Category Archives: Bottom Featured

American Cornhole League Opens 2022 Pro Shootout Series

The American Cornhole League (ACL) is kicking off its 2022 ACL Pro Shootout Series – which airs live on CBS Sports Network at 7pm Saturday night from Bell Bank Park in Mesa Arizona.

The ACL Pro Shootout Series is in its 2nd year of competition that features eight high-intensity singles and doubles qualifying events hosted across the US, with a total prize pool of $250,000. The championship event – which airs live on CBS Network on September 17 – crowns the Shootout Champions.

This will be the second time in the history of the ACL that the league will be profiled on network television with 16 hours of CBS Sports Network coverage and 4 hours of CBS coverage.

The Pro Shootout Series, sponsored by Johnsonville, Bush’s Beans, Bacardi Spiced, AllCornhole, and Mike’s Hard Lemonade is a 12-round single elimination tournament format – fans will be familiar with it as the format is similar to the 2021 Pro Invitational Qualifying Tour. Each of the eight summer events will feature a Pro Men Singles, Pro Women Singles, and Pro Doubles event with the winners qualifying for the Shootout Championship. The top Pro Doubles team at the end will walk away with a $50,000 cash prize and Women’s and Men’s Singles winners will earn $20,000 each.

TheScore Bet Plans To Discontinue Sports Wagering In U.S. On July 1

Flourishing in its home nation since the debut of the Ontario iGaming market in April, theScore alerted customers on Wednesday that it will discontinue its U.S. sports betting operations effective July 1.

With the closure, theScore will shift focus to accelerating its growth in Ontario and expanding its technology roadmap north of the U.S. border, with the ultimate goal of migrating Barstool Sportsbook onto the company’s in-house risk and trading platform in the relatively near future.

The move comes nearly eight months after Penn National Gaming completed a $2.1 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of theScore. While Penn asserted at the time that it sought to operate theScore as a standalone business, Wednesday’s move allows theScore to strategically deploy resources in Canada, where it ranks as the nation’s most popular sports media app.

Since the acquisition was announced last August, Penn has taken a bifurcated approach to expanding sports betting operations in North America, with Barstool taking the lead in the U.S., while theScore Bet remains out in front up in Canada.

“This move enables us to maximize the value of both brands through our organic media and gaming approach. Key to our strategy is integrating theScore media app with Barstool Sportsbook, which we’re currently working towards,” Benjie Levy, president and COO of theScore, told Sports Handle. “Bringing together theScore’s powerful mobile sports media platform with Barstool Sportsbook in a unified ecosystem, supported by our in-house technology and custom integrations, will strengthen the overall U.S. product offering and broaden its reach.”

Short-Term Roadmap

When theScore made its U.S. sports betting debut in New Jersey three years ago, it became the first media company since the historic PASPA decision to launch sportsbook operations in the U.S.

Following the New Jersey debut, theScore began accepting sports wagers in three other states: Colorado, Iowa, and Indiana. The company also disclosed on Wednesday that by June 15, theScore Bet will no longer accept customer deposits or new wagers in the U.S.

By the time theScore plans to fully cease its U.S. sports betting operations, both the NBA and the NHL are scheduled to complete their respective postseason campaigns. The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers opened Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, the Oilers’ first trip to the conference finals since 2006.

Although it appears that theScore will encourage U.S. customers to open a new account at Barstool, it is not currently possible for customers of theScore to transfer their account or remaining balance with theScore over to Barstool Sportsbook, according to a source familiar with the situation. It is also immediately unclear if the respective sports betting skins theScore obtained to gain market access in the four states will transfer automatically to Penn National.

But the transition could be smooth in states such as Iowa, where theScore received market access through a partnership with Penn.

Larger industry consolidation

In the same month (August) that theScore announced the proposed merger with Penn, theScore launched its own player account management (PAM) trading and promotion engine.

During the third quarter of this year, theScore Bet plans to transition to the company’s proprietary in-house risk and trading platform in Ontario, Penn previously disclosed. The transition will lead to expanded betting markets and parlay options, Penn National Gaming CEO Jay Snowden explained at last month’s quarterly earnings call.

Penn anticipates that Barstool Sportsbook will transition to theScore’s PAM and trading platforms by the third quarter of 2023.

Over the first month of sports betting operations in Ontario, roughly 79% of sports bettors used theScore’s app, Snowden noted. All told, theScore exceeded Penn’s early expectations with its performance in Ontario, underscoring Snowden’s belief in the brand a year ago.

“A large part of what we love about Barstool and theScore is their authentic voice, their scrappy nature, and their entrepreneurial spirit,” Snowden said in 2021.

Beyond theScore, the decision may serve as a harbinger for a larger pattern of consolidation across the industry. The top three mobile sportsbook operators in the U.S., DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, control at least 70% of the overall market share, according to various estimates.

By forging strategic partnerships, companies such as Penn National Gaming and theScore are able to carve out a niche across various segments of the North American market. In 2021, Penn projected adjusted EBITDA accretion of at least $200 million by 2023, with incremental long-term synergies of at least $500 million from the partnership. In M&A transactions, accretive acquisitions are defined as those which cause the company’s earnings to increase as a result of the deal.

“As we approach a major undertaking this summer with the launch of our proprietary risk and trading service, the timing is right to focus our U.S. efforts on marketing Barstool Sportsbook and our Canadian efforts on marketing theScore Bet,” Levy said.

Ones Basketball League Crowns New York Regional Champion and Awards $10,000 First Prize

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — the first-ever elite competition that celebrates the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady — crowned its fourth Regional Champion at Major R. Owens Community Center in Brooklyn on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 28 top area and national-level basketball players squared off in spirited action, and it was Isaiah Brown (Queens), Zach Radz (Troy, N.Y.) and Darien Davis (Coram, N.Y.) who took the top three places in a weekend filled with close contests and spirited play across the board.

The sharpshooting lefty Brown, seeded at #2 after a perfect 7-0 qualifying round on Saturday, defeated Radz, 9-5, in the final game to claim the winner-take-all prize of $10,000. Davis, from Dowling College (Long Island), took out Joe Nickerson, also by a 9-5 count, to grab third place. All three now advance to the OBL Finals in Las Vegas this summer (dates and location TBA).

“New York came to play this weekend for sure,” said McGrady. “We had our biggest and loudest crowd so far in Brooklyn, and the level of play continues to be high as we get closer to the OBL Finals in Las Vegas.”

Brown, 25, played at SUNY Potsdam. He’s a basketball content creator and a proud girl dad. He has the nickname “Leaky Roof” because one uses buckets to fix them.

“My whole family came out to see me play, I can’t describe the feeling,” said Brown. “One on one basketball, for us, this is our style of basketball. I didn’t have a specific strategy going in, but the shots were there so I took them and fortunately hit them.”

Radz, who came down from the Albany are but stayed with a friend in New York during the competition, made a strong run from the #8 seeded position, needing to defeat the #9 seed Josh Treadwell (Newark, N.J.) in the “out bracket” game before two other wins propelled him into the Finals, including a two-pointer with time running down for a 9-8 upset win over previously unbeaten #1 seed Eugene Lawrence (Brooklyn).

“The last eight people down here, I knew they were tough competitors, obviously, anybody that makes it to this point,” said Radz, 25, who played at Sacred Heart University. “It was a matter of just putting it all out there and playing with all your heart.”

After a successful debut event in Houston (April 30-May 1) and follow-ups in Atlanta (May 7-8), Chicago (May 21-22) and New York, OBL’s next regional event is Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, in the DMV (The St. James, Springfield, VA). The regular season concludes in Los Angeles (site TBD).

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the OBL Finals, which will see 18 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.”

OBL media partners include SHOWTIME Sports, SLAM Media, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle Productions.

Follow Ones Basketball League at https://www.oblhoops.com/.

GSE Worldwide Signs 12-Year-Old Golf Phenom Xavier “Xeve” Perez for Exclusive Representation

Gatemore Sports & Entertainment Worldwide, Inc. (“GSE Worldwide”), one of the world’s leading athlete representation and sports and entertainment marketing businesses, today announced they have signed 12-year-old golfphenom Xavier “Xeve” Perez to an exclusive representation agreement. GSE Worldwide will handle all marketing, endorsements, licensing and merchandising, speaking engagements, and appearances for Perez, who has won over 300 junior golf tournaments. Brett Falkoff will lead the team working with Perez to help foster his young career both on and off the course.

GSE Worldwide has already helped to broker initial deals with Cobra Puma Golf, EasyPost, JumboMax, and international law firm, PGMBM, all of which have partnered with Perez. The agreements will help Perez to continue to pursue his passion and realize his dream of one day joining the PGA tour. As one of the top up-and-coming junior golfers in the country, Perez’s achievements include 2020 Hurricane Junior Golf Tour Georgia Junior Open 11- to 13-year-old Division Champion (at age 10), 2020 GSGA (Georgia State) Player of the Year 12- to 14-year-old division (at age 10), 2020 All Georgia Junior Team Selection, and 2021 VGA Georgia State Champion, amongst others.

“Xeve is an impressive young talent who shows great potential on and off the golf course. Everyone who meets Xeve is wowed by his magnetic personality. He’s unlike any 12-year-old I have ever met,” said Brett Falkoff of GSE Worldwide. “He hits the ball a mile, and when it comes to his short game, he has hands you don’t see in most kids his age. His larger-than-life personality and well-mannered demeanor will set him apart, and we feel that combined with his work ethic and passion for the game, it’s only a matter of time before he takes the golf world by storm.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Xeve to the Cobra Puma Golf family,” said Dan Ladd, President & GM, Cobra Puma Golf. “He is a fantastic talent and role model for other young players and will help us push the game forward, encouraging and inspiring the next generation of golfers. We are excited to be part of his journey.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of Xeve’s journey,” said EasyPost Founder and CEO, Jarrett Streebin. “He represents the core EasyPost values of persistence, humility, and generosity. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

“After having the privilege of meeting Xeve and his family recently, it became immediately apparent that we wanted to support this exceptional young man in becoming the best golfer he can be. Additionally, we are thrilled to have Xeve represent the PGMBM brand and are excited to watch and be part of his growth in the coming years.”

“Team JumboMax would like to welcome Xavier Perez to the family – Xeve as all of his friends call him, exemplifies everything that is good in a young athlete and role model,” said John Mazzanoble of JumboMax Grips. “We are very excited to be part of his journey in the game of golf and life.”

For additional information on GSE Worldwide go to www.GSEWorldwide.com.

All-Free SGPN Grows Via Media Exposure; Available In 150 Million Homes This Fall

Recognition by authoritative media outlets plus in-depth offerings to new audience segments has elevated Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN) to the top of the field in the competition for consumers seeking no-cost advice on what, how and why to place wagers on sports and entertainment events. 

With the ever-broadening array of legalized betting opportunities in the United States, SGPN has elevated its trajectory of growth in audience engagement through the first quarter of 2022, evidenced by website visits, podcast downloads and YouTube views.  In addition to the lure of quality content that is all-free, all the time, the platform has added niche sports and expert contributors while embracing USFL Football with a level of immersion that is arguably stronger than any media enterprise on the landscape. 

SGPN projects seven million downloads in 2022 (more than double the 2021 metric) and now has 24 unique podcasts and 60 contributors covering 18 different sports.  

 In anticipation of the high-interest fall NFL and college football seasons, SGPN co-founders Green and Kramer are now  arranging OTT (over the top) smart TV partnerships with AmazonTV, AndroidTV and RokuTV in the largest distribution expansion of their 10-year history. 

“We’ll be unlocking the in-home capability of audiences to watch us live and on-demand,” explained Kramer,  a Hulu engineer in his previous life. “We’re flipping on the video switch and will be in 150 million households in time for the football season openers in August and September.” 

Los Angeles-based SGPN was featured in the prominent Los Angeles Business Journal (February 28) and in the industry trade offering Media Village (April 26) while Green and Kramer have become regular guests on sports talk radio and digital outlets including Cheddar.com around major events like the Super Bowl, Final Four and NFL Draft. 

“We’ve taken the road less traveled and it’s paid off,” stated Green in reference to legacy media and corporately-backed outlets that pursue the monthly fee/subscriptions/recurring revenue model.  “Ours is a traditional advertising play and we’ve been able to increase revenue by delivering more and more eyeballs and audience impressions.  We’re proud of the strong measure of loyalty from our young, male demographic that appreciates the quality content at their fingertips for free.” 

One advertiser, BettorFantasy.com, leverages the audience loyalty component. “We’ve seen a high ROI with SGPN and we attribute that to the authentic and relatable connection they have with their community of followers,” stated Will Tighe, chief marketing officer of BettorFantasy, an app for fantasy sports enthusiasts that launched last year. “Working with SGPN has played a crucial role in our company’s success.” 

Another satisfied customer is TallySight, the content creation marketing software company that has grown alongside the sports wagering industry since 2019. “Working with SGPN has been great for building our brand,” offered Masheed Ahadi, the TallySight co-founder and chief technical officer. “They are one of the top performing brands we support.” 

The Media Village article by marketing expert Rob DiGisi appears in the “Sports Unbundled” section of the sophisticated digital news outlet alongside columns on Super Bowl advertising and National Public Radio podcaster/sports personality Jay Williams. DiGisi writes, “Competing against more well-heeled media companies, SGPN boasts that the base of the audience was built on bettors who didn’t need state-authorized sports books to take their wagers.  Many were also engaged with fantasy sports for years prior to discovering SGPN.” 

SGPN content is most readily available on the SGPN App, available on all devices and downloadable at Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store or via www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com.  

Ones Basketball League Announces Content Partnership with SHOWTIME Sports

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — an elite competition that celebrates the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady – today announced a content partnership with SHOWTIME Sports, the newest media distribution relationship for the start-up league.

Under its highly successful SHOWTIME® Basketball brand, SHOWTIME Sports will distribute a behind-the-scenes, all-access documentary feature for its YouTube channel capturing the story of this season through the eyes of Tracy McGrady. SHOWTIME Sports will also produce short-form digital content for distribution across its social networks from the remainder of the inaugural OBL season through the league’s Las Vegas Championship in July.

“The production and creative team at SHOWTIME Sports knows how to build and tell stories like no one else, and the detailed background and exciting drama we have already started to capture with OBL makes this content partnership a perfect fit for us,” McGrady said. “The team at SHOWTIME shares our excitement for putting a spotlight on one-on-one basketball and all of the great action, rich stories, and hyper-competition that flows from the game.”

“We believe in Tracy’s vision and are thrilled to be working with the OBL on their inaugural season,” said Brian Dailey, SVP, Sports Programming & Content, Showtime Networks Inc. “This collaboration embodies the SHOWTIME Basketball brand — premium, bold and boundary-pushing. We are delighted to welcome Tracy and the OBL team to our unmatched lineup of content and talent.”

“The early results of our proof-of-concept season look good, we love what we see on the court, and so does SHOWTIME,” said Jeffrey Pollack, OBL strategic advisor. “This content partnership with SHOWTIME Sports came together quickly and further validates Tracy’s vision for shining a bright light on the essence of basketball and celebrating the vibrant talent and culture that fuels the one-on-one community.”

SHOWTIME Sports joins SLAM Media, Playmaker and Heart and Hustle Productions’ as initial production and content partners for OBL.

Six cities across the United States are hosting a two-day, regional, 32-player round-robin knockout tournament with athletes aged 18 and up who are currently not under an NBA contract and have not been on an active NBA roster for more than 164 games (equivalent to two NBA regular seasons). The participants come from a combination of open-sourced video submissions and the advice of basketball insiders. The aim is to welcome both best-in-class talent and players who may still be under the radar of most basketball fans. The inaugural events this year will feature only men, and women will be welcomed as equal participants as soon as 2023.

The regional tournaments scheduled for the rest of the OBL season are:
· New York City, May 28-29
(Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, NY)
· The DMV, June 4-5
(The St. James, Springfield, VA)
· Los Angeles, June 18-19
(TBD)

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the Finals, which will see 21 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.” The regional winners from the first three events include: Glen Rice Jr. (Marietta, Ga.), Antonio Hester (Miami), and Tiras Wade (Tampa) from the Atlanta regional; John Jordan (Houston), Matt Kiatipis (Austin by way of Canada and Simon Fraser University), and Myron Taylor (Killeen, Tex.) from the Houston regional; and Mario Smith (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Yoshi Craig (Chicago), and Grant Anderson (Chicago), who took the top three places this past weekend in the Chicago regional.

More information about Ones Basketball League at: https://www.oblhoops.com/.

Lineups Set for Final X New York/Beat the Streets on June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden

The field has been finalized for Final X New York. presented by Tezos, on Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Athletes qualified for Final X New York either by winning a 2021 World medal, or based upon their placement at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Coralville, Iowa, May 20-21.

The winner of each Final X Championship Series will represent the Team USA at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.

Final X New York. presented by Tezos, will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.

The lineup in New York is loaded, featuring three Olympic champions, 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (74 kg men’s freestyle), 2016 Olympic champion Helen Maroulis (57 kg women’s freestyle) and 2020 Olympic champion David Taylor (86 kg men’s freestyle).

The field includes four World champions who have won a combined 12 World titles: Burroughs (5x), Maroulis (3x), Taylor plus three-time World champion Kyle Dake (74 kg men’s freestyle).

It also features five Olympic medalists who have won six Olympic medals: Maroulis (2x, 2016 gold and 2020 bronze), Dake (2020 bronze), Burroughs (2012 gold), Taylor (2020 gold), plus 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg women’s freestyle).

There will be nine World medalists who have won a combined 26 World medals: Burroughs (8x), Maroulis (5x), Dake (3x), Hildebrandt (2x), Taylor (2x), two-time World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kg men’s freestyle), two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe (50 kg women’s freestyle), 2021 World silver medalist Kayla Miracle (62 kg women’s freestyle) and 2021 World bronze medalist G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg Greco-Roman).

There are nine Olympians with a combined 11 Olympic appearances: Maroulis (2x), Burroughs, Taylor, Dake, Miracle, Hildebrandt, Hancock, 2008 and 2020 Olympian Ildar Hafizov (60 kg Greco-Roman) and 2020 Olympian Alejandro Sancho (67 kg Greco-Roman). Hafizov competed for Uzbekistan in 2012 and the USA in 2020.

The event will include 14 World Team members who have been on a total of 51 World Championships teams:

Maroulis (9x), Burroughs (8x), Hafizov (5x, 3x for Uzbekistan and 2x for USA), Lampe (5x), Gwiazdowski (4x), Hancock (4x), Hildebrandt (4x), Dake (3x), Taylor (2x), Miracle (2x), two-time World Team member Dalton Roberts (60 kg Greco-Roman), Kamal Bey (77 kg Greco-Roman), Yianni Diakomihalis (65 kg men’s freestyle) and Alan Vera (87 kg Greco-Roman).

Final X will have two sessions. The first match of the best-of-three championship series in each event will be held during the first session. The second (and third match if necessary) for all 15 weight classes will be conducted in the second session. The weight class order will be the same for both sessions. Session times for Final X New York are 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

There are a variety of ticket options available for Final X New York, beginning at $65 so you don’t miss the first in-person Benefit since 2019. Purchase your wrestling-only event tickets on Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B005C8B9CD81033). For information on Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (wrestling event and exclusive after party access) that also provide the best wrestling-event seats, visit give.btsny.org/benefit (https://give.btsny.org/event/annual-benefit-2022/e396736) or email Fund Development Manager Kerry Doyle at [email protected].

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for both Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, and Final X New York, presented by Tezos.

The weight classes for Final X New York (by style) are:
Men’s freestyle: 65 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
Women’s freestyle: 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 72 kg
Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg

Final X New York Lineup (Listed in Bout Order)
Bout 1 – 77 kg GR – Britton Holmes (Army WCAP) vs. Kamal Bey (Army WCAP)
Bout 2 – 72 kg WFS – Skylar Grote (Beaver Dam RTC/NYAC) vs. Amit Elor (NYC RTC/TMWC)
Bout 3 – 65 kg MFS – Evan Henderson (Ohio RTC/TMWC) vs. Yianni Diakomihalis (Spartan Combat/TMWC)
Bout 4 – 87 kg GR – Alan Vera (NYAC) vs. Timothy Young (Illinois)
Bout 5 – 125 kg MFS – Hayden Zillmer (Gopher WC – RTC) vs. Nick Gwiazdowski (Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC)
Bout 6 – 67 kg GR – Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) vs. Alston Nutter (Sunkist Kids)
Bout 7 – 53 kg W – Felicity Taylor (Bearcat RTC/TMWC) vs. Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids)
Bout 8 – 60 kg GR – Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP) vs. Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP)
Bout 9 – 62 kg WFS – Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jennifer Rogers (NLWC/TMWC)
Bout 10 – 97 kg GR – G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist Kids) vs. Braxton Amos (Wisconain RTC)
Bout 11 – 50 kg WFS – Sarah Hildebrandt (USOPTC/NYAC) vs. Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids)
Bout 12 – 74 kg MFS – Kyle Dake (Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC) vs. Jason Nolf (NLWC/TMWC)
Bout 13 – 57 kg WFS – Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids) vs. Alexandra Hedrick (USOPTC/TMWC)
Bout 14 – 79 kg MFS – Jordan Burroughs (Pennsylvania RTC/Sunkist Kids) vs. Chance Marsteller (TMWC)
Bout 15 – 86 kg MFS – David Taylor (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids)

OBL Crowns Chicago Regional Champion at Hope Academy Athletic Center and Awards $10,000 First Prize

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — the first-ever elite competition that celebrates the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady — crowned its third Regional Champion at Chicago Hope Academy Athletic Center on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 32 top area and national-level basketball players squared off in spirited action, and it was Mario Smith (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Yoshi Craig (Chicago) and Grant Anderson (Chicago) who took the top three places in a weekend filled with exciting and high-quality play across the board.

Smith, the OBL (@oblhoops) Chicago Regional Champion and recipient of the $10,000 prize, was seeded fourth after a 6-1 record on Saturday. He won the Championship match, 9-8, over Craig, making two free throws to ice the win. Anderson’s buzzer-beater over Armani Chaney earned the former Cornell (Ind.) College and Homewood-Flossmoor (Ill.) high school standout third place. All three now advance to the OBL Finals in Las Vegas this summer (dates and location TBA).

“The Chicago event was another strong step forward for us and further proof that OBL will help these athletes get known and noticed,” said McGrady. “The energy on the court was intense and the fans made themselves part of the show. Chicago brought the love for OBL and we are grateful.”

Smith, 30, the only non-local player at the OBL Chicago Regional, competed at Glen Oaks CC in Michigan, and his pro career has included stints in Mexico and the Mid-Michigan Spartans. He now trains basketball players of all ages.

“I drove back and forth last night once I knew I’d make it through,” said Smith, who traveled 2.5 hours each way, both days, to participate. “The level of competition was really strong and it was a grind but it’s very gratifying to advance.”

Craig, 28, played at Iowa Central and Kennedy-King College.

“It’s great to make it to Las Vegas,” said Craig. “I was disappointed to lose on free throws, but the two days showed that this is a concept that will work and can grow. I’m looking forward to repping Chicago in July.”

After a successful debut event in Houston (April 30-May 1) and follow-ups in Atlanta (May 7-8) and Chicago, OBL’s next regional event is Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29 at the Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, New York.

Following New York, the remainder of the regional schedule is as follows:
• The DMV, June 4-5 (The St. James, Springfield, VA)
• Los Angeles, TBD (TBD)

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the Finals, which will see 18 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.”

OBL media partners include SLAM Media, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle Productions.

Follow Ones Basketball League at https://www.oblhoops.com/.

SportsHandle.com Unveils Comprehensive Betting Partnerships Tracker 

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was judicially overturned on May 14, 2018, and with the four-year anniversary of the decision approaching, SportsHandle.com today has launched a first-of-its-kind tracker with more than 250 sports betting partnerships formed since the initial ruling.  

A leading source for information on sports betting legalization in the United States, SportsHandle.com has created the go-to-resource to monitor all sports betting partnerships across professional sports leagues, teams, colleges, sports venues, athletes, celebrities, and more. 

Accessible under SportsHandle.com’s drop-down menu under “Tools,” the Sports Betting Partnership Tracker lists all agreements involving U.S. sportsbooks and sports entities. To date, 29 sportsbooks have entered into at least one partnership.

SportsHandle.com’s Sports Betting Partnership Tracker will be updated regularly with the latest agreements. As of today, the following number of partnerships exist in each of the below categories:

  • 133 – Professional sports teams 
  • 50 – Professional sports leagues 
  • 36 – Celebrity endorsers
  • 18 – Sports venues
  • 15 – Media properties or companies
  • 4 – Colleges and universities

Additional noteworthy statistics in Sports Handle’s Sports Betting Partnership Tracker include: 

  • 37 – Partnerships are the most by any one sportsbook (Caesars and DraftKings are tied) 
  • 24 – Individual DraftKings’ deals with pro sports teams (most of any sportsbook)
  • 22 – League with most individual teams partnered with a sportsbook (NBA), followed by the NFL (18), NHL (16) and MLB (11)
  • 2 – Sportsbooks have entered partnerships with major colleges and universities (Caesars and PointsBet)
  • 1 – Sportsbook has at least one team partnership in the MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA (FanDuel) 

“The sports betting landscape is constantly evolving, and we are proud to unveil this all-encompassing resource that provides the most up-to-date partnership and sponsorship information in one convenient location,” said Brett Smiley, Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief at SportsHandle.com. “Although there are currently more than 250 sports betting sponsorships, new partnerships and categories are being established on a weekly, if not daily, basis. We look forward to maintaining the most robust database for this information on the internet and we are extremely proud of the Sports Handle editorial and research team for making this valuable resource a reality.”

Jeffrey Pollack Named First Executive-in-Residence at Rutgers University Global Sports Business Master’s Program

Jeffrey Pollack, a sports business executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience driving catalytic change, growth, and innovation, has been appointed the first Executive-in-Residence in the Global Sports Business master’s program at Rutgers University.

Pollack will serve as a guest instructor and coach and guide students as they begin to navigate their career paths in the sports industry.

“We are thrilled to have Jeffrey as part of our GSB family,” said the program’s executive director Mike Finkelstein. “His career in sports has been extraordinary and we know Jeffrey will provide our students with a unique, seasoned perspective as they begin their professional journey.”

“It is an honor to support the Rutgers Global Sports Business program,” said Pollack. “I look forward to working closely with the students, Mike Finkelstein, Art Burke, and the rest of the faculty. The Rutgers approach to sports business education is progressive and entrepreneurial, and I appreciate the opportunity to share my stories and experiences.”

Jeffrey most recently served as President and CEO of the XFL. He joined the XFL in 2019 as President and COO to lead all strategic planning and business operations, reporting directly to Chairman and Founder Vince McMahon. Under Pollack’s leadership, the XFL launched in 2020 to critical acclaim and proved that spring football in the United States can work.

Among other projects, Jeffrey is currently advising Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady on his launch of the Ones Basketball League (OBL), a new global one-on-one-basketball tournament that has just tipped off its first season.

Lauded for helping businesses and brands rethink, recalibrate, and evolve, Pollack — immediately prior to his leadership role at the XFL — was Special Advisor and Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for the NFL Los Angeles Chargers. He has also served as Executive Chairman of the Professional Bull Riders, President and Commissioner of the World Series of Poker, Managing Director of Broadcasting and New Media for NASCAR, and Strategic Communications Consultant and Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the NBA.

Pollack is the founder of The Sports Business Daily, the original trade publication for the sports industry. Through his vision and direction as President and Publisher, “The Daily,” launched in 1994, immediately became the industry standard and must-read for sports executives, and gave rise to a proliferation of sports business news and information services around the world.

Trained as a leadership and organizational performance coach at the Rutgers University LCOP Program, Pollack also serves confidentially and selectively as a coach to other executives in the sports, entertainment, and media industries.

Pollack has a bachelor’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, a master’s degree from The Graduate School of Political Management, and a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

The Global Sports Business Master’s Degree Program at Rutgers, recently ranked No. 18 in the country and 32nd in the world among sports management graduate programs, is designed to train leaders for careers in all sectors of the sports industry. It is a broad-based, inherently global, industry-specific program of study that reflects Rutgers’ traditional strengths in finance, marketing, management, and law, as well as its location in the New York/Philadelphia/Washington northeast corridor, the center of the sports industry.

Ones Basketball League Crowns Atlanta Regional Champion at CORE4 in Chamblee; Awards $10,000 Prize

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — the first-ever elite competition that celebrates the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady – crowned its second Regional Champion at CORE4 in Chamblee, Georgia, on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 32 top area and national-level basketball players squared off in spirited action, and it was Glen Rice Jr. (Marietta, Ga.), Antonio Hester (Miami) and Tiras Wade (Tampa) who took the top three places in a weekend filled with exciting and high-quality play across the board.

Rice, the OBL (@oblhoops) Atlanta Regional Champion and recipient of the $10,000 prize, seeded fifth after a 6-1 record on Saturday despite an injured lower leg, won the Championship match, 9-7, over Hester, who had qualified as the #2 seed after going a perfect 7-0 in pool play. Wade, the #1 seed who was also unbeaten at 7-0 on Saturday, bested Atlanta’s Phil Taylor in the third-place game. At 40, Wade was the oldest competitor in the field. All three now advance to the OBL Finals in Las Vegas this summer (dates and location TBA).

“This league is giving players an opportunity to show what they can do, and these three guys took advantage with great play all weekend,” said McGrady. “We are proud that they will be representing the Atlanta region in Las Vegas.”

“It was fun competing with this group of guys, playing a game that we love and seeing who was the best at it,” said Rice, 31, who starred collegiately at Georgia Tech. “I don’t know where everybody came from, but the competition level was great both days. It was better than I expected.”

Tracy McGrady and Dikembe Mutombo

“It was love, man. I enjoyed this weekend and it was such a blessing to be here,” added the powerful Hester, 31, who played at Miami Dade and the University of Mobile and has competed professionally overseas for more than a decade. “Getting to compete with all these pros, it was definitely another level.”

In last week’s inaugural event in Houston, John Jordan, 29, of Houston was the champion. Jordan and H-Town Regional runner-up Matt Kiatipis were both on hand in Atlanta to take in the action. OBL’s next regional event is May 21-22 at Chicago Hope Academy Athletic Center.

Following Chicago, the remainder of the regional schedule is as follows:
• New York City, May 28-29 (Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, NY)
• The DMV, June 4-5 (The St. James, Springfield, VA)
• The Bay Area, June 11-12 (The Ultimate Fieldhouse, Walnut Creek, CA)
• Los Angeles, TBD (TBD)

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the Finals, which will see 21 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.”

OBL media partners include SLAM Media, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle Productions. Follow Ones Basketball League at https://www.oblhoops.com/.

Ones Basketball League Crowns First-Ever Regional Champion at Dub Sports Zone in Houston

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — the first-ever elite competition that celebrates the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady – got off to a rousing start with its debut event at The Dub Sports Zone in Richmond, Texas, on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 32 top area and national-level basketball players squared off in spirited action, and it was Texas residents who took the top three places in a weekend filled with exciting and high-quality play across the board.

The OBL Houston Regional champion, and recipient of the $10,000 prize, is John Jordan, 29, of Houston. Jordan, the second seed, defeated runner-up Matt Kiatipis, 21, of Austin (by way of Canada and Simon Fraser University), 9-5, in the finals. Taking third was Myron Taylor, 29, of Killeen. All three now advance to the OBL Finals in Las Vegas this summer (dates and location TBD).

McGrady couldn’t have been happier with the league’s first action.

“The first weekend in Houston was what we expected when we envisioned OBL,” said the seven-time NBA All-Star. “The level and quality of play was outstanding, the facility was first rate, the production was world-class, and we have our first qualifiers for the road to Las Vegas.

“Now it’s on to Atlanta for Week Two,” he added.

John Jordan

“It’s Championship Sunday, this is where champions are made,” said Jordan, who played collegiately at TAMU-Corpus Christi. “I took a tough ‘L’ yesterday and I bounced back, because that’s what champions do.”

Jordan, who arrived back in the U.S. from overseas in Romania just in time to compete in the inaugural OBL event, was also effusive in his praise of the league.

“This is a really big-time league,” he added. “This is the first time they’ve had this league. I know from here on it’s gonna be tougher. Everyone sees (OBL) is real. The money is real. I’m just happy I won the first year.”

Kiatipis, one of the youngest competitors in the field, is also excited about qualifying for the OBL Finals.

“I’m excited to be going to Las Vegas,” said the sixth seed who started slowly but finished strong to earn the spot. “I expected to be going and it’s going to be a big show out there.”

Taylor, the eighth seed, rallied to beat Jamal North in the third-place game.

OBL’s next regional event is this coming week in Atlanta on May 7-8 at CORE4 Atlanta, in Chamblee, Georgia.

The rest of the regional schedule is as follows:

  • Chicago, May 21-22 (Chicago Hope Academy Athletic Center, Chicago, IL)
  • New York City, May 28-29 (Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, NY)
  • The DMV, June 4-5 (The St. James, Springfield, VA)
  • The Bay Area, June 11-12 (The Ultimate Fieldhouse, Walnut Creek, CA)
  • Los Angeles, TBD (TBD)

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the Finals, which will see 21 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.”

Media partners include SLAM Media, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle Productions.

Follow Ones Basketball League at https://www.oblhoops.com/.

National Lacrosse League Playoff Pairings, Schedule Set As Buffalo, San Diego Win Conference Titles

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL) regular season is complete, with Saturday’s results completing the expanded playoff format as eight teams have advanced to the NLL “Chase for the Championship,” beginning on Friday, May 6. Buffalo (14-4) and San Diego (10-8) are the East and West Conference regular season champions, respectively, and will have home floor advantage in Quarterfinal single-elimination games, along with Conference runners-up Toronto (13-5, East) and Calgary (10-8, West).

In the new NLL postseason format, the top four teams in the East (Buffalo, Toronto, Halifax, Albany) and top three in the West (San Diego, Calgary, Colorado) and one wild card team (Philadelphia) qualified. The Wings’ thrilling 11-10 victory in OT over Georgia last night gave them the final slot over the Swarm. Albany also secured its berth with a win over New York.

The Quarterfinal matchups are as follows:

(E3) Halifax at (E2) Toronto, Friday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. ET, Sports Interaction Game of the Week on TSN, ESPN+
(W3) Colorado at (W2) Calgary, Friday, May 6, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+, TSN.ca, Altitude
(E4) Albany at (E1) Buffalo, Saturday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+, TSN.ca
(WC) Philadelphia at (W1) San Diego, Saturday, May 7, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+, TSN.ca, WPSG, FOX5

The Quarterfinal winners will meet in best-of-three Conference Finals: the first games are set for May 12-16), with Game 2 (May 19-23) and Game 3 (if necessary, May 26-30) set to close out the month (dates subject to change). The best-of-three NLL Finals will take place June 2-6, June 9-13, and June 16-20 (if necessary). Exact dates and broadcast schedules for media partners TSN and ESPN for the Conference Finals and NLL Finals rounds will be announced once the pairings and dates are set.

For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Hildebrandt Accepts Final X Berth, And Will Compete For U.S. World Team Spot In New York On June 8

2020 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/USOPTC) has officially accepted her 50 kg women’s freestyle berth in Final X

Hildebrandt will battle for a spot on the 2022 U.S. World Team in Final X New York. presented by Tezos, on Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Hildebrandt won a bronze medal at 50 kg at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. She boasts a pair of Senior World silver medals, claimed in 2018 and 2021. Hildebrandt has dominated her continent, winning the 2019 Pan American Games gold and claiming five Pan American Championships titles. She won U.S. Open titles in 2018 and 2020. She was a two-time NCWA women’s college national champion and four-time finalist for King University. A native of Granger, Ill., Hildbrandt competed for Penn High School.

This will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.

There are a variety of ticket options available for Final X New York, beginning at $65 so you don’t miss the first in-person Benefit since 2019. Purchase your wrestling-only event tickets on Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B005C8B9CD81033). For information on Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (wrestling event and exclusive after party access) that also provide the best wrestling-event seats, visit give.btsny.org/benefit (https://give.btsny.org/event/annual-benefit-2022/e396736) or email Fund Development Manager Kerry Doyle at [email protected].”

The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling which will compete in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.

The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in each style allows for 2021 Senior World medalists and 2020 Olympic medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Hildebrandt has met this requirement and accepted her qualification.

There are 15 weight classes contested in Final X New York, five in each discipline. The weight classes assigned to the Final X New York are:

  • Men’s freestyle: 65 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
  • Women’s freestyle: 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 72 kg
  • Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg

The Final X opponent for Hildebrandt will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Coralville, Iowa, May 20-22.

The Beat the Streets Annual Benefit, a fan-favorite, is a major showcase of the best of international wrestling. These competitions have been at iconic locations across New York City.

This will be Hildebrandt’s first Beat the Streets Benefit event

In addition to Final X New York, Final X Stillwater will be held Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University. There will be 15 other weight classes contested in Stillwater.

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for both Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, and Final X New York, presented by Tezos

FINAL X NEW YORK, presented by Tezos

At Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater, Wednesday, June 8

Declared Qualifiers to date

Women’s freestyle 50 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/USOPTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s Freestyle 74 kg – Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s Freestyle 86 kg – David Taylor (State College, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Greco-Roman 97 kg – G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s Freestyle 57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Philadelphia, Pa./Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

SARAH HILDEBRANDT

Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Club: New York AC

College: King Univ.

High School: Granger, Ind. (Penn)

Born: Sept. 23, 1993

  • 2020 Olympic bronze medalist
  • 2018 and 2021 World silver medalist
  • Four-time World Team member (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021)
  • 2019 Pan American Games champion
  • Five-time Pan American Championships champion (2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
  • Two-time Final X champion (2018, 2019)
  • 2018 and 2020 U.S. Open champion
  • Two-time WCWA national champion and four-time finalist

Ones Basketball League Starts to Score with Media Partners

Ones Basketball League (OBL) — the first-ever elite competition that will celebrate the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet and created by Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady — today announced its initial roster of storytelling and media partners. SLAM Media, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle Productions will all help OBL capture and distribute short-form digital content during this inaugural and proof-of-concept season.

“Our initial focus is on short form digital storytelling to capture the journey of our competitors and we know SLAM, Playmaker, and Heart and Hustle are a winning combination to help us shine a bright light on the essence of basketball and exciting young stars headed our way,” said Lisle Bowen, OBL’s Creative Director. “SLAM is the definitive voice of basketball culture, Playmaker has an elite influencer network that will amplify OBL’s reach, and Heart and Hustle Productions’ extraordinary production team will capture all of the rich stories we find on and off the court.”

The three partners each bring a unique expertise to OBL this season:

SLAM Media will co-produce OBL digital content in and around every event this season, build the OBL storytelling platform week-to-week, and drive engagement with its ardent basketball and pop culture audience of more than 16 million.

Playmaker will amplify OBL’s content and brand. expand the league’s social media presence, and integrate Playmaker social media talent into the OBL experience, and expose OBL to an audience in excess of 12 million at launch.

Heart and Hustle Productions’ world-class production team will capture every moment of the inaugural OBL season, produce compelling stories from on and off the court, and ensure the league is well positioned to engage with its growing audience on the platforms and media that matter most.

“What Tracy has created with the OBL is exactly what basketball needs: innovation, fun, and pure competition,” said Les Green, SLAM CEO. “It’s right in line with what we want to provide to our SLAM audience and coming from T-Mac, a living legend and multiple SLAM Cover athlete, makes the partnership even sweeter.”

“OBL is one of the most exciting leagues to come out in a long time. It’s one of those ideas that’s so obviously great that you have no clue why it hasn’t been done,” said Brandon Harris Founder and CEO Playmaker. “At Playmaker, we are obsessed with creating fast paced, high action short form content. OBL could not be more aligned with our brand and content strategy and we couldn’t be more excited to be on this ride as partners from the very start with Tracy McGrady, as well as Lisle Bowen & the amazing OBL team.”

“T-Mac’s idea to create The Ones Basketball League is a revolutionary idea and one that will bring the culture of basketball full circle,” said Rashad Floyd, Founder and Executive Director, Heart and Hustle Productions. “There’s no question how deeply rooted the 1 v 1 competition is to the hoop game and now with OBL, the world gets to witness these matchups on a professional level.”

Beginning this weekend, seven cities across the United States will host a two-day, regional, 32-player round-robin knockout tournament with athletes aged 18 and up who are currently not under an NBA contract and have not been on an active NBA roster for more than 164 games (equivalent to two NBA regular seasons). The participants will come from a combination of open-sourced video submissions and the advice of basketball insiders. The aim is to welcome both best-in-class talent and players who may still be under the radar of most basketball fans. The inaugural events this year will feature only men, and women will be welcomed as equal participants as soon as 2023.

The regional tournament schedule for the first season of the OBL season is:

Houston, April 30-May 1 (The Dub Sports Zone, Richmond, TX)

Atlanta, May 7-8 (CORE4 Atlanta, Chamblee, GA)

Chicago, May 21-22 (Chicago Hope Academy Athletic Center, Chicago, IL)

New York City, May 28-29 (Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, NY)

The DMV, June 4-5 (The St. James, Springfield, VA)

The Bay Area, June 11-12 (The Ultimate Fieldhouse, Walnut Creek, CA)

Los Angeles, TBD (TBD)

The winner of each regional tournament will take home a $10,000 cash prize along with an invitation to the Finals, which will see 21 players (the top three from each region) compete for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and be crowned “Ruler of the Court.”

Follow Ones Basketball League at https://www.oblhoops.com/.

For Soccer Ventures to hold Alianza de Futbol National Finals in Phoenix, Arizona, April 30-May 5

For Soccer Ventures (FSV), an organization focused on the growth and long-term development of American soccer, today announced the start of the Alianza de Futbol National Finals in Phoenix, AZ, from April 30th – May 5th. The winning teams and top players from the 2021 Alianza tour, which featured over 30,000 players and 300,000 attendees, will meet in Phoenix beginning April 30th. This is the first time the National Finals have been held since 2019 and the finals will feature three distinct programs–the Ford Copita Alianza National Finals (youth), the Verizon Copa Alianza National Finals (adult), and the Allstate Sueno Alianza National Showcase (youth).

This is the first time the Ford Copita Alianza National Finals will be played in the U13, U15, U16 Girls, U17 and U19 age groups. 41 teams will compete over two days for the right to be crowned national champions.

The Verizon Copa Alianza National Finals will feature 12 teams from across the country competing for a $50,000 prize. The national tournament has been held three times in the history of Alianza. The defending champion is San Nicolás from Los Angeles, CA.

Following in the footsteps of current stars Santiago Muñoz (El Paso, TX), Nico Carrera (Frisco, TX), and Jonathan González (Santa Rosa, CA), the top 64 players from the 2021 Allstate Sueño Alianza National Showcase will compete in front of over 30 scouts from MLS, Liga MX, USL, the FMF, and U.S. Soccer in hopes of realizing their dream of playing professional soccer. The Allstate Sueño Alianza National Showcase has launched the careers of more than 70 professional players to date. This year’s 64 finalists were selected from over 5,000 players around the country.

The Allstate Sueño Alianza National Showcase will also feature a girls division featuring the top Hispanic talent scouted during the 2021 tour. During its inaugural year, the girls program lead to the discovery of Yaneisy Rodríguez (Vancouver, WA) and her signing to Club Necaxa from Liga MX Femenil.

Scouts from the following professional teams and federations will attend the Allstate Sueño Alianza National Showcase: América, Atlas, Atlanta United FC, Atlético San Luis, Austin FC, Barca Academy, Chicago Fire, Chivas, Club Celaya, Club Santos, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, FC Juarez, Houston Dynamo, LAFC, Necaxa, New England Revolution, North Carolina FC, NYCFC, New York Red Bulls, Pachuca, Philadelphia Union, Phoenix Rising, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Rayados de Monterrey, Sacramento Republic, San José Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Toluca.

“Alianza continues to nurture and showcase an amazing community of Hispanic players and coaches who fully deserve the opportunity to compete on a national level. We are thrilled to be hosting this event in a world class facility with professional scouts from some of the biggest clubs and federations in North America,” said Eduardo Ruiz, Executive Director of Alianza de Futbol.

Additionally, this year’s inaugural eAlianza Cup, in partnership with EA Sports, recently concluded with hundreds of participants from across the country playing for a $5,000 prize. Each of the eight finalists won a Sony Playstation 5 and all of the games were live streamed on Twitch.

The 2022 Alianza Tour officially kicks off May 28th – 29th in Phoenix. This year’s tour will visit 10 cities across the US including Dallas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, New York, LA, San Jose, Austin and El Paso. To register please click here.

PepsiCo Adds 16 New Organizations To The ‘Team Of Champions’ For Soccer In Underserved Communities

PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) today announced that it has added 16 new organizations to this year’s “Team of Champions,” a national purpose platform that improves access to soccer in underserved communities, including Black and Hispanic youth, across the U.S. The $1 million commitment over three years makes actionable investments on and off the field, including helping the teams with apparel and equipment costs, field access, mentoring, coaching and education, and fan experiences. In its second year, in addition to expanding its reach to more communities, “Team of Champions” will focus on recruiting more women athletes to the program.

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, who continues to serve as “Team Captain”, will help raise the visibility of this year’s lineup and the impact these organizations have in local communities across the country. “Last year, PepsiCo and I worked together to establish the ‘Team of Champions’ program and, together, have brought 9,000 athletes and coaches onto the field,” said Chicharito. “In addition to the physical benefits of playing soccer, bringing this beautiful game into these communities teaches youth about teamwork, problem-solving, and accountability. Participation in sports overall enhances resilience and has been proven to boost self-esteem. I’m excited to continue to deliver on our mission to remove barriers to the game in underserved communities.”

New to this year’s “Team of Champions” program is “Access for Champions,” an opportunity for participating players to connect with UEFA ambassadors. Through these inspirational events, participants will have the chance to engage with athletes and leaders, from both PepsiCo and in the soccer industry, to discuss various topics ranging from creating a growth mindset to exploring soccer as an industry. Additionally, for the second consecutive year PepsiCo is partnering with ACCESS U, a non-profit dedicated to mentoring players and their families throughout the college recruiting process, to help guide students who are pursuing athletic scholarships.

The “Team of Champions” is an important initiative part of PepsiCo’s Racial Equality Journey’s community pillar, which in 2020 saw the company announce commitments of more than $570 million over five years to increase representation within its workforce, and uplift Black and Hispanic businesses and communities in the U.S. to address issues of inequality and create opportunity.

“The ‘Team of Champions’ is symbolic of PepsiCo’s commitment to drive long-term change and address systemic barriers in these underserved communities,” said Antonio Escalona, SVP & GM, Hispanic Business Unit, PepsiCo Foods North America. “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the commitment made by our brands Lay’s, Pepsi and Gatorade through this program has had a measurable impact on Hispanic-owned and Black-owned soccer clubs, programs and businesses in the United States.”

This year’s “Team of Champions” lineup is comprised of 16 local organizations in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C.

“Last year, we leveraged our largest global platform – UEFA Champions League – as a force for good, introducing the ‘Team of Champions’ and breaking down barriers to the game in cities across the country,” said Esperanza Teasdale, VP & GM, Hispanic Business Unit, PepsiCo Beverages North America. “We saw an opportunity to help level the playing field, and this year, we’re focused on expanding our support in more local communities – bolstering efforts to equalize access for underserved youth, including a focus on increasing the recruitment of young women athletes who have fewer opportunities to play sports than young male athletes.”

Building on the success of the 2021 program, PepsiCo has been able to:

· Benefit more than 9,000 athletes and coaches in the first year alone; and increase from 11 teams in 2021 to 16 teams in this second year.
· Provide players with new gear and safety equipment.
· Offer student-athlete mentorship opportunities with highly regarded athletes, team executives and soccer business leaders.
· Unlock access to local facilities and provide resources for field maintenance, including installing lighting.
· Cover competition and referee fees.
· Provide coaches with educational opportunities to refine and optimize their leadership skills.

In the lead up to the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League final, PepsiCo will amplify stories from the 16 organizations through a content series that will be distributed across broadcast, social and digital platforms to provide more visibility on the impact of each dollar donated.

PHF Names Reagan Carey As Commissioner

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced that Reagan Carey has been appointed the league’s next commissioner, bringing over twenty years of leadership in the sports industry to the role including unparalleled experience in women’s hockey. Carey previously served as USA Hockey’s Director of Women’s Ice Hockey and General Manager of the U.S. National Women’s Team, highlighted by a gold medal victory at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Beginning full time on May 10, she will help deliver the PHF’s vision to provide leading opportunities in professional women’s hockey and growing the sport for its athletes, partners, and fans.

“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate and honored to have played a part in growing and improving the landscape of women’s hockey at all levels,” said Carey. “I continue to be energized and committed to moving the needle in the right direction and will be dedicated to the work required to build trust and elevate the PHF into a beacon for professional women’s hockey. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue making history with a relentless pursuit of success on all fronts. Through our work we will aim to honor past pioneers of our sport, and inspire young girls to see a vibrant future in the game by ensuring that athletes who want to train and compete at the highest professional levels will always have a home at the PHF.”

A search committee chaired by Tobin Kelly of the PHF Board of Governors was formed to identify and evaluate candidates for the role. Board members Johanna Boynton and Andy Scurto were part of the committee that also included Lisa Haley (Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, PHF), Digit Murphy (President, Metropolitan Riveters), and Susie Piotrkowski (Head of Women’s Team Sports, Octagon).

“The search committee had the opportunity to speak with many exceptional candidates who were considered for the role of PHF Commissioner over the course of this process,” said Kelly. “What stands out about Reagan Carey is not only her incredible depth of experience in the world of women’s hockey but the collaborative approach she brings to the position. In all of our many conversations, Reagan’s commitment to communication and her values that advocate for what is right and put players first, make her the perfect leader for the next phase of growth in the PHF. We are all excited about welcoming Reagan as she takes the lead in moving the PHF forward.”

Carey’s career reflects a common thread of leading teams to new heights by creating meaningful cultures and crafting a clear vision for winning. A decade of work with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers with a focus on sports development, performance, and marketing led to her opportunity with USA Hockey where she served from 2010-18. Her leadership helped produce a record number of World Championship victories for the women’s program and achieved an unprecedented stretch of four straight undefeated seasons in IIHF competition across the U18 Women’s National Team and U.S. Women’s National Team. Her gold medal resume includes U18 titles in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, World Championship wins in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“When aligning with the PHF, hiring the right fit for the long-term growth of the league was imperative,” said Piotrkowski. “Having met with several incredible candidates alongside the search committee, Reagan Carey differentiated herself not only as a result of her hockey experience but through her deep understanding of the women’s sports landscape. Her approach to relationship building, attention to detail and human first leadership will ensure the best interest of the women in this league today and moving forward.”

Most recently Carey has been applying her skills and experience to various consulting roles and speaking events in both the sport and corporate world with a focus on leadership, performance, alignment and culture. Additionally, she has been a member of the Maine Girls & Women in Sports Committee helping generate content, programming, and opportunities for girls and women in sport. Carey was a two-sport athlete, captaining both the ice hockey and volleyball teams during her time at Colby College where she graduated with a sociology degree in 2001. She is a proud 2010 recipient of the school’s Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award, and in 2018 was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

“Having been a part of both the U18 program and U.S. Women’s National Team during Reagan’s tenure with USA Hockey, I’ve seen her passion and dedication in action and always appreciated how much she cared about the athletes,” said Shiann Darkangelo, captain of the Toronto Six. “I am very excited for the knowledge and expertise she will bring to the PHF in this important leadership role to help continue the growth of our game.”

Carey becomes the third commissioner in PHF history, succeeding Tyler Tumminia who served in the role on an interim basis during the league’s sixth season and permanently throughout season seven. The PHF has made great strides over the past 18 months by establishing a joint venture ownership model, generating landmark broadcast and corporate partnerships, drawing record digital viewership, and redefining its brand based on the singular skills of its athletes. In January the PHF’s Board of Governors announced a commitment to invest more than $25 million over the next three years to directly enhance the player experience by providing competitive compensation and benefits that will continue to distinguish the PHF as a leader among professional sports leagues.

Team roster building for the PHF’s eighth season is underway with unrestricted free agency officially commencing on May 1. The salary cap for 2022-23 will be a record $750,000 per team with a floor of $562,500. The 2022 PHF season concluded March 28 with the Boston Pride crowned Isobel Cup champions for the third time in Tampa Bay, Florida in a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Connecticut Whale seen live across North America on ESPN2 and TSN2.

New Las Vegas Lacrosse Team Named ‘Desert Dogs’

The National Lacrosse League’s (“NLL”) 15th expansion team, located in Las Vegas, announced that the team will be known as the “Las Vegas Desert Dogs.” The Desert Dogs will begin their first season in December 2022, and the team will play home games at Michelob ULTRA Arena located inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

The team’s ownership group includes Wayne Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, Steve Nash and Joe Tsai – and oversaw a comprehensive naming process dating back to the franchise’s official introduction in June 2021. The team considered over 2,000 fan submissions and conducted surveys throughout Las Vegas to identify Desert Dogs as the name and brand that would best represent the local community.

“We could not be more excited to officially introduce the Desert Dogs to Las Vegas,” said Mark Fine, CEO of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. “We are so appreciative of this community’s support and patience as we prepared our name announcement. The ‘Desert Dog’ represents all that Las Vegas Lacrosse embodies – scrappy and cunning, friendly but fierce, and powerful alone but unstoppable as a pack. We aspire to create an environment here for lacrosse to thrive, and everyone involved in the Desert Dogs organization – whether it’s our owners, players, front office, business staff or supporters – will play an integral part in making that mission a reality.”

The team will begin assembling players in July when the NLL holds its 2022 expansion draft. The franchise will add additional players in August during the league’s entry draft before holding its first training camp in November.

Fans interested in learning more about season tickets can visit LasVegasDesertDogs.com or by calling 702-818-DOGS.

Shawn Williams, one of the most accomplished players in NLL history, has been selected to lead the Las Vegas Desert Dogs as the franchise’s first General Manager and Head Coach.

Williams brings a wealth of experience to Las Vegas, having played 17 seasons in the NLL from 1998-2014 before being inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame as a first ballot honoree in 2021. The Scarborough, Ontario native ranks eighth all-time in NLL points scored, seventh in assists, and ninth in games played. Williams made the transition to coaching in 2015 as a Scout for the Buffalo Bandits before becoming an Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator with the Colorado Mammoth from 2018-20.

“I want to thank our owners for entrusting me to lead this franchise and introduce the game of box lacrosse to the great fans of Las Vegas,” said Williams, “and I want to build a team and culture of excellence that this city will be proud of. Desert Dogs lacrosse will be gritty, hard-working, and community-first. We will bring the best players in the world to Las Vegas to become engaged members of this community who are committed to growing the game. My wife, Tamara, and I can’t wait to move our family here and experience all that Las Vegas has to offer.”

In the coming months, Williams will lead the launch of a local and regional camps and clinics program to support the growth of youth lacrosse in Las Vegas, Southern Nevada, and the Pacific Southwest.

Six Teams In, Three Fight For Final Two NLL Playoff Spots In Regular Season Finales Saturday

With one weekend of regular season play to go, several National Lacrosse League (NLL) matchups have critical playoff impact. Georgia (9-8), Albany (8-9) and Philadelphia (8-9) can still claim the final two spots, while Colorado (10-7), San Diego (9-8) and Calgary (9-8), which have already clinched the three West Conference slots, are vying for the West Conference regular season title and home playoff games in their respective contests this Saturday, April 30. The NLL playoffs begin with Quarterfinal action Friday, May 6.

Under the new expanded “Chase for the Championship” playoff format announced this season, the top four teams in the East, top three teams in the West and one wild card team with the next best record qualify.

In the East, Buffalo (14-3) is the Conference Champion and will have home floor advantage throughout the playoffs, beginning with its announced May 7 Quarterfinal. Toronto (12-5) has clinched a playoff berth and quarterfinal home game set for May 6, and Halifax (10-7) has secured a playoff spot. The breakdown for the contending East clubs is as follows:

Georgia:

  • Can clinch an East Conference playoff berth with a win vs. Philadelphia (Sat., 7 p.m. ET)
  • Can clinch a Wildcard playoff berth with a loss vs. Philadelphia AND Albany loss vs. New York (Sat., 7 p.m. ET)
  • Can be eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss vs. Philadelphia AND Albany win vs. New York

Albany:

  • Can clinch an East Conference playoff berth with a win vs. New York AND Georgia loss vs. Philadelphia
  • Can clinch a Wildcard playoff berth with a Philadelphia loss at Georgia
  • Can be eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss vs. New York AND Philadelphia win at Georgia

Philadelphia:

  • Can clinch an East Conference playoff berth with a win at Georgia AND Albany loss vs. New York
  • Can clinch a Wildcard playoff berth with a win at Georgia AND Albany win vs. New York
  • Can be eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss at Georgia

In the West, the three playoff teams will determine their respective slots as follows:

Colorado:

  • Can clinch the West Conference regular season title with a win at Calgary (Sat., 9 p.m. ET, TSN Sports Interaction Game of the Week)
  • Can clinch a Quarterfinal home game with a San Diego loss at Vancouver (Sat., 10 p.m. ET)

San Diego:

  • Can clinch the West Conference regular season title with a win at Vancouver AND Colorado loss at Calgary
  • Can clinch a Quarterfinal home game with a win at Vancouver, OR Calgary loss vs. Colorado

Calgary:

  • Can clinch the West Conference regular season title with a Win vs. Colorado AND San Diego loss at Vancouver
  • Can clinch a Quarterfinal home game with a win vs. Colorado

For the full standings, visit https://www.nll.com/standings/. The playoff schedule is as follows:

  • Quarterfinals, May 5-9, Single-elimination
  • Conference Finals, May 12-16, May 19-23, May 26-30 (if necessary) Best-of-three
  • NLL Finals, June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20 (if necessary) Best-of-three

Media partners ESPN and TSN will broadcast every playoff game. TSN and ESPN broadcast schedules for the quarterfinal round will be announced after the pairings are set. Follow along at NLL.com for clinching scenarios as they develop.