Player trading and fantasy football platform Footstock has appointed ex-player and broadcaster Chris Kamara as brand ambassador.

‘Kammy,’ as the English football legend is better known, will represent the brand for the 2020/21 season, taking part in a range of marketing and PR activations aimed at boosting Footstock’s visibility in the UK. 

Specifically, Kammy will voiceover Footstock’s upcoming debut national radio advertising campaign on talkSPORT, and will be sharing exclusive content and his personal Footstock tips with his 1.7 million Twitter followers. 

Commenting on his new role, Kammy said:

“Ever since gaining my lucky break being spotted playing for the Royal Navy, I’ve always embraced life’s opportunities and working with Footstock is another exciting prospect.

“The game allows football followers to utilise their knowledge in a fun and responsible way. I can’t wait to test my competitive spirit on the platform and work with the Footstock team to entertain our loyal and growing userbase.”

While Footstock CMO, James Copeland, added:

“When we decided to bring in a brand ambassador for Footstock we had a shortlist featuring one name. We’re absolutely thrilled that Kammy wanted to join us too.

“As one of football’s most-loved presenters, there’s really no one else quite like Kammy. Whether he’s astutely analysing on the Goals on Sunday sofa or causing mayhem with his in-game reports, his thirst for the sport is unquenchable and his personality is a perfect fit for Footstock.”

Player trading and fantasy

Footstock was launched in April 2019 and is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The app allows users to buy and sell player cards – stocks in Premier League stars – for real money. A player’s real-life performances on the pitch improve their in-game states on Footstock, dictating price and scarcity accordingly. Lucky dip-stye player packs are also available, adding a random element to the offering. 

When a user has created a collection of players, they can play a selection of games, including daily fantasy contents based on real-life fixtures and Stat Roulette, to win prize pots and other user’s cards. For the 2020/21 season, Footstock is offering a £100K GBP free-to-enter fantasy contest. 

Kammy – an English institution

Kammy has been a regular on Sky Sports football coverage for over 20 years, and his versatile presenting style has helped him branch into mainstream TV, becoming a household name in the UK and appearing on TV shows from Loose Women to Have I Got News for You and even popular soap opera Emmerdale. 

His football career started with representing the Royal Navy, before signing with Portsmouth in 1974, and going on to play almost 800 professional games. In 1989-90 he was part of Leeds United’s second division-winning team, and played for Sheffield United and Middlesbrough in the top flight. Following his retirement as a player, he managed Bradford City, helping get them promoted from third to second tier in 1996. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Footstock’s unique blend of trading and fantasy football seems likely to have wide appeal, so the company really needs to focus on increasing its exposure in its home market – and a personality like Kammy is probably going to do the trick nicely. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

International intellectual heavyweight Paris Hilton has sold a picture of her pussy for $17,000 USD worth of ETH. 

Ok, I’m talking about a cat… what were you thinking? More precisely, a digital painting of her pet cat, Munchkin, that is now secured forever as a non-fungible token (NFT). 

The digital painting of Munchkin  attracted four bids and sold for almost $17K worth of ETH, on Ethereum-based auction platform Cryptograph, with funds going to support three US charities; The LA Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and BB4Homeless. 

Today I am auctioning off my @Cryptograph of #Munchkin to benefit 3 amazing charities: @LAFoodBank @MealsOnWheels @BB4Homeless. The auction is live now for the next 72 hours at https://t.co/rCroea8vCg pic.twitter.com/XP18LGtHsi

— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) August 13, 2020

So, who coughed up $17K in crypto for Hilton’s digital pussy picture? All we know is their username is “Adirolls,”  and they seem to have a penchant for crypto-celebrity created artwork – having previously purchased art created by Roger Ver, Bitcoin.com’s founder, and Vlad Zamfir, Ethereum Foundation researcher. 

Hilton herself, though not exactly a crypto luminary, was previously associated with Singapore-based LydianCoin. However, she seems to have abandoned her support for the project following its founder, Gurbasksh Chahal, being convicted of domestic violence and battery.

The very first Cryptograph was created and sold by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and the platform has also sold artwork by celebrities including David Arquette, Bryan Greenberg, Nicky Whelan, Daisy Keech, Jonathan Scheach, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Shiloh Fernandez, Cary Elwes, Taylor Cole, Ryan Phillippe, Ashley Greene and many more.

In all seriousness though, kudos to Paris for raising money for such good causes, and the auction demonstrates the potential of selling original or limited edition digital art as NFTs. 

As for her painting skills, well, maybe she’s best sticking to… er… whatever it she actually does. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Japan’s top gamer, Hajime Taniguchi, has joined the Singapore-based Global Esports Federation (GEF).

The Global Esports Federation has enhanced its Athletes and Players Commission with the inclusion of Japan’s top gamer, Hajime Taniguchi, better known as ‘Tokido.’

Discussing the news Esports Champion, Member of Athletes and Players Commission, Global Esports Federation, Tokido, said:

“Esports is now among the fastest growing sport and entertainment globally. Skills and commitment alone are not enough to guarantee long-term success in esports, health and wellbeing are as important to ensure a sustainable career in esports. 

“I’m honored to be a part of a worldwide organization that places equal emphasis on the overall wellbeing of players and athletes, empowering them to keep levelling-up their game, and at the same time establishing a sustainable career pathway for esports athletes to succeed.”

While Vice President and Chair, Athletes and Players Commission, Global Esports Federation, Charmaine Crooks, added:

“We are thrilled to welcome an esports legend onto the Athletes and Players Commission. I trust that the Global Esports Federation will benefit greatly from his expansive experience having competed on some of the most prestigious world stages in esports.

“Tokido’s involvement in the Commission will help further the detailed work we have already put in to shape the organization, convening this incredible community, while enhancing the representation of the world’s esports athletes.”

Recognized by fans and the esports community as one of the “Five Gods” of Japanese Street Fighter with a long legacy of winning at the game across multiple eras, Tokido has won many global and domestic titles including, Evo (2002, 2007 and 2017), Canada Cup (2018 and 2019) and Topanga Championship 2020. 

Hailing from Okinawa, he grew up in Yokohama, Japan and graduated from Tokyo University. Tokido became a professional gamer in 2010 and was a member of Team Mad Catz from 2011 to 2016 and Echo Fox between 2017 and 2019. 

He has also published two books that chronicle his journey to becoming a professional esports champion; and explain his personal philosophy on commitment and determination that expanded his esports career.

AYO.NEWS says:

Though the GEF still needs to convince much of the global esports community and industry, with many remaining skeptical of its ties to Chinese conglomerate Tencent, no one can say it isn’t filling its ranks with plenty of well-known names. 

Last month the Federation announced a partnership with the Madrid-based Global Sports Innovation Center Powered by Microsoft, while in June it unveiled a partnership with Japan-based international advertising and public relations company Dentsu. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Tony Petitti has left his position as Major League Baseball (MLB) Deputy Commissioner of Business & Media to join Activision Blizzard. 

Based in New York, as president of sports & entertainment, Petitti will be reporting to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, and will be using his experience to move Activision brands into local markets. 

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Activision Blizzard was planning to operate both Overwatch League and Call of Duty League in local markets. 

Commenting on the appointment, Kotick said:

“Tony is one of the most highly regarded executives in sports and entertainment. His success in media and as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball is the perfect blend of skills to help us realize our aspirations for esports and our related businesses. He is admired by owners, media executives, players and fans.”

While Petitti himself added:

“Bobby Kotick has been translating his vision into opportunity at Activision Blizzard for 30 years. I couldn’t be more excited to use my own 30 years of sports and entertainment experience to help Activision Blizzard realize its ambitions.

“It’s clear to me the company has an incredible opportunity to connect players and fans in new and innovative ways, and I’m excited to be joining the company at such an important moment in its history. The last 12 years in baseball have been extraordinary for me and I am especially grateful for the leadership and mentorship that Commissioner Manfred provided to me and the League.”

Joining in 2008 as Network president, Petitti spent 12 years with MLB, where he oversaw a wide range of areas from marketing and special events to broadcast and digital media. He was promoted to deputy commissioner in late 2017, and has since been involved in negotiating major rights deals with Turner and Fox – the latter of which is said to have been worth some $5.1 billion USD. 

Before joining MLB, 13-time Emmy-award winner Petitti was executive vice-president and executive producer at CBS Sports. He is a graduate of Haverford College and Harvard Law School. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Petitti’s move from the oldest US sports league to the country’s biggest esports company is yet another sign of just how far esports has come as an industry. Looking to the future, we’re sure Petitti’s experience, skills and network will help power Activision Blizzard ahead as it capitalises on the COVID-19 lockdown-spurred esports explosion. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Our favourite rogue libertarian pro-crypto presidential candidate John McAfee has had yet another brush with the law, this time in Norway. 

McAfee was detained by Norwegian authorities after arriving in the country in a private jet, and proceeding through border controls wearing a face mask made from a lacy black thong. 

McAfee’s wife, Janice, kept the world updated about the international underwear incident via Twitter, sharing several photos of the offending panties. 

Defending her husband’s choice of fae covering, Janice said:

‘His thong mask: It doesn’t recycle his exhaled carbon dioxide, like over the ear masks. (Breathing impaired people are exempt from wearing masks because masks impair respiration),’ she wrote.

‘Masks stop bacteria. Not viruses people! He was arrested for what he believes. Thank you my love.’

His thong mask:

It doesn’t recycle his exhaled carbon dioxide, like over the ear masks.
(Breathing impaired people are exempt from wearing masks because masks impair respiration).

Masks stop bacteria. Not viruses people!

He was arrested for what he believes.
Thank you my love. pic.twitter.com/Vm7ZjyR6bz

— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) August 10, 2020

Living on the edge

The McAfees are no strangers to dealing with law enforcement, and clearly take it in their stride, with Janice even enjoying a bottle of champagne while she waited for her husband to be released. 

Not only are the McAfees wanted in the United States on charges of tax fraud, but John has also been “a person of interest” relating to the 2012 murder of his neighbour in Belize (though charges were never filed), has been arrested and deported from Guatemala for illegally entering the country, and as we reported last summer, was arrested in the Dominican Republic after police found several high-powered firearms in his boat. 

Ghost and the end of the world as we know it

McAfee has long been an outspoken advocate of cryptocurrencies, and in June launched his own distributed crypto exchange called ‘Ghost’ – which promises users true anonymity and includes a Proof-of-Stake privacy coin.

Back in April, McAfee also warned that the “world is collapsing” and urged people to forget crypto and buy peanut butter. He was convinced that fiat currencies would collapse within a couple of months as COVID-19 lockdowns destroyed the global economy. 

While that hasn’t happened yet, it’s hard to argue the world isn’t facing an unprecedented economic crisis, and the very real prospect of more lockdowns making things even worse – so maybe McAfee will be proven correct after all, if a little out on the timing.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Gambing technology provider EveryMatrix has appointed Erik Nyman to lead the opening of the company’s first US office. 

As President Americas, Nyman will lead the company’s expansion into the US market, focusing particularly on the CasinoEngine product which has proved successful in several European markets. 

Nyman has more than 10 years of experience in the iGaming industry, and is a specialist in new market entries and strategic deals – exemplified by his pivotal role in helping to establish NetEnt in the US. 

Welcoming Nyman to the company, Group CEO of EveryMatrix, Ebbe Groes, said:

“Expanding into the US is the next step for the organization. We have a strong European presence, very experienced teams, premium products on both casino and sports, so tackling more regulated markets is a logical strategic move for us.

“I welcome Erik to our team, and I personally admire his skills, experience, and determination. I am delighted that we can attract such talent in our Leadership Team. Erik will make our entry considerably more effective and successful.”

While Nyman himself added:

“EveryMatrix offers the largest variety of products and functionality in the online gaming business. Their platform, entrepreneurial spirit and people have enabled their success, which has accelerated over the last years.

“Today EveryMatrix is among the leading turnkey suppliers in our industry. Success in the US requires great product, dedication and the ability to establish strong beneficial partnerships. The organization possesses all of those qualities, and I am very honoured to lead their expansion into the US and Americas.”

Staying with EveryMatrix, in June the company announced Stian Enger Pettersen as Chief Executive Officer for the company’s casino business unit. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020