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☆ NBA roundup: Joel Embiid nets career-high 59 in Sixers' win
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Lauri Markkanen had a quiet night with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Collin Sexton scored 15, Kelly Olynyk chipped in with 14 points and Jarred Vanderbilt added nine points and 10 rebounds. Russell posted a season-high 30 points and a game-high 12 assists, while Towns (29 points, 13 rebounds) and Gobert (15 points, 13 rebounds) also played vital roles. Andre Drummond posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Patrick Williams (15 points) and Goran Dragic (11) also scored in double figures. Kevin Huerter scored 17 points and Malik Monk added 12 as the Kings won their third consecutive game. Stephen Curry scored 27 points and Andrew Wiggins had 26 for Golden State, which dropped to 0-7 on the road.

☆ Chaos unchecked: A comprehensive timeline of Elon Musk's Twitter verification saga - for now
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Elon Musk's revamped Twitter Blue launch has hit some major snags in the past week. The shenanigans surrounding the blue check (and subsequent gray check) has heads spinning among average Twitter users, major advertisers and big-name celebrities. Here's a look at everything that's happened with Twitter Blue in the past week and the murky state of verification on the platform. Musk's new verification model was designed to become part of Twitter's existing Twitter Blue feature, a $4.99 monthly subscription offering premium services. He also said that Twitter is adding a "parody subscript," because "tricking people is not ok."It is unclear when and how Twitter Blue may be reinstated.

☆ Nets' Irving is not anti-Semitic, says NBA Commissioner Silver
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 10 (Reuters) - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he met with Kyrie Irving earlier this week and that he did not believe the Brooklyn Nets guard was anti-Semitic, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday. Irving was heavily criticized for promoting a film that the seven-time All-Star has since said contained "false anti-Semitic statements". The Nets suspended him for at least five games after he "refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs". Silver added: "Whether or not he is anti-Semitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content." If he serves a five-game suspension, Irving would be available to play Nov. 13 against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

☆ Stephen King slams Elon Musk again, saying he preferred Twitter before the billionaire took over: 'Less controversy, more fun.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Stephen King has continued his feud with Elon Musk, saying he preferred Twitter in "pre-Musk days." King said the platform was "more fun" and had "less controversy" before the takeover. The novelist has been sparring with Musk on social media over some of his changes to the platform. The novelist and billionaire have been sparring on social media since Musk's Twitter takeover. King also took to the platform to compare Musk with a fictional character who cons his friends.

Twitter’s chief information security officer and chief compliance officer resigned late Wednesday night as the company started implementing changes that would allow users to more easily impersonate major brands and government officials. The departures came just hours before the company’s new CEO, Elon Musk, sent his first email to Twitter employees, titled “difficult times ahead,” and implementing a mandatory return-to-work policy. Lea Kissner, the chief information security officer, confirmed they had left in a Twitter post Thursday morning. Chief Compliance Officer Marianne Fogarty has also left the company, according to a person familiar with the situation who asked to remain nameless because they were not authorized to speak publicly. A spokesperson for the Federal Trade Commission said in an emailed statement that it is keeping watch on the situation.

☆ LeBron James’s Lakers Are Sinking—and Need a Desperate Move
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Jason Gay | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

On Wednesday, the superstar basketball player “LeBron James” logged on to Twitter and politely demanded a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. “Thank you #LakerNation for all the support through the years,” “James” wrote.

Twitter on Wednesday updated the rules around its new paid verification feature, a move that comes as users began impersonating celebrities, athletes and politicians alongside their new check marks. "Twitter accounts created on or after November 9, 2022 will be unable to subscribe to Twitter Blue at this time," the note states. Users impersonating former President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair have also been suspended. Some users recently began impersonating Musk seemingly in an effort to show him how easily the platform can be abused. "Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months," he tweeted.

☆ Twitter's new paid-for checkmark system has created a Wild West of scamming and parody
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter's new paid-for checkmark system has created a Wild West of scamming and parody. Billionaire Mark Cuban also told Musk he spent "too much time" muting newly verified accounts. The new system has also created a Wild West of scamming and parody, with users impersonating public figures from George W. Bush to OJ Simpson, as well as LeBron James and Donald Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A Wild West TwitterA screengrab of a verified Twitter page impersonating the social media platform's account. TwitterMore "verified" accounts impersonating high-profile individuals continue to emerge.

☆ Trolls are already abusing Elon Musk's new Twitter verification system, impersonating everyone from George Bush to O.J. Simpson
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter's new verification system is already being abused by trolls impersonating public figures. Neither Bush nor Blair have personal Twitter accounts, but are verified through their foundations. Other examples of fake but verified accounts causing trouble soon after the new verification system came in included a user pretending to be O.J. "I'm ngl I did that shit," the verified account "ThaReal0J32" tweeted, attracting over 55,000 likes before it was deleted. The fake Bush account also responded to tweets about fake verified accounts saying: "Jed [Bush's younger brother] is smarter than Elon."

☆ LeBron James exits early with injury as LA Lakers lose to LA Clippers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

In addition to a poor run of results so far this season, the team lost LeBron James through injury during their latest defeat by the LA Clippers on Wednesday. “I didn’t do anything extraneous on the play,” James told reporters after the game. With the team currently stuck on 2-9 for the season, Lakers fans will be praying their starman and leader will be fit to play as soon as possible. Lakers coach Darvin Ham, however, urged James to “do what you need to do, just take care of your body.”“I mean it’s just a lot of adversity,” Ham told reporters after the game, speaking of James’ injury. I thought he had it going really, really well tonight.

☆ I used Twitter's $8 'verification' to impersonate a famous YouTuber and trick their fans. It only took 25 minutes to set up and showed me how dangerous this new feature will be.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Fortesa Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Since Elon Musk took over, Twitter has rolled out "verification" for accounts with Twitter Blue. The Twitter Blue check mark has no identity verification, letting users impersonate famous people. It took me 25 minutes to set up a "verified" Twitter account under the name of a Youtuber with more than 1.3 million subscribers. Through a fake Apple ID, a VPN, a disposable email, and a masked debit card, I used Twitter's new Twitter Blue program to launch the account. Thanks to Elon Musk, Twitter's blue check mark can now be boughtWith Musk's takeover of Twitter, the website's Twitter Blue program is billed as a premium subscription service that goes for $8 per month.

☆ NBA roundup: Bucks, minus Giannis, top Thunder in 2 OTs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Tre Mann added 21 points off the bench. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, reserve Sam Hauser had 24 on six 3-pointers and Al Horford added 13 for Boston. Anunoby added 27 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Raptors, who played without forward Pascal Siakam (groin). Bennedict Mathruin scored 30 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 11 assists for the Pacers, who had won four of their previous five games. All five Hornets starters reached double figures in points, led by Terry Rozier with 18 in the team's sixth consecutive loss.

Some Twitter users are already abusing the platform’s new for-purchase verification badges by impersonating high-profile athletes, including NBA star Lebron James. A bogus tweet from the verified account impersonating James came from the handle “@KINGJamez.” It erroneously claimed that the Lakers player had requested a trade. The tweet from the verified account pretending to be McDavid falsely claimed the player was signing with the New York Islanders. In recent days, several previously verified users who impersonated Musk were banned from the platform. Prior to Musk’s Twitter acquisition, the platform had rules against impersonation and rules about how parody accounts could be used on the site.

☆ Major League Pickleball merges with PPA's week-old VIBE League
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association's new VIBE Pickleball League have agreed to merge, the organizations said Wednesday. The combined league will continue to operate under the Major League Pickleball brand name and format as the rapidly growing sport surges in popularity. Last week, the PPA announced the creation of the VIBE Pickleball League with Mark Cuban as its first team owner. VIBE said it would be team focused and co-ed, similar to what Major League Pickleball has been doing. Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have both made investments in Major League Pickleball.

☆ Twitter is rolling out its new gray checkmarks for 'official' accounts, including famous athletes, politicians like AOC, and news outlets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter is rolling out a new gray checkmark designating "official" accounts. It appeared that official accounts were gradually receiving the updated gray tag Wednesday. Musk intends to remodel the Twitter Blue subscription model, and charge users $7.99 per month for the traditional blue Twitter checkmark and other features. A blue check will mean the user simply signed up for the new Twitter Blue. It's unclear if the new Twitter Blue has officially launched, but Twitter has previously said it plans to roll out the overhaul after the midterm elections.

☆ Twitter battles wave of impersonators after launching new paid verification system
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN Business —Twitter appears to be battling a wave of celebrity and corporate impersonators on its platform who have quickly gamed the company’s new paid verification system, hours after its launch. CNN has confirmed multiple verified Twitter accounts have been suspended by the platform after other users posted screenshots showing misleading content from the accounts. The fake verified accounts had posed as former President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Nintendo of America, the basketball player LeBron James, the software company Valve and others. Before being suspended, the impostor Nintendo account tweeted an image of the video game character Mario giving the viewer the middle finger. In an interview with CNN, Whelan said he managed to impersonate Trump by repurposing an old, spare account.

☆ Seeking nominations for the leading talent managers and agents helping athletes build careers as creators
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Insider is compiling a list of the top managers and agents helping athletes build careers as creators. Nominees can include manager or agents of professional or amateur athletes. Many of these athletes are driven by the behind-the-scenes work of their talent managers and agents, similar to the role of Maverick Carter and Rich Paul in driving the off-court success of LeBron James. These agents and managers negotiate media opportunities for athletes and work on brand building through sponsorship deals and live events. We're putting together our inaugural list of the leading talent managers and agents in this space, and want to hear from you about who's wielding the most innovative deals and top clients.

☆ Major League Pickleball's newest team owner is Anheuser-Busch
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Zane Navratil and Parris Todd of BLQK celebrate a point during a group play Major League Pickleball match against the Florida Smash at Pickle & Chill on October 15, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Major League Pickleball has named its newest team owner, and it's a major beer brand. The rapidly growing sports league announced on Tuesday that Anheuser-Busch will purchase a Major League Pickleball team. Anheuser-Busch is the first Fortune 500 company to purchase an MLP team. Major League Pickleball also sees the partnership as a big win.

☆ NBA roundup: Dejounte Murray, Hawks hand Bucks first loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

Murray added eight rebounds and three steals for the Hawks, who lost 123-115 at Milwaukee on Oct. 29. Jerami Grant finished with 23 points and Lillard had 19 points and six assists. Cade Cunningham supplied 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Pistons. Jaden Ivey had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and Isaiah Stewart added 11 points with 12 rebounds. Mike Muscala and Kenrich Williams scored 11 points apiece.

☆ NBA roundup: Cavs down Lakers for 8th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Nov 6, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr. (7) guards Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) as he drives to the basket in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SportsNovember 7 - Behind 33 points from Donovan Mitchell and a dominant fourth quarter, the Cleveland Cavaliers scored their eighth consecutive win with a 114-100 defeat of the host Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Los Angeles held an 80-77 lead with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter. Mitchell's backcourt mate, Darius Garland, added 24 points, while Jarrett Allen scored 16 with a team-high 11 rebounds for a double-double. Anunoby added 22 points and Scottie Barnes had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who visit Chicago for a rematch on Monday.

☆ Cleveland Cavaliers win eighth straight, down LeBron James and struggling Los Angeles Lakers, 114-100
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Just a week after Halloween, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers continued their scary start to the season, losing 114-100 to a hot Cleveland Cavaliers team and falling to 2-7 on the year. The Lakers have only won a single third quarter this season, and that poor post-intermission trend came back to haunt them once again. The Cavs blew away the Lakers, starting the half with a 13-4 run and outscoring Los Angeles 29-16 in the quarter. “We were playing catch-up.”James shooting against his former team in what was to be the Lakers' seventh loss of the season. “They did a great job in the offseason of picking up a big-time player,” James said after the game about Mitchell and his former team.

☆ Lebron James says former teammate Kyrie Irving's actions 'caused some harm to a lot of people'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Mirna Alsharif | Mirna Alsharif Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Lebron James weighed in on recent controversy surrounding a tweet his former teammate Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving posted linking to an antisemitic movie. "I believe, you know, what Kyrie did caused some harm to a lot of people," the Los Angeles Lakers forward said to reporters Friday night after a game against the Utah Jazz. "I don't stand on the position to harm people when it comes to your voice or your platform." Nike said the suspension is effectively immediately and the company will no longer launch the Kyrie 8 shoe. “At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism,” Nike said in a statement.

“To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. Reporters asked Irving earlier Thursday – before he posted his apology – if he holds antisemitic beliefs or if he was sorry. When asked Friday if there was any consideration of releasing Irving, Nets general manager Sean Marks replied, “No. Asked if he had any antisemitic beliefs, Irving responded: “I respect all walks of life. “Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” Silver said in a statement before Irving apologized.

☆ NBA roundup: Short-handed Warriors cap 0-5 trip
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Jusuf Nurkic recorded 14 points and eight rebounds, and Justise Winslow had 12 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Nic Claxton recorded 18 points and nine rebounds while Cam Thomas contributed 17 points and six assists off the bench. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. RJ Barrett finished with 22 points and nine rebounds while Cam Reddish added 11 points off the bench. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Hornets with 17 points, while James Bouknight had a season-high 14 points.

☆ Nikola Jokic makes NBA history with 79th triple-double of his career
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Nikola Jokic broke new ground on Thursday as he recorded yet another triple-double in the Denver Nuggets’ 122-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The back-to-back MVP scored 15 points with 13 rebounds and 13 assists to overtake Wilt Chamberlain for the most triple-doubles ever recorded by a center. Now on 79 for his career, Jokic sits sixth in the all-time list behind LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. Jamal Murray also added 24 points for the Nuggets, who bounced back from defeat against the LA Lakers. We didn’t panic.”The Nuggets will host San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in its next game with Jokic chasing down James, who sits fifth in the all-time triple-double list on 105.

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