Giannis Antetokounmpo Inks First-of-its-kind Deal with WhatsApp
Ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game, Giannis Antetokounmpo strolled into the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse sporting a green tie-dye, chenille sweatshirt featuring the numbers “+234” on the front and “Adetokunbo” on the back. The hoodie was an homage to Giannis’ Nigerian roots and his born name and launched his partnership with WhatsApp. He serves as the first-ever global partner for the international messaging app, which has more than 2 billion users worldwide.
US Women’s National Team Reaches $24M Settlement in Historic Equal Pay Fight
The SheBelieves Cup is underway, and the US Women’s National Team is putting out a different team on the pitch for this year’s international competition. The next generation of women’s players will now be paid at a higher rate thanks to the enduring efforts of those who came before them, including Becky Sauerbrunn, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and more. For the last six years, they have been battling US Soccer’s governing body in the quest for equal pay, and on Tuesday, the two sides reached a settlement, which will entitle the players to $24 million and an enduring commitment to equitable compensation.
Snoop Dogg Suits Up for New Gucci Campaign
Snoop Dogg rocked the Pepsi Halftime Show in a highly coveted paisley sweatsuit in hometown LA Rams colorway. Now the West Coast rapper – and new owner of Death Row Records – can be seen in Gucci’s newest “Love Parade” campaign donning an emerald green, shiny suit. The campaign also includes Miley Cyrus and Jared Leto and is guided by a vintage aesthetic. Snoop becomes the most recent rapper to be tapped by the Italian fashion house, following in the footsteps of A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, and, of course, Gucci Mane.
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LaMelo Ball Prepares to Enter the Metaverse
LaMelo Ball is no stranger to new adventures. In January, the Hornets point guard announced the launch of his new gaming company. The youngest Ball brother is now taking steps to prepare for his entry into the metaverse. MB1 Enterprises, LLC filed three trademark applications on Feb. 15, with the US Patent and Trademark Office for “LAMELO BALL,” “1 OF 1,” and “M.E.L.O.” The trademarks cover a wide range of virtual and physical goods and services that will allow Ball to make his presence known in the metaverse.
Overtime Teams Up with Magic Eden for Revolutionary NFT Launch
Overtime is changing the game. The basketball organization announced on Monday its upcoming collaboration with Magic Eden. Together, the two will launch an NFT collection that will enable live contests, games, and more. To kick things off, the bracketX will host a March Madness competition. To join, users must mint their bracketX NFT on Mar 10, and bracketX each user a randomly generated bracket for the tournament. They can then buy and sell brackets on Magic Eden. The winner will receive 100 Solana.
XFL Marks Countdown to 2023 Kickoff with New NFL Partnership
We are just one year from the XFL’s kickoff. In advance of its 2023 reboot, the league has announced it will collaborate with the NFL on select innovation programs. Together, they will expand the game of football and increase opportunities for player development both on and off the field. With both leagues teaming up to find more solutions in physical and mental fitness, signaling that a key area of focus will be health and safety. Other routes include international football development and scouting, the testing of different game rules, and new technologies to enhance officiating.
Drone Racing League Doubles Viewership
The Drone Racing League (DRL) more than doubled its broadcast viewership from its previous season, according to the league. With the help of 13 networks airing DRL action — including NBC Sports and FOX Sports — there are now substantial fan bases in 140 worldwide markets. Overall, broadcasts have made it into over 250 million households.
Man City Reproduces Etihad Stadium in Web3
The Premier League champs are ready to take their talents to the metaverse. Inside reports reveal that Manchester City is positioning itself to become the first Premier League team to construct a fan experience inside the metaverse. The club partnered with Sony for the venture and is currently hiring for positions to help them to continue to grow its Web3 efforts.
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