The NBA is Changing FOREVER!

September 11, 2023

Another week, Another Newsletter! This weekend was absolutely BONKERS, and with that, it would make sense if you missed some of the newest in sport and tech… Well, that’s exactly why we’re here. Enjoy!

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • The NBA is Changing FOREVER

  • Rugby is Back AGAIN

  • The NFL’s Newest Deal

  • Ah, the UFC

Most Valuable Sports Teams:

Let's get into it!

The NBA is Back!

Look, we know what you’ve all been thinking: WHERE’S THE NBA NEWS???

I mean, you were thinking that, right 😅😅Well it’s been a while, but the NBA is finally back in the news!

With the season ending nearly three months ago – so far – not much has been going on in the NBA world.

As we always say though, it’s at these very moments that the gears tend to be fully in motion behind the scenes. In fact, over this weekend the NBA announced an extension of the initiative bound to change Basketball forever, the NBA Launchpad!

For those unfamiliar with the project, it all started back in 2022. Wanting to stay ahead of the game, the NBA began their very own tech-incubator dedicated to seeking out the most exciting start-ups in Basketball.

Bringing through some of the industries most talented entrepreneurs and experts from all over the world, the initiative has been uberly successful.

So successful, in fact, that it's not stopping just yet.

That’s right. In a statement released earlier this week, the world’s biggest Basketball league announced that they’re actively seeking new submissions to kick off the initiative's third season.

And it’ll look far different than ever before…

Teaming up with the WNBA for the first time ever, this instalment of the Launchpad will be split into two distinct categories.

The first will focus on on-court advancements, while the second will look at actively enhancing fan experiences. This is how it’s going to work:

  • The process – as ever – will begin with an intense evaluation process, whereby selected participants will then compete in a six month development program within the NBA ecosystem.

  • During this period, those involved will receive exclusive access to NBA resources and support to help further their products.

  • Finally, the companies will present their products to NBA executives and potentially receive investment to continue the development of their technologies.

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Rugby: ANOTHER AI!

Why do we watch sports?

If we’re being honest, there isn’t one definitive answer. At the end of the day, everyone connects to certain games, teams, or players for different reasons.

The only thing we know for certain? Well – and this might sound like we’re over-simplifying things – we enjoy it!

Unless you’re a Tottenham fan, of course… Sorry guys 😅

Alright, alright. But the truth is, we want to keep enjoying it! And with the increased presence of social media, for some, that’s getting harder and harder.

Holding the ability to impact not only player performance, but far more important aspects of life, no one wants to see our favourite games being littered with abuse and intolerance.

And guess what? It looks like the sports world has been taking some huge steps in combating it…

How? AI!

From the French Open to the World Cup, the concept of using AI to combat hateful and abusive comments isn’t new, but it just might be levelling up…

Signing with Signify, the Rugby World Cup will be using AI to scan over millions of posts and ensure both fan and player safety.

Being driven by Signify’s Threat Matrix technology, posts that come under the pretence of being hateful/abusive will be removed and sanctions will be placed on the account who posted it.

“Rugby is a sport for everyone and we take our responsibility very seriously to make the sport as inclusive, accessible and relevant as possible… This includes sending a strong message that online hate simply will not be tolerated, tackling abuse and harmful content with meaningful action.”

Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive

To put the effectiveness of such technologies into perspective, at last year’s FIFA World Cup alone AI was called in to scan over 20 million posts!

Here’s to a better future 🍻🍻

NFL: The Web3 Takeover!

Here we go again…

Yet again, we find ourselves talking about Roblox. And yes, this is a sport-based Newsletter… You really are better off expecting the unexpected nowadays 😅

So, as you may have been able to tell, this isn’t the first time we’ve spoken about Roblox here.

Essentially pushing themselves into becoming a major player in the sports world, partnerships between the online platform and some of sports’ most important organisations actually hold more benefits than you may think…

Allowing these organisations a sort of dip into the Metaverse, Roblox offers a unique opportunity for organisations to expand their viewership, engage younger fans, and create experiences unlike any seen before.

I mean just listen to some of the names they’ve already worked with… FIFA, Wimbledon, the NHL, and more!

Delivering success in nearly all aspects of these past deals, the reason why the NFL announced a new partnership with the platform earlier this week makes sense.

With the season having just begun, what better way is there to release content and get the word spread than teaming up with one of the world’s biggest virtual entities!?

 

In a partnership which saw the two team up with BOSS, users playing in Super NFL Tycoon on Roblox can unlock the BOSS x NFL Hoodie – a piece of clothing also released to the public earlier this week.

To earn the item, fans will have to complete a series of challenges related to American Football.

Featuring themes from different teams competing in the NFL, players will engage in kicking and defending mini games.

Bringing younger audiences into the game, the NFL – as expertly done by the NHL recently – are in many ways future proofing their product.

In encouraging younger fans to engage with the sport, the hope stands that they will create life-long supporters and maybe even players! 😉

We Need to Talk About: VAR?

UFC 293. WOW.

Where do we start?? Sean Strickland is the NEW Middleweight Champion of the world…

No, you didn’t imagine it. That actually happened.

And the craziest part? For the most part, it looked easy. Really easy…

"I feel like the guy didn’t even f*cking try. There were moments where he was throwing punches around like, 'Am I fighting a f*cking amateur?'"

Sean Strickland

For context, he was fighting Israel Adesanya – a fighter who, by the account of most MMA fans, is considered in the top two fighters EVER at 185…

Coming into the fight as a MASSIVE underdog, Strickland would go on to badly drop Adesanya in the first before continuing in dominant fashion using his unique Boxing heavy style.

That wasn’t the only surprise of the night though. For that, we have to go all the way back to the featured prelim where the UFC did something they VERY rarely do…

In a fight between Light Heavyweights Carlos Ulberg and Da Woon Jung, it seemed as though Ulberg successfully won by decision.

With the bout ending in a dominant position with Ulberg having held a submission, at first look, it seemed as though Jung survived.

Upon further review, however, that wasn’t the case.

In a VAR style turn of events, after the fight, the referee was called to check the footage again and it was actually found that Jung tapped eleven seconds before the final bell!

Overturning the result, it was one of the first times such a system was implemented in the UFC and – for the fans sake – it was a pretty refreshing turn of events.

Quick Bites

Meme of the day

Quote of the day

“Weird day guys… weird f***ing day”

Sean Strickland after winning the UFC Middleweight Championship

Picture of the day

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Chat to ya on Wednesday! ☮️