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Higher-income families more likely to enroll kids in organized sports, an AP-Ipsos poll finds
A new AP-Ipsos poll finds Americans overwhelmingly see major benefits to children playing organized sports, but higher-income families are more likely to participate
Celtic to open talks over sixth summer signing
Niko Sigur playing for Hajduk Split in white kit
Steelers bring back hard-hitting, fan-favorite linebacker
Roberts, 32, spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons playing with the Steelers, and spent the 2025 season playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Palmetto Sports Daily: A look at USC football’s offense, Dabo doubles down on players competing for spots
PSD is back with thoughts on the Panthers playing starters in the preseason against Buffalo.
Grizzlies hosting Kevin Durant, Rockets on MLK Day in 2027
The Memphis Grizzlies are back playing on MLK Day in 2027 with a home matchup against the Houston Rockets.
Panthers Might Be Without WR Xavier Legette For Preseason Opener
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette might not be playing in Saturday’s preseason game at the Buffalo Bills after suffering a stinger early in training camp.
The Houston Rockets Will Not Be Playing on Christmas Day
The NBA is starting to release the schedule for the upcoming season. The Christmas Day games will not include the Houston Rockets.
NEW: Arab AI Slop and the Precarious Politics of Digital Kitsch
Dear Friends and Comrades, If you spend any time on social media, you’ve seen the uncannily rendered videos and memes known colloquially as AI slop, crudely generated videos playing on stereotypes meant to generate viral outrage. In our upcoming summer issue of Middle East Report, Nermin Elsherif looks at
'Second season syndrome is lazy punditry'
"I don't think Sunderland will be anywhere near the relegation zone," says sports journalist Ian Murtagh, despite Regis le Bris' side "entering the unknown" after securing European football. The Black Cats have gone from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, and now the Europa League, in just four years. "Sunderland are entering the unknown in the sense that they won't just be playing 40 to 42 games this season, they will be playing over 50 games," Murtagh explained.
The Science of “Ramping Up”: Why Aaron Glenn Playing Starters is a Calculated Risk Worth Taking
For years, the conventional wisdom in NFL training camps was simple: wrap the starters in bubble wrap, hold them out of preseason games, save them for Week 1. And every September, like clockwork, the league watches soft-tissue injuries pile up anyway – hamstrings, calves, Achilles, all the non contact stuff that has nothing to do […]
Aaron Rodgers: I don't think there's any advantage to playing in the preseason
The Steelers haven't decided if Rodgers will play on Thursday.
This Shouldn’t Be Happening
There is absolutely no reason for any college athlete to be playing at 3:00 A.M.
Australia announce playing XI for first Test vs Bangladesh; Hazlewood returns, Weatherald set for debut
Australia's Test squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh has been confirmed by captain Pat Cummins. With Jake Weatherald set to debut as an opening batsman, seasoned bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc rejoin the pace lineup. Nathan Lyon is also back, prepared to lead the spin department. The opening match kicks off on August 13 in Darwin.
Oneil Cruz's rehab is transferred to Altoona, and he goes hitless in his first game there
ALTOONA, Pa. — Oneil Cruz’s rehab assignment continued Tuesday at a new location — starting in center field and playing eight innings...
Cameron Holmes embracing versatility as Arizona freshman finds his footing
Cameron Holmes is seeing playing time "everywhere" as Tommy Lloyd tinkers with configurations ahead of Arizona's upcoming Lithuania trip.
3 49ers Players Who Could Jump Up Depth Chart Ahead of Week 1
The San Francisco 49ers are just days away from playing in their first preseason game. Ahead of that matchup, the 49ers have released their first depth chart. There aren't too many surprises on the depth chart, but there is still much that can change between now and Week 1.
Crimson Desert Dev Conducting 'Extensive Research' on Multiplayer Modes, Plots Potential Sequels
Pearl Abyss has detailed its plans for smash hit action role-playing game Crimson Desert, confirming it is exploring multiplayer modes. Meanwhile, we have a target launch window for the Nintendo Switch 2 version, and talk of potential sequels.
Overwatch Battle Pass Revamp Is Helping With The FOMO
The game’s shift to a Battle Pass structure in 2022 has made it difficult to get cosmetics if you’re not playing consistently each season
Surprising Lions linebacker Building Legitimate 53-Man Roster Case
The Detroit Lions added a bunch of new faces through free agency this offseason, including Joe Bachie. The veteran linebacker signed a one-year deal with the Lions after the draft in late April. Bachie spent the 2025 campaign in the AFC South, playing five games with the Colts before being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury and eventually being released with an injury settlement. Bachie landed on his feet with the Tennessee Titans but only served as a special teamer in Nashville.
Philadelphia Eagles and Dunkin' present $25,000 donation to Leveling the Playing Field
Dunkin’s Annual "Touchdowns for Kids" Program Helps Expand Access to Youth Sports Across Greater Philadelphia
Dunkin' Supports Youth Sports
Dunkin' presented "Leveling the Playing Field" with a $25,000 donation.
Saber's newest game trailer takes a shot at Gearbox's CEO, if you look closely
The first hint that something might be up with the recent debut trailer for Saber Interactive’s Rideshare Stimulator is an unusual choice of words—aside from that second one in the game’s title. “Don’t take your passengers too seriously,” the trailer’s narrator says, as he describes this upcoming game. It a car game about the gig work of driving eccentric people to their destinations, a riff on Crazy Taxi. And then, he says: “When I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets in.” “Randiest”? That suggests “randy,” which usually means having strong sexual desire. Yet none of the oddball backseat occupants featured in the trailer seem particularly lustful. One is an old man who considers his grandson a failure, another shares the theory that birds might control traffic lights, another says he’s banned from an aquarium. A little later, there’s a license plate, shown 63 seconds into the trailer, on the front of an SUV: USB DRV It’s a Texas plate. The symbol between those letters is a cog wheel. If you know, you know. That’s a reference to Texas-based Borderlands game development studio Gearbox Software (their logo features a cog wheel). More specifically, it’s a reference to Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, who in 2018 found himself explaining the nature of video he’d saved on a USB drive that was found at a Medieval Times restaurant before being returned to the studio: “It was ‘barely legal’ porn. This girl’s handle was ‘Only 18.’” The “girl” in the video had committed a solo sex act that Pitchford, an avid practitioner of magic, found remarkable. “I realized, this is not a sex worker…This is a fucking magician.” Back then, the USB drive was central to competing lawsuits against Gearbox by the studio’s former lawyer and by Gearbox against him. A settlement in late 2019 “exonerated” Pitchford, per the Hollywood Reporter. The USB story has resurfaced at times, now in a trailer from a company that not long ago was corporate brethren with Gearbox. Saber vs. Gearbox The head of Saber told Game File that the reference is payback. “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4,” Saber CEO Matt Karch told me when I asked him about the license plate. “Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living.” Having interviewed Karch during a cross-country flight in late 2024, I can confirm that Karch was unimpressed with Pitchford during their time both working in the Embracer group. I’d approached him not out of surprise that there was animosity but that it was manifesting publicly now. Gearbox was founded in 1999, worked on a port of Halo early on, and developed hit series such as the loot-based sci-fi shooter Borderlands before it was purchased by The Embracer Group in early 2021 for $363 million (with a possible earn-out of over $1 billion, if certain targets were hit by 2027). Saber was founded in 2001, worked on a remaster of Halo early on, had a big hit with zombie shooter World War Z and was purchased by Embracer in early 2020 for $150 million, with a potential earn-out of up to $375 million. For a few years, the Embracer group was a voracious acquirer of game studios. Then, as investment dried up, it choked. In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber to an investment company controlled by Saber CEO Matt Karch, and it sold Gearbox in an all-stock deal to long-time Borderlands publisher Take Two Interactive. Other studios were shut down. Hundreds of developers were laid off. Gearbox didn’t say much about their Embracer experience, nothing too direct, at least. In the summer 2024, Pitchford told reporter and occasional Game File contributor Nicole Carpenter that Borderlands 4’s story was in some way thematically connected to Gearbox’s experience at Embracer: “There’s this cultural and emotional shift in me, personally, and at the studio. What does it mean to trade some autonomy for organization?” When Borderlands 4 came out, there was something stranger: the matter of “Embracer’s Bluff,” a location in the game featuring an AI-powered toilet and a large trash dump, according to a detailed Kotaku account of the place. Gearbox never commented on it; Take Two never got back to me about it when I asked them last year. By contrast, since Saber exited Embracer, Karch has been one of Embracer’s biggest defenders, casting their management as well-meaning and supportive despite the layoffs and studio closures that resulted from their excessive expansion. Like others, Saber’s Karch saw Embracer’s as a shot. With Rideshare Stimulator’s trailer, he’s returned fire. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Karch told Game File. A rep for Gearbox did not comment by press time. Game File is a reader-supported publication. Your backing makes my reporting—including any coverage of trailer-based beefs—possible. Good news! I’m currently running Game File’s first big sale of 2026. You can get a one-year subscription for 23% off. Click here to take advantage of the limited-time offer. And thank you for your support! Item 2: In brief… 🚫 Wal-Mart has laid off the staff of Restart, a games media outlet launched in 2024, Aftermath reports. 🟥 A GTA VI preview is on the way, at last, via an “extended look” that will premiere, unusually, on Netflix at 3pm ET on August 27, then officially go live elsewhere six hours later. Last week, Game File noted that Take Two label Rockstar Games is overdue for showing off GTA VI, based on the timing of the initial hands-off previews of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. During a call with investors, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders for GTA VI were “unprecedented and astonishing,” but added the company can’t predict how many of those pre-orders represent bonus sales vs. sales that otherwise would have been made at launch. During the same call, Zelnick was noticeably bullish on the future of playing games over streaming cloud connections (predicting wider adoption in three or so years). He sounded unbothered by Sony’s plans to stop making discs for new games (he said the business is 90% digital already and predicted that there could still be limited edition physical editions of games “in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business.”) 👀 Take Two wrote off $43 million in their spring quarter after deciding “not to proceed with further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline from a third-party developer.” 🤔 Some rare age-demographics from a big publisher: Capcom recently told investors that “users in their 20s account for approximately half of the users of both Pragamata and Resident Evil Requiem.” Item 3: The week ahead Tuesday, August 11 Game releases: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2; already out for PC, PS5, Xbox) continues the Bethesda strategy of putting Elder Scrolls games on everything; Royalty Free-For-All is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring public domain characters such as Mother Goose brawling with Oliver Twist in a stage based on the original Little Shop of Horrors movie. Wednesday, August 12 Game release: Pro Jank Footy (PC, console) is an arcade-style Australian Rules Football game with increasingly ridiculous rules, the more you play (I enjoyed the Steam demo) Thursday, August 13 Game release: Super Mario Sunshine (Switch 2, originally released in 2002 on the GameCube) is released for Switch 2’s Nintendo Switch Online service. This game is the black sheep of 3D Mario games. It’s the successor to the breakthrough Super Mario 64 and the rare Mario game built around a single (vacation resort) theme. Mario’s got a water-spraying backpack, a Yoshi pal and a lot of blue coins to collect.
I'm Playing Burnout Revenge Again Because I Miss Crash Mode
Burnout Revenge is actually the best one.
Windows 11's Built-In Weather App Wastes More Than 1 GB of RAM
According to Windows Latest, the default weather application in Windows 11 can consume more than 1 GB of RAM just by displaying the weather forecast. When the Weather application is open, it uses nearly 1.2 GB of RAM, even without any scrolling, clicking, or other interactions. By default,...
I'll continue playing, rest is selectors' call: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The 36-year-old, one of Uttar Pradesh’s most experienced cricketers, continues to remain a key figure in Indian domestic cricket. He last played for India in 2022, featuring in both ODI and T20I formats. His last international appearance in Tests came in 2018.
Cowboys Get Bad Injury News for Primetime Week 1 Matchup
The Dallas Cowboys got some bad injury news for Week 1 after Giants WR Malik Nabers appears to be "trending toward" playing after knee injury. The post Cowboys Get Bad Injury News for Primetime Week 1 Matchup appeared first on HEAVY.
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan makes Mike Evans guarantee amid injury absence
Mike Evans is dealing with a quad injury during training camp, but Kyle Shanahan still sees him playing a major role in the 49ers' offense.
Michael Carter II showing off his versatility and value in training camp
Michael Carter II is playing three different positions in this training camp and is making a strong impression on Vic Fangio.
Ashford embracing return to central Cardiff role
Cardiff City forward Cian Ashford is enjoying playing in a more central role following his eye-catching performance in the Bluebirds' Carabao Cup win over Swindon. The 21-year-old assisted Yousef Salech for the second goal in the 3-2 win and was also denied by the crossbar. Ashford spent many years playing in a central role with Cardiff's academy but his minutes for the first team have almost exclusively come on the wing.
Hancock County's Gladson Family Band playing in K'ville
KNOXVILLE — The Gladson Family Band will bring traditional Appalachian music to the Knoxville Smokies’ Tennessee Night celebration on Saturday, Aug. 15, with performances before the game and again following
Why Devdutt Padikkal's fluent ton allows India to breathe easy
With Sai Sudharsan all but ruled out of the Sri Lanka series, Devdutt Padikkal seized his chance, scoring a fluent 142 at Colombo’s Nondescript Cricket Club during the warm-up fixture. Displaying assured footwork, confidence against both spin and pace, and solid technique, Padikkal’s performance underscores his readiness for India’s No. 3 spot.
Patrick Mahomes addresses his playing status for the preseason
During his press conference, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed his playing status for the preseason | @EdEastonJr
Hacky sack is having a moment. Can it continue to capitalize?
Hacky sack has always had nostalgic appeal and a grassroots playing base. But this spring, things really surged. Why? And what's the next step for the throwback game?
Andy Reid discusses preseason playing status for Patrick Mahomes
During his press conference, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid discussed the preseason playing status for Patrick Mahomes | @EdEastonJr
Growing the Game Has Never Felt More Meaningful
Fast-forward almost 30 years, and here I am playing a major role in influencing the next generation of golfers: Being named a national ambassador for Youth on Course. From that gritty Leisure Time course to playing some of the top-ranked golf courses in the country, working alongside the top golf coaches in the world, and even hitting balls next to Tiger Woods and his son Charlie (seriously, here's proof!), this sport has opened so many doors for me. Just like I did nearly 30 years ago with my dad and Uncle Chris, I can create experiences that, hopefully, stick with them for the rest of their lives, too.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce accused of minimizing role in steakhouse lawsuit
A sneaker company is accusing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of downplaying their role in the 1587 Prime steakhouse amid a trademark dispute.
iOS 27's New Compact Clock Gives Your Wallpaper Room to Breathe
In iOS 26, Apple let you stretch the Lock Screen clock down your iPhone's display until it dwarfed everything else. In iOS 27, Apple has a new clock option that does the opposite, with the introduction of a compact mode that shrinks the time to roughly the size of the date and tucks it into the row at the top of the screen. The result is a Lock Screen that genuinely shows off your wallpaper, while still displaying the time and date.
Budget Battle Erupts in Nation’s Capital Over Opioid Settlement Money
Washington, D.C.’s 2027 fiscal-year blueprint reflects a debate playing out around the U.S.: whether opioid settlement money should be used to free up taxpayer dollars by paying for existing responsibilities instead of new programs.
Vanderbilt Health physical therapist bound for Nationals after winning four medals at Tennessee Senior Olympics
Vanderbilt Health physical therapist Grant Schlisner, PT, DPT, Cert. MDT, won four medals in the recent Tennessee Senior Olympics, which qualifies him to compete in the national Senior Olympics, set for July 2027 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Senior Olympians are athletes 50 years or older who compete in regional events for an opportunity to move to state events, and eventually to the Nationals. Schlisner’s medals were in the javelin, discus and softball throw (gold) and shot put (bronze). Schlisner, who is based at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks, grew up in the Chattanooga area in a family that valued physical fitness and playing sports, and he says, with considerable understatement, “The whole family is quite athletic.” Grant Schlisner (R) with brother Bret and sister Sue, all of whom won medals in the Tennessee State Senior Olympics. (photo courtesy Grant Schlisner) His brother Bret also competed in the Senior Olympics. So did his sister Sue. (His other sister Tammy did not compete, but, Schlisner said, “We’re still going to work on her.”) And their father, who now lives in South Dakota, competed in that state’s Senior Olympics in the category for athletes aged 84 to 89. Schlisner was a high school athlete in several sports, including stints as a baseball pitcher and a football quarterback. Since he was already playing positions in other sports in which he was throwing things, he was also recruited to the school’s track and field team, which is where he gained experience in the events that were his ticket to the 2027 Nationals. The medals are a reward for the hard work of training and preparation, but Schlisner said the real reward is the fitness that the medals represent. Schlisner competes in one of his medal-winning events, the shot put. (photo courtesy Grant Schlisner) “[Preparing for competition] got me working out to train for these events. I added more extensive weight training to promote injury prevention and building flexibility and strength have made me feel better overall.” He also said that, in addition to the physical rewards, he enjoys the camaraderie of the other athletes and a feeling of accomplishment. “It’s great to be able to have a goal,” he said. “If you aim low, you’ll hit it. This is aiming high. I want to bring home a medal in the Nationals.” His physical therapy patients, especially those who may be discouraged or need a little extra motivation, also benefit from his example. “I can connect with patients and say, ‘I’m 57 with previous injuries, and I’ve been doing these events, and you can get back to your ‘sport’ as well, whether that is chasing grandkids or participating in a competitive activity,’” he said. And being around the other Senior Olympians, especially in the older age groups, is motivating for him, as well. “One competitor was 90 years old,” he said. “She’s not just sitting around. That was super motivating and cool to see. I don’t want to be a lump on the couch at 90.”
Perez Hilton, a medical emergency and how fans stepped in
In the age of social media, mental health crises are playing out differently. Perez Hilton's fans are one example.
49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Gets Brutal Take After Commanders Decision
San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk likely won’t be playing for the Washington Commanders. On Aug. 5, the Commanders decided to sign veteran wideout Stefon Diggs, which probably puts an end to the Aiyuk speculation.The Commanders were the only team to have reported interest in Aiyuk, and it was a destination the 49ers wide receiver […] The post 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Gets Brutal Take After Commanders Decision appeared first on HEAVY.
Changing with the times: Colorado school gives kids new avenue for education & sports
It's no secret youth sports are changing. These days, more kids are specializing in one sport at younger ages, as opposed to playing multiple sports into adolescence.
Guardians' Angel Martinez: Losing out on playing time
Guardians' Angel Martinez: Losing out on playing time
Fall sports Senior Media Day
Seniors, mark your calendars for our fall sports Senior Media Day photo shoot, which will take place on Monday, Sept. 14, at 3:30 p.m.! All seniors playing a fall sport should report to the third-floor balcony area at Albany High promptly at 3:30 p.m. to get their photograph taken by John Wong Photography. Photographs taken on our fall sports Senior Media Day will be utilized for the creation of large, weatherproof senior banners. Each senior will be featured in their own individual banner. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Albany Booster Club for funding our senior banners, which will be proudly displayed at our senior night events. Thanks to our booster club's support, each senior will get to keep their banner as a memento of their hard work and dedication as a Falcon student-athlete. There is no sitting fee for the Senior Media Day photo shoot. Students and families will be given the opportunity to purchase photos separately if they so choose. Senior Media Day photo shoots for winter and spring sports will be publicized leading up to each season. In addition to our Senior Media Day photo shoots, seniors will also be asked to participate in our sports photo sessions each season for all student-athletes in grades 9-12, facilitated by Upstate Images. Upstate Images provides our sports photography for our Albany High yearbook and students and families will be given the opportunity to purchase individual and/or team photos if they so choose. More details will be available at the start of the fall sports season.
Chris Wallace: States Are Playing Politics to Block Paramount
"I don’t believe government should use its powers to determine who owns a news platform or to control how that outlet reports the news," writes the former Fox and CNN anchor, who is now a paid advisor at a firm that has a large stake in Paramount.
Aaron Donald’s Post-Playing Career Plans Revealed Amid Return Rumors
Rams star Aaron Donald is reportedly eyeing a post-playing media career despite his rumored plans to return to football. The post Aaron Donald’s Post-Playing Career Plans Revealed Amid Return Rumors appeared first on LA Sports Report.
T-Mobile Announces Experience 2.0 With 36-Month Financing
T-Mobile has been caught playing around with 36-month financing before. Even so, it never seemed to stick, and devices soon returned to the standard 24-month financing. It seems T-Mobile decided to…
Aaron Donald looks to establish a media and entertainment footprint
As defensive tackle Aaron Donald focuses for now on whether he'll end a two-year playing hiatus in pursuit of a second Super Bowl ring, he's activating a longer-term vision for his post-football future.
MrBeast Sales Slow, Angel Stock Falls, MUBI and Neon Look for Hits, and Will an NBA Franchise Set a Sales Record?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) You probably remember egg prices spiking a few years ago. This led to a lot of debate between the pro-market/pro-competition/antitrust/Neo-Brandesian crowd and the center/center-right/center-left/abundance/libertarian crowd over the cause, whether it was the avian flu outbreak or whether industry consolidation led to price fixing, using avian flu as a convenient cover. Basel Musharbash wrote a whole investigation at BIG looking at it. Well, two years later, we have our answer: it was price fixing. The Justice Department found proof, via emails, of price fixing. Indeed, just the threat of an investigation brought prices down two years ago: I bring this up because at least half a dozen of my favorite political writers and pundits, who were skeptical about price fixing at the time, haven’t written any mea culpas on this issue. It’s really dispiriting and makes it much, much harder to trust their work on other issues. If you take a hard stand on an issue, then you get it wrong, you need to explain how and why you got it wrong. Or update your priors. This is how epistemological bubbles are formed! All of which is to say, it’s time for another installment of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. Last issue, I mostly focused on the “wrong” side of the equation, so today’s is a bit more balanced, but with one big mea culpa (though I still stand by my original concerns). Let’s dive right in! Subscribe CORRECTION: UFC Didn’t Release Subscriber Data (But Seems to Have Bragged About It Internally) In my analysis of the viewership of UFC Freedom 250, I wrote... “Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers.” Well, that datecdote did not come from a PR rep, but from great reporting from James Faris at Business Insider. The actual quote was this: “Paramount’s flagship streaming service generated about a million new subscribers on the day of its first-ever UFC event, Paramount product chief Dane Glasgow told employees in a town hall on Tuesday morning, three staffers who attended the meeting told Business Insider.“ This wasn’t the biggest goof in the world; even Faris emphasized to me that this is more a “clarification” than a correction. Still, it sounds like, internally, the folks at Paramount were very happy about this result—and I’m guessing they were happy with this news getting out—even though the gains didn’t last through the quarter, dropping to 700K adds. RIGHT: MrBeast’s Struggles Continue... I’m very skeptical about MrBeast’s burgeoning media “empire” and, in particular, its $5 billion valuation, as I wrote earlier this year and last year. Sure enough, according to Business Insider, regarding its “booming” consumer products division_:_ “US sales volume grew 13% year-over-year in 2025, following a 33% leap the previous year, according to a presentation deck dated May 2026....A February 2025 investor deck viewed by Business Insider showed Feastables’ net revenue more than doubled in 2024 from 2023, to $215 million, and was forecast to grow 74% in 2025, to $375 million.” [Emphasis mine.] If you told investors that you projected 74% growth but delivered 13%,1 that’s not ideal. But it’s not just MrBeast. Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime had sales drop in half for their energy drinks. It’s one thing to build a successful entertainment company and an entirely different thing to succeed in the heavily-consolidated-but-also-very-competitive consumer packaged goods space! CPGs are dominated by a few firms with very wide moats compared to YouTube, which has few barriers to entry. These businesses require different skill sets and have completely different business environments. WRONG: Does the NBA Have an $8 Billion Bidder? Almost as soon as I published my article about the NBA’s finances, casting skepticism on NBA expansion, I saw this Front Office Sports headline: One group “claims to have already raised $8 billion” for the Vegas expansion team. I mean, wow. That’s just $2 billion less than what the Los Angeles Lakers were valued at when they were sold just last year. And they’re arguably the most popular team in the NBA. (Side note: the new owner is now under an investigation for fraud in how he went about financing the Lakers and the Dodgers purchases.) So much for the “dried up” language I used in that article. (This is why I usually stick to my “Entertainment Nuance Guy” tone in articles...) I went off old information—from April, when I read/heard about the NBA downplaying expansion efforts—instead of doing a quick double-check for new news. That said...if you read the article, the market for Seattle is “slow”, with just one reported bidder. So I wasn’t entirely off. This goof has annoyed me since I first published it, mainly because it undercut that article’s real point, which I stand by: NBA franchises are really overvalued right now. Now, I get why NBA teams are overvalued. When it comes to owning sports teams, it’s basically never wrong to assume that some rich person somewhere will care more about owning a team (or just being part of a group since they’re so expensive) than the actual financials. There are only so many teams to own, and opportunities to buy in preferred markets don’t come along very often. This explains why the teams sell for such high multiples (usually above a 10 to 12.5 revenue multiple, which is very high). You only need one person to overpay! Beyond the ultra-wealthy luxury good explanation, I worry NBA teams are becoming speculative assets. More and more private equity investors are buying into NBA teams. But the value, in owning a team, comes from selling it later, not any meaningful relationship to revenue or profit growth. In other words, the newer NBA owners are increasingly expecting someone later to buy their inflated asset. That’s not sound economics; that’s the “greater fool” theory at work.2 At some point, actually making money has to matter. Especially since revenue growth is now below the growth of the stock market. (And this matters because the NBA doesn’t have easy levers to pull to drastically lower their costs—half of their revenue has to go to players and then you actually have to run a team, including coaching, training, travel, media expenses, and more—or raise revenues aside from one-off expansions in America and overseas.) I just don’t see how investors make their money back buying NBA teams, except for selling at a higher price later on down the line. But if revenue/profit growth continues to slow, at some point, someone will be left holding the bag. RIGHT: Baseball and Basketball are about equally popular. Related to the above, I wanted to cite two quick pieces of evidence for one of my other theories: that the NBA and MLB are about as popular as each other, but the NBA gets much, much better media coverage. One YouGov survey has that fans prefer basketball to baseball by 52% to 48%, which I’m guessing is within the margin of error for that poll. That’s virtually even, meaning they’re about the same popularity. Over on NBC, a recent Red Sox-Yankees game averaged 4 million viewers, higher than Sunday Night Basketball’s average of 3.4 million on the same network. A Yankees-Dodgers game averaged 3.9 million two weeks ago. Not every game averages this much, but it shows you that baseball isn’t far off from basketball, depending on the matchup. Altogether, the NBA is just slightly more popular than baseball, but NBC is paying MLB a fraction of what they pay the NBA, a point I’ve made before. RIGHT: Angel, MUBI and Neon Updates... I’ve long been skeptical about many of Hollywood’s buzziest startups/smaller indie studios. It’s not that they don’t make great movies—films like Anora and Everything Everywhere All at Once are amazing—or that they’re not (rightfully) pushing the majors to make better films, but...they get a ton of hype, and that hype often doesn’t live up to the reality or difficulty in scaling up. Starting with MUBI, well, The Wall Street Journal wrote a feature on MUBI’s struggles last April, best summarized by the subheader “After Sequoia valued Mubi at $1 billion, a left-wing revolt sent the indie film company into a tailspin”. MUBI lost $7.3 million on $200 million in revenue in Q4 2025, but reportedly hit a record 1.7 million subscribers at the end of Q1. As for Neon, Department M purchased a “significant stake” in the company earlier this year. How much is that “stake” worth? According to Deadline, “No financial figures for the Neon-Department M deal were disclosed.” So...that’s not great! If it was a big valuation, we’d hear about. Also, I found this curious: “Both Neon and Department M already have separate partnerships with Qatar. The Qatar Film Committee has a slate deal in place with the former, and a biopic production pact with the latter.” Color me skeptical about much Middle Eastern investment dollars. See: LIV Golf. Finally, as for Angel (formerly Angel Studios), their stock very, very slightly popped last month after Young Washington ($20 million budget) which made $45 million in the US, but their stock is still way down from its opening. Smaller Updates RIGHT: The WGA should focus on antitrust concerns! I’ve been on this for years. Post-WGA/AMTPT deal in 2023, I wrote an article for the Ankler calling on the WGA to focus and organize against industry consolidation. Sure enough, the WGA filed a lawsuit against the Paramount-WBD merger, and people are organizing around this issue now. I wish this energy had coalesced earlier (specifically to lobby Washington much earlier), but better late than never! WRONG: Actually, the chip shortage might be due to market manipulation. In my last “Long Reads for the Long Summer” article, I shared an article about how LLMs are causing memory chip prices to spike, which will make all electronics more expensive. Well, turns out, three RAM manufacturers control 90% of the market, and now a private lawsuit accuses them of price-fixing. So yeah. WRONG/UPDATE: The Odyssey will hold! Two weeks ago, I wrote, “As of this moment, we haven’t had a super-blockbuster, though The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday could all cross the $500 million mark. (At this point, The Odyssey would need a very strong hold to get there.)” Well, it’s safe to say it’s going to have that hold! It only dropped 30% in weekend two and IMAX screenings are sold out all month. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also off to a great start. RIGHT: People are rushing to get shows out yearly. I’ve long been bullish on yearly, weekly-released shows, and Leslie Goldberg at The Ankler wrote about how many people in town are now listening. WRONG: Mark Carney reverses Canada’s stance on homegrown production. After writing about Canada installing domestic production quotas, Canada has backed off. WRONG: I don’t trust Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s online “views”. When I originally wrote about the latest Spider-Man film’s record-breaking trailer, I thought this was just YouTube views, but after watching this Corridor Crew video and doing more research, well, it’s all social views of the trailer globally. Really? That stat includes TikTok, Reels and YouTube Shorts views. Basically, I don’t trust it anymore. (This film will probably set record, but I trust the pre-sales data more.) RIGHT: Celebrity Production companies are still struggling. I’ve written about this for years, but the company that I didn’t track was Kevin Hart’s HartBeat, which was valued at $650 million but is struggling now and might just end soon, especially after Kevin Hart pulled his endorsement deals. And Bad Robot is moving to NYC. CORRECTION: SpongeBob is a “second run” title. In my 2025 recap article, I had _SpongeBob SquarePants_labelled as a “library” title, when it is still a “second run” show, with new episodes still coming out on Nickelodeon. CORRECTION: In my last “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong” update, I offered a correction from Doug Creutz and misspelled TD Cowen. Thanks, Grammarly! 1 Though he could have increased prices to make up for the gap, he couldn’t have increased them that much. 2 There’s a theory, which I think that Daryl Morey created and Bill Simmons popularized, that, to be successful building your team, you only need a handful of bad GMs in the league to take advantage of. To be clear, Daryl Morey’s theory was also for signing bad contracts, that you could always get out of bad contracts. Basically, there’s always someone who will make a bad trade. It’s not the same exact thing, but similar enough to the Greater Fool Theory that I really like it.
Acoustirats and Jordan Lauterbach to Perform at LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on Aug 23rd
As part of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Soundtrack to Summer Series, the band Acoustirats will perform LIVE music and Comedian Jordan Lauterbach will open with comedy set at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY) on Aug. 23th from 3-4pm. The event is free for members or with general admission ticket purchase or $10 at the door concert ticket purchase. For details on this and upcoming events please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.... About AcoustiRats AcoustiRats is an acoustic duo dedicated to stripping Good Rats classics down to their raw, essential form. Fronted by Stefan Marchello, lead singer and 36-year veteran of the Good Rats, alongside guitarist Matt McCarthy, who also did a run on guitar with the band. Between them, they've got decades of Good Rats DNA in their blood. After years of playing these songs loud and electric, Stefan and Matt are thrilled to break them down to the bare bones. No frills, no amps cranked to 11 — just voice, acoustic guitar, and the songwriting that made the Good Rats legendary. It's the same attitude and stories fans know, delivered in a raw, intimate format. For diehard Good Rats fans, it's a new way to hear the classics. For first-timers, it's proof that great songwriting doesn't need to be loud to hit hard. About Jordan Lauterbach Jordan Lauterbach is a fast-rising comedian who features prominently in clubs around the country. His autobiographical style and supreme wit keep audiences laughing for hours after they leave the club. Lauterbach is likable, relatable, and tremendously funny. He has opened for some of comedy's best and is quickly carving out an audience of his own.
Former veterinarian technician’s boarding business a true passion project
Sue Williams began her journey to open Cozy Care Kennels, a pet boarding business located south of Columbia Falls, not far from Deer Park School, where she spends her time playing and caring for pets who stay there.
We the people: Learning the navigation of politics and voting
Democracy has become a loaded word, along with the U.S. Constitution. Then I was extended the opportunity to playtest a game, Convention of States. I began to see how democracy was complicated and often politically maneuvered. To understand this: Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows state legislatures to bypass Congress and propose amendments to the Constitution. Therein lies the game: a role-playing game that casts players as democratically elected delegates representing the regions and states of America. I was lucky enough to become a Justice, heavily equipped with states, which is voting power. I voted on behalf of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Dockstock festival back at Great Cranberry
What began in 2022 as a group of musicians playing on the town dock on Great Cranberry Island has grown.
On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Yankees series preview
The Cubs and Yankees playing is always fun. This year it’s at Wrigley.
9 things I learned caddying in a pro qualifier
Looping for a club pro was an eye-opening playing lesson in reverse.
Yankee Stadium game highlights Wrexham's rise
Goalkeeper Danny Ward believes playing against Liverpool at Yankee Stadium is the latest illustration of how far Wrexham have come in recent seasons. The Wales international had previously visited the iconic New York venue with Liverpool for a pre-season friendly against Manchester City in 2014. Ward, 33, was between the sticks for hometown club Wrexham this time around as they were beaten 1-0 by Andoni Iraola's Liverpool.
NFL and RCX Sports Foundation announce international flag football scholarship recipients
The scholarship supports elite international flag football athletes playing at American colleges.
Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?
Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
After Playing 4 Hours of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, I’m Convinced It’s the Shake Up the Racing Genre Needs
We've been hands-on with Star Wars: Galactic Racer's fast and furious roguelike campaign, and it's looking a game changer for racing games.
I turned off this core Android app to reclaim 7GB of storage; I should have done it sooner
I won't be reinstalling this app
The party drags on at ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Overture Hall
Playing Madison through Aug. 2, this musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age tragedy is pretty and entertaining, but hollow at the center.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour has competitive multiplayer, and you've got a chance to play it very soon
Crazy Taxi: World Tour may not be about until 2027, but if you're lucky, you could be playing it in a matter of weeks.
Shohei Ohtani Playing Through Multiple Injuries as Pitching Return Stalls
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has admitted to playing through two injuries as he tries to get back on the mound.
Bryce Harper's old glove hints at Phillies trade hopes
Harper has been playing first base for the Phillies.
Washburn football is a family business for J.C. Heim
Heim, a Topeka native, has 2 brothers playing alongside him at Washburn this fall.
Clair Obscur Isn't The Only Great RPG That's Cheaper Right Now
These are the current role-playing game deals I'd recommend
Xbox Live server issues preventing users from playing downloaded Xbox games
Xbox users are reportedly experiencing widespread issues when attempting to access Xbox Live, with one recurring issue preventing access to downloaded games.
Alonso has 'plan' for playing Rogers with Palmer
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he has a "plan" to play club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers alongside Cole Palmer.
Cardinals training camp notes: Carson Beck struggles continue
Third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck has struggled in the first few days of Arizona Cardinals training camp as he pushes for playing time.
007 First Light's first major patch is here – and it's a doozy if you're playing on PS5
007 First Light's first major post-launch update, Patch 1.1.0, is here, introducing "fixes and improvements for over 200 issues reported by the community and ou
I was drowning in Galaxy notification spam until I turned on this one hidden feature
Notification Categories is a critical tool in reclaiming my Android notifications panel
Film review: ‘Hadestown’ goes to hell and back on the big screen
“Hadestown: The Musical" is a live stage capture filmed at London’s Lyric Theatre, now playing in movie theaters.
Paul Wesley celebrates William Shatner after the original Captain Kirk’s cancer battle: ‘He seems invincible’
‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ actor Paul Wesley is currently playing Captain Kirk, but he’s continuing to pay tribute to the OG star William Shatner, who recently revealed that he won his battle with cancer.
Bowman 'honoured' to make return after eight-year hiatus
Goal shooter Lisa Bowman says she had "goosebumps" playing for Northern Ireland in their opening Commonwealth Games defeat against England as she made her return to the international stage after an eight-year break.
MLB Umpires Target Yankees José Caballero
On July 31, 2025 Jose Caballero held the unique distinction of players playing the opponent they were traded to when he turned a double play for the Tampa Bay Rays and conducted his postgame interview for the New York Yankees. Nearly a year later, Caballero holds the distinction of being the player ...
Superagers keep youthful memories but their DNA does not explain why
Scientists expected SuperAgers might simply inherit fewer Alzheimer’s-related risks, but their genes looked much like those of typical older adults. Their extraordinary memories may instead come from still-unknown protective forces involving the brain, body, lifestyle, and environment.
What are we overlooking in kids' mental health? Playing outside!
Most young people spend less time in nature than previous generations. They need it for their health and development.
🚨 Official: Kang-in Lee leaves PSG!
Great sale for PSG!It was expected, and it is now official: Kang-in Lee is leaving PSG!Eager to get more playing time, the South Korean midfielder signed for Atlético de Madrid this Saturday morning!...
ESPN lines up six European preseason matches following World Cup
The World Cup may be over, but ESPN is betting that viewers are still interested in soccer by televising six preseason matches featuring European clubs touring the United States. The matches will see Liverpool FC, Wrexham AFC, Leeds United and Sunderland AFC playing in Nashville, New York City, Chicago, Tampa, and Philadelphia. Of the six…
Good Sports: Basketball twins draw Division I attention before starting high school
Fraternal twins Iman and Jihan Qamhiyeh have their sights set on playing basketball at the highest level, and their talent is already attracting attention from college programs before they begin high school.
Bret Michaels hospitalized after 7-day medical ordeal left him playing through 'intense' pain
Bret Michaels shared a hospital bed photo after a kidney stone procedure, revealing he played three concerts before the pain became too much.
Anderson's rise to become Man City's record signing
Elliot Anderson was the schoolboy footballer so good his teachers discussed placing a bet on him playing for England. The bet was never made - but Thomas Tuchel put huge trust in Anderson at the World Cup, and Manchester City are doing the same by signing him for a club record £116m from Nottingham Forest.
Sports teams face pitch struggles from hot weather
Several clubs in Shropshire say they are praying for rain so they can keep on playing.
Telford sports teams face pitch struggles from hot weather
Several clubs in Shropshire say they are praying for rain so they can keep on playing.
Report: Jimmy Garoppolo is open to playing in 2026
Aaron Donald isn’t the only ex-Ram on the fence about retirement. It seems Jimmy Garoppolo is too.
Report: Jimmy Garoppolo open to playing after considering retirement
Jalen Brunson Goes In Depth About Playing Through Severe Injury in NBA Finals
Brunson shared a positive update.
Cool Course: Mind Playing Tricks on Me—Mental Health in Contemporary Music
Student analyze and critique songs from diverse artists and genres to explore mental health topics and related stigmas
Whiskey industry warns against new tariffs on Canada
The White House defends the new tariffs as leveling the playing field for U.S.-produced spirits, cars and dairy products
Sports and politics: No longer strange bedfellows
Sports has always billed itself as above petty indifferences, something that brings people together on the sanctity of the playing field. FIFA, the guardian of the soccer World Cup pledges to ensure accessibility to everyone, promising that each athlete will receive a reception that is “safe, welc...
Wrigley Rooftop-View Case Raises Proximity Issue Across Sports
The Chicago Cubs playing games in an “open-air stadium” doesn’t “transform the view” from a neighboring rooftop into Cubs property, Wrigley View Rooftop and owner Aidan Dunican argue in a recent court filing. And if it did, other teams, leagues and sports organizers could allegedly demand payment from neighbors who currently watch for free. Wrigley …
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom arrives in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer
Robert Downey Jr. is officially revealed in the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer. The Marvel veteran returns as comic-book villain Doctor Doom after playing Iron Man for a decade.
Scientists have found an ancient sea worm with jaws made from a mysterious 'bio-metal' never encountered before, a discovery that could rewrite what we know about nature
Imagine you’re playing “20 Questions” and you start with the classic opener: “Animal, vegetable, or mineral?” Most of the time, a sea worm would be an easy answer: animal. But one particular marine species, the ancient and still-living bristle worm Perinereis cultrifera, complicates that simple choice.
Truthfully The Fallout I’m Most Looking Forward To Is Fan-Made
As Xbox tries to quell critics by replaying the hits, it’s a fan-made game that has me optimistic for the wasteland
How to Stop Google Maps From Displaying Your Home to Strangers
A straightforward privacy request to Google can remove your home from Street View entirely. Here's the step-by-step process.
Boris Nadezhdin faces pressure ahead of Russian election
Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin has been fined for displaying a photo of late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Nadezhdin said authorities are trying to hinder his anti-war campaign.
Meet JPMorgan wealth planner in your college team's locker room
Mikael Lemieux didn't talk about finances a lot when he was playing hockey. He's now helping JPMorgan get in with athletes when they're young.