Month: November 2025

Esports tournaments take video games to the next level – they are like the gamer version of an athletic championship. Professional players gather in world-class arenas or stream live online to millions of viewers, going head-to-head for prize money and brand sponsorships. Esports are revolutionizing the way consumers follow, watch, and interact with video games and are backed by some of the largest video game companies and global brands.

Some of the most popular esports tournaments feature teams playing multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter, fighting game and real-time strategy (RTS) video games. The esports community is incredibly diverse and has players from all over the globe with differing backgrounds, interests and skills. This allows for a wide range of competitions that are suitable for many different audiences and demographics.

Larger esports tournaments usually feature pre- and post-game commentary and in-match casting from a team of analysts. This is similar to traditional sports broadcasting and is an important element in helping the esports community develop its identity as a legitimate sporting event.

The most famous esports competitions are the League of Legends World Championship, Dota 2’s International and Counter-Strike’s Major Championships. Some of the most well-known esports players include Faker, one of the greatest League of Legends mid-laners of all time, and s1mple, whose precision and consistency in CS:GO competition has earned him numerous accolades. Other notable esports organizations are Astralis, who have dominated the CS:GO scene with multiple high-profile victories, and Team Liquid, who won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011. Valorant is another top-tier esports tournament that features some of the best teams and highest-stakes matches in the world.

Combative sports – from boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai – are surging in popularity as more individuals embrace the physical and psychological challenges they pose. The skills developed through these sports, as well as the discipline and mental toughness that accompany consistent training, help develop self-discipline, focus, and resilience. They also offer a safe, healthy outlet for stress and aggression, reducing negative impacts on mental health. The inspiring stories of successful combative sport athletes – like Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey – serve as enduring motivations for many to pursue their dreams in the ring or cage.

Regardless of the sport, there is a common core of skills that characterize combative sports: striking, grappling, and weapons use. Combative sports are regulated to minimize permanent or severe injury through rules and protective equipment such as mouthguards, padded gloves, and fighting on a tatami mat.

The physical exertion required in combative sports helps improve coordination, balance, agility, and muscle strength, as well as promotes the release of endorphins and a sense of accomplishment that contribute to overall wellbeing. Furthermore, the community fostered by combative sports encourages a spirit of ethics and mutual respect.

While it is important to note that, compared with other forms of physical activity, combative sports have higher rates of injuries. During large sporting events, from several to less than twenty percent of competitors are injured – more often than football players, wrestlers or judokas, but less frequently than athletes in mountain biking, sailing, field hockey, rugby, and badminton.

Athlete endorsements are a key strategy in athlete marketing, capitalizing on the trust and credibility that athletes build with their audiences. When done well, these endorsements can drive sales, shape cultural trends, and enhance public perception. This article from Hollywood Branded explores the essential elements of effective athlete endorsements, including choosing the right athletes, ensuring authenticity, and measuring impact.

Athletes are natural influencers, generating strong emotional connections with their fans. Their dedication and struggles are relatable to consumers, and they often endorse products that reflect these values. For example, college athletes are highly popular with the younger demographic, and their endorsement of a product can create an authentic connection that reinforces brand loyalty.

The right athlete can dramatically increase the visibility and credibility of a brand. However, their reputation is also susceptible to decline or controversies. For this reason, it is important to manage reputation risks effectively by selecting athletes who embody the brand’s values and maintain a positive public image.

Athlete endorsements can take many forms, from traditional advertisements to social media campaigns and product placements. To maximize impact, brands should use digital platforms to create a direct and interactive experience with audiences. This can be done by leveraging behind-the-scenes content, personal stories, and interactions with the product to establish a stronger, more genuine connection. In addition, the use of measurable metrics can help to track the success of a campaign, such as conversion rates or sales uplift. A morals clause can also be included in the contract to ensure that a sponsor can walk away from an agreement if the athlete engages in conduct that undermines their image or damages the brand’s reputation.

From Super Bowl hero Nick Foles to women’s soccer pioneer Alex Morgan, athlete retirement news has been on the rise this week. But despite the thrill of retiring from your sport, it’s important for athletes to understand that their careers don’t end when they hang up their jerseys or step off the field.

Athletes who aren’t prepared for retirement can find themselves struggling to balance life off the field with the demands of their sport. For example, a professional athlete’s paycheck may not cover the cost of elite training and equipment, leading some to go broke in their early post-athletic years. And without the right financial planning, athletes can find themselves on food stamps or in credit card debt as they attempt to make ends meet.

This week, Alex Morgan announced that she’s retiring from soccer at the age of 28. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who scored 123 goals with the US Women’s National Team, is known for her leadership role in pushing women’s sports forward. She recently took her message to a new audience as a founding member of the gender equality advocacy organization Togethxr, and she’s also taking her talents into the business world with a partnership with the London City Lionesses.

Athletes who are prepared for retirement can make a successful transition to the next phase of their lives. One strategy is to keep in touch with their former sports peers while balancing time with friends and family. This can help them figure out their identity outside of the sports world and avoid feeling like a fish out of water after retiring.

Whether they’re actors starring in sports movies, musicians reppin’ their favorite teams or athletes launching viral pop culture moments, celebrities can bring a much-needed boost to sport enthusiasm. But when they get carried away with their celebrity status, they can become a source of frustration and even angst. That’s where this page comes in — keep up with the latest sports celebrity gossip.

This week TMZ Sports has the story of a professional boxer who wants to wipe the floor with his polarizing opponent, the NBA star and his girlfriend make their relationship official and more. Plus MMA fighter Chase DeMoor discusses his upcoming fight with Andrew Tate.

For two weeks late in summer, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens transforms into the epicenter of the tennis world. With the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the books, the world’s top players are gearing up for the US Open — the final Grand Slam of the year.

The tournament begins on Aug. 24 with qualifying matches and ends on Sept. 7 with the men’s and women’s finals. This year, prize money has reached a record $90 million, with each singles champion winning $5 million.

Fans are encouraged to bring water bottles to the event, but glass containers are not allowed on the grounds (except inside the main stadiums). To avoid overcrowded concession stands, fans can bring their own food and drinks to eat in the park or buy items from local vendors. The Grandstand food court near Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums offers a range of cuisine, including American classics like hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as pizza from San Matteo and Greek favorites from King Souvlaki.

The onsite hotel, the connected Kimpton Theta New York – Times Square, has a rooftop bar that streams matches throughout the two-week tournament and serves up Honey Deuce cocktails in official U.S. Open cups. The hotel is also offering a Grand Slam Getaway package through finals weekend, Sept. 6-7, which includes a bottle of Grey Goose Honey Deuce per stay and table tennis access.