NBA Cracks Down on High-Risk Bets Ahead of 2026-27 Season
The NBA and major sportsbooks are restricting high-risk betting markets ahead of the 2026-27 season, targeting wagers on single plays, opening-tip results, and player stat unders with large potential payouts. The rules also limit unders on players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes and parlays combining those bets. The restrictions extend to the 2027 WNBA season. The move follows several gambling investigations involving NBA players, including Jontay Porter, Terry Rozier, and Malik Beasley.
Feds Sue Ticket Broker Over $120M Scheme Involving Beyoncé, Pitbull Tickets
The DOJ and FTC are suing ticket broker REPS & Co., alleging it used thousands of accounts to bypass purchase limits and resell more than 18.6 million tickets across 83,500 events. The agencies claim the San Diego-based firm generated over $120 million in profit, including $833,323 from 7,624 tickets to a Beyoncé Renaissance tour show and more than $120,000 from 5,430 tickets to a Pitbull concert.
Brewers Sweep Dodgers as MLB Salary Cap Debate Looms
The Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the NLCS, advancing to the World Series and complicating MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s push for a salary cap. Milwaukee will face either the Cleveland Guardians or Tampa Bay Rays, setting up a potential Fall Classic between small-market teams with modest spending. While the matchup lacks the star power of a Yankees–Dodgers showdown, the Brewers’ run could demonstrate that sustained success doesn’t require baseball’s biggest payrolls. The current CBA expires on Dec. 1.
Pharrell Unveils Louis Vuitton’s 2027 Men’s Ski Collection
Pharrell Williams is bringing technical performance and luxury tailoring together for Louis Vuitton’s 2027 men’s ski collection. The lineup combines water-repellent outerwear and snowboard-ready features with après-ski staples, including jackets designed with trompe l’oeil denim textures and elevated eveningwear. The collection also extends to winterized LV Trainers, shearling-lined footwear and white monogram reflective luggage.
Fanatics to Open Atlanta Flagship as Part of Hawks Retail Deal
Fanatics will open a flagship Atlanta sports store at Centennial Yards in 2027 as part of a new multi-year partnership with the Atlanta Hawks. The deal also makes Fanatics the operator of the team’s official online store, launching Oct. 19, and all retail operations at State Farm Arena ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. The year-round destination will sell Hawks gear and merchandise from other Atlanta teams, marking Fanatics’ first retail location within a mixed-use development.
Netflix Replaces Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria Amid Major Shakeup
Netflix is replacing Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria with former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice, effective Oct. 26, amid slowing engagement growth, pressure on the company’s stock, and a major restructuring. Bajaria is departing after nearly a decade at the streamer, which laid off roughly 1,000 employees this week in its largest-ever round of cuts. Rice, who has overseen film, television, news, and live sports, will lead Netflix’s global content operation.
NCAA Sues Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Over Fifth-Year Eligibility Order
The NCAA is suing Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine over an executive order allowing state universities to grant a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated high school in 2022, defying the association’s rules. The NCAA argues the move gives Ohio schools an unfair competitive advantage, escalating a broader legal fight over eligibility standards. The NCAA and Ohio are also awaiting a separate Ohio Supreme Court ruling on the order’s legality, with briefs in that case due Monday.
Kevin Hart’s ‘Lil Kev’ Returns to Paramount+ on Dec. 9
Kevin Hart’s adult animated series Lil Kev will return to Paramount+ for Season 2 on Dec. 9, with all 10 episodes dropping at once. The series draws on Hart’s childhood in North Philadelphia and features voice performances from Wanda Sykes, Deon Cole, Gerald “Slink” Johnson, and Jamar Malachi Neighbors. Hart executive produces through his company Hartbeat, alongside Bryan Smiley, Jeff Clanagan, and others. Matthew Claybrooks and Michael Price return as showrunners.
Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein Seek New Creative Directors After Designer Exits
Alexander McQueen and Calvin Klein are searching for new creative leaders after parting ways with designers Seán McGirr and Veronica Leoni, respectively. McGirr’s exit comes amid layoffs, store closures and efforts to address mounting losses under parent company Kering. Leoni’s departure follows three collections that generated growing critical acclaim and social engagement, though retailers showed limited interest. Both brands said they would announce new creative leadership, adding to fashion’s ongoing creative shake-up.
Tesla Unveils Long-Delayed Roadster With SpaceX Thruster Technology
Tesla unveiled its long-delayed next-generation Roadster on Thursday night, showcasing an electric sports car developed with SpaceX technology, including thrusters designed to enable extraordinary acceleration and hovering capabilities. CEO Elon Musk said the vehicle can reach 60 mph in under a second and is expected to enter production in 2028. First revealed in 2017, the Roadster has missed every delivery target since. The unveiling also fueled speculation about a potential merger between Musk’s automotive and aerospace companies.
Obama-Founded Higher Ground to Receive Social Impact Honor
Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, will receive the second annual Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award on Oct. 22 at UCLA’s Teens & Screens Summit. The award recognizes storytelling that tackles social issues, elevates diverse voices, and encourages positive change. Higher Ground’s credits include the Oscar-winning documentary American Factory, Crip Camp, and Rustin, along with podcasts including IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson. Berlanti will present the award.
‘Street Fighter’ Leads Box Office Previews, Elizabeth Holmes Doc Earns $1.75M
Paramount and Legendary’s Street Fighter pulled in $4 million in U.S. Thursday previews, setting the video game adaptation up for a projected opening above $30 million. The film, co-financed by Legendary and Capcom, carries an $82 million net budget. Meanwhile, A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything earned $1.75 million in previews, with 92% of surveyed audiences saying they would definitely recommend it.
Amazon Expands AI Hardware Push With Bee Wearables
Amazon has introduced two AI-powered wearables under its Bee brand, expanding its push into AI hardware. The $75 Bee Frontier wristband records and transcribes conversations, generating summaries and to-do lists, while the $100 Bee Eclipse is a card-shaped recorder that attaches to a phone. Amazon also introduced Bee Pro, a $12 monthly subscription offering unlimited conversation summaries, integrations with services including Gmail and Google Calendar, and desktop tools for summarizing virtual meetings.
Disney, Dude Perfect Team Up for Super Bowl, ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Avengers’ Content
Disney has signed a wide-ranging partnership with sports creator group Dude Perfect, spanning entertainment, sports, consumer products, and live experiences. The deal will bring some of the group’s short-form library to Disney+ while creating original content tied to major events, including Super Bowl LXI, the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, and Avengers: Doomsday. Founded in 2009, Dude Perfect has grown into a studio with an 80,000-square-foot facility in Frisco, Texas.
Image: Nic Antaya / Getty Images
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