[1] On November 15, a consortium of investors filed a class-action lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, along with several high-profile athletes and Hollywood celebrities, including seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, tennis star Naomi Osaka, and “Seinfeld” creator... Continue Reading →
Brittney Griner’s Legal Troubles in Russia Worsen as She is Transferred to a Russian Penal Colony
[1] Brittney Griner, a WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist with the US women’s national basketball team, was detained in Russia on February 17, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.[2] Griner, one of the best women’s basketball players in the world, had been in Russia to compete for UMMC Yekaterinburg,... Continue Reading →
Montana State Senator Proposes an ESPN ‘College GameDay’ Bill
[1] Last week, Montana State Senator Ellie Boldman requested a bill be drafted with the intent of bringing ESPN’s pregame show “College GameDay” to Montana.[2] Ever since College GameDay premiered for Notre Dame-Florida State in 1993, the show has traveled across the US to different host schools each week during the college football season to... Continue Reading →
Big 12 Renews Media Rights Deal with ESPN and Fox Worth $2.28 Billion
[1] The Big 12 is finalizing a new six-year media rights package extension with its current partners, ESPN and Fox, worth $2.28 billion.[2] The Big 12 has two years remaining on its current deal, which runs through the 2024-25 season at an annual average of $220 million in its final years.[3] The new six-year extension,... Continue Reading →
19-Year-Old American Chess Grandmaster Hans Niemann Sues Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen and Others for $400 Million
[1] Last Thursday, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri, 19-year-old American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann filed a lawsuit accusing chess world champion Magnus Carlsen and others of maliciously colluding to defame him and ruining his career by blacklisting him from chess.[2] Niemann is seeking an award of at least... Continue Reading →
LeBron James’ son, Bronny, Headlines Nike’s Latest NIL Deals
[1] Nike Basketball announced last Monday that it has inked NIL endorsement contracts with five well-recognized high school and college basketball players including three top high school prospects – Juju Watkins, Bronny James, and DJ Wagner – and two standout women’s college basketball players — Stanford’s Haley Jones and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.[2] In 2021, all... Continue Reading →
NBA Superstars LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Love Buy a Major League Pickleball Team
[1] Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love headline the ownership group of a Major League Pickleball team.[2] The athletes are joined by James’ business partner Maverick Carter, their family office LRMR Ventures, the investment firm SC Holdings, Relevent Sports Group co-owner and CEO... Continue Reading →
Judge Declares Pittsburgh’s “Jock Tax” For Professional Athletes Unconstitutional
[1] Last week, Allegheny County Judge Christine Ward struck down a fee levied by the City of Pittsburgh against visiting professional athletes’ wages, calling the fee an unconstitutional tax under Pennsylvania law.[2] The fee was originally challenged in court in November 2019, spearheaded by three athletes, including New York Islanders right-winger Kyle Palmieri, former Pittsburgh... Continue Reading →
Oxford Pennant Accuses New Era Cap Company of Using Its “Shout!” Design
[1] Oxford Pennant, a designer and manufacturer of pennants, flags, and banners located in Buffalo, New York[2], has accused fellow Buffalo-based company New Era Cap Company of using a “Shout!” logo that Oxford Pennant claims it designed and has been selling for the last two years since 2020.[3] Oxford Pennant was surprised when it saw... Continue Reading →
Robert Sarver, Owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, Suspended for One Year and Fined $10 Million for Workplace Misconduct and Organizational Deficiencies
[1] Robert Sarver, owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has been suspended for one year and fined $10 million by the NBA as a result of an investigation that was commissioned after ESPN published a story in November 2021 detailing allegations of racist, misogynistic, and hostile incidents over his nearly... Continue Reading →