theultimatefan

[theultimatefan]

World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters Re-Enter The Record Books By Smashing 18 Guinness World Records

The world-famous, Harlem Globetrotters, in the midst of their 2025 World Tour today officially announced they have set 18 Guinness World Records for basketball skills. The 18 records will be chronicled in an upcoming premiere episode of “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward,” their weekly morning show on NBC and Telemundo premiering Saturday, February 22nd; a compilation video can be seen here.

“Throughout the 99 years of Globetrotter history, our athletes have combined great athleticism with showpersonship, and these world records further cement the fact that our tradition and excitement aren’t just continuing, it’s growing as we head towards our centennial in 2026,” said Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios. “We congratulate all the recordholders and look forward to smashing even more in the years ahead.”

In all, 11 athletes combined to set the 18 records, the second-most the Globetrotters have broken in one year. The new record setters, three women and eight men, include: Cherelle “Torch” George (Reading, Pa.), Corey ‘Thunder” Law (Chesapeake, Va.), Latif “Jet” Rivers (Elizabeth, N.J.), Rock “Wham” Middleton (Atlanta), Arysia “Ace” Porter (San Antonio, Texas), Fatima “TNT” Lister (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jahmani “Hot Shot” Swanson (New York), Darnell “Speedy” Artis (Philadelphia), Lou “Too Tall” Winston (Russellville, Ala.), and Alex “Moose” Weekes (Lilburn. Ga.).

The new official records are: (**new records set)

Most Dribble Turns between the Leg with One Hand in One Minute (Female) – Torch

Most Behind the Back Crossovers in One-Minute – Jet **

Most Behind the Backboard Shots in One-Minute (Female) – Torch

Most Spins from a Lateral Position while Dribbling in One-Minute – Ace

Most Transfers of a Basketball in One Continuous Spin between a Group – Torch, Ace, TNT

Most Three Pointers in One-Minute (Team of Two) – Hot Shot, Ace

Most Three Pointers in One-Minute (Male Team of Two) – Wham, Too Tall **

Farthest Backward Basketball Shot off the Back of the Hand – Moose**

Farthest Backward Basketball Shot – Thunder

Most Alternate One-Handed Basketball Bounces in One Minute (Two Balls) – Too Tall**

Longest Slide Dribbling a Basketball (Female) – TNT

Most Basketball Layups in Three Minutes – Too Tall**

Farthest Blindfolded Hookshot – Thunder **

Most Basketball Passes in One-Minute (Team of Two) – TNT, Wham**

Most 4 Point Shots from 30 Feet in Three Minutes (Male) – Speedy**

Most Three Pointers in One-Minute by a Trio – Jet, Wham, Too Tall**

Most transfers of a Basketball in One Continuous Spin between a Pair – Ace, Wham**

Farthest Basketball Shot made while sitting (Male) – Thunder

[theultimatefan]

‘Avatar,’ ‘Justice League,’ ‘One Piece’ Among Voice Acting Talent At FAN EXPO Cleveland

The voice acting section of the FAN EXPO celebrity area continues to grow in popularity. Today, 19 talented performers who are behind fans’ favorite characters in the worlds of animation, anime, and gaming have joined the lineup at FAN EXPO Cleveland, set for March 21-23 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, bringing to life voices from hits like “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Hazbin Hotel,” “One Piece,” “Final Fantasy,” and dozens of other franchises.

From the world of animation, fans can meet “Avatar” standouts Michaela Jill Murphy, Grey Delisle, and Dante Basco; “Hazbin Hotel” stars Blake Roman and Amir Talai; “Justice League” headliner George Newbern; and “DuckTales” leader David Tennant.

“One Piece” has become a phenomenon in the live-action and anime versions, and with Michelle Rojas and Stephanie Young on board, Cleveland fans will have plenty to celebrate on the voice side. “My Hero Academia” is well represented with Chris Wehkamp and Leah Clark, while other well-known voices like Brittney Karbowski and Mallorie Rodak (“Fairy Tale”), Kyle Hebert (“Dragon Ball”), and Nicholas Roye (“Jujutsu Kaisen”) will also be on hand.

Gaming properties such as “The Last of Us” (Troy Baker); “Final Fantasy” (Newbern, Tyler Hoechlin); “Batman: Arkham” (Delisle); “Far Cry” (Giancarlo Esposito); “Street Fighter” (Hebert); Justice League Heroes” (Michael Rosenbaum); and “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!” (Young) are also well represented.

They join a celebrity lineup already bursting with live-action talent, including: • Tennant, Jenna Coleman, and Catherine Tate (“Doctor Who”) • Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Alexander Calvert, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls, and Samantha Smith (“Supernatural”) • Adam Savage (“MythBusters”) • “Smallville” stars Rosenbaum, Tom Welling, Erica Durance, and Laura Vandervoort • Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch (“Superman & Lois”) • Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh, and Candice Patton (“The Flash”) • Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”) • Esposito (“The Mandalorian”) • Aidan Scott (“One Piece”) • Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) • David Giuntoli (“Grimm”) • Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) • James Phelps and Oliver Phelps (Harry Potter)

FAN EXPO Cleveland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Adult, Youth, and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family Passes, and Ultimate Packages for FAN EXPO Cleveland are available now at www.fanexpocleveland.com. Advance pricing is available until March 6. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Cleveland is the sixth event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[theultimatefan]

CAPX Named Official Hat of American Association and Preferred Supplier

The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) and CAPX are pleased to announce a league wide partnership beginning in 2025.

The multi-year agreement names CAPX as the official hat, exclusive headwear marketing partner, and preferred headwear supplier of the league. As part of the partnership, CAPX will serve as the official hat provider for AAPB championship teams competing in the WBSC Baseball Champions League (BCL), starting this April with the reigning AAPB Champion Kane County Cougars.

“We are extremely excited to partner with CAPX. Their team’s resume of 35+ years in design and headwear innovation are unparalleled in the industry,” said American Association Commissioner Joshua Schaub. “We look forward to growing together.”

“At CAPX, we are thrilled to join forces with the American Association as their official hat partner,” said David Gormley, Founder of CAPX. “Our team is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge designs, superior craftmanship, and innovative headwear solutions for athletes and fans alike. We look forward to seeing our caps on the field and being part of the league’s continued success.”

In addition to its official designation, CAPX will offer AAPB team-branded hats for sale at stadiums throughout the League. CAPX will also be prominently featured in promotions across the league’s AABaseball.TV broadcast assets, social media platforms, and marquee events, including the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, and Miles Wolff Cup Playoffs/Final.

The partnership was brokered by SRS Partners, the exclusive sponsorship sales agency for the Amercian Association.

[theultimatefan]

Westchester Soccer Club, MSG Networks Announce Broadcast Partnership for Inaugural Season

Westchester Soccer Club (WSC) today announced an exclusive broadcast rights partnership with MSG Networks for the club’s inaugural USL League One season. WSC will officially open their first season on March 8 in Greenville, SC against Greenville Triumph SC with their home opener at The Stadium at Memorial Park against Rhode Island SC on April 27.

"New York sports fans know that MSG Networks is the premier platform in the biggest U.S. market to find their favorite team, and we are honored to be part of their sports portfolio from day one as Westchester's first home grown professional team," said Westchester SC Principal owner Mitch Baruchowitz.

“We’re proud to be the home of the Westchester Soccer Club in their inaugural season,” said Armando Polanco, vice president, content distribution, MSG Networks. “Adding the Westchester SC to our robust lineup of live professional team coverage is a win for our passionate fan base.”

WSC’s matches will be available via multiple platforms, including MSG Network, MSG Sportsnet, and MSG+, MSG Networks’ direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming service (included in the Gotham Sports App). Broadcasters as well as the full broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

The club has been aggressively building its roster and leadership team and will be announcing several more signings in the coming weeks, as they ready for their initial season. The full schedule is at https://www.westchestersc.com.

[theultimatefan]

Tim Kurkjian Among ‘Hal Richman Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame’ Inductees on SOM Opening Day, Feb. 21

A time-honored tradition for thousands of fans throughout the years, Strat-O-Matic Opening Day is set for Friday, February 21, at company Headquarters in Glen Head, N.Y. There, Strat-O-Matic’s greatest enthusiasts line up along Railroad Avenue in the Long Island hamlet to be among the first to get their hands on new 2025 baseball games as well as the debut of numerous product offerings from the market leader in sports simulations.

For the third straight year, Opening Day will also serve as Induction Friday, with four new members joining the ranks of the “Hal Richman Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame.” This year, legendary baseball media member and longtime SOM player Tim Kurkjian, Lamanna Baseball Bulletin creator John Lamanna, “Original Strat-O-Matic Ambassador” Tom Swank and longtime SOM game tester Ken Wenger will be honored on the 21st with enshrinement.

Kurkjian, who began playing Strat-O-Matic at age 13, also introduced the game to his son Jeff. Together they share baseball stories on their popular podcast “Is This A Great Game, or What?,” on which they also discuss a customized Strat-O-Matic simulation every week during the season.

In 2024, fans from as far away as Las Vegas began lining up as early as 2 a.m., braving less than temperate conditions to pick up their orders as well as gain the honor of meeting the Strat-O-Matic founder and creator, Hal Richman, who enjoys hearing fans talk about the decades of enjoyment that the game has brought them.

This year, fans who preordered will be able to go home with their purchases, including the new 2024 baseball season cards, “Diamond Gems” series featuring 16 great teams from the 2000-2009 decade, the full super-advanced 1970 baseball season, and the “True Blue Strat” designed t-shirt. Windows products including the 2025 game, numerous Negro League seasons, Cuban All-Time Stars teams and updated Hall of Fame roster will be released on Feb. 24.

[theultimatefan]

American Association Names Carbliss First-Ever Founding Partner

The American Association of Professional Baseball and Carbliss have announced a three-year partnership beginning in 2025. Carbliss becomes the American Association’s first-ever Founding Partner and official “Ready to Drink” beverage of the League.

Carbliss, a canned ready-to-drink cocktail brand founded in Wisconsin, has seen sales grow from 52,000 cans in 2019 to 72,000,000 in 2024. Carbliss now ranks as the #1 Fastest Growing Food and Beverage Company on Inc. 5000s list of fastest growing privately owned companies.

“We are extremely thrilled that Carbliss selected the American Association of Professional Baseball as the marketing platform to introduce its brand for the first time ever on a League level. Our footprint, highlighted by our markets across the Midwest provides a grand opportunity to expand Carbliss’ brand and reach, while driving “seat-to-sip" in our intimate, professional stadiums” said American Association Commissioner, Joshua Schaub. “We look forward to working and growing together for years to come.”

As a part of the new League-wide program, Carbliss will have Behind Home Plate signage, a dominant branding position across nearly all twelve AAPB stadiums. Further, Carbliss will be featured as the Official Helmet Partner, with decal branding ownership across the league. This is the first time in League history that a sponsor has been featured on AAPB helmets.

Carbliss will also be named the Presenting partner of the AAPB All-Star Game to be played at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, N.D. on July 22, 2025. Additionally, Carbliss will sponsor a new league-wide Veterans Day initiative, honoring veteran owned companies throughout the American Association footprint.

The American Association, a MLB Partner League has achieved a 31% growth in attendance since 2021 (now over 1.65 million fans in 2024) while over 4 million fans watched AAPB broadcasts across various distribution platforms in 2024. At the same time, the League’s social media platforms totaled a reach of more than 12.1 million.

“Sports marketing has proven to be an excellent way for Carbliss to connect with our loyal fans while introducing our brand to new audiences. Our partnership with the American Association marks Carbliss’ first League-wide marketing collaboration, and we’re thrilled to work with the League and its member teams to showcase everything Carbliss has to offer to AAPB fans,” said Adam Kroener, President and Co-Founder of Carbliss.

Along with the forementioned marketing entitlements, Carbliss will focus on pouring, sampling, activation, and promotional nights across American Association teams. A direct part of this partnership will include Agave, a lead generation in-game gamification program.

SRS Partners, led by Seth Frankenthal, serves as the exclusive agency of record for the AAPB and brokered the deal on behalf of the League.

[theultimatefan]

Savage, Routh, Tate, ‘Harry Potter’ Duo Added to FAN EXPO Cleveland Celebrity Lineup

Five more headliners joined the burgeoning FAN EXPO Cleveland celebrity roster today as Adam Savage (“Mythbusters”), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Catherine Tate (“Doctor Who”) and the Harry Potter tandem of James Phelps and Oliver Phelps added their names to the pop culture celebration set for March 21-23 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Savage served as co-host of the long-running Discovery reality program “MythBusters” for 14 years, helping to debunk urban legends. His extensive work as a special effect designer on such franchises as Star Wars, The Matrix, Space Cowboys and others and outgoing personality have made him an ideal collaborator on “MythBusters” and a popular convention guest.

Routh portrayed “Superman” and “Clark” in the 2006 Superman Returns movie and is also well-known for popular roles in “Arrow,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “The Flash,” “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” and many others. Last year he starred opposite Mena Suvari in the feature sci-fi film "Ick.”

Tate played “Donna Noble” during several seasons of “Doctor Who,” also gaining fame as “Nellie Bertram” in the NBC hit “The Office.” She hosted the British variety/sketch comedy “The Catherine Tate Show” and also co-starred in the full run of “Big School,” highlighting her body of work in the U.K. and U.S.

Identical twin British actors James and Oliver Phelps, best known for playing Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the Harry Potter film series, were first cast in the roles at age 14 and have been mainstays through various iterations of the blockbuster franchise's more than two-decade run.

The star-studded FAN EXPO Cleveland field already includes such luminaries as: • David Tennant and Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who”) • Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Alexander Calvert, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls and Samantha Smith (“Supernatural”) • “Smallville” stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, and Laura Vandervoort • Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch (“Superman & Lois”) • Grant Gustin (“The Flash”) • Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”) • Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”) • Aidan Scott (“One Piece”) • Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Candice Patton (“The Flash”) • Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) • David Giuntoli (“Grimm”)

FAN EXPO Cleveland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Adult, Youth, and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family Passes, and Ultimate and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Cleveland are available now at www.fanexpocleveland.com. Advance pricing is available until March 6. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Cleveland is the sixth event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[theultimatefan]

Kansas City Edges Philadelphia On Mahomes TD Pass With 0:15 Left In Strat-O-Matic Simulation

Patrick Mahomes completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown for the game-winning score with 0:15 left as Kansas City earned its third straight title, a 30-27 verdict over Philadelphia in a simulation of this Sunday’s season-ending football contest by Strat-O-Matic (@StratOMatic), the market leader in sports simulations. The championship is the third straight for Kansas City, the first-ever “three-peat” since the league merger and the first team to win three consecutive circuit crowns since the 1966-68 Green Bay teams.

In the simulation, the Eagles took a 24-23 lead early in the fourth on a nine-yard pass from Jalen Hurts to Dallas Goedert, then extended to a 27-23 advantage on a 41-yard field goal by Jake Elliott with 8:22 left. After an exchange of punts, the Chiefs took over on their own 20 with 4:43 remaining, moving methodically down the field. Mahomes converted two third-and-threes with short passes to Samaje Perine and Noah Gray to keep the drive alive, the latter coming with 0:48 left, moving the ball to the Philadelphia 14. After getting half that distance on a look-in pass to Xavier Worthy with 0:30 left, Hurts connected with Marquise Brown in the end zone for the winning score.

Mahomes earned Game MVP by completing 29 of 44 passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His counterpart Hurts was up to the task, finishing with 16 of 27 for 216 yards, two scores and no INTs. The Chiefs did well to contain Saquon Barkley to 87 yards on 20 carries and a TD, while Goedert had the two TD catches among his three grabs for 48 yards.

Harrison Butker’s 22-yard field goal with 5:47 left in the third had given Kansas City the largest lead by either team, 23-14, before an Elliott field goal and Goedert’s second TD put Philadelphia ahead in the see-saw battle that saw five lead changes in all.

Philadelphia 7 7 3 10 > 27 Kansas City 10 10 3 7 > 30

Scoring Plays Qtr Clock Team Scoring Description(Extra Point) Score 1 13:24 Phila D.Goedert 26 yd. pass from J.Hurts (J.Elliott kick) 7-0 PHN 1 10:37 K.C. H.Butker 45 yd. field goal 7-3 PHN 1 7:12 K.C. N.Gray 10 yd. pass from P.Mahomes (H.Butker kick) 10-7 KCA 2 12:20 K.C. H.Butker 52 yd. field goal 13-7 KCA 2 6:58 Phila S.Barkley 3 yd. run (J.Elliott kick) 14-13 PHN 2 2:00 K.C. K.Hunt 2 yd. run (H.Butker kick) 20-14 KCA 3 5:47 K.C. H.Butker 22 yd. field goal 23-14 KCA 3 1:03 Phila J.Elliott 46 yd. field goal 23-17 KCA 4 13:12 Phila D.Goedert 9 yd. pass from J.Hurts (J.Elliott kick) 24-23 PHN 4 8:22 Phila J.Elliott 41 yd. field goal 27-23 PHN 4 0:15 K.C. M.Brown 7 yd. pass from P.Mahomes (H.Butker kick) 30-27 KCA

[theultimatefan]

Global Fight League Partners with Box to Box to Revolutionize MMA Storytelling

The Global Fight League (GFL) today announced an exclusive partnership with Box to Box, the Emmy-winning production company behind sports storytelling hits such as “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “Faceoff: Inside the NHL,” and “Sprint.” In this new partnership, Box to Box will collaborate with the GFL on content creation and ideation, from a flagship docuseries to dynamic digital features, live event broadcasts, and in-depth athlete profiles into and through the first season, which will begin this coming April.

“Box to Box is a global leader in transforming sports into captivating cultural phenomena, and their vision aligns perfectly with ours,” said Darren Owen, GFL Founder and Commissioner. “From the intensity of our athletes getting ready for the season to showcasing the emotional and physical challenges they will face during our launch, the Box to Box team will help us tell the GFL story in a way that resonates deeply with fans worldwide. This partnership is about creating an entirely new way for fans to experience MMA.”

“The GFL is pioneering a new chapter in MMA, and we’re thrilled to partner with them to bring their vision to life,” said Paul Martin, Founder of Box to Box. “We will help shape how the league and its athletes connect with audiences worldwide through groundbreaking content.”

Box to Box will oversee the creation of GFL’s content, chronicling the league’s historic launch and inaugural season. The company will also collaborate on production for live events, digital content, and exclusive athlete features, bringing the drama and excitement of GFL MMA directly to fans.

The partnership ensures the GFL’s content strategy is cohesive, compelling, and tailored for a global audience. Fans will gain a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the league’s journey, its innovative co-ed team-based format and 50-50 economic partnership with fighters, and the lives of its world-class athletes and coaches who are breaking barriers in the sport.

Additional details about the season launch will be announced in the coming weeks.

[theultimatefan]

Patrick Gleason, Larry F. Houston, Pasqual Ferry, Michael Golden Top FAN EXPO Cleveland Creators

Comic creators including Patrick Gleason (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Batman and Robin”), Larry F. Houston (“X-Men: The Animated Series,” “X-Men 97”), Michael Golden (“Avengers,” “The Micronauts”), Pasqual Ferry (“Doom Academy”) and dozens of others who have delighted millions with their work will be on hand in a standout Artist Alley at FAN EXPO Cleveland, March 21-23 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Among the other standout superstar artists and writers fans can meet are Claudia Gray (“Star Wars,” “House of EL”), Jesus Merino (“Waller vs. Wildstorm”), Rags Morales (“Action Comics,” “Green Lantern”), Peter Tomasi (“The Rocketfellers,” “Hornsby and Halo”), Enid Balam (“Spider-Gwen,” “NYX”) Ariel Diaz (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Mirka Andolfo”), Guy Gilchrist (“The Muppets,” “Nancy”), Aaron Reynolds (“Effin’ Birds”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “The Walking Dead”), Jonboy Meyers (“Venom,” “The Flash”), Marco Rudy (“RDW,” “Winter Soldier”), Stephanie Williams (“Nubia and the Amazons,” “Wakanda Forever”), Ron Wilson (“The Thing,” “Marvel Two-in-One") and many more.

Virtually every franchise will be well-represented by numerous creators. Q&A’s, interactive demonstration sessions, autographs, commission opportunities, and more help turn FAN EXPO Cleveland’s Artist Alley into a paradise for comics lovers of all genres.

Fans can view the entire FAN EXPO Cleveland field of creators at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpocleveland/comic-creators/.

Today’s announcement of the comics creator field enhances a celebrity lineup at FAN EXPO Cleveland that includes “Supernatural” standouts Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Alexander Calvert, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls, and Samantha Smith; Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch (“Superman & Lois”); David Tennant, Catherine Tate, and Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who”); “Smallville” stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance and Laura Vandervoort; Grant Gustin (“The Flash”), “Daredevil” standout Charlie Cox; Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”); Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Candice Patton (“The Flash”); Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”); David Giuntoli (“Grimm”); and Aidan Scott (“One Piece”).

FAN EXPO Cleveland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

http://www.fanexpocleveland.com

[theultimatefan]

USMNT player and local soccer legend Tyler Adams to Join Westchester SC Ownership Group

Westchester Soccer Club today announced 2022 U.S. Soccer Player of the year, U.S. Men’s National Captain and current AFC Bournemouth star Tyler Adams has joined the club’s ownership group. Adams, a Red Bulls Academy product and Dutchess County NY, native, will become one of the first active professional players to take an ownership stake in a professional club, and is expected to be involved with all aspects of Westchester SC business when the club begins play this March. Adams is the second active professional athlete to join the Westchester SC ownership group. Current New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor was and remains part of the originally announced core of owners.

“This is a special day not just for our club, but for all of soccer and sport in the region,” said Westchester SC Principal owner Mitch Baruchowitz. “To have not only an elite athlete who was starred on the biggest stage, but someone whose family is deeply connected to developmental soccer in the region proactively join us at this stage of his career in a leadership position speaks volumes as to what we are building. We welcome Tyler and his family and look forward to having them with us as we head toward our inaugural season and beyond. ”

“Westchester Soccer Club represents everything I value about the game—community, development, and opportunity,” said Adams. “Growing up in Dutchess County, I’ve seen firsthand how soccer can bring people together and inspire young players to dream big. Joining this ownership group is not only an honor but also an incredible chance to give back to the region that played such a huge role in my journey.”

Adams began his career playing for the NY Red Bulls II in 2015 and excelled for the senior team before making his way to play in Germany with RB Leipzig. He moved to Leeds United of the Barclays Premier League and currently stars for AFC Bournemouth in the same league. Adams has also been a centerpiece for the US Men’s National team since 2017, earning 42 caps and anchoring the team’s advance to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup, where he was the youngest captain for the USMNT since 1950.

Adams’s connection to the USL and the local Westchester soccer community goes far beyond his playing roots. Tyler’s mother, Melissa Russo, would drive Tyler three hours round trip from Wappingers Falls during his Red Bulls Academy days and Adams and his stepfather, Darryl Sullivan, owns the local USL 2 team Hudson Valley Hammers, and Tyler’s stepbrothers, Dylan, Darryl Jr., and Donovan all shined for local soccer teams.

Initial discussions between Westchester SC and Darryl and Tyler focused on the importance of family, the unique bond that the Westchester region has to soccer and how much it unites the diverse and unique neighborhoods throughout Westchester. As talks progressed between the parties, Baruchowitz and Sporting Director Simon Baines grew excited at the prospect of bringing one of the region’s true soccer success stories and a family of local soccer prominence into the effort.

Westchester is set to open its League One Season on the road in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 8th and will host its inaugural home game April 27th, at Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon against 2024 USL Championship finalists Rhode Island FC.

The club has been aggressively building its roster and leadership team, and will be announcing several more signings in the coming weeks, as they ready for their initial season. The full schedule is at https://www.westchestersc.com/.

[theultimatefan]

Tyron Woodley First of 120 Elite MMA Athletes Selected in Inaugural Global Fight League Draft

Former world champion welterweight Tyron Woodley made history tonight as the first selection in the six team, 20 round inaugural Global Fight League (GFL) Draft, which took place virtually from Van Wagner Studios in Phoenix. Woodley was selected by Dubai manager Cain Velasquez and coach Javier Mendez, and was followed in the first round by lightweight Sage Northcutt (Los Angeles), middleweight Gegard Mousasi (London), heavyweight Junior Dos Santos (Miami), heavyweight Fabricio Werdum (São Paulo) and lightweight Kevin Lee (New York). London selected strawweight Josefine Knutsson in the third round, the first woman selected in the co-ed league and one of five women chosen in the first four rounds of the draft.

The new team-based MMA organization launching in April 2025 had its six teams: Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and São Paulo, complete their initial rosters during the three hour livestreamed event.

The complete draft list per round and by weight class can be seen at the following link:

Additional details for the league will be available in the weeks to come.

[theultimatefan]

Global Fight League Unveils Details For Friday’s Virtual Draft

The Global Fight League (GFL), the new team-based MMA organization launching in April 2025, today announced additional details for the first-ever GFL Virtual Draft, which will take place this Friday, January 24th, at 8 PM EST. Fans worldwide catch tune in to watch the selection LIVE on MMA GFL’s official platforms: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, plus the show will also air on the social channels of DAZN and PPV.com, the Triller TV app, and Rumble. The list of selection eligible athletes can be at www.mmagfl.com/athletes

Broadcast live from Van Wagner Studios in Phoenix, the GFL Draft will feature Founder and Commissioner Darren Owen with insights from renowned MMA analysts and personalities: Robin Black, Caroline Pearce, Alex Wendling, Mike Goldberg, and Brendan Schaub, all revealing selections for six inaugural teams—Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and São Paulo. There will also beinsights from team managers and coaches:

Dubai: Manager Cain Velasquez with Coach Javier Mendez

London: Manager Luke Barnatt with Coach Carl Prince

Los Angeles: Manager Wanderlei Silva with Coach Rafael Cordeiro

Miami: Manager Thiago Alves with Coach Conan Silveira

New York: Coach Ray Longo; Manager TBD

São Paulo: Manager Lyoto Machida with Coach Andre Pederneiras

The GFL enters Friday’s selection with over 420 athletes from 67 countries competing for 120 coveted roster spots, featuring a mix of MMA legends and rising stars such as Tyron Woodley, Paige VanZant, Anthony Pettis,Yoel Romero, Mauricio Rua, Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, Junior Dos Santos, Aspen Ladd and Marlon Moraes, who also serves as Head of the GFL Athlete Association. Athletes not selected in the draft will remain eligible for GFL competition in 2025, but will not be exclusively bound to competing in the inaugural season.

Additional details for the league will be available in the weeks following this Friday’s Draft Event.

[theultimatefan]

Doctor Who, Supernatural, Superman & Lois, Flash Stars Among FAN EXPO Cleveland Additions

The already stellar FAN EXPO Cleveland celebrity lineup got another major upgrade today with the addition of several standouts from beloved franchises “Doctor Who,” “Supernatural,” “Superman & Lois,” “The Flash,” “High School Musical” and “Grimm” to the annual extravaganza, March 21-23, at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Freshly added to the roster from those favorites include: • David Tennant (“Doctor Who”) • Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Alexander Calvert, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls and Samantha Smith (“Supernatural”) • Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch (“Superman & Lois”) • Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Candice Patton (“The Flash”) • Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) • David Giuntoli (“Grimm”)

Tennant’s run as the “Tenth Doctor” lasted five seasons on “Doctor Who,” a highlight in a career with nearly 200 film and TV credits over five decades, including the current Disney+ original series “Rivals.” He has been entertaining audiences with his unique brand of wit, warmth, and humanity with memorable roles in "Jessica Jones," "Broadchurch" and many others and has brought animated characters to vivid life with voice acting turns on dozens of series such as "DuckTales," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Tree Fu Tom."

In addition to his role as “Crowley” on “Supernatural,” Sheppard is well known to FAN EXPO attendees for appearances on iconic series such as “Battlestar Galactica,” “24,” “Firefly,” “Warehouse 13,” “Leverage” and 60 others.

Pellegrino played “Lucifer” during seven seasons of “Supernatural,” and has 135 credits, including recent runs on “13 Reasons Why,” “Quantico,” “The Returned” and the Showtime series “Dexter” and “American Rust.” His career spans nearly 40 years, with guest spots on hugely popular shows like “L.A. Law,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “The X-Files" dotting his ledger.

Calvert had a four-season run on “Supernatural” as “Jack Kline” in his first big role after recurring spots on “Arrow.” He has since been seen as a regular on “Gen V” and co-starred in this year's Tubi original horror film “Lowlifes.”

Connell appeared in six straight seasons of “Supernatural” as “Rowena MacLeod.” She was a regular as the night nurse in this year’s Netflix supernatural fantasy series “Dead Boy Detectives” among 30 credits.

Qualls was seen in five different seasons of “Supernatural” as the hunter-turned-werewolf “Garth Fitzgerald IV.” He has appeared in more than 60 productions, including “Z Nation,” “Fargo,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Breaking Bad,” “Numb3rs,” “Monk,” and many others.

Smith portrayed “Mary Winchester” in 37 episodes across 9 seasons of “Supernatural” and has been a guest star on dozens of hits like “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Wings,” “NYPD Blue” and “Rizzoli & Isles.” She has had a recurring role this year in “FBI: Most Wanted” on CBS.

Hoechlin stars as “Clark Kent/Superman” in the CW series “Superman & Lois,” now in its fourth season. He also earned attention for his role as "Derek Hale" on the hit MTV series "Teen Wolf,” and his breakout performance came at 15, starring alongside Tom Hanks in the critically acclaimed Road to Perdition (2002).

Tulloch was already familiar to genre fans for appearances as “Lois Lane” in DC hits “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Batwoman,” “Supergirl” and others, and for her work in The Artist, Concussion, and “Grimm” before vaulting to prominence in the intrepid reporter role alongside Hoechlin in the current series.

Cavanagh has co-starred as “Dr. Harry Wells” and various other iterations of Wells’s world in "The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Arrow,” and more in the Arrowverse. He has more than 80 TV and film credits, including the lead on the NBC series “Ed” and had regular runs on series like “Jake and the Kid,” “Trust Me” and “Royal Pains” and appeared in hits like “Scrubs,” “Blue Bloods” and “The Goldbergs” as well as the Broadway production of “Urinetown.”

Panabaker, in addition to her role as “Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost” in “The Flash,” “Arrow” and other Arrowverse shows, co-starred opposite James Woods in the CBS series “Shark” in her breakout role. She has also made guest appearances on hit shows like “Mad Men,” “Grimm,” “Bones,” and others, among nearly 60 roles, including her introduction to many fans as “Layla” in the teen comedy “Sky High.”

Patton, who portrays "Iris West" in the DC universe, has also had a recurring role in "The Game" and has had guest spots on more than a dozen shows since first turning heads on "The Young and the Restless" two decades ago.

They supplement the FAN EXPO Cleveland field that already includes fellow “Supernatural” standout Jared Padalecki; “Smallville” stars Tom Welling Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, and Laura Vandervoort; Grant Gustin (“The Flash”), “Daredevil” standout Charlie Cox; Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”), Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who”) and Aidan Scott (“One Piece”).

FAN EXPO Cleveland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Adult, Youth, and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family Passes, and Ultimate and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Cleveland are available now at www.fanexpocleveland.com. Advance pricing is available until March 6. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Cleveland is the sixth event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[theultimatefan]

Westchester Soccer Club Adds Three More Players For Their Inaugural Season in USL League One

Westchester Soccer Club today added three more players to their roster for their inaugural season in USL League One. The three, midfielders Bryan Vazquez and Andrew Jean-Baptiste and defender Joel Johnson, join a growing mix of veterans and young, athletic talent as WSC readies to officially open their first season on March 8 in Greenville, SC against Greenville Triumph SC with their home opener at The Stadium at Memorial Park against Rhode Island SC on April 27. All three contracts are subject to approval by the league.

‘One of the key elements of our club will be making sure we have both depth and experience, and our latest three signees continue to add to both areas for us,’ said Simon Baines, Sporting Director of WSC. “All three will fit well into the structure we are creating.”

The three newest players include:

Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Brooklyn, NY) joins Westchester SC with over a decade of professional and international experience, most recently as center-back for Valour FC. Baptiste starred at the University of Connecticut, earning 2011 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year before being selected 8th overall by the Portland Timbers in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He played in MLS for Portland, Chivas USA, and the New York Red Bulls from 2012-2015, before heading abroad to join Swedish side Ettan Nyköpings BIS in 2016. In February 2019, Jean-Baptiste continued his European career until 2020, when he joined Canadian Premier League side Valour FC, where has played the past three seasons. Andrew has played internationally for both the Haitian National and US National teams in his career as well.

Joel Johnson Alajarín (Torrent, Valencia) is a right-back who spent the last eight seasons in USL League One, most recently for Charlotte Independence last season. Prior to his USL time, Johnson played on virtually every level of professional soccer in Spain, coming up through the club system of Valencia FC before joining Real Madrid C and then with Real Jaénand CD Buñol. He has also played internationally as a member of the Liberian National team since 2016.

Bryan Vazquez officially joins the professional ranks with the club having previously made one appearance as an amateur signing for FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS NEXT Pro during the 2024 season. The 18-year-old midfielder has previously made two appearances for the El Salvador U-20 Men’s National Team at the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship.

These are the newest additions to a roster that already include a strong group of Americans with USL experience, including: wing back Kemar Lawrence, fullback Samory Powder, midfielder Conor McGlynn and defender Stephen Payne and a trio of Dutch natives in midfielders Daniel Bouman, Dean Diego Guezen and striker Koen Blommestijn

The club will be announcing several more signings in the coming weeks, as they ready for their initial season this coming April. The full schedule is at https://www.westchestersc.com/

[theultimatefan]

Superman, Supernatural, The Flash, Local Sessions Highlight Fan Expo Portland Panel Programming

Exclusive programming is a highlight for many FAN EXPO Portland attendees, with a wide variety of panels from start to finish. From “The Flash” Grant Gustin and panels with some of the stars of various iterations of the “Superman” franchise, to Jared Padalecki and six other “Supernatural” standouts and “Twilight” celebrity Q&As, to industry, cosplay, gaming, anime and entertaining, informative sessions from all areas of pop culture, the event has unveiled its lineup of more than 100 programming panel, screenings and meetups, Friday through Sunday, January 24-26 at the Oregon Convention Center.

FAN EXPO Portland programming operates multiple rooms throughout all three days during show hours and into the evenings. In addition to a landmark “Superman” session with Tom Welling, Dean Cain, Tyler Hoechlin and George Newbern and one with seven stars of “Supernatural” along with Q&As with headliners like Christopher Lloyd, Temuera Morrison, Dante Basco, Kate Micucci, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Catherine Tate and many others, there are dozens of informative, entertaining panels by superstar creators as well as cosplay, gaming, trivia, film, horror, podcasts, screenings and other pop culture themed sessions, many conducted by Portland-based organizations.

And programming extends beyond the panel rooms, with a Book Nook (Room X124, highlighting preschool and Head Start students, with a book drive for the Children’s Book Bank), as well as the Community Zone highlighting the best in local organizations, charities and interactive content.

Fans can review the entire event schedule at fanexpohq.com/fanexpoportland/schedule/. All panels are free with event admission. Just a few of the highlights include: Friday: • 4 p.m., So You Wanna Cosplay an AU: Everything you Need to Get Started, Panel Room B/B110 • 4:30 p.m., Into a Grimm World with Bitsie Tulloch and David Giuntoli, Theater #2/B113 • 5 p.m, The “One Piece” is Real! Q&A with Colleen Clinkenbeard, Luci Christian, Sonny Strait, Ian Sinclair and Michelle Rojas, Main Theater • 6 p.m., An Evening with Christopher Lloyd, Main Theater • 6 p.m., Drawing “The Simpsons” with Bill Morrison and Mike DeCarlo, Panel Room B/B110 • 6:30 p.m., Bovvered! A Conversation with Catherine Tate, Theater #2/B113 • 7 p.m. Hazbin Hotel with Blake Roman, Erika Henningsen, and Amir Talai, Main Theater • 7:30 p.m., Murder Mystery – Midnight at the Masquerade, Panel Room A/B119

Saturday: • 10:30 a.m., Cartoon Academy with Joe Wos: As Easy as ABC, Kids Zone/A109 • 11:30 a.m., Idolfest/Japanese Idol Culture, Theater #2/B113 • Noon, From Executive Producers Dwayne Johnson, Brian Volk-Weiss, And Dany Garcia – “Roboforce: The Animated Series” Sneak Peek, Theater #3/B111 • Noon, “The Flash”: A Heroic Journey with the Cast, Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, and Tom Cavanagh, Main Theater • 12:30 p.m., Spotlight with Corbin Bleu, Theater #2/B113 • 1 p.m., Spotlight on the Superior creator Dan Slott, Panel Room B/B110 • 1 p.m., “Twilight” Unveiled with Peter Facinelli and Rachelle Lefevre, Main Theater • 2 p.m., Hook, Zuko and More: A Conversation with Dante Basco, Main Theater • 2 p.m., Breaking into Comics with Ben, Kevin and Mostafa, Panel Room B/B110 • 3 p.m., Create Your Own Bookmark, Book Nook/C124 • 3 p.m., KPOP and JPOP Random Dance Play, Anime AQ/A105 • 3:30 p.m., Spotlight with Kate Micucci, Theater #2/B113 • 4 p.m., One Piece of Yamato! with Michelle Rojas, Theater #3/B111 • 4:30 p.m., Bringing Smiles to Kids in the NW, Panel Room A/B119 • 5 p.m., Plus Ultra! The My Hero Academia Voice Actors Panel with Colleen Clinkenbeard, Luci Christian and Monica Rial, Main Theater • 5:30 p.m., Feeling Super: Representation of Mental Health in Pop Culture, Panel Room A/B119 • 6 p.m., The Many Faces of Superman: A Tribute to The Man of Steel, with Tom Welling, Tyler Hoechlin, George Newbern, and Dean Cain, Main Theater

Sunday: • 11 a.m., Camera, Culture, and Combat: The Legacy of Filipino Martial Arts in Comics, Film, and TV, Panel Room B/B110 • 11:30 a.m., Voices Behind the Games: Meet Troy Baker, Theater #2/B113 • 11:30 a.m., How to Cosplay and YouTube with a Disability, with Colleen Cosplay, Panel Room A/B119 • Noon, The Many Faces of Temuera Morrison, Main Theater • 12:30 p.m., FAN EXPO Portland Kids’ Cosplay Red Carpet, at Cosplay Red Carpet • 12:30 p.m., Get Ready for a Fun Time with Kellen Goff, Theater #2/B113 • 1 p.m. Out for a Bite: Meet James Marsters, Main Theater • 1:30 p.m., McLovin and Beyond with Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Theater #2/B113 • 2 p.m., Guy Gilchrist, Jim Henson’s Cartoonist, Theater #3/B111 • 2 p.m., The Winchesters & Beyond “Supernatural” super panel with Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, DJ Qualls, Alexander Calvert, Samantha Smith, Jim Beaver and Mark Pellegrino, Main Theater • 2:30 p.m., The Weight of Loss; Exploring Death in Anime, Panel Rom A/B119 • 3 p.m., Epic Tales with John Rhys-Davies, 3 p.m., Main Theater • 4 p.m., From Hell to Hotel: A Wild Ride with Hazbin & Helluva, with Richard Horvitz, Bryce Pinkham, Vivian Nixon Williams, Blake Roman, Erika Henningsen and Amir Talai, Main Theater

FAN EXPO Portland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom. Portland is the second event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule of events is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[theultimatefan]

Global Fight League Unveils Six Inaugural Cities, Marquee Team Managers and Coaches, MMA Legends

The Global Fight League (GFL) is proud to announce the six cities that will serve as the foundation for its inaugural season, along with a roster of world-class team managers, coaches, and the next wave of notable draft eligible-athletes. The first-ever GFL Draft will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, and streamed live on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 8 pm EST. Details on where and how to watch will be announced in the coming days.

Six Inaugural Cities and Legendary Leadership

The inaugural GFL cities and their leadership teams represent a convergence of MMA’s past, present, and future:

Los Angeles: Known as a hub and home for world-class gyms and athletes, this city will be led by Manager Wanderlei Silva and Coach Rafael Cordeiro, a legendary duo synonymous with Brazilian MMA excellence.

New York: Home to the most sports fans in the world, New York embodies history and grit. Led by legendary Coach Ray Longo, renowned for training champions, the team’s manager will be announced soon.

Miami: Where cultural vibrancy meets fight tradition, Miami thrives under Manager Thiago Alves and Coach Conan Silveira, icons of Brazilian and American MMA with roots in the legendary American Top Team.

São Paulo: São Paulo embodies the rich heritage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Vale Tudo—the very foundations of modern MMA—guided by former champion Manager Lyoto Machida and legendary Coach André Pederneiras, who has shaped many of the sport’s most iconic athletes.

London: Europe’s combat sports capital, London combines tradition and innovation under the leadership of Manager Luke Barnatt and Coach Carl Prince, who bring local and international expertise.

Dubai: The rising fight capital of the world, Dubai brings global prestige to the league with Manager Cain Velasquez and Coach Javier Mendez, two legends with a proven track record of creating champions.

Deep, Talented, and Championship Caliber Athlete Draft Pool

The GFL Draft pool is stacked with talent, highlighting a blend of MMA legends and emerging stars. New confirmed names include:

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Yoel Romero

Chad Mendes

Renan Barao

Douglas Lima

Ovince Saint Preux

Todd Duffee

Additional athletes will be revealed in the days leading up to the Draft, promising a competitive lineup that spans continents and showcases the league’s global reach. Live Draft Event: January 24, 2025

The first-ever GFL Draft will take place live on January 24, 2025, setting the stage for an innovative team-based competition model in MMA. Managers and coaches will select athletes to represent their cities, creating rosters that blend veteran expertise with emerging talent.

“This league is built on respect for the sport’s history and a vision for its future,” said Darren Owen, GFL Commissioner. “Our cities, managers, and coaches reflect the very best of MMA, and our draft will kick off an unforgettable first season.”