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☆ LeBron James leads the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-101 win and 2-1 series lead against the Memphis Grizzlies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis had strong performances to help lead LA to a big 111-101 win over the Grizzlies in front of a sold-out crowd at Staples Center on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first round NBA Playoff series. Brooks was ejected from Game 3 for a flagrant 2 foul on LeBron James. Anthony Davis had a massive night, racking up 31 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesAfter the game, James said that the game wasn’t about making a “statement” to Brooks and the rest of the Grizzlies. Sixers forward Tobias Harris led the way for Philly with 25 points and 12 rebounds in what is Brooklyn’s second straight first-round sweep.

☆ Elon Musk is paying for a few of his favorite celebrities to stay on Twitter Blue, even after they dissed the new blue checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said he's personally paying for several top celebrities' Twitter Blue subscriptions. Billionaire Elon Musk says he's personally paying for several well-known figures to stay on Twitter Blue after they refused to fork up $8 for a monthly subscription. "My Twitter account says I've subscribed to Twitter Blue. James received an email from Twitter offering free verification "on behalf of Elon Musk," the outlet reported. Musk on Wednesday responded to the online discussion of celebrities receiving free verification, saying he is "paying for a few personally" to keep their Twitter Blue subscriptions.

☆ Pope loses verified status on Twitter, US basketball star LeBron James remains
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Yuvraj Malik | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 20 (Reuters) - Twitter on Thursday began removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles, with famous people including pop icon Beyonce and Pope Francis losing their verified statuses. Some personalities such as basketball star LeBron James and author Stephen King still had their checkmarks. "The Shining" author King, who has previously called Musk a terrible fit for Twitter, tweeted: "My Twitter account says I've subscribed to Twitter Blue. My Twitter account says I've given a phone number. U.S. non-profit National Public Radio (NPR) stopped posting content on its 52 official Twitter feeds after Twitter labeled it "state-affiliated media" and later "government-funded media".

☆ Twitter descends into chaos as news outlets and brands lose verification
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Several prominent Twitter users including LeBron James, William Shatner and Stephen King also refused to pay to keep their verification badges, prompting Musk to personally intervene. “My Twitter account says I’ve subscribed to Twitter Blue. My Twitter account says I’ve given a phone number. Twitter verification is no longer an indicator that an account represents who it claims to represent; instead, it reflects that a user – or, apparently, the owner of Twitter – paid for Twitter Blue, the company’s subscription service. Isaacson, who is verified on Twitter as a subscriber to Twitter Blue, tweeted a photo of Musk on Thursday from SpaceX’s Starship launch site.

☆ LeBron James told he is ‘old’ in spat with Dillion Brooks as Grizzlies even playoff series with Lakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“I don’t care, he’s old,” Brooks, who finished the game with 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting during his 23 minutes on the court, told reporters. I know my guys know that.”Four-time NBA MVP James finished Wednesday’s game with 28 points and 10 rebounds. According to ESPN, the only player to score 40 against the Grizzlies in a game Brooks played this season was the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard. He’s LeBron James. He’s shining.’“I can’t be looking at [him] that he’s LeBron James.

☆ Athletics acquire land for Las Vegas ballpark
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Athletics president Dave Kaval said the team was pushing ahead with plans for a new stadium in Las Vegas after the process to build a waterfront ballpark in Oakland stalled. "We have a pact in Las Vegas that we think can work and has the support from the league, so we are really putting all our focus in Las Vegas and the efforts there." MLB is the latest major sport league eager to get in on the Las Vegas action. "In 2021, given the continued lack of progress, MLB instructed the A's to explore a parallel path plan with Las Vegas. "We support the A’s turning their focus on Las Vegas and look forward to them bringing finality to this process by the end of the year."

☆ NBA roundup: Short-handed Bucks even series with Heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jimmy Butler had 25 points to pace the Heat, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots and Desmond Bane added 17 points for the second-seeded Grizzlies. LeBron James had 28 points and 12 rebounds and Rui Hachimura added 20 points off the bench for the seventh-seeded Lakers. Michael Porter Jr. scored 16 points and Aaron Gordon had 12 points and 10 rebounds for top-seeded Denver. Denver went on an 8-0 run to open the final quarter, grabbing a 95-89 lead before Minnesota moved in front 99-98.

☆ Elon Musk says news organizations should only tweet 10 stories a day, after he tweeted more than 100 times over the weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that news organizations should limit tweets. During the interview, Musk discussed his decision to remove The New York Times' blue tick on Twitter. Carlson asked Musk about a tweet at the time in which he described the Times' feed as "the Twitter equivalent of diarrhea." According to the social-media tracker Socialblade, the newspaper tweeted an average of 110 times a day over the last two weeks. Last month, Musk overtook Barack Obama to become the most-followed account on Twitter, five months after buying the company.

☆ NBA roundup: Heat best Bucks in injury-riddled Game 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bam Adebayo scored 22 points for the eighth-seeded Heat, who were playing less than 48 hours after qualifying for the playoffs by beating Chicago in a play-in elimination game. He stayed in the game for a bit before going to the locker room and returned briefly early in the second quarter before leaving the game for good. In his sixth career playoff game, Hachimura erupted for a playoff career high in scoring by shooting 11-for-14, including 5 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc. Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in his first playoff game for the fourth-seeded Suns. Devin Booker scored 26 points, Torrey Craig added 22 and Deandre Ayton had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Suns.

☆ James leads surging Lakers into playoffs, Bucks enter as favourites
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Apr 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) celebrates the victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves following overtime at Crypto.com Arena. By clinching the Western Conference's seventh seed, the Lakers earned the right to face electrifying guard Ja Morant and the No. He's going to get to the paint one way or another," ESPN NBA analyst JJ Reddick said on a conference call. "He's going to elevate. He's going to decide what the hell to do in the air and he's probably going to score.

☆ LeBron James Just Wanted a Chance at the Playoffs. Now He’s Got It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ NBA roundup: Warriors hang 157 on Blazers, glide into playoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Shaedon Sharpe added 18 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, while Jeenathan Williams had 17 points for Portland. New Orleans' Brandon Ingram had 42 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Trey Murphy III had 20. Lindell Wigginton scored 17 points and Bobby Portis had 16 for the Bucks. Jaden Hardy led all scorers with 25 points, with Theo Pinson forging a triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists) for the Mavericks. De'Aaron Fox, who scored 13 points, played less than 18 minutes.

☆ NBA roundup: Mavs' playoff hopes dashed by Bulls
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

The result ended the Mavericks' hopes of reaching the Western Conference play-in tournament. Chicago, which had already clinched an Eastern Conference play-in spot, played without leading scorers DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine as well as Patrick Beverley. Orlando, which was in contention for a play-in spot over the past month following a 5-20 start, played its second game since being eliminated Tuesday. Grizzlies 137, Bucks 114Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 36 points to lead seven Memphis players in double figures as the Grizzlies clinched the No. Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, Precious Achiuwa added 16 points, and Fred VanVleet had 12 points and eight assists.

☆ The Toughest Ticket in Paris Isn’t Messi—It’s Wemby
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, France—The hottest ticket in French sports these days is for a sleepy gym on the outskirts of Paris, where basketball players duck under doorways and fans use halftime as a collective smoke break. Supporters come to games just 2,800 at a time, because that’s all the building here can fit. But those who do get inside have all made the trip for the same reason: a 7-foot-3 teenager named Victor Wembanyama. At 19, he’s the brightest NBA prospect since LeBron James, and soon, he’ll be on his way out of France.

[1/3] Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. CEO Renee Wilm and Terry Miller of Miller Project Management give a tour of the Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock construction site, in Paradise, Nevada, U.S., March 3, 2023. "We think this is going to the biggest sports and entertainment event of the year," Renee Wilm, the CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, told Reuters. "There is no better way for Las Vegas to draw the attention of our international customers than through Formula One," Steve Hill, CEO of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told Reuters. JUST THE BEGINNINGAnd the Las Vegas sports bonanza won't stop at the F1 finish line. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Las Vegas Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nike envisions a wild future with Olympics in outer space, clothing made of spider silk, and footballs make of stardust
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Nike recently published a fun and thought-provoking book about the company's next 50 years. The company playfully envisions athletic competitions in space and footballs made from stardust. The small 192-page book is mostly a fun, futuristic read about what Nike might be doing in 2073. Sam Grawe, who wrote the 2021 book Nike: Better is Temporary, is an editor and contributed essays. On a more terrestrial level, Nike foresees clothing made from spider silk and the emergence of volcanic glass compounds.

☆ NBA roundup: Knicks get by Wizards, clinch playoff berth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

[1/4] Apr 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6) dribbles against Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. New York led by no fewer than eight and by as many as 20 the rest of the way. Atlanta got 25 points from Dejounte Murray, 18 points and 10 rebounds from John Collins and 14 points and 11 boards from Clint Capela. Dallas also got 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Doncic and 18 points from Wood. The Rockets' starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined for 44 points with Green adding seven assists.

☆ Twitter overhauled its verified check marks this weekend — but seemingly only for The New York Times account
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The first day of Twitter's previously announced axing of "legacy" verified checks nearly passed without incident. However, Twitter CEO Elon Musk was presented with a meme about the New York Times not intending to pay to keep its check. "Oh ok, we'll take it off then," Musk said, and the Times' gold check disappeared overnight. "Oh ok, we'll take it off then," Musk said in another response Saturday night, and the Times' gold check disappeared sometime overnight. Both James and Alexander still have blue check marks as of Sunday afternoon.

☆ News outlets, athletes, celebs — and the White House — don't plan to pay for Twitter Blue checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Several news outlets and high-profile Twitter users have said they don't plan to pay for Twitter Blue. As of Saturday afternoon, the "legacy" checks appear to remain active across the platform. Individuals can subscribe to Twitter Blue for $8 per month. Several news outlets have said they don't plan to pay for the gold check. Others don't plan to reimburse journalists who pay for Twitter Blue, largely saying that since blue checks only convey a user paid $8, they no longer provide the credibility they once did, according to CNN.

☆ Billionaire LeBron James is 'the cheapest guy in the NBA,' won't pay for Elon Musk's Twitter Blue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star on Friday tweeted that he has no plans to pay for Elon Musk's Twitter Blue subscription, even if it means he loses his blue verification check mark on Apr. "Welp guess my blue ✔ will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain't paying the 5," James tweeted to his 52.8 million followers. Twitter Blue will actually cost $8 per month, not $5, though the distinction probably doesn't mean much to James, who once agreed that he was "the cheapest guy in the NBA." "I don't know how long this could last," James says in the film when asked why he won't pick up the tab. 1 as he pushes users to sign up for Twitter Blue.

☆ Under Armour's new partnership with Steph Curry will last beyond the NBA star's retirement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

NBA superstar Steph Curry and Under Armour are once again betting big on each other. The deal will ensure that Curry, 35, will remain with Under Armour long past his playing career. Curry will take on a new role as president of Under Armour's Curry Brand and will work across categories such as basketball, golf, women, youth and sports style to deliver new products. The nine-time NBA All-Star first signed with Under Armour in 2013 in a deal worth about $4 million per year. Over the course of their partnership, Curry and Under Armour have launched 10 signature shoes together.

☆ Just months after buying the platform, Elon Musk is officially the biggest account on Twitter, leapfrogging former president Barack Obama to reach 133 million followers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk overtook Barack Obama on Thursday to become Twitter's most followed account. Five months after buying the social-media platform, Musk has over 133 million followers. The Twitter CEO posted 72 times on Monday, and has his tweets boosted by engineers, per Platformer. According to the follower-tracking site SocialBlade, Musk saw the biggest increase last April – the month he first offered to buy Twitter – gaining 9.7 million followers. The Twitter CEO became the sixth-user to cross the 100 million mark last June, according to The Verge, which first reported the news.

☆ Twitter is secretly boosting 35 VIP users including Lebron James, AOC, catturd2, and Ben Shapiro: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This means their tweets automatically bypass an algorithm meant to cap a Twitter user's reach. Platformer's Managing Editor Zoë Schiffer cited internal documents from Twitter which listed 35 VIP users, who all have their posts monitored and promoted for greater visibility. The list also included the pro-Trump, MAGA-friendly Twitter commentator, catturd2, with whom Elon Musk has had many Twitter conversations. Twitter engineers have ensured that tweets by these VIP users will automatically be ranked higher than others in terms of their visibility, Platformer revealed. The VIP users' tweets also bypass a Twitter algorithm which prevents too many posts from a particular user from being viewed, per Platformer.

☆ Pay $84 a year for Twitter Blue or lose your checkmark beginning April 1, Twitter says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue,” the company’s tweet continued. Twitter Blue is a subscription service that Musk relaunched late last year that costs individuals $84 a year or $8 a month. Twitter Blue first launched in the pre-Musk days of 2021, as a subscription service offering “power features” like undoing a tweet and saving bookmarks to folders. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesMusk pulled the Twitter Blue program for a few weeks and relaunched it yet again in December, with additional steps for reviewing and approving subscribers. The company also says Twitter Blue users will see 50% fewer ads in their home timelines, and that their tweets will be prioritized among replies, mentions and searches.

Nike said its apparel inventory fell in the third quarter and expects to end fiscal 2023 with "healthy" inventory levels. Sales in Greater China fell about 8% even as the country eased pandemic-related restrictions, which is expected to benefit the company in the near term. Nike now expects reported revenue for the full year to increase in the high-single-digit range, compared with its previous forecast of growth in the mid single digits. In the fourth quarter, the company expects flat to low-single-digit revenue growth, compared with estimates of a 2.42% rise, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Nike posted revenue of $12.39 billion in the third quarter beating estimates of $11.47 billion and reported a profit of 79 cents per share above estimates of 55 cents.

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