There’s so much going on in the sports world, but what does Will Ferrell have to do with it? Will let you know, but in the meantime, here are some interesting tidbits:
Want to own a World Series ring? Then check out this auction from Hess Fine Art. They are selling the exclusive collection of Felix Lopez, former Executive VP of Yankees’ Organization, including his New York Yankees rings this Wednesday, December 14th, on invaluable.com. This exclusive collection includes 6 World Series rings (as well as the coveted 2000 year ring) and League Championship rings. “All will be accompanied by a signed letter from the Lopez Family,” said Jeffrey P. Hess, of Hess fine Auctions, a division of Hess Fine Art. The collection will include the 1996, 1998, 2000 and 7 other Yankees rings on auction this Wednesday.
Cheer on the cheerleaders! This week the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) announced a provisional recognition of cheerleading and its international governing body, the International Cheer Union (ICU). What does this mean? It means that the International Cheer Union will be able to petition the IOC for inclusion in future Olympic Games after the initial three -ear provisional time period has concluded.
“We are proud of the growth of cheerleading from its beginnings here in the United States to its current global popularity,” says Bill Seely, President of USA Cheer in a statement. “This news is an affirmation of the athleticism and talent of cheerleaders, and we are pleased to see these athletes recognized internationally. ICU President Jeff Webb and Secretary General Karl Olson have worked tirelessly over the past six years to have Cheer and the ICU accepted by the IOC.”
The USA Cheer selects and sponsors the U.S. National Team at the annual ICU World Championships. Since 2009, the U.S. has accumulated 20 gold medals.
Goat competition: You can’t make this stuff up folks. NBA Players and World Vision Celebrity Ambassadors Jamal Crawford and Isaiah Thomas have challenged each other to see who can raise the most amount of … goats!? The competition runs through the end of December. What is the competition? Each player invites his fans and social media followers to support him in the competition by donating a goat to World Vision.
The competition will occur online at worldvision.org/thegoat.
Goats are a gift that keeps on giving, feeding hungry families in the developing world often for 10 years or more. These animals are often called “miracles with fur” because they provide life-changing, nutritious milk and manure to grow more food. They can also provide income from extra milk and food to sell. “I love that the gift of a goat can an impact on an entire community,” said Thomas in a statement. “A healthy goat can have two kids a year which are often shared with neighbors making a better life for the whole village.”
Thomas has also partnered with World Vision’s U.S. Programs team to distribute backpacks and books for youth in several communities across the country.
TV Notes: If you’re a UConn Huskies fan, make sure you mark this on your new 2017 calendar. HBO will debut the docuseries UConn Huskies: The March to Madness on March 1 with episodes running Wednesdays on the network. The series is following the women’s basketball team as they try to tie 11 college basketball championships. The first episode will run 60 minutes, followed by half-hour segments.
Film Notes: Will Ferrell is about to do it again. He’s been in films about soccer, racing, ice skating and now, a professional eSports team. According to Variety, Will Ferrell plays someone who is an anomaly in a sport where players usually retire in their 20s due to slowing hand-eye coordination. Evil Geniuses and Fnatic, two of the premiere real-life eSports teams in the world, are in discussions to have a presence in the film.
Tops on Twitter: Twitter released its list of the biggest sports moments in 2016. Top U.S. Sports Trends
These are the sports hashtags that trended highest in the US in 2016. Does not account for total conversation:
· #SB50
· #Rio2016
· #NBAFinals
· #WorldSeries
· #MambaDay (Kobe Bryant tribute day)
· #MarchMadness (NCAA basketball tournament)
· #KeepPounding (Carolina Panthers team motto)
· #DubNation (Golden State Warriors phrase)
· #FlyTheW (Chicago Cubs team motto)
· #NFL (National Football League)
