Green Bay Spoils Arizona’s Perfect Start
Rasul Douglas proved to be the antidote to Kyler Murray that the Packers needed on Thursday night. The cornerback turned around A.J. Green in the end zone, snagging an interception with only 12 seconds remaining to secure Green Bay’s seventh consecutive victory, 24-21. Aaron Rodgers, missing his top-three receivers, had an efficient night with 184 yards and two touchdowns. Both teams emerged tied with a league-best record of 7-1.
Swagger Debuts on Apple TV+
On Friday, Apple marks the premiere of its original drama series Swagger. Inspired by Kevin Durant’s experiences at Montrose Christian School, Oak Hill Academy, and several traveling teams in DC and Maryland, the show is a snapshot of the pressures, opportunities, hopes — and ultimately wins and losses — that are bigger than the game. The first three episodes of the show are available now worldwide on Apple TV+.
Mike Tyson to Launch Cannabis Company
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is getting his own cannabis brand. Tyson, who owns a 420-acre weed resort near Desert Hot Springs in Southern California, is partnering with New York-based Columbia Care to launch Tyson 2.0. The venture has already completed a $7 million seed round.
Grizzlies Hand Warriors First Loss of the Season
Ja Morant continued his blazing start to the season on Thursday, posting 30 points, seven assists, and five rebounds and leading his team to a 104-101 win. With the victory, Memphis put an end to the Warriors’ four-game winning streak.
Knicks Hold Off Bulls’ Late Game Comeback, 104-103
Zach LaVine put up a quick bucket with nine seconds left on the clock to cap a 12-0 Chicago streak in the final minutes, bringing the Bulls within one. However, the surge proved to be too little too late, as the Knicks secured the inbound pass and the win, 104-103. The loss marked the first of the season for Chicago.
Puma Signs 17-year-old High School Hoops Star Mikey Williams
The popular athletic apparel brand has reached a multi-year endorsement deal with the 6-foot-3, five-star recruit from San Diego. Williams, who has yet to decide if he’ll go to college, will appear in Puma ads, as well as create content for social media, where he has 3.3 million followers on Instagram and 60.2K followers on Twitter.
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Blockchain Middleman Alchemy Announces Successful $250M Funding Round, $3.5B Valuation
The San Francisco start-up announced that they had successfully completed a $250 million Series C funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz. Alchemy serves as the middleman between the blockchain and apps that are built on cryptocurrency, such as Dapper Labs’ NBA Top Shot. Their valuation has increased seven-fold since April, due in large part to a recently announced partnership with Adobe that will allow Photoshop users to convert creations into NFTs.
Kaepernick Controls His Narrative in Netflix’s “Colin in Black and White”
ColinKaepernick finally has the chance to tell his own story. The former quarterback who was pushed out of the NFL following his public demonstrations against racism tapped legendary director Ava DuVernay to bring “Colin in Black and White” to Netflix. In the six-episode limited series, released on Friday, Kaepernick narrates a dramatic retelling of his youth, highlighting the structural challenges presented by race, class, and power.
Adidas Extends Multi-year Marketing Partnership with NBA
For the last 20 years, Adidas has served as a global marketing partner for the NBA in the footwear category, and on Thursday, they confirmed that they will extend that arrangement for many years to come. The partnership is committed to growing the game of basketball globally, and also includes the WNBA and the NBA G League.
NASCAR Extends Collaboration with the Action Network
NASCAR signaled on Thursday that they are all in on sports betting. They will expand their existing partnership with the Action Network, creating more opportunities for editorial content and analysis. The two have worked together since 2019.
World Series Game 2 Sees Another Rise in Ratings
Wednesday night’s Game 2 drew 10,539,000 viewers on Fox, Fox Deportes, and Fox streaming apps, marking a 13% increase in viewers over the previous year. Last year’s Game 2 between the Rays and Dodgers was a record low for the World Series. Game 3 in Atlanta is tonight at 8:09 p.m. EST.
Joakim Noah to Join Bulls as Team Ambassador
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 Draft is returning to where it all began, Chicago announced Thursday. Joakim Noah spent nine seasons with the Bulls, earning roughly $70 million in the process. As a team ambassador, the former Adidas athlete will work on behalf of the Bulls organization to build relationships with people throughout Chicago.
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