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Russell Westbrook invests in Leeds United's ownership group
NBA star Russell Westbrook has become the latest high-profile sporting figure to invest in the 49ers group that is in the process of taking over Leeds United. The group 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, has been a shareholder in Leeds since its initial investment in May 2018. Earlier this week, American golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas confirmed that they had bought shares in the group, and now LA Clippers star Westbrook has joined forces with them. "I was lucky enough to have conversations with some of the partners in this deal who already have ownership, the 49ers," Westbrook said at a sports and entertainment summit held by Sportico.
Nowitzki was truly humbled by the gesture from Rawlings and the city. Only two other people, golfer Jordan Spieth and author/humanitarian Virginia McAlester, have received keys to the city in the mayor's seven years in office. "I told somebody in the locker room, I don't even have a key to my own house," Nowitzki joked. "I only get a garage fob."
After joining the four other former U.S. presidents at a benefit concert to raise money and awareness for hurricane victims, Barack Obama hit the golf course with a contingent from Under Armour, including Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, three-time major-winner Jordan Spieth and CEO Kevin Plank, according to Politico. Spieth posted a photo of the group -- which also included Curry's brother, Seth, and NBA legend Jerry West's son, Jonnie -- on his Instagram page Sunday night.
That's about all Curry is unable to do on the basketball court. His amazing year, in which he won an MVP, led Golden State to its first title in 40 years and helped the Warriors get off to a record-setting start this season, earned him The Associated Press 2015 Male Athlete of the Year. Curry finished first in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors, with the results released Saturday. He joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only basketball players to win the honor in the 85 years of the award. Curry beat out golfer Jordan Spieth, who won two majors, and American Pharoah, who became the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown.
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Tom Brady won another Super Bowl. Stephen Curry won an MVP and an NBA title. Jordan Spieth won the Masters and the U.S. Open. Misty Copeland became the first African-American to become a principal dancer at a major ballet company. It has been a big year for Under Armour's most high-profile spokespeople, and the company this week will start to roll out its first major brand campaign featuring all of them. It's called "Rule Yourself," and the idea summons Malcolm Gladwell's theory that it takes 10,000 hours of practice at something to be the best.
Although direct sales from Brady, Curry, Spieth and Copeland are relatively small in the scheme of things, the momentum is palpable. Five years ago, Nike did 19 times the business Under Armour did. In 2015, that lead is expected to be cut to eight times. Footwear sales, most recently on the back of Curry's first signature shoe, has grown by 40 percent for each of the past four quarters, while its total golf business has doubled in the past two years.
Mitch McGary: Congrats to Spieth!! #USOpen2015 ⛳️
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