CAA has helped T'Wolves C KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS "build an impressive stable of endorsements to supplement his on-court income." He has been in "movies and on television shows, giving him the kind of exposure usually afforded to stars in much bigger markets." Towns is also "building a following" through his YouTube channel, where he "hangs out with superstars" like rapper TRAVIS SCOTT. Towns: "I thought when you were in Minnesota, you would have less opportunities. I've seemed to have only grown with my opportunities." He added, "We're in a digital age. Talent is talent wherever you are. We find it through social media and the markets and the companies know who they want to work with. It doesn't matter where" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/22).
TALE OF TWO PROJECTS: In S.F., Scott Ostler contrasts STEPHEN CURRY's latest media ventures, including ABC's mini golf-themed "HOLEY MOLEY," in which Curry "makes cameo appearances." Ostler: "You should watch 'Holey Moley' so you'll have a definitive answer when someone asks, "What's the worst TV show you've ever seen?'" The show is "supposed to be cornball," and in that it "succeeds magnificently." Curry also co-exec produced the documentary "EMANUEL" with actresses VIOLA DAVIS and MARISKA HARGITAY, which is a "whole different ballgame." Ostler: "You should see this one because it won't hurt you to pull out the hankie and have yourself a deep think" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/23).
AGENCY MATTERS: Rubicon Talent has signed U.S. Olympic hopeful sprinter CHRISTIAN COLEMAN for representation in all off-the-track endeavors. Rubicon Partner BRANDON SWIBEL will be his primary agent. Coleman, expected to be a Gold Medal contender in both the 100m and 200m dash, is repped by HSI Int'l for track engagements (Ben Fischer, THE DAILY)....Raptors G KYLE LOWRY has hired Priority Sports & Entertainment's MARK BARTELSTEIN for representation (TWITTER.com, 7/22).
THE GOOD STUFF: The Raiders "purchased 1,600 tickets" for Las Vegas kids to attend WNBA Aces games, in a "program that began with Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx." The Raiders will "distribute the tickets for the remainder of the season to various organizations, including local high school basketball teams" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/23)....The MLB Players Trust will “donate $45,000 on behalf of the players to the Tyler Skaggs Baseball Foundation” in memory of the late Angels pitcher (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/22).
NAMES: Jazz Art Dir BEN BARNES' creations are the "impetus behind the team's new -- albeit old-school -- visual look." Barnes is the one who "brought the Jazz out of the mountain era and into the new note days, with its distinctive and iconic visuals that have greatly increased the Jazz' merchandise sales and gotten fans excited again about their identity" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/22)....Dutton Books has "cut a deal" with WSCR-AM's JULIE DICARO to write "SIDELINED: WHAT SPORTS TELL US ABOUT BEING A WOMAN IN AMERICA." DiCaro's manuscript is "due in April with publication a year later." Dutton Books described the book as "part reported, part memoir, and part manifesto" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/22)....Giants LF ALEX DICKERSON and three members of the OWL S.F. Shock spent part of Monday "playing Super Smash Bros Ultimate, among other games," on the team's $10M scoreboard at Oracle Park (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/23)....A baseball diamond in the “southeast part of Swann Park in South Baltimore was officially dubbed ‘Al Kaline Field’” yesterday in honor of the Baseball HOFer (BALTIMORE SUN, 7/23)....CRISTIANO RONALDO "won't face criminal charges" after a woman accused him of "raping her in his suite at a Las Vegas resort more than 10 years ago" (AP, 7/22).
