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☆ Noah Lyles: Basketball stars hit back after US sprinter pokes fun at NBA
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

When speaking to reporters at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Lyles said: “World champion of what? He did, however, spark a reaction from some NBA stars. Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green also got involved, writing on Instagram, “When being smart goes wrong” with the face-palm emoji. Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon, though, appeared to see the funny side, writing on Instagram: “Whatever … I’m smoking buddy in the 200m.”Kevin Durant was one of the NBA stars to hit back at Lyles' comments. “The organization [NBA] have players from different countries but do they compete against different countries.

Persons: Noah Lyles, Usain Bolt, Lyles, ” Lyles, Kevin Durant, ”, Draymond Green, Aaron Gordon, Christian Petersen, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sha’Carri Richardson, “, Noah, Richardson, courtside Organizations: CNN, NBA, US, ESPN, Denver Nuggets Locations: Budapest, Hungary, United States, Canada, Serbia, Greece, Lyles

☆ The 11 sports-betting and online-gambling startups that have raised the most VC funding so far in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sports betting and gambling companies have raised $150 million from VCs so far in 2023, according to PitchBook data. US sports betting and gambling startups have raised about $150 million in VC funding through mid-August of this year, per PitchBook, which tracked 25 deals during that time frame. Here are the top 11 companies that have gotten the most funding in 2023 through mid-August, according to PitchBook:1) Jackpot.com — $42 million. The more than 50-year-old casino technology and data company closed the investment from VCs. Oddsworks, a gaming company offering more than 100 games for online and land-based casinos, raised early-stage funding.

Persons: Joey Levy, Jake Paul, Roger Ehrenberg's, James Harden, Joel Embiid, PlayerProfile, Oddsworks Organizations: Roger Ehrenberg's Eberg Capital, Arctos Sports Partners, Bettor, Courtside Ventures, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Acres, Exchange, Boom Entertainment, Oyster Ventures, Touchdown Ventures, Eberg, IA Sports Ventures, Ikigai Ventures, Trinity West Ventures Locations: VCs

Where to watch FIBA World Cup basketball live streams free from anywhereYou can catch some of the FIBA World Cup action using free live streams in countries like New Zealand (TVNZ), Spain (RTVE), and France (France.tv). When: August 25 - September 10How to watch the FIBA World Cup in the USAESPN will stream all FIBA World Cup in the US across its various platforms. How to watch the FIBA World Cup in AustraliaYou have quite a few options for watching FIBA World Cup games in Australia. How to watch the FIBA World Cup in CanadaSportsNet is the only destination to watch the FIBA World Cup in Canada, and you'll only be able to watch the national team's games live. FIBA World Cup scheduleBelow is a full schedule of FIBA World Cup games that will run through the September 10 final.

Persons: Giannis Antetekounmpo, Luka Dončić, Rudy Gobert, Bodan Bogdanovic, Karl, Anthony Towns, ExpressVPN, Spain RTVE, Jordan Organizations: FIBA, NBA, FIBA World, New Zealand, TVNZ, ESPN, NBA.com FIBA, USA ESPN, ESPN2, USA, Subscription, Foxtel, Sky NZ, ESPN Australia, Kayo, Android, Apple, Samsung, LG, Amazon, PlayStation, Viewers, Canada SportsNet, New Zealand TVNZ, Blacks, Spanish, France Viewers, French, France, Araneta Coliseum Finland, Okinawa, Mexico, Asia Arena Latvia, Indonesia Arena Dominican, Araneta Coliseum Germany, Asia Arena Canada, Indonesia, B, Araneta Coliseum, Jordan, Asia Arena Iran, G, Indonesia Arena Slovenia, Serbia, Asia Arena Spain, Sunday, Araneta Coliseum Australia, Okinawa Arena Montenegro, Asia Arena Lebanon, Philippines, Araneta Coliseum Japan, Lithuania, Asia Arena France, Araneta Coliseum Venezuela, Okinawa Arena New Zealand, Asia Arena Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia Arena Georgia, Okinawa Arena Puerto Rico, Asia Arena Brazil, Angola, Indonesia Arena Australia, Araneta Coliseum Montenegro, Wednesday, Araneta Coliseum Georgia, China Locations: Asia, Pacific, United States, Germany, Canada, Spain, France, China, Greece, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, New, Australia, USA, Angola, Argentina, Cape Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Finland, Italy, Montenegro, Lebanon, Philippines, Okinawa, Egypt, Sudan, Verde, . Georgia, Brazil, Venezuela, Zealand, Cote d'Ivoire, South Sudan, Iran

☆ Jefferies CEO Richard Handler says people should embrace the haters in his advice to wannabe leaders. 'This means you are doing something really right.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In an email with Insider, Handler explained how naysayers can be a source of "motivation." Richard Handler, CEO of investment bank Jefferies, says he knows he's doing his job right when larger rivals start hating on his bank. In a post on Instagram, Handler offered 100 things he wished he had known before becoming Jefferies's CEO in 1990. He has become one of the most active Wall Street CEOs on social media. "Everyone asks if I manage my own social media, and for better or worse, the answer is yes.

Persons: Richard Handler, Jefferies, Handler, he's, I'm, you'll, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott Organizations: Jefferies, Puma

☆ Jim Cramer: I used Apple's new Vision Pro headset — here's what it was like
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

I saw a soccer match on the Vision Pro and I ducked when a ball came right at me. I would have had better seats with the Vision Pro, if Apple can work out that deal with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Apple's new Vision Pro virtual reality headset is displayed during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on June 5, 2023. I saw a soccer match on the Vision Pro and I ducked when a ball came right at me. I would have had better seats with the Vision Pro, if Apple can work out that deal with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Persons: Taylor Swift's, Adam Silver, Apple, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Josh Edelson Organizations: Apple, Hollywood, Apple Watch, Vision, New York Knicks, NFL, CNBC, Apple's Worldwide, AFP, Getty Locations: Iceland, Cupertino , California

☆ Pegula produces dazzling display to reach first Wimbledon quarters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pritha Sarkar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 9 (Reuters) - Jessica Pegula enjoyed one of those scarcely believable days straight out of fantasy land as her racket oozed winners left, right and centre in a 6-1 6-3 fourth-round destruction of luckless Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko at Wimbledon on Sunday. Pegula took full advantage of her opponent's woes as she walloped thunderous winners from the baseline to streak into a 5-0 lead in 18 blinding minutes. Tsurenko was lucky not to be completely wiped out from the opening set as the American fourth seed missed a set point in the sixth game. That respite, however, was brief as Pegula went on another three-game winning spree to take a 6-1 2-0 lead. I am so glad to make the final eight and I hope I get my name on a wall, or something."

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Tsurenko, Pegula, Ana Bogdan, Marketa, Serena Williams, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Pritha Sarkar, Clare Fallon Organizations: Wimbledon, Madison, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, American

☆ Russian Medvedev happy with win and warm welcome
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Medvedev, 27, has only once reached the fourth round, though he missed last year's tournament due to the ban on Russian players. But a rain break at 5-5 in the first set changed the dynamic and Medvedev was generally in control from then on. "I was pretty nervous, I didn't get to play yesterday so really happy to be back," Medvedev said in a courtside interview. When they returned 20 minutes later Fery struggled to rediscover his intensity as Medvedev immediately broke and served out the set. Fery stuck to his guns, charging the net at every opportunity, and though he got a foothold in most Medvedev service games, the Russian was too often able to serve his way out of trouble.

Persons: Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Britain's Arthur Fery, Toby Melville LONDON, Russian Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Fery, Medvedev, Arthur, I'm, Fery, Roland Garros, ludicrously, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, American, Roland, Medvedev, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Russian, British, U.S

☆ Some Disney insiders are questioning the company's appetite for 'rebellious innovation' after layoffs, despite its splashy Apple Vision Pro partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's Apple Vision Pro partnership has stoked excitement and concern at the media company. AppleBut an innovation team that worked on Disney's Apple Vision Pro offering is being disbanded, with its founder and leader exiting the company as part of the cuts. Insider spoke to five current and recently exited Disney insiders about hopes and concerns regarding the Vision Pro project and the future of innovation at the company. Disney's Vision Pro partnership was its latest project. A source with knowledge of Disney's Vision Pro work said it's still ongoing and that there are other teams at Disney still working on that project.

Persons: Bob Iger, Iger, Dave Lankford, WWDC, Disney's, Dirk Van Dall, Mike White, it's, Aaron LaBerge, Jeremy Doig, Bob Chapek, DMED Organizations: Apple Vision, Insiders, Disney, DMED, Apple, Apple's Worldwide, Conference, Iger, Vision, Advanced, Netflix, Disney's, Hollywood, ESPN, Marvel, Geographic Locations: verticals

☆ Bob Iger announced exciting plans for Apple's Vision Pro headset, but after wide cuts, some are questioning Disney's appetite for 'rebellious innovation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's Apple Vision Pro partnership has stoked excitement and concern at the media company. "Mandalorian" footage in the Vision Pro demo. AppleBut an innovation team that worked on Disney's Apple Vision Pro offering is being disbanded, with its founder and leader exiting the company as part of the cuts. Disney's Vision Pro partnership was its latest project. A source with knowledge of Disney's Vision Pro work said it's still ongoing and that there are other teams at Disney still working on that project.

☆ At the French Open, Djokovic Storms the Court and Into Controversy, Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The 22-time Grand Slam tournament champion struggled to find his timing early on, with the wind gusting as day turned to night. But as the light faded the wind did too, and Djokovic cruised, finishing off the steady Fucsovics, 7-6 (2), 6-0, 6-3, in two hours and 44 minutes. But as it is so often with Djokovic, what is happening on the tennis court this week is only a fraction of the story. He didn’t even have to worry about his main nemesis, with Rafael Nadal missing this year’s French Open, a tournament he has won 14 times, because of an injury. Djokovic continues his usual march toward the second week of the tournament — though the top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz may pose trouble.

Persons: Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic’s, “ Let’s Organizations: World Health Organization Locations: United States, Australia

☆ What Carmelo Anthony Meant to New York City
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Kris Rhim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There were many moments that evoked roars inside Madison Square Garden when the Knicks faced the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals this month: when Jalen Brunson hit a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, prompting a Heat timeout, or any of the five times RJ Barrett sank a 3, sending the Garden’s white-knuckled Knicks fans into a frenzy. But the loudest roar that night came during a stoppage in play when a large video screen showed Carmelo Anthony sitting courtside. Anthony stood with one hand raised as most of the fans gave him a standing ovation, showering him with applause and cheers as if he had just made a game-winning shot. Anthony never won a title for the Knicks or even made a conference finals in his six and a half seasons with the team, but the moment was a reminder of how much he still means to New York. The city had yearned for a star after years of mediocrity and got one in Anthony, a Brooklyn native ready to make Knicks games exciting again.

☆ Everybody Wants Victor Wembanyama. He Wants to Rule the N.B.A.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Tania Ganguli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Boris Diaw was passing through Paris in late September and thought he would check out a basketball game. It was the first home game of the season for the Metropolitans 92, a French league team led by the star teenager Victor Wembanyama. At Marcel-Cerdan Sports Palace in Levallois, near Paris, N.B.A. Diaw grew up in Paris and played 14 years in the N.B.A., including more than four seasons in San Antonio with Tony Parker, considered by many to be the best N.B.A. “I hope he can actually get away from that and just focus on his career and playing and practicing and having fun, too.”

☆ An MVP Shoves. An NBA Team Owner Falls. The Basketball World Decides: ‘Flop or Foul?’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In the NBA playoffs, players will do anything for an edge. But what about team owners? That question came up almost halfway through Sunday night’s game between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. After Phoenix’s Josh Okogie sailed into the courtside seating to chase a loose ball, Denver star Nikola Jokic rushed to collect it, hoping to inbound the ball before Okogie had recovered. When Jokic tried to pry it from a spectator’s hands in Phoenix’s Footprint Center, a comedy of retaliatory gamesmanship ensued.

☆ Harden says 76ers taking confidence on the road after leveling series
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY SportsMay 7 (Reuters) - The Philadelphia 76ers hit the road to Boston with "huge confidence" this week after winning Game 4 116-115 against the Celtics on Sunday to level their conference semi-final series courtesy of another clutch three-pointer from James Harden. The game was a much-needed injection of confidence, Harden said in a televised interview after the game, after a pair of demoralizing losses with Embiid battling through a sprained right knee. "Huge confidence, huge confidence. "He just gave me good luck - he brought me good vibes, good energy," said Harden, adding he would invite Hao "every game - here on out." The Sixers face the Celtics in Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.

☆ Bronny James Commits to U.S.C. as Father Dreams of N.B.A. Meet-Up
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Adam Zagoria | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

LeBron James’s immediate goal is to win another N.B.A. championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. But longer term, he wants to play in the league with his older son, LeBron Jr., who goes by Bronny, beginning in 2024. “I need to be on the floor with my boy,” James told ESPN in January, recalling a situation from his childhood in which Ken Griffey and his son, Ken Griffey Jr., played for the Seattle Mariners. He was seated at courtside Saturday night as the Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with the Golden State Warriors.

☆ Jack Nicholson watches on courtside as LA Lakers dominate Memphis Grizzles to end series
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Hollywood great Jack Nicholson watched the LA Lakers put on a dominant display against the Memphis Grizzles Friday in Game 6 of the first-round series. Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesDetermined to avoid a Game 7 in Memphis, the Lakers beat the second-seeded Grizzles 125-85 to end the series. Victory for the Kings, the third seeds, at home on Sunday would mean a first playoff series win in 19 years and would eliminate the defending champions. Malik Monk scored 28 points for the Kings, De’Aaron Fox ended with 26 points, including a game-high 11 assists, and Keegan Murray 15 points. Steph Curry scored 29 points for a Warriors team who did not come close to threatening the Kings.

☆ And in This Corner, Hailing From Dagestan, Presenting Hasbulla
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Joseph Bernstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on March 17, Hasbulla Magomedov got the full celebrity treatment. He chatted pregame with the Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who posed with him for a photo. When Hasbulla’s face appeared on the Jumbotron, the crowd went wild. And, like everyone who’s anyone, he sat courtside at the Staples Center, with one major difference: He was perched on his friend’s lap. Hasbulla, 20, is a little over three feet tall, and it gave him a better view of the action.

☆ The Wildest Seat in the NBA Is the One Next to Steve Ballmer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

There are hazards to sitting courtside at an NBA game. A player lunging after a loose ball might topple toward you, forcing a split-second decision about whether to cushion the landing or dive for safety. A spilled drink—a minor inconvenience in the 300 level—brings a delay and an arena full of impatient eyes. Sitting next to Steve Ballmer , the former Microsoft CEO and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, involves potentially mortal danger. Chaz Fitzhugh, his longtime friend and a regular guest at the seats Ballmer keeps along the baseline, has a heart condition, which necessitates certain arrangements.

☆ The Haslam family sold its gas station business to Warren Buffett this year. Now it's set to buy a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( George Glover | Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Haslam family will finalize buying a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, according to Bloomberg. They're swapping fuel pumps for courtside seats after selling their gas station business to Warren Buffett. They're poised to own 25% of the Bucks in a deal that values the NBA franchise at around $3.5 billion. The Haslams agreed to buy billionaire investor Marc Lasry's 25% stake in the Bucks in a deal that values the NBA franchise at $3.5 billion back in February, per a previous Bloomberg report. The Haslam family retains control of Pilot's day-to-day operations.

☆ Goldman Sachs isn't getting a new private jet, but are there better places to cut costs on Wall Street?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

If there is a senior Goldman Sachs' executive in your life, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Insider's Dakin Campbell has the scoop on Goldman nixing plans to buy a third corporate aircraft under CEO David Solomon. So as the bank has looked to cut costs this year more broadly, the private jets, naturally, were a topic of discussion. I will say, I think corporate jets have been unfairly labeled as the poster child for excessive spending at the corporate level. Now, regional banks are looking to serve the firms looking for a new banking home, per The Wall Street Journal.

☆ Alcaraz dominates Lajovic, Andreescu breezes past Kenin in Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Mar 26, 2023; Miami, Florida, US; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) hits a forehand against Dusan Lajovic (SRB) (not pictured) on day seven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsMarch 26 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0 7-6(5)to keep his title defense on track at the Miami Open on Sunday, as Canadian Bianca Andreescu cruised past American Sofia Kenin in straight sets. "Everything was under control," said Alcaraz, who greeted the Miami Heat's six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler courtside after the match. Former U.S. Open champion Andreescu harnessed her mighty serve to topple Kenin 6-4 6-4, sending over seven aces as the 2020 Australian Open winner failed to mount much of a defense after an early exit from Indian Wells. Later on Sunday, second-seeded Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka plays 31st seed Marie Bouzkova and last year's twice Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud, seeded third, plays the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp.

☆ The top 4 sports and sports tech VCs are ready to open their checkbooks. Here's what they're looking for.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Courtside Ventures in January closed a $100 million fund, its biggest yet. KB Partners late last year closed a $127 million fund, also its biggest yet. If you're not in one of those lanes, don't bother reaching out, even though the firm has the new $100 million fund to dole out. Parikh expects fewer investments in media companies out of the new fund, but more investments in gaming. It's doling out the money through two accelerator programs and an investment fund.

☆ Here's the 12-page pitch deck a fintech aiming to be an alternative to BNPL used to raise money from Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin and rapper Lil Baby, among others
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kasheesh is a fintech that allows consumers to split online payments across multiple cards. Kasheesh allows users to split online payments across several debit and credit cards. Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, rapper Lil Baby, actor Damson Idris, and entrepreneur John Terzian most recently joined the cap table in this round. On Kasheesh's web-based browser plug in, users can split any online payment across up to five debit and credit cards. Read the 12-page pitch deck Kasheesh used to raise a $3 million seed extension round.

☆ Abdul-Jabbar blames himself for lack of relationship with James
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 8 (Reuters) - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reflected on the complicated relationship he has with LeBron James a day after sitting courtside to watch the Los Angeles Lakers forward break the NBA career scoring record he set nearly 40 years ago. Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him," Abdul-Jabbar wrote in a Substack blog post on Wednesday. "When he started to make a name for himself, I was already pretty removed from the NBA world," wrote the 75-year-old Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar also said he is happy that James broke his record. His winning in no way affects my winning," Abdul-Jabbar wrote.

[1/7] Feb 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Former Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hands the game ball to forward LeBron James (6) after James becomes the NBA all time scoring leader against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. /Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsFeb 7 (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday, setting the new mark with a fadeaway jumpshot late in the third quarter of a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lakers great Abdul-Jabbar, who took the title from Wilt Chamberlain with his signature skyhook on April 5, 1984, sat courtside at Tuesday's game. "I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind," James said. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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