The ‘Prime Effect’ At Work: Retro CU Hat Sells Out In 4 Minutes On Lids
The "Prime Effect" remains evident as the University of Colorado Buffaloes experienced a surge in demand for their much anticipated throwback CU fitted hat.
Deion Sanders’ transformative influence on the landscape of college football (the “Prime Effect”) remains evident as the University of Colorado Buffaloes experienced a surge in demand for is much anticipated throwback CU Ralphie cap by 59Fifty.
The surge in demand is not only a testament to the allure of the “Prime Effect” but a nod to the Buffaloes’ popularity since Sanders arrived last year. The throwback hat, with its reference to Colorado’s 1990 National Championship victory over Notre Dame in Miami, is a reminder of the team’s resurgent popularity.
By September 2023, Sanders’ arrival had already earned the school $90 million in revenue. The city of Boulder reported an extraordinary $113 million in tourism revenue for the past year, leaving the combined totals of the previous five years in the dust. According to Sports Illustrated‘s Pat Forde, the online team store at the university witnessed a surge of 2,544% in September sales compared to the same month in 2022. And if that’s not enough, every home game at the 50,183-seat Folsom Field was completely sold out.
The Buffaloes’ 2024 football starts August 31 at home against North Dakota State, followed by back-to-back road contests against conference rivals Nebraska and Colorado State, laying the foundation for what’s poised to be a riveting and pivotal season.
As Sanders and the Buffs gear up for spring practice, expectations are high for another sellout at this year’s spring game. The big question lingers as to whether whether ESPN will once again capture the Gold & Black scrimmage. Last year’s edition served as Coach Prime’s introduction to CU, where he delivered an array of surprises.
Wrens, Georgia Welcomes Its First Black Mayor, David Hannah
In a historic moment for Wrens, David Hannah was sworn in on Jan. 2 as the city's first Black mayor, adding another milestone to his journey.
In a historic moment for Wrens, Georgia, David Hannah was sworn in on Jan. 2 as the city’s first Black mayor, adding another milestone to his remarkable journey after serving as the city’s inaugural Black police chief, according to WRDW.
Hannah’s roots in Wrens run deep, and significant wins have marked his leadership trajectory. Describing it, he said, “I left Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and became the city investigator here in Wrens, and after I served there in Wrens for a period of two to three years, I became the first Black police chief.”
Despite his trailblazing career, concerns have been raised about Hannah’s previous management of the police department, ranging from alleged inappropriate language to outstanding utility account balances, plus a detailed six-page letter addressing police department procedures.
Responding to those concerns, Hannah remained steadfast, asserting, “It’s always been positive. I hadn’t had anything in my career that would hinder me from doing what I need to do.” He encouraged those with doubts to consult the community. “Check with the people. Let the people decide,” he said. “The people decided when they elected me.”
As he steps into the role of mayor, Hannah outlines ambitious plans for Wrens, including attracting new businesses, expanding housing options, and addressing Wrens’ recent challenges with crime. Hannah stated, “We’re gonna turn the crime rates around in the city. We’re gonna do some things in the city that the city gonna be real proud of.”
A new city council member joined the ranks the same day as Hannah’s inauguration. Wasting no time, the newly constituted leadership delved into their responsibilities, conducting their first meeting that very evening.
The challenges ahead are met by an optimistic Hannah as he pledges to bring positive change and rejuvenation to the community he has long served.
Game Shape: Usher Quits ‘All Sugar And Alcohol’ Ahead Of Super Bowl Halftime Show
Usher is buckling down for Super Bowl LVIII and has decided to give up all sugar and alcohol in preparation for the big day.
Usher is buckling down for his headlining performance at next month’s Super Bowl LVIII, giving up all sugar and alcohol as he prepares for the big day.
“The Super Bowl has always been on Usher’s bucket list and he wants to be in the best shape to give the performance of his life to the 100 million-plus people watching,” a source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper’s “No Filter” column, via Fredericksburg.
“He has quit all sugar and alcohol and is rehearsing endlessly.”
It’s the second time Usher will be gracing a halftime show, having joining the Black Eyed Peas in 2011. But it’s always been a dream of his to headline the Super Bowl halftime show on his own.
“I think being able to see performances from artists like Michael [Jackson], you know, eventually Prince, and then even more modern-day artists… I was like, ‘Man, at some point I need to get a call with what’s going on now,'” he told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.
“But I’m really happy that I’m joining that short list of legacy artists from my genre who deserve this moment.”
“And I’m really happy that Jay-Z and also Roc Nation really put thought into making certain that they could bring to the world this kind of experience. It is definitely going to be a moment to remember,” he added.
Usher’s 14-year-old son Naviyd is serving as musical director for the show and designed his dad’s set list for the night, he revealed on Today With Hoda & Jenna.
“He has given me a curation of how much time in addition to the songs.”
Usher follows Rihanna (and her baby bump), who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023. Dr. Dre headlined in 2022 alongside Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar.
Keke Palmer Becomes First Black Woman To Win Emmy For Game Show Host
It had been 15 years since a woman won an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host, but Keke Palmer ended the hiatus.
It’s been 15 years since a woman won an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host, but Keke Palmer has helped end the hiatus, becoming the first Black woman to earn the honor.
The 2024 Emmy Awards took place on Jan. 7, and Palmer won for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for NBC’s Password, Deadline reports. It was the first time the category was included in the Primetime Emmys.
The actress/television personality beat out Jeopardy! hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, Family Feud host Steve Harvey, and Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak. She the first woman to win since 2009, when Meredith Vieira won for the syndicated Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
“Wow. That is so exciting thank you so much. I’m really just so thankful, I’m almost speechless,” Palmer said during her acceptance speech. “I want to thank the people who allowed this to happen, thank you to Jimmy Fallon, thank to NBC.”
After thanking Fallon, who executive produces the show, Palmer thanked Carol Burnett, a fixture on the game show decades ago, who was in the audience. It’s the first time in 50 years that Password has been nominated or won the host category.
“Sharp, charming and quick-witted all while looking like a superstar. There’s no one like Keke Palmer,” said Fallon.
Steve Harvey received the award in 2023, and the late Alex Trebek won three years prior.
Palmer also won an Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for the Facebook Watch series Turnt Up With the Taylors.
“In a historic year for game shows at the Emmy Awards, we couldn’t be prouder of Keke Palmer’s outstanding host win. She and Jimmy Fallon are a winning duo and have made the latest iteration of Password an undeniable hit,” Corie Henson, executive vice president, NBCUniversal Entertainment Unscripted Programming, said.
Tobe Nwigwe Announces Partnership With Reebok: ‘T’was MINT To Be’
Tobe Nwigwe announced his partnership with Reebok via Instagram. Their collaboration will bring us the Reebok by Chukwu collection in 2024.
On Jan. 8, artist, actor, and visionary Tobe Nwigwe announced his partnership with Reebok via Instagram. The collaboration, rooted in Reebok’s history of working with leading hip-hop artists, will introduce the Reebok by Chukwu collection in 2024, showcasing co-designed footwear and apparel bridging the realms of fashion and lifestyle.
Tobe Nwigwe, a Houston-born, first-generation Nigerian-American, initially aspired to a career in professional football until a career-ending injury altered his trajectory. Embracing his faith and the mantra of “make purpose popular,” Nwigwe has evolved into a global superstar without major record label backing or a booking agent. His diverse portfolio includes blockbuster film appearances, prestigious runway appearances, YouTube fame with the #getTWISTEDsundays series, and chart-topping success in hip-hop, culminating in a 2023 Best New Artist nomination for his LP moMINTs.
“I’m honored to partner with a brand like Reebok that represents so many iconic moments in culture and possesses timeless designs that have spanned generations. I can still vividly remember fighting with one of my best friends in middle school over who could first get their hands on the latest Question drop,” said Nwigwe, expressing his excitement about the collaboration.
Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky emphasized the brand’s legacy of collaboration with creatives and hip-hop artists since the ’90s and expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Nwigwe, describing him as a “true creative visionary” shaping the future of the genre. Krinsky said he looked forward to seeing how Nwigwe’s energy and unique perspective translated into upcoming collections.
Beyond his music career, Nwigwe is a multitalented individual dedicated to mission-driven work. In 2010, during his recovery from a football injury, he founded TeamGINI (derived from “Gini Bu Nkpa Gi?” — Igbo for “What’s Your Purpose?”), a Houston-based nonprofit supporting and inspiring local youth. His partnership with Reebok aims to amplify and support the TeamGINI community, extending its positive impact.
“I’m excited to bring my point of view and join our worlds together to create something truly special,” remarked Nwigwe on the collaboration. As the Reebok by Chukwu collection takes center stage in 2024, the partnership promises to blend cultural influences, fashion, and a commitment to positive change.
A$AP Rocky Promotes ‘New Collab With My Baby Mom’ For Rihanna’s Lip Balm Launch
Rihanna has a new lip balm and who better than her boyfriend/baby daddy to help promote the new product launch?
Rihanna has a new lip balm under her Fenty Skin beauty line – and who better than her boyfriend/baby daddy to help promote the new product launch?
On Friday, January 5, Rih Rih’s Fenty Skin and Fenty Beauty brands released a shared post showing A$AP Rocky remixing his single “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n)” to promote Fenty Beauty’s Lux Balm. In the video, Rocky shows off the new balm while boasting about his latest collab with his “baby mom.”
“Flossy, glossy / Nah b—- this ain’t lip gloss / Lux Balm up in my palm / New collab with my baby mom,” he raps.
“LuxBalm up in @asaprocky’s palm, new collab with our fave mom @badgalriri,” Fenty Beauty captioned the post.
Named to honor Rihanna’s hometown, the Barbados Cherry-powered lip balm contains vitamin E and shea butter to “bring dry lips back to life with instant hydration,” the brand says. A full list of ingredients for the vegan, cruelty-free balm includes cherry extracts, sweet cherry seed oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E, along with murumuru, mango, cocoa, and shea butter, according to the website.
The lip balm retails for $16 on the Fenty Beauty website, as well as in Sephora and Kohls store locations. It’s the first time Rihanna has used her rapper boyfriend to help promote one of her beauty products.
Rocky’s nod to their two sons comes after the couple welcomed their second son in August 2023. Together, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky share sons RZA, 19 months, and Riot Rose, 5 months.
The two both serve as creative directors at Puma on their separate lines. But when asked if he would ever consider teaming up with Rihanna for a Puma collaboration, he shared what his favorite collab has been with the Bajan superstar.
“What could we team up and just like f—ing smash and go crazy on?” Rocky pondered in response to the question before answering: “I think we do a real great job at collaborating and making children,” he told Complex.
“I think that’s our best creation so far,” he added. “Nothing’s better than that.”
Why Meeting In Person Out Performs Online Meetings
People are accustomed to meetings on Zoom. Granted, it’s easier. However, it’s time for more purposeful connections in-person.
The amount of Americans working from home has increased in recent years. Millions of people make their living in solitude. According to Forbes, “As of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model.” That number is expected to rise as a staggering 32 million people are estimated to work from home by 2025.
Recently, I met with five New York City area business influencers. We all follow each other online. Over the years, I have received their email newsletters, and they’ve commented on my LinkedIn posts. However, meeting in person was a game-changer. It brought us together and strengthened our relationships in ways meeting online cannot. Since the pandemic lockdowns, many people have been conditioned to meet on Zoom. Granted, it’s easier: no hair, makeup, or getting dressed. However, it’s time to change how we network and commit to more purposeful in-person connections.
The Human Experience
Meeting in person is one of the most powerful human experiences we can participate in as professionals. A handshake, hug, or even smile can be conveyed when meeting in person; these gestures are essential for facilitating deeper connections.
The Power of Touch
When shaking hands, give a firm grip and look into the eyes of the person you are greeting. This type of handshake conveys a deep meaning, especially in the Americas. Maybe in Korea or Japan, it’s a bow.
It shows the person you’re speaking with that you care, that you’re listening to them, and that their presence is important. Through a virtual meeting, this “touch” is non-existent. We try to do it through emojis and rapid-fire texts in the chat boxes of our virtual meeting apps, but it pales in comparison to physical human touch.
Investing in Trust
There might be opportunities that can only be realized through in-person meetings. It’s an investment in building trust and can often lead to lucrative business opportunities in the long term. The money and time invested might not seem worth it initially, but it helps to establish long-term relationships.
Be Intentional About What You Want and Can Give
Since meeting in person takes time and is an investment, prioritize who you meet and how much time you spend with them. Know what you want to achieve in a meeting before attending. Do your research, identify which meetings match your goals and abilities, and prepare to meet new people and share ideas.
Clear intentions and preparation can lead to a more productive and meaningful meeting.
What are some types of in-person meetings you can consider?
One-to-one catch-up meetings
These are great for meeting with people you know already. In meetings like this, you can simply catch up.
One-to-one “get to know you” meetings
“Get to know you” meetings are held in person to really get to know someone better and understand their goals and for them to understand your goals and needs.
Professional mastermind meetings
These small groups of professionals are centered around the one person leading the group or a group of business friends who lead it together.
Large events
Large events are a great time to learn from the main stage. But equally important is the time to get to know attendees. There can be random connections in the hallway, at the hotel checkout desk, or walking to the bathroom. These connections and the purposeful ones, as well, are powerful.
When you attend a large event, get to know as much as you can about the attendees, speakers, and sponsors. Set up meetings with various people ahead of time. Use LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter to follow them and see how you can connect online before you connect in person.
Virtual meetings are here and are useful. We can do more in less time and make faster connections. However, don’t sacrifice meeting in person. The best connections and strongest trust can often be made by meeting in person.
Author information – who is Ramon Ray
Ramon Ray is the publisher of www.ZoneofGenius.com, an online publication helping small business news live life fulfilled. He’s also the author of Celebrity CEO, a guide to how small business owners and entrepreneurs can build their personal brands. Ramon’s a serial entrepreneur who’s started five companies and sold three of them. He’s an in-demand motivational speaker and event host.
HBCU GO Secures 10-Year Partnership With The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Byron Allen: “The HBCU GO team is excited to partner with SIAC to distribute their conference games to a broader audience. We are committed to bringing the best of HBCU culture and sports to our global platforms.”
Last summer, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced that the free streaming digital platform HBCU GO, owned by Byron Allen’s Media Group (AMG), would broadcast five games in the 2023 football season; thus, HBCU GO became the conference’s exclusive broadcast partner for its 13 SIAC football programs. Now, the collaboration has been extended into a 10-year media rights partnership.
The Allen Media Group announced the extended partnership with the SIAC that grants HBCU GO cable, linear, streaming, broadcast, VOD, and pay-per-view rights coverage of all team sports throughout the conference until 2032. The worldwide agreement will include football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and Olympic sports.
HBCU GO partners with SIAC for 10-year media rights, including coverage of football, basketball, and Olympic sports. SIAC events will also air on CBS stations. Exciting times ahead for HBCU culture and fans worldwide. more information at https://t.co/d7epNMPZgfpic.twitter.com/HgPoGMgzUw
“This is a historic moment,” said Byron Allen, founder, chairman, and CEO of Allen Media Group, in a written statement. “The HBCU GO team is excited to partner with SIAC to distribute their conference games to a broader audience. We are committed to bringing the best of HBCU culture and sports to our global platforms.”
HBCU GO has secured distribution on CBS-owned-and-operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Sacramento, Miami, Tampa, and Pittsburgh.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with HBCU GO,” SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman said. “Through this innovative streaming platform, we invite fans from around the world to join us in celebrating the indomitable spirit of SIAC sports and culture. This new era of digital engagement opens doors to boundless opportunities and ensures that every thrilling moment will be etched in the memories of our dedicated supporters. We extend our sincere gratitude to HBCU GO for their invaluable collaboration, and we can’t wait to share the excitement and passion of SIAC sporting events with fans everywhere.”
Why And How To Develop Resilience As An Entrepreneur
Are you a growing entrepreneur? Learn how and why to develop resilience with this article.
Originally Published May 13, 2013
As the CEO and co-founder of a growing company, I’ve learned that many entrepreneurs face similar challenges, such as finances and building business relationships. I’ve also learned the hard way while building Voices.com that there’s no way to avoid these challenges.
If someone had told me early on that I’d be challenged in these areas, I would have been able to identify these issues not as problems, but as tests that would make my company stronger. To help others working on their own entrepreneurial journeys, I wanted to offer some seasoned advice from two challenges I faced and how I overcame them.
Overcoming Financial Challenges
Money is the often the biggest challenge you face as an entrepreneur, as there is more depending on money than on anything else. Your own name, debt, and general state of finances are tied to those of your startup. This is true for anyone who also has a stake in your company, which magnifies the scale of the challenge.
There are difficult choices you need to make every day, from the initial pitch to 10 years down the road (when you are making money and need to figure out what to do with it). It might get easier later on, but in the end you’re still required to make choices such as to bootstrap or raise venture capital, to hire or to pass on a candidate, to give out raises, to sign a new contract, etc.
What has helped me navigate this is having a game plan. As someone who takes comfort in planning, I’ve always had a roadmap of where I wanted to go. My first game plan started on the back of a napkin, and this strategic plan has since evolved into a living document that I update on a regular basis. Having clarity on this has helped the business maintain — and at times, regain — focus over the years. The game plan has made it easier to say “No” to distractions and “Yes” to opportunities that align with our mission, vision, and values.
Decide from the start how you’ll be funding your startup or your next wave of growth — and exactly what it will take to get there. Based on your past experiences, set guidelines for when to hire a new employee and when to pass. The same principle applies to granting raises. Many of these situations can be overcome with documentation, a written practice to set expectations and communication.
Overcoming Customer Challenges
As you take your first product to market, customer feedback will start rolling in. Anticipate both praise and criticism. Handling praise is easy, and should be done gracefully with gratitude. However, handling criticism is a more touchy subject.
For a truly disruptive business, you’ll get pushback from customers and entrenched providers alike, possibly even damaging slander. From my perspective, though, the volume and intensity of the feedback is a great indicator of how much you’re innovating within an industry.
As a rule of thumb, take all feedback seriously, but recognize that it’s not all valid. Consider your relationship to each source and whether or not that person is qualified to comment. Concerns voiced by actual customers is one thing; criticism from people who do not do business with you is different. Being able to distinguish between customers and critics will help you determine who needs a response and who does not.
I like to thank those who give praise by sending a personalized email or even calling them. By doing so, you’ll earn a customer for life and an advocate who may just feel compelled to stand up on your behalf in difficult times.
Navigating criticism should be handled with equal delicacy. As the owner, I feel it’s my responsibility to clarify misinformation by connecting one-on-one whenever possible. This might mean getting on the phone or replying to an email. At times, you might even think it’s reasonable to jump into the fray via social to provide clarity. This is where you need to consider if the person you are answering is a customer or a critic.
Failing to make this distinction has backfired for me a few times, turning a small issue into something much bigger. Now that I have this customer-or-critic filter, the decision on whether to engage is easier. If they’re a customer: Yes. If they’re a critic: No. Armed with this filter, you won’t go unknowingly into a trap. Critics dig pits that they want you to fall into, so be careful. Remember that there is a time to speak, and a time to be silent.
Being Resilient
I’ve discovered that resiliency is something you can only learn by spotting the challenge for what it is: a test of your ability to navigate a delicate or complex issue. Being able to push through the pain, although seemingly counterproductive and at times unpleasant, allows you to come through the other side stronger.
Being able to overcome an obstacle takes perseverance, courage and the belief that what you’re doing truly matters. Is your business, your idea, or your vision worth fighting for? If so, you’ll need to be resilient. With each challenge you overcome, you’ll find new ways of turning what some might perceive to be a mess, into a masterpiece.
Malachi Nelson, Former ESPN Top-Ranked Recruit, Transfers To Boise State
Even though Nelson could have gone to a university with a bigger NIL bank, so to speak, he was pulled to Boise by the allure of something money can't buy, good old fashioned playing time
Malachi Nelson, the USC quarterback who moved alongside USC head coach Lincoln Riley, who recruited him to play at Oklahoma, when Riley took the job in Los Angeles, has transferred to Boise State University. Nelson, the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2023 by ESPN, announced his move with a short post on Twitter/X.
“Boise, this is it…Committed.”
Nelson closed out his tweet with the hashtag Bleed Blue, referencing the signature blue turf at Boise’s Albertson Stadium.
Nelson only took three snaps this season for USC in his redshirt freshman season. For him, perhaps he saw the writing on the wall before USC opted to play Miller Moss, as Caleb Williams sat out the Holiday Bowl in preparation for his entry into the NFL Draft in April. Moss, a redshirt sophomore, would set a Holiday Bowl record, passing six touchdowns as the Trojans defeated the Louisville Cardinals 42-28. Nelson entered the transfer portal a few weeks prior to the Holiday Bowl and found his new home in Boise, where new Head Coach Spencer Danielson is quietly making moves using the transfer portal.
In addition to Nelson, Boise State has signed a former University of Indiana wideout, Cam Camper, from the transfer portal. Camper is seen as a potential replacement for Eric McAllister, the team’s leading receiver, who entered the transfer portal shortly after Arkansas signed their signal caller Taylen Green to replace their outgoing transfer portal-bound quarterback, K.J. Jefferson.
Boise State was in desperate need of a quarterback after the transfer of Green. Since Nelson has four years of eligibility remaining, the Broncos can build a program around Nelson’s skills as a pro-style quarterback. Initially, Boise was not viewed as a favorite landing spot for Nelson because of the presence of other schools with big names and deeper NIL endowments, like the University of Miami. However, as sources told ESPN, Nelson and coach Danielson understand each other, and Nelson has a previous relationship with Boise State Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan. Hamdan recruited Nelson while he was at the University of Washington in 2015-2016 and kept in touch with Nelson over the years.
According to The Athletic, in December 2022, Nelson told the outlet that he is not a player who wants to sit behind anyone he thinks he can outplay. “There’s only a few guys I would be OK sitting behind, and the best quarterback in the country (Williams) is definitely one of them.” Nelson will still face competition for the starting job at Boise State from incumbent quarterbacks Maddux Madsen and CJ Tiller. Still, the expectation, given Nelson’s recruiting evaluation, is that he should win the job and produce.
Player movement in the transfer portal/NIL era has become more pronounced than ever before, something that will not change. Even though Nelson could have gone to a university with a more extensive NIL bank, so to speak, he was pulled to Boise by the allure of something money can’t buy: good old-fashioned playing time. In the past, college coaches like Alabama’s Nick Saban, for example, could essentially stack teams with talent and keep players for years rotating in a deep well of talent at various positions. Still, the transfer portal has changed the way college coaches build their programs by giving players a system akin to the NFL’s free agency system, except without the lucrative contracts that often come with it.
Boise State already had a potent rushing attack in 2023, but now that they have an elite signal caller to pair with that piece, their more traditional recruiting path will get a little bit easier. This is particularly the case if Nelson’s play attracts the eyes of talented wide receivers who otherwise wouldn’t have been interested in coming to Boise State to begin in 2024. If Nelson wins the job in the spring, he will give Boise State the kind of elite quarterback they have not had in their program’s history.
