Another incredible talent gone far too soon. Migos member Takeoff – born Kirshnik Khari Ball – was killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Houston. Early reports indicate that he was involved in a late-night dice game at a private party that sparked a disagreement, leading to his death. Quavo was also in attendance, but was not harmed in the incident. Migos formed in 2011 and included the Georgia-born rapper and his uncle (Quavo) and cousin (Offset), and changed the game with the popularization of “triplet flow” with huge hits, including their 2013 breakout “Versace.” 

The New York Rangers have met their match. The team dropped to the second spot in Sportico’s list of NHL valuations, listed at $2.01 billion. This year’s leader? The Toronto Maple Leafs, which reign supreme at $2.12 billion. The Montreal Canadiens ($1.7B), Chicago Blackhawks ($1.44B), and Boston Bruins ($1.41B) rounded out the top five. The average team value hovered around $1 billion, as compared to $4 billion in the NFL. The Arizona Coyotes took last place, with a valuation of $465 million. 

After teasing an upcoming tour last week during an appearance on Jimmy Fallon, Taylor Swift confirmed that she is taking her tenth studio release Midnights on the road, with the “Eras Tour.” She will hit stadiums around the country beginning in Glendale, AZ this March and is bringing along a gaggle of pals as her opening acts, including Paramore, Haim, Phoebe Bridgers, and Muna. The 20-stop tour will wrap up in August with a two-night stand at Los Angeles’ SoFi Field.

Talk about a year for Kiki Rice. After an undefeated high school season (28-0) and commitment to UCLA, she became Jordan Brand‘s first NIL athlete on Monday, helping pave the way for more female representation in sports. “I think it’s a testament to the hard work I’ve put in and all the people around me who have helped me get to this point,” Rice said in a statement. With her new deal, Rice will work with programs that benefit her community and passions, like helping improve gender equality in sport for young girls.

Read more from Boardroom’s Vinciane Ngomsi.

Stephen Curry is driving into the lane of the metaverse. Curry’s SC30, Inc. filed for a trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for “CURRYVERSE,” per attorney Josh Gerben. The trademark covers a wide range of virtual assets and services. His metaverse offerings may include downloadable video games, virtual goods and apparel, NFTs, and much more.

Read more details from Boardroom’s Anthony Puccio.

Dustin Johnson was one of the first big names to move from the PGA Tour over to LIV Golf. Almost a year later, he celebrated a season total of $35 million in LIV Golf earnings at Trump National Doral. Johnson claimed an $18 million bonus for clinching the individual championship at Jeddah in early October. He then captained the 4Aces to the team title this past weekend, completing a year filled with controversy. And at what cost? $35 million, apparently. In just eight LIV Golf events, Johnson has matched nearly half his career’s total winnings on the PGA Tour.

With less than six months until its 2023 kickoff, the XFL revealed the brand names and logos for the league’s eight franchises Monday. The teams are the Arlington Renegades, the DC Defenders, the Houston Roughnecks, the Orlando Guardians, the San Antonio Brahmas, the Seattle Sea Dragons, the St. Louis Battlehawks, and the Vegas Vipers. Dany Garcia, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital purchased the XFL back in 2020 for $15 million.

Read more from Boardroom’s Randall Williams.

This isn’t Adam Silver’s first run-in with the 76ers. On Monday, the league docked the Sixers’ second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 from investigations with free agents Danuel House and PJ Tucker this summer. After the news, ESPN reported that the NBA and NBPA are expected to revisit punishment regarding tampering. In the meantime, the Knicks are still under investigation for “early contact” with point guard Jalen Brunson.