Author Archives: Jerry Milani

About Jerry Milani

Jerry Milani is a freelance writer and public relations executive living in Bloomfield, N.J. He has worked in P.R. for more than 30 years in college and conference sports media relations, two agencies and for the International Fight League, a team-based mixed martial arts league, and variouis sports and entertainment properties. Milani is a proud graduate of Fordham University and when not attending a Yankees or Rams game can be reached at Jerry (at) JerryMilani (dot) com.

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

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

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

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

Georgia:

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

Albany:

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

Philadelphia:

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

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

Colorado:

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

San Diego:

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

Calgary:

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

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

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

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

Amanda Serrano Becomes First-Ever Professional Boxer to Partner Exclusively With FanDuel For Sports Betting 

FanDuel Group and seven division boxing champion, Amanda Serrano, today announced a new partnership, designating FanDuel as the exclusive sports gaming partner of Amanda Serrano ahead of her historic title fight against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden on April 30th.

As part of the partnership, FanDuel will have access to Serrano’s name and likeness. Serrano will also create unique content on her social channels and will include the FanDuel logo on her trunks during the fight. In addition, FanDuel will offer custom promotions on the FanDuel Sportsbook ahead of Serrano’s title fight in April.

“As the first female professional boxer to headline the iconic Madison Square Garden, I recognize the responsibility I have to uplift women in sports,” said Serrano. “I am honored to be the first boxer to partner with FanDuel who are showing their unwavering dedication to supporting and elevating female athletes and I will proudly wear their logo in the ring during my historic battle against Katie Taylor on April 30th.”

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Amanda Serrano, a game-changer making history being the first- woman ever to headline a fight at Madison Square Garden alongside Katie Taylor,” said Amy Howe, FanDuel Group CEO. “At FanDuel, we are deeply committed to women in sports, from the office to the boxing ring, and partnering with Amanda is part of our ongoing support to invest in female athletes.” 

Amanda is signed with and advised by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions, and the fight will be available on DAZN.

Serrano is the newest member of FanDuel’s deep roster of exclusive sports betting talent and influencers headlined by Pat McAfee, including Charles Barkley, Jordan Spieth, Kenny Smith, Colin Cowherd, Jon Rothstein, and Cousin Sal. FanDuel has also formed exclusive sports betting partnerships with blue-chip media companies like Pat McAfee Inc., Audacy, Turner Sports, Volume, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, SportsGrid, Sinclair, and Minute Media. This is all in addition to FanDuel’s own sports betting and daily fantasy content offerings that includes numberFire, The Duel, an extensive podcast network with a total of seven podcasts, and More Ways to Win on TVG hosted by Lisa Kerney.

SGPN Marks 10th Anniversary As Featured Podcast For NFL Draft ‘Pre-Game Show’

Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN),  the only major independent sports wagering media network that places a premium on entertainment value and free user content, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the NFL Draft next week, providing picks, props and prognostications for their audiences of millions as a featured podcast on the prominent BlueWire network during the NFL’s annual meeting to select newly eligible players in Las Vegas.

Sports Gambling Podcast co-hosts Sean Green and Ryan Kramer will live stream from the state-of-the-art BlueWire Studio at Wynn Las Vegas from 3-5 p.m. PT, just one mile from where the 32 teams will make their selections in front of a live audience.  The NFL Draft was ticketed for Las Vegas in 2020 but was reduced to a video conference because of COVID-19.  Will Blackmon, the former standout NFL kick return specialist and member of the New York Giants 2012 Super Bowl Championship Team, will be among the guests during the podcast, which will stream live on YouTube.


The coveted pre-draft BlueWire studio slot is one of four podcasts that SGPN will produce during NFL Draft week with an additional 10 mock drafts on SportsGamblingPodcastNetwork.com and scores of social media posts to inform and guide its audiences as America’s intense interest in the proceedings reaches a fever pitch.  Green estimates that SGPN’s NFL Draft coverage will encompass 12 podcasts, 25 articles and 12 hot takes via social media, arguably surpassing the volume of any other comparable media platform in the industry.

In 2012, Green and Kramer were still recording in Green’s one car garage amidst Christmas decorations and camping equipment.

“Pretty much unimaginable is the only way to describe our journey from that 2012 NFL Draft to today,” offered Green, who won $200,000 in a Draft Kings Fantasy Competition in 2017 to enable SGPN to turn the corner as a profitable, sustainable business. 

With the repeal of the Professional Sports and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that following year, SGPN was well positioned to seize the moment and grow the enterprise that now includes 50 contributors, 18 different podcasts and a new state-of-the-art studio plus offices in Los Angeles. One validation of their success came in February when the Los Angeles Business Journal featured SGPN’s path to profitability in a 20-paragraph article that appeared in both the online and print editions.

“We’ve been fortunate timing-wise with the PASPA repeal, for sure,” offered Kramer, a data and metrics specialist who spent 10 years in the tech industry for Hulu and other companies. “We’ve also complemented each other on the business side so that the steady growth has been efficient.  There’s plenty more to do but right now we’re focused on delivering some winning wager recommendations on all things NFL Draft because our loyal audiences deserve it.”

In 2012, the big stories were the amazing skills of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, who went first and second, respectively, in that draft. “Like everyone else, we believed that both guys would be stars in the league ten years later, but that’s how unpredictable our world is,” recalled Green in reference to their shortened careers. 

  • The Sean Green/Ryan Kramer SGPN eye-opening prediction for next week:

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis to go second to the Detroit Lions or another team via trade as the first QB selected. Consensus odds have Willis going around the ninth or tenth selection. “Great players at that position have immense value,” offered Kramer.“We believe the Lions – or multiple other teams via trade – will pull this trigger.”

SGPN clobbered industry growth projections with a 30 percent year-over-year increase in total downloads during the course of 2021 (over 3 million) and is continuing its record growth in 2022. SGPN launched eight new podcast feeds last year and has become a leading authority on the USFL, producing over 10 hours of original content around the draft and continuing that momentum as the season got underway, recording three podcasts per week on the sport.

Hancock accepts Final X berth, and will compete for U.S. World Team spot in New York on June 8

2021 World bronze medalist and 2020 Olympian G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

has officially accepted his 97 kg Greco-Roman berth in Final X

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

Hancock won a bronze medal at 97 kg at the 2021 World Championships, the first U.S. Greco-Roman medal since 2018. He placed seventh at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Hancock has made four straight U.S. Senior World Teams. He was a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. In 2017, he made three U.S. World Teams (Junior, U23, Senior). A native of Fountain, Colo., Hancock was a Colorado state placewinner for Fountain-Fort Carson High School.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This will be Hancock’s first appearance in a Beat the Streets Annual Benefit event.

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

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

FINAL X NEW YORK, presented by Tezos

At Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater, Wednesday, June 8

Declared Qualifiers to date

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

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

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

G’ANGELO HANCOCK

Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Club: Sunkist Kids

College: Daymar College

Training Center: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center

High School: Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort-Carson)

Born: July 27, 1997

  • 2021 World bronze medalist
  • 2020 Olympian (7th place)
  • Four-time Senior World Team member (2017-19, 2021)
  • 2020 Pan American Championships champion
  • 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist
  • Made two U.S. World Teams in 2018 and 2019 (U23, Senior)
  • Made three U.S. World Teams in 2017 (Junior, U23, Senior)
  • Two-time U.S. Open champion (2017, 2019)
  • Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
  • 2016 Junior World bronze medalist

photo credit: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors

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

2016 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) has officially accepted her 57 kg women’s freestyle berth in Final X

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

Maroulis is a history-maker for Team USA in women’s wrestling. She became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling with her victory at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She became the first U.S. women’s wrestler to win two Olympic medals with her bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Maroulis has won three World gold medals (2015, 2017, 2021) and boasts five Senior World medals. Maroulis also won three Junior World medals. She was a four-time WCWA college national champion, winning three titles for Simon Fraser and one for Missouri Baptist. Maroulis is a native of Rockville, Md.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This will be the seventh time that Maroulis has competed in a Beat the Streets Annual Benefit event, and she is undefeated in her previous Beat the Streets matches. Her first came in 2012, where she beat U.S. wrestler Ashley Hudson. Her most recent came in 2108, with a victory over Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria.

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

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

FINAL X NEW YORK, presented by Tezos

At Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater, Wednesday, June 8

Declared Qualifiers to date

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

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

HELEN MAROULIS

Residence: Rockville, Md.

Club: Sunkist Kids

College: Simon Fraser Univ., Missouri Baptist

High School: Marquette, Mich., Rockville, Md. (Colonel Zadock Magruder)

Born: Sept. 19, 1991

  • 2016 Olympic champion (first U.S. woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal)
  • 2020 Olympic bronze medalist (first U.S. woman to win two Olympic medals)
  • Three-time World champion (2015, 2017, 2021)
  • 2012 World silver medalist
  • 2014 World bronze medalist
  • Three-time Junior World medalist (2008, 2010, 2011)
  • 2011 Pan American Games champion
  • Four-time WCWA women’s college national champion (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)

Maroulis Beat the Streets Annual Benefit History (6-0 record)

2012: Ashley Hudson (USA), 4-0, 2-1

2014: Marcia Andrades (Venezuela), Fall

2015: Yamilka del Valle Alvarez (Cuba), 10-0

2016: Samantha Stewart (Canada), Fall

2017: Yuzuru Kumano (Japan) 7-4

2018: Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria), 4-1

Castrol Continues Support for Roush Fenway Keselowski Carbon Neutrality 

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) is proud to announce it is bringing back the carbon neutral No. 6 Ford powered by Castrol at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 24. RFK Co-owner and driver Brad Keselowski will be behind the wheel of the Castrol Mustang in the now iconic all-white paint scheme. RFK became the first carbon neutral NASCAR race team in 2021.  

The initiative is part of Castrol’s ongoing relationship with RFK and is another step toward supporting its partners in achieving their lower carbon ambitions. RFK continues to make strides on its carbon neutral journey, having been able to achieve reductions across Scope 1, 2 and certain 3 emissions associated with the team and in accordance with internationally recognized PAS2060 standard that RFK utilized in becoming carbon neutral.   

RFK achieved a 40% reduction in absolute carbon emissions from Scope 1 and 2 (twice their initial goal of 20%) and a 23% reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions. Reductions at these levels were planned for 2022 but achieved a full year ahead of schedule. *  

Beginning at the Talladega race both RFK cars will be using motor oils specially formulated for RFK by Castrol with more than 50% RRBO (re-refined base oil).  Re-refined oil, on average, is 50% lower lifecycle carbon emissions vs. ordinary/conventional oil.** 

Prior to the race on Sunday, Castrol will lead a community-wide clean-up with Keselowski and fellow RFK driver Chris Buescher, who pilots the No. 17 car, on Friday April 22 (which is also Earth Day) in Oxford, Ala. Fans across the country are invited to join in the efforts by posting pictures to Instagram of their own clean-ups with the hashtag #drivingforchange for a chance to win Keselowski’s race-worn, fire suit.  Consumers must post pictures of their local clean ups by May 8.   

“Since RFK’s milestone commitment to carbon neutrality last year, we at Castrol have continued to look for ways to help drive change and to support our partner RFK,” said Castrol’s Vice President of Marketing, Americas Rayne Pacek. “And we’re excited to get fans involved this year in the community clean up and to have Chris and Brad leading the charge in Oxford, in addition to raising awareness on the track.” 

Speaking about RFK’s carbon neutral journey Brad Keselowski said, “None of us can change the world overnight by ourselves, but every bit counts and I’m proud to be working alongside Castrol to raise awareness. I hope that RFK and Castrol can help inspire others and help to drive change.” 

“We’re thrilled to work with both Castrol and RFK to help make Oxford, Ala., even more beautiful,” said Alton Craft, Mayor of Oxford, Alabama. “We hope that our efforts can help inspire fans across the country to chip in – a chance for them to win Brad’s white fire suit doesn’t hurt, either!”

Anyone interested in learning more about Castrol’s #drivingforchange initiative should go here.  

* Reductions were made in accordance with the BSI PAS2060 standard for carbon neutrality, whereby an organization commits to reduce carbon emissions within their measured boundary and to report on that progress. Both the measured boundary and emission reductions have been assessed in accordance with BSI PAS2060 and the achievement of carbon neutrality has been assured by ERM CVS, a third-party assurer. RFK’s QES available upon request.

NABC, WBCA Back New Coach-Powered Media Company

Inspired by coaches from college basketball and beyond, an influential team of participants has announced the launch of and investment in Coaches+, a new media company that will develop and produce premium content and intellectual property while partnering with the widest range of distribution platforms to engage audiences globally.

Coaches+ is backed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), organizations that combined represent more than 8,000 coaches across all levels of college, scholastic and youth basketball. The NABC and WBCA share an associated audience footprint of more than 190 million college alumni and more than a billion fans and followers on social media.

Coaches+ content initiatives currently in development include premium TV programming and podcasts, live games and events, philanthropic projects, education and instructional curricula, media collectibles and a “Coaches Creator” program to provide new opportunities and resources to coaches at every level.

NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson laid out the vision for Coaches+ to the organization’s membership at the NABC Convention, being held in New Orleans alongside the Men’s Final Four.

“The NABC is thrilled to take part in the launch of Coaches+, and we’re confident that this new initiative will create tangible benefits for our members from all levels of the sport,” Robinson said. “The ability of Coaches+ to develop and produce high-quality content will amplify our coaches’ unique stories and the NABC’s core values of leadership, education, inclusion, service and advocacy.”

As part of announcements at their respective organizations’ annual conventions, Robinson and WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew introduced a new Coaches+ funding round, backed by investments from the NABC, the WBCA and a group of individual investors.

“The impact and influence of coaches has never been more evident or important,” Donehew said. “Our investment and enthusiastic participation in Coaches+ is about our commitment to create new opportunities for our coaches and WBCA members in the always-evolving media ecosystem.”

Coaches+ was incubated in partnership with and additional investment from TeamWorks Media, a content studio based in Chicago that has developed and produced a wide range of award-winning sports programming, media properties and “in real life” content experiences.

“The best content has always been a mix of accessibility, authenticity and authority, which also happens to be qualities shared by the best coaches,” TeamWorks Media co-founder and CEO Jay Sharman said. “Coaches+ is a unique opportunity to create the highest level of programming that engages the widest range of passionate audiences through powerful, meaningful stories.”

For the remainder of 2022 and into 2023, Coaches+ will be accelerated out of TeamWorks Media’s studio in downtown Chicago, ahead of the selection of a location for a permanent Coaches+ studio and event space.

For more information, visit coachesplus.com or follow the company on social media (@coachesplus).

Milwaukee Tops Minnesota For Championship As Strat-O-Matic Simulates 2022 Baseball Season, Playoffs

As fans eagerly await the delayed start of the 2022 baseball season, Strat-O-Matic (@StratOMatic), the market leader in sports simulation, just can’t wait to deliver its preseason simulation on what was supposed to be Opening Day today across North America. Fans in Milwaukee and Minnesota will be particularly excited to learn that Strat-O-Matic sees the two squaring off in the championship, with Milwaukee taking a seven-game classic for its first title.

Los Angeles stars Mike Trout (45 home runs, .315/.424/.617) and Trea Turner (113 runs scored, .325/.386/.513) won the A.L. and N.L. MVP awards, respectively, while New York’s hurlers Gerrit Cole (15-9, 2.66 ERA, 245 strikeouts) and Jacob deGrom (17-4, 2.14 ERA, 269 Ks) were the A.L. and N.L. Cy Young winners. 

In addition to today’s look at the full 2022 season, Strat-O-Matic will conduct a daily “Strat-O-Matic Game of the Day” simulation featuring an interesting matchup, beginning with the rival Boston vs. New York contest on April 7. Fans can follow on the Strat-O-Matic website (https://www.strat-o-matic.com) as well as its social media outlets.

In 2021, Strat-O-Matic’s Opening Day simulation correctly tabbed Atlanta as the champion, with seven of the 10 playoff teams correct. Three of the playoff seeds were pegged exactly right, with St. Louis losing the Wild Card game, the home run leader clubbing 48, Julio Urias as the major league wins leader, and Atlanta beating Milwaukee in the NLDS on the way to the title.

In this year’s simulation, Milwaukee won the N.L. Central at 96-66, earning the No. 3 seed. Under the new playoff format, Milwaukee topped third wild card and No. 6 seed San Francisco, two games to none, then upended No. 2 New York, 3-1, and defending champion and No 5 Atlanta in seven games before the dramatic seven game win over Minnesota, the A.L. No. 1 seed that had swept second Wild Card Toronto in three games and No. 2 New York in four to get to the championship.

“Strat-O-Matic has a long tradition of getting our season simulation to fans on Opening Day, and we didn’t want to let the delay keep us from that,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder. “We are particularly excited about the added wrinkle of the ‘Strat-O-Matic Game of the Day to keep fans of every team engaged in the biggest matchups on the schedule.”

cover image: Corbin Burnes (Flickr/Ian D’Andrea)

SGPN To Award $1,000 Cash To Winner Of Final Four 10-Question Contest

The Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN), the leading independent and free content platform for the wagering public, is celebrating the Final Four with another free contest, guaranteeing $1,000 to the winner of a 10-questions competition. Competition link: www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com/finalfour.

The participant who answers the most questions correctly will get the money and the contest is available on the SGPN App. The contest is underway and the SGPN App is downloadable at Apple’s App Store, the Google Play Store, and from www.SportsGamblingPodcast.com. Participants are asked subscribe to the Sports Gambling Podcast YouTube channel, follow the Sports Gambling Podcast on Twitter and follow the Sports Gambling Podcast on Spotify.

Devised by the SGPN team of college basketball experts, here are the questions:

  1. Villanova vs. Kansas ATS – Pick One Team
  2. Villanova vs. Kansas Total – Pick One Number
  3. UNC vs Duke ATS – Pick One Team
  4. UNC vs Duke Total – Pick One Number
  5. Who will have the most total points in the Final Four? – Pick One Team
  6. Will there be a lead change in the final 10 seconds? – Yes or No
  7. Team with highest 3-point percentage – Pick One Team
  8. Most Outstanding Player – Pick One Player
  9. Championship Winner – Pick One Team

10.Total Points in Championship Game (TieBreaker) – Pick One Number

Ones Basketball Association Unveils Schedule and Venues for First Season of One-on-One Basketball

Seven-time NBA All-Star, Basketball Hall-of-Famer, and entrepreneur Tracy McGrady today unveiled the regional schedule and venues for the launch of the Ones Basketball Association, a first-ever elite competition that will celebrate the most skilled one-on-one players on the planet.

The first year of regional competition will take place in seven cities across the United States, beginning the weekend of April 30th in Houston and concluding in June. The 2022 Finals for the Ones Basketball Association will take place in July.

McGrady has also announced that media and sports industry veteran Jeffrey Pollack has signed on as a strategic advisor to help lead business planning and operations and create best-in-class events and experiences.

“Our goal this year is to test and preview how we should best spotlight and celebrate the competition, raw athletic talent, and extraordinary skills of these young rising stars,” McGrady said. “We are proud to partner with Jeffrey Pollack, who will help us develop our game plan on and off the court. His input is already invaluable to me, as we take our first steps as a startup league and set the foundation for a global basketball property that will create more opportunities for athletes and fans and tell new basketball stories.”

“In many ways this is the first-ever pop-up sports league,” said Pollack. “We are moving fast, tipping off quickly, and excited to publicly share our proof-of-concept with the basketball community and sports industry. Early feedback will be vital to our planning efforts, and we are ready to test, listen, and learn throughout this first season. Players, fans, and partners will have a rare opportunity to co-create the Ones Basketball Association with Tracy and our team, and it’s exciting to help launch a new celebration of basketball excellence.”

Elissa Grabow, McGrady’s long-time business manager, has also joined the leadership team to help turn McGrady’s vision into reality. “Working for Tracy McGrady for the past 25 years has been the ride of a lifetime and this journey is a true labor of love,” said Grabow. “Tracy is inspired and focused and it all comes from the purest place: his heart. It is an honor to be on this team and help develop the Ones Basketball Association into something special that we believe will build community, provide hope and opportunity, and create a new way to fall in love with the game of basketball.”

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

The regional tournament schedule for the first season of the Ones Basketball Association season is:
· Houston, April 30-May 1 (The Dub Sports Zone, Richmond, TX)
· Atlanta, May 7-8 (CORE4 Atlanta, Chamblee, GA)
· Chicago, May 21-22 (Chicago Hope Academy Athletic Center, Chicago, IL)
· New York City, May 28-29 (Major R. Owens Community Center hosted by New Heights, Brooklyn, NY)
· The DMV, June 4-5 (The St. James, Springfield, VA)
· The Bay Area, June 11-12 (The Ultimate Fieldhouse, Walnut Creek, CA)
· Los Angeles, TBD (TBD)

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

Venues this first year will have very limited public seating, in order to keep the current focus on the athletes, their stories, and the competitive format.
Jeffrey Pollack is a sports business executive and Emmy-Award winner with more than 25 years of leadership experience driving catalytic change, growth, and innovation for family-owned, private-equity-backed, and corporate-based ventures. He was most recently President and CEO of the XFL.

Pollack has been lauded for helping businesses and brands rethink, recalibrate, and evolve, and he has held both executive and advisory roles with the NBA, NASCAR, World Series of Poker, Professional Bull Riders, and Los Angeles Chargers. Pollack is founder of The Sports Business Daily, the original daily trade publication for the sports industry.

The field for each regional tournament, along with content and media partners, elite player ambassadors, and details about the 2022 Finals, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Follow Ones Basketball Association at https://www.obahoops.com/.

National Lacrosse League Championship Sets Whirlwind Seven-Week Playoff Schedule Outline

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced the outline of the 2022 Playoff schedule, which runs up to seven weeks from May 5 through June 20. Under the new expanded playoff format instituted for this season, the top four teams in the East, top three teams in the West and one wild card team with the next best record qualify. With 34 games on the schedule to determine playoff spots and seeds, the Chase to the Championship begins tomorrow, March 31 when the Philadelphia Wings host the East Conference leading, Buffalo Bandits, the first and only team to qualify thus far.

Media partners ESPN and TSN will provide live broadcasts of every game (beginning with the single-elimination quarterfinal matchups held May 5-9. The first game of the best-of-three Conference Finals is set for the following week (May 12-16), with Game 2 (May 19-23) and Game 3 (if necessary, May 26-30) set to close out the month (dates subject to change).

The best-of-three NLL Finals will take place June 2-6, June 9-13 and June 16-20 (if necessary). Exact dates and the TSN and ESPN broadcast schedules for all rounds will be announced once the teams have clinched playoff home games in each series.

“With a month left in the season, every team is still in the playoff hunt and all but one slot is still up for grabs,” said Jessica Berman, NLL Deputy Commissioner. “The Chase to the Championship gives every one of those games playoff implications, and fans are excited to watch their favorite teams vie for the title.”

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

For Soccer Ventures and American Outlaws Announce Strategic Partnership

For Soccer Ventures (FSV), the largest independent soccer media and experiences company in the United States, has established a first-of-its-kind Preferred Partnership with The American Outlaws (AO), a 20,000-member organization dedicated to supporting U.S. Soccer women’s, men’s, youth, and extended national teams. This partnership provides AO access to the incomparable soccer-focused creative, content and commercial resources of FSV as both organizations look to partner with brands, platforms, and publishers to grow the sport of soccer in the United States.

“Our North Star is to grow the sport of soccer in the United States, and no one has done more to establish fandom in the grassroots than the American Outlaws. It has been our goal since our founding to find ways to work with and support AO, and we couldn’t be more excited with this opportunity,” said John Parker, FSV Chief Operating Officer and former American Outlaw chapter president. “With this Preferred Partnership, AO and FSV will work together to develop opportunities for brands, platforms, and partners who wish to invest in the growth of soccer in America in such a way that we can provide further value for AO membership as well as its philanthropic arm, AO Impact, much like we did in our previous partnership.”

For Soccer Ventures will immediately begin work with AO leadership to innovate and develop opportunities that prioritize the fan experience and growth of chapter-based support of the US national soccer teams. FSV will then represent these opportunities on behalf of AO with brand, platform and publishing partners.

“In recent months, our relationship with FSV not only has benefited our members by providing easier access to viewing our away World Cup qualifiers, but also helped us create opportunities for our greater community to enjoy the game we love by funding AO Impact-funded programs,” said Justin Brunken, AO President and co-founder. “We’re excited to work with FSV to identify more opportunities with partners that provide value to our members – and who provide our 200-plus chapters with programs that will grow local support for all U.S. National Teams.”

FSV is coming off a record year of growth in 2021. This growth includes the acquisitions of Alianza de Futbol (the largest Hispanic soccer program in America), Footycon and The Association (first of its kind soccer-meets-lifestyle festivals and events series), and the launch of the Black Star Initiative. FSV also partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world: adidas, Pepsi, Lays, Verizon, CBS Sports/Paramount+, Allstate, EA Sports, Ford, Topps, Umbro, Chevron and Gatorade.

Founded in 2007, the American Outlaws is the largest unofficial supporters group of the U.S. women’s, men’s, youth, and extended national teams. A nonprofit organization, its members work to build a community around soccer in the 200+ communities its chapters call home. You can find AO supporting the national teams behind the goal of every U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team game.

Celsius Sponsors Live Fast Motorsports for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Live Fast Motorsports (LFM) and CELSIUS announced on Feb. 16, 2022, their second-year partnership for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series racing season. Today the two companies announced that CELSIUS will be the primary sponsor for LFM at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sun. Mar. 20, for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 race.

Celsius is a better-for-you alternative to traditional energy drinks with clinically proven function which provides essential energy. Celsius is a global top-selling lifestyle fitness drink featuring zero sugar, no preservatives, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, and is non-GMO, with no artificial flavors or colors. Consumed by athletes all over the world, CELSIUS contains seven essential vitamins providing a sustained energy source for everyone’s fitness goal.

“Celsius is honored to enter their second year of partnership with Live Fast Motorsports,” said John Fieldly, President and Chairman of Celsius. “CELSIUS is a fitness drink that drives performance and provides that essential energy to fuel Live Fast Motorsports. Celsius was created to help people LIVE FIT, exceed their goals, and elevate their everyday lives. We are proud that LFM co-owner, Matt Tifft, co-owner and NASCAR Cup series driver, B.J. McLeod, and their team trust our products to bring out their best energy to perform all-season long.”

LFM and Celsius are excited to release the new co-branded paint scheme featuring Celsius’ popular sparkling orange flavor beverage on the lower rear quarter panel. This new electrifying design has both teams hyped up for the competitive Atlanta race.

“Our Live Fast Motorsport’s team couldn’t be more enthused about this second-year partnership and Celsius themed paint scheme for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.” said co-owner of Live Fast Motorsports, Matt Tifft. “On hot long race weekends, Celsius always provides the refreshing taste and stable energy that our team needs to stay hydrated and succeed on the track. That’s why our team’s cooler is always stacked with various flavors on race weekends. It’s the perfect pick-me up and even friendly to my low-carb lifestyle.”

“There’s not a time you’ll see me walking around the track on race day without a Celsius,” said co-owner and driver, B.J. McLeod. “Many energy drinks are high in sugar or often give the shakes, but Celsius helps keeps me energized and focused during both my workouts and races.”

LFM and Celsius are excited to hit the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway and promote a high energy sustainable lifestyle to our fans through the race. Tune-in on Sun. Mar. 20, 2022 at 3 PM EST to watch the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 on FOX.

For more information about Celsius, please visit http://www.celsiusholdingsinc.com

ESPN, Genius Sports Announce Immersive Experience For The 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship

Genius Sports Limited (“Genius Sports”) (NYSE:GENI), the official data and technology partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, today announced a collaboration with ESPN for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship using AI-powered tracking data and live video augmentations.

Through its Second Spectrum division, Genius Sports will provide ESPN and consumers with the first live augmented video feeds for women’s basketball, delivering new levels of interactivity and insight to a rapidly growing audience. ESPN will be able to select from a suite of data-driven visualizations, including split-second shot probabilities and distances to 3-point special effects, captured through optical tracking technology that identifies and delivers the precise coordinates of every player and the ball, 25 times a second.

Genius Sports’ technology and augmentation solutions will be utilized during the Women’s Final Four and National Championship games, when this year’s champion is crowned Sunday, April 3 (8 p.m. ET) at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fans will be able to experience the Second Spectrum enhancements as an alternate viewing option in addition to ESPN’s traditional telecasts of each game.

“Expanding our relationship with Second Spectrum to support of the Women’s Tournament and their fans is another exciting first for us,” said Kevin Lopes, ESPN Vice President, Sports Business Development & Innovation. “The augmented feeds for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and National Championship game will provide fans with an exciting viewing option that leans into innovative stats and visuals.”

ESPN will also have access to Genius Sports’ unique Insight tool, generating advanced statistical insights on individual teams and players. As the Official Optical Tracking Provider of the NBA, Second Spectrum has worked closely with ESPN for the last six years, capturing rich tracking data and delivering augmentations as well as helping to power the first-of-its-kind ‘Marvel’s Arena of Heroes’ alternate broadcast on ESPN in 2021.

“It’s appropriate that during this Women’s History Month we make this announcement with ESPN to bring immersive, player tracking technology to ‘March Madness’ on the Women’s Basketball side. The days of women’s sports being considered second class are behind us,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “We are proud to work with ESPN, through the best-in-class work Second Spectrum does, to give the millions of fans young and old, an immersive experience for March Madness that will set a new course not just for the NCAA Championships, but for all of sport that is played by women the world over. It is a new high bar that we will push, and there is no better place to raise that bar than the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament with ESPN.”

Genius Sports is the exclusive supplier of official NCAA data, having worked alongside the governing body since 2018 to develop NCAA LiveStats, the NCAA’s official tool for the collection, management and distribution of game statistics. Genius Sports is the Exclusive Supplier of Official NCAA Data having worked alongside the governing body since 2018 to develop NCAA LiveStats, college sports’ official tool for the collection, management and distribution of game statistics. NCAA LiveStats will be courtside at every game of the NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship, capturing every shot, dunk, rebound, assist and more.

New York Mobile Handle Could Reach $400 Million For First NCAA Tournament

ew York already has hit the heights since launching mobile sports wagering in mid-January. Now the Empire State will make its first descent into madness.
March Madness, that is.

When the New York State Gaming Commission releases its full February figures, the state’s two monthly handles of 2022 will rank first (January) and second (February) in the all-time national post-PASPA era that began in 2018. Not everyone anticipated such a fast start, with many expecting New York to need time to mature before reaching the top of the list and becoming, in the words of Frank Sinatra, “A-number one.”

The Super Bowl, which is the largest single sports betting event in the U.S., has come and gone, and conventional wisdom suggests New York generated the highest handle of any state — but nobody knows for sure, since the NYSGC did not provide official handle and revenue figures from the game. March brings the NCAA Tournament, joining the Super Bowl in the top two of annual betting events and unmatched in terms of drama coming from all angles at a frenetic pace over the course of three-plus weeks.
The largest unofficial betting event in the form of office pools now takes center stage in legal fashion in New York. Eight mobile operators, entrenched to varying degrees, will offer Final Four futures wagers and more, plus various betting lines on up to 66 of the tournament’s 67 games.

After bettors showed a monstrous appetite for the Super Bowl, wagering will again be robust throughout the final two weekends of March and the first one in April. After examining weekly mobile handle figures in New York since launch, basketball-specific wagering across multiple states from 2019 through 2021, and other assorted factors as points of comparison, NY Online Gambling projects mobile betting handle in the Empire State on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament will be between $375 million and $400 million.

That’s wagers to be placed at legal online sportsbooks in New York after the NCAA announced the seeds and brackets on Sunday. Using the industry standard win rate of 7%, mobile operator revenue from that handle would range from $26.3 million to $28 million. With New York’s 51% tax rate on mobile revenue, the state would receive between $13.4 million and $14.3 million.

The NCAA Tournament vs. The Super Bowl
Projecting the Empire State’s NCAA Tournament handle can be challenging. New York has generated weekly handle that would rank in the top 10 nationally for monthly handle every full week since launch. The nearly $360 million in handle for the week ending March 6 was the fourth week in five that New York has posted handle between $350 million and $360 million.

The outlier in that stretch was Super Bowl week, in which handle totaled $472.1 million. The NYSGC does not break out handle by sport or divulge any specific wagering information about the game, but the Super Bowl handle may have been at least $200 million. That is a reasonable, conservative estimate, given Nevada set an all-time high with nearly $180 million wagered on the game and New Jersey went from $117.4 million in 2021 to $143.7 million this year despite all those Manhattanites no longer needing to cross the Hudson River to place legal bets.

Is the Super Bowl relevant for March Madness comparisons? Yes and no. One can view the NCAA Tournament as a singular event, but it also consists of 67 single-game events. A more like-for-like comparison could be the NCAA Tournament and the NFL playoffs, in which 13 games are played.

The NYSGC launched on the weekend of Week 18 of the NFL regular season, producing an initial handle report of $171.3 million that covered only those two days. The six wild card round games the next week contributed to handle skyrocketing to $431.8 million in the first full week of wagering. The four divisional round games sparked another bump to $572.6 million.  Notably, the Buffalo Bills played in both rounds.

Weekly handle ebbed the week of the two conference title games, falling to $449 million without the Bills, but that was still 28.3% higher than the recent low-end baseline of $350 million per week.

Assumptions of a similar percentage spike for March Madness could prove faulty for a few reasons, most notably advertising. The NFL has inherent advantages over the NCAA, with nearly all of its postseason games airing on network television. The league is also a marketing leviathan capable of making any superstar a national hero, recognized from the city where he plays to the casual fan hundreds of miles away who simply enjoys football.

This past NFL season, sportsbooks spent gobs of money to advertise their product, with the ability to promote themselves as “official league partners” or “approved sportsbook operators.” Of the eight mobile operators in New York, three (Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel) are official league partners and three others (BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBET) are approved sportsbook operators.

That advertising spend will not take place during the college basketball games broadcast on CBS and other stations. For starters, the NCAA does not have partnerships with gaming operators, and very few schools do.

cover image: credit Flickr/Steve Cheng, Bruin Report

The American Cornhole League Announces Manufacturing Partnership with ZÜCA

The American Cornhole League (ACL) is pleased to announce that they have partnered with ZÜCA as the official manufacturing supplier of ACL cornhole rolling bags and backpacks. ZÜCA is the clear leader in the category, and their design, quality, and commitment to serving the cornhole community are a perfect fit with the ACL. Moving forward the ACL and ZÜCA are deep in product development to further expand their overall offerings to specifically meet the needs of all cornhole players, from novice to pros and everyone in between.

The American Cornhole League is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with broadcast deals with ESPN and CBS / CBS Sports, as well as a television deal with NBC Sports through USA Cornhole. The league has over 120,000 players worldwide and counting. The ACL’s strong sponsor support includes Johnsonville, DraftKings, Bush’s Beans, Bacardi, and AllCornhole.com, amongst others.

“We’re thrilled to be working with ZÜCA, the clear leader in the category – their design, quality, and commitment to serving the cornhole community are unparalleled and the perfect fit with the ACL,” said Stacey Moore, Founder of American Cornhole League. “As the league’s popularity continues to grow the products that we’re developing with ZÜCA will meet the needs of all players, from amateurs to pros.”

“Cornhole is growing in popularity every day, and we’ve loved working with both players and tournament directors to find exciting ways to support the sport,” says Bruce Kinnee, President and CEO of ZÜCA. “When we first started doing market research on cornhole, we quickly identified the ACL as a leader in the industry. Working with the ACL is an excellent opportunity for us to continue to share our enthusiasm for cornhole. We are proud to be a sponsor of the ACL in 2022 and beyond.”

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

No Baseball? Strat-O-Matic Has Fans Covered With Regular Season Simulation Beginning Opening Day

While there may be no baseball on the field this spring until owners and players settle their differences, fans don’t have to go without their favorite sport come Opening Day. Strat-O-Matic (@StratOMatic), the market leader in sports simulation, today announced it will provide daily simulations of scheduled games beginning on Thursday, March 31, which was to be the date of the first contests across the league. Those following @StratOMatic on Twitter will help determine the team assignments for notable remaining free agents during the week of March 21-25.

Strat-O-Matic, which performed a simulation of games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, will publish the results daily on its Website at http://www.strat-o-matic.com as well as through its various social media channels. These simulations have proven to be extremely accurate, with Atlanta’s 2021 baseball championship predicted in the preseason simulation and Los Angeles’s football title nearly matching the exact score and closely approximating statistics for top stars Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp as the most recent examples.

“We are hopeful that the season will get underway soon, but in the meantime, we have fans covered,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder. “Fans absolutely loved how we kept their baseball juices flowing with the simulation when play was suspended in 2020, and we hope that this keeps them ready for when the players are back on the field.”


Strat-O-Matic, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, had its own annual “Opening Day” in February, and although it again couldn’t be held in person, thousands of fans celebrated the arrival of the new cards based on the 2021 season statistics as well as various newly formulated sets depicting the 1986 and 1947 seasons, the latter just in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut.

PHF Announces Sale Of Toronto Six To BIPOC Canadian Hockey Leaders

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) today announced that the Toronto Six has been sold by BTM Partners to new owners who represent the first BIPOC (Black, Indigenous And People of Color) and Canadian investors in PHF history. The group is led by retired National Hockey League forward Anthony Stewart, joined by Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James, Carnegie Initiative co-chair Bernice Carnegie, and former NHL Coach of the Year Ted Nolan. The full list of participants in the new ownership group will be announced at closing. Together they provide invaluable hockey experience, community leadership, and diversity to the PHF’s first team north of the border.

“Local ownership who believe in our vision to grow women’s hockey and are committed to supporting these phenomenal professional athletes represents another significant step forward in the overall growth and sustainability of the PHF,” said Johanna Boynton, founding Chair and Principal Owner of the Toronto Six. “We are beyond excited for the PHF family to evolve by welcoming diverse leaders who will be difference makers and take the organization to the next level by enhancing the experience for our athletes, community partners, and passionate fans.”

Stewart isChairman of Hockey Equality which is working to create sustainable change in the hockey community and creating diversity and inclusion at all levels across the sport. He also created Stewart Hockey, an organization that provides a space where players of all ages and backgrounds can grow their hockey skills, to give back to the hockey community that went above and beyond to help him and his brother Chris reach the NHL. On the ice, the Scarborough, Ontario native grew up playing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League before enjoying 10 years professionally including six NHL seasons. The 37-year-old is also an on-air hockey analyst with Sportsnet.

“This is a really amazing time to be part of professional women’s hockey and I am thrilled to lead a new ownership group to support elite athletes in my hometown,” said Stewart. “Together with my partners, we know how much representation matters and how important role models are for young hockey players. It brings me great joy to be part of something special and help strengthen a platform that will make the game better for the next generation and grow the game in the community that I love. We believe the PHF is well-positioned to become a leader in professional sports and look forward to continuing to build the Toronto Six into a winner on and off the ice.”

James is widely considered the first superstar in women’s hockey and remains the only Black player to captain Canada’s National Women’s Team. On the national stage she was a four-time gold medal winner at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, including the very first event in 1990 where she set a tournament record with 11 goals. The Torontonian became the first Canadian woman to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010 and is also a member of the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame, and has been awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada. This season she’s been serving as an assistant coach for the Six.

Carnegie is the daughter of the late Herbert H. Carnegie, who was part of the only “All Black Line” in 1940’s semi-pro hockey. She co-founded the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation with her father and mother in 1987, helping countless individuals develop the confidence to become better citizens. As President of Bernice Carnegie and Associates, she works to address social injustice by bringing awareness to and affecting behavioral changes related to equity, fairness, and inclusiveness. The Carnegie Initiative works to ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive and welcoming to all.

Nolan co-founded the program 3NOLANS, with sons Brandon and Jordan, to specifically work with First Nation youth to further develop their hockey skills and knowledge. Hailing from Garden River First Nation near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the 63-year-old played eight seasons of professional hockey including three in the NHL before transitioning his career into coaching. He has enjoyed success at every level behind the bench for more than 30 years, including seven NHL seasons, notably winning the 1997 Jack Adams Trophy with the Buffalo Sabres.

New and diverse ownership groups are part of the evolution of the PHF that will see substantial growth in years to come, driven by the Board of Governors’ commitment to investing $25 million over the next three years to directly enhance the player experience. Expansion to eight teams for the 2022-23 season along with a salary cap of $750,000 per team, full healthcare benefits and equity in the teams, facility upgrades, new equipment, and increased ice time is all part of the pledge to support professional PHF athletes.

The Six joined the PHF in 2020 and immediately captured a regular season title during the shortened 2021 campaign. They are currently in first place in the overall PHF standings with a 13-2-1 record and are a perfect 8-0 on home ice during this historic first season in Canada. The club, led by reigning MVP and current PHF top scorer Mikyla Grant-Mentis, will pursue their first Isobel Cup crown in playoff action March 25-28 in Tampa Bay, Florida.

NWSL Rookie of the Year Trinity Rodman Partners with Youth Athletes United

Youth Athletes United, one of America’s fastest-growing multi-sport programs, with 291 territories nationwide and more than 200,000 children instructed each year, continues to catch on in communities throughout the U.S. The multi-brand franchisor includes Soccer Stars, Amazing Athletes, TGA Premier Sports, Little Rookies Baseball and JumpBunch. Now, the 2021 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, Trinity Rodman, a former Amazing Athlete’s program participant, will be a Brand Ambassador for all of the Youth Athletes United programs.

“Trinity has an authentic tie to our brand, as Amazing Athletes was one of the multi-sport programs she took as a child, and knows first hand how sports impact childrens’ lives and development,” said Adam Geisler, CEO of Youth Athletes. “We are thrilled to have her as an ambassador as we continue to grow our brands.”

Rodman, now 19 years old, plays forward for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and is the youngest player ever drafted in league history. The 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Rodman was named to the NWSL’s Best XI First Team and recently made her USWNT debut during the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. The professional soccer player says she paved her way to success through consistent training, proper nutrition and knowing the value of teamwork — all values that Youth Athletes United teaches its young athletes in its multi-sport programs.

“Sports have always been a part of me and my family’s life,” said Rodman. “Experiencing different sports at an early age is what allowed me to find my passion for soccer. To be able to take my experiences and partner with Amazing Athletes and Soccer Stars to impact kids all across the country is very exciting. I hope I can inspire more youth athletes to continue to be active and follow their own path in sports.”

Since 2006, Amazing Athletes — the nation’s premier multi-sport education provider — has offered year-round programming that introduces kids to the fundamentals of 10 sports and helps them master six key areas of motor development and physical literacy. With expert coaches operating in top schools and facilities across more than 32 states, Amazing Athletes is on a mission to keep kids active with engaging content that teaches them about life skills, teamwork and nutrition.

For over 20 years, Soccer Stars has been one of the nation’s most popular youth soccer programs for children ages 1–16. The youth soccer program is set in a fun, non-competitive environment, with additional development and travel programs. Soccer Stars’ crib-to-college programming introduces young athletes to the fundamentals of soccer with a unique, age-specific curriculum designed to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence and develop socialization skills.

Youth Athletes United will utilize Rodman as a Brand Ambassador through live and dedicated social media, video content, local franchise clinics, and personal appearances. Matt Stefan, Director of National Marketing, noted that Amazing Athletes and Soccer Stars will hold Rodman-co-branded clinics and classes for franchisees to encourage more young players to participate in youth sports offered by the brands.

Rodman and Youth Athletes United will also work alongside franchisees in a concerted effort to help drive more free Soccer for All programs to communities that do not have access or exposure to soccer or multi-sport programs.

“We believe that every kid is an athlete,” said Stefan. “With 20-plus-years of experience creating fun, engaging content, our goal is to impact more than one million kids a year through our programs. Ultimately, we want to encourage children not only to participate in sports, but to help them find their passion that keeps them playing and staying active. With Trinity joining us as a Brand Ambassador, sharing her success and showing the impact youth sports can have, we’re on the right path.”

RealResponse Announces Landmark Deals with Broncos, Chiefs for Real-Time and Confidential Reporting

RealResponse (@RealResponseHQ), the award-winning leading safe and secure feedback, monitoring and anonymous reporting platform for athletic teams and organizations, today announced a pair of landmark partnerships with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the first two NFL teams to offer the platform to its employees. Both will use the system to proactively stay in communication with employees regarding feedback on areas impacting their wellbeing – both positives that are benefiting experiences as well as to gain additional insight into the issues that may need to be addressed. The partnership will launch in the coming weeks.

“RealResponse is a critical tool that our organization will utilize at all levels to enhance our communication with employees,” said Nancy Svoboda, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for the Denver Broncos. “We are proud of our workplace culture and we want to continue to be proactive in supporting our staff by making sure that their voices continue to be heard. We are excited to be a part of this groundbreaking platform.”

“We are excited to partner with RealResponse to design and implement a valuable tool to enhance internal and external communication at all levels of our organization,” said Kirsten Krug, Executive Vice President of Administration for the Kansas City Chiefs. “Creating an efficient, confidential and anonymous way to proactively identify and address issues and opportunities will make us better. We are proud to be a part of this emerging trend within professional sports.”

“We are very proud to have both the Broncos and the Chiefs join us in this expansion of our business into the NFL,” said David Chadwick, RealResponse founder and former NCAA Division I basketball player. “The platform we have built is all about empowering athletes and employees’ voices and keeping those in leadership informed not just on issues, but on opportunities to better communicate and work together. Whether it is a junior staff member receiving acknowledgement for going above and beyond the call or a senior administrator alerting leadership of potential issues regarding employee health and well-being. It is clear that the leadership in the NFL, with Denver and Kansas City being first in, are engaged and ready to listen to resolve issues before they become problems.”

The two teams will begin implementing and onboarding staff into the system in the coming weeks. RealResponse already works with the NFLPA for player-related reporting, but having teams engaged will make the system more holistic and impactful across all areas of the organizations.