to do this stuff

[Rob Gucci @heatdaddy69420]

Why is Gary doing this to the senators. Guys are hurt. Guys are suspended. He’s taking away their picks. I mean what the fuck

[Caplin @Capper_71]

Ottawa senators punishment for forgetting to tell Vegas about Dadanovs no trade list: First round draft pick forfeited.
Chicago Blackhawks punishment for covering up sexual assault: Connor bedard

Wtf

[Ottawa Senators @Senators]

Welcome to the Tarasenk-Show! 🤩

The #Sens have signed forward, Vladimir Tarasenko to a one-year contract!

[Rob Gucci @heatdaddy69420]

Imagine being Fantilli and you're 2 seconds away from living in Southern California (not the bad part with homeless guys are screaming and pooping all over the street, like the chill part in Orange County where every Range Rover is freshly waxed and if you don't have a Bentley to drive on Sundays you're a pussy) and some BONEHEAD in Anaheim decides to take Carlsson so now instead of hot chicks in the sun you're off to Ohio where the people are great people but the weather is disgusting and mike Babcock is gonna automatically be mad at you for being a young prospect. Fuck that. I am staying at Michigan until I graduate and then pursuing a masters degree and playing as long as I can get out of this situation. I honestly would even sign up for medical school and burn off another 12 years just to make sure a) some other team gets me or b) mike Babcock is back coaching in the Saskatchewan roller hockey league.

[Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano]

Elly De La Cruz is one of MLB's most exciting players.

But he might have to pay MILLIONS in career earnings to an investment firm — and he's not the only one.

Over 500 professional athletes have signed these deals, and Fernando Tatis Jr. owes them $27 million.

Here's how it works:

The company is called Big League Advantage (BLA).

It was founded in 2016 by former minor league baseball player Michael Schwimer, and their business model is simple:

BLA provides athletes with an upfront cash payment in exchange for a percentage of their future earnings.

The firm has 40 employees, and they use proprietary predictive analytics models to find inefficiencies in the market (aka when they believe someone is better than the rankings suggest).

And that's when they commit to an investment.

BLA raised $26 million for its first fund, which was then invested across 77 different players in 2016-17.

A typical deal might look like this:
• Athlete receives $350,000 in cash
• BLA is guaranteed 8% of future earnings

But it's not a loan — because if the player never makes it to the major leagues, they don't owe BLA any money.

And with 80% of their investments never making it to the major leagues, BLA solely focuses on landing the biggest fish (kind of like a venture capital firm),

For example, BLA signed a deal with Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2017. He reportedly agreed to pay back ~8% of his future earnings in exchange for "seven figures" in cash.

He then spent the money on a personal trainer, better food, and a better apartment.

But when he signed a $340 million deal with the San Diego Padres just four years later, BLA's ~8% cut meant that Tatis Jr owed them $27.2 million in earnings.

That one deal alone will pay back the entire fund, and the other 76 players BLA invested in are gravy on top.

And BLA says they have agreements in place with 7 players in last year's MLB all-star game alone.

This success has helped BLA raise nearly $250 million — and they have brought on some big investors, too.

Notable BLA Investors
• Paul DePodesta (Cleveland Browns)
• Bill Miller (Legg Mason)
• Steven Duncker (Goldman Sachs)
• Marvin Bush (Brother of George W. Bush)

But BLA's model doesn't just apply to baseball.

The firm is now expanding into other sports, like NIL deals with college football and basketball players.

For example, BLA signed a deal with Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith last year.

Smith received an upfront cash payment (via NIL) in exchange for one social media post per month, two player appearances, and two content shoots.

And based on his rookie deal alone (30th overall pick), Smith will end up paying BLA between $120,000 (1%) and $1.2 million (10%).

This has caused many people to speak up about BLA.

MLB super agent Scott Boras says BLA intentionally targets talented players from Latin America who don't receive large signing bonuses (**BLA's response is that they have signed 100+ American players that collectively have an average signing bonus of $400,000).

And MLB catcher Francisco Mejía even sued the firm in 2018, claiming they took advantage of his financial illiteracy, desperation (he wanted cash to fund medical treatment for his mom in the Dominican), and youth when he signed a deal at 20 years old that exchanged 10% of his future MLB earnings for $360,000 in cash.

Now, Mejía later dropped the case and issued an apology.

And BLA says these deals aren't predatory because they require independent lawyers to review each agreement, and 70-80% of the players they invest in never have to pay back any money.

But that doesn't mean changes can't be made.

One solution, of course, is to increase wages across the minor leagues so these deals aren't necessary, which MLB did last year by doubling wages and improving housing and transportation for players & families.

But with the average minor league player still making less than $30,000 annually, MLB still has a long way to go before income-sharing agreements disappear.

Still, it's important to remember that this problem doesn't just exist in baseball.

People have been investing in golfers (and Formula 1 drivers) for decades, and speculative investing in athletes has its deepest roots in boxing.

But that doesn’t mean a better solution doesn’t exist; we just have to find it.

Ps. I broke down the entire business model behind Big League Advantage on today's podcast. Subscribe below so you don't miss any episodes in the future!

Apple: https://t.co/mxDaF5A3a6
Spotify: https://t.co/gMTrfOPuT3

[Tyler @TylerMackIV]

OHTANI GOATED

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@DylanCharronPE Sens fans are rising up

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@MeninistTweet You telling me jimmy g was gonna stop those 31 points? 49ers are trash 😂🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

[Big Cat @BarstoolBigCat]

God Bless Philadelphia

[Book @DevinBook]

Need mans info

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@SportsCenter Tom wilson

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@DanyAllstar15 You gotta find the clip of that southeast blade game 🤣

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@tdedam @FX_Canada wtf

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@tdedam @RetrieverPics maybe one day

[Caplin @Capper_71]

@tdedam @FunnyViness wtf lol