Tag: Jay Z

Jay Z’s and other top photos from Cowboys-Commanders

Beyonce didn’t come with him, but Jay Z’s appearance pregame set the stage for a wild day outside of DC.

The Dallas Cowboys were able to resuscitate 2024 good vibes on Sunday. No, their 34-26 victory didn’t do much to change the disappointment that comes with sitting well under .500 down the stretch of the season. No, they didn’t help themselves in their quest for a top draft pick in a class that doesn’t seem to have too many noteworthy blue-chip prospects.

However taking out their longest-standing rivals and sending their fanbase into a bit of crisis mode did add some warm and fuzzy feelings to Cowboys Nation. And the way they earned the win, with a wild-and-crazy fourth quarter that included them scoring twice on kickoff returns, made it more than memorable. Here’s a great collection of the action, from pre-game to post, with captures from USA Today and Getty Images.

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely signs with Roc Nation Sports ahead of 2024 season

Baltimore Ravens stud tight end Isaiah Likely signs with Roc Nation Sports ahead of the 2024 NFL season

Isaiah Likely is quickly becoming one of the best young tight ends in the NFL, and ahead of a huge 2024 regular season, the Ravens tight end is adding a big name to his representation.

Jay Z’s ‘Roc Nation Sports’ welcomed the third year tight end to the fold on Monday, just 19 days before Baltimore reports to the Under Armour Performance Center for training camp.

During this spring’s off-season workouts and mandatory minicamp, Likely said he’s focused on learning all of the receiving positions in Year 2 of Todd Monken’s offense, with the hope of turning into a versatile, Swiss army knife.
Last season, in the eight games after he stepped in for then injured Mark Andrews, Likely caught 25 passes for 372 yards and six touchdowns.

This season, Baltimore will work to get elite production out of Likely, even with Andrews on the roster, and he’ll look to set himself up for a huge 2024, and 2025 season, putting him in line to potentially reset the tight end market when he’ll be just 26 years old.

WATCH: LaMelo chatting with Jay-Z during halftime on Sunday vs. Nets

LaMelo Ball and Jay-Z spoke briefly at halftime during Charlotte’s 16-point victory.

Nothing proves that you’re a star like Jay-Z wanting to talk to you.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball met with Jay-Z courtside during halftime of Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, which the Hornets won 111-95.

Ball is repped by Roc Nation Sports, which is owned by Jay-Z. Both of LaMelo’s brother’s, Lonzo and LiAngelo, are also represented by Roc Nation.

Check out the video below and see if you can figure out what LaMelo and Jay are talking about.

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Roc Nation officially announces signing of Lonzo, LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball

Roc Nation Sports officially announced the signing of Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball on Monday.

On Monday morning, Roc Nation Sports officially announced the signing of Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball. The family reportedly chose to sign with the Jay-Z-founded agency in late April. Though it wasn’t confirmed, LaVar Ball’s slew of comments in the aftermath seemed to provide all the confirmation needed.

The Ball family has bounced from agency to agency in recent years. After Lonzo parted ways with Harrison Gaines, the family signed with Creative Artists Agency and were reportedly represented by Leon Rose, former agent of LeBron James. Rose’s appointment as president of the New York Knicks paved the way for the family to depart once again.

While LaVar admitted to considering signing with Klutch Sports, the family ultimately made the move to join Roc Nation Sports. Raymond Brothers will also reportedly represent the family.

Brothers will have some important hurdles and decisions to navigate in the coming months. LaMelo is set to be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft. Lonzo, meanwhile, can begin negotiating a contract extension with the Pelicans in the off-season.

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LaVar Ball reveals plan for family, sons to meet with Jay-Z before pandemic

Prior to the pandemic closing the world down, LaVar Ball and the Ball family had a meeting planned with Jay-Z and Roc Nation.

While the Ball family’s decision to join Roc Nation came as a surprise to many, it was a move that LaVar Ball revealed was long in the works. LaMelo Ball and Jermaine Jackson teased a meeting on Jay-Z’s private jet but a much bigger meeting was in the works.

On his appearance on Complex’s Load Management podcast, Ball was asked about Jay-Z’s involvement in the recruiting of the family to Roc Nation.

“You know Jay got to get involved. Here’s the thing. I ain’t talked to Jay. He’s got people that work for him so we have to talk to them first. But he’s done talked to my boys. I just haven’t talked to him but my boys have talked to them. And the guys that he’s got lined up that’s on his team, I’ve talked to them. I talked to them over the phone…but with the pandemic going on, nobody can fly around and get that collaboration.

We were actually going to meet up right before everything happened. It was a Clipper game and he was going to come down and watch the Pelicans play the Clippers and that was perfect time but we never got a chance to do that.”

The Clippers game mentioned was slated for Friday, March 13, two days after Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID-19 brought the league to a screeching halt. Despite not being able to meet face-to-face, though, the family was able to come to an agreement with Roc Nation.

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LaVar Ball says family considered signing with Klutch Sports before choosing Roc Nation

Prior to joining Jay-Z and Roc Nation, LaVar Ball revealed he and his family considered signing with Klutch Sports and Rich Paul.

For the third time in nearly as many years, the Ball family switched agencies. This change was the most high-profile yet for the family as they left Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and joined Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

The move was a bit of a surprise as the family has remained linked to Klutch Sports even prior to signing with CAA. Lonzo Ball and LeBron James’ relationship was the main link tying the family to Klutch prior to joining CAA and this time around, LaVar Ball’s relationship with Rich Paul served as more fuel to the fire.

During a podcast appearance on Complex’s Load Management, Ball talked about the process of joining Roc Nation and whether he and the family considered Klutch.

“I think you have to feel it out and see what it is. It might have been Klutch. I still talk to Rich Paul. He’s a good friend. But I got to see what’s best for my boys and their situation for what we’re trying to do.”

This was similar reasoning Ball recently gave as to why the family joined Roc Nation. Ball and the family were focused on a company that put their interests first while alluding to that not happening at CAA.

There are questions as to how much that could happen at Klutch, either. Aside from LeBron James, Klutch hasn’t had many other clients with ventures outside of basketball. That runs in direct contrast to the Ball family, who already notably have a successful reality Facebook series in “Ball in the Family.”

With Roc Nation, the family will be a priority with a company that has its hands in multiple avenues that could pave the way for more opportunities for the family moving forward.

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LaVar Ball talks decision to join Roc Nation: ‘They’re doing exactly what we want to do’

The Ball family made a surprising move to align with Roc Nation Sports. LaVar Ball recently explained the decision in joining the agency.

LaVar Ball and the Ball family made a bit of a surprising move with their decision to join Roc Nation Sports after leaving Creative Artists Agency (CAA) earlier this year. While some expected the family to align with Klutch Sports, Jay-Z’s agency landed the Balls in what could be the first of multiple moves of the two sides linking up.

In an interview with TMZ, Ball talked about the thinking behind the family joining Roc Nation Sports.

“I think you have to go through different agencies to see the one that you need that’s going to have the same mindset as you. I feel like Roc Nation is trying to move in the direction we’re moving in.

But like I said…Roc Nation wants to do exactly what me and my boys want to do.”

The family has jumped around agencies multiple times in recent years. Following the Alan Foster laundering allegations, Lonzo Ball parted ways then agent Harrison Gaines in an unrelated move. Lonzo then joined CAA along with brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, but that partnership lasted roughly a year before the family left to join Roc Nation Sports.

But the Roc Nation partnership already has a different feel to it. LaVar never had the things to say about CAA that he has said about Roc Nation. With that in mind, it could be the start of a blossoming partnership between the two parties.

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Big Baller Brand, Puma collaboration could be in works, says LaVar Ball

With the Ball family aligning with Roc Nation Sports, a collaboration with PUMA could be the next move for Big Baller Brand.

The Ball family’s decision to join Roc Nation Sports was a move that could have multiple ripple effects. One of the most obvious connections, though, featured PUMA and a potential deal with LaMelo Ball.

Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation, also serves as the leader of the basketball division of PUMA. Ball, expected to be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, is a sneaker free agent that has been fielding offers from companies.

Naturally, the connection made between the two parties is that Ball could join PUMA. And that move could see him bring Big Baller Brand with him.

During an interview with TMZ, LaVar Ball talked about the possibility of a Big Baller Brand and PUMA collaboration.

“That could be. See, that’s the good thing about dealing with Roc Nation. The possibilities are unlimited…If everything goes right, this thing could be explosive. They said something that I liked which is ‘LaVar, we want to change the game. We want to do something special.’ That terminology right there means I’m supposed to be with you guys because my boys are special.”

Ball also cleared the air on how big Baller Brand is operating as they move, confirming he’s still in charge and the brand will move together as a family going forward.

“I’m always going to be in control of Big Baller Brand. Like I said, my boys are always going to be with me. We’re going to make moves together. That’s what people don’t understand. We don’t care how they think. They can try to split us up or do whatever. We’re always going to be a family brand. Ain’t nothing they can say or do to make us divide.”

A PUMA-Big Baller Brand collaboration could be an interesting move for both sides. While PUMA has stepped up its presence in the NBA in recent years, it’s still lacking a high-profile figure and star appeal that other brands have.

Big Baller Brand, meanwhile, has largely floundered in the last year as LaMelo and Lonzo have distanced from the brand. While the company has the name-brand appeal, it lacks the physical product or infrastructure to capitalize on that popularity.

A collaboration between the two would be a bigger risk for PUMA but could combine their infrastructure with Big Baller Brand’s name appeal. If it pays off, it could be a huge win for both parties. But all of this is making the assumption LaMelo signs with PUMA as well.

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LaMelo Ball posts Jay-Z song to Instagram story, hints at potential next move

With his deal with Roc Nation Sports announced, LaMelo Ball could be hinting at his next move with a shoe company on social media.

On Monday, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball signed with Roc Nation, ending multiple weeks of speculation as to which agency would be the family’s next stop after leaving Creative Artists Agency. While the family will be represented by Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation is obviously known for its founder, Jay-Z.

Also notable is Jay-Z’s involvement in PUMA. In early 2018, Jay-Z was named the head of PUMA Basketball. Around that time, the company began a more aggressive approach in bringing in basketball talent, landing DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and RJ Barrett.

LaMelo took to his Instagram on Tuesday to upload a series of posts to his story with Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” in the background.

Shortly after, Ball tweeted another cryptic message foretelling more moves to come for him and his family.

Ball’s next big move will likely be his shoe deal, which will almost certainly be the biggest one of his draft class. His manager Jermaine Jackson noted that he is still fielding offers but aligning with Roc Nation and Jay-Z likely gives PUMA an inside track.

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