Top 5 — Basketball in the Caribbean is Ready to Explode
Plus Digicel founder takes over CPL, Netflix goes long on sports, and more
Whatsup Squad,
Let’s get into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
Basketball in the Caribbean is Ready to Explode
Professional basketball leagues in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Guyana are thriving.
Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) stands out as the most competitive, attracting top players from around the globe.
Even further, the One Guyana Premier Basketball League has been lauded as a model for a future Caribbean Premier Basketball League, one that could unite players and fans across the region.
Now, The Grind Session has revealed plans to grow the sport in Jamaica.
Since its inception 11 years ago, The Grind Session has facilitated over 3,000 college scholarships, produced 65 current NBA players, and hosted hundreds of events across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
Earlier this year, FIBA and The Grind Session struck a multi-year partnership that will expand and accelerate youth development in the USA and globally.
The organizers hope to replicate their success in Jamaica, nurturing young talent and developing the sport sustainably on the island.
Bottom Line - Limited funding, inadequate facilities, and a lack of exposure remain as challenges for basketball in the region. That said, emerging leagues and initiatives like The Grind Sessions are changing the landscape and setting a foundation for the next generation of hoopers.
Read more on The Grind Session and the One Guyana Premier Basketball League
Collegiate Track and Field Under Threat
Sam Seemes, CEO of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), declared that the sport is under threat.
His remarks carry significant weight for Caribbean athletes, many of whom rely on U.S. collegiate scholarships to launch their careers.
Iconic names like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kirani James, and Julien Alfred honed their talents at American universities before achieving international success.
With shrinking opportunities for student-athletes, vanishing budgets, disappearing scholarships, and even complete program elimination, the threats are real and immediate.
In order to make the sport more engaging, he called for competitions with “clear narratives, dramatic moments, and real stakes,” moving away from traditional formats that fail to captivate the public.
Bottom Line - The potential decline of U.S. collegiate track and field programs would be a seismic blow for Caribbean athletes. Many rely on scholarships to access education and high-level competition, but collegiate track and field faces stiff competition for visibility and institutional support.
Read on threats to collegiate track and field
Digicel Founder Takes Ownership of CPL
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced that Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien has acquired full ownership of Cricket Sporting Investments Limited (CSIL), the holding company of the CPL.
O’Brien founded Digicel in 2001 and has a history of supporting regional development through various initiatives, including the Digicel Foundation, which has invested over $147 million in community projects.
He has been involved with the CPL since its inception in 2013, and his latest acquisition reinforces his commitment to fostering growth and opportunities in the Caribbean.
Bottom Line - Under his stewardship, the CPL is set to expand its influence, continue fostering local talent, and further solidify its role as a premier sporting and cultural event in the region.
Read more here
Jamaica to Invest in Field Event Facilities
Jamaica’s field events athletes were instrumental in the country’s success at the Paris Olympics, contributing four of the nation's six medals, including the only gold medal.
Rojé Stona’s gold made Jamaica the first country to ever win Olympic gold in the discus outside of the United States and Eastern Bloc nations.
Now, the government is prioritizing the construction of a facility for field events.
In the re-development of the National Stadium, the Ministry of Sport is looking at locations in the vicinity as a new designated training ground.
Bottom Line - Jamaica’s commitment to field athletes comes at a time when most of the investment in track and field is being directed towards the track portion of athletics competition. Looking ahead, the sprint capital of the world is positioning itself to become the field events capital too.
Read more on Jamaica’s investment in field facilities
Netflix Goes Long on Sports
Last week, Netflix secured the exclusive rights to the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The announcement builds on the buzz generated from the Mike Tyson & Jake Paul boxing match that was streamed to 60 million people.
On Christmas Day, Netflix will broadcast its first-ever NFL games, which reportedly cost $150 million.
And beginning in 2025, Netflix will become the home of WWE’s flagship Monday Night Raw program in a 10-year deal (valued at more than $5 billion).
Bottom line - From Netflix to YouTube, where we watch sports is changing rapidly. 5 years from now, the sports properties that first leaned into this streaming era will be rewarded for moving early.
Read more here
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