Sports & Entertainment Beat

Welcome back to the Spotlight! With Summer in full swing, it’s hard to resist the lure of campfire s’mores (and central air conditioning). So it’s only appropriate that I discuss the marshmallow, the indispensable core and glue to the s’more, great on its own but elevating the components around it, here in the context of the Marshmallow Test. To those who are unfamiliar with the Marshmallow Test, the concept is that you offer someone (in my case, one of my sugar-craving children) the opportunity to receive one marshmallow now, or wait five minutes to receive two marshmallows. The idea behind the exercise is to demonstrate the value of delayed gratification (something many among us could stand to benefit from these days…). 

 
Last Friday, NBA all-star point guard Jalen Brunson, every bit the indispensable core and glue to the New York Knicks, great on his own but elevating the components around him, passed the Marshmallow Test of all Marshmallow Tests with flying colors. Although Brunson had an opportunity to extend his player contract with the Knicks for approximately $269 million in 2025, he chose to leave nearly $113 million on the table in the name of giving the organization flexibility to keep its team together while luring additional pieces in pursuit of an NBA championship. The move not only further ingratiates Brunson with Knicks fans, teammates and the city of New York (you might as well give him a key to the city) but it sets his team up for success and long term marketing potential. That, and he’ll be eligible for a $323 million deal in 2028 or $418 million in 2029. A marshmallow sweet reward for his delayed gratification. His parents must be proud. Fingers crossed that this post ages well.

• • Unscripted reality television production is facing headwinds in Los Angeles, with the primary motivating factor likely being that people have dwindling interest in reality.
     
  • Disney CEO Bob Iger and wife Willow Bay join an already star-studded ownership group in NWSL club Angel City FC, paying upwards of $87.5 million for a controlling interest in the team at a $250 million valuation– making the team the most valuable women’s professional sports team in the world.  To put things in perspective, that is roughly the price of a one week long Walt Disney World vacation for a family of four.
     
  • Having already introduced American soccer to his incomparable brand of play, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is introducing a new brand of sports hydration beverages called “más+ by Messi.” Will it stand out among the crowded field of sports drinks by imparting the consumer with Messi’s skills? Unlikely, but given the U.S. Men’s National Team’s unceremonious exit from the U.S.-hosted Copa America 2024 tournament, they can use all the help they can get.