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Brooklyn Nets Renovate Red Hook’s Joseph Miccio Community Center Fitness Room

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The Brooklyn Nets have presented their NBA 75th Anniversary Legacy Project, which will see the Joseph Miccio Community Center Fitness Room in Red Hook, Brooklyn, renovated and reopened.

Teams from all over the NBA have been working hard to refurbish areas in their communities in honor of the NBA’s 75th anniversary. As part of the repair, the Nets gave treadmills, a cycle, weights and racks, chairs, other multipurpose equipment, and three murals. The Miccio Community Center provides programming to families from the NYCHA Red Hook Houses throughout the year, providing a safe area for children to learn and play. The workout room of the center was damaged during Hurricane Ida in 2021, rendering it unusable until today.

The Nets had had a long relationship with the Miccio Community Center, dating back to when the team relocated to Brooklyn in 2012. One of the most significant ways the two organizations overlap is a shared dedication to community service.

“We identified Miccio Community Center as our 75th Anniversary Legacy Project because we have seen first-hand their impactful work and saw the tremendous need for support,” said Mandy Gutmann, Executive Vice President of Community Relations and Communications at BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. “We saw the damage left by Hurricane Ida and knew we needed to help. Miccio’s work is vital to Red Hook and we are proud to join our incredible community partners who all helped bring our vision to life. We hope that together we can continue to use the power of sport to make a lasting, positive impact and that this fitness center will inspire those in the neighborhood.”

“I am so thankful to the Brooklyn Nets for making the renovation of the fitness room possible for our NYCHA youth participants,” said Michelle Yanche, Executive Director of Good Spread Services. “The Miccio provides youth with a safe space to learn and play. The renovated fitness room will create new opportunities for programming for our youth and the community, and we are all excited about the impact that this will have on all of our program participants.” 

“Having our space renovated in this manner is not only a great privilege and honor but also it’s a great opportunity to serve our youth,” said Roland Knight, Sr. Program Director of the Joseph Miccio Community Center. “It’s been a pleasure working with the Nets. I can’t begin to speak on how important this is to our community, and I look forward to continuing our partnership.”

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Councilmember Alexa Aviles, Gutmann, Yanche, Knight, Nets Legend Albert King, and children involved with various community center programs, the refurbished Joseph Miccio Community Center Fitness Room was formally opened on Wednesday, May 4.

You can see the images below.

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[SOURCE SPORTS] Magic Johnson Joins Bid To Buy Denver Broncos

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Basketball legend Magic Johnson is joining a bid to become an owner of the Denver Broncos. He’ll join the group being led by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris.

According to Sportico, the NFL has faced increased pressure over the lack of diversity in its ownership ranks. It is speculated that every Broncos bid group is expected to have minority investors included.

READ MORE: Antonio Brown Says He and Kanye Are “Extremely Serious” About Buying the Denver Broncos.

It wasn’t made clear how much Johnson would be investing in the bid. He’s already a part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Broncos are predicted to sell for the highest price ever for a sports team. They recently valued near three-point-eight-billion-dollars.

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WNBA To Honor Phoenix Mercury’s Center Brittney Griner With Decal

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Brittney Griner

The WNBA is planning to honor Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner with a floor decal this season.

Griner has been detained in Russia since mid-February after customs officials say they found hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. She has a hearing set for May 19. The charges Griner faces could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

READ MORE: Brittney Griner Meets with U.S. Officials, Doing “Well”

The decal will feature Griner’s initials along with her number 42 and will appear on the home court of all 12 WNBA teams. Griner is coming off a season in which she led the Mercury to the WNBA Finals where they lost to the Chicago Sky.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert shared with the Associated Press,

“As we begin the 2022 season, we are keeping Brittney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community. We continue to work on bringing Brittney home and are appreciative of the support the community has shown BG and her family during this extraordinarily challenging time.”

The Mercury opens their season at home Friday night against the Las Vegas Aces. The center will still receive her full salary at almost $228,000.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Devin Booker Joins sweetgreen to Challenge the Fast Food Industry

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Draymond Green Says Suns' Devin Booker Should 'Get Out Of Phoenix'

sweetgreen, a mission-driven restaurant company that serves nutritious food at scale, has announced Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns as their newest partner in encouraging a healthier future. Sweetgreen, Booker, and Osaka are altering the way companies and athletes communicate the importance of what they consume to future generations.

“We introduced a powerful shift in the food industry with Naomi last year and we brainstormed together about who else to bring on this journey. We wanted an athlete that spoke to the importance of healthy living and Devin was a natural fit,” said Chief Brand Officer Nathaniel Ru. 

sweetgreen is launching “Create Your Own,” a new ad that spotlights their most popular menu item: the bespoke bowl. Over 65 percent of digital orders are customized with at least one change, and with over 40 fresh ingredients, customers can get exactly what they want without sacrificing their dietary preferences or flavor. Sweetgreen’s digital experience is built to make it simple for you to make your own.

“As an athlete, I’m always aware of what I’m putting into my body,” says Booker. “I know what ingredients make me feel my best, so when I order my go-to bowl at sweetgreen, I am confident that every ingredient is going to help fuel my day, on and off the court.” 

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SOURCE SPORTS: Shakur Stevenson Dominates Oscar Valdez To Unify WBO and WBC Super Featherweight Titles

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Newark’s own Shakur Stevenson is quickly moving up the ranks and being considered one of the best pound for pound in the sport. Stevenson put on a clinic on Oscar Valdez to retain his WBC super featherweight title and capture Valdez’s WBO title.

“I’m a superstar in this sport,” said Stevenson, 24. “I want to collect all the belts at 130 and become undisputed. I deserve to be a superstar, so that’s what I gotta do.”

Stevenson did it all in the ring and even found time to pop the question to his long-time girlfriend. No doubt she was going to say yes in the ring.

Stevenson put down Valdez in the sixth and neutralized Valdez’s vaunted power. Valdez came into the bout 30-0 with 23 knockouts, but he rarely touched Stevenson in the fight clean.

“He’s a great fighter,” Valdez said of Stevenson. “His speed is there. Power is there. He was just the better fighter tonight. Overall, a great fighter.”

Skill is the limit for Stevenson, who looks to dominate the 135 division and fight all challenges that await him. One of those challengers who could be next was Devin Haney, who just happened to sign a deal with Top Rank Boxing, the same promotion that Stevenson and Valdez are part of.

“Devin is definitely a huge fight for me; Devin is a helluva fighter. We can line it up in the future,” said Stevenson

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SOURCE SPORTS: All-Pro Reciever AJ Brown Traded to the Eagles

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AJ Brown shocked the NFL and NFL Draft by getting traded from the Tennessee Titians to the Philadelphia Eagles. After the Eagles moved up in the draft to select Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis with the 13th pick, the Eagles shocked the NFL by landing the All-Pro Brown via a trade with the Titans.

Not only that, but the Eagles have already signed the Pro Bowl wideout to a four-year, $100 million extension with $57 million guaranteed, per NFL Media, as they secured a new top target for the long term.

In exchange for Brown, the Titans received the No. 18 overall pick, which they used on potential Brown successor Treylon Burks from Arkansas, and the Eagles’ No. 101 pick, a third-rounder.

The Titians were the number 1 seed in the AFC last season with the help of Brown. Ultimately, the Titians didn’t want to give Brown a huge payday, so they traded him and, for all-purpose, drafted his replacement in a draft loaded with wide receivers.

The Eagles now have a go-to receiver that quarterback Jalen Hurst can rely on. Both Hurts and Brown are close friends who work out together regularly, so the Eagles stuck gold here, especially if they plan on building around Hurts long term. Brown is that big receiver the Eagles’ offense needed, and alongside DeVonta Smith, it will pose a big problem for defenses this season.

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SportsCenter Anchor Sage Steele Sues ESPN and Disney for Violation of Free Speech

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Sage Steele is at odds with her employer. The Wall Street Journal notes the SportsCenter anchor is suing ESPN and its parent company, Walt Disney Co., after being forced into an apology for her comments regarding COVID-19 and Barack Obama on a podcast appearance.

Steele cites that her contract was breached in the suit, and her free speech was violated for questioning vaccine mandates and Obama’s race while on Uncut with Jay Cutler. During the appearance, Steele also blamed female sports journalists for offensive remarks made about them by athletes because of how they dressed.

After the statements, Steele has continued her position as an anchor for the noon SportsCenter broadcast, but her additional on-air tasks have been limited.

The lawsuit accuses ESPN of not attempting to “stop bullying and harassment by Ms. STeele’s colleagues” and the company “violated Connecticut law and Steele’s rights to free speech based upon a faulty understanding of her comments and a nonexistent, unenforced workplace policy that serves as nothing more than pretext.”

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Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Introduces Global Impact Day with 4,000 Employees Providing Service in Local Communities

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Michael Rubin's Fanatics Introduces Global Impact Day with 4,000 Employees Providing Service in Local Communities

On Wednesday, Fanatics will have its first Global Impact Day, a company-wide day of service in which over 4,000 employees from ten countries will volunteer in their communities.

Building houses with Habitat for Humanity, campus beautification projects at Boys and Girls Clubs, assisting at shelters and food banks, local park clean-ups, organizing donations to low-income parents, writing letters to veterans, and many other volunteer activities were among the Fanatics’ activities.

Michael Rubin, the CEO of Fanatics, worked with Citymeals on Wheels, which serves meals to homebound elderly citizens, and Room to Grow, which provides resources and assistance to low-income parents in New York City.

Employees from Fanatics volunteered more than 15K hours at more than 200 locations around the world, including India, France, Honduras, Thailand, Japan, United Kingdom, Paris, Canada, and the U.S., for Global Impact Day.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NFL Prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux Trains for NFL Draft in New Beats Campaign Featuring New Music From Diddy

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Kayvon Thibodeaux is a dynamic player who generates buzz both on and off the football field. In a new BEATS commercial, Thibodeaux reflects on his path to the NFL as he prepares for the most crucial day of his career.

The commercial, which is set against the backdrop of Thibodeaux’s hometown of South Los Angeles, shows a focused Thibodeaux preparing for his next chapter in football. Shawnta Loice, Thibodeaux’s mother, tells us that his limitless potential and fierce spirit are a result of their family’s religion. “Kayvon Thibodeaux—the football player—he didn’t just arrive from nowhere. We put a lot of prayer into that boy…” Loice said on the spot.

Thibodeaux works out to an unreleased song by Sean “Diddy” Combs, delivers, “All I am is a man with ambition to be the best…sometimes you’ve got to go through the dark to manifest…” Thibodeaux’s story of tenacity, dedication, and faith is brought to life by Combs’ exquisite lyrics.

Combs’ return to music and a new creative chapter in his career and personal life is marked by the campaign. You can hear the new single in the “Made in LA” add featuring Thibodeaux below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Shakur Stevenson Talks Oscar Valdez, Trailblazing & More

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Undefeated WBO junior lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (17-0), one of the best pound-4-pound boxers in the world and self-proclaimed “smartest boxer in the sport,” faces his biggest challenge yet this Saturday night (April 30) when he fights WBC champ Oscar Valdez (30-0) to unify the super featherweight titles in Madison Square Garden.

MORE: Floyd Mayweather Makes Boxing Return With Exhibition In Dubai This May

After capturing the WBO title following a dominating TKO victory over former champ Jamel Herring last October. Stevenson, 24, not only puts his title on the line but also his undefeated streak against Valdez – who is also undefeated and eager to erase his past cheating allegations behind him. The unification bout is a career-defining fight for both fighters.

The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul spoke with the Newark, New Jersey native during fight week, discussing training for Oscar Valdez, who he’s listening to right now, being a new first-time father, the importance of trailblazing a path in boxing that the future will follow, women’s boxing, and so much more.

Watch the full interview above.

Stevenson, the two-weight world champion, welcomed a daughter last December with girlfriend Michelle Ragston, also known as recording artist Young Lyric. The Top Rank boxer has been identified as the future pound-4-pound by various co-signs, which includes Terrence “Bud” Crawford – who is currently ranked #4 overall in boxing. Shakur Stevenson is a Southpaw and heads into Saturday night a 5 to 1 favorite over Valdez.

MORE: Triller Announces Boxing Competition Series ‘So You Think You Can Fight’

Stevenson-Valdez, plus a full supporting undercard, will be broadcast on ESPN, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT. The show will also air on Sky Sports in the U.K.

Watch the full interview above and check out the Stevenson-Valdez preview “Blood, Sweat and Tears: Valdez vs. Stevenson” below.

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