Virgil Abloh-designed Nikes Bring in Record-setting $25M at Auction
The lasting impact of Virgil Abloh will not soon be forgotten. Sotheby’s auctioned 200 pairs of Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Low brown and tan exclusives designed by Abloh prior to his passing, with proceeds benefiting the late designer’s “Post Modern” Scholarship Fund for Black fashion students. With the final gavel, the auction brought in more than $25 million, eight times more than the anticipated $3 million that the lot was expected to fetch.
Manfred Promises “Good Faith Proposal” Amidst New Round of MLB Negotiations
MLB spring training is on hold, but league insiders indicate that efforts towards contract resolution continue to move forward. Commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters that the owners will present the players’ association with a meaningful proposal to end the lockout as the two sides meet on Friday. He also indicated that the parties had agreed to introduce the designated hitter to National League play, in a move thought to be a concession ot the players.
SEC Distributes $778M to Conference Schools
There is little debate that the SEC is one of the – if not the – most dominant conferences in college sports, and it pays to be that good. According to ESPN, the SEC distributed $778 million across the schools in its conference, an average of $54.6 million per institution. This figure does not include the $23 million one-time distribution to cover COVID-related hardships that each school received.
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Rodgers, Kupp, and Watt Bring Home NFL Awards
The Super Bowl is only 48 hours away and in the lead-up, the stars were out in LA. At the annual NFL Awards, Aaron Rodgers took home his second consecutive MVP award as speculation grew as to his next steps after this season. The LA Rams’ Cooper Kupp has just one more box to check on his All-Pro season, as he was crowned Offensive Player of the Year. On the defensive side, T.J. Watt was recognized for his ferocious play with Defensive Player of the Year honors. Bengals QB Joe Burrow also took home the Comeback Player of the Year after overcoming an ACL injury at the end of last season.
Binance Drops $200M for Stake in Forbes
This Super Bowl Sunday you will not see an ad for the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance, as it has paired with Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler for an anti-ad in which he tells viewers to do their own research. However, the company made moves this week as it announced that it has secured a $200 million stake in Forbes, as the 104-year-old publishing company seeks to merge with a publicly-traded SPAC in the next quarter. The move signals a major step for cryptocurrency, as Forbes is one of the foundational leaders in finance media.
Amazon Declares “Football is Open” in Prime Ad
While the Super Bowl is a momentous and festive unofficial national holiday in the U.S., it’s also the last game of meaningful professional football each year until August. Amazon’s Prime Video aims to strike the balance between joy and impending emptiness in its Super Bowl commercial, set to debut on Sunday. The spot will preview Prime Video’s exclusive Thursday Night Football contract and try to build anticipation for its first regular season date, slated for Sept. 15.
Harden, Porzingis Find New Homes Amidst Final Hours of NBA Trade Deadline
NBA fans stayed busy on Thursday tracking moves in the final hours leading into the NBA trade deadline. Major moves sent James Harden and Paul Millsap to Philadelphia in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond. Elsewhere, the Mavericks picked up Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans for Kristaps Porzingis. The Lakers failed to make any final moves, as reports indicate that LA declined a move that would send Russell Westbrook to Houston for John Wall.
Topps to Auction Exclusive Mickey Mantle NFT
Topps is teaming up with the Mantle Estate and Major League Baseball to auction a 1952 Mickey Mantle NFT. The item will be sold via a 72-hour auction on OpenSea, and the winner will not only get the one-of-one collectible but also have the opportunity for a 30-minute conversation with Mantle’s sons.
Under Armour Outpaces Revenue Expectations as Supply Chain Threatens Outlook
One of Under Armour’s most decorated ambassadors may have hung up his cleats, but even TB12’s retirement couldn’t dampen the sportswear brand’s quarterly numbers. The Baltimore-based company amassed $1.57 billion in revenue driven by apparel, accessories, and footwear, outpacing expectations. However, the faulty supply chain cast a shadow on the good news, as it threatens the company’s projections for the present quarter. Pre-market trading was down on Friday morning.
NASCAR Driver Kevin Harvick Joins All-star Subway Menu
The Daytona 500 is just a week away and NASCAR champ Kevin Harvick is getting prepared. He added another accolade to his CV on Thursday, becoming the most recent athlete to get his own sandwich at Subway. His “Full Throttle Ham” joins an all-star roster that includes Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Marshawn Lynch.
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