Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

People and Pop Culture

Lionel Messi Cancels Friendly Scheduled For Wednesday At L.A.'s Memorial Coliseum

LIONEL MESSI's charity game, a "Battle of the Stars" which was scheduled to take place at L.A.'s Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday and feature a number of the world's top footballers, "was canceled Tuesday," according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. TIMES. The announcement gave way to "a blistering attack" from El Padrino Spirits Public Relations VP RALINA SHAW. Shaw said, "In all the years I've been doing live events, I have never encountered a situation like this. It's unfortunate because the only losers in this scenario are the fans that were looking forward to the game." El Padrino CEO TODD GRAHAM said, "After hours of trying to convince Lionel Messi's management team to fulfill their contractual agreement and come to Los Angeles, it is clear they have no respect for these fans and this market" (L.A. TIMES, 7/2).

MESSI APOLOGIZES: Ole reported Messi said in an apology on his Facebook page, "I am disappointed in the management of the charity game in Los Angeles. I had a lot of desire to attend and enjoy this as I did in Perú and Colombia. This project is done for the fans, and because of this I am very disappointed with the organization. A special hug to any people that were going to support this cause at Memorial Coliseum and thanks to everyone for your support" (OLE, 7/3).

CONFLICT IN PERÚ: EL BOCÓN reported that during Messi's "Messi and the Rest of the World" charity game in Lima, Perú on Tuesday night, "it was not all happiness because with 15 minutes remaining, Messi left the field to intervene in a scuffle between stadium security personnel and Messi's family members." Messi's father, JORGE, and brothers RODRIGO and MATIAS were escorted from the field after approaching Messi's team's bench. Messi then "immediately left the field and returned to his hotel without showering" (EL BOCÓN, 7/3).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

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.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2013/07/04/People-and-Pop-Culture/Messi.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2013/07/04/People-and-Pop-Culture/Messi.aspx

CLOSE