Jameis Winston and Dak Prescott among many others supporting the inaugural Kenny Shaw R.A.W. Camp→

ATTENDEES OF THE KENNY SHAW RAW CAMP AT DR. PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL GO THROUGH POSITION SPECIFIC DRILLS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Known for its great theme parks and as the ultimate tourist destination, Orlando, Florida is the vacation home for many people who are looking to get away from the norm of their northern lives or for that sweet summer vacation. However, many people do not know that Orlando has raised and birthed many talented, creative, and sports professionals. As a native Orlandoan, I know first-hand that there is so much more to The City Beautiful than what is seen on television and what the rest of the country knows this city for.

Former FSU quarterback and current New Orleans Saints player Jameis WinstoN COACHING ATTENDEES AT the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp on Saturday at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Orlando is home to many professional, amateur, and youth sports programs and organizations. And this past weekend proved that there is so much more going on in Orlando, that many people don’t know about. On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Kenny Shaw RAW Football Camp. For those who don’t know, Kenny Shaw is an Orlando native and Dr. Phillips High School alum. He was also a part of the 2013 Florida State Football championships team and is currently a professional football player.

While attending the Kenny Shaw RAW camp I had a chance to briefly talk with Kenny about his first camp and the success I was witnessing on the field. Kenny stated, “I didn’t know what to expect with this being the first camp, but I wanted to do something for my hometown. There is so much happening and so much talent here in Orlando that people don’t know about.” And he is right. Orlando has so much to offer in the spaces of sports, business, entertainment, and many other industries. A lot of this talent goes unnoticed, due to the fact that people think of Orlando and the place where Mickey Mouse lives, but it’s really a place to come and build your dreams.

Kenny Shaw was able to display some of that talent at his alumna mater Dr. Phillips High School and the turnout was amazing. The camp was split into two sessions. The first session was for elementary and middle school athletes, while the second session was for high school athletes and the atmosphere was amazing. Kenny Shaw also delivered amazing talent in the coaches he had at the camp. From Jameis Winston and Dak Prescott taking time to instill football fundamentals in camp attendees to Kelvin Benjamin, Telvin Smith, HaHa Clinton-Dix, and many more coaches, breaking down plays and coverages when it came time for camp attendees to play their scrimmage games.

Former FSU quarterback and current New Orleans Saints player Jameis WinstoN TALKS WITH CAMP ATTENDEES AT the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

current DALLAS COWBOYS QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT was part of the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp on Saturday at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Being a native of Orlando Florida, and being heavily involved in local sports communities and within the sports industry, this was the first time I was able to witness and attend a sports event that was this authentic in nature. There was no glam and glitz, there was not a huge crowd of people and media or cameras. It was a quiet, real and effective youth football camp. I could tell that the parents and athletes were so amazed that they were being coached by some of their favorite and top NFL players and former NFL players. It was a refreshing feeling to see the Orlando community come together to support their own and to make sure that this event was a success.

Overall, I salute Kenny Shaw for taking the time out to give back to his hometown and the local community, something that he is not a stranger to doing, but it was well worth it to see the support and backing he received from the city.

For more information on the Kenny Shaw R.A.W. Camp, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kenny-shaws-raw-camp-tickets-141178786551#

Kenny Shaw on Social: Twitter | Instagram

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For more information on Sports Marketing Perspective click here.

2020 NBA Draft Gift Locker

The NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm, will be the league’s first virtual draft and the first draft held at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. headquarters. Although this year’s draft is completely different and the first of its kind for the NBA, the league went above and beyond to make sure that NBA draft prospects received everything they needed going into tonight’s event. 58 players were asked to participate in the television broadcast which is more than double the 23 prospects who received “green room” invitations last year.

To help make the virtual NBA Draft and special night for each prospect, the NBA teamed up with Victory Creative Group to create an NBA Draft Gift Locker. 30 draft prospects received NBA Draft Gifting Lockers, featuring media kits (Microsoft Surface tablet, Beat Powerbeats Pro earbuds, iPhone with a tripod, Ring light, Beats Pill wireless speaker). The locker also includes 30 NBA team hats, personalized NBA Draft basketball, and gifts from other NBA partners including Spalding, New Era, Beats By Dr. Dre, and Oculus as well as a customized AR experience.

Take a look at the images below for a more in-depth look at the NBA Draft Gift Locker that players received ahead of the #NBADraft.

h/t NBA

The National Football League and EA Sports Transform the 2021 Pro Bowl Presented by Verizon

via NFL

2021 NFL Pro Bowl Goes Virtual in EA SPORTS Madden NFL 21

Pro Bowl Fan Vote, presented by Verizon, Begins Today 

Pro Bowl-Themed Show Celebrating Players to Air on ESPN and ABC

NEW YORK, New York- November 17, 2020 - Today, the National Football League (NFL) and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) announced plans to transform the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl presented by Verizon by going virtual in Madden NFL 21. The opening of the Pro Bowl Fan Vote presented by Verizon also kicks-off today, along with the unveiling of early details of an all-new virtual Pro Bowl experience within Madden NFL 21. After the announcement that the Pro Bowl game will not be played in Allegiant Stadium in 2021, the NFL will incorporate several additional elements which will ultimately comprise this new virtual Pro Bowl experience. 

EA SPORTS and the NFL will create a week-long series of matchups featuring celebrities, NFL Legends, current players, and streamers playing as the official Pro Bowl rosters in Madden NFL 21. These matchups will culminate in an action-packed virtual Pro Bowl game played with 2021 Pro Bowl players facing off within Madden NFL 21. These virtual games will be available for fans to watch across a variety of platforms. Additionally, for players of Madden NFL 21, EA SPORTS will be dropping new Pro Bowl content in-game so that players worldwide can play out the AFC vs. NFC matchup themselves.

"Even amidst unparalleled change across the sports industry, we are excited to transition many of the signature components of the Pro Bowl-which will go virtual in Madden NFL 21- into a new innovative experience for our players and fans. We remain committed to using our Pro Bowl platform to empower fans to virtually celebrate the best players in the game," said Peter O'Reilly, NFL EVP of Club Business and Events. "Our partners at EA SPORTS and Verizon are uniquely positioned to help the NFL make the transformation of this high-profile event from live to virtual possible, and we look forward to working closely with them to deliver this unprecedented experience to fans."

"We are transforming the Pro Bowl for fans everywhere and bringing another amazing NFL experience to life in the way only Madden NFL can," said Chris Bruzzo, Electronic Arts EVP of Marketing, Commercial & Positive Play. "We're excited to work closely with the NFL, our long-time partner, to move the Pro Bowl to the virtual fields of Madden NFL and be part of the first high-profile sporting event to go virtual. Our community is hungry for more interactive experiences, so we are always working to create more opportunities to bring them closer to the sports they love."

Starting today, fans can show their support for their favorite players by voting for them to be named to the 2021 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon roster. Additionally, the NFL will leverage social media platforms to showcase its players' incredible athletic accomplishments and competitive nature, while also highlighting their unique personalities off the gridiron.

Fans have the opportunity to vote for the Pro Bowl presented by Verizon roster as often as they'd like starting today until Thursday, December 17 across a variety of platforms, including:

• On NFL.com/ProBowlVote.

• Through Madden NFL 21 Mobile and Madden NFL 21 on consoles. Plus, Madden NFL players will see Pro Bowl voting content and announcements in-game throughout the duration of the voting period, with more ways Madden NFL fans can play an active role in virtual in-game roster additions to come.

• Directly on Twitter during the final two weeks of voting (December 1 - December 17). Fans can vote directly on Twitter by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player's official Twitter handle or creating a hashtag including the player's first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote.

NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on Friday, December 18. Player selections will be determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group's vote counting as one-third toward determining the All-Star players who will be selected to this year's Virtual Pro Bowl. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its Pro Bowl teams. 

The NFL, ESPN and ABC will continue working together on Pro Bowl, creating engaging content from the start of the Pro Bowl vote all the way through the traditional Pro Bowl week and gameday. The week-long series of virtual events celebrating the Pro Bowl will be featured in a special program, which will air on ESPN and ABC. More detail to be announced at a later date.

The following is a breakdown of positions and the corresponding numbers of players who will be selected (88 total) for the 2021 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon:

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About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content, and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices, and personal computers.

In the fiscal year 2020, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Madden and the NFL are property of their respective owners and used with permission.

Press Contacts

NFL:

Samantha Roth

VP, Communications

212-450-2768

Samantha.roth@nfl.com 

Electronic Arts:

Will Alexander

PR Manager

614-477-9728

walexander@ea.com

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.

In fiscal year 2020, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Madden and the NFL are property of their respective owners and used with permission.

Press Contacts

NFL:

Samantha Roth

VP, Communications

212-450-2768

Samantha.roth@nfl.com 

Electronic Arts:

Will Alexander

PR Manager

614-477-9728

walexander@ea.com

NBA Announces Structure and Format for 2020-21 Season

Image via NBA

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the structure and format for the 2020-21 season, which will include a Play-In Tournament to determine the teams that will fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.

The NBA’s 75th regular season will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 22, and feature 72 games for each team.  The opponent breakdown for the regular season is available here and described below:

• Each team will play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total games per team), with each pairing featuring either two home games and one road game or one home game and two road games. Within each team’s division, the league office has randomly assigned which two opponents will be played twice at home and which two opponents will be played twice on the road.

• All five teams from within a division will play all five teams from one other intraconference division twice at home, and all five teams from the remaining intraconference division twice on the road.

• Each team will play two games against each interconference opponent (30 total games per team), with each pairing featuring one home game and one road game.

The 2020-21 regular-season schedule will be released in two segments.  The schedule for the First Half of the season will be released around the start of training camp.  The schedule for the Second Half of the season will be released during the latter part of the First Half portion of the schedule.  The Second Half schedule will include the remainder of each team’s 72 games not scheduled in the First Half as well as any games postponed during the First Half that can reasonably be added to the Second Half schedule.

The All-Star break is scheduled to take place March 5-10, 2021, between the First Half and Second Half of the regular season.

Earlier today, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved a proposal to implement a playoff Play-In Tournament on a one-year basis for the 2020-21 season.  The Play-In Tournament, which will take place after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs, will include the teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference.

The teams with the seventh-highest and eighth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot.  The teams with the ninth-highest and tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have to win two consecutive games to earn a playoff spot.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the team with the seventh-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the eighth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Seven-Eight Game”).  The winner of the Seven-Eight Game in each conference will be the seventh seed in the playoffs for its conference.

The team with the ninth-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the tenth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Nine-Ten Game”).  The loser of the Seven-Eight Game will host the winner of the Nine-Ten Game in a Play-In Game, and the winner of that game will be the eighth seed in the playoffs for its conference.

Below is the tentative schedule calendar for the 2020-21 season:

• Dec. 11-19, 2020: Preseason games

• Dec. 22, 2020 – March 4, 2021: First Half of regular season

• March 5-10, 2021: All-Star break

• March 11 – May 16, 2021: Second Half of regular season

• May 18-21, 2021: Play-In Tournament

• May 22 – July 22, 2021: 2021 NBA Playoffs

via NBA Communications

NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm®: By the Numbers

For Official Release

Orlando, FL – NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® will be held virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET at ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, airing live on ESPN, ESPN Radio and the ESPN App.  ESPN’s pre-draft coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Image via NBA

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum will appear in studio at ESPN to announce the selections for the first and second rounds, respectively.  Select draftees, including many of the potential top picks, will appear virtually throughout the broadcast.

Here is a by-the-numbers look at this year’s NBA Draft:

History

• 1 – NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® will be the league’s first virtual draft and the first draft held at ESPN.

• 7 – Seven players have played in the NBA G League before being drafted by an NBA team, the most recent being Alen Smailagić, the 39th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

• 10 – A college freshman has been selected with the first overall pick in each of the last 10 The last non-freshman to be the first overall draft pick was Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin in 2009.

• 14 – This marks the 14th consecutive year that Adam Silver will announce draft selections as either deputy commissioner (seven years) or commissioner (seven years including 2020).

• 107 – The distance between Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the venue for the last seven NBA Drafts, and ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, the site of this year’s draft, is approximately 107

• 146 – The 2020 NBA Draft will take place 146 days after its originally scheduled date of June 25.

• 1975 – This is the first NBA Draft not held in June since 1975.

• 1989 – The current two-round format for the NBA Draft was adopted in 1989.

Teams

• 1 – The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to make the first overall pick in the NBA Draft for the second time. In 2015, the Timberwolves used the first overall pick to select two-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

• 2 – The Warriors are poised to make the second overall pick in the NBA Draft for the first time in the common draft era (since 1966).

• 3 – The Boston Celtics hold three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 26 and 30) after making three first-round picks last year.

• 5 – The Philadelphia 76ers have a league-high five picks in this year’s draft (No. 21 in the first round and Nos. 34, 36, 49 and 58 in the second round).

• 11 – With the 11th selection of the first round, the San Antonio Spurs are preparing to make their highest draft pick since selecting Tim Duncan with the first overall pick in 1997.

Class Superlatives

• 1 – Memphis center James Wiseman was ESPN’s 1-ranked high school player in the Class of 2019.

• 6 – Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton recorded the sixth triple-double in school history during the 2019-20 season.

• 8 – USC forward Onyeka Okongwu matched a single-game school record last season with eight blocked shots in his first collegiate game.

• 16 – Maccabi Tel Aviv guard-forward Deni Avdija made his professional debut with his current team at age 16 (he turns 20 in January).

• 1 – Georgia guard Anthony Edwards was the nation’s freshman scoring leader at 19.1 points per game in the 2019-20 season.

• 107 – Dayton forward Obi Toppin, the 2019-20 consensus National Player of the Year, led the nation and set a single-season school record with 107 dunks last season.

• 2005 – Last season, Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball became the first player to post triple-doubles in back-to-back games in Australia’s National Basketball League since 2005.

 Family Ties

• 5 – Duke guard Tre Jones and his brother Tyus of the Memphis Grizzlies combined to win five Gatorade Minnesota Boys Basketball Player of the Year awards in high school.

• 6 – Arizona guard Nico Mannion is the son of Pace Mannion, who played six NBA seasons.

• 8 – Duke center Vernon Carey Jr.’s father, Vernon Sr., played eight NFL seasons as an offensive lineman with the Miami Dolphins.

• 12 – North Carolina guard Cole Anthony’s father, Greg, now a basketball analyst for Turner Sports, was the 12th pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.

• 16 – Washington forward Jaden McDaniels is the brother of Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, who appeared in 16 NBA games as a rookie in the 2019-20 season.

• 1,512 – Vanderbilt guard Saben Lee is the son of former Florida State All-America running back Amp Lee, who rushed for 1,512 yards in the NFL.

• 1982 – Maccabi Tel Aviv guard-forward Deni Avdija’s father, Zufer, won a bronze medal with Yugoslavia at the 1982 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

• 2000 – IMG Academy forward KJ Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft.

• 6M – Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball, the brother of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball, has more than 5.6 million followers on Instagram.

Global Game

• 3 – This year’s draft class has the potential to break the record (three) for most players from one Basketball Without Borders camp in the same draft. Killian Hayes (France), Josh Green (Australia), Leandro Bolmaro (Argentina), Paul Eboua (Cameroon) and Vit Krejčí (Czech Republic) all participated in BWB Global 2018 as part of NBA All-Star 2018.

• 5 – This year’s draft class has the potential to break the record (five) for most players from Africa selected in one NBA Draft.

• 7 – Seven players in this year’s draft class have ties to Nigeria. Kansas center Udoka Azubuike and Memphis forward Precious Achiuwa are from Nigeria, and an additional five potential draftees have at least one parent from Nigeria: Isaac Okoro (Auburn), Onyeka Okongwu (USC), Zeke Nnaji (Arizona), Daniel Oturu (Minnesota) and Jordan Nwora (Louisville).

• 7/22 – Deni Avdija and Killian Hayes are seeking to become the highest-drafted players ever from Israel and France, respectively. If Hayes is drafted in the top seven, he will be the highest-drafted French player ever. If Avdija is drafted in the top 22, he will be the highest-drafted Israeli player ever. Avdija and Hayes competed against one another at Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global 2019 as part of NBA All-Star 2019. Avdija was named MVP of the camp while Hayes was named an All-Star.

• 13 – There have been 13 international players drafted No. 1 overall, most recently the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton (Bahamas) in 2018.

• 27 – A record 27 international players were drafted in 2016, including a record 15 in the first round and a record-tying 12 in the second round.

• 69 – Since 2001, 69 former Basketball Without Borders campers have been drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents.

Partnership/Tech

• 17 – ESPN will deliver live look-ins from 17 team draft rooms.

• 18 – ESPN will present the NBA Draft for the 18th consecutive year.

• 19 – Nineteen broadcast satellite trucks will be used to help present the draft, including 15 trucks throughout the U.S. and four trucks internationally to connect with prospects located in France, Greece, Israel and Spain.

• 30 – In this unique year, 30 draft prospects received NBA Draft Gifting Lockers, which featured media kits (Microsoft Surface tablet, Beat Powerbeats Pro earbuds, iPhone with tripod, Ring light, Beats Pill wireless speaker) and a variety of products from NBA partners including Spalding, New Era, Beats By Dr. Dre and Oculus.

• 180 – More than 180 young people from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Learn Fresh, TAPS and Jr. NBA joined 30 Draft prospects for a NBA Cares “Road to Success” virtual community series presented State Farm® on Monday, discussing topics such as physical and mental wellness, leadership, activism, mentorship and more.

via NBA Communications

The Weeknd to Headline Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Sunday, February 7, 2021, on CBS

Image via NFL

New York, NY (November 12, 2020) – Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation announced The Weeknd, one of today's most compelling and significant artists of a generation, will perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show on CBS at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.  

Image via NFL

In less than a decade, The Weeknd has amassed a global fanbase, become a multi-award winning artist, and recently, was named one of the most influential people of 2020 by Time Magazine. Regarded for his creative vision, The Weeknd is known for his genre-bending music and redefining storytelling, both sonically and visually. 

Marking the second year of this collaboration, Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation are excited to bring The Weeknd to the world's biggest stage for what is sure to be a transcendent performance.

The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show telecast will be produced by DPS with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers, and Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Roc Nation is also serving as the strategic entertainment advisors of the live performance.

"We all grow up watching the world's biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I'm humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year," The Weeknd said. 

"The Weeknd has introduced a sound all his own. His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry," said Shawn JAY-Z Carter. "This is an extraordinary moment in time and the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show is going to be an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary performer."

"We are thrilled to have The Weeknd join us in Tampa Bay on the Pepsi Halftime Stage," said Brian Rolapp, NFL Chief Media and Business Officer, "Halftime Show performances have a history of excellence and creativity and we look forward to seeing what he will bring to Super Bowl LV. " 

About The Weeknd: Filtering R&B and pop through an ambitious widescreen lens, The Weeknd took over popular music and culture on his own terms. The multi-platinum three-time GRAMMY Award winner is one of the most listened to artists in the world on Spotify (over 51 billion streams) and is a top 10 artist of all time for RIAA singles. His 2020 album After Hours is the #1 most streamed R&B album of all time (followed by his 2016 album Starboy at #2), and his 80's nostalgic track "Blinding Lights" went 5X RIAA-certified platinum and broke the record for Billboard's longest-running #1 on its US radio chart at 46 weeks and counting. Alongside his gilded musical career, he's graced the covers of TIME, Forbes, Variety, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and GQ along with the late night stages with heralded performances on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and the VMA's where he accepted the awards for Video of the Year and Best R&B. In recent times he has made acting appearances in TV and film with 2019's film Uncut Gems as well as starring in and co-writing an episode of the hit show American Dad.  

He generously shares, with over $2M in donations made in 2020 to various charities. The continuous record breaking of charts, sales and streams, headlining the biggest festivals and stadiums in the world, and his ever mysterious public persona combined solidifies The Weeknd as one of the most compelling and significant artists of the 21st century.

About the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show:

The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical performance of the year, with more than 104 million viewers tuning in to last year's show.  Super Bowl LV marks Pepsi's tenth year as title sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show and 19th year as an NFL partner. Past halftime performances include Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Prince, Madonna, and more.

Viewers can expect unprecedented access to the making of pop culture's biggest event and should stay tuned for more details. For ongoing updates on the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, follow @Pepsi on Instagram and Twitter.

For more information about Super Bowl LV, visit SuperBowl.com.

Link to Key Visual asset: https://we.tl/t-FN96svhdBM 

#  # #

Contacts:
Jana Fleishman, janaf@rocnation.com
Ron Berkowitz, Ron@berkcommunications.com  (for Roc Nation)
Traci Otey Blunt, Traci.Blunt@nfl.com
Alix Ekstrom, alexandra.ekstrom@pepsico.com ​

Bethune-Cookman, FAMU Announce Virtual Florida Blue Florida Classic Week in November

Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M Announce Virtual Florida Blue Florida Classic Week in November

Online events include a pledge drive to support both HBCUs during COVID-19 pandemic

Image via FloridaClassic.org

ORLANDO — Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University will host “Virtual Florida Blue Florida Classic Week” in November, a collection of online events celebrating both institutions, their students, football teams, bands, and alumni. The week of events begins Tuesday, Nov. 17, and will include a pledge drive to support the HBCUs in lieu of ticket sales to the traditional in-person events.

Over the past four decades, including nearly 25 years in Central Florida, the Florida Blue Florida Classic has blossomed from a fierce local football rivalry to a nationally televised, must-see spectacle of HBCU culture and Black joy. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the 41st edition of the game to fall 2021, when FAMU and B-CU both move to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

 “This crisis has disproportionately impacted HBCUs and our communities, and we need to protect each other until a safe return to play is possible,” B-CU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Lynn Thompson said. “Though we cannot gather in person, we need to keep the family bond strong through next season.”

More than just an action-packed football game, the Classic is a weeklong family reunion, blending sports, music, food, and culture, with event proceeds supporting scholarship funds at both universities.

To replace those lost ticket sales, FAMU and B-CU are encouraging alumni, fans, and supporters around the globe to visit FloridaClassic.org to support these historic universities amid unprecedented financial hardship. A goal of 60,000 individual donations of $20 or more — equivalent to a Camping World Stadium sellout — and additional support from game sponsors would drive critical support in 2020.

“Nothing can replace the experience of being at the Florida Blue Florida Classic live, but these events will emphasize the value of the HBCU experience to audiences beyond our state lines,” FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha said. “We need our fans to help us ‘sell out’ this year’s Florida Classic for the next generation of Rattlers and Wildcats.” 

During the week of Nov. 17-21 – the original date of the Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend – the Consortium and its partners will celebrate the rivalry with a series of virtual events highlighting the critical role HBCUs play in our community.

The weeklong slate will include appearances from the Marching “100” of Florida A&M and Marching Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman, football head coaches Terry Sims and Willie Simmons, alumni from both institutions, and other special guests. The week of events is presented with support from traditional game sponsors, including title sponsor Florida Blue.

“The Florida Blue Florida Classic is more than just a football game. It’s more like a family reunion. And this year, for the health and safety of our HBCU family, we need to celebrate these two great universities virtually—just as we’ve had to do with so many other family gatherings during the pandemic,” said Florida Blue Market President Tony Jenkins. “Florida Blue’s commitment to Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman is unwavering. This pandemic has taken a great toll on our community, and we encourage all Rattlers and Wildcats to make their health a top priority so we can safely reunite again in the future.”

Virtual Florida Blue Florida Classic Weekend Schedule of Events

Tuesday, Nov. 17 – Wednesday, Nov. 18

OrlandoJobs.com Diversity Job Fair

The two-day event will feature seminars on job-hunting skills, career-focused panels, and live interviews with prospective employers. The event is open to students and alumni as well as the general public.

Register at OrlandoJobs.com/diversity

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6:00 p.m.

Florida Blue Florida Classic Coaches Show

Join B-CU head football coach Terry Sims, FAMU head football coach Willie Simmons along with current Wildcat and Rattler football players and notable alumni for a look back at great moments in the Florida Blue Florida Classic rivalry, a peek inside the team and a look ahead to the move to the SWAC.

Watch live at FloridaClassic.org and https://facebook.com/floridaclassic

Thursday, Nov. 19, 6:00 p.m.

The Florida Blue Florida Classic: Making A Difference Through Service

Hosted by City of Orlando District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns

 FAMU alum and City of Orlando District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns honors notable personalities from both institutions, featuring conversations that reflect on the HBCU experience, Florida Blue Florida Classic memories, and the important issues facing our community.

 Watch live at https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoDistrict6

Friday, Nov. 20, 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Florida Blue Battle of the Bands

No halftime? No problem. The world-famous Marching “100” of Florida A&M and “The PRIDE” of Bethune-Cookman showcase past performances along with an all-new insight into the programs.  

Watch live at FloridaClassic.org and https://facebook.com/floridaclassic

Friday, Nov. 20, 8:00 p.m.

R&Bingo Virtual Experience: Florida Blue Florida Classic Edition

Hosted by T. Gaines Entertainment, R&Bingo Virtual Experience is a way of listening to popular music, singing along to the hits, and competing for awesome prizes, all while remaining socially distant in your home. If the DJ plays an artist on your bingo card, mark the space. If you are the first person to type "BINGO" in the chat field, you win the prize. Play along with us or tune in to @RnBingo on social media and enjoy the show.

Sign up to play at RnBingoOnline.com or bigtime.games/bingo.

Saturday, Nov. 21, 6:00 p.m.

Alumni Association Pep Rallies

Cap off Virtual Florida Blue Florida Classic Week with fellow alumni and fans with pep rallies hosted by each university’s national alumni association.

Streaming info TBA.

Media Contact:

Sam Gardner, Florida Citrus Sports

407.423.2476 ext 117 / 407.579.6038

sgardner@fcsports.com

Camping World Bowl Becomes Cheez-It Bowl

Image via Florida Citrus Sports

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. and Orlando, Fla., May 27, 2020 – Cheez-It®, the official snack of bowl season, announced it is moving east to become title sponsor of the Cheez-It® Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The move kicks off a multi-year agreement between Florida Citrus Sports (FCS) and Cheez-It, brokered by Denver-based Impression Sports & Entertainment.

Image via Sports Marketing Perspective

The game, most recently known as the Camping World Bowl, will continue to feature top teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference or Notre Dame and the Big 12 Conference in late December each year. The Cheez-It Bowl airs on ESPN.

In its third season as an NCAA college football bowl game sponsor and official sponsor of the College Football Playoff, Cheez-It is underscoring its commitment to the sport and its fan base. Coined the “cheesiest bowl game in history” (in the best way possible), the original Cheez-It Bowl premiered in 2018 with the Fiesta Bowl Organization in Phoenix. The brand’s move to Orlando means Cheez-It will entitle one of just three games regularly featuring top picks from Power 5 conferences (outside of the New Year’s Six bowls).

“Cheez-It is a go-to snacking tradition for football fans and cheese-lovers – especially those who can’t get enough of that uniquely cheesy and crunchy experience,” said Jeff Delonis, Senior Director of Marketing for Cheez-It. “Our preceding bowl game sponsorship with the Fiesta Bowl Organization helped solidify Cheez-It as a staple in the college football postseason.  Now we’re excited to turn to the next page and build our bowl-season tradition further through our new partnership with Florida Citrus Sports and the world-class destination of Orlando.”

The fully integrated partnership includes exclusive naming rights, digital and social media content, in-stadium exposure, product sampling, on-site activation at the game and other FCS organization events, as well as a redesigned Cheez-It Bowl logo.

“We’re proud to partner with Cheez-It, one of the boldest and most creative sponsors in college football,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports. “Their commitment to creating an uncommon experience will add new flavor to ‘the best bowl trip in America’ here in Orlando. We’re excited about the impact that bowl season’s official snack will bring to our community.”

This year’s Cheez-It Bowl will be the 31st edition of the game, and its 20th in Orlando. Since relocating to Central Florida in 2001, the game has developed into one of the nation’s top postseason contests.

The 2019 edition of the game featuring Notre Dame and Iowa State boasted a total live audience of more than 4.7 million viewers and was the fourth-most-watched game outside of the New Year’s Six. ESPN retains the exclusive right to televise the game on ESPN or ABC.

Be sure to follow Cheez-It on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and stay tuned for more bowl-specific updates later this year.

ABOUT KELLOGG COMPANY

At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we strive to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. Our beloved brands include Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Special K®, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Eggo®, Mini-Wheats®, Kashi®, RXBAR®, MorningStar Farms® and more. Net sales in 2019 were approximately $13.6 billion, comprised principally of snacks and convenience foods like cereal and frozen foods. Kellogg brands are beloved in markets around the world. We are also a company with Heart & Soul, committed to creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030 through our Kellogg’s® Better Days global purpose platform. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com or www.OpenforBreakfast.com.

ABOUT FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS

Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events.

ABOUT IMPRESSION SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Impression Sports & Entertainment specializes in providing clients with full-service sponsorship sales representation, sponsorship consulting and venue naming rights services. Founded in 2011, Impression Sports has established itself as one of the leading firms in the industry by working with top brands, including Premier Boxing Champions, University of Colorado, USC, the San Antonio Spurs, Auburn University, the Fiesta Bowl organization, USA Swimming and ESPN Events among others. Its management team provides in-depth experience and results-driven success in venue naming rights, title sponsorships and high-profile sales and sponsorship platforms.

2020 NFL Schedule Release Graphics

Image via CBS Sports

The NFL released the schedule of all 32 teams tonight in a three-hour program on the NFL Network, featuring appearances from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan among others.

In true sports marketing fashion, SMP wanted to bring you something a little different from our perspective. There are so many talented individuals who sit on the marketing and graphics departments for each NFL team, and this year, they did not disappoint with the schedule release graphics.

Below you will find a link to our 2020 NFL Schedule Graphics board on Pinterest where you can download your favorite teams’ schedule and save it as your wallpaper, lock screen, or post it on your Instagram Stories or Snapchat.

2020 NFL Schedule Graphics > https://pin.it/52qzCi4

AAU James E. Sullivan Award Presented by Eastbay to be Announced Virtually on Wednesday, April 29

Image via AAU | For the first time in its 90-year history, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award will be presented virtually.

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 22, 2020) - The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) announced today that the ceremony for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay – originally scheduled to be held at the historic New York Athletic Club – will now take place virtually due to safety concerns related to COVID-19.
 
The announcement of the winner of the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award will take place the night of Wednesday, April 29 starting at 8 p.m. ET on SportsStoriespodcast.com. Each athlete will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one interview with Sport Stories’ host, Denny Lennon, before the winner is presented live on the podcast.
 
The finalists for the title of the top amateur athlete of the year are as follows: Evita Griskenas (rhythmic gymnastics), Grant Holloway (track and field), Markus Howard (men’s basketball), Sabrina Ionescu (women’s basketball), Trevor Lawrence (football), Spencer Lee (wrestling), Dana Rettke (women’s volleyball), Kyla Ross (gymnastics), Megan Taylor (women’s lacrosse) and Abbey Weitzeil (women’s swimming).
 
“We recognize the challenging times that we are living in, but we are looking forward to the collaboration with Sports Stories with Denny Lennon to present this prestigious award and to give hope to young athletes everywhere,” said AAU President and CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy. “The AAU’s mission is to provide a venue for amateur athletes to promote good sportsmanship and good citizen no matter if they are on the court or not and in this unprecedented time that mission is now more important than ever.”
 
Denny Lennon, a longtime AAU member, is the host of “Sports Stories with Denny Lennon” (SSDL) video podcast episodes.  SSDL has interviewed sport greats such as WBA Lightweight World Champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, AAU President/CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy, Emmy Award winning Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chris “Geeter” McGee and USOC/FIFA Medical Advisor Bert Mandelbaum. The video and audio podcasts can be streamed via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify. Lennon also produces Facebook Live Shows, which is where the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award can be viewed: Facebook.com/SportsStoriesPodcast.
 
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the AAU Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize amateur contributions and achievements from non-professional athletes across the country, including famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
 
 
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ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest- non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 41 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts.
 
For more information, visit www.aausports.org | Instagram: @AAUSports | Twitter: @TheRealAAU | YouTube: youtube.com/TheRealAAUvideo | Facebook: facebook.com/realAAU
 
ABOUT EASTBAY:
Since 1980, Eastbay has been dedicated to providing high school athletes with the footwear, apparel, and equipment they need to take their game to the next level. As part of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL), Eastbay is focused on serving athletes who know what it takes to win, both on and off the field, through its direct mail catalog and eastbay.com. Through product selection, insider knowledge, and a range of athletes and experts, Eastbay delivers the tools athletes need to win their style of play and post-game looks.
 
Additional information may be found at eastbay.com | Instagram: @officialeastbay | Twitter: @eastbay | YouTube: youtube.com/eastbay | Blog: blog.eastbay.com | Facebook: facebook.com/eastbay | App: iOS and Android

Sabrina Ionescu Confirms Nike Deal After Being The First Overall Pick In The 2020 WNBA Draft

Via WNBA

After being selected as the no. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Sabrina Ionescu took to Instagram to announce and confirm that she had signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike.

According to ESPN, Ionescu secured offers worth multiple times her expected WNBA salary. The company offers were even outpacing the value of recent WNBA Finals MVP-level player deals.

"During a time when we all need sport more than ever, we are thrilled to have a generational talent like Sabrina join the Nike family," Rosemary St. Clair, the VP/general manager of Nike Women, told ESPN. "Together, we're going to bring even more excitement to the game of basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."

Less than an hour after Ionescu's official jersey was available; the jersey's sold out. Nike is the jersey provider for the WNBA, and now that Ionescu has signed a deal with Nike, it can also sell Oregon jerseys with her name on the back, according to ESPN. Ionescu jerseys were back in limited stock Sunday night and will ship no later than June 1.

New York Selects Sabrina Ionescu With First Overall Pick In WNBA Draft 2020 Presented By State Farm

Via WNBA

NEW YORK, April 17, 2020 – Unanimous National Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon tonight was selected by the New York Liberty with the first overall pick of WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm®, which was held virtually in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Via ESPNW

Ionescu, a three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the nation’s top point guard, averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 9.1 assists as a senior.  She holds the NCAA record for career triple-doubles and is the only NCAA woman or man to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.  A friend and mentee of the late Kobe Bryant, Ionescu spoke eloquently at the memorial service for the NBA legend and his daughter Gianna in February.

With the No. 2 overall pick, the Dallas Wings selected Oregon forward Satou Sabally.  A two-time All-American, Sabally won the Cheryl Miller Award this past season as the No. 1 small forward in the country.  She is a member of the German national team.

With the third pick, the Indiana Fever selected Lauren Cox of Baylor.  The 2019-20 Big 12 Player of the Year was a finalist for the Naismith and John R. Wooden Awards as the National Player of the Year.  As a junior in 2018-19, the 6-4 forward helped lead the Bears to the national championship.

The Atlanta Dream used the fourth pick to select guard Chennedy Carter of Texas A&M.  Carter, one of three Associated Press All-Americans who entered the WNBA Draft as a junior, averaged more than 20 points in all three college seasons.  The unanimous 2017-18 National Freshman of the Year owns the top two single-season scoring averages in school history as well as the single-game record of 46 points.

With the fifth pick, the Wings selected Princeton forward Bella Alarie, who became only the third Ivy League player to be drafted into the WNBA.  Alarie, the daughter of former NBA Draft first-round pick Mark Alarie, was named Ivy League Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons.

The next two players both played at South Carolina.  At No. 6, the Minnesota Lynx selected forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, the 2020 SEC Tournament MVP.  At No. 7, the Wings used their third pick of the first round to select Gamecocks all-time assists leader Tyasha Harris, the 2019-20 Dawn Staley Award winner as the nation’s top guard.

Ruthy Hebard became the third Oregon player to be selected in the first round when the Chicago Sky drafted her with the eighth pick.  In her senior season, Hebard won her second Katrina McClain Award as the best power forward in the nation and led the NCAA in field goal percentage.

The Liberty used the ninth and 12th picks – its second and third selections of the first round – on Connecticut forward Megan Walker and Louisville guard Jazmine Jones.  Walker, a junior, was named a First Team All-American and the AAC Player of the Year this past season.  Jones capped her college career with All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Defensive Team honors.

At No. 10, the Phoenix Mercury chose guard Jocelyn Willoughby of Virginia and traded her draft rights to the Liberty.  The Newark, N.J., native averaged an ACC-high 19.2 points in 2019-20 and was recognized with the Kay Yow Award as the ACC Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

At No. 11, the Seattle Storm used its lone first-round pick to select guard Kitija Laksa of Latvia.  After playing four seasons at South Florida, the two-time All-American signed with top pro team TTT Riga in Latvia.  In her final full season with the Bulls, Laksa was a finalist for the 2017-18 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award recognizing the nation’s top shooting guard.

In the third round, the Liberty selected two-time Conference USA Player of the Year Erica Ogwumike of Rice before trading her rights to the Lynx for forward Stephanie Talbot.  Ogwumike is the younger sister of former No. 1 overall picks and current Los Angeles Sparks teammates Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike.  No family has ever had three sisters play in the WNBA.

Before the start of the draft, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna Bryant and Payton Chester as honorary draft picks.  The Mamba Sports Academy teammates, who played on a youth basketball team coached by Kobe Bryant, tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in January.

Also tonight, the WNBA introduced the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, a new annual honor that will recognize an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the visibility, perception and advancement of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels.

For complete coverage of WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm®, visit WNBA.com and the WNBA App as well as @WNBA on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.

Complete results for WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® can be found here.

Bigger Than Brunch To Host Digital Networking Event

Image via Bigger Than Brunch

For Immediate Release

4/14/2020

BIGGER THAN BRUNCH TO HOST DIGITAL MARKETING EVENT HIGHLIGHTING SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS

Bigger Than Brunch Digital will serve as an online networking event to provide a space for sports, entertainment, and music industry professionals. Bigger Than Brunch Digital is a flagship event meant for industry professionals to connect and network while staying safe at home with the restrictions that are in place due to COVID-19.

The digital networking event is invitation only and will feature a leading panel discussion with some of the industry’s top and upcoming professionals, followed by a questions and answers session, and a specific digital networking opportunity.

The hour and a half online event will take place on the video conferencing platform Zoom. Bigger Than Brunch will provide panelists and attendees with ample opportunity to meet, connect, and engage with each other over some of the most discussed topics in the sports and entertainment industry.

“Having a background in sports marketing and media, I would always attend conferences, seminars, and networking events. Once I left those events, I always felt like I wanted and needed more engagement and interaction with the panelists or speakers”, said founder Asia McMillan. “We created Bigger Than Brunch to be the direct opportunity between young and upcoming industry professionals and those who have been in the sports and entertainment industry who are open to providing wisdom, knowledge, and creating opportunities for others to become a part of the industry.”

Confirmed guests for Bigger Than Brunch Digital include sports agents, marketing directors, music industry professionals, digital media professionals, entrepreneurs, and sports and business majors from various universities.

Bigger Than Brunch plans to host an in-person event during the Fall of 2020 and expects its first online event to be a significant lead into the sports seasons post COVID-19.

ABOUT BIGGER THAN BRUNCH

Bigger Than Brunch is a new event for sports and entertainment professionals featuring engaging panel discussions, intimate networking sessions with influential industry thought leaders, and of course, Brunch!

 Bigger Than Brunch provides panel discussions and Q&As on some of the most critical topics in sports and entertainment, including women in sports, diversity and inclusion, sports marketing and business, eSports, and entertainment law.

For more information on Bigger Than Brunch, you can visit their website BiggerThanBrunch.com.

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Thirty-three Amateur Athletes Selected as Semifinalists Voting for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award opens

Image via AAU

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 9, 2020) – The best in amateur athletics will be put to a public vote this week for the historic 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay. This award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the AAU James E. Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from amateur athletes across the country.
 
This year’s group of semifinalists includes:
 

• Brittany Bowe, Speed Skating, USA Speed Skating

• Jade Carey, Gymnastics, Oregon State University

• Lauren Cox, Women’s Basketball, Baylor University

• Teahna Daniels, Track and Field, The University of Texas

• Yianni Diakomihalis, Men’s Wrestling, Cornell University

• CJ Van Eyk, Baseball, Florida State University

• Justin Fields, Football, The Ohio State University

• Makenzie Fischer, Water Polo, Stanford University

• Adeline Gray, Women’s Wrestling, USA Wrestling

• Jenna Gray, Women’s Volleyball and Track and Field, Stanford University

• Evita Griskenas, Rhythmic Gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics

• Morgan Hentz, Women’s Volleyball, Stanford University

• Ryan Hoffer, Men’s Swimming, University of California Berkeley

• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, University of Florida

• Markus Howard, Men’s Basketball, Marquette University

• Sabrina Ionescu, Women’s Basketball, University of Oregon

• Trevor Lawrence, Football, Clemson University

• Spencer Lee, Men’s Wrestling, University of Iowa

• Kaitlin Leslie, Karate, USA Karate/AAU Karate

• Erin Matson, Women’s Field Hockey, University of North Carolina

• Paige McPherson, Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo

• Beata Nelson, Women’s Swimming, University of Wisconsin

• Maggie Nichols, Gymnastics, Oklahoma University

• Yossiana Pressley, Women’s Volleyball, Baylor University

• Dana Rettke, Women’s Volleyball, University of Wisconsin

• Sha’Carri Richardson, Track and Field, Louisiana State University

• Kyla Ross, Gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles

• James Seamus, Men’s Diving, USA Diving (Committed to Duke University)

• Pat Spencer, Lacrosse and Men’s Basketball, Loyola University Maryland (fifth year: Northwestern University)

• Lauren Stivrins, Women’s Volleyball, University of Nebraska

• Megan Taylor, Women’s Lacrosse, University of Maryland

• Abbey Weitzeil, Women’s Swimming, University of California Berkeley

• Cassius Winston, Men’s Basketball, Michigan State University

 
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 90th year of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award,” said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President and CEO of the AAU. “Many of the previous recipients have gone on to do great things in the world of sport, and we are excited to name some of the top amateur athletes in their sport to this semifinalist list, who display leadership, citizenship, character, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.”
 
Last year, AAU saw its second volleyball player named to this prestigious honor, the ESPNW Player of the Year and NCAA National Champion Kathryn Plummer, who helped Stanford University to its third NCAA National Championship title in the last four years.
 
Plummer joined a world-renowned list of Sullivan Award recipients, including famed Olympians
Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
 
“The semifinalist list this year is incredible. These young athletes have made such an impact,” said Melissa Willis, AAU James E. Sullivan Award National Chair. “It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for us to recognize our outstanding amateur athletes across a number of different sports – from basketball and karate to gymnastics and track and field.”
 
Voting for the award is open to the public at www.aausullivan.org. The semi-finalist round opens at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Finalists will be named at the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony on Monday, March 23, and the AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the prestigious New York Athletic Club on Tuesday, April 21.
 
ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest- non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 41 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Keri Burns, AAU Marketing and Communications Coordinator
p: 407-828-3055
c: 407-280-5110
e: kburns@aausports.org

New NBA All-Star Game format makes every quarter count for Chicago charities

Image via David Dow/Getty Images

NEW YORK – The NBA announced today a new format for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game designed to increase the level of competition throughout the game, provide additional excitement at the finish and make the outcome of every quarter count for charity.

The changes include a new fourth-quarter format that will honor the late Kobe Bryant, who earned 18 NBA All-Star selections and a record-tying four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards.  Additional plans to honor Bryant during NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago will be announced at a later date.

In the 69th NBA All-Star Game, Team Giannis and Team LeBron will compete to win each of the first three quarters, all of which will start with the score of 0-0 and will be 12 minutes long.  At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game clock will be turned off and a Final Target Score will be set.

The Final Target Score will be determined by taking the leading team’s total cumulative score through three quarters and adding 24 points – the 24 representing Bryant’s jersey number for the final 10 seasons of his NBA career.  The teams will then play an untimed fourth quarter and the first team to reach the Final Target Score will win the NBA All-Star Game.

For instance, if the cumulative score of the first three quarters is 100-95, the Final Target Score would be set at 124 points.  To win the NBA All-Star Game, the team with 100 points would need to score 24 points in the fourth quarter before the team with 95 points scores 29 points, and vice versa.  With no minimum or maximum time on the clock in the fourth quarter, the NBA All-Star Game will end with a made basket or a made free throw.

As part of NBA All-Star 2020, more than $1 million will be contributed to Chicago community non-profit organizations through NBA Cares outreach efforts.  These efforts will culminate during the NBA All-Star Game when each team will play for a Chicago-based charity beneficiary, as selected by team captains Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The community organization selected by the winner of each of the first three quarters will receive $100,000 – a total of $300,000 donated to charity for those three quarters.  The winner of each of the first three quarters will be the team with the higher score at the end of the 12-minute quarter.

The winning team in the NBA All-Star Game (i.e., the team that reaches the Final Target Score first) will earn $200,000 for its community organization.

If the first or second quarter ends in a tie, the $100,000 charity award for that quarter will be added to the next quarter’s award.  If the third quarter ends in a tie, the $100,000 charity award for that quarter will be added to the award of the team that wins the NBA All-Star Game.

If one team wins each of the first three quarters and reaches the Final Target Score first, $500,000 will be donated to the winning team’s charity and $100,000 will be donated to the losing team’s charity.

The 2020 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States.  The NBA All-Star Game will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

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San Francisco 49ers Defensive Lineman Nick Bosa Named 2019 Pepsi® NFL Rookie of the Year

Image via Yahoo Sports

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN NICK BOSA

NAMED 2019 PEPSI® NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

​Winner Selected by Fan Vote on NFL.com/rookies

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman NICK BOSA has been named the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, Pepsi and the NFL announced today. Bosa was recognized online at nfl.com/rookies and accepted his award via video, as he and his San Francisco 49ers teammates prepare for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The No. 2 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bosa set a rookie franchise record with 16 tackles for loss, in addition to nine sacks in 2019, and was selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl. He began the season with seven sacks in his first seven games, tied for the second-most by a player in his first seven games since 1982 when the individual sack became an official statistic. In Week 8, Bosa also joined Julius Peppers (October 13, 2002) and Kevin Williams (December 28, 2003) as the only rookies to record at least three sacks and an interception in a single game since 1982. 

Bosa was one of five finalists nominated for this honor. The other finalists were Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Eagles running back Myles Sanders.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2019 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

This is Pepsi’s 18th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 17th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award. The 2019 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year will be celebrated at the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year party, tonight, at Pepsi Neon Beach. Last year’s winner Saquon Barkley will be on hand along with the Los Angeles Chargers Joey Bosa, Nick’s older brother.

2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

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About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.  For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

NFL ANNOUNCES LIVE VISUAL ALBUM, SUPER BOWL LIV LIVE

via Super Bowl LIV Live

FEATURING AUDIO AND VISUAL OF EACH MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AT SUPER BOWL LIV​

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2, FOLLOWING EACH MOMENT

ALBUM PRE-SAVE WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING TODAY

MIAMI (Jan 30, 2020) –The NFL announced today a revolutionary new visual album, Super Bowl LIV Live. Set to release on Super Bowl Sunday, the album will feature each performance at Super Bowl LIV, including the National Anthem (Demi Lovato), America the Beautiful (Yolanda Adams accompanied by The Children's Voice Chorus) and the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show (Jennifer Lopez and Shakira).

Each performance will go live shortly after it happens on digital service providers, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube. The Super Bowl LIV Live will be available for pre-order and pre-save at participating providers starting January 30.

All proceeds from the National Anthem and America The Beautiful performances will benefit the NFL's Inspire Change grant program, focusing on organizations that work to create positive change in the areas of education and economic advancement, police and community relations, and criminal justice reform.

"With the abundance of technology in today's world, it was extremely important to us that we are able to share the ground-breaking Super Bowl performances with our fans across the globe after they occur," said BRIAN ROLAPP, EVP and Chief Media & Business Officer. "This visual and audio album is the first of its kind and will allow fans to experience the greatness of the artists' performance on Super Bowl Sunday at their fingertips and across multiple platforms anytime they choose so. We are happy to continue the way we enhance the fan experience for NFL fans everywhere."

The album can be pre-saved at NFL.com/SuperBowlLive

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Contacts:

Traci Otey Blunt, NFL: Traci.Blunt@nfl.com

NFL Network's Exclusive Coverage of Reese's Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Via NFL

Saturday, January 18 EXCLUSIVELY on NFL Network –

East-West Shrine Bowl at 3:00 PM ET

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at 7:00 PM ET

Exclusive Live Coverage of the Reese's Senior Bowl Saturday, January 25 at 2:30 PM ET on NFL Network​

Senior Bowl Practice Recap Shows Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 23 at 8:00 PM ET

Via NFL Communications

NFL Network provides exclusive live coverage of three collegiate all-star games during the month of January, beginning Saturday, January 18 with the East-West Shrine Bowl at 3:00 PM ET and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at 7:00 PM ET, and concluding Saturday, January 25 with the Reese's Senior Bowl at 2:30 PM ET.

For the East-West Shrine Bowl from Tropicana Field, play-by-play announcer Andrew Siciliano is joined in the booth by analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis, while Kimberly Jones provides reports from the sidelines.

For the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl from the Rose Bowl Stadium, play-by-play announcer Rhett Lewis is joined in the booth by analysts Bucky Brooks and Marc Ross, while Omar Ruiz provides reports from the sidelines. This marks the first of a multi-year agreement between NFL Network and the NFLPA to exclusively broadcast the annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on the network.

For the Reese's Senior Bowl from Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Siciliano is joined in the booth by Jeremiah and Davis, while Brooks provides analysis from the field and Tom Pelissero provides reports from the sidelines.

In addition to airing on NFL Network, all three games can be streamed live through the NFL and NFL Network apps on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices. Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/watch.

Live editions of NFL Total Access air on Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET, and on Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 PM ET and 5:30 PM ET on NFL Network.

Last week, the NFL announced several initiatives in partnership with the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl. The strengthened enhancements are designed to continue growing the game through the development of personnel and increasing engagement with players through all levels of their athletic life cycle. To learn more about the East-West Shrine Bowl, visit https://www.shrinegame.com/.

For the third year, NFL Legends will serve as captains for the Senior Bowl and provide mentorship throughout the week to participating players. To learn more about the Senior Bowl, visit https://www.seniorbowl.com/.

For complete information on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, visit http://collegiate.nflpa.com/

Leading up to the Reese's Senior Bowl, one-hour 2020 Senior Bowl Practice recap shows air Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 23 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network, with Siciliano, Jeremiah, Davis, Brooks, Pelissero, Ross, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo. Additionally, NFL Now provides live updates from Senior Bowl practices Tuesday-Thursday at 1:00 PM ET, and the Move the Sticks Podcast will be on-location throughout Senior Bowl week providing interviews with players and NFL decision-makers.

NFL.com provides complete news reports and analysis throughout the lead up to the 2020 NFL Draft at NFL.com/Draft and on Twitter (@NFLDraft).

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ABOUT NFL MEDIA

NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app, and NFL RedZone.

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.

For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL and NFL Network apps on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork. For NFL Network audio programming, download the TuneIn app.

NFL Announces Nominees for 2019 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

The National Football League today announced the five finalists for the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award.

Starting today, fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/rookies through Monday, January 20 at 3:00 PM ET to determine the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

The 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award will be recognized in Miami during Super Bowl LIV festivities and online at NFL.com/rookies.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2019 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

A closer look at the finalists:

• San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa

A 2020 Pro Bowl selection, Bosa set a rookie franchise record with 16 tackles for loss, in addition to nine sacks in 2019. He began the season with seven sacks in his first seven games, tied for the second-most by a player in his first seven games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. In Week 8, Bosa also joined Julius Peppers (October 13, 2002) and Kevin Williams (December 28, 2003) as the only rookies to record at least three sacks and an interception in a single game since 1982. 

• Tennessee Titans WR A.J. Brown

Brown led all rookies with 1,051 receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns among rookies with eight. Brown became the second wide receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie in franchise history, joining Ernest Givins in 1986. This season, Brown joined Isaac Curtis (five in 1973), Willie Gault (four in 1983) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (five in 1998) as the only rookies with at least four touchdown receptions of 50-or-more yards since 1970.

• Oakland Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs led all rookies with 1,150 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, while his 1,316 scrimmage yards led all AFC rookies in 2019. Jacobs surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (697 in 1982) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in team history. This season, Jacobs also became the first rookie since Cincinnati’s Ickey Woods (1988) to have at least two rushing touchdowns in three of his first eight career games.

• Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Murray led all rookie quarterbacks with 3,722 passing yards and 544 rushing yards in 2019. His 2019 season set rookie franchise records in passing yards, passing touchdowns (20) and passer rating (87.4). Murray joined Carolina’s Cam Newton (2011) as the only rookie quarterbacks with at least 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in NFL history.

• Philadelphia Eagles RB Miles Sanders

Sanders led all rookies with 1,327 scrimmage yards (818 rushing, 509 receiving) in 2019 and joined Saquon Barkley as the only rookies with at least 800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards since 2000. He surpassed LeSean McCoy (637 in 2009) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in franchise history and surpassed DeSean Jackson (1,008 in 2008) for the most scrimmage yards by an Eagles rookie in team history.

This is Pepsi’s 18th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 17th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.

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About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.  For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Media Contacts

John Deighton, NFL

646-876-6028

John.Deighton@nfl.com

Jillian Galasso Djukic, Pepsi

914-253-3174

jillian.galasso@pepsico.com

2019 NFL Playoff Preview

Image via NFL

2019 NFL PLAYOFFS GET UNDERWAY

Orlando, FL – The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 4-5, with Wild Card Weekend. On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills play at the Houston Texans (ESPN/ABC, 4:35 PM ET) and the Tennessee Titans visit the New England Patriots (CBS, 8:15 PM ET). Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings at the New Orleans Saints (FOX, 1:05 PM ET) and the Seattle Seahawks traveling to face the Philadelphia Eagles (NBC, 4:40 PM ET).

The following week (January 11-12), the Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, CBS, 8:15 PM ET) and Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, CBS, 3:05 PM ET) in the AFC and the Green Bay Packers (Sunday, FOX, 6:40 PM ET) and San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, NBC, 4:35 PM ET) in the NFC host the Divisional Playoffs. The Ravens and 49ers own home-field advantage for the Conference Championship Games (January 19) if they win their Divisional contests. 

The 2020 Pro Bowl (ESPN, with simulcast on ABC, 3:00 PM ET) will be played on Sunday, January 26, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and Super Bowl LIV will take place on Sunday, February 2 (FOX, 6:30 PM ET), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

TURNAROUND TEAMS & CONSISTENT WINNERS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF FIELD

Six playoff teams – the BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2), GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3), KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4), NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3), NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4) and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3) – each won at least 12 regular-season games in 2019, tied with 2003 and 2011 for the most such teams in a single postseason in NFL history.

The combined winning percentage of the 2019 playoff field is .708 (136-56), the highest combined winning percentage among postseason teams since 2005 (.719, 138-54).

There are five new playoff teams in 2019: BUFFALO, GREEN BAY, MINNESOTA, SAN FRANCISCO, and TENNESSEE.

Since 1990 – a streak of 30 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.

Download the full 2019 NFL Playoff Preview HERE.

Download the 2019 NFL Postseason Media Guide HERE.