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The Star
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Arsenal caught in second-place syndrome – can Arteta take them any further?
IF you are a fan of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the biggest news last week wasn't the Finals match-up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers—but rather the firing of New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. This is the same coach who brought basketball relevance back to New York City, taking the team to their first Conference Final in 25 years.
CNBC
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry says even he suffers from impostor syndrome
Stephen Curry is a two-time National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player, a four-time league champion and among the greatest shooters of all time. He also owns a media company, a bourbon brand, a golf league for kids and a philanthropic foundation that gives back to students in Oakland, California. Yet, even the Golden State Warriors star suffers from impostor syndrome. "I'm human," Curry said in an interview for "Curry Inc.," a CNBC Sport production centered on Curry's career and business ambitions. "Like everybody, you have doubts about yourself, you have impostor syndrome at times." Curry is the son of former NBA star Dell Curry, who played 16 seasons in the NBA. While Stephen grew up on the sidelines watching his dad play, he says because of his stature and underdog mentality, he didn't grow up with the expectation to play in the league. "I couldn't have dreamt this," said Curry, who was selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft and went on to become the all-time greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history. The 11-time NBA All-Star says he has embraced his underdog status and used it as motivation throughout his tenure at Davidson College and into his time in the NBA. "Matching the God-given abilities and the work ethic and just being able to lose myself in the game I think is a good formula," Curry said. Off the court, Curry has similarly found success. He heads Thirty Ink, a house of brands that includes his different business ventures across entertainment, marketing, fitness, lifestyle and technology. He's also passionate about giving back. Through his nonprofit Eat. Learn. Play., Curry has raised $20 million for Oakland schools over the past five years. There is also the Underrated Golf Tour, where Curry works to get minorities out on the links in a traditionally white sport. "From a national perspective, a lot of the narrative is trying to peel back programs and opportunities that are allowing people to have just a fair shot and a fair chance. Everything that we do and what I can control is about true equity," he said. With all these commitments on his plate, Curry said he grapples with whether he is fulfilling his full potential in all the different areas of his life. "We all like to be a better husband, a better father, more present at times, just because we're pulled — I'm pulled — in a lot of different areas," Curry said. As CNBC followed Curry around NBA All-Star Weekend in February, Curry said he has embraced the pressure that comes with being a star basketball player and a public figure. "All of these realties are wild to me, and sometimes you just gotta get out of your own way and enjoy it," he added.
Business Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
The delight of being a tourist in Rome during the conclave
I'M originally from Chicago, and when I travel, that fact has historically prompted responses such as 'oh, like Michael Jordan?' or 'like Barack Obama?' But two weeks ago when I was in Rome, I got a new one. 'Chicago! Like our new pope,' a bartender said to me, stunned that for the first time an American – Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV – had become the head of the Catholic Church. I was visiting the Eternal City ahead of a voyage on the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express, an ultra-luxury train (more on that soon), but my trip had coincided with the start of the conclave, the process by which the Catholic Church's cardinals elect a new pope. Luckily, this was my fifth trip to Rome, so I wasn't in a rush to see all the sights; instead I could just take in the city during such a historic moment. Rome's Fiumicino Airport was packed with tourists, a mix of people who had longstanding plans to visit the city and those keen to be in Vatican City when a new pope was announced, a major event for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. There were, of course, a few grumbles about the crowds and the restrictions on tourism. I did overhear a family upset that they couldn't visit the Sistine Chapel on their once-in-a-lifetime trip. I can understand disappointment, but it was a real read-the-room-type moment: sorry, the Sistine Chapel is busy making history! Still, the atmosphere in the city was electric, even if I wasn't one of the masses waiting for a glimpse of white smoke from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, the traditional sign that a new pope has received the necessary two-thirds majority (black smoke means a vote was taken, but no single candidate prevailed). At drinks on May 7 at a rooftop bar, I was eager to see if my vantage afforded me a view of the area around St Peter's. I couldn't quite see the smoke, but the glimpse of the basilica itself was exciting to me, knowing that there was likely voting going on at the time. People were throwing around names of cardinals like Pizzaballa or Parolin as if it was the National Basketball Association draft, eagerly anticipating who the next pope would be. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up On the street, I stopped to speak with a priest from France who had come to Rome for a pilgrimage, but was pleased to be in town during such a historic moment. 'People keep asking me about the pope, but I am just a priest,' he said with a wry smile. 'It is, of course, in God's hands.' The most exciting moment for me came when the alert popped up on my phone that a pope had been chosen. I was in a room full of Italians and could hear about 20 different incredulous voices exclaim 'Americano?' as the news travelled around the room. Conclave or no concave, it was business as usual for many Romans. I asked a taxi driver taking me back to the airport how he felt about the crowds descending on the city. 'It's been so busy this year. There was the funeral for Pope Francis. Then, of course, it's the Jubilee year,' he said, referring to a major celebration the Catholic Church puts on every 25 years, and one of the reasons Rome made our list of Where to Go in 2025. 'There is always a reason to come here,' he added. BLOOMBERG
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
ZetrOZ Systems to Showcase sam(R) Wearable Ultrasound Device For NBA and College Athletic Trainers
As injuries sideline star players during National Basketball Association playoffs, the inventors of sustained acoustic medicine will present the FDA-cleared sam® device for soft tissue healing at the NBATA Sports Medicine Meeting in Chicago and the CATS Conference in Las Vegas. TRUMBULL, CONNECTICUT / ACCESS Newswire / May 15, 2025 / The hamstring muscle injury that sidelined NBA star Steph Curry on May 6 is a reminder that the physical toll of playing basketball can sideline players at every level. The sam® wearable ultrasound unit from ZetrOZ Systems is clinically proven to accelerate recovery and healing of soft tissue injuries common in basketball. ZetrOZ Systems, inventors of sustained acoustic medicine, will exhibit the sam® device this week for National Basketball Association and college athletic trainers at two upcoming conferences: Basketball, with its blend of power, contact, explosive movement and sudden pivots, puts unique demands on athletes. Basketball players are particularly susceptible to injuries including hamstring and quadricep strains, ankle sprains, shoulder strains and patellar tendinopathy, or 'jumper's knee.' The physical demands are greater during the postseason, after the 82-game season and with the stakes of every game even higher. At the conferences, basketball trainers, sports medicine physicians and other medical professionals will see the latest research on the sam® wearable ultrasound device and see technology demonstrations at the ZetrOZ Systems booth. 'We're excited to have the opportunity to continue to educate NBA and college trainers about how they can use sam® to help their players get ready for practices and games, and get injured players back on the court,' said George K. Lewis, CEO of ZetrOZ Systems and the inventor of sustained acoustic medicine. 'The research is conclusive: sustained acoustic medicine restores function and helps people heal more quickly, without the need for invasive surgeries or potentially addictive painkillers.' sam® is a long duration, continuous, multi-hour, high frequency ultrasound treatment that has been proven effective in soft tissue healing in over 30 Level 1-5 clinical studies, and is the only long-duration ultrasound device cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for home use. Sustained acoustic medicine, delivered by the sam® device, increases blood vessel diameters to boost blood flow, augmenting oxygenated hemoglobin at the site and removing cytokine enzymes and cellular waste for rapid healing and reduced pain. sam® is widely used by athletic trainers in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and other elite athletic conferences, and has successfully treated millions of soft-tissue injuries to date. To learn more about the sam® ultrasound unit, please visit For more information about ZetrOZ Systems, visit About ZetrOZ Systems ZetrOZ Systems is leading healing innovations in sports medicine, developing wearable bioelectronic devices to deliver sustained acoustic medicine (sam®). Researched and funded by the federal government, ZetrOZ is built on proprietary medical technology of 48 patents and is the exclusive manufacturer and developer of the sam® product line, designed to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Contact InformationCatherine Hoblin Media Contact SOURCE: ZetrOZ Systems press release
NBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
NBA star Russell Westbrook launches AI-enabled funeral planning startup
National Basketball Association superstar Russell Westbrook is taking a shot off the court at simplifying funeral planning with artificial intelligence. The famed Denver Nuggets point guard on Wednesday announced the launch of Eazewell, a startup that uses AI technology to streamline the process for coordinating funerals. Westbrook founded the venture with former Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker and childhood friend Donnell Beverly Jr., who serves as president of Russell Westbrook Enterprises and CEO and co-founder of Eazewell. 'My whole career, on and off the court, has been about stepping up decisively in the moments that matter most,' Westbrook wrote in a statement to CNBC. Westbrook and the Nuggets are currently facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Western Conference semifinals. 'Eazewell is exactly that — a decisive solution to a very real problem.' The Los Angeles-based company uses AI to curate funeral options catered to each user's budgets and preferences. The platform assists with paperwork, budget planning, invitations and overlooked tasks such as canceling a deceased loved one's utility bills and social media accounts. Eazewell currently has 11 employees and has already tested its beta platform with more than 1,000 families. Eazewell has not disclosed funding but has revenue agreements with partner services. The startup is also working on partnerships with finance and life insurance companies in the space. The service is free to use and does not have an ads component 'at this stage,' a company spokesperson said. 'We're trying to take the weight off people's shoulders as much as we can, and make this process so much easier for people,' Walker told CNBC in a phone interview. Walker played college basketball with Beverly at the University of Connecticut. Learning from an early loss Eazewell traces its origins to Westbrook and Beverly's high school days, when their friend and basketball teammate Khelcey Barrs III passed away unexpectedly from an enlarged heart. Westbrook commemorates Barrs to this day by wearing a bracelet with the initials 'KB3' in every NBA game he plays and on his signature Jordan Why Not Zer0.6 'Khelcey Barrs' shoe. 'It's a reminder that life can change in an instant,' Westbrook said. 'You don't get to choose the moment, but you do get to choose how you respond.' The experience left a lasting effect on the two friends, Beverly said, but it wasn't until the death of Beverly's parents that he experienced funeral planning hurdles firsthand. Beverly said the experience was 'messy' and 'grueling.' Disillusioned and frustrated by the process after the death of his mother and father in 2016 and 2023, respectively, Beverly turned to his close friends to come up with the solution that became Eazewell. 'It just seems like the perfect time to really turn our shared pain into purpose,' Beverly said. One of Eazewell's most innovative features is its voice-activated AI agent that can gather cost quotes and call funeral homes on a user's behalf. Recent advancements in AI have only recently made it possible to automate tasks and create agents that can manage these jobs in an empathetic and compassionate manner, said Viviane Ghaderi, Eazewell's tech chief and a former Amazon executive. Stephen Stokols, an Eazewell investor and CEO of Tru Skye Ventures, an early-stage sports technology and wellness venture firm, said these 'transformational' AI advancements helping bring the funeral industry out of the 'dark ages' initially drew him to the project. Walker said he hopes Eazewell can offer users the tools to navigate a topic that is not taught in school or early life. 'We know how important it is to have someone by your side to help with the details that come after a loss,' Westbrook said.
