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Names In The News

Stern is one of the largest backers in the N.Y.-based startup LiveLikeNBAE/GETTY IMAGES

N.Y.-based tech startup LiveLike, which has “developed a VR platform for live TV sporting events," has raised $9.6M in a Series B round that “includes new investors Greycroft Partners and Lepe Partners.” The company has raised about $15M so far “thanks to backing from other investors,” such as NBA Commissioner Emeritus DAVID STERN, Evolution Media, Courtside Ventures, Elysian Park, Dentsu Ventures and the GC VR Gaming Tracker Fund. LiveLike “plans to use the fresh funds to help it expand its partnerships” (MULTICHANNEL.com, 2/15).

BACK ON TRACK: Furniture Row Racing Owner BARNEY VISSER, who a few weeks ago suffered a heart attack, on Thursday returned to a track “for the first time since last season." Visser said that he “feels as healthy as he has in years.” He “returned to the shop in Denver for the first time Wednesday” (AP, 2/15)....Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT tweeted that his son NICK is “recovering nicely” following eight hours of brain surgery this week. Gilbert tweeted, “Nick still has hurdles ahead but true hope is now alive. 1st question: “Did @cavs beat OKC?” (TWITTER.com, 2/15).

NAMES: The T’Wolves on Thursday “unveiled a ‘Flip’ banner at the top of the Target Center as the organization paid tribute” to late coach and President of Basketball Operations FLIP SAUNDERS. Several former NBAers were in attendance, and TNT’s KEVIN HARLAN, a longtime play-by-play voice for the team, “emceed the pregame tribute” (ESPN.com, 2/15)….Panthers TE GREG OLSEN, has “donated $100,000 toward” the Univ. of Miami's indoor practice facility. With Olsen’s gift, his alma mater has now raised $2M for the $34M facility from "more than 80 former Hurricane football players” (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 2/16)….The Bay Area Sports HOF announced its ’18 class, which will be “honored at the 39th annual enshrinement banquet” on May 21 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, includes former 49ers GM JOHN MCVAY (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/16).

IN MEMORY: Mavericks co-Founder DON CARTER died Wednesday night at age 84. His trademark white Stetson hat adorned the team’s logo, “making him synonymous with the team he co-founded and owned for 16 years.” With his declining health, Carter and wife LINDA were “rarely seen the past two seasons in their customary courtside seats” at American Airlines Center. They came to the Mavs' opener this season, but Carter was “unable to attend” former NBAer DEREK HARPER's Jan. 7 jersey retirement. Carter in ’96 “sold majority interest in the franchise to ROSS PEROT JR.” for $125M, but “kept a minority share” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/16).


SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

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SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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