Monthly Archives: October 2024

Moonshot and CTH Advisors Join Forces to Leverage National Security Tech to Protect Sports Executives, Athletes, Events and Organizations

Moonshot, one of the fastest growing companies in the national security space, and CTH Advisors, an investment banking and advisory firm specializing in sports, media and entertainment, have announced a strategic partnership to combat the rising digital threats in the sports industry.

Moonshot has secured over $20 million in U.S. government contracts to protect schools, national infrastructure, and public figures from terrorism. This initiative will leverage that technology to deliver best-in-class national security solutions to elite athletes, officials, and sports organizations.

Moonshot’s technology is already being used by major sports institutions, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Moonshot is responsible for protecting all Team USA athletes from online threats on behalf of USOPC.

As digital threats become more sophisticated, from AI-generated deepfakes to coordinated doxxing, the sports industry is increasingly vulnerable to both reputational and physical harm. One in five players at major international sporting events, such as the Women’s World Cup, experience significant online abuse. Female athletes face disproportionate volumes of online threats, much like the national security space where Moonshot has found that 92% of women in public life experience abuse online.

This is not just about protecting the mental health and wellbeing of athletes. What happens online doesn’t stay online. This is even more pronounced in cases of stalking and fixated persons, where offline action is more likely to take place. Major events and venues are also increasingly targeted by terrorists—this summer, Taylor Swift canceled her Vienna concerts due to terrorist threats.

Moonshot’s origins in the national security sector make them uniquely primed to protect the sports industry from a wide array of threats. Moonshot have developed a unique AI model, specially trained in advanced detection and threat assessment across several harm types: threats to life, terrorism, stalking and fixated persons, intimate image abuse, AI-generated deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and abuse.

They also take action. They offer an end-to-end service—the same service deployed by the U.S. government to disrupt terror attacks—which will be deployed to proactively mitigate threats to the sports industry. Already in 2024, Moonshot has:

Taken action on over 200 cases of intimate image abuse against athletes, including deepfake pornography.
Escalated over 20 threats to life against athletes directly to law enforcement.
Removed impersonator accounts for commissioners, athletes, and agents, within 24 hours, by leveraging their unique partnerships with major platforms.
Achieved a platform removal rate for abuse content 5x higher than average.
Worked with law enforcement to disrupt one terrorist plot.

This critical initiative will address the growing dangers the sports industry faces from online threats and misinformation, and their impact on sport integrity and athlete mental health.

“Athletes and officials deserve the best-in-class technology to ensure their safety. We deploy the same technology to protect elite athletes as we do to protect the nation on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” said Vidhya Ramalingam, CEO of Moonshot. “Through our partnership with CTH Advisors we are bringing these critical tools into the sporting world, just in time—as the online threat environment becomes even more complex.”

Moonshot will provide the sports industry with:

Threat Monitoring: Utilizing Moonshot’s proven technologies to monitor online abuse, criminal activity, and threats of offline violence across a wide range of digital platforms.
Threat Mitigation: Developing a holistic strategy to address and proactively mitigate those threats online. As part of that strategy, Moonshot will take action through its unique partnerships with social media platforms.
Digital Security Training: Equipping athletes, teams, and sports executives with the knowledge and tools to minimize their exposure to digital threats through comprehensive digital security training.

“Like many others, we are dismayed by the constant news of cyberbullying, doxxing, and other threats against organizations and athletes. CTH Advisors is thrilled to work alongside Moonshot on this critical initiative,” said Andy Brusman, CEO of CTH Advisors. “Together, we aim to provide the sports industry with a comprehensive framework to tackle the digital challenges of today, ensuring a safer and more resilient environment for athletes and fans alike.”

This collaboration will help sports organizations, leagues, and clubs better navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding their most important assets—their athletes. With Moonshot’s expertise in protecting high-profile events such as the Paris 2024 Summer Games and organizations like the SEC, along with CTH Advisors’ extensive experience advising leading sports businesses, this partnership is set to redefine how the sports industry approaches security and growth.

Third Annual Coach Knapp Campaign Returns With Joint Stair Climb Prior To Thursday Night Football

Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, the New York Jets and Houston Texans will combine efforts for this season’s first join stair climb, taking place at approximately 5:30 PM. Then on Sunday prior to their game at Nissan Stadium against the New England Patriots, the Tennessee Titans will join this year’s participants. The week will end on Monday, with the Boston College Eagles running the steps of Alumni Stadium in Newton, Mass. as part of their return to play week when the face another Knapp Stair Climb participant, Syracuse University.

Nearly half of the NFL and over a dozen NCAA teams are participating in this fall’s “Coach Knapp Stair Climb,” the largest number in the brief three-year history of the event.

In honor of Coach Knapp, NFL coaches, players, executives and alumni will participate in raising funds and awareness at each NFL stadium prior to team warmups. Teams confirmed to participate in the stair climb include: Packers, Colts, Titans, Rams, Jets, Browns, Texans, 49ers, Commanders, Falcons. Participating NCAA teams include: Boston College, Oregon State University, Georgia State University, University of Oregon, University of Houston, Syracuse University, Sacramento State, Boston College, Butler University, East Carolina University, Ripon College, Rice University, and the University of Utah.

Over 500 coaches, players and staff will be participating in various forms on game days, easily eclipsing the goal of 20+ participating teams.

The fund, which has raised over $250,000 to date already, was created by Greg’s wife, Charlotte, and close friend and agent, Jeff Sperbeck, to honor the legacy of Greg Knapp who tragically passed away in July 2021 after being hit by a distracted driver while he was bicycling. Coach Knapp was known for climbing the stadium stairs before every single NFL game he coached over his 25 season career. All will be tagged #knappstairclimb on social platforms.

At the time of his passing, Knapp was recently named Passing Game Coordinator of the New York Jets under head coach Robert Saleh, after serving as an assistant coach for over a quarter of a century.

Los Angeles Edges New York In Seven In Strat-O-Matic Simulation

Tommy Edman had a series-best .435 average, hit two home runs and drove in six runs, Teoscar Hernandez plated seven and Mookie Betts had 10 hits as Los Angeles topped New York, four games to three, as Strat-O-Matic (@strat-o-matic), the market leader in sports simulation games, simulated the championship series which begins tonight.

In the decisive Game Seven, Hernandez’s single plated Betts with the go-ahead run that gave L.A. a 2-1 edge. The hosts would add another in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Will Smith, and on a bullpen day, Blake Treinen pitched two perfect innings, fanning four, as the last of eight Los Angeles pitchers in the game, for his third save of the series.

Los Angeles rallied from a 3-1 series deficit, getting five-inning starts from Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Games Five and Six to send it to the winner-take-all contest in L.A.

Betts hit .370 in the seven games with a home run and seven RBI. In the battle between probable league MVPs, New York’s Aaron Judge (.346, two home runs, three RBI) and Shohei Ohtani (.231, two HR, six RBI) were fairly even, while Giancarlo Stanton had three home runs and drove in six in the series.

Game 1

New York……. 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 3 6 4

Los Angeles…. 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 – 4 7 0

WP: Vesia; LP: Hill; SV: Treinen

HR: Soto, Stanton

Game 2

New York……. 0 3 2 1 4 1 0 0 2 – 13 15 0

Los Angeles…. 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 – 4 8 0

WP: Leiter; LP: Yamamoto

HR: Wells, Chisholm, Volpe, Rizzo, T. Hernandez

Game 3

Los Angeles…. 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 4 7 0

New York……. 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 – 5 8 0

WP: Weaver; LP: Kopech

HR: Edman, Judge

Game 4

Los Angeles…. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 1 4 2

New York……. 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 – 7 7 0

WP: Gil; LP: Brasier

HR: T. Hernandez, Soto

Game 5

Los Angeles…. 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 – 5 8 0

New York……. 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 – 4 5 1

WP: Flaherty; LP: Cole; SV: Treinen

HR: Ohtani 2, Wells 2, Stanton

Game 6

New York……. 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 8 0

Los Angeles…. 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 – 7 11 0

WP: Yamamoto; LP: Rodon

HR: Stanton, Betts, Edman

Game 7

New York……. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 2 0

Los Angeles…. 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 – 3 7 0

WP: Banda; LP: Schmidt; SV: Treinen

HR: Judge, Smith

American Association 2025 Season Highlights: May 8 Opening Night, All-Star Game, Expanded Playoffs

The American Association of Professional Baseball, North America’s premier MLB Professional Partner League has released the 2025 regular season schedule.

The American Association’s 100-game season will open on Thursday, May 8 with a pair of games featuring the Miles Wolff Cup Champion Kane County Cougars hosting the Sioux City Explorers and the Cleburne Railroaders hosting the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The remainder of the league will open play on Friday, May 9 with a full slate of six games.

All games in 2025 will be free for fans to view live on the league’s streaming platform, American Association TV. In 2024, the league dropped the paywall for live games and saw viewership nearly double across all platforms. In addition to the league’s streaming platform, in 2025 fans will be able to watch an expanded slate of games via Gray Media local and regional affiliates and nationally on Fubo Sports and other national carriers.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks will host the American Association All-Star Game and festivities at Newman Outdoor Field on July 21-22, and the season will conclude with the league’s traditional Labor Day games on September 1.

Following the 100-game regular season, the top four clubs in each division will vie for the Miles Wolff Cup starting September 3. In 2025, the Division Championship Series will expand to a best-of-five series. The playoffs will culminate with a best-of-five Wolff Cup Final series starting on September 15.

The American Association remains split into the East Division and West Division for the 2025 season. The East Division is comprised of the Chicago Dogs, Cleburne, Gary SouthShore RailCats, Kane County, Lake Country DockHounds and Milwaukee Milkmen. The West Division members are the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Kansas City, Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City, Sioux Falls Canaries and Winnipeg.

“After another year of growth in terms of attendance and revenues across the league, we are looking forward to another tremendous schedule for our fans and clubs in 2025,” said American Association Commissioner Joshua Schaub. “The American Association continues to stand out among MLB Professional Partner Leagues as the place for players and fans to enjoy America’s Pastime in our beautiful facilities. For the second consecutive season, our league lead all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance. We can’t wait to see everyone back at the ballpark in May.”

NFL, College Teams Continue to Expand The Lineup For Third Annual Coach Knapp Stair Climb Campaign

The Coach Knapp Memorial Fund, named in honor of veteran NFL assistant coach Greg Knapp, dedicated to educating drivers on the dangers of distracted driving, reduce the number of distracted driving related deaths, and promote distracted driving awareness reform, today announced its expanded lineup of nearly half of the NFL and over a dozen NCAA teams participating in this fall’s “Coach Knapp Stair Climb.” This coming weekend, two new Universities, The University of Houston (October 12) and Syracuse University (October 14) will be the latest additions to the roster. The next NFL team to take to the stairs will be the L.A. Rams on October 20, prior to their game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

In honor of Coach Knapp, NFL coaches, players, executives and alumni will participate in raising funds and awareness at each NFL stadium prior to team warm ups. Teams confirmed to participate in the stair climb include: Packers, Colts, Titans, Rams, Jets, Browns, Texans, 49ers, Commanders, Falcons. Participating NCAA teams include: Oregon State University, Georgia State University, University of Oregon, University of Houston, Syracuse University, Sacramento State, Boston College, Butler University, East Carolina University, Ripon College, Rice University, University of Utah.

This fall marks the third annual Coach Knapp Stair Climb, with this year’s initiative starting even earlier with participation kicking off with Georgia State University and Oregon State University participating in the preseason this past August. Over 500 coaches, players and staff will be participating in various forms on game days, easily eclipsing the goal of 20+ participating teams.

“I was with Coach Knapp in Denver in 2013, and he was somebody that was really influential for me as a young coach,” said Colts Offensive Coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, who participated in the Knapp Stair Climb last month alongside the coaching staff of the Green Bay Packers. “He actually got me started running the stadium stairs before games, which is a habit that I have held onto. Coach Knapp was such a beloved figure in the coaching community, and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to help honor his legacy.”

At the time of his passing, Knapp was recently named Passing Game Coordinator of the New York Jets under head coach Robert Saleh, after serving as an assistant coach for over a quarter of a century with the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Known as a “quarterback whisperer,” Greg coached some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history helping chart the careers of many young athletes with kindness, humor and trust.

Additional participants will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fans, athletes, and coaches at any level can also participate wherever is most convenient to them across the country, such as apartment building stairs or a high school sports stadium. Images will be shared on various social channels.

To learn more on how you can get involved, details can be found at https://www.knappmemorial.org/stairclimb

AXIA Time Partners with Heisman Trophy Trust

AXIA Time, creator of ultra-custom Swiss Made timepieces, gets another huge deal over the goal line as the Official Timepiece of the Heisman Trophy. To celebrate this win, AXIA Time has innovated a new design called the DIASIMOS with a version exclusively for the Heisman Trophy finalists and honorees in collaboration with the Heisman Trophy Trust. This unique, heirloom-quality timepiece will be presented as part of the Heisman Trophy Weekend beginning on December 13, 2024.

Adding the Heisman Trophy to the list of awards for which AXIA Time has partnered establishes the brand as the go-to watchmaker for celebrating life’s greatest accomplishments. For the past three years, AXIA Time has served as the Official Timepiece of the Tewaaraton Awards for college lacrosse. Earlier this year AXIA Time was named the Official Timepiece of the Naismith Award for college basketball, and the Official Timepiece of the College Football Playoff (CFP). The partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust is another big play for AXIA Time, which has created personalized timepieces of exceptional quality at an affordable price to commemorate life’s biggest achievements and unforgettable moments since 2018.

THE HEISMAN DIASIMOS BY AXIA TIME

Evocative of the iconic trophy, the Heisman DIASIMOS by AXIA Time is an eye-catching study in black and bronze powered by renowned Swiss brand Sellita’s SW300 Elaboré, a 31-jewel self-winding, automatic movement which operates at a frequency of 28,800 VpH (4Hz) and has a power reserve of 56 hours. At 40.5 mm, the watch’s striking bronze-plated titanium #5 case with DLC coating features a split coin-edge bezel and a fine-tooth crown adorned with the iconic Heisman logo. The piece’s sapphire crystal caseback displays the SW300 Elaboré movement with its unique custom rotor as well as an engraving ring which provides dedicated space to honor the individual player. To ensure stylish comfort and the ease of use necessary for daily wear, the watch is presented on an American-made, black square-scale alligator strap with contrast stitching which closes via a bronze-plated deployant buckle embellished with the Heisman logo. Reminiscent of the trophy base, the Heisman DIASIMOS by AXIA Time comes in a custom, solid walnut display box.

“We are excited to include AXIA Time among our family of sponsors as the Official Timepiece of the Heisman Trophy,” stated Michael Comerford, President of the Heisman Trophy Trust. “We are grateful to AXIA Time and its founder, John Kanaras, for their focus on honoring all of our finalists and honorees AXIA’s exquisite timepieces and ultra-custom designs offer a special way for our finalists and honorees to commemorate this unforgettable time in their lives.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Heisman Trophy Trust to celebrate all of their honorees,” said AXIA Time founder John Kanaras. “As with the Tewaaraton and Naismith Awards, AXIA Time believes that being named a finalist is an incredible achievement that deserves to be celebrated. We hope that our timepieces will quickly become family heirlooms that will be cherished by each athlete.”

With the Heisman DIASIMOS, AXIA Time has created more than just a watch: it’s also a time machine that will instantly transport these elite athletes back to the moment of being named Heisman Trophy finalists, for the rest of their lives. These AXIA timepieces are a symbol of their exceptional sportsmanship and performance that they can cherish for a lifetime.

AXIA timepieces are designed in the U.S. and handcrafted in Switzerland by master watchmakers, using the same components and engineers as luxury Swiss brands, at a much more accessible price point. Although this collection is not for sale to the general public, the new AXIA Time Heisman timepieces are stylish and functional, meant to be worn every day, and passed on from generation to generation. As with all AXIA timepieces, crisp and elegant custom design centers what’s important to the wearer above all else: vividly capturing memories of joy and success on the field in this milestone moment.

FE Enters the Sports Culture Space with Limited-Edition Fashion Line Featuring Hockey Hall of Famers

FE, one of the leading brands focused on sustainability in the apparel business, today formally announced their entrance into the growing space of ‘sports culture,’ with The Legends of the Game Collection, a limited-edition line of collectible reversible bomber jackets that pay tribute to some of the greatest players in hockey history. This exclusive collection, in collaboration with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), the National Hockey League and Getty Images, honors the careers of NHL Legends Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Martin Brodeur and more with a unique blend of style, nostalgia, and craftsmanship. Only 99 pieces of each legend’s jacket have been created, with each style individually numbered from 1 to 99 – making them a rare and coveted addition to any fan’s wardrobe. The jacket is the first style in a growing line that will also include hoodies, each designed to blend the culture and heritage of hockey with contemporary, cutting-edge fashion trends. The jackets are available on the FE Website and at the NHL Shop NYC store in Manhattan.
“The Legends of the Game Collection gives fans the opportunity to honor their hockey heroes in a stylish and sustainable way,” said Bill Chang, CEO at FE. “This collection celebrates remarkable achievements by exceptional players and offers a chance to wear a piece of sports history.”

“Our goal every day at the NHL Alumni Association is to ‘Honour the Past’ by making tomorrow better than today for all NHL Alumni and their families. Through these specially designed jackets, FE is furthering this mission and allowing fans to honour the legacy of iconic hockey heroes,” said Glenn Healy, President and Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association.

The Legends of the Game Collection is meticulously designed to celebrate the legacy of hockey icons. Each bomber jacket showcases the legendary player’s jersey number, most iconic photos, career stats and team logo. Crafted in the player’s team colors, the jackets capture the essence of these hockey greats with a tribute that’s both striking and meaningful. The jackets are also reversible, providing two distinct looks in one garment. Fans can choose to display their favorite legend’s images on one side or choose a sleek, minimalist design on the reverse.

Craftsmanship is a key focus at FE. After the fabric is printed using state-of-the-art digital printing technology, every panel on each jacket is hand-pinned before cutting for precise placement and every seam is matched perfectly. This dedication to detail ensures a high-quality product that truly honors the legacy of these hockey icons. The jackets are also made from 100% recycled fabric, combining sustainability with performance. The fabric is water-repellent and anti-microbial, offering durability and comfort.

Deborah Hull, wife of the late Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull, expressed her admiration for the collection: “It is just amazing…Bobby would have loved it! It’s an honor to have this piece of memorabilia for the family to cherish for a long time. I know he would be so proud of the NHL Alumni and what you are achieving. Best of luck on all the Alumni endeavors.”

The initial launch features: Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens), Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils), Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers), Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings), Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche), Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers), Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings), Bobby Hull (Chicago Blackhawks), Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Mark Messier (New York Rangers), Stan Mikita (Chicago Blackhawks), Denis Potvin (New York Islanders), Maurice Richard (Montreal Canadiens), Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens), Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche), Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche), Teemu Selanne (Winnipeg Jets) and Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings).

The Legends of the Game Collection is now available for purchase exclusively on the FE website (www.fe-apparel.com) and at the NHL Shop NYC store in Manhattan. With only 99 jackets for each legend available, fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure their piece of hockey history.

GSE Worldwide Acquires Net Results Marketing

GSE Worldwide (“GSE”), a premier sports and entertainment marketing and management company, is pleased to announce it acquired Net Results Marketing (“Net Results”), a leading sports, culinary and entertainment marketing company. Industry veteran and Net Results Founder and President Jeremy Steindecker, along with his team, will join GSE.

The deal comes on the heels of a strategic investment in GSE from BC Partners Credit, which enables the company to execute on its ambitious growth plan to expand and enhance its impressive talent practice and bolster its capabilities in brand services as well as property ownership and representation. The acquisition of Net Results is the initial step in GSE’s aggressive multi-pronged strategy.

Through Net Results, GSE is adding corporate hospitality, property sales and activation, along with event management capabilities. Additionally, the transaction further expands GSE’s footprint in talent representation through the management and marketing of a number of award-winning and nationally renowned chefs, including James Beard award-winning chefs Michael Solomonov, Gregory Gourdet, Valerie Chang and Nok Suntaranon.

Net Results Marketing specializes in creating custom hospitality and event marketing programming for Fortune 100 companies and other corporate partners. Net Results also currently represents some of the most prestigious art fairs in the world for sponsorship sales and activation. The company recently showcased their extensive tennis industry experience to produce special events for the WTA Tour’s 50th anniversary and the Cincinnati Open’s 125th anniversary.

GSE is as a leading sports agency, representing over 275 top athletes across golf, tennis and NFL, including two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, American tennis stars Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula, and Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Its extensive experience with brand consulting and athlete talent marketing combine to create the most unique marketing opportunities available. As GSE continues to grow and look for strategic opportunities, Net Results offers yet another avenue of growth in a market heretofore untapped by GSE.

“GSE Worldwide is thrilled to add Jeremy – one of the most respected veterans in his space – and Net Results’ capabilities to our own, as our combined offering amplifies the scope and breadth of service we can provide to our clients and further diversify into new, but complimentary, lines of business,” said Michael Principe, CEO, GSE Worldwide. “Bringing Jeremy and Net Results into the fold marks an exciting time for us as we pursue our aggressive growth strategy with the continued support of Gatemore Capital Management and BC Partners Credit’s recent investment.

After 35 years of building my company, I am excited about this new chapter of expansion and growth with GSE Worldwide,” said Steindecker. “My commitment to delivering superior creativity, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service will be further strengthened by GSE Worldwide’s reputation and scope, creating elevated opportunities for our valued clients.

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