Timothy (Tim) Maleck is a New York City-based financial associate who received the John G. and Elizabeth Gibbons Scholarship as a student at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In addition to earning a bachelor's degree in accounting, Timothy Maleck was part of the school's nationally ranked rugby team.
Although more popular in other parts of the world, rugby could gain traction as a major force in the North American sporting landscape. That's the hope among investors and CBS Sports, who are backing the new seven-team professional rugby union Major League Rugby (MLR). The league will begin its inaugural season in April 2018 with teams in Seattle, Houston, and New Orleans, among others. CBS Sports Network plans to broadcast eight games throughout the 10-week regular season as well as the league semifinals and MLR Championship Game.
Team owners were required to pay a $500,000 bond for entry into the league and, while there will only be seven teams in 2018, there is already significant interest from major markets. New York, for example, is expected to have a team in 2019 backed by potential investors Conor McGregor and former WWE wrestler John Layfield. Other interested markets include Kansas City, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and Vancouver.
