Muhammad Ali Jan. 17, 1942-June 3, 2016
• The WTA has named Portia Archer as its new CEO. She joins the WTA from the NBA, where she was COO of the NBA G League. She also held senior positions at NBC Sports Group, HBO and the BBC. Archer begins the position July 29, 2024. The appointment now allows Steve Simon, currently WTA chairman and CEO, to assume the role of chairman, “focusing on governance and strategic development.”
• Roland-Garros organizers said today that Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open ahead of his scheduled quarterfinal against Casper Ruud on June 5 due to a right knee injury he aggravated in his fourth round five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo on June 3.
No. 1 seeded Djokovic underwent an MRI scan on Tuesday on his right knee. The scan revealed Djokovic has "torn medial meniscus" in his right knee, according to French Open organizers. Wishing Novak a speedy recovery
Djokovic was seeking his fourth French Open title (2016, 2021, 2023) and 25th career Grand Slam championship.
According to Tennis Channel, “Djokovic’s withdrawal means that Jannik Sinner will become the 29th man to ascend to ATP world No. 1, as Djokovic, the defending champion, needed to at least reach the final to have a mathematical chance of retaining the top spot.”
• AP Sports: The pink house where Muhammad Ali grew up dreaming of boxing fame — and where hundreds of fans gathered for an emotional send-off as his funeral procession passed by decades later — is up for sale.
The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Louisville was converted into a museum that offered a glimpse into the formative years of the boxing champion and humanitarian known worldwide as The Greatest.
The house went on the market Tuesday along with two neighboring homes — one was turned into a welcome center-gift shop and the other was meant to become a short-term rental.(Full story here.)
• The NFL has signed Brazilian bank XP as presenting partner for the Sept. 6, 2024 regular-season international game in São Paulo between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Corinthians Arena.
“We have over 35 million fans in Brazil and are looking forward to kicking off our 2024 slate of international games in South America with XP as our lead partner in market,” Michelle Webb, NFL vp-commercial international said via the league.
The Tampa Bay Rays and their ballpark design firm, Populous, released new renderings and more details about the Rays 30,000-seat ballpark that will be a central feature in the Historic Gas Plant District Development.
The St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Commission are expected to vote on the ballpark and development agreements in July. Construction on the ballpark would start in January 2025, planned to be ready for Opening Day 2028.
• Stewart-Haas Racing said it would cease operations at the end of this Nascar season. Co-owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas said the team will sell off its assets, including the four Cup Series charters it holds, and all of its drivers and crew members will become free agents. Stewart-Haas Racing began with the 2009 season.
• Gatorade has unveiled what it called the largest campaign in the brand's history, featuring the return of its tagline, "Is It In You?" which 30 years ago saw Michael Jordan dripping in Gatorade-colored sweat.
A 60-second spot, "IT Hasn't Changed,” is narrated by Jordan, Gatorade's longest standing athlete partner, and features several of Gatorade's roster athletes, including Josh Allen, Caitlin Clark, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Jayson Tatum, A'ja Wilson, and DJ Lagway, Gatorade's 2023-2024 National Football Player of the Year.
• AP Sports: Toyota is set to end its massive sponsorship deal with the International Olympic Committee after this year’s Paris Olympics. Toyota has a contract through the 2024 Paris Games, which was reported to be valued at $835 million when it was announced in 2015. (Full story here.)
• NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade has launched the Translatable Project, funded by the Wade Family Foundation, an online community designed to support LGBTQIA+ youth and their families.
Wade officially unveiled the platform during a ceremony ini which he was named the Elevate Prize Foundation Catalyst Award winner “in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community,” for which he received $250,000 in unrestricted funding, which Wade said would go toward supporting Translatable.
"I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya (16, who publicly came out as transgender in 2020), who has served as the catalyzing force behind Translatable," said Wade during the event.
• The National Women’s Soccer League, in partnership with Nationwide, said the Nationwide Community Impact Award has been renamed The Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide,
The award, recognizing a NWSL player for outstanding service and character off the pitch, now also “honors the ongoing example of excellence and commitment set by the two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award.”
• Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, has launched through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism “Stand Up to Jewish Hate,” a $25 million multi-media campaign to “raise awareness nationwide about soaring incidents of antisemitism online and in person.” • AP: Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2023, according to a new report from the American Library Assn. Full story here.
