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By the end of 2019, Tidal League launched its first show: Court-Side Moms, hosted by Wendy Sparks, mother of former NBA center Khem Birch, who interviews moms of other NBA players, including Luka Dončić, Damian Lillard, and Chris Paul. Still, it wasn’t until 2022 that Tidal League got its first real break, when Theo Pinson joined with his Run Your Race podcast. The company’s most popular podcast is Out The Mud, a show hosted by Grizzlies greats Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, which Kent Benson says reached more than 50 million views in its first six months. “We went from a business that was doing no revenue to—in 2022—we did over $1 million in revenue,” Benson tells Front Office Sports. “So we went from $0 to $1 million in a year.”
Last week, the company announced new investments from Charlie Villanueva, Eric Ebron, Justin Jackson, and another NBA veteran, Devonte’ Graham. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Benson tells FOS that the minimum investment is $100,000. “As an entrepreneur, it was a no-brainer to invest in a media company,” Villanueva says. “It gives you the opportunity to have ownership in something that comes easy. It’s easy to talk about basketball because we’ve done it.” The company isn’t done raising money. It’s now in the process of seeking out its first institutional investor, with the aim of amassing $5 million.
Charlie Villanueva: "I got a whole different perspective about Toronto. I love Toronto — for real. It's a great city. I got a son out of it — shoutout to CJ. I got a Canadian son! Shoutout to Toronto. My time there was nothing but amazing. But I will say — it's an inconvenience."
Charlie Villanueva suffers car accident
Former NBA star Charlie Villanueva is counting his blessings today ... revealing he's ultra thankful to be alive after he was involved in a bad car crash earlier this week. The former Milwaukee Bucks forward said on his Instagram page Wednesday night that he and his wife, Lala, were riding in a Mercedes G Wagon when someone hit them from behind.
Thankfully, the 39-year-old ex-hooper revealed no one was seriously injured in the wreck -- though in pictures he shared from the crash scene, you can see his car was almost completely destroyed. "If you wondering what happened, my wife and I got hit bad by another car, and the crazy part is that whomever hit me, decided to run," Villanueva said. "Sore neck, sore back, messed up car, we are thankful to see another day. Our lives can’t be replaced, but the vehicle can."
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When he was 15, Jordan Walsh did everything he could to be respected as a basketball player. A hard-working defender with length and energy, he was the ideal leader for a team wanting to play the right way. After being drafted by the Celtics with the 38th pick in June and shining in summer league, he makes it look easy now. But playing high school basketball in Dallas, he struggled to deal with the fact that even when he played well, some fans would often mock him for having Alopecia — a common autoimmune disease that causes hair loss in the scalp, face and other areas of the body. Then he saw a video of Charlie Villanueva, who had retired a few years earlier, talking about how he dealt with the disease on his route to a long NBA career.
As much as family and friends tried to help Walsh, nobody had quite the perspective of the only man to have played at the top level of basketball with Alopecia. Villanueva was known for helping kids with the condition, so maybe there was a chance they could connect. It just so happened that Walsh’s uncle knew Ramon Sessions, who Villanueva took under his wing when he was a rookie with the Bucks years ago. Sessions called his friend and mentor and told him about this kid in Dallas who plays ball, but needed the kind of guidance only Villanueva could provide. “(Walsh) was struggling with Alopecia and the parents were looking for answers,” Villanueva said. “Lo and behold, I was 30 minutes away.”
“He was really helpful, more than anything off the court,” Walsh said of Villanueva. “Just with my head, my confidence, just stuff like that, because he understands what I’ve been through. I can tell him everything and he’s been through the same thing. He’s got great advice.”
"She voiced that she struggled with [Alopecia], and Chris Rock thought it was cool to crack a joke," Villanueva said. "We are not with Jada everyday to know the level of the struggle, but Will does. As I don’t condone violence, Im proud that Will Smith stood up for his wife." Villanueva added, "As a fellow Alopecians, I stand with Will and Jada."
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Charlie Villanueva: Let’s talk about it, we all know Jada came out and stated she had Alopecia and for those that don’t know it’s an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. She voiced that she struggled with it, and Chris Rock thought it was cool to crack a joke. We are not with Jada everyday to know the level of the struggle, but Will does. As I don’t condone violence, Im proud that Will Smith stood up for his wife. Therefore I encouraging others to be more respectful to one another. As a fellow Alopecians, I stand with Will and Jada. #alopecia
Ford: I ended up having dinner plans with Skip [Robinson], the public relations guy. He helped me do a lot of great things in Milwaukee. We go to dinner and I didn't really have no power at my house, so at the restaurant, I’ve got my phone and my charger, but they’re not next to me. He answered his phone and he's sitting directly across from me and I just hear him go, 'No! No! You've got to be kidding me.' So, he's like, 'Here, the GM wants to talk to you.' So, I'm like, 'What's going on?' The GM's like, 'How do you feel about going to Toronto?' I'm like, 'What are you talking about? Stop playing with me. Stop f------ with me. Seriously, what's going on?' He's like, 'No, for real. We just traded you for Charlie Villanueva and it hasn't hit the news yet and it probably won't tonight.' I'm like, 'Yo, Skip, he just told me he f------ traded me. He must be joking with me.'
After roughly a year and a half on the market, a 7,700-square-foot home belonging to former NBA star Charlie Villanueva has sold for $2.25 million. The retired power forward purchased the Davie property for roughly the same amount in 2015, prior to the home’s completion the following year.
Towns expressed appreciation for Horford, former NBA player Charlie Villanueva and other Dominican basketball stars who paved the way for him. “It’s an amazing, amazing time to see two Dominicans strive to play basketball at the highest level,” Towns said. “Al is one of the pioneers who showed how you can really make it if you push your talent and put your mind to something. I’m just trying to follow the leader.”
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