One of the most popular soccer clubs in the world, Arsenal, may be under new ownership in a short amount of time. The current owner, Stan Kroenke, has been under heavy fire from fans and those around the sport for being one of 12 teams to sign up for the European Super League (ESL).
For those that aren’t aware, the European Super League was a European club breakaway tournament, that was set to release a couple of weeks ago. However, after immense outrage, teams began to leave the project, one of them being Arsenal.
Manchester United fans gathered in their thousands outside Old Trafford on Saturday to protest over the club's involvement in the European Super League
The original agreement to the European Super League was not taken well by fans, and the subsequent exit from the new league lead to further rage. Not because people were fans of the new Super League, but just ashamed that their club would be one of the teams involved.
Earlier this week fans protested around Arsenal’s stadium concourse lighting flares and chanting “We Want Kroenke Out.”
This rage led to Spotify Co-Founder Daniel Ek tweeting that “as a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.”
As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for @Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring.
Forbes estimates Arsenal to be worth about £2.8 billion. Fans can only expect the bid to be higher than that number. So now the question at hand is if Stan Kroenke is willing to walk away from this team?
Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek says he has 'secured the funds' to takeover Arsenal and will now present a 'very compelling offer' to owners Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke to buy the club. pic.twitter.com/JLWskeOHU1
Kroenke is not just the owner of the Los Angeles Rams and other U.S. sports teams. He is an American businessman, where still the bottom line is always money. Arsenal supporters rightly see him as an outsider, caring more about profits than the history and sanctity of the club.
Stan’s son, Josh Kroenke, said “I am not willing to answer that question because we have no intention of selling.” Kroenke Sports Entertainment has also said adamantly they are “not selling.”
This whole situation seems to be coming to a head very soon, as a bid is expected to be placed in the next two weeks.
#Kroenkeout?
From an outsider’s point of view it seems that Kroenke will not walk away from this team.
It also seems that Kroenke has a lot of pride and is not willing to have his reputation with Arsenal fans be as negative as it is right now. He wants to right the ship, and he wants that to happen under his command. With that being said, money does talk.
All we can do is wait for the offer to be made, and see what is more important to Kroenke: money or reputation.
We are now about a month into the baseball season. MLB storylines are teeming with intrigue and excitement.
We had 60 games last season, but this year we get 162. And being that we are only a month into the season, a lot can still change. Still, there have definitely been many storylines, both good and bad that have swept through the MLB.
Let’s revisit the ones that have had the most effect on the young MLB season, and the ones that are sure to continue as the marathon rages on.
It has been a major struggle for the Bronx Bombers on every side of the diamond: defensively, offensively and pitching-wise.
As things sit currently, the Yankees have the second-worst record in the American League and the third-worst in all of the MLB. Yankees fans have been shocked at the putrid start to this season, hoping, praying for a clutch hit, a player to show some emotion, or a pitcher to go further than 5 innings.
Going into this season for the Yanks, they were expected to be one of the top 5 teams in baseball. They have a stacked lineup, and if everything goes right a solid rotation, and a very good bullpen. However, the bullpen is the only aspect that has played up to that expectation.
They have a group batting average of .205, which ranks dead last in all of the American League. Also, they have a starting rotation ERA of 6.01, if you take away Gerrit Cole’s stats. And it feels like they are a team that has no desire to get better.
As mentioned, fans are clamoring to see any emotion out of their team. They want to see one of their players scream in frustration, break their bat, hit a water jug. However, right now none of that has happened, it gives off the impression to fans that they just don’t care.
The streaky Athletics
After starting the season 0-6, most fans did not blink an eye, they were supposed to be bad, but after last night’s walk-off win versus the Twins, the Athletics are now riding an 11 game winning streak. Talk about a turnaround, which just goes to show how quickly things can change in baseball.
The Athletics are now more than halfway to the 2002 Moneyball Athletics’ 20 game win streak. There are still quite a few more games the A’s would have to win to get there, but hey, you never know.
However, for the Athletics, every part of their team has rebounded. The starting pitching that started the season terribly, seems to throw a shutout or near-shutout every night. Matt Olson has been blistering to start the season, defensively and from the plate.
He has 6 home runs, which is tied for the most in the AL and is only behind Ronald Acuña across all of baseball. Of course, there is also Jed Lowrie, the player that seems to have risen from the dead.
After Lowrie only played in 9 games for the Mets over the last 2 seasons, most people did not expect much from Lowrie, but boy were they wrong. Jed Lowrie is currently batting .323, with 2 homers and 14 RBIs, not to mention a .916 OPS.
Now, all this can quickly change for the boys out in Oakland, but for right now, just enjoy the success for however long it lasts.
The Red Sox’s surprisingly hot start
Going into the season, the expectation was that the Red Sox would have a pretty horrible season, and after an opening series sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, it seemed to be an accurate expectation.
However, like the Athletics, things quickly changed. The Red Sox suddenly won 9 straight games, putting them atop of the AL East.
The reasons for their success are largely Rafael Devers, JD Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and the small ball hitting.
While these 3 players have been the linchpin to the Red Sox offense, the whole lineup has been an amazing success. This lineup is not focused on the home runs, but instead on timely hitting, and stringing together line drives.
Of course, from time to time they hit one out of the park, but they have been a very successful small-ball lineup. Thus, the team has been one of the biggest storylines of this young MLB season.
Shohei Ohtani: The next Babe Ruth
Shohei Ohtani has been on fire to start the season, both offensively and pitching. Yes, for those that don’t know, Ohtani is both a pitcher and hitter, and a great one at both.
Although the pitching has been amazing, what Ohtani has been able to do as a hitter is worth great note. In 15 games, Ohtani has a stat line that reads: 5 homers, 13 RBIs, .310 BA, and a 1.044 OPS. He has been one of the best hitters in baseball, along with being a top-of-the-line starter.
Simply insane.
Fernando Tatis Jr. starting slow
In a season where a lot of superstar players have started off the season slow, the same can be said for the recently 14-year, $340-million extended Fernando Tatis Jr.
You look at that number and expect to see jaw-dropping numbers every time he plays, but so far this season Tatis is batting a measly .154 batting average, and has made some mistakes defensively.
Tatis did suffer a pretty scary injury to start the season. Tatis had been dealing with some shoulder discomfort, which got worse after he “slightly” tore his labrum against the Giants earlier this season.
The idea of surgery had been thrown around baseball after he left the game, but luckily it was not necessary. However one thing is for sure, Tatis is not playing like his usual self. Could that be because of this shoulder injury? Only time will tell on this giant MLB storyline.
A lot of MLB storylines, a lot more baseball to go
We could have highlighted Ronald Acuña Jr. We could have also analyzed the Dodgers’ chances of repeating based on what we’ve seen so far. And a whole lot more.
The point is, there are tons of storylines that have already made up the early MLB season.
As we push into the end of April, fans must realize that there are many more months of baseball to play.
So whether your team or favorite player has started off blistering hot, or cold as cold can be, know that there are still months to go.
And what sets baseball most apart from other sports, is that when a team gets hot at the right time, there’s no telling what they can do.
Although a lot of people watch sports for the entertainment of the game, others follow sports for those behind the camera. Athlete and creator pairings show the world the delightful results when creatively inclined professionals link up.
And there are few bigger stages than sports venues.
There are countless creators across the sports world that show the beauty in the sport and the lives of the athletes outside of it. Highlighted in this article are the pairings between five players and creators across the sports universe.
Less than 20 weeks ago, Carmelo Anthony started an online workshop. Subscribers take online courses and get lessons from some of the best in the basketball industry. Whether it be shooting lessons, or learning about the free agency mill from Shams Charania himself, Through the Lens offers all of these lessons.
David Sosna has become one of the key photographers for the site. He is also one of the main people that helped to launch Through the Lens, roughly 18 weeks ago.
Sosna is also a content producer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. His work allows him to work not just with Carmelo Anthony, but Trae Young, and countless other athletes in the Cleveland area.
Trae Young, obviously a great young NBA talent, has had quite a few shots taken by photographer and overall internet superstar Countonvic.
Countonvic actually helped shoot Trae Young for his series with Through the Lens. His specific episode helped teach subscribers some key abilities in basketball.
Here is more on the ever-inspiring content creator:
We have seen quite a few professional athletes dive into the creator space, and one of those athletes is no other than Russell Wilson.
Back in 2014, he founded West2East Empire, which is a brand management and production company, that focuses on strategic storytelling.
Daniel Mogg, an outstanding sports photographer, serves as the Chief Creative Officer for the organization. He has become a key member of Russell Wilson’s team and has been helping to build Wilson’s brand from just about the beginning of Wilson’s career.
Derrick Spencer highlighted this doubt in the above photo. As the caption says “silence the doubters,” and Murray has definitely done that. An athlete and creator pairing that will always inspire and motivate.
After a blockbuster trade sent Adams to the Seahawks, Adams did not play up to his value in most people’s eyes.
This provided a unique opportunity for Rod Mar to try and capture the disappointment that a great personality like Jamal must have felt throughout last season’s campaign.
Still, Adams is never one to count out. Look for this star athlete to have a comeback season and for the other part of the pairing, creator Rod Mar to capture it in every luscious detail.
Over the past few years, diversity in the workplace has become a mainstay issue that all companies have had to rightly address. In sports management, like in other fields, diversity is not as often strived towards as it is spoken about.
Countless studies, and simply the eye test tells us that white males are given benefits in the workplace. For years, this bias flew under the radar, simply ignored by many. However, this problem of diversity has become common everywhere, including in the world of sports management.
A lack of diversity in sports management
Countless examples exist that continue to show this bias in the world of sports. We have Steve Nash, getting the head coach position of the Brooklyn Nets without any coaching experience.
Then, both the offensive coordinators of the two Superbowl teams: Eric Bieniemy of the Chiefs, and Byron Leftwich of the Buccanneers, not being hired as head coaches during this year’s offseason stand as additional examples.
Those are only a few of the many instances where there seems to be an unwritten bias against those of minority descent in the workplaces of the major sports leagues.
However, there are some key people throughout professional sports that have broken through to top positions. And while there is still more work to do with diversity in sports management, these five people deserve their flowers for rising in a system that is made more difficult for them to prosper.
Kim Ng – General Manager of the Miami Marlins
Kim Ng shows off the World Series ring she won with the Yankees in 1998. Today, Ng is baseball’s highest-ranking female executive. (Photo courtesy of Bryce Duffy/Getty Images)
She has worked with a variety of different teams: Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and also even the commissioner’s office for Major League Baseball.
It took a while for her to finally be able to break the glass ceiling as there were many a job that she had been passed on, with the likely reason being that she was a female.
Ms. Ng is now the only female in a GM role throughout all of professional sports, but she knows she will not be the last.
Dave Roberts – Head Coach of the LA Dodgers
Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiles before the start of the National League Divisional Series game three against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 9, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
He started his career in baseball after playing outfield for 10 years with a variety of teams, and then was hired as a coach for the San Diego Padres before getting his position with the Dodgers.
Roberts has had a very successful career, that is primed to continue with the Dodgers expected to be a great team this year. Already on his resume are World Series births in 2017, 2018, and an ultimate crown in 2020.
Erik Spoelstra – Head Coach of Miami Heat
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat during a game against the Boston Celtics in Orlando, September 19, 2020. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)
Spoelstra is of Filipino descent on his mother’s side.
Spoelstra started his time with the Miami Heat back in 2001, where he served as an assistant coach and head of scouting until 2008.
He has since made 5 NBA Finals appearances and has won 2 championships in those years 2012 and 2013.
Jason Wright – President of Washington Football Team
Jason Wright speaking to others on the Washington Football Team. (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
Jason Wright is of African American heritage and was hired last season to be the president of the Washington Football Team. He became the first NFL president of African American heritage.
Touted as a “business wiz,” he has been tasked with turning around a team in turmoil. The team formerly known as the Washington Redskins, a team owned by Daniel Snyder, who has quite a few sexual harassment allegations against him, and a team whose talent is currently not the best.
Masai Ujiri – President of Basketball Operations of the Toronto Raptors
Masai Ujiri speaking to reporters. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Ujiri is of Nigerian descent and was hired by the Toronto Raptors as President and GM in 2013. He’s had a long career throughout different positions in NBA front offices, which culminated in his current job with the Toronto Raptors.
He has become a coveted front office executive, with the likes of the New York Knicks and also other big-market franchises hoping they could pry him out of Toronto. He won a championship with the Raptors in 2019, which at the current moment has still been the peak of Ujiri’s career.
The first of many in diversity in sports management
These are a few of the select people of minority descent that have broken through the glass ceiling of professional sports.
We can only hope that these few people will be the first, but not last, who continue to get the roles they deserve.
The 2021 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and storylines are already being written in invisible ink.
The next couple of weeks will be filled with the final mock drafts, teams deciphering their needs, and maybe a few more trades.
However, one thing is for sure. This year’s NFL draft, perhaps more even than in past years, will change the landscape of the entire NFL.
Most common NFL Draft storyline: The coming of Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars
In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, in Clemson, S.C. Lawrence is a candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Without having to do much, the club down in Jacksonville will be the biggest winners of the 2021 NFL draft. Simply, this is one of the easiest decisions in draft history.
Lawrence comes out of Clemson with an insane track record, and even more insane talent, which is why he is a lock to go No. 1 to the Jaguars. The only way Jacksonville can go wrong here is if the experts have all been wrong about Lawrence.
We have seen in the past, amazing college talents becoming professional busts. The Jaguars are hoping that is not the case in Lawrence, as they try to fill a whole, that has been void in their lineup for years.
What will the Jets do with Sam Darnold?
New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. (Bill Kostroun/AP)
The Jets were one of those teams that thought they hit a home run when they drafted Sam Darnold a few years back. But his talent has not transferred to the big leagues…as of yet. He was a player touted by many experts to be the next “big thing,” but it just hasn’t happened.
Many believe that Sam still has amazing potential, and it really comes down to the position he is put in. And many believe the Jets are not the right team.
Some look at the talent the Jets have placed around him, some look at the coaching staff(s). And some look at both together, and logically come to the conclusion that Sam Darnold was not dealt the best card in the deck.
Those two reasons combined with Sam Darnold not playing well with the Jets and teams still believing in Darnold’s talent, makes most believe that the Jets will move on from Sam and trade him to another team. However, there are even more complications.
Although teams may still have interest in Darnold, a deal would still need to be reached that is good for both sides. Originally, the Jets hoped to receive a first-round pick for Darnold, then reports came out that they would probably only get a second-round pick…and then it became a third-round pick.
So for the Jets, are they willing to hand another team their star for a measly third round pick? Or do they still see potential in Darnold and give him another chance? This is a massive NFL storyline heading into the draft.
The Jets’ love affair with Zach Wilson
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson throws a pass against Troy during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
Jets fans have been through a lot this past season, and here they are again in one of the biggest storylines before the NFL Draft.
For a large part of the season, it seemed the Jets would take home the first overall pick in the NFL draft, and get Trevor Lawrence.
However, after some late-season wins, and the continued losses by the Jaguars, the green and white missed out on a once-in-a-generation talent. This was a tough pill to swallow for Jets fans.
Focus then shifted to a possible trade between the Jets and the Houston Texans, who were looking to move their disgruntled young QB Deshaun Watson, which could end up being an even bigger prize as compared to Lawrence.
Jets fans went crazy, they knew their team had the draft capital and money to trade for Watson, but would the team be willing to let go of all this draft capital.
However as time wore on, sexual assault allegations against Deshaun Watson, and a “love affair” between Jets general manager Joe Douglas and Zach Wilson, made an acquisition of Watson very unlikely.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Sunday Nov. 5, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Recently, the 49ers agreed to trade their 2021, 2022, and 2023 first-round picks, plus a third-round pick in 2022, for the Dolphins’ 3rd overall pick in the NFL draft.
That’s a big price to pay for the 3rd overall pick, so why would the 49ers do it? Well, the answer is clear, they are looking for a new QB. Jimmy G’s situation with the 49ers has become one of the biggest storylines heading into the NFL Draft.
It is expected that both Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will be off the board at the 3rd pick. This would leave the 49ers with their choice of Mac Jones and Justin Fields.
Early indications were that the 49ers are leaning to them taking Mr. Jones. But after a subpar pro day, the 49ers have a tough decision to make.
With that being said, it is obvious the 49ers are looking to move on from Garoppolo, but at what cost?
It is believed that the team is seeking a first-round pick for their QB. Coach Kyle Shanahan has been adamant that Jimmy is in their immediate future, but is that just a smokescreen? Only time, and the NFL Draft, will tell.
The biggest NFL Draft storyline: What is going to happen with Deshaun Watson?
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is accused of sexual assault and harassment in civil lawsuits filed by 21 women. (Photograph: Eric Christian Smith/AP
The Deshaun Watson situation has been the key story of the NFL offseason. Without going into too much detail about Watson and the Texans, Watson is disgruntled after his opinion was not considered when the Texans picked their new GM, leading to Watson wanting out of Houston.
The Texans have been adamant that they will not trade their young-star QB. However, the story has gotten more interesting after 21 civil lawsuits have been filed against Watson for inappropriate conduct and sexual assault. Now we have the most insane storyline before the NFL Draft.
One thing is true: these lawsuits have added another piece to the puzzle for the Texans and Watson.
Most people believe that if the Texans were offered a trade they couldn’t refuse, they would be willing to trade away Watson. However, the question now is can the Texans even get a good offer for Watson. Many believe they still can.
With all this being said, it seems like the Texans are in the market for a new young QB, so do they make a Watson trade on draft day (or before), to get the necessary draft capital?
The 2021 NFL Draft will have a huge impact for the future of the NFL, this season and beyond.
As a Mets fan, this is an article I have been looking forward to writing. All MLB fans have been starving from the lack of baseball. MLB fans were lucky enough to have a season last year, but it was only 60 games, so this season in 2021, Mets and MLB fans alike can rejoice that we get the full 162.
Those 162 games will be fun for all baseball fans, but for Mets fans in 2021, it will be on a whole other level. We have a new owner, a new franchise player, and World Series aspirations. Let’s go through the 5 things Mets fans have to look forward to this season.
Mets are back in black in 2021
David Wright and Jose Reyes talk during game. (Mark L. Baer/US Presswire)
2012 was a tough year for Mets fans, not because of the 74-88 record, but instead because that was the year that the Mets phased out the classic black jerseys. The replacement was a – may I say- horrid off-white/cream jersey.
If the Mets had a better season that year, I may have had a different opinion on them. But I will never understand why in the world this was considered a good replacement for the black jerseys.
As mentioned above, all jerseys have a reputation behind them with how the team performed in them. Yes, most years in the 21st century have been disappointing and simply not good for the Mets.
But 2006, 2006 was the year Mets fans remember. Mets finished the 2006 season with a record of 97-65, and you can’t look up the 2006 season, without seeing David Wright smiling in his black Mets jersey.
Empty seats at Citi Field in the third inning as the New York Yankees and Mets play an exhibition game July 18, 2020. It was a prelude to the opening game of the shortened season (Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)
This is something all fans of all teams can get pumped for, a return of fans to their home parks. Although this may be an exciting part of the season for all fans, there is no way I couldn’t include this. There are so many reasons to be excited about this: a sign of normalcy, a sign of health, no more fake crowd noise, and being able to watch the Mets in person.
The first two reasons are obvious. Fans coming back into the stadium begins the process of recovery, as vaccines become more and more available, we can finally start to enjoy life again. 2020 and the beginning of 2021 were tough for everyone, but normal life may finally be coming back to the world we all live in.
Honestly, the fake crowd noise last year was not terrible, it made baseball seem as normal as possible. There were moments last season where it seemed like there were fans in the stands, but then SNY would show the empty stands, which would put everything back into perspective.
However this year, we get to see real fans back in the stands, the noise will be less obstructive, and trust me Mets fans can fill out a stadium without it being full.
Fans that do go to the games will be able to experience baseball in person again, which is something most took for granted. However, I don’t think anyone will be taking anything for granted in the immediate future.
Another deGrominant season
Jacob deGrom pitching in Spring Training (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Jacob deGrom. (that is all).
Just joking, but in all honesty, I could have left it there and fans would have understood. Jacob deGrom is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in baseball and is somehow getting better. He put on an absolute show in spring training.
He pitched to an ERA of 0.66, oh, and did I forget to say he hit 102 on the radar gun a few times during spring training. In his first start, his fastballs sat at 100-102 mph, which is simply amazing.
Not to mention that when he broke into the league in 2014 he threw his fastball at 94 mph. That’s an increase of basically 6 mph, as he mostly pitched to 100 mph on his fastballs throughout spring training.
With how deGrom has pitched in past years, and how he pitched in spring training, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be dominant again this season.
A resurgent Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso rounds the bases after hitting his 53rd home run of the season. (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)
Pete Alonso truly broke into the league in 2019, where he hit a rookie record 53 home runs, with 120 RBIs. Not to mention winning Rookie of the Year, and the Home Run Derby. Polar Bear Pete was on a whole other level in 2019, which had many looking forward to his 2020 campaign.
Unfortunately, 2020 was a different year than 2019, for everyone, but in this case, for Pete Alonso and his offensive production. He hit a respectable 16 HRs, but his batting average left a lot to be desired for, only batting .231, a far cry from the .260 avg in 2020.
Alonso feeds off the fans, and with no fans in the stands last season, we could tell he was different. However, fans are back, which means Alonso can play off of them, which is a huge part of his game. Not to mention, he had an electric spring training.
In 18 games he hit to a .340 batting average, with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs. For those wondering, that statline transformed to a 162 game season would be 36 home runs with 144 RBIs.
Mr. Smile is here to stay with the Mets beyond 2021
Francisco Lindor puts on his batting helmet. (Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports)
Mr. Smile. Who is that you may ask? That is, of course, Francisco Lindor, the superstar Steve Cohen and the Mets traded for to start the offseason and extended for a decade to end the offseason.
Francisco Lindor is an all-in-all superstar, the likes of which has never played in front of the orange and blue fandom that are the NY Mets fans.
An all-star from 2016-2019, a 2x gold glover, a 2x silver slugger is set to play for the Mets during his prime, for 10 years. Mets fans got what we have been waiting for, the player that takes us over the top, a player that makes the Mets truly an amazin’ team.
The idea that we will be watching this guy for 10 more seasons, is something that I may never be able to comprehend.
Who can we thank for this Mets excitement in 2021?
Steve Cohen makes his introduction at Citi Field (NY Mets)
Uncle Stevie. Steve Cohen. The 14 Billion Dollar Man.
For those not familiar Fred and Jeff Wilpon, the former majority owners of the Mets never spent big bucks on the Mets. A $300 million dollar contract was something no Met fan could fathom under the Wilpons, but under Steve Cohen it is now something we can expect.
Ever since Yankees legend Derek Jeter retired, his off-the-field business endeavors have been just as impressive as his work was on the field.
Growing up a New York sports fan, I could not go anywhere without hearing the name Derek Jeter. As a Mets fan, I couldn’t wait until people stopped talking about Jeter, and when he retired after the 2014 season, I finally got my wish. Well… at least I thought.
You see, I was hoping Jeter would fade away like a lot of other sports legends. They do an interview here and there, they receive great honors from time to time, but their names are not heard as much.
But Derek Jeter has become a great entrepreneur, businessman, and charitable man after his 20-year baseball career in the Bronx. Here are a few of the legend’s impressive business endeavors.
CEO and part-owner of the Miami Marlins
JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Derek Jeter, CEO of the Miami Marlins speaks with the media at the Miami Marlins spring training complex at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 24, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Back in the summer of 2017, Derek Jeter took on the role of CEO for the Miami Marlins. Since then, Jeter has had some highs and some lows in this new business.
In his tenure, he has made trades that led to some big names leaving the Marlins. They include Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, and J.T. Realmuto.
These are some big names that Jeter decided to trade. And they put him on the bad side of many Marlins fans. However, fans must understand that being at the helm of a major league baseball team is complicated, and often requires unpopular opinions.
The Marlins did receive some nice young pieces in these deals that could turn out to be great baseball players. Only time will tell. But Derek Jeter’s business prowess is in breaking the mold. He did this by hiring Kim Ng as the team’s General Manager. Ng is the first woman to assume the role in MLB history.
Founder of The Players’ Tribune
Derek Jeter says he is excited for his site The Players’ Tribune to move into audio. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The Players’ Tribune)
An accomplishment of Jeter’s that cannot be questioned, is when he founded The Player’s Tribune in 2014.
The Players’ Tribune, for those that are unfamiliar, is a media platform that produces pieces written and created by professional athletes. Everyone from Russell Wilson to Danica Patrick has been a part of the Tribune.
This media conglomerate truly is one of the best “inventions” in this new social media world. It gives fans a first-hand experience into the lives of the players they admire. As a business, Derek Jeter’s brainchild has some room to grow. But as a creation, it is nothing short of genius.
Truly, the only way a site like this would have worked is by having a legend be at the helm, and that legend was Derek Jeter.
Founder of the Turn 2 Foundation
Derek Jeter hosted the 18th annual Turn 2 Foundation Dinner at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on June 1, raising more than $1 million for the organization’s youth initiatives. (Photo by Eileen M. Barroso).
Derek Jeter and his father, Charles Jeter founded the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996, with the hopes of helping children turn away from the lifestyles of drugs and alcohol and “turn 2” a healthy lifestyle.
Derek Jeter has been at the helm of this incredible foundation since its start. Over its 25 year history, this foundation has donated more than $30 million.
Other charitable ventures/business for Derek Jeter
The Turn 2 Foundation aims to help teens live a healthy, alcohol and drug-free life. (WWMT/ Courtesy of Turn 2 Foundation)
As you can tell from his foundation and what other’s say about him throughout the sports world, Jeter is a very charitable guy.
In July 2019, Jeter donated $2.5 million to the Kalamazoo School District to help them renovate their baseball and softball facilities.
From 2009, until its eventual buyout, Derek Jeter was an ambassador for the organization Weplay. Weplay was an online body for young athletes and their families. Derek Jeter was a part of many events and initiatives completed by Weplay.
It is truly remarkable what Derek Jeter has done with his business endeavors since he retired. Perhaps even more impressive has been his altruistic tendencies. GOATs are not born, but rather made. And Jeter truly sets a new standard for what it takes to be more than an athlete.
NFL contracts are set to boom with the league’s new $110 billion dollar TV deal, and some of the contracts in the coming years will likely be the highest in league history.
However, huge contracts have been given out throughout the past decade. So let us go through some of the biggest NFL contracts (or paydays, yearly) in league history.
Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings: $40 million (2020)
Kirk Cousins poses with his new jersey along with, from left, Coach Mike Zimmer, General Manager Rick Spielman and owner Mark Wilf on Thursday. (Jim Mone/AP)
I’m going to try to hold my personal opinions on these contracts to a minimum in this article. However, Kirk Cousins never deserved a $40 million contract. But he did get one in 2020.
NFL league history has perhaps never seen such an average player garner such a massive contract.
Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs: $40 million (2018)
Alex Smith getting ready to let it fly (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
We are going to see the Chiefs on this list again soon. But in 2018 the Chiefs handed out $40 million to Smith.
Interestingly enough, this money was paid by the Washington Football team, at the time the Washington Redskins. This was after the Redskins traded for Smith, so they could move on from the aforementioned Kirk Cousins.
The Chiefs decided to move on from Alex Smith after one of his best years in the NFL. Why? Well because they had future MVP Patrick Mahomes on the bench. Also, because Smith never faired well in the playoffs and it was seen as the right moment to move on.
Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints: $40 million (2012)
Brees gets ready for a playoff game in New Orleans (Gerald Herbert/AP)
Drew Brees, who just recently retired, signed one of the biggest contracts in NFL History in 2012, when he signed a 5 year, $100 million contract. This made him the first $20 million-a-year player in the history of the NFL.
I assume some are confused while reading this because $40 million in 2012, isn’t $20 million as I had said in the previous sentence. Well, how many contracts work in sports is that they are frontloaded (signing bonus).
This means that while the average for the contract is $20 million each year, the Saints gave Brees a higher percentage of the contract in 2012, as an incentive.
Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons: $44.8 million (2019)
Matt Ryan letting it fly (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Ryan, a quarterback that may be on the move this offseason, has always been held in high regard. However, the past 5 years or so have been filled with bad luck for the Falcons and Ryan.
We all know the heroics of the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. But, the Falcons have found themselves all too familiar with heartbreaking losses. The constant heart-ache has led the once-beloved quarterback to be on the fringes of the team.
However, not too long ago Ryan was given a ginormous contract. This was because the Falcons still had hope they could make one more run.
Recent futility now has the Falcons in a rebuilding stage. And a 35-year-old QB doesn’t make sense for a rebuilding team.
Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs: $45 million (2020)
Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. (Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
10 years, $450 million.
That is the contract the Chiefs signed with Mahomes in July of 2020. If this was an article about the biggest contracts in NFL history, Mahomes would jump to the top. However, in terms of most per year Mahomes lands at #5.
We cannot ignore the talent Mahomes has. After the disappointing loss to the Buccaneers in this year’s Super Bowl, the sky is still the limit for Patrick Mahomes. If injury’s don’t derail his career Mahomes may end his career as the best quarterback the world has ever seen.
Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions: $51.1 million (2017)
Matthew Stafford was then the NFL’s highest-paid player. (AJ Mast/AP)
Matthew Stafford was supposed to be the one to lead the Lions to the promised land. He was always loyal to the Lions and had been through rebuild after rebuild with Detroit.
However, he was also loyal because they paid him to be with a massive NFL contract, racking up $225 million over his 12-year career, all 12 spent in Detroit thus far.
Now, after a blockbuster trade, he will play his first game for a different team, the Los Angeles Rams, who sent away their young QB Jarred Goff. You have to be a pretty outstanding quarterback for a team to risk their future, but many believe that Stafford is just that guy.
Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks: $53 million (2020)
Russell Wilson locked in (OTTO GREULE JR / GETTY IMAGES)
The former 3rd round pick ranks #3 in biggest paydays, for good reason. Russel Wilson was in no way touted to be the player he is today. The gritty, go-get-them attitude is what has Wilson in the place he is today, oh and of course his clutch plays that seem to come too easy for him.
Even though he may soon be moving on from the Seahawks, most soon expect an even bigger payday, as he just gets better and better year in and year out.
Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers: $66.9 million (2018)
Aaron Rodgers celebrating in his signature style (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Rodgers, last year’s MVP, always finds himself at the top of the charts for best in the league, and that is why he has had the second-biggest payday in league history. Rodgers, who some say has more talent than Tom Brady, seems to just continue to get better and better.
Although the talent is for sure there, in recent years Aaron Rodgers has seemed to not be able to take the Packers over the hump and get them back to the promised land.
Although it may sound unfair, you would think that 16 years of Aaron Rodgers would net more than 1 Super Bowl appearance.
Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys: $75 million (2021)
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Last year started off extremely well for Prescott as he was heavily involved in the MVP discussions. However, a terrible ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, leaving the Cowboys with… well, Andy Dalton.
Many weren’t sure if this injury would have an impact on a contract extension. Jerry Jones, it seemed, wasn’t sure if he wanted to open his pockets for his young quarterback, but he definitely did.
NFL yearly contracts change the perception of league history
One of the most fun times of the year for sports fans isn’t when the season starts, but instead during free agency. It is a time of hope, that your team will put together an amazing offseason, get that huge star and change the future of the team.
However, it is also a very fun period for some of the league’s best, who garner huge contracts. And currently, the NFL is in that free agency period.
The NFL and its new deal means the league is flush with cash. Thus, teams will be too. Look for superstars, and even average quarterbacks, to soon garner even loftier NFL contracts than we have ever seen before.
Women athletes deal with obstacles most fans don’t even think of. Childbirth, indoctrinated beauty standards, and family issues are just several things often prevalent in a woman athlete’s life.
In the world of professional athletes, the focus is often on men. This is just simply the case, beyond the top-tier of women athletes.
While it is often true that many men have the upper hand in popularity, there is no denying that female athletes offer amazing moments and highlights year after year.
These highlights, unfortunately, tend to get buried under other sports moments, and simply do not get the respect they deserve. But in these three instances, women athletes overcame obstacles to light the sports world on fire.
A shining moment of women athletes overcoming obstacles: Serena Williams wins the 2007 Australian Open
Serena Williams pulls off an upset and is filled with excitement. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)
When you think of Serena Williams what comes to mind? Success? Passion? Excitement? Dedication? All of those are right, but from 2005 to 2006 we were introduced to a different Serena.
The early 2000s were tough years for Williams. She lost her oldest sister and tennis assistant to gang-related violence, and was lost in the dark shadow of depression. Her successes quickly turned into failure after failure, dropping all the way to No. 140 in the world tennis rankings according to ESPN.
She lost the dedication to the sport she had so much passion for. It seemed that the tennis world had lost one of the greatest.
However, a letter from Chris Evert, a former world #1 player, asking her to recommit to tennis, and a few charity trips to Africa seemed to light a fire in Serena.
In 2007 she worked hard to get into shape for the Australian Open, and boy did she shock the world. Ranking 81st worldwide and unseeded in the Open, Serena made it all the way to finals and faced Maria Sharapova, another legend in the tennis world.
And guess what she did? She won and didn’t stop there. She won doubles with her sister Venus at the 2008 Bejing Olympics. And then went onto win her 3rd US Open title a few weeks later.
We see Serena as the GOAT, most of us. But we have to remember the extreme obstacles she had to overcome, like women athletes everywhere, to reach the top of the mountain.
US Women’s national soccer team wins the World Cup in 2019
The U.S. team soaks in adulation at a ticker-tape parade in New York City on July 10John Lamparski (WireImage/Getty Images)
The US women’s soccer team had previously won 3 World Cups: 1991, 1999, and 2015. Obviously winning a World Cup is a great accomplishment. But this is not the focus of how this Womens’ soccer team shocked the world in 2019.
In 2019, the USWNT faced some light competition which culminated in their World Cup win. However, the biggest competition came from leadership in America. Megan Rapinoe began to take on a bigger name than just a soccer player, she became the centerpiece of a movement.
Rapinoe, an LGBTQ woman, made her voice heard in response to the discrimination she and her other teammates faced in America. She also voiced her displeasure with leadership in the White House, saying that she would not visit the White House with Donald Trump in charge.
This was the first of a sequence of spats between her and President Trump.
Her biggest calling card, which became the focus of the USWNT, was the movement for equal pay between men and women. Most readers know of the astounding wage gap, between men and women, that exists in America, which definitely applies to USWNT.
In a time where political unrest was prominent in America, Rapinoe and her soccer team’s counterpart road the wave of changes happening in America.
Ultimately no real change was made as a result of Rapinoe and her counterparts, but the 2019 US Womens’ Soccer Team helped the equal pay movement take a huge step forward.
Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams (2018)
Naomi Osaka lifts up her US Open trophy (NYTimes)
Back in 2018, Naomi Osaka, the now 23-year-old superstar, rose to the headlines of the tennis world after beating Serena Williams in a pretty contentious match.
The battle between Williams and the line judge was the big storyline, but for the purpose of this article, the bigger storyline was the 21-year-old beating the all-time great.
At the end of the match, when Osaka was crowned champion, fans booed, it was no slight at Osaka, but instead a nod to how much they were rooting for Serena.
Naomi Osaka was essentially against the world in this one, and came out on top, winning a US Open at the age of 21. Now that is something that will always shock the world.
Women athletes overcome obstacles most men wouldn’t ever know about
Gender is a societal construct. Women and men are placed into boxes by societal standards.
This is commonplace in sports also. Women are expected to behave in a lady-like manner. Men are expected to not cry.
But ultimately, women athletes are also dealing with a plethora of obstacles they need to overcome. Obstacles most of us fans do not even know about until afterwards.
These women consistently inspire us, and we can do them a service by remembering all that they have to overcome.
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game was, of course, different from any other all-star game in the past. And the NBA All-Star photos were consequently the same.
Still, although there weren’t fans at this All-Star Game, the NBA’s best showed off their athleticism and insane basketball skills. Giannis Antetokounmpo won the MVP, and Steph Curry and Damian Lillard put on a 3-point shooting clinic.
When I was sitting watching All-Star Sunday, I became nostalgic for All-Star Weekends in the past.
So to cure this sadness, let’s go through some of the best moments of past NBA All-Star games. There is no order, these are just some of the best NBA All-Star photos that we will remember forever.
LeBron and Giannis star in this iconic NBA All-Star photo
LeBron and Giannis with even more stars behind them in the 2020 NBA All-Star game (via @kingjames
LeBron having a bounce-back MVP-caliber season with the Lakers as the one seed. The two biggest stars in the game facing off, and the game came down to the wire.
And then came this spectacular NBA All-Star photo, as LeBron and Giannis are gazed upon by the biggest stars the entertainment world has to offer. Thus, this is one of the most iconic NBA All-Star photos of all time.
Michael Jordan flies to greatness
Jordan flies from the free-throw line, to throw down his famous “free throw” line dunk. (Bleacher Report)
Although this list will primarily be the actual All-Star Games, there is just no ignoring what Michael Jordan did in the 1988 event. Not to mention this All-Star Weekend was in his own Chicago.
His weekend started off with a jaw-dropping slam dunk performance and ultimate win, highlighted by his free throw line dunk. A dunk that will never cease to be a highlight.
Then during the All-Star Game, he came out on the winning side notching 40 points and winning the ASG MVP. This NBA All-Star photo will live on in basketball lore forever.
Shaq disrespects David Robinson
Shaq dunks on Duncan Robinson (NBA)
On his home court no less. In 1996, Shaq came into David Robinson’s San Antonio and completely stole the show, with a stat line of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Players can have good games, but the dunk he laid on David Robinson’s face was one for the highlight reel. Just an insane act of athleticism and brute strength.
And consequently, an insane NBA All-Star photo we will always remember.
Allen Iverson steals the show
Allen Iverson maneuvers his way for a layup against Kobe Bryant (NBA.com)
Most All-Star Games have no play style to them. They are filled with dunks, highlight plays, but a clear lack of rhythm. There is rarely defense and games in the clutch.
However in 2001, Allen Iverson wanted to win, and wanted to win bad.
He was always the David to the NBAs Goliath and had to continually prove he was one of the best. Well, after his side fell behind big in the fourth quarter, he scored 15 of his 25 points to give his side the win 111-110!
Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star game
LeBron James gets ready to guard Kobe Bryant (NBA)
There have always been “lasts” in the sports world, and in the NBA we have had legend after legend complete in their final All-Star games, which are all great moments. However, Kobe’s last ASG now holds the most weight.
The late, great NBA legend Kobe Bryant played his final ASG in 2016. He was playing against other greats throughout the NBA that all looked up to him growing up, and now he was moving on.
Kobe didn’t have an amazing game, but that wasn’t the storyline, he was saying goodbye to basketball, which is what everyone came to watch.
NBA All Stars make iconic photos
Ultimately, when you have dozens of All-Star games to chose from, it can be hard to narrow down a few moments.
But there is an intense feel to every one of these photos, that resonates beyond the pictures themselves. Even more, for those who bore witness to these All-Star moments, I bet they can remember how they feel because of these photos.
