Monthly Archives: August 2024

2024 ACL Pro Teams Championship Airing on CBS Sunday, September 1st

The American Cornhole League (ACL) is excited to announce that the California Slingers and Carolina Coasters, after a season of intense competition with 16 teams across two divisions and four regions, will compete head-to-head to determine the 2024 ACL Pro Teams Championship and the $100,000 grand prize. The California Slingers came out of the National Division in the West Region, while the Carolina Coasters emerged from the American Division in the South Region. The 2024 ACL Pro Teams Championship will be broadcast on Sunday, September 1st from 1:00-2:00pm EST on CBS, allowing viewers to tune in and catch all of the action. 

Since launching in 2016 the ACL has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The league’s

tagline “Anyone can play, anyone can win,” along with its ability to be played anywhere, has the league

on a fast track for success.  The ACL hosts a variety of pro and amateur events. The ACL’s strong sponsor

support includes Corn Nuts, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Pit Boss Grills and Beard Guyz and

“We’re thrilled for both the California Slingers and Carolina Coasters – they’ve been through a number of ups and downs throughout the season but came out on top and now we get to see who is going to take home the ultimate prize of the Championship and $100,000,” said Stacey Moore, Commissioner and Founder of the American Cornhole League. “We’re also delighted to partner with CBS to bring viewers at home all of the action, so they don’t miss a single toss.”

The American Cornhole League hosts competition and tournaments across the amateur, collegiate, and pro ranks with thousands of players taking part every year. For additional information on how to participate visit iplaycornhole.com.

AKTIV Against Cancer Honors Tennis Legend James Blake and Team Casper Ruud at 2024 Benefit

AKTIV Against Cancer, the organization co-founded by legendary runner Grete Waitz and Helle Aanesen, announced today that veteran tennis star, entrepreneur and philanthropist James Blake will be this year’s honoree at the tenth annual awards dinner, which will take place on August 22 at NeueHouse Madison Square, the Thursday prior to this year’s US Open. The event has generated over $500,000 in donations in the first nine years it has been held. This year’s event will be hosted by award winning broadcaster Andrew Krasny.

“James Blake is not just a world class athlete, he is a world class individual who always puts others before himself, and he embodies all we are doing with AKTIV Against Cancer,” Aanesen added. “We are honored to welcome him and his team as this year’s honoree.”

Blake won 10 titles on the ATP Tour, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4. His career highlights included reaching the final of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (beating world No. 1 Roger Federer en route), the quarterfinals of the 2008 Australian Open and 2005 and 2006 US Opens, two titles at the Hopman Cup (in 2003 and 2004) and being the American No. 1 in men’s singles. James was also a key performer for the victorious United States 2007 Davis Cup team, winning both his matches in the championship tie against Russia. In 2008, Blake was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year and retired from professional tennis at the 2013 US Open.

On the philanthropic side, The James Blake Foundation has long been dedicated to raising awareness and funding for cancer research, having donated $1.16M to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in 2019 in memory of James’ father, Thomas Blake. The James Blake Discovery Fund, under the direction of physician-scientist Ross Levine, MD, at MSK, will support cutting-edge research initiatives aimed at identifying innovative approaches to cancer prevention and early detection. With an initial pledge of $1M from the James Blake Foundation, the fund will provide crucial resources to fuel groundbreaking research in this critical area.

The James Blake Foundation recently announced a groundbreaking $1M donation to MSK aimed at advancing cancer research and prevention. Through the establishment of the James Blake Discovery Fund in Prevention and Early Interception, the two organizations are uniting their efforts to combat cancer and improve patient outcomes. Through this partnership, the James Blake Foundation and MSK are poised to drive meaningful progress in cancer prevention and interception research, bringing hope to patients and families affected by this devastating disease.

AKTIV AGAINST CANCER TO PRESENT GABE GRUNEWALD INSPIRATION AWARD TO TEAM RUUD

AKTIV is thrilled to present the Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award to Norwegian professional tennis player Casper Ruud and Team Ruud. Ruud is the first Norwegian to break into the top 10 of the ATP rankings, reaching both the French Open and US Open final in 2022. “We are proud to honor Casper and Team Ruud for their commitment to excellence and for their continuous efforts to support and promote our cause.” Helle expressed.

The Gabriele Grunewald Inspiration Award was established in 2017, when AKTIV Against Cancer paid homage to the indomitable spirit of Gabriele Grunewald. A professional runner who continued her journey despite battling cancer. Her courage has inspired many to embrace physical exercise throughout their own cancer journeys. To commemorate her legacy, AKTIV established the Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award, recognizing her unwavering mindset and advocacy in exercise oncology.

“We are deeply honored to receive this award. This recognition fuels the commitment to pushing boundaries and serving as a positive role model for others,” said Team Ruud.

For more information about AKTIV Against Cancer please visit www.aktivagainstcancer.org

$2 Million Ruth ‘Called Shot’ Jersey Heads New Auction

There have been historic Sports auctions, legendary Sports auctions, landmark Sports auctions. But there has never been anything like Heritage’s August 23-25 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, which could become the biggest Sports auction ever.

There have already been countless headlines about its centerpiece: the New York Yankees jersey Babe Ruth wore when he called his shot (or not?) against the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. The jersey, photo-matched more than any ever worn during a mythic moment, is even scheduled to return to Wrigley Field on July 23. The jersey’s $30 million estimate garners as many knowing nods as wide eyes. As Heritage’s Director of Sports, Chris Ivy, said this spring, when the jersey’s auction was first announced, “Ruth’s World Series jersey is the most significant piece of American sports memorabilia to be offered at auction in decades.”

Collectors wholeheartedly agree: Bids crossed the $10 million mark just hours after the auction opened for bidding Saturday.

But this auction’s highlights are seemingly endless, spanning jerseys worn by titans, bats swung by legends, balls smashed (and signed) by folk heroes, even the bases trodden by baseball’s home-run record-setter and an authenticated Yankees cap The Babe wore during the early 1930s. Every piece tells a story behind a statistic, conjures a memory of a milestone moment and shares its place in history with the heroes of diamonds, hardwood and gridiron.

Where even to begin? Perhaps with the virtual visit to Monument Park and the Murderers’ Row of jerseys worn by legendary Yankees — Gehrig, Mantle and DiMaggio joining Ruth — during history-making moments.

Gehrig shares this auction’s spotlight with Ruth, with whom he played more than 1,300 regular-season games. Heritage is honored to present a road Yankees jersey photo-matched to the 1938 season, which was toward the end of Gehrig’s 2,130 consecutive games-played streak.

During the back half of that year, The Iron Horse was noticeably and admittedly weakened by his yet-undiagnosed ALS. “I don’t know why,” he said toward the season’s end, “but I just couldn’t get going again.” Wrote biographer Jonathan Eig, “Though he played the entire 1938 season and helped the Yankees win the World Series, he knew something was wrong.” About a month into the 1939 season, Gehrig benched himself, never to return to the field until his immortal farewell at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939.

This jersey has been matched to three photos from The Iron Horse’s final full season.

Harlem Globetrotters Open First-Ever Pop Up Retail Location As Part of American Dream Residency

The Harlem Globetrotters today announced the launch of their first-ever brick and mortar retail location, a pop up store at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey to coincide with the organizations historic residency in the state-of-the art entertainment center. The store will officially open on Friday August 9, and will be open through the Globetrotters residency, which begin Friday August 16 and goes through August 25.

The store will showcase historic memorabilia and pictures featuring moments over the decades whilst offering fans the opportunity to purchase uniform replica collections and basketballs from both our past through to our present, a range of apparel items for kids & adults, accessories synonymous with the iconic brand as well as some special, limited edition items including autographed basketballs and other items. It will be located on the first floor adjacent to the court, which is being installed by American Dream’s hockey rink. In addition to the memorabilia and traditional items, the store will also showcase a limited edition tee shirt designed by their own Maxwell ‘Hops’ Pearce, a Globies veteran, world record holder and native of Tuckahoe, NY and SUNY-Purchase College.

“This retail location is another key move to expand the reach of the Globetrotters brand as we head towards our centennial in 2026,” said Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios. “The first-ever residency of a sports organization continues to open new doors for us to engage with fans and widen the footprint of every aspect of our business, be it clinics and games, the first live broadcast in over 35 years (August 18 on Gray Television), or retail partnerships. We are setting a new standard for our business that will bring global opportunities well into the future.”

The Globetrotters will be playing daily during the residency as well as hosting clinics and other special events. One of the highlights of the stay will be the first broadcast in over 35 years, produced by Gray TV’s Raycom Sports, a national leader in sports production and syndication with deep roots in college basketball, football, and pro sports. That game will be broadcast live on Sunday night August 18 at 7:00 PM.

This Year’s White Sox Fall to ‘62 Mets In Strat-O-Matic ‘Worst Team Ever’ Simulation

A current 21-game losing streak has put this year’s Chicago White Sox (27-88, .235 winning percentage through Monday) on a pace for an even poorer record than the famed 1962 New York Mets, who at 40-120 (.250) are acknowledged by many as the worst team in modern Major League Baseball history. So how would the 2024 ChiSox fare against Marvelous Marv Throneberry, Felix Mantilla and the rest of Casey Stengel’s expansion Amazins?

Strat-O-Matic (@strat-o-matic), the market leader in sports simulation games, decided to put that to the test today, simulating a seven-game series between the two lowly squads. And the battle came down to Game 7, where Jay Hook pitched a complete game and Sammy Taylor hit a grand slam in the fourth inning for a 7-5 Mets win.

The 2024 White Sox, further depleted by trade deadline deals that sent away Michael Kopech, Tommy Pham, Eloy Jimenez, Tanner Banks and Paul DeJong, all starters or key “contributors,” are on a pace to finish 38-124 based on their record to date. But Strat-O-Matic also decided to simulate the rest of this season with their current roster, and has the final record tabbed at 41-121.

In the ‘62 Mets series simulation, Chicago pitching, which has recorded an A.L.-worst 4.88 ERA, allowing the most walks (451), second most home runs (147) and fourth most hits (977) in actual MLB play to date, permitted 60 runs in the seven games for a 7.28 ERA that included 13 home runs and 41 walks. The ChiSox’s top hitter against New York was Luis Robert Jr., who hit .448 with two home runs and four RBI. Andrew Benintendi checked in at .316 with a home run and six RBI in the series.

Chicago won the first two games of the series and led, three games to two, but lost, 18-3 and 7-5 in the last two contests in New York.

Game 1

Chicago……. 2 0 1  1 2 0  0 0 0  1 –  7 14  2

New York…… 0 1 0  4 0 0  0 1 0  0 –  6  9  1

WP: Ellard; LP: Daviault; SV: Kuhl

HR: Robert Jr., Vaughn, Thomas

Game 2

Chicago……. 0 0 2  0 0 1  0 5 0  –  8 11  1

New York…… 0 1 3  0 0 0  0 2 0  –  6  8  0

WP: Anderson; LP: Jackson; SV: Kuhl

HR: Vargas, Mantilla, Thomas 2, Hickman

Game 3

New York…… 0 0 1  0 0 0  0 4 0  1 –  6 11  2

Chicago……. 0 0 0  0 1 2  0 2 0  0 –  5  8  0

WP: Mackenzie; LP: Brebbia

HR: Fletcher

Game 4

New York…… 1 0 0  0 3 1  2 0 0  –  7  9  3

Chicago……. 0 0 0  0 0 1  0 0 2  –  3  7  2

WP: Miller; LP: Martin

HR: Mantilla

Game 5

New York…… 0 7 0  0 0 0  1 0 2  – 10 12  0

Chicago……. 2 0 0  6 0 0  3 4    – 15 14  2

WP: Shuster; LP: Mackenzie

HR: Hodges, Robert Jr., Sosa

Game 6

Chicago……. 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 3  –  3  7  0

New York…… 0 0 6  1 0 1  010    – 18 17  2

WP: Jackson; LP: Flexen

HR: Vaughn, Mantilla 2, Thomas 2, Throneberry

Game 7

Chicago……. 3 0 0  1 0 1  0 0 0  –  5  7  1

New York…… 0 1 1  4 0 0  1 0    –  7  8  2

WP: Hook; LP: Cannon

HR: Benintendi, Lee, Taylor

World Food Championships Welcomes Bar Keepers Friend as ‘Official Clean Team’

As final preparations are being made by World Food Championships to host hundreds of amateur and professional cook teams in Indianapolis this Fall, one thing is guaranteed… the Kitchen Arena will be spotless. The World Food Championships announced today that Bar Keepers Friend will serve as the “Official Clean Team” at this year’s event taking place November 8-12 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center.

The “Clean Team” will be responsible for keeping the 30+ cook stations in the Kitchen Arena and surrounding demonstration areas spotless and sanitary from round to round, including opening and final rounds in the 12 different competitor categories.

Indianapolis-based Bar Keepers Friend has been a leading manufacturer of household and industrial cleaning products since 1882. The company’s “claim to fame” – its original powder cleanser – effectively removes rust, mineral deposits, oxidation, grease, and baked-on stains from a wide variety of surfaces. Over the years, Bar Keepers Friend continued to innovate, creating products like their Soft Cleanser, Cookware Cleanser, MORE Spray + Foam multipurpose cleanser, and many more. Used in homes, businesses, and institutions worldwide, Bar Keepers Friend cleaning products are safe to use on stainless steel, copper, brass, glass, fiberglass, ceramic, tile, chrome, Formica, porcelain, and Corian.

In 1956, Dr. Beurt SerVaas purchased Bar Keepers Friend from the Gisler Polish Corporation; leading to the establishment of SerVaas Laboratories. “We’re very proud to sponsor the World Food Championships,” said Paul SerVaas, President & CEO of SerVaas Laboratories. “We guarantee our cleansers will make your cookware shine as bright as your trophies. Stop by our booth and ask us for a free sample.”

“We are thrilled to have Bar Keepers Friend come abroad this year to help with the clean-up and transition between competitions in Kitchen Arena,” said Mike McCloud, Founder of World Food Championships. “We appreciate having an expert clean team using industry leading products to support the cleanup process in an environmentally positive way. With Bar Keepers Friend in the kitchen, our Food Champs can focus on food preparation and leave the cleaning to the pros.”

Since its debut in 2012, WFC has amassed a tremendous worldwide following, providing a one-of-a-kind culinary experience at its events, as well as numerous live and made-for-TV shows. In addition to popularizing competitive cooking, the WFC platform has had an undeniable impact on the food industry, facilitating the creation of more than 10,000 new dishes and supporting communities via partnerships with various local non-profits, charities, and food banks throughout the United States. In short, the WFC platform has given birth to “Food Sport” by providing a level playing field, a fair judging system, innovative culinary programming, ambassador opportunities, TV visibility and a process that allows talented culinary teams to compete in ways never seen. The 2024 World Food Championships will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 8-12, with qualifying events being conducted throughout the year.

Consumers and competitors can stay up to date on all announcements and programming updates for the upcoming championship event by following the World Food Championships on social media via Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships) and LinkedIn (@WorldFoodChampionshipsHoldings).