Sports
The New DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar and Lounge at Staples Center
Last week our friends at DraftKings invited us to Staples Center for the official unveiling of the DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar & Lounge. Located inside the arena just past the box office, the new 4,500-sq.-ft. F&B concept is loaded with monitors and touch-screen tablets so LA sports fans can get their daily fantasy sports fix going while watching the Kings, Clippers and Lakers compete. Designed with the feel of a Vegas sports book, the $1.5 million dollar craft beer and gastro pub was completed in a very quick timeframe and features 35 Toshiba Smart TVs, six Toshiba Virtuoso Screens, 15 Microsoft Surface Tablets and four iMacs. Fans can sign up or log in to their DraftKings accounts through these devices in order to enter tournaments, unlock food discounts and sign up for ticket giveaways.
The menu for this new spot was designed by Josiah Citrin and features some pretty scrumptious takes on classic bar food like hot dogs with mac and cheese. Fans thirsty for a a Bud Light alternative inside Staples will be happy. with the selection of Goose Island options on tap.
In addition to the AEG and DraftKings cutting the ribbon on their new DFS hangout, DraftKings also presented a $2 million check to week one winner BALLAH who came from behind on the first Monday Night of the season to put up 228.04 points and take home the top spot in the DraftKings Millionaire Maker Week 1 league.
This BALLAH fella and his buddies looked familiar to me. Turns out they all went to my hye school. Glendale High breeds some pretty savvy fantasy football enthusiasts, and these guys were no different. BALLAH and his boys have been playing in yearly leagues for more than a decade. They all knew their stuff, too.
Going into that first Monday Night BALLAH’s $2 million winning lineup was sitting in 3,000th place. Carlos Hyde’s two scores and final six yards put BALLAH over the top. Here’s his lineup:
“The thing is,” BALLAH told me, “you need like 30 points from each spot. You can maybe miss on one guy but you need that kind of production out of each spot.”
That’s definitely a different approach from your regular fantasy football decision making. In a standard league, you hope that all your guys will produce, but you’re happy to get 10 points out of your flex spot. You want each slot to give you numbers, but with DFS, you’re forced to go big. You have to build your lineup using a budget, yes, but you need those home run hitters in there. You gotta go for the boom and bust dude that’s undervalued, not for the consistent player who will guarantee you steady production without a ton of upside.
BALLAH’s score of 228 was good enough to win it all week 1. The next week’s DraftKings Millionaire Maker featured a top scorer who cracked 300 points. Imagine that. Typically your happy if you can crack that 100 point week barrier with your standard annual fantasy team. If you’re near 200, you’re totally dominating. But when the whole field has access to the same players with the same budget restraints, you need to think bigger. You need to aim for 30 points from each spot.
So keep that in mind next time you dabble in daily fantasy sports. If you’re playing to win big, you need big time production from every single start. That likely means passing on trustworthy point scorers so you can swing for the fences on guys who have higher week-to-week ceilings.
Oct 12th
Ozzie Smith Surprises Cardinals Fans
Is your team still playing baseball? Are loving the MLB Playoffs? It seems that the St. Louis Cardinals are an October staple in the MLB. So Cardinal fans are surprised that often in the post season. That is unless a former St. Louis great shows up unannounced in the stands. Bank of America just released a cool video featuring Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith surprising St. Louis fans with selfies at a recent Cardinals game.
That is pretty sweet even for me who is a Boston Red Sox fan. What are your favorite baseball post season memory? You can share your #MLBmemorybank on your social media outlets.
Oct 12th
Russell Athletic Asks You To Fight Like Dylan
Last month Russell Athletic started up with their fifth annual “Fight Like Dylan Award” campaign that honors high school teams that have demonstrated inspiring determination and perseverance through sports. And who better to lead the panel of judges than former NFL Head Coach Tony Dungy.
Along with Dungy a group of judges will select one recipient to receive a $50,000 grant in athletic apparel and sports equipment for their school. If you know someone who deserves recognition go to FightLikeDylan.org.
Last year’s “Fight Like Dylan Award” recipient was Shoreham-Wading River High School in Shoreham, New York, which honored fallen teammate Tom Cutinella who embodied the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. Tom rallied the team around the idea of being the Long Island Champions. Through his inspiration, the Wildcats finished 10-0 and won the Long Island title.
“This is truly a program that is near and dear to my heart,” said program spokesperson Tony Dungy. “I am so proud to partner with Russell Athletic, Dylan’s family, and the previous recipients to celebrate these great stories of teams coming together to overcome tragedy and hardship.”
For those who don’t know of Dylan Rebeor’s story here is some background on the courageous young man. In 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer, but after becoming ill, his commitment to his team never wavered. His final wish was for his team to receive new uniforms for the upcoming season through the “Make A Wish Foundation”.
The “Fight Like Dylan Award” was established by Russell Athletic in conjunction with Dylan’s family and coaches to not only grant that wish, but to celebrate other teams facing adversity and turning it into a powerful story of success through teamwork.
“Dylan had an extraordinary life and always inspired others while dealing with difficult circumstances,” said Heather Rebeor, Dylan’s mother. “We’re so proud that Dylan’s memory and spirit will live on through the Russell Athletic ‘Fight Like Dylan Award.’”
Oct 8th
Feel What It Is Like To Play In Chris Paul’s Shoes
The 2015 NBA Season starts in 28 days. Chris Paul is getting ready for the new season as his new signature shoe, the CP3 IX comes out. After ten pro seasons and eight consecutive All-Star appearances, Chris Paul has demonstrated that speed plus control leads to on-court domination. With this performance equation in mind, Jordan Brand introduces “Striking Control” via the Jordan CP3.IX. The shoe, built for Paul’s agile playing style, helps stabilize the foot during quick cuts and direction changes.
The Jordan CP3.IX employs several performance-driven technologies to meet the demands of aggressive play. An innovative web-lacing system offers lateral support and 360-degree lockdown. A composite mesh material and strategically placed foam form a durable and supportive upper that is also lightweight and breathable. A full-length, breathable internal bootie provides a close, one-to-one fit.
A nine-chamber Zoom Air unit in the forefoot acts like a piston for mechanical cushioning and greater responsiveness. Outrigger enhancements to the sole provide lateral stability during sharp cuts and jumps while rubber wraps the medial side, enhancing traction and control.
The Chinese character for “family” is inscribed on the outsole’s toe to symbolize the player’s close relationship with his family. Additionally, the chevron symbol on the sole – an icon of CP3’s signature shoes – honors his late grandfather.
The lead colorway of the CP3.IX – Yellow Dragon – draws parallels between Paul’s on-court movement and the dragon dance that celebrates the Chinese New Year. Additionally, the scholarly yellow dragon is known for its intelligence, a descriptor often attributed to Paul’s play.
The Jordan CP3.IX will release in the Emerald and Yellow Dragon colorways October 1 in China for a suggested retail price of $130. The Emerald colorway will also launch in North America on October 1, followed by a general global release on November 1. Stay tuned to @Jumpman23 and Jordan.com for more information on the Jordan CP3.IX and future colorway launches.
Sep 30th
Jordan Brand Adds Another Athlete To The Team
To celebrate the kick-off of the professional football season and the 23rd Anniversary of the Air Jordan VII silhouette, the Jordan Brand outfits its football athletes with player-exclusive cleats.
Originally released in 1992 and worn by His Airness in his first back-to-back championship season, the Air Jordan VII features a neoprene inner bootie and colorful geometric detailing inspired by West African tribal culture. Each Air Jordan VII cleat incorporates team-specific colors. The Lunarlon cushioning system delivers a responsive feel, while the multi-colored 12-cleat configuration offers premium traction and durability.
Each season, Jordan Brand adds to its family of football athletes with players who embody the championship mindset and represent the iconic Jumpman on and off the field. Today, the brand welcomes Joe Haden, two-time Pro-Bowler and elite cornerback, to its family roster.
“I am honored to represent the Jordan Brand this season alongside some of the best players in the game,” says Haden. “The brand’s legacy of pinnacle performance product is unlike anything in the world and I am excited to continue showcasing that heritage on the field.”
Sep 10th
Cam Newton Goes Down Under To Train For This NFL Season
We are two days away from the start of the 2015 NFL season. We are all excited. We can’t wait to make sure our fantasy lineups are all set, the snacks are ready, and team will make us proud. I am thinking that the players are bit more excited than we are. For Panthers QB Cam Newton, he prepared himself for the upcoming season in a unique way.
In July, Newton took a trip to Australia to train with the Richmond Tigers of the Australian Football League as part of the Gatorade Football Exchange Program. While he was there, Newton found some new ways to improve his game as he practiced with the team, sat in on team meetings and also took part in team meals to see how the AFL players train and fuel their bodies in preparation for their season.
The Gatorade Football Exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime training experience that allows athletes to immerse themselves in the training and culture of another footballer’s sport to demonstrate how different forms of football are played throughout the world and that athletes from these various sports all share the same formula for success: talent + hard work + the right sports fuel.
Sep 8th
JJ Watt And Ronda Rousey Take Deep Breath In New Reebok Spot
JJ Watt and Ronda Rousey are both dominate in their respective sports. Some of their success is due to their physical gifts and tenacity on the field and in the ring. Another reason for their dominance and all the accolades that they have attained is because of their training.
Today JJ Watt unveiled his first ad campaign with Reebok, after announcing a partnership with the brand in April. In the video below that launches on August 1, Watt stars with Rousey looking to empower others to take a “Deep Breath” and ignite the fire within to get through the toughest of your workout.
To help JJ and Ronda take fitness and training to the next level they use the new ZPump Fusion running sneakers, available for purchase at Reebok.com and Finish Line locations.
Jul 28th
Gatorade Athlete of the Year Awards
A day before the ESPYs, Gatorade held its High School Athlete of the Year Awards in Downtown Los Angeles. The awards show was packed with the top athletes of today celebrating the achievements of young athletes primed to be the future stars of tomorrow. Gatorade has been honoring high school athletes for the past 30 years, and there are some pretty big names among the past honorees. Names like LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Candace Parker, Allyson Felix and Kobe Bryant. And that’s just the Gatorade Male and Female High School Athlete of the Year honorees. Previous Gatorade National Player of the Year winners include names like Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Emmitt Smith, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Weber and Alonzo Mourning. It’s distinguished company to be in, for sure.
State Player of the Year awards are given to student athletes in 12 sports: boys’ baseball, boys’ football, girls’ softball, girls’ volleyball, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, boys’ track & field, and girls’ track & field. The students in each category are recognized for individual and team achievement, academic achievement and character and community service. From the pool of state players, Gatorade awards 12 students with National Player of the Year honors. From this pool of 12 athletes, one male and one female are selected to receive Athlete of the Year awards.
Candace Hill was named Female High School Athlete of the Year. She was the first sophomore to take home the honor and the youngest athlete to ever win the Gatorade National Player of the Year award. She’s the first high school female athlete to run a sub-11 second 100-meter dash. She’s basically the fastest woman under 20 years old. Oh, and she has a GPA of 4.61. I can’t even imagine. Candace was competing at an event and was unable to attend the awards, but by all accounts she definitely deserves all the accolades.
Kyler Murray won Male High School Athlete of the Year honors. The starting QB for Allen High School, Murray led his team to three straight state championships. The guy has never lost a game as a high school quarterback, going 42-0 in his career. In Texas no less. That’s crazy talk. He threw for more than 4,700 yards, 56 touchdowns and ran for nearly 1,500 yards and 25 scores. Murray is on his way to Texas A&M where he says he’s going to get some time on the field no matter what. Murray had a very quiet confidence about him. His acceptance speech was mellow and humble. But the dude knows he’s got what it takes to ball at the next level. Keep your eye on him.
Hannah Storm hosted the awards and gave a heartfelt tribute to Stuart Scott, who had previously handled hosting duties for the event before he passed away this year. His daughters were on hand and gave their dad a great tribute as well, something they would do again at the ESPYs.
After the awards ceremony, we got a chance to talk to a few of the presenters that were on hand. We asked JJ Watt about his role as a tight end. DeMarco Murray talked about the recruiting efforts of Sam Bradford to get him to Philly. Karl-Anthony Thomas chimed in on Kevin Garnett, and Abby Wambach talked about her experience as a Gatorade Athlete and her upcoming downtime following her World Cup Victory. Here’s the video:
Jul 17th
USA Soccer Star Brandi Chastain Talks 2015 World Cup
In sports there are certain moments or plays that become iconic. There can be that one picture that as soon as your eyes see it you travel back in time to that moment. Whether it is Michael Jordan soaring from the free throw line or Carlton Fisk using body language to will a home run, we as sports fans live for moments like those.
One of these images that captures that essence is when Brandi Chastain kicked a game winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women’s World Cup. After scoring the fifth kick in the penalty shootout to give the United States the win over China in the final game, she took over her jersey and fell to the ground in jubilation. That moment will forever remain in the hearts of USA soccer fans.
I had the great pleasure of chatting with Brandi about the U.S. Women’s National Team playing their first game against Australia on June 8. We also talk about her work with Capital One to promote the Capital One Cup. This campaign celebrates both men and women student athletes. For the past few years the Capital One Cup has rewarded the best Division I programs for their cumulative athletic performances across 39 men’s and women’s sports.
Brandi Chastain led the Santa Clara University Broncos to two NCAA Division I soccer quarterfinal appearances before becoming one of the brightest stars of the US Women’s National Soccer Team. Brandi is currently the volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater.
Click here to listen to my interview with Brandi. For more information on the Capital One Cup go to www.capitalonecup.com. Follow Brandi on Twitter @brandichastain.
Jun 4th
Which Hero Will Get Your Vote?
In the past I have had the privilege to meet some real life heroes. When Crown Royal asked me to cover the “Your Hero’s Name Here” a few years back I didn’t know what to expect. Besides meeting a ton of cool bloggers I was able to interact with some extraordinary people.
These people were men and women just like me, but went above and beyond to help their community. Whether it was here in the United States or around the world these heroes needed to have their story shared. That is where Crown Royal steps in with NASCAR and the Brickyard 400.
As the grand prize winner of Crown Royal’s annual “Your Hero’s Name Here” program, a deserving hero’s name will be etched in history with naming rights to the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26th, 2015. This race will mark the ninth time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan. The program focuses on all of the unsung heroes who make a difference in their communities, from firefighters and police officers to first responders and local volunteers. Every year five heroic finalists are nominated and through consumer voting, one winner is chosen to have their name cemented in sports history.
Those 21 years of age or older can go to CrownRoyalHeroes.com to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. With voting closing on June 7th help out the finalists receive as many votes as possible through CrownRoyalHeroes.com
To help you decide who to vote for watch below for their stories!
May 28th
