The Boston Globe has reported that LeBron James and long-time business partner and friend Maverick Carter have aligned themselves with Fenway Sports Group as partners which will make them part-owners of the Boston Red Sox franchise. James and Carter will also make history being the group’s first Black partners.
SPORTS
MLB Legend and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron Passes Away at 86
To say that Henry “Hank” Aaron’s place in MLB history is solidified would be an understatement. The MLB great not only broke Major League Baseball records, but also smashed through racial barriers as well.
Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama as one of seven siblings in his large household. By the time he reached his final season in the MLB, Aaron would be the last Negro league baseball player on a major league roster.
Earning the nickname “Hammerin’ Hank,” Aaron would go on to break Babe Ruth’s home run record on April 8, 1974, finishing with 715 for his career. The record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds broke it, establishing the new mark at 762.
According to the Atlanta Braves, Aaron died “peacefully in his sleep.“
Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka Wins AP Female Athlete of the Year
Naomi Osaka has just won the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award. Osaka joins LeBron James as this year’s recipients of the illustrious achievement as both are recognized for their efforts in their respective sports as well as for their activism and awareness in regards to social justice issues.
Osaka has done a great job of shedding light on the ongoing pandemic and social and economic inequalities that people of color face in America. The Japan-born tennis star won her third Grand Slam this year and during the US Open, wore a face mask with the names of several people who lost their lives at the hands of police brutality, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile and Elijah McClain.
“I am proud of my U.S. Open victory, but more so that I got people talking about the real issues.”
Naomi Osaka
LeBron James Wins AP Male Athlete of the Year Award
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is having a monumental year. The Ohio native not only won his fourth championship and first playing for the Lakers, but now has captured the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award.
“I still know what I do on the floor, and obviously, I give everything to the game. But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”
LeBron James to AP
James earned 78 points in voting which was conducted by a panel of 35 AP customers and editors. The runner up with 71 votes was none other than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes who also has hardware with a Super Bowl as well as MVP honors.
Nike And Colin Kaepernick To Release Monochromatic “True to 7” Jersey
Its hard to believe that it has been four years since NFL Star and social justice activist Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest police brutality against black and brown people. The courage that he displayed on September 11 resulted in the league and owners blackballing him from playing the game that he loves.
This all-black “True to 7” jersey is a follow-up to the 2019 black and white colorway and celebrates the four year anniversary of the former San Francisco QB taking a knee on the sidelines, protesting police brutality and systemic racism.
This “Icon Edition” jersey features Kaepernick’s #7 on the chest and his logo branding on the collar. The jocktag offers a three-part design with the Nike Swoosh, Kaepernick’s signature afro logo and another K logo.
Although it’s clear that Kaepernick is continuing to be ostracized, many companies have begun to open their eyes to his true mission. With Madden 21 finally adding the quarterback in the game and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admitting to handling the situation all wrong, it’s clear to see why Nike’s ongoing support of Kaepernick has been so crucial.
The Nike Kaepernick “True to 7” jersey will hit the Nike SNKRS app on September 17, retailing for $150 USD.
Nike Officially Announces “Mamba Week” In Honor Of Kobe Bryant
Nike fully commits to preserving the legacy of Kobe Bryant with Mamba Week, a week-long celebration filled with launches celebrating the NBA legend. There will be three important efforts for the move with the first being a donation to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, more focus on the Mamba League, and lastly, the release of more Nike Kobe Protro shoes and apparel. These efforts kick off on August 23, the day before Kobe Bryant Day (8/24), which was declared by the city of Los Angeles.
The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, in memory of Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, will receive a $1 million donation from the Nike Foundation. The goal is to help kids stay active, especially in undeserved communities while also providing an even playing field for girls.
Continuing, Nike will lend further support to Bryant’s Mamba League partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Los Angeles. The league is created to give children a place to advance their fundamental skills of basketball. The Mamba League, which was created in 2017, will continue Bryant’s message of “Work to get better every day, on and off the court.”
Finally, Nike will release more Kobe Protro silhouettes as well as limited quantities of the star’s Lakers jerseys. Look out for these to drop right around Mamba Week.
UCLA’s $280 Million Deal With Under Armour In Jeopardy
In 2016, the largest deal in NCAA history was made when Under Armour inked a contract with UCLA worth $280 million for 15 years. It would seem that there may be road blocks in the partnership as Under Armour is now looking to end the relationship after 3 years. Under Armour states that is has not received the benefits from their marketing for an extended time period in which they have paid for.
Under Armour has recently made the difficult decision to discontinue our partnership with UCLA, as we have been paying for marketing benefits that we have not received for an extended time period. The agreement allows us to terminate in such an event and we are exercising that right. We know that this has been a challenging time for athletes, sports programs and performance apparel brands alike. Under Armour will continue to preserve our strength in this challenging environment, while maintaining a strong network of partnerships with individuals, organizations and leagues that make us the on-field authority for focused performers.
Under Armour’s Official Statement
The Los Angeles Times reports that a sum of $15 million USD was paid upfront to UCLA AND $11 million USD per year after. $7.4 million USD was given to the program in sports equipment, apparel and shoes per school year as well as a $2 million USD grant over eight years for upgrades on athletic/ performance facilities. Subsequently, UCLA will fight the termination from Under Armour.
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan And Kevin Garnett Headline Basketball Hall Of Fame Class Of 2020
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will receive the greatest honor in sports by being inducted into the 2020 Basketball Hall Of Fame.
Besides the three greats already mentioned, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will also include the following:
WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings, former Houston Rockets head coach and 2-time NBA Champion Rudy Tomjanovich, Eddie Sutton, who was four-time NCAA coach of the year, three-time NCAA Champion coach Kim Mulkey of Baylor and five-time NCAA Division II Coach of the Year Barbra Stevens from Bentley University.
This news is bitter-sweet as it comes just a few months after the late great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter accident. However the circumstance, it’s definitely a no-brainer that The Black Mamba would be a first ballot selection and well deserved.
Golden State To Play Brooklyn Without Fans In Attendance
The Coronavirus has inevitably struck the NBA as rising concerns have prompted the Warriors to host the Nets with fans being banned from the arena. Ticket holders who planned to attend the game will be issued a refund as well.
Warriors team president Rick Welts met with San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Wednesday morning where the decision was made with approval by NBA.
The San Francisco Health Office ordered all events that could hold 1,000 or more people to be prohibited. The Warriors also announced that other events at the Chase Center through March 21 — consisting of three concerts and a G League game — would be canceled or postponed.
LeBron James’ Thoughts On Coronavirus NBA Fan Ban
With the Coronavirus running amuck, causing several events to cancel, it seems as though the NBA is contemplating being the next institution to close its doors to fans.
It is being reported that the National Basketball Association is considering looking to ban fans from attending live games due to growing Coronavirus concerns and it’s impact on social events.
Countries like Asia and Europe have already started prohibiting fans from attending live events and now the United States seems to be pressured into following suit with the most notable cancelation of SXSW. When asked what his opinion was regarding the possibility of playing without fans in attendance, LeBron James stated:
We play games without the fans? Nah, that’s impossible. I ain’t playing, if I ain’t got the fans in the crowd, that’s who I play for.
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