Travis Hunter Is A Man Of The People

PLUS Ban Prop Bets In College Sports, Michael Vick To Norfolk State, FIBA 3×3 Women’s Basketball

December 18, 2024

Welcome to Office Chair Sports! Your home for everything Sports & Biz! Today, we’re covering top news about:

  • Ban Prop Bets In College Sports

  • Roku + X Games

  • FIBA 3×3 Women’s Basketball

  • Michael Vick To Norfolk State

  • Travis Hunter Is A Man Of The People

Ban Prop Bets In College Sports

NCAA President Charlie Baker wants to ban prop bets in college sports.

Pro players are always getting messages about how they messed up someone’s parlay. Apparently, that’s happening on a college level too. 10-15% of Division I athletes report being harassed by bettors.

The proposed S.A.F.E. Bet Act would enforce the following:

  • Ban prop bets in college sports

  • Restrict gambling promotions during games

  • Prohibit credit card deposits

  • Require affordability checks on high-volume bettors

Sports betting has exploded since its legalization in 2018. And a recent NCAA study found two-thirds of college-age men have bet on sports.

Roku + X Games

Roku just landed exclusive streaming rights to the X Games. The deal kicks off with X Games Aspen in January, marking a new chapter for the extreme sports competition that ESPN sold to private equity back in 2022.

The streaming platform is going all-in with a dedicated X Games hub and channel on their recently launched Roku Sports Channel. It's the latest move in Roku's aggressive push into sports, following deals for Formula E racing, MLB games, and NBA G League action.

And the best part for viewers? It'll all be available for free, as Roku continues building its advertising business through exclusive sports content.

FIBA 3×3 Women’s Basketball

Women's basketball is about to blow up in 2025, and we're not just talking about the WNBA's fancy new media deal.

The sport's getting a serious boost from all angles - you've got Unrivaled making its debut on TNT, Athletes Unlimited Basketball hitting its stride in season four with ESPN, and now the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series is teaming up with Whoopi Goldberg's new sports network.

This new network, AWSN, is going to bring 3x3 basketball to 65 countries, putting it right up there with big-time women's sports like pro tennis and European soccer.

FIBA's Alex Sanchez says this isn't just about getting more eyeballs on screens - it's about creating real opportunities for athletes. With prize money already topping $1.4 million and programs reaching 120,000 young girls worldwide, they're putting their money where their mouth is.

Looks like 2025 is shaping up to be the year women's basketball really takes center stage.

Michael Vick To Norfolk State

The redemption story of Michael Vick continues. From Virginia football star to federal prisoner, and now back to Virginia as a college football coach.

Seventeen years ago, Vick stood in a Richmond courthouse, chewing gum and wearing Nike Air Force 1s that matched his jail stripes, about to be sentenced for running a brutal dogfighting ring. His actions and attitude that day earned him 23 months in Leavenworth instead of the minimum 12 he might have gotten.

But that cocky quarterback who thought he was untouchable is long gone. The Michael Vick who's reportedly taking over at Norfolk State, just 30 minutes from his hometown, is the product of a remarkable transformation. After prison, he not only returned to NFL stardom with the Eagles but became a model of rehabilitation and an animal rights advocate.

Will he win games as a college coach? Who knows. But his real value might be in the life lessons he can share with his players - about success, failure, consequences, and redemption.

Now Coach Vick is right where he needs to be, writing the latest chapter of one of sports' greatest comeback stories.

Travis Hunter Is A Man Of The People

Travis Hunter isn't taking a dime from the school's NIL collective. Instead, he's doing something pretty special with his endorsement money.

According to Deion Sanders Jr., Hunter is actually one of the collective's biggest donors, using his own NIL earnings to fund deals for 10 to 15 of his teammates. That's right - the guy who just won the Heisman Trophy is helping pay his teammates' NIL deals out of his own pocket.

It fits perfectly with Hunter's reputation off the field. Hunter is known for giving back to children's hospitals and supporting black-owned businesses through his partnership with Greenwood.

This might be the most unique NIL story we've heard yet - a college football superstar turning his success into a way to lift up his teammates. Just another reason why Hunter's season will go down as one of the most remarkable in college football history.

Internships 🙋

1. Assistant Football Coach – Intern - This is a full-time, ten-month position. Responsibilities include but are not limited to player development, recruiting, NCAA and USA South rules and regulations, compliance, administrative duties, assisting the Head Coach in the daily operations of the program.

2. Athletic Training Fellow - Primary job responsibilities include assisting and collaborating with the Athletic Medicine staff and team physicians to deliver medical care to the Duke University football team.

3. Football Strength & Conditioning Intern (Temporary) - The strength and conditioning intern is responsible for assisting full-time strength and conditioning staff in enhancing the physical and mental development of student-athletes through established training programs that intensify the physical strength and cardiovascular conditioning of the student-athlete.

4. Public Relations Internship (Chicago White Sox) - The White Sox public relations intern is responsible for supporting the day-to-day functions of the organization’s public relations department, enhancing and building the image of the club with proactive earned media efforts.

5. Video Content Intern - CLTFC - Charlotte FC is looking for a Video Production Intern with experience in creating various types of dynamic and engaging video content. The ideal candidate should have experience shooting and editing video content on a consistent, fast-paced basis.

Job Board 💰

1. Talent Acquisition Coordinator (Milwaukee Bucks) - The Talent Acquisition Coordinator will own processes within the Arena HR team including, but not limited to, onboarding and entering new hires, managing candidates pre-employment results, processing terminations, employment verifications and the employee referral program.

2. Coordinator, Corporate Partnerships (Tampa Bay Rays) - The Tampa Bay Rays Corporate Partnerships Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Coordinator, Corporate Partnerships to assist in the prospecting, selling, activation and retention of partnerships.

3. International Content Manager (Phoenix Suns) - We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated International Content Manager to support our organization content strategy and video production for social media & digital brand accounts in China and other key international markets.

4. Social Media Representative (Philadelphia Phillies) - The Philadelphia Phillies are seeking a full-time Social Media Representative to join our dynamic social media team. This role involves day-to-day publishing and establishing the Phillies as a leading organization in the digital and social landscape. The ideal candidate is outgoing, creative, and passionate about storytelling.

5. Performance Nutrition Assistant (Cincinnati Reds) - The Performance Nutrition Assistant will leverage their knowledge and training to plan, organize, and execute minor league catering for all affiliates within the Cincinnati Reds organization. Additionally, they will assist in carrying out nutrition initiatives in Cincinnati at the direction of the Major League dietitian.

Thanks for reading - see you soon!