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☆ Liberty star Stewart named WNBA MVP
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sep 24, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Connecticut Sun during game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. "Stewie’s first season with the New York Liberty has been nothing short of historic on every level," Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. Alyssa Thomas, a forward for the Connecticut Sun, finished second in the voting in a close race while last year's MVP, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, finished third. Stewart, the Liberty's first MVP, arrived in Brooklyn this season as one of the most highly sought-after free agents following her prolific tenure in Seattle. The twice Finals MVP finished second in scoring and third in both rebounding and total blocks, with a career-best average of 23 points per game.

Persons: Breanna Stewart, Wendell Cruz, Jonathan Kolb, Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson, Stewart, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun, Barclays Center, National Basketball Association, Brooklyn, Seattle Storm, WNBA, Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, USA, Brooklyn, Seattle, New York

☆ Kevin Durant's Boardroom launches entertainment and sports advisory firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

National Basketball Association superstar Kevin Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman on Tuesday announced the launch of a new advisory firm under the duo's Boardroom media company. The firm, Boardroom Advisory, will operate on a yearly fee structure and work with athletes as well as executives and brands on creating business and sports ownership opportunities, content and more, the company said in a press release. "Boardroom Advisory is a natural extension of the brand, and is a way for us to bring our resources to other athletes." The firm doesn't intend to compete with agencies and will work in tandem with athletes' preexisting representatives, a spokesperson for Boardroom said. Durant is among a slew of superstar athletes to branch out in the sports media and entertainment world.

Persons: Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman, Durant, Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleiman, Lorenzo McCloud, James Harden Organizations: Mobile, National Basketball Association, Tuesday, NBA, SpringHill, Soccer, Nike, ESPN, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, CNBC Locations: Puerto Rico, U.S, Las Vegas, Durant

☆ Max to Stream Pro Sports Starting in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( John Koblin | More About John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Discovery announced on Tuesday that it would begin adding live sporting events from the company’s cable networks to the Max streaming service in October. For several months, the sporting events will be free for all Max subscribers. Media companies are racing to figure out how to fold in live sporting events with their popular but still cash-bleeding streaming services. Recently, Charter Communications subscribers temporarily lost access to Disney’s cable networks, including ESPN, in a highly publicized dispute. Charter executives argued that Disney sought too much additional money for its cable networks even though its priority was its streaming business.

Persons: —, Max, Disney Organizations: Warner Bros . Discovery, Max, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Media, Warner Bros, Discovery, Turner, Charter Communications, ESPN

☆ Some Businesses Make ‘Woke Free’ a Selling Point
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Isaac, who is Black, turned that singular moment in July 2020 — when he decided not to join many other N.B.A. players in kneeling during the national anthem as the league restarted in a Covid “bubble” setting in Orlando, Fla. — into a platform as a conservative political activist. In 2022, he spoke at a rally of Christian nationalists and anti-vaccine Americans and wrote a book about why he did not join the protest. Most companies used to do everything they could to avoid political controversies and, by extension, risk alienating potential customers. Seemingly everything in the United States is political now, including where you shop for socks and leggings.

Persons: Jonathan Isaac, Orlando, Isaac, —, ” “, Mr Organizations: National Basketball, Black Americans Locations: Orlando, Fla, —, United States

New Era, which makes caps affiliated with the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Basketball Association (NBA), has invited investment banks and law firms to pitch this month for roles in its stock market debut, the sources said. MLB, the NFL and the NBA hold minority stakes in New Era. The company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) may reach or surpass $300 million in 2023, the sources added. It was launched in 1954 and customized for select teams in MLB, the NFL and the NBA. Separately, Chris Koch told Bloomberg News on Thursday that New Era had secured a $600 million refinancing loan from banks.

Persons: Kevin R, Wilson, Ehrhardt Koch, Chris Koch, Jim Grundtisch, Jim Patterson, Abigail Summerville, Echo Wang, Anirban Sen, David Gregorio Our Organizations: National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, ACON Investments, MLB, NFL, NBA, Arm Holdings, Ivy League, New, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: New York, Buffalo , New York, American, New, Echo

☆ Warner Bros Discovery re-bundles the bundle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) is taking bundling to the max. The $27 billion entertainment company wants to add live sports from the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball to its streaming service, free for a limited time, according to Bloomberg. Boss David Zaslav said on Wednesday at a Goldman Sachs conference that CNN will be available too. Warner Bros unveiled its new streaming service Max, which includes HBO, in April. The industry is packed with competitors, and at $16 a month, Max is already one of the most expensive.

Persons: Boss David Zaslav, Goldman Sachs, Max, Walt Disney, Jennifer Saba, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Bloomberg, Goldman, CNN, Warner Bros, HBO, Cable, Charter Communications, ESPN, X, Thomson

☆ Warner Bros Discovery plans to offer live sports for free on Max - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The exterior of the Warner Bros. Discovery Atlanta campus is pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) plans to offer live sports at no additional price on its Max streaming service for a short period later this year, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. The company owns media rights to National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, among other sporting events. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alyssa Pointer, Akash Sriram, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Warner Bros . Discovery, REUTERS, Warner Bros Discovery, Bloomberg, Reuters, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Thomson Locations: Warner Bros . Discovery Atlanta, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Bengaluru

Major League Baseball was the first to open its coffers to private-investment funds in 2019; a slew of other leagues followed, including the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League. A big participant in that is Sixth Street Partners, a $74 billion behemoth, known historically for its direct lending and growth prowess, and has been making big inroads in the sports world in recent years, with several billion dollars' worth of investments. The firm recently co-founded Bay FC, part of the National Women's Soccer League, alongside several retired players, as well as Sheryl Sandberg. Sixth Street also made investments in FC Barcelona's LaLiga TV broadcasting rights and a majority investment in Legends, a sports and entertainment experiences company. In June 2021, Sixth Street led a strategic investment with Michael Dell in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.

Persons: Carlyle, David Rubenstein, Sheryl Sandberg, Michael Dell, Alan Waxman, what's, it's, Waxman Organizations: Alpha, CNBC, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, Sixth Street Partners, Bay FC, National Women's Soccer League, Sixth, FC Barcelona's LaLiga, San Antonio Spurs basketball, Spanish soccer, Real Madrid Locations: U.S, Spanish

☆ Building Green: New Technologies to Create Less Polluting Cement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

Roughly 7% of all carbon emissions today come from cement production, making it one of the highest-emitting industrial sectors, according to the consulting firm McKinsey. PREVIEW“Concrete is an essential building material,” said Claude Loréa, director of cement, innovation and ESG at the Global Cement and Concrete Association. About two thirds of the clinker emissions are released by the limestone when heated while the rest come from the combustion of fuels to create the heat. Increased efficiencyOne way the industry is looking to improve sustainability in cement production is by targeting efficiency gains. Cemex, one of the world’s largest cement producers, has been working with Switzerland-based Synhelion to produce clinker using solar energy rather than coal.

Persons: ”, Claude Loréa, Aidan O’Sullivan, ” O’Sullivan, Gianluca Ambrosetti, Christoph Beumelburg, Rick Fox, Fox, Partanna, Hurricane Dorian, Yusuf Khan Organizations: McKinsey, Sustainable Business, Global, Concrete Association, Carbon Re, International Energy Agency, IEA, Shell, National Basketball Association Locations: portland, Spain, Switzerland, Heidelberg, Brevik, Norway, Bergen, “, Delaware, Bahamas, Vegas, yusuf.khan

People walk outside Madison Square Garden before a Knicks game amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 23, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 21 (Reuters) - The National Basketball Association's New York Knicks sued rivals the Toronto Raptors in Manhattan on Monday, accusing the Raptors' new coaching staff of hiring a "mole" who gave the team their scouting reports and other confidential material. The Raptors hired Darko Rajakovic, previously an assistant coach with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, as their head coach in June. "Apparently, given his non-traditional path to his head coaching job, Defendant Rajakovic did not have his own, so he chose to exploit the Knicks' methods," it said. The Knicks requested an unspecified amount of damages and asked the court to permanently block the Raptors and Azotam from misusing their trade secrets.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Ikechukwu Azotam, Darko Rajakovic, Defendant Rajakovic, Rajakovic, Azotam, Blake Brittain, Alexia Garamfalvi, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Knicks, REUTERS, Association's New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Raptors, Representatives, MSG Sports, NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, Thomson Locations: Madison, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Washington

As valuations for National Basketball Association and National Football League teams have leaped beyond the reach of even some billionaires, pickleball offers, by comparison, a more affordable opportunity. Valuations of pickleball teams reportedly range anywhere from $1 million to $10 million. Pickleball proponents say the sport will eventually develop its own celebrity players. He pointed out that while pingpong has long been played by millions of people in multiple countries, it hasn’t become a commercial success. “I think that pickleball is going to confront some of the same issues,” he said.

Persons: pickleball, ”, Patrick Rishe, St . Louis, it’s, David Levy, Levy, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, ” Andrew Zimbalist, DealBook, pingpong, hasn’t, “ Organizations: National Basketball Association and National Football League, Washington, Washington University, Turner, Horizon, ESPN, Smith College Locations: St .

It's clear to the four major U.S. professional sports leagues that Disney 's ESPN is potentially interested in them taking an equity stake in the network. Talks have had few specifics, said the people, but may heat up as ESPN attempts to reach a rights renewal deal with the NBA. Sources say Disney is targeting 2025 as a potential launch date for an unbundled-from-cable ESPN streaming service. Disney has informed the leagues that it's also holding separate talks with strategic investors who can provide distribution benefits, according to people familiar with the matter. "We're looking for partners that are going to help ESPN successfully transition to a [direct-to-consumer] model," Iger said Wednesday.

Persons: Nikola Jokic, ESPN's Lisa Salters, Disney, Bob Iger, it's, Iger, I've Organizations: Denver Nuggets, Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Crypto.com Arena, Disney, ESPN, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, NBA, Comcast, Penn Entertainment, Football, MLB Locations: Los Angeles, Hulu

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery's Max targets MLB playoffs for new streaming sports tier
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Discovery has targeted the beginning of the Major League Baseball playoffs to debut a sports tier for its Max streaming service, according to people familiar with the matter. The company plans to simulcast games from the MLB, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and National Collegiate Athletics Association, including college basketball's March Madness, on Max. It also intends to add content from its sports media outlet Bleacher Report, such as highlights and interviews. Discovery plans to brand the new tier using the Bleacher Report name, the people said. No MLB games would appear exclusively on Max.

Persons: Julio Rodríguez, David Zaslav, JB Perrette, Max Organizations: Seattle Mariners, American League, Warner Bros, Discovery, Major League Baseball, Max, MLB, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletics Association, Time Warner, Warner Bros ., Warner Bros . Discovery, TBS Locations: Max

☆ Vancouver and Montreal to host two preseason NBA games in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Apr 12, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of Scotiabank Arena before the start of the NBA Play-In game between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY SportsAug 3 (Reuters) - The Canadian cities of Montreal and Vancouver will host one preseason game each ahead of the 2023-24 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, the league said on Thursday. The two games are part of the NBA Canada Series aimed at growing the game in the country and will start with the Toronto Raptors facing the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 8 in Vancouver. In total, 15 NBA teams have participated in 16 preseason games across six cities as part of the NBA Canada Series, which launched in 2012. The 2023-24 NBA regular season begins on Oct. 24.

Persons: John E, Shai Gilgeous, Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Frank Pingue, Clare Fallon Organizations: CAN, Scotiabank Arena, NBA, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Basketball Association, NBA Canada, Sacramento Kings, Vancouver . The Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Montreal, Vancouver, Vancouver ., Canada, United States, Toronto

☆ Ringleader of NBA health care fraud gets 10 years prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan federal court also sentenced him to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the NBA Players' Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, and forfeit $653,673, in accordance with his plea agreement. Prosecutors had sought a 10- to 12-year prison term, while Williams sought no more than 50 months. He was also accused of impersonating a health plan manager who questioned a reimbursement in order to "frighten" another player, who had not paid a kickback, into re-engaging with him. Prosecutors said at least $5 million of false claims were submitted, with the defendants receiving $2.5 million in fraudulent proceeds. Prosecutors recommended a prison term shorter than 21 months, citing his acceptance of responsibility and desire to make amends.

Persons: New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams, Shannon Stapleton, Terrence Williams, Valerie Caproni, Williams, Prosecutors, Tony Allen, Allen, Jonathan Stempel, Diane Craft Organizations: New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, REUTERS, UNITED STATES, National Basketball Association, NBA Players ' Health, Welfare, Boston Celtics, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, Manhattan, Seattle, Brooklyn, New York

☆ Billionaire DeVos family looks to DeSantis, not Trump, in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Octavio Jones | ReutersThe billionaire DeVos family, whose matriarch, Betsy DeVos, served in Donald Trump's Cabinet, appears to be backing a Trump rival in the 2024 Republican presidential contest: Florida Gov. And though the Federal Election Commission filing does not name any member of the DeVos family, the Michigan billionaires own the team. Following publication of this story, Betsy DeVos' chief of staff, Nate Bailey, said she was "undecided and uncommitted on the race for president, as is the entire DeVos family." Leah Millis | ReutersA spokesman for the DeVos family investment firm, RDV, did not respond to requests for comment. But that curriculum is exactly what draws members of the DeVos family to DeSantis.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Octavio Jones, DeVos, Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's, wokeness, Joel Glass, Governor DeSantis, Glass, DeSantis, Dick DeVos, Dan DeVos, Nate Bailey, Bailey, Leah Millis, RDV, Jason Miller, Ron DeSanctimonious, Miller, Betsy, Tudor Dixon, Trump, Joe Biden, Mike, Pence, Darius Garland, Schofield Organizations: Florida Gov, Cambridge Christian School, Trump, Republican, DeSantis, NBA, Orlando, CNBC, Governor, Orlando Magic, . Education, Federal Commission, School, White, Washington , D.C, Reuters, Michigan Republican, Trump's, Make, Inc, FEC, Detroit, RDV, Cleveland Cavaliers, National Basketball Association, Getty Locations: Florida, Tampa , Florida, Michigan, Central Florida, Washington ,, Cleveland , Ohio

ESPN has been Disney’s financial engine for nearly 30 years, powering the company through recessions, box office wipeouts and the pandemic. With its dual revenue stream — fees from cable subscribers and advertising — the sports juggernaut continues to earn billions of dollars for Disney. In the first six months of the 2023 fiscal year, Disney’s cable networks division, which is anchored by ESPN and its spinoff channels, generated $14 billion in revenue and $3 billion in profit. Disney is now exploring a once-unthinkable sale of a stake in ESPN. Disney has held talks with the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball about taking a minority stake.

Persons: Century Fox, ESPN’s, Robert A, ” Organizations: ESPN, Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Century, CNBC, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball

ESPN has held talks with some of the most powerful leagues in professional sports, including the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, about taking a minority stake in its business. Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, said in a CNBC interview last week that the company was “looking for strategic partners” that could help ESPN with either distribution or content. “But we want to stay in the sports business,” said Mr. Iger, whose contract with Disney was recently extended through 2026. Selling a stake in ESPN could give Disney a cash infusion as it faces pricey renewals with sports leagues including the N.B.A., which is sure to demand a premium for the rights to show its games in the coming years. Hearst, the owner of magazines like Cosmopolitan and information services like Fitch Group, owns a minority stake in ESPN.

Persons: Robert A, ”, Iger, Hearst Organizations: ESPN, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Walt Disney Company, Disney, CNBC, Cosmopolitan, Fitch Group

☆ ESPN held talks with NBA, NFL and MLB in search for strategic partner, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

ESPN has held preliminary discussions with the NFL, NBA and MLB about a variety of new partnerships and investment structures, the people said. Spokespeople for ESPN, the NFL and MLB declined to comment. The NBA and Disney have broached many potential structures around a renewal of media rights, the people said. Iger said last week in an interview with CNBC's David Faber that Disney is looking for a strategic partner for ESPN as it prepares to transition the sports network to streaming. Superficially, it may make less sense for the NBA, NFL and MLB which sign lucrative media rights deals with many media partners that fuel team revenue and player salaries with a range of media companies.

Persons: LeBron James, Bob Iger, Jimmy Pitaro, Spokespeople, RedZone, Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Faber, I'm Organizations: Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, ESPN, Disney, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, MLB, NFL Network, NFL.com, Warner Bros, Discovery, Hearst, Professional, Comcast, Amazon, Paramount Global, Apple Locations: Lake Buena Vista , Florida, Fox

☆ Inside Bob Iger's Disney contract extension: a CEO moving to protect his legacy and get succession right this time
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney extended CEO Bob Iger's contract for 2 years, through the end of 2026. Company watchers won't be shocked by the move, since Iger extended his previous tenure in the role many times. Insiders said he wants to protect his legacy and stabilize the business, especially after the exit of its CFO. Disney just extended Bob Iger's contract for two more years, through 2026, the company announced today. Iger pledged at the time to prioritize finding a successor, but he has extended his contract before — four times during his first 15-year tenure.

Persons: Bob Iger's, Iger, Bob Chapek, Dave Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, Christian Knaebel, Christine McCarthy, Disney, — here's, Chapek, Jay Rasulo, Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Iger's reorg, Dana, who's, Bergman, Walden, Meta execs Sheryl Sandberg, Carolyn Everson, Josh D'Amaro, Jimmy Pitaro, Adam Silver, Silver, Andrew Wilson Organizations: Disney, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, SAG, Longtime, Disney Entertainment, Pixar, ESPN, National Basketball Association, EA Locations: Iger

☆ U.S. forward Rapinoe to retire after current season
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 8 (Reuters) - United States forward Megan Rapinoe will retire after this season, the 38-year-old said on Saturday, days before she leaves for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Jun 27, 2023; Carson, California, USA; USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe during Women's World Cup media day at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsThe United States are gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive title at the World Cup. Rapinoe joined OL Reign in their inaugural season and holds the team record for most career goals (48) and assists (25). The United States kick off their World Cup campaign on July 22 against Vietnam.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Rapinoe, It's, Kirby Lee, gunning, Sue Bird, Donald Trump, Colin Kaepernick, we’ve, Nathan Frandino, Amy Tennery, Clare Fallon Organizations: JOSE, Calif, Women's Soccer League, Dignity Health Sports Park, USA, Wales, National Basketball Association, U.S, Soccer, NFL, United, Vietnam, Thomson Locations: United States, Australia, New Zealand, California, Carson , California, USA, San Jose , California, France, New York

☆ ESPN lays off about 20 on-air personalities including NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Disney' s ESPN on Friday is informing about 20 of its on-air personalities that they will no longer appear on any of the network's platforms. Cuts include former National Basketball Association head coach and current game analyst Jeff Van Gundy and ex-NBA player and studio analyst Jalen Rose, according to a person familiar with the matter. "These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth." The cuts are part of ESPN's efforts to meet its financial targets for 2023 and beyond. Targeting on-air employees with large salaries will allow ESPN to keep more staffers throughout the organization.

Persons: Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Hulu — Organizations: Disney, ESPN, National Basketball Association, Hulu

☆ Qatari fund buys passive stake in Wizards parent, Sportico reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Apr 7, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Jay Huff (34) dunks the ball against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File PhotoJune 22 (Reuters) - The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is buying a passive minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent of the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, Sportico reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Monumental declined to comment, while QIA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The report comes weeks after another deal in the sporting world that involved a Middle Eastern country. Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jay Huff, Geoff Burke, Sportico, QIA, LIV, Granth, Maju Samuel Organizations: District of Columbia, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Capital, USA, Qatar Investment Authority, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Washington Capitals, Basketball Association's Washington Mystics, NBC Sports Washington, PGA, Thomson Locations: Washington, District, USA, Saudi, Bengaluru

Russell Westbrook, who played for the Washington Wizards in the 2020-21 NBA season, reacts prior to playing against the Denver Nuggets at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., February 17, 2021. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has offered to buy a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards and other Washington, D.C., sports teams, the National Basketball Association said Thursday. The NBA is still reviewing the deal with the Qatar Investment Authority, league spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement to CNBC. The NBA in November began to allow sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors to buy noncontrolling stakes in the league's teams. In addition to the Wizards, Monumental owns the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and the Women's National Basketball Association team, the Washington Mystics.

Persons: Russell Westbrook, Mike Bass, QIA, Bass Organizations: Washington Wizards, NBA, Denver Nuggets, Capital, Washington , D.C, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, D.C, National Basketball Association, Qatar Investment Authority, CNBC, Sportico, Wizards, Monumental, Hockey League's Washington Capitals, Women's National Basketball Association, Washington Mystics, NBA G League, NBC Sports Washington, Monumental Sports Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Monumental, Qatar

☆ League suspends Morant 25 games over alleged firearm video
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The two-time All-Star was previously suspended for eight games in March after he appeared in another social media video holding a firearm at a nightclub. To the kids who look up to me, I'm sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I'm going to be better," Morant said in a statement reported by ESPN. "To all of my sponsors, I'm going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I'm going to make it up to you, I promise.

Persons: Ja Morant, Dennis Schroder, Petre Thomas, Morant, Adam Silver, I'm, Amy Tennery, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, FedExForum, National Basketball Association, The Grizzlies, NBA, Grizzlies, ESPN, Thomson Locations: Memphis , Tennessee, USA, Memphis, New York

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