Entertainment
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is gaining ownership thanks to a new sneaker deal with HOLO Footwear – Andscape
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is thriving in his expanded role with the team and making even larger moves off the court. The 2020 first-round select of Auburn recently partnered with HOLO Footwear in an equity deal to release a signature sneaker called the IO:01 and an accompanying apparel line. Perhaps more importantly, he is also part owner of the corporate.
Okoro said he first heard about HOLO in late October 2023 through his agent. As he began researching the corporate, he became more intrigued. Okoro flew to Portland, Oregon, met with the HOLO team to find out about their backgrounds and realized that all of them had a similar upbringing. When the shoe company presented the contract, the choice to sign was easy.
“I wanted to be part of a company that wanted me,” Okoro said. “(HOLO) told me that from the beginning.” He was also encouraged by the concept of constructing something from scratch. To reach the highest, you may have to start from the underside, he said. “Me and HOLO, like we each start from the underside. (They) saw me. This process and constructing it together shall be a lot fun.
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
HOLO and Okoro’s partnership means he is essential to the corporate as an athlete and investor.
“I think a lot of companies are abandoning the language of equity right now because it sounds good,” said Daveed Cohen, an agent at Young Money APAA Sports who leads the HOLO brand strategy in social media, content creation and community engagement.
The Atlanta-born Hooper said completing the equity deal was a learning experience that he appreciated.
“It’s quite the right approach to athletes these days,” he said. “But when you present a story where an athlete has equity, what do you actually do with it?”
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
As a part of HOLO Footwear’s basketball priority, Okoro participates in all the pieces from footwear design and testing to social media marketing for yet-to-be-released sneakers. It’s a two-way working relationship between him and the corporate’s founders, Rommel Vega and Yuri Rodriguez.
“That means constant communication, man,” Vega said. During the Zoom interview, he held up his phone to show how often he and Okoro communicate. The text message thread shows the 2 men’s almost each day conversations. What about Okoro’s role in the corporate?
“He will attend board meetings and interact with other investors. Having equity means you may have the best to vote. Voting rights mean we will move together or not move in any respect,” Vega said.
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
Richard Payne/Young Money APAA Sports
HOLO Footwear was founded in 2020. The company’s goal is to create durable and inexpensive sneakers. Her goal is to create great shoes that do not break the bank. HOLO understands that cheaper performance shoes used to be more common, but now seem rare.
“We live in a completely different world. I don’t know if you have to sell shoes for $35, but you don’t have to sell them for $200 to make a living. We have swung the pendulum one way or another,” Vega said. He believes there is a marketplace for inexpensive basketball shoes with the technology crucial to compete with traditional powerhouses.
“If you look at the market, everything costs between $160 and $200. But if you’re making $100 to, let’s say, $120 to $130 and you’re shipping the sneakers to a nice premium retail store that has a performance attribute, I think you’ve got something really special,” Vega said. “I think that’s the sweet spot that a lot of people struggle to hit.”
Affordability is one other vital feature of HOLO Footwear products. “Vega’s parents emigrated from Nicaragua to Miami in the 1990s.” I went to school in a really disenfranchised area of Miami,” he said. “I grew up in a trailer park off thirty sixth Street. You hear people rapping in Miami Jai Alai. It was across the road from where I grew up.
Vega knows from his own experience how expensive it may be for families who want to equip their children with high-quality sneakers. He wants to use the corporate to make a difference.
The co-founders have over 50 years of experience within the footwear industry, having worked for Merrell, Columbia Sportswear, Saucony and Puma. Before the deal with Okoro, HOLO Footwear’s bread and butter were outdoor sneakers and boots.
HOLO goals to provide the identical high standard in IO:01. “We’re taking a lot of the lessons we’ve learned in other industries and applying them to the process of creating this shoe,” Vega said.
“We’re learning. For (Okoro’s first shoe), we wanted something like ‘keep it easy, silly’. He’s an athlete. His body is his temple. We want to be certain his knees are in good condition and his foot is really functional, so we added belt,” Vega said. “There are a lot of design options at this company. We wanted to make sure Isaac could showcase his presence on the court throughout the evening.”
Cohen said HOLO’s flexibility is a huge profit to Okoro.
Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
“Isaac put them on and said, ‘Man, these are so comfortable.’ Then the following phase was to test them. He ran, exercised and shared his comments with us. HOLO quickly implemented changes based on Okoro’s feedback, reducing the testing and customization process from two to three months to a few weeks.
“With Isaac back at the table and working directly with the co-founder, this is possible,” Cohen said. “(The sneakers) were a huge priority for us, but I think the unique value proposition is also HOLO’s ability to be agile and make quick decisions because you’re talking directly to the top leadership.”
The care HOLO showed with Okoro’s first release is a part of a long-term strategy for the clothing line. Vega said the corporate is taking its time to be certain all of the pieces are in place before the IO:01 officially goes on sale in the autumn. They work with retailers across the country and create partnerships to maximize sales. HOLO wants to construct all the pieces from scratch.
“We keep getting (excellent) feedback. Now we play with the color and personalize it for him. I think this will be important. We will see which of them get the most heat and we will be able to release them. We are creating special editions for some people who have requested this shoe. We’re excited about it. We are in no rush to make money on them. And we really, really want to do it right,” Vega said.
Okoro said he is honored that HOLO has allowed him to be the primary player to represent its brand and own an equity stake. He said his favorite a part of the sneaker-making process was selecting colours “and seeing what stood out and what caught the eye.”
The variety of equity deals is growing, however it’s still a relatively new landscape, especially for somebody like Okoro and a company like HOLO who’re venturing into high-end basketball shoe manufacturing for the primary time. They’ll be being attentive to sales numbers, but they’re also social media engagement and the impact of the shoe launch on disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“Those are the things that make a story successful,” Vega said. “Did we manage to get (the shoe) into the hands of children? And can they afford it? We want them to wear it and enjoy it. Have we trained them in sustainability? And really, what does that really mean in this day and age?”
Entertainment
Maury Povich’s shocking double life of numerous affairs and sex parties revealed after publication of his wife Connie Chung’s memoir
Connie Chung’s latest memoir hit stores on September 17. While the celebrity host was promoting her book, “Connie,” rumors about her marriage to speak show host Maury Povich resurfaced.
Maury Povich, 85, married Connie Chung, 78, in December 1984. The couple has one son, Matthew Jay Povich. Unconfirmed allegations of infidelity have plagued the couple for nearly 20 years.
In 2006, a producer of The Maury Povich Show filed a $100 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the show’s host and other staff members. Bianca Nardi alleged that Povich had a sexual relationship with one other producer, Donna Benner Ingber.
Povich was 20 years older than Ingber. Nardi said the alleged extramarital affair fueled a hostile work environment that included sexual remarks, pornographic videos and parties known to “invite open and familiar sexual activity,” in line with Online radar.
“We do not believe that Ms. Nardi was a victim of unlawful sexual harassment and we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit,” an NBC spokeswoman said. Rebecca Marks said on the time. The judge ultimately ruled that Nardi’s lawsuit needs to be dismissed decided in closed-door arbitration.
Reports claimed that Connie Chung was “humiliated” over the sexual harassment lawsuit. She was also reportedly upset that her personal life had grow to be a subject of public discussion and divorce was an option. However, the previous CBS Evening News anchor remained married to Povich.
“I did it backwards, but it turned out perfectly,” Chung quotes People in a September 2024 article. “First I forgot about the wedding, then I forgot about the baby. And so I ended up having a career — a long, flourishing career. And then I had a long, flourishing period to raise my son.”
Of the difficulties in her marriage to Povich, Chung said: “If we fight at night, he wants to make up before we go to bed. But when I wake up in the morning, I want to keep fighting. I’m not done yet.”
Connie Chung was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Her media profession began within the Seventies when she was a Washington correspondent for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.
Maury Povich, a D.C. native, met his future wife in 1969 while they were each working at television station WTTG within the nation’s capital. Povich was a reporter, while Chung was what was then called a “copy girl” within the newsroom.
“Maury never paid any attention to me,” Chung explained in a May 2022 interview with CBS News. “I would rip the text off the typewriters and give it to him.”
Connie Chung and Maury Povich met again in 1977 in Los Angeles while working at CBS’s KNXT. They dated for seven years before officially marrying in 1984.
Povich returned to the East Coast to launch “The Maury Povich Show” in September 1991. The popular daytime talk show aired until September 2022. Chung has hosted news shows throughout her profession, including “Eye to Eye” for CBS and “20/20” for ABC.
While his breakthrough role could also be Tommy Egan on Power, Joseph Sikora’s acting profession dates back to the Nineteen Eighties. As a baby, Sikora even appeared in a business with music icon Michael Jackson. Learn more about TV, film and stage star Joseph Sikora below.
Józef Sikora’s personal life
Joseph Sikora is a component of Dutch and Polishalthough he was born in Chicago. He has two brothers and was drawn to acting early on. His college education and early success in the teenager industry indicate that acting is a profession he has pursued as doggedly as Tommy Egan pursued revenge within the fictional world of Power. Sikora attended theater school at DePaul University before graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 1998.
Sikora is usually protective of her private life — a typical approach for a lot of actors and actresses who don’t want their spouses, love lives or children to turn into tabloid fodder or social media topics.
Despite his commitment to staying undercover, it’s common knowledge that Sikora is married to Tania Ribalow, award-winning makeup artist. Sikora married Ribalow in 2014 after they met and fell in love on the set of “Boardwalk Empire.” The wedding was a non-public affair, and most individuals didn’t realize the 2 were married until Sikora revealed the actual fact 4 years later on social media — a formidable feat in an era when many celebrities should not exactly unknown.
Whether Sikora is a parent or not isn’t something that the general public knows. As of mid-2024, there was no news or record of Sikora having children of her own.
Józef Sikora’s profession
Although Sikora landed a number of minor acting roles as a young person, he was not a breakout child star. His first roles were more like one-episode cameos on television series, although he did appear in a number of notable shows. Some of his earliest appearances include one-episode roles on shows like “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “Frasier.” He also had supporting roles in movies like “Rudy” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
This trend continued throughout his adult profession. Sikora has end credits in programs including Grey’s Anatomy, ER, NYPD Blue, and several CSI series, to name a number of. If there was a serious television drama within the 2000s, Sikora appeared in at the least one episode. He also appeared in Dollhouse, Lost, Prison Break, Without a Trace, JAG, and Monk. During this time, he continued to land small roles in feature movies, including Charlie Wilson’s War and Shutter Island.
Sikora performed in different rolesincluding comedies, although he became known for his gritty, realistic performances in thrillers and crime stories. He played each law enforcement officers and the criminals they pursued.
Sikora also put his theater background and skills to use, appearing on stage in various shows during this time. However, achieving success in Hollywood can sometimes be a marathon, not a sprint, and Sikora’s profession reflects that. He has appeared in one- or two-episode roles on quite a few television shows, including “White Collar,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Good Wife.” He has also landed small roles in feature movies, including “Jack Reacher.”
It wasn’t until he landed the role of Tommy Egan in Power that his big break got here. From 2014 to 2020, Sikora appeared in 63 episodes. The HBO series spawned spin-offs Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book IV: Force, with Sikora reprising his role in each. In Force, Tommy Egan is the lead character, allowing Sikora to further his profession.
Going Beyond “Tommy”
Sikora and others have confirmed the tip of the spin-off series, “Power Book IV: Force.” In statements regarding the plot, the team says the series has come to an end. However, Sikora said that this isn’t the tip of the “Tommy” character and that other concepts are within the works.
As for other projects, Internet Movie Database says Sikora has credits on a project called “Atypical Pirate,” which is in post-production as of August 2024. Sikora also has small screenwriting and directing credits, and given the success of his breakout role, it’s possible he’ll be showing off his creative chops again soon.
Featured Stories
Entertainment
Oprah’s Interview with Kamala Harris Causes Chaos Among Trump Fanatics, Forcing Her to Block Comments
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has come under political fire after hosting a livestreamed event with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the Sept. 19 “Unite for America” rally, which featured Hollywood stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Stiller via video geared toward rallying support for Harris ahead of the 2024 election, the event quickly became the goal of online criticism from Trump supporters.
The response to Winfrey’s first joint tweet with the previous California attorney general was so overwhelming that she disabled comments a couple of posts on Instagram promoting the event and recap afterward. Fans speculated that the lockout was related to the wave of negative reactions and hostile remarks questioning the integrity of each women.
“The stakes in this election are very high, and each of us has a job to do between now and Election Day.” To read caption on a post Harris made just hours before the event.
Harris also expressed her excitement at the chance to meet with Winfrey, calling it a “one-of-a-kind livestream event” to discuss their shared vision for a greater future.
But the comments section quickly became a battleground for political rhetoric, with a flood of Trump supporters pouring in.
“One billionaire and one millionaire telling us we can’t trust the rich,” one comment read, while one other added: “This will be a pass. No respect for Oprah anymore and we never had for Kamala.”
Hostility increased when some users accused Harris of being out of touch with key national issues similar to military strategy, with one noting, “Harris doesn’t even know where our troops are. Disturbing! I know how I vote.”
The critical backlash also revived old allegations about Winfrey’s past relationships.
“Oprah was Donald Trump’s best friend until he ran for president as a Republican. He hasn’t changed. She has,” one user said, referring to Winfrey’s once-friendly relationship with the previous president.
Winfrey’s decision to disable commenting on her posts posts fueled further conspiracy theories.
“I WONDER why Instagram disabled messages for Kamala… during the OPRAH chat… Hmmmmmm! They didn’t disable President Trump’s messages with the Jewish Federation,” one other user speculated.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Several comments ridiculed each women, accusing them of being out of touch with odd Americans.
One commenter noted, “This is the same way (Oprah) tried to sell her Weight Loss Plan for years and then turned around and used Ozempic when she decided to lose weight!!!! Please!!!!! Don’t buy the bridge she’s trying to sell.”
One person said bluntly: “Nobody trusts Oprah anymore, this is a bad idea!!!”
Trust within the 18-time Emmy winner has waned over time.
When Winfrey opened a college in South Africa in 2007, certainly one of the teachers was charged with sexual assault, and lots of blamed her.
Even when she tried to raise money for people in Maui, Hawaii, people questioned her intentions and ridiculed her for using odd people’s money while she sat on estimated net price $2.7 billion.
Despite the backlash, Harris supporters rallied within the comments to defend the candidate’s policies.
Winfrey and Harris’ interview itself also sparked controversy, particularly due to Harris’ admission that he owned a gun.
Oprah said she was surprised to learn Kamala Harris owns a gun.
Harris: “If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot.” photo:twitter.com/1paBEwuuPX
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 20, 2024
“If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot,” Harris told Winfrey candidly, apparently surprising the “Beloved” actor and producer.
Winfrey, who has famously struggled to connect with odd Americans on problems with wealth and sophistication, also found herself in hot water when Harris shared her plan for tax breaks for small businesses.
Oprah said she was surprised to learn Kamala Harris owns a gun.
Harris: “If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot.” photo:twitter.com/1paBEwuuPX
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 20, 2024
Another segment that seemed to show Winfrey’s lack of knowledge of average people concerned small business owners and Harris’ plan to give start-ups a $50,000 tax break so that they can pursue the American dream by running their very own business.
When Harris mentioned the $50,000 tax deduction, Winfrey joked, “It’s a tiny business.” Harris replied, “The concept of a business,” prompting mixed reactions from MAGA fans in regards to the billionaire’s perceived out-of-touchness with on a regular basis Americans.
However, Harris-Walz’s supporters rallied on Platform X when the clips were shared.
“Watch out, you MAGA idiots. She has her rules. Trump lies to you about his promises. He will never keep them,” one user he fired it back uppointing to Harris’ plans for small business owners, including a $50,000 tax break for startups.
“He still has nothing but a health care plan. He doesn’t have to worry about infrastructure because President Biden has already taken care of that. I’m voting for someone who actually cares about me, not billionaires. What about you?”
“For me, starting a small business will become more feasible if Kamala is elected and this is implemented. Especially with interest rates dropping” as well as other.
While Trump supporters dominated many of the comment sections, Harris’ base remained strong. Grassroots groups like Latinas for Harris, White Dudes for Harris and Win With Black Men joined the net conversation, hosting phone calls and virtual events to bolster support for the candidate.
Harris’ campaign advisers said nearly 200,000 people signed up to watch the live stream across apps, and nearly 100,000 watched it on YouTube. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitch were also heavily used to broadcast the event.
Despite the negative response, Harris’ team stays optimistic about her standing, with recent polls showing her leading Trump 47 percent to 42 percent. In key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and North Carolina, Harris has a bonus, while in Arizona the 2 candidates remain tied, according to Reuters.
Winfrey’s decision to disable the comments section could have been an attempt to quell negativity, however the episode underscores the deepening political divide because the 2024 election approaches. The presidential race looks set to get increasingly nasty.
Outboard motor startup Pure Watercraft is selling for parts
Maury Povich’s shocking double life of numerous affairs and sex parties revealed after publication of his wife Connie Chung’s memoir
‘Mike Doesn’t Look His Healthiest’: Fans Spot Disturbing Changes in Michael Jordan’s Appearance That Raise Serious Health Concerns
Is Your City a Sunset City? This Interactive Map Will Tell You –
Joseph Sikora: The Man Behind ‘Tommy’ and His Rise to Television Fame on POWER
CEO of 360WiSE Launches Mentorship Program in Overtown Miami FL
The Importance of Owning Your Distribution Media Platform
U.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce Appoints Robert Alexander of 360WiseMedia as Board Director
360Wise Media and McDonald’s NY Tri-State Owner Operators Celebrate Success of “Faces of Black History” Campaign with Over 2 Million Event Visits
Time Selects Taraji P. Henson to Host ‘Time100 Special’ in 2024 on ABC
Marc Lamont Hill on the Morning After Election 2020
Building a $100 Million Business Featuring Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole #DisruptorSummit
OPINION | Diddy Exposes Comcast Over Byron Allen Lawsuit + REVOLT TV
Fireside Chat with Robert L. Johnson #BMXCEL
2020 Pulitzer Prize Winner Nikole Hannah Jones!
-
Press Release6 months agoCEO of 360WiSE Launches Mentorship Program in Overtown Miami FL
-
Business and Finance4 months agoThe Importance of Owning Your Distribution Media Platform
-
Press Release5 months agoU.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce Appoints Robert Alexander of 360WiseMedia as Board Director
-
Business and Finance6 months ago360Wise Media and McDonald’s NY Tri-State Owner Operators Celebrate Success of “Faces of Black History” Campaign with Over 2 Million Event Visits
-
Film5 months agoTime Selects Taraji P. Henson to Host ‘Time100 Special’ in 2024 on ABC
-
Press Release6 months agoEggstravaganza, Returning to Miramar Regional Park
-
Ben Crump6 months agoAttorney Ben Crump vs Google Black Minority Lawsuit
-
Fitness6 months agoAt Smartwater Wellness, check in with fitness trainer Shy Lovell