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Residents ask for additional pickleball courts

Residents ask for additional pickleball courts Published 2:42 pm Wednesday, June 11, 2025 THOMASVILLE — During last month’s City Council meeting several individuals addressed the need for additional pickleball courts. On Monday, three players from the pickleball community followed up on this request, expressing frustrations over the long wait times and lack of court care. […]

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Residents ask for additional pickleball courts

Residents ask for additional pickleball courts

Published 2:42 pm Wednesday, June 11, 2025

THOMASVILLE — During last month’s City Council meeting several individuals addressed the need for additional pickleball courts. On Monday, three players from the pickleball community followed up on this request, expressing frustrations over the long wait times and lack of court care.

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. It combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

Played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net, the game uses solid paddles and a hollow plastic ball.

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For many, it has been considered more than just a game. It has become a growing movement reshaping how people connect, stay active, and build stronger communities. It can be defined as a lifestyle, bringing people together, empowering youth, and strengthening neighborhoods.

This can certainly be said for those in Thomasville, who spoke on the friendships they have crafted through pickleball, reiterating the need for additional courts.

Kari Neal, who moved to Thomasville 7.5 years ago, recalled her first time seeing people play pickleball early in her move.

“I thought how fun it looked, being a former athlete,” she said.

Neal quickly fell in love with the game, saying she met more people in her time playing pickleball than she has in her time living in Thomasville.

At the time, the group was playing at the Remington YMCA pickleball courts.

Now, with the courts under duress, Neal said they are unplayable.

The group has since moved, but with such a large group they have outgrown the courts available to them.

“There is a lot of waiting,” she said. “There is more sitting and waiting than there is playing.”

Aaron Reneau is an active member of the pickleball community, often trying to get her young teens involved in the activity and encouraging her adopted Thomas University students to play.

“They love it because it keeps them active in their offseason,” she said. “But, during many of the peak times on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays all of the courts are full with 10-30 people waiting.”

Cory Wise, the Executive Director at Goalline Ministries at TU spoke more on this, telling the Council what a blessing pickleball has been for his students.

TU started a pickleball club last year, which has been described as a wonderful opportunity for students to come out to engage with faculty and staff.

“It’s something that’s different from what they’ve been training in,” he said. “It gives them a break from the 5-6 days a week they practice.”

In addition to giving them a break, it connects the students with other locals.

“It has opened the door for mentorship,” Wise said. “Pickleball is not just about the activity; it’s a connection point that helps us bridge gaps.”

Wise said he has loved being able to see people come together and experience the same great time regardless of age, gender, and race while advancing the health of the community.

“We have international students saying they wish they had something like this in their hometown,” Wise said. “I would love to see them stay here because of things like this and more.”

Wise asked the Council to help make this possible by adding additional courts.

Reneau added to Wise’s plea, sharing that additional courts would help with the waiting times and would allow for tournaments to be played in Thomasville.

She said she has heard previous comments that tournaments were not successful, but knows it can be difficult to host a successful tournament with limited court space.

Councilman Royal Baker understood the resident’s concerns and shared he had been in contact with other counties on how they funded their pickleball courts and continued to upkeep them.

For instance, Baker learned Moultrie has a 1.92 millage rate property tax from Parks & Recreation to fund activities and new courts.

The City of Thomasville relies heavily on SPLOST (specialized local option sales tax), but more than half of the SPLOST funds are used on road resurfacing, leaving little for new projects that have not been previously budgeted.

However, Baker assured that he and his fellow City Council members will continue to have conversations and look for avenues to help construct additional courts.

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U.S. Women Drop Five-Setter to China to Close Out 2025 VNL Week Three

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 13, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team completed Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary play with a 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 18-16) loss to China on Sunday night at the UT Arlington College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The U.S. finished 7-5, including 3-1 in front of the home crowd, […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 13, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team completed Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary play with a 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 18-16) loss to China on Sunday night at the UT Arlington College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

The U.S. finished 7-5, including 3-1 in front of the home crowd, and qualified for the VNL finals with an eighth-place finish. The U.S. will travel to Poland for the VNL finals where it will meet top-seeded Italy, which finished play with a 12-0 record.

“Giving an opportunity to some of the less experienced players is one of our big goals this summer, so I am really happy we got that. I love the way that we battled tonight,” remarked U.S. head coach Erik Sullivan. “We obviously had some lulls here and there. I thought China woke up and played some really good volleyball and challenged us. I love how we responded to that. It would have been very easy for us to get in that fifth game and not fight. I think when we’ve been in those big moments, we have done a nice job competing.”

The U.S. led in blocks (10-9) and aces (4-1), while China held the edge in kills (67-64).

Outside hitter Sarah Franklin led all players with 32 points on 29 kills and three blocks. She finished with 11 successful receptions and four digs.

“We are going to learn a lot from this and continue to grow. We saw a lot of really good things out there on the court. China did a really good job changing up in the third, fourth and fifth sets. We just need to be better at responding at that,” said Franklin, who is competing in her first VNL this year. “It’s been really fun watching our teammates cheering on all of us who are new this year.”

Opposite Taylor Mims scored her first VNL point when she entered the match in the third set, finishing the night with 10 points on nine kills and a block. Middle blocker Asjia O’Neal scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks, and outside Roni Jones-Perry also contributed nine points with seven kills and two aces. Jones-Perry led the team with 13 successful receptions and added 11 digs.

As it did throughout VNL play, the U.S. got tremendous play from the libero position as Morgan Hentz recorded 20 digs, eight more than the next highest total by any player. Opposite Danielle Cuttino totaled eight points on six kills and two blocks, and middle blocker Brionne Butler scored seven points on five kills and two blocks.

A Franklin block gave the U.S. an 11-5 lead in the first set and the lead was still four points, 15-11, when Jones-Perry scored. China then went on a 5-1 run to even the set at 16. A Franklin kill gave the U.S. the lead back and then Fairbanks served for five consecutive points, which featured an ace and two more serves that turned into overpasses. Franklin led all players with seven points on five kills and two blocks.

A great dig by Hentz led to a Cuttino out-of-system kill that gave the U.S. an 8-6 lead in the second set. Another Fairbanks ace, a China hitting error and a Franklin kill on an overpass concluded a 5-0 U.S. run that made it 11-6. China had a 7-1 run, but the U.S. responded with its own 7-2 streak to take a 20-14 lead. Franklin scored on back-to-back points, keyed by digs from O’Neal to complete the run.

Franklin’s seventh kill and eighth point of the set gave the U.S. a 21-16 lead and Butler scored three of the team’s final four points of the set. Butler’s block made it 22-17, her kill on an overpass gave the U.S. set point, and she ended the set with a kill that went straight down.

Mims scored her first VNL point to even the third set at 16. It was the last tie of the set as China scored the next two points and led the rest of the set. The set win clinched sixth place for China in the VNL standings and set up a quarterfinal match with Japan at the VNL finals. Franklin recorded six more kills to raise her match total to 18 kills and 21 points through three sets.

China took a 9-4 lead in the fourth set and led by as many as eight points, 19-11. China took advantage of the U.S. passing at just a 30 percent rate in the set. Franklin again led the squad with six kills.

The U.S. led 5-3 in the deciding set before China ran off three points in a row. The set was tied nine times, including every other point from 10-10 through 16-16. Mims recorded a block to tie the set at 12 and a kill to even the score at 14-14. An O’Neal kill tied the set at 15 and Franklin’s 29th kill and 32nd point after a great up by Jones-Perry evened the score at 16-16. Mims scored five points on four kills and her block, and Franklin added five more kills.

“I learned a lot,” added Sullivan, who was coaching the U.S. women for the first time in the VNL. “Any time we get these opportunities and experiences to play, I think we learn a lot not just about the personnel on our team, but also our culture and what kind of team we are with a bunch of systems we have implemented. We also learn about our weaknesses as you get exposed in some things. It’s awesome to be able to get back in the gym and tighten that stuff up and try to get better.”

U.S. Women’s Week Three Roster for 2025 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
11 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington St., Evergreen)
15 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
18 Asjia O’Neal (MB, 6-3, Southlake, Texas, Texas, North Texas)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham

Week 3 Results: Arlington, Texas
July 9 USA def. Thailand, 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15)
July 10 USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20)
July 12 USA def. Canada, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 19-17)
July 13 China def. USA, 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 18-16)

Week 1 Results: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
June 5 Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
June 6 Czechia def. USA, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
June 8 USA def Korea, 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)

Week 2 Results: Belgrade, Serbia
June 18 USA def. Serbia, 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11)
June 19 Poland def. USA, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18)
June 21 USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
June 22 USA def. France, 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13)



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WWE Evolution 2025 results, awards

WWE Evolution 2025 returned for the first time in seven years with another star-studded lineup of women’s wrestling action. Closing out the blockbuster PLE weekend, the women of the WWE had the ring rocking inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. All but two of the women’s WWE titles were on the line this […]

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WWE Evolution 2025 results, awards

WWE Evolution 2025 returned for the first time in seven years with another star-studded lineup of women’s wrestling action. Closing out the blockbuster PLE weekend, the women of the WWE had the ring rocking inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

All but two of the women’s WWE titles were on the line this Sunday night, including the two most prized possessions of the women’s ranks. In a continuation of one of the more storied, long-running rivalries of the past decade, former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley fought her heart out to nearly earn the first victory of her career against her now-fellow former titleholder, Iyo Sky. Yet despite the pair’s most taxing battle yet, it was the Money In the Bank briefcase-holder, Naomi, who spoiled the night.

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Despite losing her No Holds Barred match against blood-rival Jade Cargill earlier in the show, Naomi showed up determined to leave Sunday evening with gold. The new Women’s World Champion perfectly picked her moment after Sky and Ripley pulled out practically every stop imaginable. It was a sensational match that had me asking the question the whole time: “How the hell is this going to end?”

I love the surprise of a moment like this, especially to conclude an epic showdown on a night like this. Naomi’s cash-in shocker was perfect for the setting, though it does prevent the match from being perfect — because Sky vs. Ripley was right on the cusp of that until Naomi completely undermined the entire story between two forever rivals. But aside from that, this was overall awesome.

In truth, WWE Evolution 2025 had one of the best book-end combinations of matches in recent WWE memory. The night opened with Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria battling it out for Lynch’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lynch came out victorious after an absolute high-speed car-chase of a match. All three went 100 miles per hour as soon as the bell rang. The pace was off the charts for this one, and the crowd went crazy throughout the whole thing. Although I again didn’t personally love this finish either, it really fit the style this epic triple-threat match displayed. A perfect rating wouldn’t upset me here; I just felt that a high-impact ending with more juice would have been nice.

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In the WWE Women’s Championship match, “WWE SmackDown” superstar Tiffany Stratton dealt Trish Stratus a loss in her return to singles action. Similar to Gunther vs. Goldberg on Saturday Night’s Main Event, the match probably overdelivered in terms of expectations, but not by much. It served its purpose and was a solid display for each, resulting in Stratton scoring another successful defense.

What happens next is where the real intrigue lies, as Stratton now has to worry about Cargill, while Stephanie Vaquer goes on to challenge Naomi. “La Primera” continued her megastar ascent with a win in the 20-woman Battle Royal. It was everything you’d kind of expect out of a match like that on this card, but it got all the right people over.

If this show ended without a single title change, it would’ve been a pretty big bummer — despite a vocal contingent of the internet wrestling community despising a potential Sky loss. But WWE Evolution 2025 wound up having everything, not just with its ending, but throughout. And thanks to the performers and crowd, it felt like a massive deal. With that in mind, it might be malpractice for WWE to not continue with future Evolution events. I give WWE Evolution 2025 a crown score of: 👑 8/10. 👑

WWE Evolution 2025 Uncrowned Nightly Award Winners:

MVP: Stephanie Vaquer

I’m going to mention the word “aura” again for our next award, but I’m using it now too. Vaquer has accrued so many aura points in such a short amount of time that it should be studied. She couldn’t feel like more of a must-see attraction if she tried, and an imminent title run has never been more of a guarantee. As soon as she made her entrance for the Battle Royal, the vibe was instant, “Oh yeah, it’s her night.” And it was indeed. Vaquer kicked all the ass, and will likely continue to for a very long time.

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Uncrowned Gem of the Night: Charlotte Flair

How does she do it? For portions of months, Flair is the most hated wrestler on the planet — then she gets paired with the super-over Alexa Bliss and slips into a nicely likable meta version of herself. Opposites attract, folks. They have something here, and Flair has an aura. What she and Bliss have right now wouldn’t work with any other character contrasting with Bliss. We’ve seen that in the past with all pf Bliss’ previous pairings.

Match of the Night: Lynch vs. Valkyria vs. Bayley

OK, this can’t be a surprise for any faithful Uncrowned reader to see me pick the triple-threat match. (Technically, the main event was one too, though.) Seriously, toss a dart between the opener and main event at WWE Evolution 2025. For me, the energy in that first match was just insane, and it fit like a glove with how the match unfolded. This was a “we’re proving this is why we’re here” type of match.

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I’m sure I’ll get weird reactions for this, but it honestly felt like an AEW match in WWE — and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

Best Spot of the Night: Flair saves Bliss from a Zaria spear

The frenemy story of the Bliss and Flair pairing is the magnet for their team, and it’s all playing out in real time, fairly rapidly. Despite their loss in the Fatal 4-Way tag-team match, Flair, the heel character, saving Bliss, was that beautiful mid-match arc we only see every now and then.

WWE Evolution 2025 full card results and highlights:

Women’s World Championship: Naomi def. Iyo Sky (c), Rhea Ripley

Stephanie Vaquer wins the Battle Royal for a world championship match at Clash in Paris

No Holds Barred match: Jade Cargill def. Naomi

WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Trish Stratus

Fatal-4-way tag team match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day (c) (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez) def. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Sol Ruca and Zaria, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)

NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) def. Jordynne Grace

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) def. Bayley, Lyra Valkyria

Relive WWE Evolution 2025 with Uncrowned’s live blog below:

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Olympian Edwards finds purpose in ‘giving back’

Kristie Edwards’s ability to hurl herself down a running track at breakneck speed has taken her to some of the world’s most exotic cities to compete in front of packed stadiums; the pursuit of her Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology took her to Cumberland Hospital, a public psychiatric facility based in Sydney’s western suburbs. The […]

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Kristie Edwards’s ability to hurl herself down a running track at breakneck speed has taken her to some of the world’s most exotic cities to compete in front of packed stadiums; the pursuit of her Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology took her to Cumberland Hospital, a public psychiatric facility based in Sydney’s western suburbs.

The 25-year-old New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete admits she accepted her 10-week (work experience) placement at Cumberland with a sense of trepidation, but by the time the Paris Olympian finished there she’d already started to reconsider her career plans.

“I was really nervous in the lead up to my placement,” said Edwards, who recently sat her final university exam for her Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology. “I wasn’t sure of what to expect, but I loved what I did there. I really enjoyed it.

“I felt as though I not only formed a close relationship with the patients, but I was also helping by just getting them out to do some exercise. For many it was the highlight of their day, so that made it a rewarding experience.

“And I never expected [mental health] to be an area I’d consider a career in. Being an athlete, I always equated a future as an exercise physiologist with high performance sport programs, but I found a tremendous sense of purpose came from working with the general population – especially those with chronic health conditions.

“So, I finished my placement thinking that was an area I could give back, as well as being one where it’d be possible to make a difference to peoples’ lives.”

Edwards, who overseas campaigning to be selected in the Australian women’s 4×100 m team for September’s 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, recalled the positive impact one particular patient’s progress made on her.

“You’d see some of the patients for only an hour a week,” she recalled. “But it was special to see the little changes they made to their daily habits because of what we were doing.

“One woman started going for walks every day, and that helped her overall outlook which, ultimately, aided how she responded to her treatment. By the time my placement finished she was getting ready to be discharged.

“Obviously a huge team works on rehab and treatment – and there’s many multidisciplinary treatments happening at the same time – but it meant a lot for me to think that exercise, which has been an important part of my entire life, helped her and other patients starting a habit which became a routine that ultimately helped her.”

KRISTIE EDWARDS IS NSWIS PROUD

Having a NSWIS scholarship has really helped me to take my training to
the next level. Having access to support from the biomechanists, physiotherapists,
massage therapists, strength & conditioning coaches, doctors, dietician, sports
psychologist and the athlete wellbeing & engagement team has helped me to work
on those the little things, which add up to make big improvements. I am very grateful
to have a NSWIS scholarship and access to the amazing support staff and facilities,
as they have all helped me to achieve career best performances this year.” 

After a breakout Australian 2024/25 season which sealed Edwards’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier sprinters, the Andrew Murphy-coached athlete said the confidence she’d gained from competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was crucial to her:

  • Celebrating three wins during the domestic Summer Series
  • Gaining selection for the Australian team competing at next month’s World University Games in Germany
  • Setting Personal Bests of 22.81 (+1.2) for 200m at the national championships and 11.26 (+1.0) for the 100m while competing at the Sydney Track Classic
  • Defeating Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis on her way to winning the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.

Edwards said following her personal motto of ‘Patience and Persistence’ has helped drive her rising stock as an individual sprinter after being considered for many years as one of Australia’s premier female relay runners.

“Sometimes we can get caught up in the idea that we need to be achieving this and that when you’re in your early 20s,” she said. “But I think the transition from a junior to senior athlete can be quite difficult for some people.

“A lot of athletes give the sport away after they finish school, but I haven’t ever had a time in my career when I’ve thought: ‘oh, I’m never going to make it on these teams,’ or ‘I’m just not going to run fast enough’.

“I just trained and showed up. And that was my main takeaway when I made the Olympics. It came together because I just kept doing what I loved doing and kept showing up each day and striving to improve.

“That’s what I attribute to my making the Olympics. It wasn’t like I did anything fancy or that I was a superstar who was beating people or being amazing. I just kept chipping away slowly and I was gradually getting better and better.”

KRISTIE EDWARDS FAST FACTS

  • Edwards was surprised when she raced in the under-nine’s NSW Primary School Sport Association’s state 100m final and noticed all of her opponents were wearing spikes. She raced in her joggers and finished in third place.
  • Her first coach when she joined Little A’s was Australian Athletics icon, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor.
  • Gainsford, a three-time Olympian and world indoor championships gold medallist for the 200m, was such a positive influence on Edwards she considers her ‘a second mum.’
  • Edwards’s mother, Katie, coaches NSWIS scholarship holder Mali Lovell, who won the bronze medal for the 200m T36 at last year’s Paralympic Games
  • At 13 Edwards won the National All Schools 200m in an impressive time of 24.52.
  • Before focussing on athletics, she played netball for Manly Warringah.
  • Edwards is a keen gardener and enthusiastic reader of biographies.
  • In 2018 she made her debut in the green and gold at the World under 20 Championships.
  • In 2021 she moved to Brisbane where she reduced her times to 11.55 (100m) and 23.17 (200m).
  •  Edwards competed in two Diamond League meets with Australia’s 4 x 100m relay team, finishing fifth at London and third in Zurich, clocking 43.21 – the seventh fastest time in Australia history.
  • Edwards describes her parents for having the biggest influence on her life, and thanks them for all they’ve done to help her.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS



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Sonny Vaccaro Labels Michael Jordan's Mother A 'Personal Friend'

The 1984 signing of Michael Jordan by Nike remains one of the most pivotal moments in sports and business history. Jordan had other offers from major brands like Adidas and Converse, but Nike, a distant underdog at the time, managed to land the deal that would change everything. Advertisement Behind that historic signing was Sonny […]

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Sonny Vaccaro Labels Michael Jordan's Mother A 'Personal Friend'

The 1984 signing of Michael Jordan by Nike remains one of the most pivotal moments in sports and business history. Jordan had other offers from major brands like Adidas and Converse, but Nike, a distant underdog at the time, managed to land the deal that would change everything.

Behind that historic signing was Sonny Vaccaro, a marketing visionary who helped rewrite the rules of athlete endorsements. But according to Vaccaro, the key to pulling it all off wasn’t just money or contracts, it was trust.

Vaccaro built that trust by forging a strong, genuine relationship with Jordan’s family, especially his mother, Deloris Jordan. He understood early on that MJ was deeply influenced by those closest to him, particularly his mother.

“Michael was always Michael. But I knew that family, specifically Mrs Jordan at that time, family was what guided Michael. So after the first meeting, I knew that the only way to Michael’s heart was we got to convince his family… And Michael Jordan only really listened to family and his mom,” Vaccaro once said about the importance of family in MJ’s life.

During a recent conversation on GrowthX, the 85-year-old opened up about his friendship with Deloris Johnson. That relationship went beyond business. Over the years, Vaccaro remained in touch with Mrs. Jordan. He said, “It wasn’t socially…we socialized. We talked on the phone. I didn’t meet Mrs. Jordan as many times…But I stayed in touch. Stayed in touch continuously.”

Even decades later, Vaccaro still considers Deloris Jordan a friend. Vaccaro said, “Mrs. Jordan, until this day today is a personal friend and someone I could call and say hello to because I did one thing for sure, I didn’t lie to her either, or her son.”

Her role in the Nike deal was crucial. It was Mrs. Jordan who helped push for terms that ensured her son didn’t just sign a deal; he made history. She played an instrumental role in securing Jordan a share of every sneaker sold, a move that set a new standard in athlete-brand partnerships.

Vaccaro has often acknowledged and appreciated her influence in making sure the deal went far beyond a traditional endorsement. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, he said, “I told Michael he’d get a piece of the shoe. Rob and Peter gave me the authority, you’re gonna own part of this shoe. I didn’t know what was going to transfer. Deloris said, ‘My son is going to own a part of Nike. You make a dime, I make a dime.”

Sonny Vaccaro’s connection with the Jordan family, especially with Deloris, was the bridge that helped Nike secure the greatest sports marketing move of all time. And he did that through trust and forging a real friendship.

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Mazda celebrates Singapore’s aquatic stars in grit-fuelled film

Mazda is putting the spotlight on grit and perseverance with its latest brand film “What drives you?”, launched in tandem with Singapore’s hosting of the World Aquatics Championships 2025. Done in collaboration with advertising agency 3-Sixty Brand Communications, the 60-second film opens with a voiceover asking, “What drives you to step out of your comfort zone?” […]

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Mazda is putting the spotlight on grit and perseverance with its latest brand film “What drives you?”, launched in tandem with Singapore’s hosting of the World Aquatics Championships 2025.

Done in collaboration with advertising agency 3-Sixty Brand Communications, the 60-second film opens with a voiceover asking, “What drives you to step out of your comfort zone?” before showcasing five TeamSG aquatic athletes excelling in swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, and open water swimming.

As the official automobile partner of the championships, Mazda is powering the event with over 100 vehicles, shuttling athletes, officials, and organisers across venues. The partnership aims to highlight Mazda’s shared values of teamwork, endurance, agility, and relentless pursuit, qualities celebrated both in sport and on the road.

Don’t miss: adidas highlights unsung heroes who inspire us to go the extra mile 

Mazda is also making waves beyond mobility with limited-edition aquatic-themed merchandise available at select championship venues, deepening its connection with the aquatic community.

“Mazda is honored to support a world-class sporting event that embodies passion, discipline, and unity. As we celebrate SG60, we’re reminded of how far we’ve come and the journeys that lie ahead, on the road and in the pool,” said David Chung, general manager, marketing and customer relationship, Trans Eurokars Pte Ltd.

Speaking on the film, Cindy Tay, general manager of 3-Sixty Brand Communications, said, “This film is a tribute to all who rise before dawn, train through fatigue, and perform with grace under pressure. It’s not just a story about athletes, it’s a story about purpose. We’re proud to bring that to life for SG60, Mazda and the world stage.”

Mazda joins a growing list of brands celebrating Singapore’s athletes. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) partnered with Dentsu Creative Singapore on “Every support counts”, a digital campaign spotlighting the network of support behind Team Singapore.

Anchored by a hero film featuring three national athletes, the campaign highlighted the role of sports science, emotional resilience, and community backing in driving athletic success. Complementary videos also profiled athletes across disciplines, including para sports, underscoring the dedication and infrastructure behind every medal-winning moment.



Meanwhile, UNIQLO had thrown its support behind Singapore’s para athletes as the official clothing partner for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The brand outfitted the Team Singapore delegation, including athletes and officials, with LifeWear apparel designed for comfort, function, and a sleek aesthetic that blends Singaporean identity with the Parisian cityscape.

Related articles:         
PUMA celebrates runner’s high in new ‘Go wild’ brand positioning
Nike reminds the world there’s nothing wrong with wanting to win  
Team SG partners graffiti artist to back local Olympians with Kampong Glam mural 



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Orange Line wins Sports Research digital brief, expands US footprint

Independent digital agency Orange Line has landed a significant new client in the US, securing a full-funnel digital strategy mandate with leading health and wellness brand Sports Research. Based in Los Angeles, Sports Research produces more than 300 premium SKUs across nutritional supplements and workout products. The brand was founded in 1980 and remains family-owned. […]

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Independent digital agency Orange Line has landed a significant new client in the US, securing a full-funnel digital strategy mandate with leading health and wellness brand Sports Research.

Based in Los Angeles, Sports Research produces more than 300 premium SKUs across nutritional supplements and workout products. The brand was founded in 1980 and remains family-owned.

The partnership will see Orange Line lead strategy across SEO, CRO, paid media, email, SMS, data, analytics and web development, with a remit to accelerate e-commerce performance in the competitive US wellness market.

“Partnering with Orange Line has been an exceptional experience. They bring stellar organization in their ways of working, clear communication, and a truly enjoyable team dynamic,” Marshall Spellmeyer, UI/UX Designer at Sports Research, said. “Their innovative, forward-thinking strategies consistently adapt to evolving market and technology trends, keeping our brand ahead of the curve.

“Every interaction with Orange Line reflects a commitment to excellence and insight, making collaboration both effective and genuinely fun to partner with such a great team. I’m confident we’ll see rapid success partnering with Orange Line and value their team tremendously.”

David Klein, co-founder at Orange Line, said the win underscores the agency’s growing presence in North America.

“We’re really excited to work alongside Sports Research during this important phase of growth. With our team members based in both Sydney and LA, we’re able to offer seamless, real-time support across time zones,” he said. “Combined with our data-driven approach and strong commercial focus, we’re well-placed to help accelerate their growth and deliver long-term impact.”

The win builds on Orange Line’s expanding US client base and bolsters its positioning as a digitally focused, performance-led agency working across global markets.



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