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When fans use their passion for clubs to protest injustices in the world around them, it reminds us that fandom is more than passive media consumption. Whether they help bring down an administrator, demonstrate against their club owner or stand up for their favorite players, these stories remind us that fans are powerful agents of change in our sport and beyond.

As part of the civil rights movement, Black fans turned their fandom into a weapon to fight against Jim Crow laws and segregation. The success of this type of fan activism is rooted in its ability to transform existing social and cultural structures.

Fan activism is defined by scholar Henry Jenkins as “forms of civic engagement and political participation that emerge from within fan culture itself.” It enables new points of entry into civic life, linking civic action to the experiences and interests of fans (Jenkins, 2006).

For example, when covering protests, reporters can highlight the purpose of the demonstration and share information about the changes the demonstrators are calling for. When reporting on a person who is part of the protest, it’s also important to share details about their personality, hobbies and family in order to humanize them.

Fan activist groups like IC and HPA draw heavily from preexisting communities as their recruitment base, but they create a new sense of community that is broader than previous community configurations. By leveraging the power of their shared experience with fandom, both groups can attract and retain young people.

Athlete endorsements provide a powerful way for brands to build an emotional connection with consumers and foster brand loyalty. By aligning with sports figures, brands can position themselves as innovative and forward-thinking, creating a sense of aspiration for fans. In addition, athlete endorsements offer instant credibility and trust in the eyes of consumers, allowing brands to differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.

The key to a successful athlete endorsement is finding an athlete whose values align with the brand’s ethos. For example, a professional athlete who is known for their dedication and commitment to health would be an ideal ambassador for a fitness or beauty brand. The alignment of these positive values creates a seamless and credible narrative that resonates with the target audience.

When negotiating athlete endorsement agreements, brands should be cognizant of legal considerations. These include ensuring compliance with advertising standards, maintaining truthfulness in endorsements and understanding the implications of recent regulations like NCAA name, image and likeness (NIL) laws. Also, it is important to consider indemnity and morality clauses as well as provisions that would allow for termination of the agreement in the event of a breach.

Developing an effective strategy for athlete marketing requires a deep understanding of the sports market and a thorough analysis of the potential benefits. Athlete influencers come with their own passionate fan bases that can be tapped into for increased engagement and conversions. Whether you’re looking for new ways to reach your target audience or want to boost the impact of your current campaign, partnering with an experienced athlete marketing agency can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a Formula 1 fan or not, it’s impossible to ignore how big an impact the standings have on the sport. The teams compete fiercely for every point, knowing that the difference between finishing a race in first place or last can be the difference between winning or losing millions of dollars in prize money.

Ultimately, it’s the team and driver with the most championship points who are named champions at the end of each season. A driver’s championship points are calculated based on their position in each Grand Prix and sprint race, while a team’s points are the combined total of both its drivers.

The top 10 finishers in each race receive points, with the winner earning 25 championship points and a driver’s title. Teams also earn points if they finish in the top 10 of each sprint race, though their championship score is calculated on the basis of the driver’s best result of the season.

It’s important to note that if a race is shortened, or the race is stopped due to bad weather, points are only awarded if at least 75 per cent of the race distance is completed. This is a relatively recent change, as before the race was abandoned in this circumstance a driver’s points were only counted if they finished the race.

A number of times throughout history, teams have found themselves in a dead heat for the championship, but not in the same year. The way in which these situations are resolved varies, but generally the highest placed driver (or teams) is given the championship win.

Millions of fans worldwide want to keep up with their favorite athletes. It’s why it’s become so important for many athletes to maintain a consistent presence on social media, share regular glimpses into their lives, and engage with their audiences authentically with original content. In fact, some athletes’ social followings now outstrip their sports league or team’s owned channels.

In addition to connecting with their followers, social media helps players develop their personal brands and make money. A strong social media profile can increase a player’s contract value, endorsement chances, and overall career success. For younger athletes, it can help them find a college and/or professional team to sign with, as well as give them a head start on building their brand as they look for their next steps after their athletic window closes.

Social media also allows athletes to connect with one another and build communities. This is especially true during periods like the COVID-19 pandemic, when many competitions were suspended. Fans who follow athletes on social media can stay up-to-date with upcoming games, team lineups, and even exclusive content. This keeps them engaged and loyal to the team, which ultimately benefits both the team and the athlete.

However, social media is not without its challenges. For example, some studies suggest that maintaining a polished image online can lead athletes to censor themselves or avoid posting controversial content, which can negatively impact their mental health and performance. Athletes should focus on maximizing their potential on and off the field and find ways to balance their use of social media.

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Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 gave Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 victory and put them up 2-1 in their World Series match against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. It was the second longest postseason game in MLB history, edging out a 18-inning marathon between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners that lasted six hours and 22 minutes back in 2005. Among the highlights were Teoscar Hernandez’s first-inning homer off Max Scherzer that put the Dodgers up 1-0 and Alejandro Kirk’s third-inning homer that tied the game at 2-2. And that wasn’t all: Shohei Ohtani reached base safely nine times on two doubles and two homers and added two walks, and Blue Jays catcher Bo Bichette got a career-high four hits.

The World Athletics Championship is the world’s biggest annual track and field sporting event. It takes place every two years and offers 147 medals across 49 events to the best athletes from around the world.

The event was first staged in 1983. Until that time, the Olympic Games had been designated as the World Championships for the sport of track and field. In the 1960s, however, there was growing lobbying among members of the International Association of Athletic Federations (now called World Athletics) for a separate, independent competition. Eventually, at an IAAF Council meeting in 1976 in Puerto Rico, the idea was approved to hold an Athletics World Championship event, separately from the Olympic Games.

A total of 15 world records were broken in the inaugural championships, with Carl Lewis and Bob Beamon each setting three in the 100m and long jump respectively. Jonathan Edwards and Inessa Kravets both set three in the triple jump, while Sergey Bubka cleared a record 6.01m in the pole vault.

The following year, a number of races were moved up to ensure athlete safety in the high temperatures that prevailed. The organisers also used the opportunity to experiment with new starting methods for some events.

World Athletics Championships are organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations, which was founded in 1912. It regulates international track and field athletic competitions globally and is a member of the International Olympic Committee. Its major aims are to establish friendly cooperation between its member federations; to eliminate hindrance to participation in international meets on racial or political grounds; and to compile rules and regulations for international competition.

The 2023-2025 World Test Championship was the third edition of a new competition – which replaced the ICC Champions Trophy – designed to crown the world’s best men’s test team. It was launched with the goal of promoting the game of test cricket and building an audience for it across multiple platforms. It has drawn criticism from fans and the press, including from Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack, which called it “a shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.

But it has also attracted interest because of its unprecedented prize money for the two finalists: USD $5.76 million, a figure that is more than double that awarded in the previous two championships. That, along with the fact that this final will take place at Lord’s – with an additional day in case of bad weather – makes it a major event.

The reason why it has been scheduled to take place in England – as opposed to any other neutral venue – is a matter of economics and logistics. England is a good choice for this type of event because it offers strong crowds, an enticing time zone for India and pitches that provide a fair contest between bat and ball. The fact that the final has been played in England several times over the past two years has been a source of irritation for some of the game’s top teams, especially Australia and India. They argue that it unfairly rewards teams from the larger, richer nations at the expense of smaller countries.

The NFL draft isn’t just about snagging elite rookie talent, but securing reliable veterans who can anchor iffy offenses as well. That’s especially important in 2025, as a herd of healthy wide receivers could take on more injury risk than usual and the top running backs are expected to deal with varying degrees of RB1 health luck.

In this range, I’m targeting a few veteran lottery tickets who may be undervalued. Javonte Williams is a solid option, as he ranked 13th in missed tackles last season (per Fantasy Points Data) and has little competition for carries from Miles Sanders and fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue. In addition, he’s the rare running back who can also offer significant PPR points, as his career-high 94.4 target share and 6.7 TD upside show.

Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson is a safe play in the early second, as his hefty carries fueled a RB18 finish last year. In terms of his underlying stats, he actually ranked better than Saquon Barkley in both rushing yards and expected touchdowns last season despite missing time with injuries. Finally, Tyson Spears is a sleeper worth considering in the third round, as his elusiveness showed flashes as a 2023 rookie and he should be the team’s lead back given the Chargers’ low rate of 11 personnel. If he can return to his 2023 form, Spears is poised for an RB2 finish.

The UEFA Champions League is the premier European club competition for European professional football clubs. Founded in 1955, the competition was known as the European Cup until 1992, when it was revamped to include a group stage and a knockout phase. Real Madrid won the first four editions, establishing the tournament as one of the most important sporting events on the continent.

The 2024-25 season marked the start of an overhaul, replacing the group stage with a league phase. The top eight teams advance to the round of sixteen, where they are ranked according to their performance in league phase play and then placed into one of four seeding pots for the knockout phase playoffs. A draw system determines matchups, and each team plays eight different opponents over the course of the league phase, with a combination of home and away games.

During the league phase, if a match ends in a tie, extra time is played and, if necessary, penalty shootouts are used to decide the winner. At the end of the league phase, clubs with the highest aggregate goals advance to the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, which are both played as single two-legged matches on a Saturday.

Five of the thirty-two qualified teams are automatically promoted to the Champions League, while the remaining thirteen enter through a three-round qualifying process. The first qualifying round takes place between national champions, while the second and third rounds are open to the best runners-up in each of UEFA’s tiers.

Any sincere fan can display a level of emotional attachment and angst to the personal affairs of their favorite athletes. However, a balanced approach that prioritizes more substantial issues, along with a critical mindset, can help individuals navigate sports celebrity gossip in a manner that aligns with their values and promotes healthier societal discourse. This week, Madeline and Charlotte welcome back Angie Sullivan, co-host of the political pop culture show I’ve Had It Podcast and an avid sports fan. She and the gals discuss Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s personal matter, WNBA star Suni Lee’s relationship with NBA boyfriend OG Anunoby and Chauncey Billups’ indictment on illegal sports betting.