Rollingout.com
How the NBA 2K League has become a lucrative business
ROLLINGOUT — In 2018, the NBA teamed up with Take-Take Interactive Software Inc. to launch the NBA 2K League, an esports (or electronic sports) league where gamers battle on XboxOne. Each of the league’s 21 teams drafts six players to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play in regular-season games, in-season tournaments, and playoffs.
By A.R. Shaw
In 2018, the NBA teamed up with Take-Take Interactive Software Inc. to launch the NBA 2K League, an esports (or electronic sports) league where gamers battle on XboxOne. Each of the league’s 21 teams drafts six players to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play in regular-season games, in-season tournaments, and playoffs.
With the Hawks Talon Gaming Club, the Atlanta Hawks become the first Atlanta professional sports club to have its own esports team.
Rolling Out recently sat down with Wes Acuff, head coach of the Hawks Talon GC.
How did you get involved in this league?
I started out as a player, and I qualified as one of the top 200 players in the world. That’s where my journey started. There are 21 teams in this league. The goal is to have all 30 teams in the NBA with an esports league. We meet up in New York to play games and compete for a championship.
How do gamers get better?
There is no trick in getting better at NBA 2K. Like anything you want to get good at, you have to put the hours in. You have to work on moves that will make you better.
What are your tools to motivate the team?
Coaching a team is like coaching a regular sport. You deal with personality management and managing all of the players on the team. I draw up plays in different situations. We practice eight hours a day. It’s a career for these guys. I have to decide which players will be on the roster.
What can players earn each year by playing in this league?
Every tournament there is big prize money, so I constantly remind these players what they are playing for, which is $90,000 that six players get to split. There are three tournaments throughout the year where players compete for a large amount of money. They are playing for about $15,000 of bonus money apiece. I remind these guys that this is a dream job. Everyone can’t get up and play a video game for work every day. I focus on drafting winners. The highest salary is like $40,000 for six months, plus the bonus money. Last year, a player won two tournaments and nearly took home a six-figure salary. He made about $98,000 in six months.
#NNPA BlackPress
VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’
ROLLING OUT — In an exclusive interview with rolling out president Rashad Richey, US Vice President Kamala Harris shares her take on HBCU funding, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Russia/Ukraine situation and more.
The post VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
In an exclusive interview with rolling out president Rashad Richey, US Vice President Kamala Harris shares her take on HBCU funding, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Russia/Ukraine situation and more.
The post VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’ appeared first on Rolling Out.
#NNPA BlackPress
Ex-NFL star Chris Johnson accused of masterminding murder-for-hire scheme
ROLLINGOUT.COM — Prosecutors relied on testimony from the informant, who alleged that Johnson forked over a handsome stack of bills to have rising gang member Dominic Bolden kill the suspected shooters. The informant said Bolden successfully carried out the murderous mission, killing one of the suspected drive-by shooters on Jan. 19, 2016, and the other on June 24 of the same year.
By Terry Shropshire, RollingOut.com
Former NFL star running back Chris Johnson is accused of planning and financing a successful “murder-for-hire” scheme that left two dead and being heavily involved in a major drug trafficking operation in central Florida, prosecutors allege.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, an informant claimed that Johnson sought and obtained retribution after alleged gang members shot him and killed his friend in a drive-by shooting in Orlando, Florida, on March 8, 2015.
Prosecutors relied on testimony from the informant, who alleged that Johnson forked over a handsome stack of bills to have rising gang member Dominic Bolden kill the suspected shooters. The informant said Bolden successfully carried out the murderous mission, killing one of the suspected drive-by shooters on Jan. 19, 2016, and the other on June 24 of the same year.
Bolden’s reward was multipronged, the informant said in an affidavit, according to the documents obtained by TMZ. Not only did Bolden get the bag for killing Johnson’s gang enemies, but he also rose up the ranks of the local gang in Florida, eventually becoming the “de facto leader” of the drug trafficking organization (DTO). Thirdly, Johnson allegedly provided seed money and a major contact in order for Bolden to traffic as much narcotics as possible, according to the documents.
Neither the state’s attorney’s office nor the Florida attorney general returned media inquiries to confirm this information.
Johnson, 34, who last played in the NFL in 2017, has not been charged with any crime and vehemently denied involvement in any murder or drug operation through his representative.
The former star running back rose to national fame when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards for the Tennessee Titans, a rare feat in the NFL. He played six of his 10 seasons with the Titans before being traded to the New York Jets.
The post Ex-NFL star Chris Johnson accused of masterminding murder-for-hire scheme appeared first on Rolling Out.
#NNPA BlackPress
NBA player tests positive for COVID-19, rest of season suspended indefinitely
ROLLINGOUT — Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert has contracted COVID-19 ESPN reports. But the sports news station stated that Gobert was not in the arena at the time he discovered that he has the virus.
The National Basketball Association has just decided to suspend the rest of the season due to the coronavirus, ESPN reported at about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
The NBA commissioner and the owners have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus after one of its star players tested positive for the potentially deadly virus.
Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert has contracted COVID-19, ESPN reports. But the sports news station stated that Gobert was not in the arena at the time he discovered that he has the virus.
NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight’s Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020
When the NBA learned of Gobert’s condition, the NBA leaders met up and decided to immediately halt the current Jazz game and then decided to quit playing.
The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets, however, are allowed to continue to play out their game in Texas as owner Mark Cuban and some in the arena have just come to grips with this shocking news.
Cuban relayed that he is in shock at how fast this pandemic is developing and the catastrophic economic and health ramifications that appear to be headed the country’s way. He also said many of the players know of what is happening as Cuban overheard players talking on the bench about Gobert and the NBA season suspension.
The post NBA player tests positive for COVID-19, rest of season suspended indefinitely appeared first on Rolling Out.
-
Alameda County4 weeks ago
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Announces $7.5 Million Settlement Agreement with Walmart
-
Activism3 weeks ago
‘Jim Crow Was and Remains Real in Alameda County (and) It Is What We Are Challenging and Trying to Fix Every Day,’ Says D.A. Pamela Price
-
Bay Area4 weeks ago
In the City Attorney Race, Ryan Richardson Is Better for Oakland
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024
-
Alameda County3 weeks ago
D.A. Price Charges Coliseum Flea Market Vendors in Organized Retail Theft Case
-
Activism3 weeks ago
‘Criminal Justice Reform Is the Signature Civil Rights Issue of Our Time,’ says D.A. Pamela Price
-
Activism2 weeks ago
LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST
-
Activism4 weeks ago
“Two things can be true at once.” An Afro-Latina Voter Weighs in on Identity and Politics