|Founder of Ruling Sports|Tenured Professor @Pepperdine|California & Colorado Attorney|Contributor @TheAthletic & @WashingtonPost|
Los Angeles, CA
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In 2011 I launched Ruling Sports as a sports law blog.
Since, I've written for major publications, interviewed top athletes and saw the ins-and-outs of sport.
Now, I'm reimagining Ruling Sports.
The trailer for my new podcast, Ruling Sports, is live:
open.spotify.com/show/0kVjW8…
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This is why we can’t have nice things. I was trying to take a picture of the lobster roll I ordered in Maine and well, this happened 😂🤦🏻♀️
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This my favorite LeBron story. During the Finals in 2014, the locker room was filled to the brim with everyone huddled around his locker. A camera man literally moved me out of the way. LeBron saw. He looked at the guy and said, “apologize to her.” It. Was. EPIC.
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Nicki Minaj has joined the board of directors of MaximBet, following an investment in the company.
This makes Minaj the sports betting industry's first female lead ambassador and executive.
Under the deal, Minaj will also become creative director of Maxim Magazine.
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$43 and one seagull attack later, I am now enjoying my first lobster roll at Fox’s Lobster House in York, Maine.
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The WNBPA’s player membership has reached a 99% vaccination rate, believed to be the highest in sports. Another summer of WNBA athletes leading the way.
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Friendly reminder @ussoccer: The US Women's National Soccer team is ranked 1 & they're paid less than a team that just missed the World Cup.
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There are 510,000 NCAA athletes. Charlie Baker says less than TEN are transgender.
It is absolutely wild that Congress can fast track this, yet for over four years it has fumbled the employee status, F-1 visa and other NIL issues impacting schools and over 100k NCAA athletes.
NEW: The House is fast-tracking a bill to ban trans athletes from competing in women's sports.
The bill, which was reintroduced Friday, is part of a rules package that makes 12 bills a priority for the new Congress.
frontofficesports.com/house-…
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Steph Curry is uniquely approaching endorsement deals by negotiating community relations opportunities into the deals. Today Curry signed a partnership with Callaway Golf. The endorsement includes creating strategies to grow golf participation in underserved communities.
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Everything I’ve seen from this rally is the antithesis of Christianity. It is disgusting, vitriolic and hateful. If you want to support it, that’s on you. But we don’t know the same God if you believe God has sent this.
I’m sorry. If this is your team, you don’t deserve the respect of decent people until you condemn this ugliness that your leaders keep putting on stages for you to cheer.
Until then, I’m assuming you’re sitting there clapping along to this, too.
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Huge allegation against USA Gymnastics in a lawsuit filed by Olympian, McKayla Maroney. Maroney alleges USA Gymnastics paid her to not speak about being sexually abused by a team doctor. If true, this is unforgivable and USA Gymnastics should pay huge punitive damages.
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NASCAR is the only major U.S. professional sport to complete a full season during COVID-19. To accomplish this it:
Completed 90,391 health questionnaires
Took 102,347 temperatures using 205 thermometers
Bought 84,100 masks
Bought 64 gallons of high-grade disinfectant solution
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Unveiling 14 national team collections for the Women's World Cup in France today, Nike announced partnerships meant to expand female access to sport: a 3-year deal with UEFA Women’s Football and deals with the WNBA, FIBA, Chinese Basketball Association and 200 U.S. universities
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Women can commit domestic violence. The allegations of violence against FIU TE, Jonnu Smith, are heartbreaking: espn.com/college-football/st…
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Yesterday, Mitt Romney said, "What you can’t have is a couple athletes on campus driving around a Ferrari when everybody else is basically having a hard time making ends meet."
How do you support free market economics and care if NCAA athletes earn enough to own a Ferrari?
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Today @LSUbaseball stars rode on the Mike the Tiger Float through the gates of LSU and to the flagship @raisingcanes location to celebrate with founder @ToddGraves and fans. Talk about an appearance!
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I bet 1970s Keith Richards never imagined he’d be playing a concert using Zoom while being quarantined amidst a global pandemic.
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20-years from now, students will study the atrocity in sport that was Ryan Nassib being signed, but Colin Kaepernick remaining a free agent.
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College Football Finances
Memphis
Revenue: $17,569,774
Expenses: $17,569,774
Penn State
Revenue: $100,098,956
Expenses: $45,569,892
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It's been nearly 24-hours since a seagull pilfered my lobster roll in Maine and I still cannot stop laughing. Just wrapped an interview with @BuzzFeed that really captures the moment. If you need a laugh, you are welcome: buzzfeednews.com/article/dav…
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Lady Gaga's Super Bowl performance was a HUGE hit for the @NFL, as it was the most-watched musical event of all-time across all platforms.
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Instead of reading the rhetoric of people like RFK Jr., please take time to read this today. We can never allow the atrocities of the Holocaust to be forgotten, nor can we allow them to be wielded for political stature.
Before the 77th anniversary of the liberation of #Auschwitz we bring together the most important facts about the last stage of the operation of this German Nazi camp. See the rest of this [THREAD] below. 1/11
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If you thought you needed the work week to end, you could be the Buffalo Wild Wings PR team right now. Twitter cleanup on aisle nine...
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Documents released by Ohio State today related to the Urban Meyer investigation create serious concerns over the validity of the investigation. Meyer text his agent that charges against Smith would be dropped the same day he denied knowing of DV allegations. How does that work?
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Can someone remind the NCAA compliance staffer who shut down Trevor Lawrence’s GoFundMe page supporting COVID-19 relief nonprofits that Lawrence’s name, image, likeness and athleticism helped the NCAA earn $1 billion in revenue for its nonprofit?
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As college football players across the U.S. have suddenly banded together in the #WeWantToPlay movement, those calling for widespread unionization of the group must understand that the law governing unionization in the U.S. makes that unlikely. 1/
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This Jeep ad may by the most political of them all.
“Real leaders are humble,” says Harrison Ford.
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Stop telling us it was ANTIFA that staged an attempted coup yesterday. Here is a Republican state lawmaker breaking into the Capitol with the crowd.
W.Va. lawmaker Derrick Evans asked to resign over recording himself storming the US Capitol.
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Boarding a flight to FL. Fully expect LeBron James to be a Laker by the time I get back to LA. Boston can’t afford a Kawhi trade, meaning he’s headed to LA or staying put. Dwyane Wade is in Ibiza with Paul George telling him to team up with LeBron. King of Angels has a nice ring.
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Ben Affleck and JLo getting married is proof that you really never know how a story is going to end.
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Spread across multiple networks, the NFL reports the 2018 NFL Draft was the highest rated and most watched ever.
Key numbers:
Thursday: 11.2M viewers
Saturday: 2.9M viewer avg. (most-watched Day 3 ever)
English-language viewership: Up 25%
Spanish-language viewership: Up 20%
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The May 3 Warriors-Pelicans game will feature a Marvel-inspired alternate presentation across ESPN platforms. The telecast will integrate elements from an original Marvel story and iconic characters. Commentary will be provided from a fully customized Marvel-themed studio.
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The Miami Heat unveiled its “Vice Nights” City Edition uniform, a sequel to last season’s Vice campaign. To celebrate the launch, the team is hosting Vice Nights Midnight Madness at midnight on Thursday at @AAarena.
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In the 70s, my dad helped a friend move to Pepperdine.
He looked up at the campus and wondered if anyone from his family would be good enough to go there someday.
Today his daughter, a first generation college student, received tenure @pepperdine.
Honored and thankful to God.
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😂 at the people saying Kendrick’s halftime show was “awful.”
The show had so much depth, symbolism and artistic quality.
When you unpack it all, it’ll be analyzed historically for decades. And I’m not talking about the Drake beef. I’m talking about meeting the societal moment.
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Miami is hands-down the most attractive job in college football. While Ohio State has had more recent success, the next Miami head coach can recruit in the Florida hotbed and have the luxury of a new indoor practice facility. Momentum can turn with the right team leader.
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The maximum sentences the 1st set of defendants face in the FBI NCAA basketball corruption case are as follows:
Christian Dawkins: 200-years
James "Jim" Gatto: 80-years
Merl Code: 80-years
There are people who have raped and killed and faced lighter sentencing guidelines.
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ESPN knows millennials and Generation Z members are cutting the cord; so, it went to them with a Snapchat show. Results? Snapchat SportsCenter earns 2 million unique visitors per day, 75% of which between the ages of 13 and 24.
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Today my cousin passed away by suicide.
She was bright, uber successful, beautiful and loved.
We often don’t know the battles people are facing.
If you are hurting, seek help. It will get better.
My DMs are open. I will listen.
National Suicide Prevention: 800-273-8255
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Come on, NASCAR. Write the driver’s name in this release. It wasn’t just the 43 team, but the garage of your only Black driver.
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Crying happy tears. After 10 yrs. of public service my student loans were forgiven. I’m a 1st generation college student who funded college on her own. I paid in full, on time, every month since 2010, yet had a balance. Thank you @JoeBiden for working to fix this broken system.
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Does Urban Meyer have a legal duty to fire a coach allegedly involved in domestic violence? Probably not. An ethical one? Yes.
Texas A&M is taking a different approach. It has contractually required coaches to report gender violence or face immediate termination without pay.
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The NCAA was founded in 1906 after the deaths of 18 football players.
2018: "Drag his ass across the field!" was allegedly yelled by Maryland's head athletic trainer about a player obviously struggling to run a drill in the heat.
Jordan McNair would die of heat stroke.
Awful.
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BREAKING: The WNBA and WNBA Players Association have reached a tentative 8-year collective bargaining agreement. Key elements in the pictures below. For the first time, average cash compensation of WNBA players will exceed six figures.
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The WTA will suspend tournaments in China over its ongoing concern for Peng Shuai's well-being.
In 2018 the WTA signed a 10-year agreement to host its championships in China, valued at roughly $1 billion. The association also has a lucrative Chinese TV contract.
This is bold.
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Today Nike's CEO announced the USWNT's home jersey is the #1 soccer jersey-men's or women's-ever sold on Nike.com in one season.
The gravity of this is highlighted by the fact that during the 2015 Women's World Cup, Nike didn't sell USWNT jerseys in men's sizing.
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EA Sports has announced that for the first time in a basketball video game, users will be able to create female players in NBA LIVE 19.
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I'm very curious about who is leaking the names of NBA players who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. HIPPA requires confidentiality of health care providers. Who's naming the names?
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Just landed back in Los Angeles and see that the seagull and I are trending on Twitter. Needless to say, my trip to Maine was EPIC 😂🐦🦞
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I’m all about following the law and caring about public health, but man. I did my part in getting vaccinated. And staying home during multiple lockdowns. At some point, this is just ridiculous.
Los Angeles County will reinstate its mask mandate regardless of vaccination status starting this weekend amid a rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations cnn.it/3kkdeZj
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Sharpie has entered the NIL game, launching the Sharpie Rookie of the Year program.
It has partnered with Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze, who will sign their first professional contracts with a custom-made S-Gels that feature their signatures engraved down the barrel.
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Hearing that the Staples Center will be renamed for Crypto.com tomorrow as part of a multi-year naming rights deal for the Lakers, Clippers and Kings arena.
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Nearly 8-years ago, I started writing about sports from a legal perspective. A number of editors told me my focus was too narrow. I’m excited to join @TheAthleticBIZ as a contributor on #sportsbiz, law and media as @TheAthletic sees the value and need for this content.
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In announcing a three-year extension with the Cowboys, TE @Jaws_47, says he will donate a portion of his signing bonus to Oklahoma State University to help workers impacted by the cancelation of spring sports. Jarwin is repped by @KMMsports.
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The WNBPA has expanded opportunities for WNBA players, announcing today a partnership with Microsoft to launch Microsoft LEAP for WNBPA, an immersive off-season paid apprenticeship featuring four weeks of class activities at Microsoft and 12 weeks of job training.
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I am very curious as to why I have seen zero NBA reporters report on this. This is the most recognized skills training coach in the NBA; the man who has trained the best players in the NBA over the last decade.
Rob McClanaghan, former Syracuse basketball walk-on who trains NBA stars, arrested on rape and drugging charges syracuse.com/orangebasketbal…
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Lucrative month for Dabo Swinney, thanks to his team’s performance and contract bonuses:
ACC Championship game appearance and win: $50,000 + $150,000
Cotton Bowl appearance: $200,000
National Championship appearance: $200,000
National Championship: $250,000
Total: $850,000
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To make my sentiment abundantly clear: It is asinine that the NCAA found a way for Division I FBS football players to play amidst a global pandemic, but during the course of more than a year couldn't use its brainpower to enact name, image and likeness legislation.
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LeBron > MJ
Don’t at me. LeBron carried this team to the Finals. Michael always had a supporting cast.
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EA Sports has reportedly partnered with the Collegiate Licensing Company to license FBS schools’ trademarks to revamp EA Sports College Football.
CLC was founded by former Alabama AD, Bill Battle.
As of now, current NCAA athletes won’t appear in the games.
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Re-reading the NCAA's case against Reggie Bush for an interview tomorrow. I thought they were crazy then, but the penalties he and USC faced are crazier now.
Can you imagine, in today's NIL era, an athlete being penalized for accepting a limo ride to his own Heisman ceremony?!
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Today marks the first time in Jordan Brand’s 30-year history that it’s releasing a Women’s Collection. The shoes run in standard women’s sizes and were designed in collaboration with @AlealiMay.
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Richard Sherman is an intelligent man, as demonstrated by attending Stanford. But he isn't an attorney. There are nuances to negotiations. This is why people spend 3-years and $100,000 plus to attend law school. The Niners got the best end of this deal.
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Yesterday the @aafAPOLLOS won their 1st game. Today I’m meeting with players to discuss the careers they can attain after their playing careers end. This is what makes @TheAAF different: From Day 1, we are assisting in player transition. No other league can say this.
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As unpaid poll workers work into the night again counting votes, it is clear that the heroes of 2020 are the individuals who put the collective over self—poll workers, health care workers and essential employees. Thank you 🙏🏼
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Hey, Britt. As someone who travels to Haiti 3-4 times per year, it goes pretty well. Open your mind and heart and come along sometime.
Want everyone who denounced Trump to book a week long stay in El Salvador or Haiti. While you’re at it, Book in the 11 Mexican States with US State Department warnings to Americans. Tell me how that goes....
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Saundra Adams. The definition of forgiveness. She has raised a child with disabilities born to her daughter. The man, Rae Carruth, who had her daughter murdered wrote her--19-years later--apologizing and seeking custody of Saundra's grandson. Saundra says she's forgiven Carruth.
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Aly Raisman joins McKayla Maroney as the second Olympic gymnast to sue USA Gymnastics and the USOC alleging negligence related to their handling of the former team doctor who sexually abused athletes. Expect more lawsuits to be filed.
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Imagine Caitlin Clark broke the all-time scoring record in March 2021.
She wouldn't be in commercials.
Promotion of the moment would rest with the school. Women's sport wouldn't see the growth it does today.
NIL puts power in women athletes' hands and thus, drives growth.
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Wimbledon 2018 Finals prize money:
Djokovic: 2.25 million pounds
Kerber: 2.25 million pounds
Anderson: 1.125 million pounds
Williams: 1.125 million pounds
See, soccer, equal pay is possible.
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Nike is a global brand whose last reported revenue was $9.79B. It conducts marketing research and employs renowned advertisers. The timing of today’s ad comes 3-weeks before its next earnings report and 3-days before the NFL season start. Nike knows what it’s doing.
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While athletics directors were allegedly being paid $500,000 to pretend daughters of a celebrity were being recruited by the rowing team and keeping their jobs, a basketball player sits out because someone allegedly took $20,000 to direct him to a school. Wild world we live in.
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Elijah McClain died one year ago today at the hands of police brutality. A boy who loved kittens and playing violin, he should be blowing out birthday candles tonight. As I prepare for bed tonight, I pray for his family and that they find justice.
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Crazy to think if you’re an 18-year-old in Boston, the longest championship drought you’ve “endured” is 2-years
2001: Patriots
2003: Patriots
2004: Patriots
2004: Red Sox
2007: Red Sox
2008: Celtics
2011: Bruins
2013: Red Sox
2014: Patriots
2016: Patriots
2018: Red Sox
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Wear. A. Mask.
And socially distance!
Signed,
Someone Who Would Like To Enjoy 2021
Update—25 positive #COVID19 tests in 2 days
Donald Trump
Melania Trump
Bill Stepien, Trump CM
Hope Hicks
Kellyanne Conway
Chris Christie
Sen Mike Lee
Sen Thom Tillis
Sen Ron Johnson
Ronna McDaniel
John Jenkins, Notre Dame president
3x WH reporters
11x Cleveland debate staff
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Remember when there were protests of NIL deals over fear it would strip money from athletics departments? Here’s a great example of upholding the academic mission of college sport through NIL.
One of the best NIL deals you'll see.
Utah-based Built Bar will pay the tuition of all 36 walk-ons with @BYUfootball.
nitter.app/BYUfootball/status/142…
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The WNBA is capitalizing on last season’s growth, announcing today that the ESPN brand of networks will carry 25% more nationally televised games during the 2019 season.
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If Congress cares so deeply about women’s sports, it should investigate why 92% of athletic departments are not in compliance with Title IX. And as a hint: it has nothing to do with transgender athlete participation.
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8-years ago today I woke up and started Ruling Sports. I wanted to work in sports and write.
I had two decisions: 1. Do it or 2. Don’t.
I knew nothing about web design and took just one journalism class—in high school.
Bet on yourself. Take steps to make your dream come true.
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Things I wish @realDonaldTrump would address instead of a Super Bowl celebration:
1. Protecting kids at school from gun violence
2. Why immigrant children whose families are seeking asylum are being held in cages
3. When power will fully be restored in Puerto Rico
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I know athletics departments are often organized as separate nonprofits, but when do we start discussing the ethics of a) public institutions spending like this and b) nonprofits paying people 8-figures to not work?
Indiana is set to pay Tom Allen $20.8 million to no longer coach the program — the third-largest buyout in college football history.
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Al Golden's class cannot be denied. Fired on Sunday, yet beside Artie Burns on Monday when his mom was in the hospital before she passed.
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Growing trend in sports apparel: Utilizing reclaimed materials. @Nike announced that each of its Women's World Cup kits will be made from 12 recycled bottles. Since 2010, Nike has diverted 6 billion bottles through its production.
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Michelle Obama and George W. Bush’s friendship is A) one of my favorite things and B) something that gives me hope that bipartisan civility will re-emerge on the national stage.
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Jeanie Buss has proven what many pundits and fans doubted: She can lead an NBA team to a championship. Debate over.
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For anyone saying NBA contracts are too large, I present you soccer:
LeBron James, 33-years-old, 4-years, Lakers: $153.3 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 33-years-old, 4-years, Juventus: $382 million (includes $117 million transfer fee)
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Thank you to the @BostonGlobe for interviewing me about my seagull-lobster roll fiasco. And yes, I’m the proud new owner of the website seagullstolemylobsterroll.co… (seriously). Merchandise dropping soon. bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/0…
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We are selling naming rights to athletic departments now, but heaven forbid a college athlete takes an endorsement deal for the talent that helps make the athletic department capable of securing the endorsement deal.
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I'm excited to announce that I've been appointed the Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA for Pepperdine University. I'm thrilled to serve in this role to continue advancing the well-being of college athletes and ensuring they fully access & engage with higher education.
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A thread on relationships, creating opportunity & seeing potential 🧵:
In 2015 I booked a makeup appointment at a Chanel counter in a Salt Lake City Nordstrom ahead of a wedding I was attending.
The artist who did my makeup that day did it better than it has ever been done. 1/
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Ok, thanks for listening. I never wake up in the middle of the night, but here we are. Glad I could drop some sports law knowledge and here’s to hoping when I wake up for my 5 a.m. workout in 50-minutes that the college football world is still spinning!
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Kudos to Temple Football for putting players’ Twitter handles on their jerseys for the Spring Game. While NCAA players can’t capitalize on their name, helping grow their social media followings is a way to allow them to benefit within the purview of the NCAA Bylaws.
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Why doesn’t every sports fan love LeBron James? The stats speak for themselves. The business enterprise speaks for itself. The community engagement is above and beyond. He’s had no PR crises—unless you count a press conference that donated $1 million to the Boys & Girls Club.
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As Generation Z's buying power grows, athletes must follow Curry's endorsement strategy. Generation Z and young millennials say it's important the brands they purchase from give back. Athletes can attract young fans by including community relations activations in endorsements.
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Over the last 6 months I’ve served as a player education consultant to @TheAAF. I’ve traveled for meetings with experts and players identifying a plan to ensure the long term well-being of players. I submitted my recommendations today. I hope this work positively impacts many.
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Today has been tough on a number of levels, so it was a wonderful surprise to come home to this in my mailbox. If you told me ten-years ago I’d become an Associate Professor, I’d never believe you. Honored to call @pepperdine my work home.
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