Cardiac Cardinals Lock Up the Wild Card, Win 17th Straight
As the MLB season winds down, no single team has been hotter than the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards locked in their 17th consecutive win on Tuesday, taking down the Brewers 6-2 at home. With the W, the team secured their place in the playoffs, where they’ll take on the Dodgers in the Wild Card.
NFL Teams up with Dapper Labs for Exclusive Digital Collectibles
The maker of NBA’s Top Shot is set to announce an exclusive partnership with The Shield. The line is expected to include NFTs and will center around video collectibles. The deal positions Dapper Labs as the NFL’s second-largest source of digital licensing, behind only the “Madden” franchise.
Courtney Vandersloot Posts WNBA’s Second-ever Triple Double to Lead Sky Over Sun in Double OT Thriller
The Chicago Sky continued their underdog quest for the championship, as they faced the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones had a dominant performance with 26 in the losing effort, but Courtney Vandersloot’s triple-double proved as too much for the Sun, as the Sky pulled away in the second overtime to win 101-95. Her final line: 12 points, 10 rebounds, and a WNBA postseason record 18 assists.
FC Sheriff Shocks Real Madrid with 89th Minute Champions League Golazo
In one of the most shocking outcomes in this young club soccer season, Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol became the toast of the UEFA Champions League with a famous victory on the road at Real Madrid off the boot of Sebastien Thill in the dying minutes of the match. Sheriff goalkeeper Giorgos Athanasiadis had the game of his career, staving off the Spanish titans’ multiple attempts on net.
Kelsey Plum’s 25 Off the Bench Lift Aces Over Mercury
The Aces launched their playoff campaign following byes throughout the first rounds. The rest seemed to serve the squad well, as they cruised to a 96-90 win over the Mercury. Kelsey Plum dazzled off the bench with 25, while Riquna Williams had 26.
Messi Scores First Goal for PSG in Win Over Man City
Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, helping propel his team to a 2-0 win over Manchester City. The goal was Messi’s first in Champions League action since signing with PSG over the summer.
Richard Sherman Inks One-year Deal with Bucs
The former All-Pro cornerback announced on the debut of his new podcast that he has found a home in Tampa Bay after a tumultuous offseason. Richard Sherman indicated that Tom Brady reached out to him personally, sparking the move. He is expected to make his debut in Sunday’s primetime matchup against the Patriots at Gillette, adding to the storylines at play in Foxborough.
Fanatics Soars to $10.4B Valuation Following $350M Funding Round
Fanatics continues to secure its stronghold as the rising giant of the sports marketplace. Following its trading card deals with MLB, MLBPA, the NFL, NBA, and NBPA, the Wall Street Journal reports that it secured $350 million in a Series A funding round, attracting diverse investors, including Endeavor, Silver Lake, and Insight Partners, which as contributed to a $10.4 billion valuation.
Chris Webber To Bring $175M Cannabis Compound to Detroit
Former Michigan basketball standout and NBA All Star Chris Webber broke ground Tuesday in southwest Detroit on a 180,000-square-foot, $50 million facility that will eventually be known as the Webber Wellness Compound. The new facility, which is owned by a business Webber helped found called Player Only Holdings, will reportedly feature a marijuana operations and training facility, a cultivation facility, a dispensary, and a cannabis consumption lounge. Future expansion of the project is expected to represent an additional $125 million investment.
Manny Pacquiao Retires from the Ring
Only three months shy of his 43rd birthday, Manny Pacquiao is hanging up his gloves, the legendary boxer announced Tuesday on Facebook. Pacquiao, the only eight-division champion in boxing history, is a sitting senator in his native Philippines and recently announced that he will run for president of the country in its May elections.
Bears Buy Arlington International Racecourse Amid Relocation Buzz
The Chicago Bears have their sights set on the suburbs after reportedly finalizing a deal to purchase Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, 33 miles from Soldiers Field. The deal, first reported by The Athletic, could mean the Bears brass may look to develop a new state-of-the-art stadium, despite owning a lease at Soldier Field through 2033.
Chipotle’s First NIL Deal Includes Free Food for Athletes
Chipotle is getting into the NIL game, announcing it has struck a deal with college basketball players Azzi Fudd of UConn and Jaiden Fields of Georgia. Front Office Sports reports the deal with both athletes includes sports celebrity cards, free Chipotle, and support for charities of their choice.
“Manning Cast” Sees Viewer Boost
Peyton and Eli Manning continue to pick up numbers for their Monday Night Football simulcast, as their latest edition averaged 1.89 million viewers, ESPN announced Thursday. The Manning brothers, whose latest show featured the likes of Matt Stafford, LeBron James, and Nick Saban, have consistently grown their audience since their Week 1 show brought in 800K viewers. The brothers are heading into a three-week hiatus, but will be back on ESPN2 for the Week 7 matchup between the Saints and the Seahawks.
Former NFL QB Jesse Palmer Tapped to Host The Bachelor
In what was one of the most dramatic moves in the history of the Bachelor franchise, ABC announced on Tuesday that former Giants and 49ers quarterback (and Season 5 Bachelor lead) Jesse Palmer will be the host of the 26th season. Palmer takes over for long-time host Chris Harrison, and the gig is a logical next step for the former ESPN analyst who also hosted the network’s The Ultimate Surfer.
