The Status of Sports Illustrated

 

Sports Illustrated has laid off staff. The sports magazine is in serious financial consternation. A combination of corporate avarice, mismanagement, and faults in the capitalist business model might be the demise of the magazine. Sports Illustrated was purchased by the Authentic Brands Group in 2019. This corporation has owned a number of brands, which has essential reduced business competition. The Arena Group which has the license to publish Sport Illustrated  made serious error. The realization that some articles written with AI generated controversy. The failure to expand in terms of online publication and social media pushed the magazine behind. Consumers of a certain age are not going to read newspapers or magazines. The platforms and consumption of entertainment has changed. The corporate practice of terminating staff to increase profits is more prevalent. Authentic Brands Group's executive leadership is making more and will not accept cuts in pay to save the magazine. Unionized workers were given a notice in advance and those not part of a labor union were terminated immediately. Just being part of a labor union does not ensure job security. Print journalism is slowly becoming a relic of the past. The nature of sports reporting is also undergoing transformation. Arena Group is attempting to reach an agreement with Authentic Brands Group. Without some licensing publication Sports Illustrated could cease. The magazine started in 1954 and has become an icon of sports journalism. While the status of Sports Illustrated remains unknown, it amassed a major following in its 69 years of circulation. 

Jade Cargill Obtains A WWE Contract

 

All Elite Wrestling has lost one of their most popular wrestlers. Jade Cargill has signed a multi-year contract with WWE. Jade was absent for a period with no official explanation. Some fans feared that AEW terminated her employment. Jade herself said that she loved working with the company and had been in contact with management. The WWE is  changing. It has been purchased by Endeavor. It also owns the UFC. This falls under the TKO Group Holdings. Vince McMahon does not hold  the majority of control of the WWE. He remains Executive Chairman of  the Board. While he holds some influence, most of the power is invested in TKO Group Holdings CEO  Ari Emmanuel. Jade Cargill's employment could represent stage in transition for professional wrestling. A new era in sports entertainment  has begun. The failure of AEW to retain its talent means that it might not last. Seeing Jade on AEW was refreshing and fun. The AEW will have to make adjustments to remain competitive in the sports entertainment market. One question is if Jade can retain her ring name when going to the WWE. Assuming it is copyrighted under AEW, then she will have to select a new one. Jade made her debut in professional wrestling in 2021. She did attempt to get into the WWE in 2019. This did not result in a contract, so Jade went to the AEW. She expressed her gratitude to the AEW for giving her a chance. So far, Jade Cargill has done a total 64 ring matches. Her matches have not extended beyond ten minutes. When she goes to the WWE, it will be much longer. Some fans might think Jade could be the next Chyna. Her potential is there as long as the WWE makes the right decisions. No statement has been given by the WWE on when her first match will be. Jade Cargill at the moment is training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Her time with AEW is over, but a new journey is starting with the WWE.  

Naomi Osaka Withdraws From The French Open

 

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open. This comes after the dispute with her avoiding press conferences. The young athlete stated that she was experiencing anxiety and depression. Faced with a fine and possible suspension, this brings into question why there are media obligations for athletes. Osaka has made a statement that she will be taking some time away from tennis. Being a competitive athlete can cause intense pressure on an individual. Naomi Osaka also expressed doing press conferences made her nervous. The WTA claims they are investing in mental health resources for athletes. Apparently, it falls short. Osaka also faces a $15,000 fine for appearing in a post game press conference. Maybe the fine  could be challenged  in court. A very talented athlete is facing some mental health challenges. It is not certain when she will return to professional tennis. Her struggle reveals that even when a person is  successful, depression can still happen. Osaka expressed that she wanted to have a conversation with WTA officials about how best to improve the conditions for athletes. 

The Washington Redskins May Change Their Name

The Washington Redskins may be changing their name. For years a number of Native American organizations have been protesting the name. With racial tensions getting worse in America, it seems that renaming the football team could happen. It will take some time to change signs and merchandise. The fans will most likely be divided over the name change. The term has racist connotations. Redskin was a word used to dehumanize the American Indian. The United States has a long history of Indian removal, genocide, and confinement to reservations. When the Indian Wars drew to a close, there was an effort to eliminate Native American history and culture. This involved sending children to boarding schools as a means of "civilizing" them. Injustices still continue with high levels of poverty on reservations and discrimination. The Redskins have a history of being resistant to integrating African American players into their team. George Preston Marshall the founder of the Redskins refused to have the football team accept African American players. Only when pressured in 1962 by the federal government did he sign on an African American athlete. The football team was founded in 1932 and originally called the Boston Braves. This would not be the first time the name has changed. The name should be changed to overcome the legacy of racism, however that should not be the only reform. 

COVID-19 Infection Rate Has Increased In The US

When states reopened the infection rate increased. The trend seems to be occurring in the south and mid-west. The reason for this has to do with limited social distancing and refusal to wear masks. There is a political motivation. The pandemic response has become so polarized that the government cannot develop a coherent response. Anti-lockdown protests were done not in response to economic strain, rather instigated by right-wing political organizations. The conservative rejection of science has put public health in a state of crisis. The failure of the Republican and Democratic Party to establish a system of universal basic income to halt the economic consequences has only caused more hardship on the American citizen. There are fears of second wave emerging and if nothing is done it could be more devastating than the first wave of cases. An estimated 100,000 Americans have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deaths could have been prevented if enough masks and ventilators were available. The healthcare system of the United States is on the verge of possible collapse and the pandemic exposed its vulnerabilities. If there are too many hospitalizations, the system will be overwhelmed. The Trump administration's refusal to take the pandemic seriously put the public at risk. The media also assisted in downplaying the dangers of COVID-19. Fox News insisted that it was nothing more than nervous panic in the first months of 2020. States may now have to think about closing again seeing as the proper measures were not taken before reopening.  What people must understand is just because the economy is reopening it does not mean the pandemic is over. The basic rules for safety still apply. Stay home if you are sick, wash your hands, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. 

Greg Glassman's George Floyd Comments and CrossFit

Greg Glassman has resigned as CEO of CrossFit after racially charged comments regarding the murder of George Floyd. Racism and prejudice are so pervasive in society, that even a sporting activity can to be free from it. The comments were expressed during a call with gym owners. Many were asking why a statement was not made about the murder, which has sparked large demonstrations around the USA. Police violence and racial profiling have become more vicious over the past decades in American law enforcement. Glassman stated " why should I mourn him?" when speaking with affiliate gym owners. He further claimed that Floyd 's murder was not about race and that it was a cover-up to hide money laundering. This is nothing more than an unproven conspiracy theory. Reading these comments it seems obvious what side of the political spectrum Greg Glassman is on. Other companies make statements, however they seem hollow if they are not devoted to improving human resources or diversifying their workforce. Politics has unfortunately spilled into every area of life, so avoiding controversial topics is inevitable. Gyms have been dropping CrossFit affiliations since his tweets and Glassman denies that he hold racist sentiment.His criticism of Black Lives Matter and George Floyd are not the only racially charged statements he made. Greg Glassman also said that COVID-19 was created in a Wuhan lab. The racist conspiracy theory was been expressed by President Donald Trump. More fall out from his tweets has occurred with gyms ending partnerships. CrossFit may see financial struggles due to its former CEO's racial bias.