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Paul Earns WNBA Advocacy Award

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CLEVELAND – Phoenix Suns 12-time All-Star guard Chris Paul was named the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award for Paul’s significant contributions to the advancement of girls’ and women’s basketball, and advocacy for the WNBA. The WNBA and Vanessa Bryant will present Paul the award at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland during Sunday’s game.

The annual award honors the late Kobe Bryant, a devoted supporter of the WNBA and women’s basketball, and his daughter Gianna (also known as Gigi). Gigi, a happy, loving and competitive young lady, wanted to pursue her dreams of one day playing in the WNBA and continuing her father’s legacy while elevating women in sports. Gigi loved the game of basketball and aspired to reach the pinnacle of the sport like her father. Kobe Bryant contributed to the growth of the women’s game at every level through forging relationships, mentoring and training high school, college, NBA and WNBA players, coaching Gigi’s youth basketball team, and launching the Mamba Sports Academy. He also was involved with empowering girls through Her Time to Play, an initiative created by the WNBA and NBA dedicated to championing participation in athletics on behalf of girls and women.

The Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award aims to honor advocates and influencers who use their time, talent, and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA, and women’s and girls’ basketball in various ways, like Kobe was so committed to doing. Bryant, his daughter and seven others we3re killed in a horrific helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

“I have seen first-hand Chris’ appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls, especially in Phoenix and North Carolina, and his ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The league is proud to name Chris as the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, as he serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans.”

A devoted fan of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury, Paul has consistently demonstrated a unique level of support, attending games throughout the regular season and playoffs while also using his public platforms to highlight the on-court successes and stories of WNBA players as well as their leadership in the community through their fight for social justice. During WNBA tentpole events such as WNBA Draft and All-Star, he can be found showing his support for rookies entering the league and WNBA veterans. He also supports the youth girls’ game through camps and the CP3 Basketball Academy, with a mission of using basketball to enhance young athletes’ aspirations, disciplines and life skills. Prior to the start of the WNBA’s historic 25th season, Paul was among several NBA stars that donned a WNBA player’s jersey to amplify the historic significance of the moment. Additionally, Paul teamed up with Suns center Deandre Ayton to support the Mercury’s recent WNBA Finals playoff run.

Minton Named Bunn Award Winner

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CLEVELAND – (Staff Report from official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named Reggie Minton as the winner of the 2022 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. Minton, a longtime military officer, men’s basketball coach and former executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Minton will be honored at the Hall of Fame Tip Off Celebration and Awards Gala during Enshrinement Weekend in September.

The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-1964, the award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional and/or the international game.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame honored to recognize Reggie Minton as the recipient of this year’s Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Mr. Minton embodies what it means to be a person of integrity and character. From his time honorably serving our country to the passion and knowledge he brought to the gym as a coach, he left a wonderful impact on everyone who he came into contact with. We look forward to honoring his legacy in Springfield this September.”

A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Minton was an all-state selection at Bridgeport Central High School and was a collegiate standout at the College of Wooster. Following his graduation, he honorably served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force.

After concluding his military career, Minton turned to coaching where he was the head coach at Dartmouth (1983-1984) and the Air Force Academy (1984-2000), where his 16 years still stand as the longest coaching tenure in school history.

Minton joined the NABC staff as the associate executive director in 2000 and was elevated to deputy executive director in 2004. During his time with the NABC, he focused on issues that impacted college basketball and its coaches, legislative actions, and other matters pertaining to the NCAA. He was also the association’s liaison in its partnership with the American Cancer Society in the Coaches vs. Cancer program, which has raised over $100 million since its inception. Throughout his career, Minton was active with USA Basketball, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees and the NIT selection committee. He also served on several NCAA committees, including a term as chair of the rules committee and a consultant to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Issues Committee.

Minton will be honored with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hall of Fame Tip Off Celebration during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend September 9-10, 2022

Men in Blazers Expands its Reach

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – “Men In Blazers,” the popular futbal podcast and television broadcast, will expand its portfolio with two new podcasts, “MiB The Women’s Game Podcast” and “MiB European Nights” – both new podcasts will be sponsored by Paramount+. The property also began a new affiliation with For Soccer Ventures, soon to represent MiB in its business development with a goal to create new marketing opportunities. For Soccer Venture and MiB will begin new content collaborations across their platforms, including new podcasting efforts, digital video shorts, Twitch Watch Alongs, live events and e-newsletters.

“The UEFA Champions League is the most iconic and elite continental-wide soccer competition in the world” said Scott Debson, General Manager MiB, “The growth of the (USA-based) NWSL has been one of the greatest global football stories over the last decade. We’re thrilled to begin these two new podcasts and cover these amazing competitions.”

The “Men in Blazers European Nights” podcast, will be hosted by Roger Bennett and feature Rory Smith, chief soccer correspondent of The New York Times, as a recurring guest, is designed to frame the narrative of the week’s biggest European games for the listener, framing the stakes, the background stories, and possibilities ahead of the games, with warm, intelligent, football-first storytelling designed to empower an American audience to deepen their knowledge and appreciation for the history and backstory of each team and game. This podcast will set-up the current stakes, but also delve into the historical and cultural significance behind each game.

The new property will debut in the Spring of 2022, the Men in Blazers Women’s Soccer Podcast will build on longstanding relationships within the women’s professional game and will provide a positive, joyful, insightful, life-affirming analysis of the NWSL – analyzing the weekend’s past games and setting the stakes for the games to come. Men in Blazers have always showcased the individual stars of the women’s game and in the past, have used their patented interview skills to showcase the singular, elite narratives of the game and have developed deep, meaningful relationships and credibility within the women’s game.

In addition to the new podcasts, MiB also announced a strategic partnership with For Soccer Ventures who will help expand MiB’s commercial footprint and reach within grassroots communities across the country through FSV’s experience and properties – Alianza de Futbol – the largest Hispanic soccer program (boys and girls) in America, The Black Star Initiative, Footycon and The Association.

“Men in Blazers have been integral at growing soccer in America through pop culture over the last decade and we are absolutely thrilled to be working with their world-class team,” said FSV CBO Marc Horine, “They are the perfect fit to our growing list of soccer properties across all demographics, and with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, we look forward to opening up new audiences, brands and soccer communities.”

Costacos Unveils NFL QB Collection

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff Report from official News Release) – The Costacos Collection unveiled its second NFT drop in partnership with four legendary former NFL quarterbacks: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, and Dan Marino. Following the company’s inaugural foray with baseball great Willie Mays, the QB Legends Collection re-imagines the four quarterbacks’ iconic ‘80s/‘90s Costacos posters in new digital form. In addition, the quarterbacks have worked closely with John Costacos and acclaimed digital artist Mike Campau to create all-new 3D art pieces capturing the defining moments and themes from the players’ legendary careers. A portion of proceeds from the drop will be donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Assistance Foundation, an organization that assists HOF members and their families.

Collectors can access the drop on the newly-launched CostacosCollection.com marketplace. The Costacos Collection has entered into a strategic technology partnership with GigLabs to build on the Flow blockchain, joining NBA Top Shot, NFL ALL DAY, and UFC Strike, created by Dapper Labs. The partnership has enabled the Costacos Collection to build a proprietary NFT marketplace on the environmentally-friendly Flow blockchain, joining other GigLabs partners that include CNN, Turner Sports, Athletes Unlimited, Speedway Motorsports, the University of Miami, and others. The Costacos Collection marketplace includes full credit card support and simple wallet signup requiring only an email address.

“We couldn’t have hoped for a more exciting group of legacy athletes with whom to partner for the launch of the Costacos Collection marketplace,” said CEO Justin Moorad. “Troy, Warren, Jim, and Dan, all with their own unique personalities and career paths, represent a generation of NFL culture that was captured in their original Costacos posters. It’s an honor to help bring those iconic images back to life, and a privilege to watch John and the players work together to create all-new digital art that we believe their legions of fans will be passionate about collecting.”

“We loved working with all the athletes, the pitchers, home-run hitters, point guards, linebackers, all of them,” said Costacos. “But there was nothing quite like creating an image with an NFL quarterback because the great ones are the guys with all the firepower that make the offense go. Jim McMahon was the first poster we printed back in 1986. There we were in Chicago, 2,000 miles from home, a couple of kids with an idea but no experience, who somehow convinced the NFL’s biggest superstar to dress up like Mad Max and take pictures next to a live bear cub in the middle of a thunderstorm. Jim was larger than life, he’d just led the Chicago Bears to their one and only Super Bowl victory and was at the forefront of sports pop culture. We may not have known how we were going to pull it off but somehow we did and had a ton of fun shooting it, and Jim did too. We got lucky with a break in the weather, the shots ended up working, and we ended up with one of the great posters of all time – and a lifelong friend in Jimmy Mac.”

“Being part of the Costacos Collection was what every athlete from our era dreamed about, it was like being on a Wheaties box but better, because you hung on the wall of every bedroom of fans across the country,” McMahon said. “It’s pretty cool that Mad Mac was the first one and the start of it all. I still have it on my wall. And it’s just as cool to be a part of this new era, I’m having tons of fun working creatively with John again. He’s the most creative guy I know, and when we’re done we always make sure to sit down for a beer or six.”

NBA Unveils New All-Star MVP Trophy

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NBA Honors the late Kobe Bryant with New Trophy for MVP

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The National Basketball Association unveiled newly designed NBA All-Star trophies in celebration of the league’s 75th Anniversary season. Designed in partnership with artist Victor Solomon, the trophies will be presented for the first time during NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland. The lineup of hardware is headlined by The Kobe Bryant Trophy, which will be awarded to the Kia NBA All-Star Game MVP on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

“As the NBA celebrates its 75th Anniversary season, this collection of All-Star trophies represents the continued growth and evolution of our game,” said Christopher Arena, Head of On-Court and Brand Partnerships at the NBA. “Through our collaboration with Victor Solomon, these trophies incorporate deep storytelling, reimagining our previous All-Star trophies in a modern aesthetic, and now serve as the new standards of excellence that future generations of All-Stars will strive to reach each year.”

Solomon’s work in this space includes his “Literally Balling” project, where he explores the icons and symbols of basketball as a platform for conceptual storytelling. His art has detailed the high process techniques involved in creating and designing stained glass basketball backboards, crystal basketballs and cast ceramic basketballs reconstructed with a Kintsugi process, and has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Shanghai.

“For the past few years, the NBA and I have proudly and tirelessly worked to reconsider what a trophy is, has been and could be,” said Solomon. “Redesigning the All-Star trophies gave us a special opportunity to create event awards worthy of the energy and excitement the moment creates, while introducing the full collection’s visual, aesthetic language. The occasion also gave us the privilege and responsibility to develop an entirely new silhouette worthy of being named ‘The Kobe Bryant Trophy’ for the Kia NBA All-Star MVP for which, in the spirit of its namesake, we threw out all conventions and challenged ourselves to reorient how we thought about ‘the game.’”

Maverick Carter Joins Sox Foundation

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BOSTON – (Staff report from Official News Release) – The Red Sox Foundation added entrepreneur Maverick Carter to its Board of Directors. In his role, Carter will help develop and achieve the Foundation’s strategic goals and mission of improving lives throughout New England in the areas of health, recreation, and education. The new board appointment builds on a longstanding relationship between Carter and Fenway Sports Group that began in 2010 through a strategic partnership with LRMR Ventures. That relationship further deepened when Carter – through his relationship with NBA superstar LeBron James – became a member of FSG’s ownership group in March 2021.

“For the past decade, I have had the privilege of working closely with Mav and have seen firsthand how he incorporates community and service into every aspect of his work,” said Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner. “In addition to his incredible business acumen, his experience in sports philanthropy and athlete empowerment will be invaluable in how we continue to grow the programs and vision of the Red Sox Foundation. We are fortunate to have his talent and wisdom and look forward to deepening his connection to the Red Sox and FSG family.”

Throughout his career, Carter has significantly impacted the sports and media landscape and helped usher in a new era of athlete empowerment through his longtime business partnership with LeBron James and as CEO of The SpringHill Company, which owns notable brands including athlete empowerment brand UNINTERRUPTED and its More Than movement, the trailblazing hit show for leading cultural conversations, The Shop, and their blockbuster family film, Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Carter has channeled his passionate curiosity and determination to uplift others into building brands that develop authentic, award-winning content spanning several platforms, all with a common thread of empowering others. With an extensive background in marketing and business development, Carter was instrumental in building LRMR Ventures and in securing James’ lifetime deal with Nike, the first in the company’s history.

Carter also lends his time, experience, and strategic insights to leading companies and nonprofit organizations, starting as a founding Board Member of the LeBron James Family Foundation that is committed to creating generational change in his hometown of Akron. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Live Nation Entertainment and Equinox Group as well as the Advisory Council for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Walmart’s Opportunity Leadership Council, among others.

“Empowerment is at the center of everything I do, whether that be in business, family or philanthropy,” said Maverick Carter. “It’s an honor for me to join the Red Sox Foundation’s Board of Directors and have the opportunity to help inspire and empower families and communities in Boston and beyond.”

New Commitment to Women’s Hockey

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BOSTON – (Staff report from Official News Release) – At a sports business conference by the The Carnegie Initiative for inclusion and acceptance in the sport of hockey staged today in Boston, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) made public a commitment from its Board of Governors to invest over $25 million in direct payments and benefits to its players in the next three years. The pledge includes more than $7.5 million in salary and benefits for the 2022-23 season. The commitment represents the largest one-time independent investment in the history of professional women’s hockey and will ‘provide more financial opportunities for athletes while directly enhancing the player experience,” said a league statement.

“The PHF has been steadfast in its vision to grow the game under a new era that truly provides leading opportunities for athletes in the sport who deserve to be treated as professionals,” said Tyler Tumminia, PHF Commissioner. “This amazing investment by (franchise) ownership reaffirms the strength of their commitment to being difference-makers who advance the professional game so that our athletes can thrive as role models who continue to inspire the next generation.”

The investment to our professional players, which includes cash, full healthcare benefits provided by their club, and equity in the teams, will support the current athletes and attract new players. At the heart of the financial commitment  is a substantial salary cap increase to $750,000 for next year, 150 percent more than the current record figure of $300,000 that is available per team.

The PHF will further support its growth and the development opportunities for its athletes through expansion, updating facilities, purchasing new equipment, and increasing ice time in the form of more practices and an expanded 28 game schedule. All players will benefit from 10 percent of the equity of each team, which will be contributed to an investment pool owned by the PHF players, enabling them to share in the league’s financial success. Additionally, players will have control over their own likeness and be able to profit from their image.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors we are proud to play a part in bringing women’s sports to the next level by investing in the PHF,” said John Boynton, Chairman of the federation’s Board of Governors. “We see the PHF as a platform to address the inequities that women athletes face. We also believe in the sustainability of our developing business model and embrace our responsibility to build a platform that grows this dynamic league to historic heights.”

Over the last 18 months, the PHF has pivoted from a single entity structure to a joint venture model, with all six member clubs owned and operated by private ownership groups in their respective markets. The PHF also generated landmark broadcast and corporate partnerships, the largest sponsorship revenues in its history, and received record digital viewership and engagement during a shortened season. Prior to the 2021-22 campaign, the league announced a historic name change and refreshed logo to redefine the brand based on the skill and talent of the athletes as opposed to their gender.

 

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Jan 16th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Looks at FIBA, Golf Etiquette and Parting Words from NBPA’s Michele Roberts

By TERRY LYONS

This one almost made it right past us all. If it weren’t for the backdrop of the spectacular Giza Plateau in Egypt, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup might’ve gone astray, like a Russell Westbrook turnover.

FIBA, the international basketball federation, conducts several basketball tournaments throughout the years, including the FIBA World Cup (formerly the World Championship of Basketball) and by declaration of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), FIBA oversees the men’s and women’s hoop tournaments at the Olympics Games. FIBA also dabbles with a European-wide pro league, is partners with the NBA on the Basketball Africa League and now organizes the Intercontinental Cup, as new basketball tournament with representative professional (not national) teams from the Americas, Africa and Europe.

The draw for the February 11-13 event took place a three-point field goal distance away from the great Pyramids of Cairo and that attention-grabber of a draw resulted in the Americas bracket of South America’s Flamengo of Brazil to face none other than the 2020-21 NBA G-League winners Lakeland Magic (near parent club Orlando).

In the other semi-final bracket, Basketball Champions League 2020-21 winners Hereda San Pablo Burgos of Spain will face the inaugural Basketball Africa League champion and tournament host Zamalek SC of Cairo.

According to a FIBA news release, “the ambassador of the 2022 event, Egyptian soccer legend and former Zamalek player Mido, accepted the task of conducting the draw at the Giza Plateau and took the opportunity to profess his love of basketball.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: “Honestly, I’m a little bit tired of the situation,” said Rafa Nadal when asked about the Australian Open tennis saga of Novak Djokovic. “The Australian Open is much more important than any player,” Nadal said in his pre-tournament media session. “If he’s playing, finally, OK. If he’s not playing, the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open, with or without him. That’s my point of view.” … There should be more focus on the game of Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets than “Novax” Djokovicplaying tennis (or not) on the other side of the world.

What else?

The sport of golf deserves better than to have SONY Open reigning champ Kevin Na trading cheap shots (on Twitter, no less) with Tour hack Grayson Murray. If only one sport can survive the brutal, insensitive nature of life in 2020-21-22, you’d think it might be golf. But, no…

We’ve got Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau barking at each other before they teed-up a made for TV event in the PGA silly season and now, just as the 2022 PGA Tour is fully underway, we have this:

Twitter avatar for @GraysonMurrayGrayson Murray @GraysonMurray

Kevin Na taking 3 minutes to putt them. does get old.

Chantel McCabe @chantel_mccabe

Kevin Na walking in putts does not get old.

January 14th 2022

56 Retweets

Twitter avatar for @GraysonMurrayGrayson Murray @GraysonMurray

If they penalized you like they should for slow play you’d never make another cut either.

Kevin Na @kevinna915

@GraysonMurray u missing the cut is getting old!

January 15th 2022

69 Retweets

COMINGS & GOINGS: Nice ‘get” by ESPN in hiring Pete Thamel away from Yahoo Sports (anyone remember that Verizon, Yahoo thing called OATH)? … You’d think ESPN would re-hire Andy Katz before Yahoo Sports signs him? … Michele Roberts has officially retired from her gig as the Executive Director of the NBA Players Association. She’d been on the job since 2014. Taking over the prestigious job representing the players’ union is little known Tamika Tremaglio, former Managing Principal of Deloitte’s Greater Washington practice, where she has served as an advisor and consultant to the NBPA since 2012.

EQUITY STAKE: In one of Ms. Roberts’ final interview before departing the NBPA, she waxed philosophic on one serious regret of her tenure repping the players and that was not negotiating equity stakes for the players or Players’ Association (as one) in the rising valuations of NBA franchises. Said Roberts to the Sports Business Journal: “The biggest challenge which I sorely wish I could have met was securing player ownership in the 30 teams they have historically and continue to enrich.” … When contemplating the concept Roberts has in mind, three things immediately come to mind: 1). Do the players as a whole benefit? And, if so, when there’s cash calls during the tenure of various team ownership, does the current roster pony-up or does the Union as a whole pay-in? Can you imagine the 10-day roster signee finding out on Day 2, “Ahh, you owe $100,000 to the team for the recent cash call.” … 2). If a franchise sells, does every single player in its history get a piece of the action? … 3). If a franchise decides to invest in a privately-owned new building, do the players have to help fund the construction? Again? every player on current roster or every player who ever wore that team’s jersey?

The concept seems to be more of some kind of “Flip Tax” on a franchise that increases in value, much like the hated flip tax on a New York City co-op. If LA’s Jeannie Buss decides to sell the Lakers, does the estate of Wilt Chamberlain get a few bucks?

TL

TLs Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 9th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) and the 2022 Winter Games

BOSTON – When we last left the 2022 Beijing (China) Winter Olympic Games, there was the newsworthy reporting of a Diplomatic boycott of the Games by the United States government. It was a strike against the government of China and a USA protest that specifically addressed “genocide and crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang, a northwestern region of China.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki spoke of the decision which, according to the New York Times report of her conference, was addressing the treatment of “Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in that region, including mass detentions and forced use of contraception and sterilizations.”

Aside from the previously reported support of the diplomatic boycott by US allies Australia, Canada and Great Britain, there was barely a whimper in the global community. Additionally, pre-Olympic promotion of the 2022 Winter Games was dialed down to a very low simmer in the United States.

The low level promotion could be tagged on the lack of participation by the National Hockey League, a decision announced by the league on December 22, just before the annual January 1st NHL Winter Classic would be televised – not by NBC Sports – but by TNT. The NHL noted, however, they were passing on the Beijing Winter Games because of the increasing threat of the COVID-19 virus and its Omicron variant.

The Beijing Winter Games, however, can carry-on without the players of the National Hockey League as the ice hockey competition in both the men’s and women’s games will be scheduled and will have some interest. After all, the athletes are not being asked to boycott the games and that is about the only good news to report.

In the months leading up to the February 4-20 Winter Games, local NBC affiliates laid low in on-air promotion. Daily viewers of The Today Show have not been subjected to endless Winter Olympics features and programming plugs. On January 1, NBC pulled the plug on its NBC Sports Network and shifted programming to its old school USA Network and cable business outlet CNBC. NBC’s OTT network – Peacock – will host many of the events. That strategy is certainly within NBC Universal’s prerogative in their attempt to promote Peacock, but it comes with a cost to the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee (USOPC) which also represents the Paralympics in the USA. That cost is eyeballs as OTT (Over-the-Top) – even without a paywall – is not OTA (Over the Air).

Bits of Winter Games qualifying events are now dancing in our heads. Figure skating has been on-going in Nashville where veteran skater Mariah Bellwon the women’s national title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, likely earning a spot on the three-person U.S. Olympic team when it is announced (right around press/posting time). Bell will be the oldest USA national champion to compete since the 1920s. Karen Chen finished second and Isabeau Levito came in third. Alysa Liu, considered the top American female figure skater, dropped out of the US championships after testing positive for the coronavirus but still can be named to the team for the Beijing Olympics.

There’s been some speed skating qualifying and some snow boarding, glimmers of hope for the upcoming games. Peacock will live stream all of NBC Universal’s coverage of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, including every minute of every live event that airs on broadcast and cable TV. They will not put a pay wall up for those with the Peacock app.

Regardless, viewership of the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Games will likely be at an all-time low. Reasons are plentiful, starting with 2016-2022 American-China relations at a crossroads and possibly at the lowest point since the 1970s. The Chinese government’s record vs. Human rights is reason enough for viewers to take a pass. The stodgy Olympic suits will make excuses and point to the huge time zone difference between Asia and the USA. The split audiences – traditional TV vs Streaming – will be the built-in excuse for low ratings.

One thing is for sure: the Chinese government doesn’t give a granite Curling stone’s damn what an American viewer thinks or does. China couldn’t care less if an American diplomat shows up.

What will this lover of Olympic Games do?

I’ll watch it all.

I’ll dream of glorious Olympic Games of the past. Dreams of downhill and slalom races in 1968 with Jean-Claude Killy of France or Innsbruck ‘76 with Austria’s Franz Klammer. I’ll think of Italy’s Alberto Tomba or Austria’s Hermann Maier.

I’ll think of all the different Olympics, the many years, the US broadcasters from ABC Sports to CBS Sports to NBC Sports. I’ll fondly remember broadcaster Pat O’Brien hosting an 11:30pm (ET) cozy nightly recap at fireside from Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. And, of course, I’ll think back to Lake Placid and the greatest sporting moments of many of our lifetimes – the 1980 USA Olympic gold medal ice hockey team.

Glory days, all gone by.

Pat O’Brien Late Night from Lillehammer in ‘94 … (Get a load of the theme song and opening graphics).

I might have written about this once before, but you need to understand “TheOlympic Gene.” Either you have it or you don’t. It is passed down along with all the other 20-to-25,000 human DNA-based wirings in our body. Those carrying the Olympic Gene have a little more “pep” in their polypeptides. While the human condition is inborn, it grows with leaned conditioning as the Olympic Games are played in places all over the world.

The Olympic Gene can be limited to love the Summer Games more than the Winter Games, but love of any one sport – whether it be figure skating or curling, handball or weight lifting – tosses the gene pool upside down and all the lovely chromosomes tumble together for, yes, MUST SEE TV.

Those of us with the Olympic Gene pass it along to our children and they queue-up like automobiles at the Field of Dreams and watch alongside us. They are on a first name basis with “Bob” (Costas). They want silence in the room during the women’s free skate or the women’s team gymnastics competition, no matter who is competing or what country they hail from.

Until this day, I can not fathom a family that doesn’t love and experience the world of sports. Whether they participate or watch from the stands or via television. Sports is such a unifier and exactly what we need in 2022.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Politics are very much a part of the international sporting events, especially the Olympic Games. Look back to 1936 and Jesse Owens incredible performances for the USA in Berlin, Germany or look so very sadly back to Munich in 1972 when the pro-Palestine Black September terrorist group invaded, captured and killed members of Israel’s Olympic Team.

US athletes have protested at the Games, too, with Tommie Smith and John Carlos of USA Track & Field raising their black-gloved fists in protest of civil rights in the United States during one of the most tumultuous years (1968) in our country’s history. There is no escaping politics and the Olympics and maybe that’s actually a good thing if it is done in peace.

The youth of the world gather to compete and the youth of the world must solve the problems the prior generations have dumped in their laps.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Blast-off … The NBA made an interesting sports business announcement this week with the fact it selected five companies for the inaugural NBA Launchpad program. In a statement, the NBA said Launchpad is “the league’s latest initiative to source, evaluate and pilot emerging technologies that impact the future of the game.” … Says the NBA, “Launchpad was introduced in June 2021 with a global search to identify cutting-edge solutions that directly addressed the following priority areas identified for the inaugural season of the program: Ankle Injury Innovation, Elite Youth Player Performance, Referee Training and Development and Youth Health and Wellness. NBA Launchpad received hundreds of submissions from a diverse applicant pool across 25 countries, ranging from early-stage startups to large research institutions. … To conduct the “pitch” review process, the NBA partnered with Pitchtape, an online pitch platform, and enlisted subject matter experts from the League Office and teams to evaluate each submission. The inaugural class of the NBA Launchpad program includes:

  • BetterGuards (Berlin, Germany): Adaptive ankle protection system that provides advanced freedom of motion for athletes while actively preventing injuries.
  • Breathwrk (Los Angeles, California): Health and performance app that provides science-backed breathing exercises, helping athletes wake up, calm down, increase stamina and fall asleep.
  • Nextiles (Brooklyn, New York): Materials science company that quantifies human movement by merging sewing technologies with flexible electronics.
  • Rezzil (Manchester, United Kingdom): VR-based solution for cognitive training, rehabilitation and game analysis.
  • Uplift Labs (Palo Alto, California): AI-powered technology that delivers real-time movement tracking and 3D analysis to enhance health and performance.

“We are thrilled to introduce our NBA Launchpad program with such a diverse group of innovative products and solutions,” said Evan Wasch, Executive Vice President, Basketball Strategy & Analytics. “Each company brings something unique to the table that will improve the game of basketball.”

Over the next six months, NBA Launchpad portfolio companies will work alongside league and team advisors on R&D projects. Companies will also receive unique access to NBA events and exposure to the NBA’s ecosystem of partners and investors.

HERE’s A COUPLE NEW ONES: The NBA fined New York Knicks forward Julius Randle $25,000 for “the egregious use of profane language during media interviews.” Randle made his comments to the media on two separate occasions — after a Jan. 5 practice and postgame following the Knicks’ 108-105 victory over the Boston Celtics on Jan. 6 at Madison Square Garden. … Earlier in the week, the Sacramento Kings organization was fined $50,000 for violating league rules prohibiting team owners and executives from interacting with scorer’s table personnel during game play. Kings’ Assistant General Manager Wes Wilcox was also fined $15,000. … The incident took place during a timeout with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Kings’ 115-113 win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 2 at Golden 1 Center, when Wilcox left his seat to confront operations personnel at the scorer’s table about their handling of a clock procedure during a jump ball. The clock procedure at issue was, in fact, administered correctly by the shot clock operator.