Tag: Basketball

Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year prison sentence will be held Oct. 25, Russian court says

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A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for American basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

Griner, an eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

The Moscow region court said it will hear her appeal.

Griner admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage, but testified that she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.

Her February arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At the time, Griner, recognized as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, was returning to Russia, where she played during the U.S. league’s offseason.

The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and Griner’s lawyers argued after the conviction that the punishment was excessive. They said in similar cases defendants have received an average sentence of about five years, with about a third of them granted parole.

Before her conviction, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to be “wrongfully detained” – a charge that Russia has sharply rejected.

Reflecting the growing pressure on the Biden administration to do more to bring Griner home, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that Washington had made a “substantial proposal” to get Griner home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage.

Blinken didn’t elaborate, but The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “merchant of death.”

The White House said it has not yet received a productive response from Russia to the offer.

Russian diplomats have refused to comment on the U.S. proposal and urged Washington to discuss the matter in confidential talks, avoiding public statements.

U.S. President Joe Biden met last month with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the player’s agent, Lindsay Colas. Biden also sat down separately with Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan’s sister.

The White House said after the meetings that the president stressed to the families his “continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.”

The Biden administration carried out a prisoner swap in April, with Moscow releasing Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

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October 3, 2022
New this week: Lena Dunham, Mila Kunis and Charlie Puth

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Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

MOVIES

— Lena Dunham adapts Karen Cushman’s young-adult novel in “Catherine Called Birdy,” a spirited medieval coming-of-age tale about a 14-year-old girl named Birdy (Bella Ramsey) in medieval England. Her father (Andrew Scott) wants to marry her off for some much-needed money, but Birdy’s plans repeatedly foil him. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called the film “part ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary,’ part Mel Brooks and all joy.” Though still playing in select theaters, “Catherine Called Birdy” begins streaming Friday on Prime Video.

— From some of the same producing team behind the hit Michael Jordan documentary series “The Last Dance” comes another look back on a basketball high point. “The Redeem Team,” debuting Friday on Netflix, follows the 2008 U.S. men’s basketball team as it seeks a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after the team’s disappointing bronze finish in 2004. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, both team members, are producers of the documentary, which digs into coach Mike Krzyzewski’s leadership and Kobe Bryant’s considerable impact on the team.

— Mila Kunis stars in the Netflix thriller “Luckiest Girl Alive,” based on Jessica Knoll’s 2015 best-selling debut novel. The film, streaming Friday, takes some of the mystery stylings of “Gone Girl” and “The Girl on the Train.” Kunis stars as a New York woman with a seemingly perfect life that unravels when a true-crime documentary starts looking into her dark high-school past.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

MUSIC

— For his third album, pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth is going with a very simple title — “Charlie,” due out Friday. It’s his first full-length project since his 2018 Grammy-nominated LP “Voicenotes.” You’ve likely already heard at least one of the 12 tracks — the earworm “Left and Right” featuring Jung Kook of BTS. Some other singles are the brooding ballad “That’s Hilarious” and the slinky “Light Switch.” Still not sure? listen to the lovesick up-tempo “Smells Like Me.”

— Guitarist Billy Duffy and singer Ian Astbury rejoin for a new album from The Cult, with their signature mix of heavy metal, goth and rock. The eight-track “Under the Midnight Sun” has triggered two singles, “Give Me Mercy” and “A Cut Inside,” with Astbury singing: “No heathens in heaven/ No sweet surrender/ Outsiders forever/ Ghosts of our lives.” Astbury says he pulled in influences from Brian Jones, Brion Gysin, William Burroughs, Buddhism, the Beats and the Age of Aquarius.

— What do you get when two of the three rappers from Migos release an LP? We’ll find out Friday when Quavo and Takeoff give the world “Only Built for Infinity Links” without third member Offset. The lead single “Hotel Lobby” has a video inspired by ”Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and another club-ready single is “Us vs. Them,” with Gucci Mane. Then there’s the Birdman-featuring “Big Stunna” and the memorable lyrics: “I was sick before carona/ice cold like pneumonia.” The title of their joint record is a reference to Raekwon’s 1995 solo work “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.”

— Wasn’t super-producer Danger Mouse just celebrating an album release last month? Well, here’s another. Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) reconnects with The Shins’ James Mercer as Broken Bells for the album “Into the Blue.” Three singles with wildly different styles have preceded the album drop, including the spacy “We’re Not In Orbit Yet…” and the gorgeous “Love On the Run,” that has a sunny, ‘70s vibe leading to a Pink Floyd-ish guitar solo. Last month, Danger Mouse teamed up with The Roots’ Black Thought for the album “Cheat Codes.”

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

TELEVISION

— Lesley Manville, Joanne Froggatt and David Morrissey lead an ensemble cast in “ Sherwood,” a drama series inspired by a 1984 miners’ strike in Nottingham, England, that pitted the town against police and divided friends and relatives. Decades later, officers return in force to solve a pair of killings, with their presence rekindling past bitterness. James Graham (“Brexit — The Uncivil War”), who grew up in the real-life town of Nottinghamshire and witnessed the turmoil, wrote the series debuting Tuesday on the BritBox streaming service.

— “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show” returns Friday for its second season and none too soon. Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”) is the beaming center of the show that aims to help preschoolers appreciate the value of small acts of kindness. Shouldn’t the adults in this fractious world be watching, too? The Apple TV+ series, co-created by McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero (“Blue’s Clues,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”), will welcome guest stars including Tony Hale, Stephanie Beatriz, Kristen Schaal and Kumail Nanjiani.

— The iHeartRadio Music Festival, held in Las Vegas at the end of September, is getting a four-hour, two-night special on the CW network. Among the dozens of artists at the festival: Sam Smith and Kim Petras, who performed their new song “Unholy”; a set by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo that included “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Heartbreaker,” and Megan Thee Stallion closing out the festival with songs from her new album, “Traumazine,” and past hits. The special airs on Friday and Saturday.

— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber

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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Dwayne Wade’s name.

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Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.

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October 3, 2022
Russian court sets Brittney Griner appeal date for Oct. 25

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MOSCOW — A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for American basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

Griner, an eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

The Moscow region court said it will hear her appeal.

Griner admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage, but testified that she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.

Her February arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At the time, Griner, recognized as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, was returning to Russia, where she played during the U.S. league’s offseason.

The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and Griner’s lawyers argued after the conviction that the punishment was excessive. They said in similar cases defendants have received an average sentence of about five years, with about a third of them granted parole.

Before her conviction, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to be “wrongfully detained” — a charge that Russia has sharply rejected.

Reflecting the growing pressure on the Biden administration to do more to bring Griner home, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that Washington had made a “substantial proposal” to get Griner home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage.

Blinken didn’t elaborate, but The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “merchant of death.”

The White House said it has not yet received a productive response from Russia to the offer.

Russian diplomats have refused to comment on the U.S. proposal and urged Washington to discuss the matter in confidential talks, avoiding public statements.

U.S. President Joe Biden met last month with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the player’s agent, Lindsay Colas. Biden also sat down separately with Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan’s sister.

The White House said after the meetings that the president stressed to the families his “continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.”

The Biden administration carried out a prisoner swap in April, with Moscow releasing Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

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October 3, 2022
US women win fourth straight gold at World Cup, top China

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SYDNEY — The names on the U.S. team have changed, the Americans’ dominance has not.

A’ja Wilson scored 19 points, Kelsey Plum added 17 and the United States beat China 83-61 on Saturday to win its fourth consecutive gold medal at the women’s basketball World Cup.

“It feels great,” said Wilson, who was selected as the tournament’s MVP. “We came here on a mission, we got it. We got gold. Now we’re going home with some hardware. It feels great to us. Australia was great to us. I didn’t see any kangaroos, but it’s OK because we are leaving with a gold.”

This was one of the most dominant teams in the Americans’ storied history in the World Cup that now has won 11 gold medals. They now have won four straight gold medals for the first-time ever. This was also the biggest win in a gold-medal game, surpassing the 20-point wins that the Americans had done twice.

“Everybody wants to beat us. Everybody wants what we have and that’s gold medals and victories,” Breanna Stewart said.

What started with Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi has now been passed down to Wilson and Stewart. With Alyssa Thomas the oldest player at 30, the domination could continue for years to come.

“It’s been an incredible journey just to continue to lay that foundation down like so many of the greats in front of us have,” Wilson said. “Now it’s our turn to step up and be in that situation.”

As they’ve done all tournament, the Americans did it on both ends of the court, playing stellar defense as well as using a high-powered offense.

The U.S. (8-0) finished the World Cup averaging 98.8 points — just short of the mark held by the 1994 team that averaged 99.1. They won by an average of 40.8 points, topping the mark held by the 2010 team.

The game was a sellout with nearly 16,000 fans — the biggest crowd to attend a women’s World Cup game since the inaugural tournament in 1953 in Chile.

Led by Li Yueru and Wu Tongtong, China hung around. The Chinese team trailed 33-28 late in the second quarter before the U.S. went on a 10-2 run highlighted by fast-break layups by Stewart and Wilson to extend the advantage to double-digits.

Jin Weina hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to get China back to within 10.

The U.S. was just too good to let the upset happen, outscoring China 25-14 in the third. The Americans did have one scary moment when Thomas went down after a collision with Li in the lane. She was helped off the court, but returned a few minutes later.

“It was a tough game as we expected,” Thomas said. “By no means is this game easy. We stuck to it and pulled out a win.”

China won its first medal since the 1994 World Cup when the team also took the silver and are a rising power in women’s basketball. After the game, the team posed for a photo with their flag and men’s great Yao Ming, who is the president of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Li finished with 19 points and Wu added 13 before leaving the game in the fourth quarter after her knee gave out driving to the basket. She had to be carried off the court.

The victory was the 30th in a row in World Cup play for the Americans, who haven’t lost since the 2006 semifinals against Russia. The Soviet Union holds the World Cup record with 56 straight wins from 1959-86. This is only the second time in the Americans’ storied history they’ve reached four consecutive gold medal contests. They also did it from 1979-90, winning three times.

This U.S. team, which has so many new faces on it, also continued to dominate the paint even without 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner, outscoring its opponents by an average of 55-24.

These two teams met in pool play and China gave the U.S. its toughest game, losing by 14 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE

Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Plum are part of an incredible group that won a World Cup and WNBA title in the same year. There have been 14 total now.

WOMEN’S WORLD

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis was pleased that half of the officials in the tournament were female and five of the 12 head coaches were women. Both China and the U.S. had women in charge of their teams, marking the second straight time that two female coaches made it to the gold medal game.

MISSING IN ACTION

The U.S. was without Kahleah Copper for the second straight game after injuring her left hip in the win over Serbia in the quarterfinals. Copper landed hard on her hip driving to the basket and had to be helped off the court. China was missing its star guard Li Meng, who sat out a second consecutive game with what Chinese media reported as having a fever due to body fatigue.

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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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October 1, 2022
Australia wins bronze, Lauren Jackson scores 30 in finale

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SYDNEY — Lauren Jackson admitted she couldn’t have imagined a better ending to her Hall of Fame career.

Jackson willed Australia to a win in the bronze medal game at basketball‘s World Cup, scoring 30 points to lead the Opals to a 95-65 win over Canada on Saturday.

“I could have never dreamed of this,” Jackson said. “I can’t imagine it. I can’t actually articulate how I feel right now. It’s a dream come true. The fact that it’s over, there’s nothing bittersweet. It’s so, so special and I’ve the pleasure doing it here. It’s been perfect.”

It was a throwback performance for the 41-year-old mom, who came back to the Opals after retiring in 2016 because of injuries. Jackson said on social media Saturday that this would be her final game for Australia and that she was “lucky to have this opportunity to represent Australia and also say goodbye. I didn’t get that chance all those years ago.”

“To say goodbye this way is just magnificent,” Jackson said. “I couldn’t imagine that.”

She played in 43 World Cup games in her career, matching Brazil’s Janeth Arcain for most all-time. Jackson won three bronze medals and led the Opals to their lone gold in 2006.

The U.S. won its fourth straight World Cup gold medal, defeating China 83-61.

Australia (6-2) was coming off a disappointing last-minute loss to China in the medal round. After a sluggish start, Jackson got the team going scoring nine points in the opening 20 minutes as Australia led 51-43 at the break. Kia Nurse kept Canada in the game with 19 points in the first half. She didn’t score in the second half.

Jackson then took over scoring 12 of her points in the third quarter when Australia extended the lead to 71-54. Jackson, who had been used sparingly throughout most of the tournament, broke out an array of post moves that were reminiscent of her dominant MVP seasons in the WNBA playing for Seattle.

Her three-point play with 1:07 left in the third gave Australia a 17-point advantage — its biggest lead of the game to that point.

Australia coach Sandy Brondello, who played with Jackson on the national team, put Jackson back in with just under 6 minutes left and took her out to a rousing ovation with 2:22 remaining as she hit two free throws to end her night. Jackson received hugs from her teammates, who then lifted her up after the final buzzer.

“It was a fairytale ending and I couldn’t be more happy for her,” Brondello said.

Canada (4-3) was looking for its first medal since 1986 when the North American country won the bronze. Even with the loss, the Canadians advanced further than they had in any World Cup in 36 years.

The teams met in pool play with Australia coming away with a 75-72 win that helped them earn the top seed in the group.

TIP-INS:

Jackson became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup medal-round games, surpassing her friend Diana Taurasi’s mark of 63. Jackson finished with 81. … Jackson has now scored over 30 points in a medal game twice — the only player to do it. She had 31 against South Korea in 2002.

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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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October 1, 2022
Canada into women’s World Cup semis for 1st time since 1986

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SYDNEY — No one on Canada’s roster was alive the last time the team won a medal at the women’s World Cup. Now the Canadians are a win away from securing one for the first time since 1986, when they captured the bronze.

Kia Nurse scored 17 points to lead a balanced Canada team to a 79-60 win over Puerto Rico on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

“It’s really special,” Nurse said. “It’s been a work in progress for us and we all felt the disappointments. Quarterfinals have been our downfall for a long time and to be able to get over that hump. … I think our country is continuing to get really excited about basketball in the grassroots programs and this is just the start of what we can accomplish.”

Next up is a matchup Friday with the U.S., which beat Serbia 88-55.

“It’s always our goal to win a quarterfinal and make it to the semifinals. The medal rounds is where we want to be,” Canada’s Bridget Carleton said.

The other semifinal will pit China against either Belgium or host Australia. China advanced with an 85-71 win over France. While the medal drought isn’t as long as Canada’s, China hasn’t won one since 1994 when the Asian nation took the silver.

Canada (5-1) and Puerto Rico were tied 4-4 before the Canadians scored the next 12 points to start a 22-7 burst to close the quarter.

The lead ballooned to 44-23 at the half. Puerto Rico couldn’t really cut into its deficit in the second half thanks in part to Nurse and the fact that Canada committed only four turnovers the entire game. After spending 11 months recovering from an ACL injury, she saw her first game action in the World Cup. She had her best game of the tournament against Puerto Rico.

The loss ended a great run for Puerto Rico, which advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in its history. The players hoped the unprecedented run could bring some joy to the island which is recovering from Hurricane Fiona.

“The word legacy sums it up,” said Arella Guirantes, who had 19 points to lead Puerto Rico (2-4). “To leave something like that for the youth that’s coming up is bigger than any win or loss that we can have. . . . It means a lot to be a part of the beginning of a legacy. I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be back and will be better.”

UNITED STATES 88, SERBIA 55

Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to help the U.S. beat Serbia.

Kelsey Plum scored 17 points and A’ja Wilson added 15 to lead the Americans (6-0), who will face Canada.

The Americans had run through pool play, winning by 46.2 points per game and hadn’t faced any kind of challenge. Serbia (3-2) wasn’t afraid though, going right at the U.S. The Serbians scored the first basket of the game — marking the first time the Americans trailed in the tournament.

It was back-and-forth for the first 17 minutes, with the U.S. failing to go on any major run. Then, with 2:59 left in the half and the U.S. up by five, Kahleah Copper drove to the basket and was fouled. She landed hard on her hip and had to be helped off the court by the U.S. training staff. Copper, who has been a sparkplug for the U.S. in her first tournament, didn’t return.

Plum replaced Cooper and hit the two free throws, starting a 12-0 run to close the half as the Americans led 50-33 at the break. Serbia didn’t challenge that deficit in the second half.

Yvonne Anderson led Serbia with 14 points.

CHINA 85, FRANCE 71

Li Meng scored 23 points and Huang Sijing added 18 to help China top France.

China (5-1) led 60-58 late in the third quarter before scoring the final six points of the period to extend the advantage to eight. France could only get within five the rest of the way

China’s run is a big turnaround from 2018 when the team finished sixth.

“I remember 2018, I know this is a very strong team,” said Chinese center Han Xu, who had 13 points and nine rebounds. “We learned a lot.”

Marine Fauthoux scored 19 points and Gabby Williams added 17 for France (3-3).

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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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September 29, 2022
George Gervin Partners With IPrivata and the HBAR Foundation to Launch the I OWN ME™ Campaign to Protect Athletes’ Data and Digital Rights

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I OWN ME campaign will raise awareness of the growing value of an athlete’s digital identity and data and educate athletes on how to assert legal title and rights to their digital assets using IPrivata’s patented solution.

Press Release
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Sep 22, 2022

BOSTON, September 22, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Known as the “Iceman” and for his signature finger roll, George Gervin won four NBA scoring titles (third all-time) and was recently recognized on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. As he launches a new apparel line, book, and upcoming documentary, he is proud to partner with IPrivata and the HBAR Foundation to record, authenticate and enforce his legal title and rights to his data and digital assets.

IPrivata’s patented platform gives individuals legal title and rights to their data. When individuals assert “I Own Me” in a Declaration Certificate^TMand a Community of Trust^TM it links the rights embedded in the patent to the individual’s data. This establishes a root proof of authenticity and transforms the enforcement framework for data from privacy to well-established legal frameworks leveraging property rights, IP, and contract law.

In the new era of NIL, IPrivata and its I OWN ME campaign provides the only way for athletes to protect and monetize their personal brands and content. The HBAR Foundation and the distributed ledger technology developer, Acoer, are working closely with IPrivata to integrate the Declaration Certificate within the Hedera ecosystem, providing legal title to an individual’s digital identity on the world’s greenest, most-used distributed ledger.

“I’m proud to partner with IPrivata and claim, ‘I Own Me’ to raise awareness and educate the next generation of athletes in their professional pursuits,” George Gervin commented. “I worked hard throughout my career to win games and make a name for myself. Since I left the NBA, I’ve devoted my time to educating the youth and giving back to the community. With social media and all the new opportunities and challenges young athletes face today with NIL, it’s important people know IPrivata is here to help.”

“George is a basketball icon and an original ‘influencer’ in his community,” said Scott Yeager, Chief Strategy Officer of IPrivata. “He’s made an impact with athletes and youth through his charter schools and charity work. George is a leader, and declaring, ‘I Own Me’ will spread the word that young athletes shouldn’t just give their name and content away to the internet. It’s important for athletes to protect their personal data and NIL.”

“Two of the biggest challenges with data ownership are the uncertainty around data rights and the lack of a proactive enforcement framework,” said Shayne Higdon, CEO of the HBAR Foundation. “IOWN.ME, built on the Hedera platform provides an effective and repeatable mechanism for monitoring data rights.”

George Gervin and the I Own Me campaign is a collaboration between Reprivata, IPrivata, Fox Ellis Sports (Twitter/Instagram: @foxellisagency) and Unique Sports Management (Twitter/Instagram: @uniquesportsmgmt).

Source: IPrivata

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September 22, 2022
AdventHealth Training Center, Home to the Orlando Magic, to Feature Violet Defense’s UV Disinfection Technology
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New state-of-the-art facility will be the first in the nation to fully integrate Violet Defense’s UV technology with building automation system via BACnet standards.

Press Release
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updated: Sep 6, 2022
ORLANDO, Fla., September 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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The Orlando Magic’s new training home, the AdventHealth Training Center, will have UV disinfection technology from Violet Defense installed throughout the facility to help keep players and other visitors safe from illnesses.

The AdventHealth Training Center will be the practice and training home for the Magic and a sports medicine hub for all of Central Florida, the Magic and AdventHealth announced. On August 31, the ribbon was cut on the $70 million, 130,000-square-foot facility in the heart of Orlando.

Violet Defense is the developer of patented Pulsed Xenon UV disinfection technology, proven in independent lab testing to kill pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, C. diff, MRSA, norovirus, coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2.

The Magic’s facility will be the first in the country to fully integrate Violet Defense’s UV technology with a building automation system via the international BACnet standard. This will provide the team with enhanced control over their system, including scheduling functionality and reporting and metrics on system usage.

“We’re extremely proud to partner with the Orlando Magic and protect the health of the athletes at all levels – from the NBA to youth sports – who use this facility,” said Bruce Mosley, President of Violet Defense. “With the advanced control features of this deployment, we are making it incredibly easy to disinfect spaces throughout their facility automatically.”

Violet Defense’s UV technology utilizes powerful, broad-spectrum light, including germicidal UV-C, UV-B, UV-A, and violet-blue that enhances their germ-killing efficiency. By combining those wavelengths, Violet Defense’s UV advantage optimizes the efficacy of the UV light it delivers. The company strives to provide products that will lead to a brighter, healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.

The AdventHealth Training Center will provide the Magic with two state-of-the-art basketball courts for practice; expanded strength and conditioning, training and recovery facilities; aquatic spaces, including for physical therapy and hydrotherapy; sports science and nutrition facilities; and cutting-edge audio-video and imaging technology, the team said.

“Through our collaboration with Violet Defense over the last several of years, we have been able to easily incorporate their technology throughout all of our spaces as part of our ongoing efforts to keep our facilities safe and healthy for our team,” said Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “When we started planning the state-of-the-art AdventHealth Training Center, we knew right away that Violet Defense needed to be an integral part of our plans. We are thrilled to have them join us in our continuing commitment to health and wellness.”

AdventHealth is a multi-state health care system, and the Magic’s partner for three decades, and brings to the facility a 33,300-square-foot medical hub designed for elite athletes, youth athletes and recreational athletes with a focus on whole-person health and sports science.

Violet Defense’s industrial UV sanitizer system will be installed throughout the facility, covering areas including:
- Weight and cardio room
- Hydrotherapy
- Recovery
- Player locker rooms and showers
- Dining and kitchen area
- Staff locker rooms and showers
- Restrooms
To learn more about Violet Defense and its offerings, visit www.violetdefense.com.

About Violet Defense

Violet Defense is dedicated to UV disinfection solutions for a brighter, healthier, more sustainable future. Violet Defense provides trusted and efficient UV disinfection solutions that are sustainable, cost-effective, and protect the places you live, learn, work, and play. We are committed to your well-being and strive to give you confidence and peace of mind wherever you go. To learn more about Violet Defense and its initiatives, visit www.violetdefense.com.

Media Contact:

Maria Penaloza
Maria.penaloza@newswire.com
www.Newswire.com

Source: Violet Defense
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September 6, 2022
College Baseball and Basketball Coaches Descend on LakePoint Sports for the Audi Marietta Primetime Players Weekend, July 22-24

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Prep Baseball Report’s 17U National Championships and BCS Elite 32 Showcase highlight the sold-out weekend

Press Release
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Jul 19, 2022

ATLANTA, July 19, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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LakePoint Sports, the nation’s premier travel and youth sports destination, is partnering with Audi Marietta for the sold-out Audi Marietta Primetime Players Weekend, which will feature the best travel sports athletes in baseball, women’s basketball and beach volleyball from around the country.

“We are excited to partner with Audi Marietta for our fifth of six sold-out Champions Weekends this year,” said Greg Barckhoff, EVP of partnerships and marketing at LakePoint. “LakePoint Sports succeeds when we create win-win opportunities with our partners while elevating the guest experience through special promotions, giveaways and more. The Audi Marietta Primetime Players Weekend is a perfect example of the win-win opportunity.”

As the title partner of the Primetime Players Weekend, Audi Marietta will display a lineup of vehicles, including the Audi e-tron, Q5, Q7 and Q8. Audi Marietta will also give away tickets to an upcoming Atlanta Braves game and provide exclusive vehicle offers to guests.

“We’re proud to partner with LakePoint Sports for the Audi Marietta Primetime Players Weekend,” said Masud Wiggins, general manager at Audi Marietta. “The weekend presents an opportunity for us to interact with and support local sports families while showcasing and introducing them to our product line.”

Pro scouts and college baseball, basketball and beach volleyball coaches will be on campus throughout the weekend to evaluate the best athletes from around the country compete in their respective sports.

The LakePoint Sports Baseball Village will host dozens of pro scouts and college coaches who will be on campus to see elite prospects compete in Prep Baseball Report’s (PBR) 17U National Championship. Over 140 of the nation’s top 17U baseball teams will vie for the title of best in the country. All eyes will be on North Carolina native Walker Jenkins, a potential top 5 pick in the 2023 MLB draft.

Top women’s college basketball programs and their coaches will be in the 12-court Champions Center for the BCS Elite 32 Showcase. The Elite 32 is part of the NCAA’s Women’s Basketball Evaluation Period, which allows college coaches to travel and see players in person. Dozens of Power 5 conference schools, including the University of South Carolina, Stanford University and the University of Louisville, will have coaches present on campus for this three-day event as they watch the elite competition throughout the weekend.

The 10-court Beach Pavilion will host Rally Volleyball’s Endless Summer. This AVP qualifying event will feature top players from the southeast as they look to impress college coaches.

The weekend’s excitement features something for all guests, including music courtesy of DJ Jessica, partner promotions, food and beverage specials and a live broadcast from 680 the Fan, the best sports talk radio station in the southeast and the flagship station of the Atlanta Braves.

Fans, scouts, coaches, and media, who cannot make it to campus, can catch all the action via LakePoint Live, powered by PlaySight, the best in sports technology. LakePoint Live features more than 130 HD cameras across campus, with over 70 cameras in the Champions Center and 56 cameras across all eight major league-sized baseball fields (seven cameras per field), and multiple angles by court or field to catch the live action or download for viewing it later. For details, check out LakePointSports.com/LakePoint-Live.

“We continue to see excitement every weekend on campus, and especially during our Champions Weekends,” said David Pate, director of marketing at LakePoint Sports. “Guests on campus will be treated to a weekend of elite athletic competition and events while enjoying live music, first-in-class food and beverage and engaging partner promotions each day. We expect this Champions Weekend to be the highlight of July at LakePoint Sports.”

To learn more about LakePoint Sports or the “Audi Marietta Primetime Players Weekend,” please visit LakePointSports.com.

Media Contact: pr@lakepointsports.com

###

About LakePoint Sports
LakePoint Sports, the premier travel and youth sports destination in the country, serves athletes in more than 30 sports year-round, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics and cheer. Based in the greater Atlanta area, the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus features the 170,000-square-foot Champions Center with the world’s largest continuous wood floor, where 12 full-court basketball games or 24 full-court volleyball games can play at once. Additionally, the campus includes eight Major League-sized baseball fields and three multi-use fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and football, as well as a 10-court beach volleyball pavilion and a three-lake wakeboarding park. LakePoint Sports is the flagship campus for Prep Baseball Report (PBR) and offers live streaming and video-on-demand capabilities, serving as the global testing site for PlaySight Interactive. For more information, visit LakePointSports.com.

Source: LakePoint Sports

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July 19, 2022
College Coaches Converge on the LakePoint Sports Campus for the KT Tape Summer Show Stoppers, June 24-26

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The National High School Basketball Coaches Association Team Camp highlights the weekend featuring elite basketball recruits.

Press Release
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Jun 22, 2022

ATLANTA, June 22, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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LakePoint Sports, the nation’s premier travel and youth sports destination, is partnering with KT Tape for the second annual KT Tape Summer Show Stoppers. This is the fourth of six sold-out Champions Weekends in 2022.

“As the nation’s premier travel and youth sports destination, we are always looking for ways to elevate the guest experience while meeting and exceeding our brand partner’s objectives,” said Greg Barckhoff, EVP of partnerships and marketing at LakePoint. “KT Tape is a prime example of our partnership strategy, as they offer products that assist in recovery and support for the elite athletes that compete on campus.”

As the title partner of the Summer Show Stoppers, KT Tape will offer a free taping for athletes who might need pain relief and flexible support to keep their muscles active and recovering during competition.

“We’re looking forward to our expanded partnership as the title partner of the KT Tape Summer Show Stoppers and the official kinesiology tape of LakePoint Sports,” said Ed Terris, VP professional marketing and sales at KT Tape. “We saw tremendous success following last year’s event and feel expanding our partnership with LakePoint will offer invaluable opportunities to get our product in the hands of thousands of athletes.”

College basketball, baseball and beach volleyball coaches will be on campus throughout the weekend to see elite athletes from around the country compete in their respective sports.

The 12-court Champions Center at LakePoint Sports will host the National High School Basketball Coaches Association (NHSBCA) Team Camp. The NHSBCA Team Camp is part of the NCAA’s Evaluation Period, which allows college coaches to travel and see players in person. Dozens of Power 5 conference schools will have coaches present on campus for this three-day event to see the elite talent competing this weekend.

In the LakePoint Sports Baseball Village, dozens of college coaches will be on hand to see elite prospects compete in Prep Baseball Report’s (PBR) 16U National Championship. Over 140 of the nation’s top 16U baseball teams will vie for the title of best in the country.

The 10-court Beach Pavilion will host Rally Volleyball’s East Coast Championships. This event will feature top players from the southeast as they look to impress college coaches.

The weekend’s excitement features something for all guests, including music courtesy of DJ JJ, partner promotions, food and beverage specials, and a live broadcast from 680 the Fan, the best sports talk radio station in the southeast and the flagship station of the Atlanta Braves.

Fans, scouts, coaches, and media, who cannot make it to campus can catch all the action via LakePoint Live, powered by PlaySight. LakePoint Live features more than 130 HD cameras across campus, with over 70 cameras in the Champions Center and 56 cameras across all eight major league-sized baseball fields (seven cameras per field) and multiple angles by court or field to catch the live action or download for viewing it later. For details, check out LakePointSports.com/LakePoint-Live.

“Demand to compete at LakePoint Sports continues to exceed this year’s expectations,” said David Pate, director of marketing at LakePoint Sports. “These sold-out events drive up the level of competition on campus, bringing in more and more college coaches to campus.”

Additionally, LakePoint Sports is hosting its second 5K of the year for the community. The Jog & Jam, presented by Bartow Fence, features a course that runs through LakePoint’s south campus, ending on the Multi-purpose Fields Complex. Immediately following the race will be a free community concert.

To learn more about LakePoint Sports or the “KT Tape Summer Show Stoppers,” please visit LakePointSports.com.

Media Contact: pr@lakepointsports.com

###
About LakePoint Sports
LakePoint Sports, the premier travel and youth sports destination in the country, serves athletes in more than 30 sports year-round, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics and cheer. Based in the greater Atlanta area, the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus features the 170,000-square-foot Champions Center with the world’s largest continuous wood floor where 12 full-court basketball games or 24 full-court volleyball games can play at once. Additionally, the campus includes eight Major League-sized baseball fields and three multi-use fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and football, as well as a 10-court beach volleyball pavilion and a three-lake wakeboarding park. LakePoint Sports is the flagship campus for Prep Baseball Report (PBR) and offers live streaming and video-on-demand capabilities, serving as the global testing site for PlaySight Interactive. For more information, visit LakePointSports.com.

Source: LakePoint Sports

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June 22, 2022
LakePoint Sports to Host Sold-Out ‘Old Hickory Elite Weekend’ Featuring Nation’s Elite Travel Athletes

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Prep Baseball Report’s National Program Invitational headlines the weekend featuring top baseball prospects.

Press Release
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Jun 7, 2022

ATLANTA, June 7, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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LakePoint Sports, the nation’s premier travel and youth sports destination, is partnering with Old Hickory to host the “Old Hickory Elite Weekend,” featuring elite, top-tier competition in baseball, beach volleyball, soccer and basketball. Pro scouts and college coaches are eager to see the level of competition on the LakePoint Sports campus.

The weekend’s excitement features something for all guests, including live music courtesy of a DJ, partner promotions, food and beverage specials and live broadcasts from 680 the Fan, the best sports talk radio station in the southeast and the flagship station of the Atlanta Braves. As the title partner of the Elite Weekend, Old Hickory will be running product demos, distributing giveaways and raffling off a bat signed by four-time MLB MVP and Old Hickory endorser Mike Trout.

“We are thrilled to partner with LakePoint Sports for the ‘Old Hickory Elite Weekend,’” said Travis Copley, VP of sales and marketing for Old Hickory. “We have been a partner with LakePoint since 2020 and regularly exceed our business objectives. Being the title partner of the Elite Weekend allows us to get our product in the hands of the best travel baseball players in the country who will participate in Prep Baseball Report’s National Program Invitational. We expect several of these players to be in the Major League, hitting the best bats in the business.”

“We succeed when our partners surpass their business objectives,” said Greg Barckhoff, executive vice president, partnerships and marketing at LakePoint Sports. “We are thrilled to see Old Hickory expand its partnership with LakePoint and be the title partner for the ‘Old Hickory Elite Weekend.’”

The LakePoint Sports Baseball Village will host Prep Baseball Report’s (PBR), the country’s leading and most respected scouting service for amateur baseball, National Program Invitational (NPI), an invite-only event featuring the best travel high school baseball teams and players in the nation. Teams and players from as far away as California, Texas and New York will showcase their talents in front of hundreds of pro scouts and college coaches starting Thursday, June 9.

“While the nation’s top baseball prospects are the focal point this weekend,” stated David Pate, director of marketing at LakePoint Sports. “We are excited to host athletes and families from a variety of other sports, including beach volleyball, basketball and soccer.”

Beach volleyball athletes and fans will descend upon the LakePoint Beach Pavilion for the sold-out Rally Volleyball Georgia Sand Classic starting Saturday. Top teams from across the southeast will compete in pool play all day Saturday and Sunday morning before playoffs begin Sunday afternoon.

The LakePoint Champions Center will be packed with guests as all 12 basketball courts will see competition from the rising generation of basketball stars in the RYZE Hoops Junior June Jamboree. The tournament will feature Georgia’s best 10- to 14-year-old players.

All four venues will be in action for the sold-out weekend, with the Multi-purpose Fields Complex playing host to soccer’s rising stars competing in the Southeastern Club Champions League. For many of those players, it will be the first time competing on the newly renovated fields.

“Demand to compete at LakePoint Sports has been at a fever pitch,” said Pate. “The ‘Old Hickory Elite Weekend’ is the third of six sold-out Champions Weekend of the year. We are excited to partner with a great brand like Old Hickory, which is kicking off the first of three Champions Weekends this summer and creating lifelong memories for all guests on campus, one experience, one game and one guest at a time.”

Fans, scouts, coaches, and media who cannot make it to campus can catch all the action via LakePoint Live, powered by PlaySight. LakePoint Live features more than 130 HD cameras across campus, with over 70 cameras in the Champions Center and 56 cameras across all eight major league-sized baseball fields (seven cameras per field) and multiple angles by court or field to catch the live action or download for viewing it later. For details, check out LakePointSports.com/LakePoint-Live.

To learn more about LakePoint Sports or the “Old Hickory Elite Weekend,” please visit LakePointSports.com.

Media Contact: pr@lakepointsports.com

###

About LakePoint Sports
LakePoint Sports, the premier travel and youth sports destination in the country, serves athletes in more than 30 sports year-round, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics and cheer. Based in the greater Atlanta area, the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus features the 170,000-square-foot Champions Center with the world’s largest continuous wood floor where 12 full-court basketball games or 24 full-court volleyball games can play at once. Additionally, the campus includes eight Major League-sized baseball fields and three multi-use fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and football, as well as a 10-court beach volleyball pavilion and a three-lake wakeboarding park. LakePoint Sports is the flagship campus for Prep Baseball Report (PBR) and offers live streaming and video-on-demand capabilities, serving as the global testing site for PlaySight Interactive. For more information, visit LakePointSports.com.

Source: LakePoint Sports

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June 7, 2022
College of DuPage Becomes First NJCAA Program to Adopt PlaySight’s Smart Sports AI Technology

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Press Release
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updated: May 20, 2019

GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS, May 20, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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Today, the College of DuPage and PlaySight are excited to announce a new technology partnership – PlaySight’s SmartCourt sports AI technology will be coming to the Chaparrals coaches and student-athletes. The Chaparrals will have access to live streaming and automated production technology, as well as video and performance analysis tools. PlaySight officially partnered with the NJCAA in November of last year, and College of DuPage is the first member-school to adopt the technology for its athletic department.

Top athletes and teams across the sporting world have been training and playing with PlaySight for several years now, including the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, several leading NCAA basketball programs, including the University of North Carolina and Wake Forest University, and over 70 other NCAA programs across tennis and other varsity sports. PlaySight also works with leading high schools, prep schools and academies throughout the country and around the world.

PlaySight was the first company to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software for sports that has enabled a pro-level platform to be brought to all levels of athletics. PlaySight makes courts, gyms, fields and rinks ‘Smart’ by installing its software and connected camera technology. Once set up, SmartCourts provide several benefits to athletes, coaches, teams and fans, from automated HD broadcast live streaming and advanced coaching tools to instant replay video, VAR, and a content platform to store, manage and share video quickly and seamlessly.

Greg McVey, the director of Athletics and Recreational Programs at College of DuPage expects PlaySight to help his program engage with both its student-athletes and community in new ways. “Technology allows athletic departments to reach out in new and creative ways all of the time. By partnering with PlaySight and its Smart technology and becoming its first community college client, this will enhance College of DuPage and its student-athletes and programs in ways that we haven’t achieved before. We’re excited about delivering our message to our athletes and community with this new platform.”

“As a company, we are focused on bringing technology to all teams and levels, and that is why we were so excited last year to officially partner with the NJCAA,” said PlaySight Director Erik Gormley. “DuPage has established itself as a sports technology leader within the community college level and we’re excited to see the impact that our Smart platform will have on the school, alumni, community, coaches and athletes. We’re leveling the playing field with our affordable platform and our goal is to give every team the same experience with our video technology.”

Both PlaySight and the NJCAA expect DuPage to be the first of many community colleges to add this technology heading into next season. “It is exciting to see the innovative technology from PlaySight starting to grow with our member colleges,” said Brian Luckett, Chief External Affairs and Development Officer of the NJCAA. “The autonomous video production and SmartCourt technology has a significant impact for NJCAA programs when they are expected to do more with less. This technology helps to do just that.”

Source: PlaySight

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May 20, 2019