Welcome back to Keeping Score, our Friday column that highlights the personalities, teams and games that sports fans are talking about—by the numbers.
3.3%
Tom Brady’s stake in Birmingham City Football Club, which he exited unceremoniously this week after three years.
Tom Brady’s ownership stint at Birmingham City wasn’t as heartwarming as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s winning run at Wrexham. Brady owned 3.3% of the club, and had no voting rights or day-to-day responsibilities. But, according to the Athletic, Brady did offer his assistance to the team’s health, nutrition and recovery programs, and some of the Birmingham players worked with Brady’s fitness guru, Alex Guerrero. Brady also found time to participate in an Amazon documentary about the team, and to question Premier League legend and (at the time) Birmingham City coach Wayne Rooney’s work ethic.
The timing of the exit is unusual because Birmingham City is top of the table in the second-tier Championship in England and in line for promotion to the Premier League. In an official statement, the club thanked Brady for his contributions, but Page Six reports that, behind the scenes, the club felt Brady was more into fashion than football.
“He’d fly to NYC and walk in a Gucci runway show for $180,000, but wouldn’t go to BCFC games. They gave him equity and expected support,” a source told Page Six. “His small amount of equity would still get him several million [dollars] and he was doing nothing for it.”
3
Words of advice that ‘Coach’ Jimmy Butler gave his Golden State Warriors teammates: ‘Pass to Steph.’
Jimmy Butler may be using his rehab from a torn ACL to start a second career as a coach. The 37-year-old former All-Star sat on the bench for the Warriors, dressed not in a uniform or in his regular clothes, but in the gray sweater and black pants worn by the Warriors coaching staff.
According to the Athletic, Butler held a clipboard during the game and offered advice to his teammates, including his three word "PASS TO STEPH" message.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has won over fans so far this season with his backstory (he worked in a warehouse after high school) and his scoring (averaging over 20 points a game). He said he was surprised to see Butler dressed like a coach.
“During the first timeout ... I see Jimmy, and I’m like ‘What are you wearing?’” Lendeborg said. “I didn’t realize that all the coaches wore the same thing until today, which is weird because I see them every single day."
He joked afterward that he "didn't learn anything" from Butler, except to pass to Steph Curry.
2.1%
Players still alive in NFL survivor pools after nine weeks of the season.
