Sports & Entertainment Beat

Welcome back to the Spotlight! The stage for Super Bowl LIX is set, with the Philadelphia Eagles due to square off against the 2-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.  More history repeating itself (a la Groundhog Day) as this will be a high stakes rematch of Super Bowl from two years ago between two cities known for steaks.  As a fan of the New York Giants (a division rival from whom the Eagles’ star running back Saquon Barkley left after last season) and parity (but also parody), as far as the game is concerned, I will again be much more invested in Puppy Bowl licks. By contrast, Taylor Swift cares more about the outcome of the Super Bowl (and not just because she’s a cat person).  One thing’s for sure, no one will be quite as invested as advertisers shelling out $8 million per thirty seconds of Super Bowl commercial airtime, bidding to go down in pop culture history while the Chiefs pursue history of their own as the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. That said, we have a little over week to prepare for the game, but don’t despair-trust your training in patiently waiting a week for the next Spotlight.

• • Originally slated to take place this year, the International Olympics Committee is having difficulties starting-up its inaugural Esports Olympic Games. And before you ask…yes it tried unplugging the router, waiting 5 seconds and plugging it back in.
     
  • WNBA All-Star Angel Reese makes more women’s sports history, becoming the first female professional athlete to have a signature menu item at McDonald’s—a meal comprised of a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese, fries, and a soft drink.  Between this deal and her endorsement deal with Hershey’s brand Reese’s, her endorsement portfolio is an agent’s dream and cardiologist’s nightmare.
     
  • The highly coveted University of Texas Longhorns Quarterback Arch Manning signs an NIL endorsement deal with Red Bull, and I would love nothing more than to see him use his wings to follow his uncle Eli’s lead and fly to the Giants.

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