This year marks the third annual Autism Awareness Campaign launched by the Business of Sports Network. Each year, we reach out and ask that for a few moments sports is set aside in favor of spreading the word about the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as it is developmental disorder that is reaching alarm levels bordering on epidemic. This year, we have reached out to the sports and entertainment community to help lend support. In doing so, we have seen individuals that simply wish to help, but also those that are touched directly by autism. Be it the granddaughter of Seattle Mariners President Chuck Armstrong who has autism, Dodgers’ outfield Matt Kemp who has a brother with autism, actress Alyssa Milano who also has been directly touched by the developmental disorder, or Shonda and Curt Schilling, who is our featured interview this month, in reaching out to the community we have seen just how far reaching autism is.

With today being the beginning of International Autism Awareness Month, all the Business of Sports Network sites have been rebranded to remind you about this campaign, and within each post this month, we will be providing a link to Autism Speaks for those that wish to donate to assist in funding research on autism. We have also partnered with Autism Speaks to help promote their efforts, such as the “Light It Up Blue” campaign (for more see Fenway Park to Be Lit Up on Eve of 4/1 for "Light It Up Blue").

Autism Speaks is also granting space for a guest article by Maury Brown on their website next week which will give some further insight into how it touches not only him personally, but how autism reaches across every spectrum of life.

The main point of the autism awareness campaign is for you to spread the word, and reach a better understanding of the developmental disorder.

Here is how the Autism Society of America describes autism:

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.

Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects

The following information is provided by Autism Speaks:

Did you know ...

• Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Prevalence vs. Private Funding

• Leukemia: Affects 1 in 1,200 / Funding: $277 million
• Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 100,000 / Funding: $162 million
• Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 300 / Funding: $394 million
• Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $156 million
• Autism: Affects 1 in 110 / Funding: $79 million

National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation

• Total 2009 NIH budget: $35.9 billion
• Of this, only $196 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.5% of total NIH funding.

IF YOU ARE WITHIN THE MEDIA, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS AUTISM SPEAKS EFFORTS. LINK OR REPURPOSE THIS MATERIAL TO HELP THE CAUSE.

The following have lent their name in saying they support autism awareness, if you wish to be added to the list, please contact Maury Brown, president of the Business of Sports Network, for more details.

Corporate Endorsers

Autism Speaks

Populous (Stadium and Global Design)

Sports Management Worldwide

Triple-A Portland Beavers of the PCL

Portland Timbers FC of the USL, soon to be MLS

Oregon Sports Authority

Yardbarker Network

Sports Business Radio

Sports and Entertainment Endorsers

Click to donate to Autism Speaks

The Biz of Hockey is part of the Business of Sports Network. For details on our interviews, latest new on MLB, the NFL, the NBA,and the NHL from outside the lines, check www.businessofsportsnetwork.com for information and links to the Network's sites.

Follow The Biz of Hockey on Twitter

Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Maury Brown
President, Business of Sports Network
(Office) 503-892-5722
Contact Maury Brown (Select name from dropdown)

"BIZ" SITES GO SOCIAL NETWORKING WITH TWITTER

SITES ADD ABILITY TO POST TO TWITTER DIRECTLY, EACH SITE NOW HAS TWITTER ACCOUNT

The Business of Sports Network announced today that has made "going social" part of each of their award winning sites in two dynamic ways that will get you more info, more often by adding Twitter to all of the sites within the Network's family, including The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Basketball, The Biz of Football, and The Biz of Hockey. The additions mean breaking news and information will be available to those using the popular social networking location.

"Social networking is not just a fad, it has become a powerful tool for sports information as leagues, those that report on sports in the media, and professional athletes continue to break news via Twitter, "said Maury Brown, founder and president of the Business of Sports Network. "The addition of Twitter to the Business of Sports Network family of sites is something we are excited about as we look to continue to offer new ways of giving our readers the best information on the business of sports."

Each Biz Site Now on Twitter
Getting even more great content from the Business of Sports Network now comes through individual accounts for each site on the popular social networking application, Twitter. Get breaking news, information from those that we follow. Follow the Business of Sports Network sites through the following locations:

The Biz of Baseball on Twitter

The Biz of Basketball on Twitter

The Biz of Football on Twitter

The Biz of Hockey on Twitter

Post to Twitter Directly from the Biz Sites
Looking to make each of the Business of Sports Network sites even more interactive, you can now post directly to Twitter from each of the "Biz" sites on any page, anytime. Each of the sites now comes with Tweetboard functionality that allows you to login to your account, and post by clicking on a tab provided across each page of the sites, expanding the Twitter interface.

Look for updates 24/7/365 from the staff at the Business of Sports Network to the Twitter accounts, as well as updates from Maury Brown, founder and president of the Business of Sports Network.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK:
The Business of Sports Network is a series of resources dedicated to sports news outside the lines. The network includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball, The Biz of Hockey, and our portal, the Business of Sports Network. The focus of BSN is on providing coverage of breaking news events in sports as it happens, provide expert analysis, provide interviews with those that work in sports business, and provide data and documents to allow readers to see deep into the issues and news confronting sports today.

All the sites across the Business of Sports Network provide the following:

• Reporting on news, as it happens, at the major, minor, and collegiate levels.
• Provide interviews with sports executives, or those in the media that cover sports.
• Data and documents
• Thought provoking original articles and commentary from the staff at the Business of Sports Network

--30--

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

(THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)

• Press Release: The Biz of Baseball, Other Business of Sports Network Sites, Upgrades with Twitter Access
• Rockford RiverHawks To Join The Northern League in 2010
• David Ortiz Addresses Media, Red Sox Issues Statement in Support
• MLB Releases Statement Regarding 2003 Drug Test
• Prior to Ortiz Press Conference, MLBPA Releases Statement Regarding 2003 Drug Test
• Astros Minor Leaguer Einertson Suspended 50 Games for "Drug of Abuse"
• The Significance of Michael Weiner at the Ortiz Press Conference
• With 10 Days to Go, "Signing Strasburg" Watching Kicks Into High Gear

As the Chapter 11 efforts of Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes are tied to a proposed sales transaction to Jim Balsillie, who is looking to relocate the club to Hamilton, OntarioCanada.

Now, a copy of an email from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reveals how the league is looking to move quickly on a sale to keep the club in Phoenix, but that due to the dire financial situation, relocation is becoming more and more of an option.

In a sign that Bettman is looking to protect the Toronto Maple Leafs’ territorial rights, the email mentions Winnipeg as a preferred relocation market.

The email also talks of how MLB and NBA owner Jerry Reinsdorf factors into the equation as part of a possible purchase of the club with designs of trying to keep it in Phoenix… if the club can dig out of the sea of red ink.

See the updated page below:

Coyotes Chapter 11, Other Court Filings

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Ricketts Lining Up Three Banks to Complete Cubs Sale Financing - The Biz of Baseball
• Could the Yankees Back Out of the "Historic" Clause in A-Rod's Contract? - The Biz of Baseball
• LWIB - International Signing Period, Secondary Tix, Andy Oliver Case - The Biz of Baseball
• 2009 BBWAA Badge List Now on The Biz of Baseball - The Biz of Baseball
• Game Ball Mercenary Destroying It For Others - The Biz of Baseball
• PEDs in Baseball No Longer Selig's Fault - The Biz of Baseball
• Podcast - Maury Brown Talks NHL Playoffs, PED Issues, Manny, More - The Biz of Baseball
• New York Yankees: Organization in Transition or Case Study in Baseball Mismanagement? - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Network to Air Video Vignette Recreation of Mays' "The Catch' - The Biz of Baseball
• MLBAM Issued Patent for Geolocation. Could MLB Extra Innings for Mobile Be Far Behind? - The Biz of Baseball
• When Watching Nothing (For Now) Is Something: New Marlins Stadium Webcam - The Biz of Baseball
• Help the "Dr. Z/Nothing Is Impossible Foundation" - The Biz of Football
• Taylor Rejoins Dolphins. Signs 1-year, $1.5M Contract - The Biz of Football
• NFL Releases Potential 2013 Super Bowl Sites - The Biz of Football
• Sports Business Just Jumped the (Land) Shark - The Biz of Football
• Dolphins to Rename Stadium “Land Shark Stadium” as Part of Naming Rights Deal - The Biz of Football
• Business of Sports Network - Autism Awareness Challenge - The Biz of Football
• Record Audience for ESPN’s Lakers/Rockets Game 3 Telecast - The Biz of Basketball
• TNT Nets Best NBA Playoff First Round Ever in 25-Year History - The Biz of Basketball
• Celtics/Bulls Gm 6 Most Watched Round 1 Playoff Game in History - The Biz of Basketball
• Jeremy Mayfield Makes History as First NASCAR Driver Suspended Under Drug Policy - BusinessofSportsNetwork.com
• While NASCAR Drug Policy Is Critical to Safety, Transparency Is An Issue - BusinessofSportsNetwork.com

NOTE: The Biz of Hockey has been updated with several key documents

For those that are interested in the attempted Chapter 11 filing by Jerry Moyes, owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, and the proposed sale to Jim Balsillie who plans to relocate the club to Hamilton, Ontario Canada, The Biz of Hockey now has five documents (one of which, is divided into 3 parts) pertaining to the Coyotes situation.

For those interested, select the link below, or going forward look for this link name under "Biz of Hockey Documents"

Coyotes Chapter 11, Other Court Filings

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Game Ball Mercenary Destroying It For Others - The Biz of Baseball
• PEDs in Baseball No Longer Selig's Fault - The Biz of Baseball
• Podcast - Maury Brown Talks NHL Playoffs, PED Issues, Manny, More - The Biz of Baseball
• New York Yankees: Organization in Transition or Case Study in Baseball Mismanagement? - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Network to Air Video Vignette Recreation of Mays' "The Catch' - The Biz of Baseball
• MLBAM Issued Patent for Geolocation. Could MLB Extra Innings for Mobile Be Far Behind? - The Biz of Baseball
• When Watching Nothing (For Now) Is Something: New Marlins Stadium Webcam - The Biz of Baseball
• Taylor Rejoins Dolphins. Signs 1-year, $1.5M Contract - The Biz of Football
• NFL Releases Potential 2013 Super Bowl Sites - The Biz of Football
• Sports Business Just Jumped the (Land) Shark - The Biz of Football
• Dolphins to Rename Stadium “Land Shark Stadium” as Part of Naming Rights Deal - The Biz of Football
• Business of Sports Network - Autism Awareness Challenge - The Biz of Football
• Record Audience for ESPN’s Lakers/Rockets Game 3 Telecast - The Biz of Basketball
• TNT Nets Best NBA Playoff First Round Ever in 25-Year History - The Biz of Basketball
• Celtics/Bulls Gm 6 Most Watched Round 1 Playoff Game in History - The Biz of Basketball
• Jeremy Mayfield Makes History as First NASCAR Driver Suspended Under Drug Policy - BusinessofSportsNetwork.com

At midnight tonight, the calendar sheds another page, and April turns to May. With that ends what has been designated as World Autism Awareness Month.

But, for millions of families around the globe, autism awareness is a daily affair.

I, and my family, are but one of a growing number that deals with autism’s effects.

Last year, when my wife and I learned that our youngest son Travis had been diagnosed as being on the autism scale as “classic”, I reached out to the sports community and offered up a challenge:

Spread the word. Help parents with young children look for the signs of autism. Be aware of your surroundings and realize that the boy or girl next to you in the checkout line may be on the autism scale. After all, it is a growing developmental disorder.

This year, I hope you will do the same. If you are involved in sports media, I encourage you to write about the Business of Sports Network Autism Challenge. If you are a producer in radio, I hope you will give me 5 minutes on the air to help spread the word. If you are an athlete, a sports executive, or a sports organization, I hope you will extend a hand.

We chose to offer up this challenge on the last day of World Autism Awareness Month in the hopes that while the designation drops from the calendar, it does not drop from view, and that no matter the date on the calendar, you help make society just a bit better by simply acknowledging the ever growing presence of this developmental disorder.

Our challenge is to make others aware of autism. The following information comes by way of the Autism Society of America:

• 1 out of 150 children in U.S.
• 1 out of 90 boys
• Affects four times as many boys as girls
• Lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism: $3.5 to $5 million
• Current annual cost to U.S.: $35 billion
• Estimated annual cost by 2010: $90 billion
• 1.5 million Americans affected

Researching has found information that has been valuable to my wife and I, and some indications that we saw early on as classic traits of autism spectrum disorder within our son’s behavior. Passing some of these behavioral traits along may help you, or someone you know, get their child to their pediatrician for an evaluation. Early detection is critical as the earlier a child is enrolled in therapy, the better the odds are that when they grow older they will be able to function in society.

Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects
• Reaching a development milestone only to see regressively disappear
• Odd dietary behaviors, such as eating only starches
• No fear of danger

How can you help? Donate. Spread the word.

• Autism Society of America
• Autism Speaks
• The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation

As mentioned, autism reaches across all spectrums of society. This month, a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring professional golfer Ernie Els, and his six year old son, Ben, designed to raise awareness about autism and to urge parents to learn the early warning signs of this developmental disorder was released. See the video below for details.

Finally, autism is simply a name. It does not define those that have the disorder. Here is the face of a child that has autism, but is instead simply called “Travis”.

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Baseball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see.

Follow the Business of Sports Network on Twitter

Being more than fashionably late to the dance, I have begun to track the Business of Sports Network through Twitter. But, as many of you know that use the social network phenomenon, it’s a great way to do far more.

So, while I’ll be covering sports and business, and all the other stuff outside the lines, who knows what else I will be Tweeting?

For those interested, follow the Business of Sports Network (and yours truly) on Twitter here:

Follow the Business of Sports Network on Twitter

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Amazin'! Alyssa Milano Opens Clothing Boutique at Citi Field - The Biz of Baseball
• The Yankees Are Taking It on the Chien - The Biz of Baseball
• MLBAM Releases "World Series 2009" for iPhone and iPod Touch - The Biz of Baseball
• Costas Set for MLB Broadcast Return at Yankee Stadium Opener - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Reaches Four Major Sponsorship Deals - The Biz of Baseball
• Could Tom Hicks Be Forced to Sell the Texas Rangers? - The Biz of Baseball
• Sale of the Cubs Should Be Completed by End of May - The Biz of Baseball
• The Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - The Boston Red Sox - The Biz of Baseball
• Rays Players, Coaches, Staff Presented with ALCS Rings - The Biz of Baseball
• Eagles Land Jason Peters - The Biz of Football
• John Madden Retires From Broadcasting - The Biz of Football
• Maurice Jones-Drew Signs Extension - The Biz of Football
• Sprint To Stream NFL Draft to TV-Enabled Phones - The Biz of Football
• Round-Up: Harrison, Thomas, and Leftwich Reach Deals - The Biz of Football
• DISH Network Reaches Settlement to Carry NFL Network - The Biz of Football
• LeBron James Unveils Nike Zoom Soldier III During Game 1 - The Biz of Basketball
• Stave Nash and Nike Zoom MVP Trash Talk Shoe Continue Going Green - The Biz of Basketball
• ESPN Sees Highest Ever Viewership for NBA - The Biz of Basketball
• First Round NBA Schedule Released - The Biz of Basketball

For those that visit The Biz of Hockey, you have most likely noticed the links and images to other sites in the Business of Sports Network. Those sites (The Biz of Basketball, The Biz of Football, and The Biz of Baseball), along with The Biz of Hockey cover a broad spectrum of professional sports in the U.S. and Canada, but it’s only a portion of the key news happening outside the lines.

To that end, BusinessofSportsNetwork.com will shift from simply being a portal of RSS feeds, and contact info for Bizball LLC, but instead will begin to cover all aspects of sports business. From auto racing to golf to MLS to MMA to tennis and beyond, BusinessofSportsNetwork.com will be expanding. We’ll also be highlighting key aspects from the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL via our “Focus On” series highlighting research and stories on our “Biz” sites.

Lastly, I have shifted my personal blog into a more traditional platform, with link dumps being done daily to a variety of mainstream and alternative platforms across the internet.

I hope you will swing by these two new resources, see the changes, (a first glimpse is The Influence of Tiger Woods Return on the Business of Sports Network, as well as links to key stories on maurybrown.com), and make them part of your daily stop for sports news off the playing surface.

Maury Brown
President
Business of Sports Network
Bizball LLC

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Elbow Ligament Reconstruction Appears Not to Affect Future Pro Advancement in Baseball - The Biz of Baseball
• Royals Land Reliever Cruz - The Biz of Baseball
• The Goverment's Persecution of Barry Lamar Bonds - The Biz of Baseball
• Site Update: End of Year MLB Player Payroll (2002-2008) - The Biz of Baseball
• Injury Update: Santana, Bonderman Out Longer Than Originally Reported - The Biz of Baseball
• Lincecum to Grace Cover of ESPN the Magazine's MLB Fantasy Preview Issue - The Biz of Baseball
• Transaction Round-Up: Lincecum, Mientkiewicz Reach Deals - The Biz of Baseball
• Death of a Newspaper: The Rocky Mountain News Folds. Ringolsby Reflects - The Biz of Baseball
• Yankees, Bank of America Break Off Sponsorship Talks - The Biz of Baseball
• Celtics Set to Sign Marbury - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA Expected to Borrow $175M Today - The Biz of Basketball
• Nike Unveils the “KD1” – the First Signature Shoe for Kevin Durant - The Biz of Basketball
• Charles Barkley to Serve 5 Days in Jail for DUI - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA Unveils New Digital Strategy - The Biz of Basketball
• BREAKING: Chiefs Set to Acquire Cassel - The Biz of Football
• Haynesworth Signs Historic Deal with Redskins - The Biz of Football
• Bucs Acquire Kelen Winslow for Draft Picks - The Biz of Football
• NFL Salary Cap to Increase to $127 Million for 2009 - The Biz of Football
• Commissioner Roger Goodell Takes 20 Percent Pay Cut - The Biz of Football

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

The Business of Sports Network is working to expand other additional functionality shortly that will add even more value to the sites. Check back often for details.

Maury Brown
Founder and President
Business of Sports Network
Bizball LLC

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Owners Expected to Approve William Neukom for Giants - The Biz of Baseball
• "Sometimes, they come in bunches" - The Biz of Baseball
• Minor Leagues Pull Major $$$$ - The Biz of Baseball
• Out of the Dark? DuPuy Talks Lifting Blackout Restrictions - The Biz of Baseball
• MASN and MASN 2 Move to New Channels on DirecTV - The Biz of Baseball
• Cuban is Saying All the Right Things About the Cubs - The Biz of Baseball
• Ranking the Top 10 Markets for Relocation or Expansion - The Biz of Baseball
• SEE IT: MLB, Cardinals Release All-Star Game Logo - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Net Taps Art Marquez for Sales. Harlem Office Delayed - The Biz of Baseball
• Bryant, James and Wade Dazzle as Team USA Routs China, 101-70 - The Biz of Basketball
• Trail Blazers Win 2008 PRISM Award - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA Releases 2008/2009 Season Schedule. Opener Celtics and Cavs - The Biz of Basketball
• LeBron James: "We Have to Be a No Excuse Team" - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA Teams Spending Big, Getting Better - The Biz of Basketball
• D-League Expansion Team Reno Announces Name and Logos: Bighorns - The Biz of Basketball
• Donruss Rushes Out Brett Favre Jets Trading Card - The Biz of Football
• Get Your Football Fix On - Register and Get Updates - The Biz of Football
• Aaron Rogers Fires Agent Mike Sullivan of Octagon - The Biz of Football
• NFL Creates New Position of Director of Strategic Security - The Biz of Football
• Buffalo Bills and PrimeSport Announce Travel Partnership - The Biz of Football

SMJ Interview- Maury Brown, Business of Sports Network. Here's a sample...

SMJ- What was the impetus, and timeline, in creating the four sports-specific “Biz” sites?

M.B.- The Biz of Baseball was launched in September of 2006 based on the idea that you could have a central location where a vast amount of information in the way of documents, stadium renderings, salary data, etc, could be presented with reporting on daily news, and insight from sports executives. I had been doing interviews for sometime with individuals such as former commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Fay Vincent, along with those working media, such as Bob Costas, and so moving to a model that was built on a foundation for researchers, yet offered dynamic content daily seemed like a model that had not been done before. The baseball site was successfully launched as the pilot, so we followed with The Biz of Football and The Biz of Basketball early last year, and added The Biz of Hockey most recently at the beginning of 2008.

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
• Forbes Releases 2008 Annual MLB Club Valuations - The Biz of Baseball
• Yardbarker Taps ESPN Sales Veteran Tim Ware as VP - The Biz of Baseball
  
• Nestles, Minor League Baseball Reach Sponsorship Deal - The Biz of Baseball
• Harold Reynolds Settles Suit With ESPN - The Biz of Baseball
  
• 330 Players to Wear #42 In Memory of Robinson Today - The Biz of Baseball
• DirecTV Offering All Mariners Games on FSNW - The Biz of Baseball
• Blackout Restriction Lifted For Johnson's DBack Return - The Biz of Baseball
• Best Screenplay Oscar Goes To: Four Men and a Jersey - The Biz of Baseball
• Dunkin' Donuts Selects FSG for Marketing Campaign - The Biz of Baseball
• FOX Cuts Off Yanks/Sox Game and Switch to NASCAR - The Biz of Baseball
• Quotes from Buck Martinez Today on TBS - The Biz of Baseball
• On Baseball Prospectus: Not Quite Catching All the Action - The Biz of Baseball
• The Business of Sports Network's Sports Challenge for Autism Awareness - The Business of Sports Network
• TNT Announces NBA Playoff Schedule. Adds Mike Dunleavy as Playoff Analyst - The Biz of Basketball
• Post Season Hardware Picks from Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Reggie Miller - The Biz of Baskteball
• Running on "Good Faith": Why Sonics Ownership Will Slip Out the Door on a Flagrent Foul - The Biz of Basketball
• Interview Transcript with David Stern. Talks Sonics Relocation - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA Extends Digital Archiving Deal. Plans to Eventually Archive All 400,000 Hours of Film - The Biz of Basketball
• Blue Note? Blazers Request Waivers on Darius Miles - The Biz of Basketball
• Hawaii to Receive Biggest Payout Ever to Non-BCS School - The Biz of Football
• Eagles Select Ticketmaster for Secondary Ticket Sales - The Biz of Football
• Suspended Titans CB Jones Delays Reinstatement Application - The Biz of Football
• Roski Proposes Stadium to Lure NFL Team to Los Angeles - The Biz of Football
• Carroll Claims Sanchez to be USC's Starting QB - The Biz of Football
• Chiefs Sign FB Foschi - The Biz of Football
  

  ---

  

  Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

  Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Those outlets and individuals include:

• Tim Lemke of the Washington Times (Helping Autism Research)
• Carolyn Hastings with the Cleveland Plain Dealer (A Sports Autism Challenge)
• Darren “Repoz” Viola at Baseball Think Factory
• David Pinto at Baseball Musings
• Sportsthodoxy
• John Brattain at Baseball Digest Daily
• Dave Rouleau at Baseball Digest Daily
• Craig Calcaterra at Shysterball
• NESW Sports
• Fang’s Bites
• Brew Crew Ball
• Pete Toms on Baseball Geek

I have also been overwhelmingly touched by personal stories from those with ASD, or parents and family members of someone with ASD, and the well wishes from colleagues and readers. With each correspondence, I have become more educated, and inspired. "Thanks" seems to fall far short of what they mean to our family.

Here is my challenge… Post the following info, or if space does not permit, link to this article. In doing so, you help spread the word about autism and allow parents to get their child diagnosed as early as possible. Remember, my son is Travis. While he will grow up with ASD, he is an individual, as all are that are touched by ASD. I hope you will take up this challenge:

The following information comes by way of the Autism Society of America:

• 1 out of 150 children in U.S.
• 1 out of 90 boys
• Affects four times as many boys as girls
• Lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism: $3.5 to $5 million
• Current annual cost to U.S.: $35 billion
• Estimated annual cost by 2010: $90 billion
• 1.5 million Americans affected

All my best,
Maury Brown
Founder and President
Business of Sports Network
Bizball LLC

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
• 330 Players to Wear #42 In Memory of Robinson Today - The Biz of Baseball
• DirecTV Offering All Mariners Games on FSNW - The Biz of Baseball
• Blackout Restriction Lifted For Johnson's DBack Return - The Biz of Baseball
• Best Screenplay Oscar Goes To: Four Men and a Jersey - The Biz of Baseball
• Dunkin' Donuts Selects FSG for Marketing Campaign - The Biz of Baseball
• FOX Cuts Off Yanks/Sox Game and Switch to NASCAR - The Biz of Baseball
• Quotes from Buck Martinez Today on TBS - The Biz of Baseball
• On Baseball Prospectus: Not Quite Catching All the Action - The Biz of Baseball
• NBA Extends Digital Archiving Deal. Plans to Eventually Archive All 400,000 Hours of Film - The Biz of Basketball
• Blue Note? Blazers Request Waivers on Darius Miles - The Biz of Basketball
• "NBA on TNT" Sees Double-Digit Ratings Growth, Key Demo Wins - The Biz of Basketball
• The Spurs Can’t Push the Suns Around Anymore - The Biz of Baseketball
• See It: NBA D-League Schedule Set - The Biz of Basketball
• NBA.com Shatters Traffic Record. Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol Lead in Rankings - The Biz of Basketball
• CBS’ ‘Shinning Moment’ Down 6% from Last Year - The Biz of Basketball
• Nike and Kobe Bryant Launch Hyperdunk Basketball Shoe - The Biz of Basketball
• Walsh: Isiah Thomas To Coach End of Season. Any Changes Before Draft - The Biz of Basketball
• Emails Show Sonics Ownership Pushed as Early as April '07 to Relocate to Oklahoma City - The Biz of Basketball
• Bobcats Trade Stadium Naming Rights for New TV Deal – The Biz of Basketball
• Are NCAA Final Four Teams Actually Losing Money? - The Biz of Basketball
• It’s Awesome Baby! Vitale, Ewing, Olajuwon Among 2008 Naismith Hall of Fame Class - The Biz of Basketball
• Randy Moss Chooses Pony International for Shoe Line - The Biz of Football
• Former Colts C Nutter Passes Away - The Biz of Football
• Penn State LB Lee Out for Season - The Biz of Football
• Suspended Titans CB Jones to Ask for Reinstatement on Tuesday - The Biz of Football
• Lions Sign Free Agents Wilson and Ernster - The Biz of Football
• Upshaw Asks Two Former Players to Join NFLPA - The Biz of Football
• Detroit's Fox Theatre Tower to Shine Red Throughout Red Wings Playoff Run – The Biz of Hockey
• Detroit Red Wings Announce Winners of 'Are You In?' Video Contest - The Biz of Hockey
• As Credit Crunch Hits, Purchase of Lightning Drags Out – The Biz of Hockey
• Republican and Democratic National Convention Leaders Have Friendly Wager on NHL Playoffs -The Biz of Hockey
• Minnesota Wild Sold To Craig Leipold - The Biz of Hockey
  

If you are interested in blogging about the NHL, WHL, and NCAA Hockey from the prospective of off the ice, then we may have an opening for you. The Biz of Hockey taps into everything from trades and free agent signings, to new stadium development, television and radio deals, analysis, interviews and much more. As part of the Business of Sports Network, we feed links across all of our sites, including The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, and The Biz of Basketball... and beyond.

All our sites are part of the BlogBurst Network, which distributes all of our front page content to mainstream media sites such as USA Today, Reuters, Cox Ohio family of sites, as well as the Internet Broadcast System, which supports a vast array of local television news websites.

If you're interested in getting your name to a broad audience, then we may offer you that opportunity as one of our volunteer bloggers.

Interested in more than just hockey?

The ability to cross report on other sites within the Business of Sports Network is an option.

If interested, please contact us.

Maury Brown
Founder and President
Business of Sports Network
Bizball LLC

• Some History of the Expos Relocation to DC and My Nationals Park Mea Culpa - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
• Stickball: How More Changes to MLB’s Drug Policy are About Keeping it In the Family - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
• 115,300 Attend "Whiffle Ball" Game at LA Coliseum - The Biz of Baseball
• When it Comes to Hot Dog Consumption, Mets Fans Rule - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB.com: Video-Alerts to Mobiles. High-Def Streaming - The Biz of Baseball
• Wanna Bet? Red Sox, Mass. Lottery to Make Announcement - The Biz of Baseball
• Holding Pattern: Guillen, Gibbons Desciplines Stayed - The Biz of Baseball
• Biz of Football's Top 10 Quarterbacks - The Biz of Football
• Paterno Decides Not to Meet Clinton During Visit to Campus - The Biz of Football
• Raiders Sign Former Lion DE Edwards - The Biz of Football
• Wanted: Basketball Bloggers - The Biz of Basketball

Maury Brown, Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, of which The Biz of Baseball is a member, will be a guest today at 2:25pm ET (11:25am PT) on Baseball Beat (XM 175) to talk the business of baseball.

Topics include the baseball going green and the Dodgers and Padres games in China, and much more.

If you have XM Satellite Radio, make sure and tune in then.

Brown's full bio is here.

Over on The Biz of Football, Bill Jordan interviews John Papuchis, the Defensive Ends Coach for Nebraska. Topics covered in the interview include recruiting, the difference between Pelini and Miles, differences between LSU and Nebraska and how LSU prepared for the National Chamionship Game.

On the baseball side of things, Maury Brown interviews Jeff Moorad, the General Partner and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Moorad is the first player agent to become an owner of an MLB club. The interview touches in Moorad’s move from the state of the Diamondbacks when he arrived with the organization, his move from player agent to management, how the Diamondbacks approach player acquisition as a mid-level revenue making market, a progress report on the installation of one of the world’s largest high-definition video display at Chase Field, how he and Tom Garfinkel got involved in owning a NASCAR team, whether the D-Backs will work to expand brand through NASCAR, and a PGA sponsorship, the D-Back’s unique community program that offers free season tickets to underprivileged families, and much, much more.

To see our listing of over 40 interviews, go to www.businessofsportsnetwork.com, and check the listing to the left.

Welcome!

You have arrived at the latest site of the Business of Sports Network, a series of resources dedicated to the business of sports and all that happens outside the lines.

We are glad you have taken the time to swing by, see what we're all about, and hopefully, become a regular visitor.

The premise of the site is to pull in information that impacts the business of hockey, especially as it pertains to the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association.

But, really, it's far more...

• As we have done with other sites across BSN, look for interviews to be a staple of the site.
• Look for information regarding arena development under our "Venues" category.
• We will be scouring the web looking for documents that impact hockey as a business. As a start, we present the NHL Performance-Enhancing Substance Policy, as well as the 2005 CBA.
• Into media? We have several categories dealing hockey. Look for news on Television, Radio, Internet, and Computer Gaming shortly.
• If you're into colligate level hockey, we'll be looking to report on NCAA Hockey.
• Look for details on player transactions, and that means contract details. As we've done with The Biz of Baseball, this area has always been one of the more popular aspects BSN presents.
• Lastly, look for original articles and columns from your's truly and others (See our Author Profiles page for updates)

There will certainly be more. After all, today is just the first day of the site being officially launched.

Sincerely,

Maury Brown
Founder and President
Business of Sports Network
Bizball LLC