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    Media
Advertisers Expected to Tackle Serious Issues in Super Bowl Spots

Advertisers are expected to address issues pertaining to social justice and the pandemic during Super Bowl LV spots.

By Michael McCarthy / December 4, 2020
    College Athletics
The Potential NIL Power of Sarah Fuller

If college athlete name, image, and likeness rules had already taken effect, Fuller might have completed one of the most lucrative kickoffs in college sports history.

By Amanda Christovich / December 1, 2020
    Global Sport
Despite Some Miscues, ISL Provides ‘Hope’ for Professional Swimming

While swimmers have bought into the ISL, there’s a disconnect between the on-deck product and off-deck antics.

By Torrey Hart / November 24, 2020

NBA (Virtual) Draft Day

November 18, 2020

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The NBA draft will be virtual for the first time, Kawhi Leonard takes a board seat, NFL has a plan to improve its leadership diversity, and Gatorade has a new golf star.

NBA (Virtual) Draft Day

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

When the Minnesota Timberwolves make the No. 1 overall pick at tonight’s 2020 NBA Draft, it will kick off a historic first virtual draft for the league.

The league sent top prospects kits that included hats from all 30 teams and gear to film their reactions to being drafted. Hosted at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. headquarters, 58 players were asked to participate in the television broadcast — more than double the 23 prospects who received “green room” invitations last year.

Earlier this summer, the NFL successfully navigated a virtual draft as it drew record viewership, jumping 37% year-over-year. The WNBA draft, held virtually in April, saw viewership increase 123% compared to 2019.

“NBA Draft Gifting Lockers” were given to 30 prospects and include:

  • Beat Powerbeats Pro earbuds
  • Beats Pill
  • iPhone with tripod
  • Microsoft surface
  • Ring light

Board Man’s Board Seat

X2 Performance

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is joining supplement company X2 Performance as an investor and member of its board of directors. Leonard’s investment came as part of a Series D funding round that raised roughly $14 million. 

The company — which makes energy drinks and workout supplements — will use the 2019 NBA Finals MVP’s image and likeness as it looks to expand to national retailers. 

“He will be the face of the brand,” X2 CEO Mark French said. Leonard will also be directly involved with “product innovation and marketing support.”

Leonard joins a string of athletes taking equity stakes in companies, including: 

  • NFL player DeAndre Hopkins (Therabody)
  • NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo (Ready Nutrition)
  • NFL player Baker Mayfield (Beam)
  • NBA Steph Curry (Oxigen)

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NFL Diversity Plan

Allen Eyestone-The Palm Beach Post)

The NFL has developed a mobility plan for diversity hiring as it looks to address inequalities among coaching and front office positions. Owners also recently passed a resolution to reward teams for developing minority candidates for those roles.

Approximately 70% of current NFL players are minorities. Of the 32 head coaches, just six are minorities — including two interim. In May, the league expanded its Rooney Rule to require more interviews of minority candidates for head coaching and coordinator positions.

The mobility plan focuses on: “Explaining the responsibilities of the 32 clubs; the flow of information and who has access to it; developmental programs such as fellowships; accountability; making coaches more available to the media to increase their profiles; and establishing a pathway for progress.”

Minority NFL Head Coaches: 

  • Atlanta Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris 
  • Houston Texans interim HC Romeo Crennel
  • Los Angeles Chargers HC Anthony Lynn
  • Miami Dolphins HC Brian Flores
  • Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
  • Washington Football Team HC Ron Rivera

Gatorade’s New Golfer

Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Gatorade has signed Matthew Wolff, its first golfer since Tiger Woods. He’s the newest young star in the Gatorade family as it continues to evolve beyond the era of Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning.  

Who: At 21, Wolff is currently the No. 14 golfer in the world. He has several top-5 finishes this year, including a second-place finish at the U.S. Open and a tie for fourth at the PGA Championship. Gatorade will use Wolff to help launch its new Bolt24 product in December. 

Competitive edge: Gatorade — which controls more than 72% of the sports drink market — is building out a younger tier of athlete endorsers as companies like BioSteel and BodyArmor push into the market with big names like Patrick Mahomes and Naomi Osaka, respectively.

Gatorade’s Youthful Portfolio: 

  • NBA player Zion Williamson
  • NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns 
  • NBA player Jayson Tatum
  • Soccer player Mallory Pugh
  • NFL player George Kittle
  • Sprinter Sydney McLaughlin

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Latest On FOS

After missing out on a trip to Orlando for the restarted season, the Minnesota Timberwolves turned their focus to the 2020 NBA Draft. The team is hoping to use the No. 1 overall pick as a springboard for a successful season, CEO Ethan Casson told FOS.

The Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets are nearing a deal to send James Harden to Brooklyn, multiple league sources told FOS. Harden declined a two-year, $103 million extension with the Rockets so he could force a trade to Brooklyn.

Vistaprint will be the new jersey patch partner of the Boston Celtics starting this season. While estimates suggested revenue from the patches could jump up to 30% before the pandemic, some believe it could drop 20% because of COVID-19.

Question Of The Day

Do you plan on watching the 2020 NBA Draft?

 Yes   No 

Tuesday’s Answer

40% of respondents have exercised more during the last three months; 32% have exercised the same amount; and 28% have exercised less.

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