50 Cent lit the beam for the Kings, who are the NBA’s most delightful surprise so far this season

The Beam Team won again.

After briefly turning into a meme during his surprise performance at the Super Bowl earlier this year, rapper 50 Cent helped another meme stay alive.

Whenever they win a game, the Kings shine purple lasers atop the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. “LIGHT THE BEAM!” has become a rallying cry for the team, and it’s also one of the silliest memes of the NBA season thus far.

Following yet another victory for the franchise on Nov. 30, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé escorted the rapper to the court. Once there, 50 Cent joined Sacramento’s Malik Monk. Together, the two pressed the button to officially light the beam yet again.

You’ve heard of The Dream Team and The Redeem Team, but the Kings have officially become The Beam Team.

But now about a quarter of the way through the season, this is more than just a silly meme after some fluky victories.

Despite finishing with one of the worst records in the NBA last season, and even though they have the longest active playoff drought among all major sports teams in the United States, it seems that Sacramento may actually have a good basketball team.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5x3v4hcz7e10g image=https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=1985956]

[listicle id=1987529]

Rockets host Thanksgiving charity events to give back to Houston

Jalen Green, KJ Martin, and Jae’Sean Tate are among #Rockets players giving back to the Houston community during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Between Sunday’s home game against Golden State and Friday’s tilt versus Atlanta, the Rockets have a rare break during the 2022-23 NBA season: four consecutive days without a game. They’ve also been able to stay in Houston for the entire time, since they’re currently in the middle of a four-game homestand at Toyota Center.

Because that break happened to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday, it also presented the franchise and several of its players with an opportunity to give back to the Houston community.

“It means a lot,” said head coach Stephen Silas, as relayed by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. He continued:

One of my messages to the guys was, ‘How blessed are we to be out here for practice, and there are people lining up around the building just trying to get a free meal for Thanksgiving. And the blessing that we have, we have to pass along.’

I love that we have guys … going to the organization saying, ‘I want to help,’ and ‘I want to do something.’ We got really, really good guys. They’re young but they have a sense of self and a sense of giving and they know what’s important. It’s really good to see young people do that because the perception of young people is ‘me, me, me and I, I, I.’ We have a bunch of people who are selfless and give to each other and give to others.

Scroll on for details and highlights from many of those Thanksgiving events. The Rockets return to basketball with Friday’s home game versus Atlanta, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Central.

Rockets announce arena, game experience upgrades at Toyota Center

In advance of Friday’s regular-season home opener, the @HoustonRockets and Toyota Center announced several arena and game experience enhancements for fans.

The Houston Rockets and Toyota Center announced a series of arena and game experience enhancements in advance of their regular-season home opener versus Memphis on Friday night.

In a continuation of the team’s partnership with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his premium wine and spirits company, Sire Spirits, Toyota Center is launching the Sire Spirits Social Club. Located on the lower suite level on the south side of the arena, the club offers fans a great view of the court with a fine dining experience in a high-end, club-like setting with premium cocktail service.

The Golden Nugget Club and Lexus Lounge both return this season. With spaces adjoining the Rockets’ team entrance to the court, the Golden Nugget Club and Lexus Lounge provide upscale hangout spots with potential for unique interactions with players as they pass by.

The PNC Club, located behind the team benches on the east side of Toyota Center, now features dynamic murals created by local artist Reginald C. Adams. According to the team, Adams is world-renowned for his award-winning tile mosaic murals, sculptures, and art installations located in historic and underserved communities across Houston and the United States.  His work in the PNC Club was selected and voted on by fans over the summer at Rockets.com and on the team’s social media outlets.

Brand new this season are two experiential concept suites — The Green Room and The Sneaker Suite — designed to bring the best of pop culture for an enhanced fan experience.

According to the team, The Green Room showcases a bright motif decorated with lush greenery and offers a boutique experience worthy of celebrities, musicians, athletes, influencers, or simply Rockets fans looking to stand out from the crowd.

Meanwhile, The Sneaker Suite amplifies global sneaker culture and its organic connection to basketball, with Houston serving as one of the cities at the forefront of the cultural movement. The suite, curated in collaboration with Houston based boutique Premium Goods, highlights basketball lifestyle and local artists as well as team personalities. Both suites are available to rent on a nightly basis for all Rockets games and Toyota Center events.

For the 2022-23 season, the Rockets are injecting more local flavor into their arena entertainment with Clutch City Beats. During the offseason, the team hosted a competition for Houston-area music producers to submit original beats, and the five winners will have their tracks played during Rockets games and on social media throughout the season. Eight local artists were also commissioned to decorate the electrical boxes outside of Toyota Center.

For concessions, the Rockets and Toyota Center are introducing the Takeoff MKT featuring Zippin technology. These autonomous concession stations allow fans a frictionless experience to grab their favorite beverages and get back to their seats as quickly as possible.

Fans make selections and are automatically billed for their purchases when exiting the concessions area, with sensors, vision cognition and machine learning used to drive the experience. One station is located on the main concourse, with the other in the upper bowl.

As part of the team’s expanded partnership with Memorial Hermann, nursing stations will be added on both concourse levels at Toyota Center, providing private, comfortable spaces for mothers. The Rockets and Memorial Hermann also partnered to install additional baby-changing stations in restrooms throughout the arena.

Earlier this month, the Rockets Team Shop at Toyota Center debuted a Josh Christopher inspired merchandise capsule, which he worked on in collaboration with the team. The Rockets plan to collaborate on apparel items with other players and creatives in the near future. The team shop, which offers online and in-store shopping with curbside pickup, is featuring San Diego Rockets-themed Hardwood Classics apparel in celebration of the franchise’s 55th anniversary season.

Finally, the Rockets are also offering a range of new ticket package options at Toyota Center, including:

  • Margarita Mondays: one ticket and a Don Julio margarita starting at $25.
  • Taco Tuesdays: one ticket, two tacos, and a beverage starting at $29.
  • Sunday Funday Family Packs: four tickets, four hot dogs, and four beverages starting at $99.
  • Five-Game Flex Plans: fans choose dates and opponents at their convenience, starting at $55.

More information on the options is available at Rockets.com.

[lawrence-related id=105845,99607,102476]

[listicle id=104364]

Houston Texans and 50 Cent partner up on premium beverages, philanthropy

The Houston Texans and 50 Cent have announced a partnership regarding premium wine, spirits, and also philanthropy.

The beauty of the Houston Texans in 2022 is they have found a way to work with homegrown talent.

Whether it is the drafting of first-round guard Kenyon Green (Humble Atascocita) or the signing of defensive end Jerry Hughes (Sugar Land Stephen F. Austin), the Texans have gone to the roots of the greater Houston area to have a successful 2022 campaign.

Throw in 50 Cent into that lot. The Texans announced Monday a multi-year partnership with the Grammy award-winning musician, two-time New York Times best-selling author, executive producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and Houston resident known as Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The partnership spans from his Sire Spirits LLC to his G-Unity Foundation.

Given that the partnership goes into effect immediately, 50 Cent’s Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne (translated into English as “The Kings Path”) are now the Official Cognac and Champagne of the Texans.

“We are thrilled to partner with Curtis and his team to offer Sire Spirits to our fans on game days,” Texans president Greg Grissom said. “We share a common goal of giving back to the city we call home, so bringing Curtis on board to present our 50/50 Jackpot on game days was a natural fit. We look forward to the great work we will do together through this partnership.”

The 50/50 Jackpot is now presented by the G-Unity Foundation, which “empowers children and youth in America’s cities to develop confidence, strength and skills to win in life,” according to a team statement.

Last year, 50 Cent announced the G-Unity Business Lab in partnership with the Houston Independent School District. The after-school entrepreneurship program provided academic and social services to high school youth residing in high-need communities by delivering a highly-focused, year-long course on entrepreneurship.

In 2022, the program is doubling in size to service six high schools in Houston.

“Last season, I had the opportunity to enjoy several home games, meet Texans fans, spend time with the McNair family and share with them some of the work I’ve been doing within the Houston community,” 50 Cent said. “When the opportunity to partner with the team at this level arose, I was excited to do it.”

The partnership’s roots started in 2021 when 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film & Television became a Texans Luxe member.

According to the team, the partnership also provides for the use of the Texans logos for branding, television and radio advertisements, two themed sideline bars on the club level of NRG Stadium, directional signage, digital advertisements on the Texans’ app and website, and sponsorship of various events, programs, including a Battle Red Sponsorship of the annual Taste of Texans. Sire Spirits will also offer special sampling events at the club level and cocktails will be offered in Luxe suites on game days in 2022.

Rockets, Toyota Center begin partnership with Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson

The Rockets announced a partnership with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his premium wine and spirits company, representing the first partnership between Jackson and any NBA franchise.

The Houston Rockets on Wednesday announced a new partnership with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his premium wine and spirits company Sire Spirits, LLC. This multi-year agreement marks the first official partnership between Jackson and any NBA franchise.

Under the terms of the partnership, Jackson’s award-winning Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne brands will be highlighted at Rockets games and Toyota Center events with multiple themed bars, a branded luxury suite, and a courtside loge box.

Sire Spirits is solely owned and operated by Jackson, an award-winning musician, actor, entrepreneur, executive producer, and Houston resident. Among the initiatives Sire Spirits will bring includes being a presenting sponsor of the team’s annual Black Sports Professional Career Fair, the annual Black History Night, and special fundraisers.

“Since I moved to Houston in January 2021, the love shown to me by this city has inspired me to make a positive and long-lasting impact in the community,” Jackson said. “My investment in the Rockets and their investment back into my charitable endeavors makes this partnership all the more special for me. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

More information on Jackson’s G-Unity Foundation and his many charitable endeavors around Houston can be found found here.

As part of this strategic partnership, Jackson’s G-Unity Foundation will work closely with the Rockets and the Clutch City Foundation on a wide-range of community initiatives to enhance Jackson’s firm commitment to Houston, including providing access to games and events for parents and children who otherwise would not be able to experience them.

“In his time as a Houston resident, Curtis has demonstrated a strong passion for helping students in our under-served communities which mirrors the continued efforts we have as an organization,” said Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets.

“Curtis’ business acumen and creativity have been well documented throughout his entertainment and entrepreneurial career, and we’re excited to bring Sire Spirits to Toyota Center for fans to enjoy at Rockets games and our wide variety of events,” Sheirr added.

In addition to themed bars in Toyota Center, the Red & White Wine Bistro will be rebranded into the Sire Spirits Bar & Restaurant, offering sweeping views of the court from the south end of the lower suite level.

Throughout the season and Toyota Center’s event calendar, Sire Spirits will host special events, including wine pairing dinners, specialty cocktail offerings and other gatherings aimed at networking within the community of season ticket members, suite holders, and event guests.

While the Sire Spirits branded suite and courtside box will belong to Jackson year-round, it will be made available to fans for select games, events, and charitable uses.

[lawrence-related id=53573,49485]

[mm-video type=video id=01fy7p8v41nzk410vybx playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fy7p8v41nzk410vybx/01fy7p8v41nzk410vybx-5f2808486b8072e36c4bfb07fd07c750.jpg]

[listicle id=99585]

Even 50 Cent had to laugh at Super Bowl halftime show memes about himself

Oh my.

The Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium on Sunday was so, so good.

The memes that came out of it? Just as good, I’d say.

OK, they aren’t as good as what we saw from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and special guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak.

But upside-down 50 Cent was pretty hilarious … and even the rapper seemed to think so. Taking a page out of The Weeknd’s playbook, 50 Cent tweeted and retweeted a few of the memes he saw after his performance, which just makes this even better. Check out what he tweeted:

Oh my. LOL.

[listicle id=1844967]

 

The best and funniest Super Bowl halftime show memes, starring upside-down 50 Cent

So many memes.

Look, the Super Bowl 56 halftime show was glorious — read our review of it, Bryan Kalbrosky agrees! — with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and Eminem putting together an awesome performance.

But of course, there are so many memes coming out of it. This is what happens after every halftime show these days.

We already highlighted some with 50 Cent making a guest appearance, but we’ll expand outward from there — there were all kinds of jokes flying around about all the performers, which we’ve helpfully gathered into one place for your amusement the day after the Super Bowl.

Here they are, in no particular order, starting with upside-down 50 Cent:

50 Cent paid homage to an old MTV video with his surprise performance for the Super Bowl Halftime Show

What. A. Halftime show.

This was one of the most fun Super Bowl halftime performances I can remember.

First of all, anytime you get Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar on the same stage it’s going to be an incredible show. Oh, and Eminem, too.

But the show immediately took a left turn when 50 Cent seemingly popped up out of nowhere to perform “In Da Club” as part of the Super Bowl’s first-ever hip-hop halftime show.

And it wasn’t even that he just appeared, y’all. This man appeared on the ceiling of a room like he was in the original video. It was absolutely bonkers. What an entrance.

In the OG G-Unit tank top, too?!? Nah, take me back to 2003 fam. This was excellent. Fans were so hype. They said my guy came in like Spider-Man.

Conor McGregor wrote a 198-word Instagram rant on why his awful first pitch was better than 50 Cent’s

He’s not happy about the comparisons.

Conor McGregor was mocked so much for his first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game this week, a lefty offering that he airmailed well over the catcher’s head that hit the iconic bricks of Wrigley Field.

It was worse than his Take Me Out to the Ball Game later in the night, but it sparked a debate: Is it worse than 50 Cent’s offering at Citi Field in 2014, considered among the worst celebrity first pitches of all time?

McGregor doesn’t think so. On Instagram, he delivered a loooong rant on why his pitch was better, and it’s just an amazing piece of literature: