NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently discussed the accountability and discipline of referees in the wake of a missed call that went against Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James last month. In an interview with ESPN’s Sage Steele on SportsCenter, Silver stated that officials are held responsible and disciplined for making errors, though the league doesn’t publicize their discipline. The accuracy of their calls and their demeanor on the court affect their assignments, progression to the playoffs, and their performance round by round.
Damar Hamlin’s Eternal Jacket Causes Controversy
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has responded to the recent controversy over his choice of jacket during the Super Bowl. The jacket in question, a Takashi Murakami “Travis Jesus” stadium jacket, featured an abstract illustration of Jesus on the cross with the word “ETERNAL” on the back, and an abstract depiction of Jesus’ face on the front. Critics, including former NFL player Adrian Peterson, accused Hamlin of blasphemy for wearing the jacket.
Boxer Gervonta Davis admits to four counts related to hit-and-run accident
On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Gervonta Davis, a renowned American boxer, pleaded guilty to four counts relating to a hit-and-run accident that took place in November 2020. The crash resulted in four people being injured, including a pregnant woman.
Davis’ charges included leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failing to notify of property damage, driving with a revoked license, and running a red light. During the court hearing, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy informed Davis that there was no agreement on his sentencing, which is set to take place on May 5.
Chris Paul Shows Kevin Durant Admiration After Phoenix Suns Trade
Chris Paul, one of the most respected veterans in the NBA, is still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he has another all-time great in the locker room. He was referring to superstar forward Kevin Durant, who was acquired by the Phoenix Suns in one of the biggest deals in recent league history. Even with nearly two decades of experience, Paul admits he has never played with two guys of such caliber before.
Multi-Million Dollar Counterfeit Sports Memorabilia Ring Exposed and Dismantled in Major Seizure
“Counterfeiters seize the profits, while honest businesses and consumers suffer,” says the US Department of Homeland Security after the record-breaking seizure of over 600 fake championship rings from Kirk’s Collectibles in South Carolina. The rings, which spanned across four major U.S. professional sports leagues and the NCAA, could have fetched a retail value of up to $15 million. The seizure was part of a wider investigation into counterfeit merchandise, which targeted the fake sports memorabilia market.
Bronny James Earns Spot on Team USA Roster for Highly-Anticipated Nike Hoop Summit
Bronny James, the son of basketball superstar LeBron James, is among the 26 players who were named to the USA Basketball rosters for this year’s Nike Hoop Summit. The annual showcase pits American players against their international counterparts at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on April 8th. James, a senior at Sierra Canyon High School in California, has been ranked as the 28th best prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN. This will be his first time representing USA Basketball, and he is being actively recruited by several schools including Oregon, Ohio State, and USC.
New Mexico State Chancellor Stands by Athletic Director Amid Men’s Basketball Shutdown Controversy
Less than a week after New Mexico State’s men’s basketball program was shut down due to a culture of bad behavior, egregious violations of the student code of conduct, and other despicable acts, Chancellor Dan Arvizu expressed his confidence in Athletic Director Mario Moccia. At a news conference, Arvizu stated that he was confident that the actions that led to the cancellation of the season and the firing of head coach Greg Heiar were not reflective of the athletic department or the university as a whole.
Oklahoma and Texas Set to Leave Big 12 Conference After 2023-24 Season
The Big 12 has announced that Oklahoma and Texas will pay a total of $100 million to join the SEC in 2024, one year earlier than originally planned. The agreement is pending approval from the Oklahoma and Texas governing boards, and the fee is being described as “foregone distributable revenues.” While the cost may seem steep, both schools are expected to offset the expense with future revenues.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has released its financial distribution report
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has released its financial distribution report for the fiscal year ending August 2021. According to the report, the conference distributed an average of $49.9 million to each of its 14 member schools, with a total distribution of $721.8 million. This is a decrease from the previous fiscal year, where the SEC distributed $764.4 million of total revenue, or about $54.6 million per school.