Chris Paul Receives Presidential Appointment to HBCU Advisory Board
Chris Paul is all in on HBCUs. The Suns point guard is frequently seen wearing HBCU-inspired fits in the tunnel and historically has been outspoken in his support of them. On Thursday, President Joe Biden appointed Paul, alongside actress Taraji P. Henson, to the White House board of advisors for HBCUs. In the past, Paul produced a docuseries on HBCU basketball called Why Not Us? for ESPN+.
Adam Schefter and Woj Extend Deals with ESPN
Thursday was a big day for ESPN. The network announced that it had inked multi-year extensions with two of its top talents, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski and NFL insider Adam Schefter. The two will continue to secure scoops for the Bristol-based network for the foreseeable future. Financial details of the new contracts are not available at this time.
Honus Wagner Card Sets Record with $3M Purchase
The steady rise of the hobby has been one of the biggest storylines of the last two years. This week, one of the hobby’s white whales was put up for auction and net a historic bid. A PSA 1 Honus Wagner card found a new home for $3 million. The card has a wild back story, as it was once owned by Charlie Sheen who lent it to New York’s All-Star Café and it was stolen from the restaurant. While details of the seller have not been revealed at this time, the Oklahoma resident has earmarked some of the profits for the Boys and Girls Club. The sale smashed the previous record for the card which was $1.39 million.
Paige Bueckers Secures NIL Deal with Chegg for a Good Cause
Paige Buckets is heading home this weekend. The 2020 Player of the Year is leading the Huskies to the Final Four in her native Minneapolis, and throughout the tournament, she has shined, both on and off the court. The UConn standout tops Opendorse’s list of college hoopers with the highest social media earning potential at $62,900. On Thursday, she locked down her most recent deal with Chegg that will have a broader benefit. The educational technology company tapped Bueckers as its athlete ambassador, where she will also work with its non-profit subsidiary to bring attention to student hunger.
Netflix Gives Tour de France the F1 Treatment
The meteoric rise of Formula 1 is frequently attributed to the wild popularity of Drive to Survive. Now, Netflix is looking for a similar spark of success as it announces a new series documenting the athletes of the Tour de France, produced by the same team. The show will follow eight teams as they prepare for the epic event. Earlier this year, the streaming service announced similar treatments for the PGA and tennis, with the ATP and WTA on board.
Kia Takes Over as Naming Sponsor of The Forum
The Forum got a facelift on Thursday. Cameras spotted a new sign outside of the arena, which hosts a stacked slate of music and entertainment events, signaling the debut of the Kia Forum, Sportico reports. The facility served as the home to the Clippers and the Lakers until they left for The Staples Center in 1999. Prior to the pandemic, The Forum was the second-highest-grossing venue in the U.S. for concerts and events, bringing in $105 million. Details of the naming rights deal are not available at this time.
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi Team Up Once More for Final Four MegaCast
Twenty years ago, the UConn Huskies took the women’s tournament by storm led by two stars, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. Now the two basketball legends are getting the band back together, hosting a MegaCast of the Final Four for ESPN. They will be joined by WNBA talent who will offer unfiltered takes on the action.
Jerry Jeudy Joins PlantFuel as Investor and Ambassador
It’s been a big off-season for Jerry Jeudy. Not only did the Broncos wide receiver get a new quarterback in Russell Wilson, but he also announced on Thursday that he is joining the plant-based wellness company PlantFuel as an investor and ambassador. Additionally, the company will co-sponsor his football camp, coming up this May. Terrell Owens, Olivia Dunne, and Lil Yachty also serve as ambassadors for the company.
Ink Dries on Michele Kang’s Purchase of the Washington Spirit
After months, Michele Kang’s purchase of the Washington Spirit is finally official. Kang finalized the $35 million deal after an enduring battle with former majority owner Steve Baldwin. With the purchase, she becomes the first woman of color who is the majority owner of an NWSL team.