NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 Invades Toronto

NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 Invades Toronto - The National Basketball Association’s global invasion is entering its next
phase. This weekend’s 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in Toronto will mark the first time the league has held its annual showcase event in a city located outside the United States – a crucial development for a league increasingly fixated on expanding its business overseas.

Like the National Football League and Major League Baseball, the NBA has been aggressive in efforts to reach new fans around the world. The league has used internationally-focused events to access untapped markets in China, Africa and several other countries. Global outreach helped drive league revenue to more than $5 billion in 2015, according to Forbes. By holding one of its flagship events outside of America’s borders, the NBA is sending a clear signal that international expansion isn’t just a gimmick – it’s an ongoing marketing strategy.

Toronto was a natural choice to host the first-ever international NBA All-Star Game, given the league’s strong presence in Canada. TV viewership of NBA games has doubled in Canada over the last three seasons. A total of 12 Canadian-born players were included on opening-night rosters this season, more than any other country in the world. And the once-woeful Toronto Raptors have become one of the league’s most popular teams, thanks in part to rapper and Toronto native Drake, the franchise’s “global ambassador.”

“The time was right to take it to Toronto,” Dan MacKenzie, NBA Canada’s vice president and managing director, told FOXBusiness.com. “The [Toronto Raptors] had expressed interest. They’re one of the top teams in the league in terms of organizational capacity. Toronto’s just a fantastic city, it’s an international city. If you were going to have the first international All-Star Game, it just made sense to have it in Toronto.”

Planning for the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend began more than three years ago, when Toronto beat out several other bidders for hosting rights. This year’s events will generate anywhere from $80 million to $100 million for the city of Toronto, MacKenzie said, citing various estimates.

Aside from the logistical challenges of coordinating a major sporting event on the other side of an international border, league officials faced another dilemma – how to turn the All-Star Game from a few isolated events in one Canadian city into a national affair that would create new international fans and attract local sponsors to the NBA’s product.

The NBA has enacted a three-fold strategy to build its brand north of the border: bring the courtside experience to uninitiated Canadians, increase basketball participation among the country’s youth, and capitalize on social media to drive fan engagement. It’s the same plan league officials have applied in other marketplaces, such as Europe and China.

Those efforts have already begun to pay off. The league’s base of 19 million Twitter (TWTR) followers includes more than 650,000 Canadians. Events such as the “NBA Canada Series,” which consisted of four preseason games, and the “Bell NBA All-Star Challenge,” which invited fans in 14 Canadian cities to participate in All-Star-themed events, have helped with fan engagement.

NBA Canada has gained six major sponsors in the last 18 months alone, including Air Miles and the Bank of Montreal (BOM).

“They’re not just extension of U.S. deals or global deals,” MacKenzie said. “They’re Canadian companies who are realizing that there’s a groundswell of fan interest here.”

But the business opportunities afforded by a successful All-Star Weekend aren’t limited to new sponsors. A strong showcase of the NBA’s best players and overall entertainment value on an international stage can attract the type of business leaders that drive a sports league’s expansion. Interest from billionaires like former Microsoft (MSFT) executive Steve Ballmer, who purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014, can lift franchise values across the league.

“You want the wealthiest potential owners in the world interested in buying NBA teams. You’ve got some very wealthy billionaires in Canada, notably the people who own the Raptors,” said Rick Burton, former commissioner of Australia’s National Basketball League and a sports business expert at Syracuse University in New York. “You constantly want to know who’s out there with billions of dollars. Who’s the next Steve Ballmer? If he’s in Canada, you want to know about him and you want to entertain him at the game.”

If all goes well, the Toronto All-Star festivities may just be the beginning. Aside from exhibition contests in Africa, China and other foreign locations, the NBA has held several regular-season games at O2 Arena in London. The most recent game took place last month, when the Raptors traveled across the pond to face off against the Orlando Magic.

London is the logical choice for the NBA’s next international All-Star Game, according to Burton.

“It’s your jumping-off point for all of Europe. You could do Berlin, you could do Paris, and the NBA has played around in those cities before. But it’s always tied to the arena,” he said. 

This weekend’s slate of action kicks off Friday from Toronto’s Air Canada Center at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. The 2016 NBA All-Star Game tips off on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

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News Trend: Kevin Durant powers Thunder by Clippers into West finals

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kevin Durant had 39 points and 16 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 104-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 on Thursday night.

Russell Westbrook overcame a slow start to finish with 19 points and 12 assists as the Thunder reached the conference finals for the third time in four years, closing out Los Angeles with two straight wins.

Two days after the Thunder erased a late 13-point deficit to win Game 5, the Thunder rallied from an early 16-point deficit and maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter, shaking off any memories of their Game 4 collapse.

Chris Paul had 25 points and 11 assists, and Blake Griffin scored 22 points as the Clippers' exhausting postseason ended in disappointment. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Related Video

What now for NBA's 5 remaining head coach vacancies?

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News Trend: San Diego Fires Update: Blazes in San Marcos, Camp Pendleton prompt ...

AP

Two firefighters discuss a strategy change while fighting a wildfire from the backyard of a home Thursday, May 15, 2014, in San Marcos, Calif. Gusty winds failed to return Thursday in San Diego County wildfire areas and authorities said it was a window of opportunity to make further gains against flames that have charred thousands of acres and burned homes.

One of the nine fires burning in San Diego County suddenly flared Thursday afternoon and burned close to homes as new winds arrived.

The flare-up near the state university city of San Marcos occurred after a half-day lull in winds that firefighters had seized as an opportunity to make progress against flames that have scorched thousands of acres.

State fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said the fire was running east along hillsides behind California State University San Marcos. RELATED: New fires burn in Carlsbad, Camp Pendleton, Long Beach, Anaheim

The flare-up appeared to involve a change in wind direction. On previous days there was offshore flow -€' generally from the northeast. But Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported winds out of the northwest.

Fires began erupting Tuesday amid high heat, extremely low humidity and gusty Santa Ana winds. By Wednesday, nine fires were burning.

Asked about the possibility of arson, county Sheriff Bill Gore said earlier Thursday that he wouldn't prejudge the investigations. He noted that sparks from vehicles can easily ignite brush in such dry conditions.

Emergency officials said a significant number of firefighting aircraft had become available, including four air tankers and 22 military helicopters.

Ten of the military helicopters were being used to battle a blaze that grew to 9.37 square miles on the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton. Despite its growth, the fire was 20 percent contained and was no longer considered a threat to communities.

Twelve other military helicopters were available to the county, where the biggest concern was a 1.25-square-mile blaze at the city of San Marcos. That fire was 5 percent contained and thousands of people remained evacuated, but officials told a news conference they were beginning to assess repopulating areas.

The wildfires drove tens of thousands from their homes and shut down schools and amusement parks, including Legoland. The amusement park reopened Thursday.

Firefighters contended with temperatures approaching 100 degrees and gusty winds as they tried to contain flames fueled by brush and trees left brittle by drought.

Extremely high temperatures were occurring again Thursday, ranging in the high 90s to 100 in the northwestern area of the county where the fires burned.

The heat was so intense that records continued to be broken in Southern California and horse racing was canceled at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, east of Los Angeles.

Officials said a Carlsbad area blaze was 60 percent contained and had burned 400 acres. The wildfire destroyed an 18-unit condominium complex and four residences, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall said. Poinsettia Fire

Some evacuation orders were being lifted in Carlsbad but a major power outage and hotspots were still a concern.

Efforts were focusing on San Marcos, a university city where hundreds of new evacuation orders were issued on Thursday. More than 20,000 evacuation notices were sent to residents Wednesday and a California State University campus with nearly 10,000 students in the middle of final exams was shut down at least through Thursday.

San Diego County officials said that the blaze had destroyed three homes.

Tuzo Jerger was one of thousands told to evacuate because of the Carlsbad fire. The 66-year-old real estate broker packed files, a surfboard, golf clubs, clothes and photos and sought solace at a friend's hilltop house in nearby San Marcos, only to see another fierce wildfire break out there and force thousands from their homes.

'I thought, 'Oh my God, it's going to come this way,'' Jerger said at a San Marcos restaurant where he found relief in a slice of pizza.

The blaze in the coastal city of Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego, was the most destructive of the fires so far.

Many schools across the county were closed Thursday including San Diego Unified. Officials expected some wouldn't reopen until next week.

Other areas in the county also flared up, though most calmed quickly, including two fires in the far north of the county near Camp Pendleton that together burned nearly 11 square miles and prompted evacuations that lasted just a few hours. Tomahawk Fire

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for San Diego County, which would free up special resources and funding for the firefight, and state fire officials were creating a central command center for the blazes.

Drought conditions have made fire danger extremely high throughout much of California. Officials have encouraged residents in fire-prone areas to prepare evacuation plans and clear brush from near their homes.

The city's fire chief said the blazes were unprecedented in his 27-year firefighting career because they are so early in the year.

'This is May, this is unbelievable. This is something we should see in October,' Chief Michael Davis said. 'I haven't seen it this hot, this dry, this long in May.'

Police and fire agencies were gathering evidence on the cause of the fires, but no conclusions had yet been reached. This story has been updated.

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News Trend: Was Jill Abramson fired because she is a woman?

Editor's note: Frida Ghitis is a world affairs columnist for The Miami Herald and World Politics Review. A former CNN producer and correspondent, she is the author of 'The End of Revolution: A Changing World in the Age of Live Television.' Follow her on Twitter @FridaGhitis. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) -- You can draw your own conclusions about why Jill Abramson was fired, but as we look at the history of her tenure as executive editor of The New York Times, the world's most prestigious and influential newspaper, and learn details about how it came to an end, women everywhere are shaking their heads.

Any woman who has spent time in the work force is familiar with the challenges of being judged and treated fairly by her peers and bosses, of obtaining the recognition she deserves, and of being an effective advocate for one's own career.

Women battle to break through the glass ceiling. After that, what comes is walking on broken glass.

It's popular now to talk about the need for women to lean in. But, that's not even half the battle. Turns out, as many women have discovered, that leaning in can actually get you sacked.

Just hours after NYTimes.com unceremoniously removed Abramson's name from the masthead and Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. told employees she had been replaced, without offering much of an explanation, we learned that Abramson, who had held the job for less than three years, had confronted her bosses about her compensation, telling them she had discovered her total compensation -- salary and benefits -- was substantially lower than that of her predecessor, former editor Bill Keller.

The Times quickly shot back, rejecting the pay disparity argument, saying Abramson's total compensation was comparable to Keller's, and that her 'pension benefit, like all Times employees, is based on her years of service and compensation. The pension benefit was frozen in 2009.'

Sulzberger issued a statement later saying it wasn't about money and it's not true that Abramson was paid less than her predecessor. He said that in her last year, her total compensation package was more than 10% higher than Keller's in his last year as executive editor.

Now it's become she said / he said. But compensation aside, in his announcement on Wednesday, Sulzberger did say his decision had to do with 'an issue with management in the newsroom.'

So it's about management. OK. That seems to match a remarkably similar chain of events in Paris, where Natalie Nougayrède, the editor-in-chief of the prestigious newspaper, Le Monde, was forced out of her job after other journalists accused her of being too authoritarian, or 'Putin-like.' What a curious coincidence.

Before Abramson's departure, the personality-driven criticism had wafted out of the Times newsroom, with accusations that reeked of sexism. A few months ago, an article discussed whether she is 'bitchy,' and the word 'pushy' keeps coming up.

I have spent many years in the news business and I can think of countless successful high-level managers who were pushy, bossy, at times downright cruel with staff. Those men were often viewed as strong, driven, effective, determined, good leaders.

The Washington Post's legendary Ben Bradlee was affectionately described as having a ' pugnacious personality.' And Abramson's predecessor, Bill Keller, said his wife describes him as 'socially autistic.' These traits would likely doom a woman's career. In men, they are viewed as quirks, curiosities, even assets in the single-minded pursuit of journalistic success.

Men's personalities are fodder for office gossip, but more generally viewed as a secondary matter, perhaps a topic for conversation at the bar after a long day. With women, it infuses their professional persona.

People expect women to be nice, likeable or feminine. And it turns out being strong and demanding, and not always warm and friendly, can destroy your career, or at least make for a much less successful one.

You cannot win without losing. In order to do a good job, women may find they have to take actions that turn people against them.

The problem with the stereotyping that demands women be liked and likeable is that it is much hazier, more difficult to counteract. It often lies hidden below the surface, alongside conscious efforts at equality.

The New York Times and Le Monde and other major organizations have made strides to promote women. Abramson was the paper's first female executive editor. Her superior made a landmark decision in promoting her, just as they did with her replacement Dean Baquet, the Times' first African-American executive editor. But the tide of antagonism, the no-win rules that say you fail if you succeed can be found at all levels of the organization, including among rank-and-file staff.

By objective standards, Abramson did a fine job. The paper won eight Pulitzer prizes during her brief tenure, with top-notch reporting and investigative journalism. Signups for digital access among readers increased. The company stock doubled during her tenure, performing better than the rest of the stock market.

Doing a good job by objective measures, as we know, is not enough.

That's especially true for women, who as Sheryl Sandberg pointed out in her book 'Lean In,' worry about being liked.

If it is difficult for women to exercise leadership in order to advance the businesses they lead, that obstacle is a mere bump on the road when compared to the challenge of advocating on their own behalf.

We don't know to what extent Abramson's complaint about her compensation was a factor in her firing. But we know just how risky and complicated it is for women to ask for better pay.

Women at every level are paid less than their male counterparts. Top female executives make 18% less than their male counterparts. The same is true for female journalists.

Trying to change that is excruciatingly difficult. As a recent New York Times article puts it, asking for a promotion or raise can make women seem 'overly demanding and unlikeable' and not 'sufficiently feminine, unseemly, if on a subconscious level.'

It's all incredibly irritating and offensive. And it needs to change.

The specific circumstance that brought Jill Abramson's sudden and shockingly undignified fall at the New York Times or Natalie Nougayrède's exit are almost secondary. The episodes have an ugly ring that is familiar to women. For all the progress we have seen, there is still a long, long way to go.

Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion.

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News Trend: Flare-up keeps San Diego fire situation tenuous

- Firefighters aided by calmer winds made progress Thursday against a series of wildfires burning across San Diego County, and authorities collected clues and solicited the public's help to determine what caused so many blazes to occur simultaneously.

While some of the nine fires were extinguished and thousands of people were able to return to their homes, the San Marcos blaze roared back in the afternoon. Flames raced along scrubby hillsides as massive black plumes filled the skies.

Smoke limited visibility to a few feet at times in the city of 85,000 about 35 miles north of San Diego. On one street, five horses wandered nervously in a paddock as firefighters worked to protect nearby homes and barns.

Sheriff Bill Gore said the flare-up prompted more than 13,000 new evacuation notices and served as a 'reminder to everybody just how volatile this can be.'

The fires has destroyed at least eight houses, an 18-unit condominium complex and two businesses, and has burned more than 15 square miles, causing more than $20 million in damage so far. Most of the damage was in San Marcos and Carlsbad. No major injuries were reported.

While drought conditions and unusually high temperatures made the area ripe for wildfires, there are suspicions that at least some of the blazes might have been set. Gore said arson is being looked at but so are many other possibilities, such as sparks from vehicles.

He encouraged the public to contact authorities with any information.

Since the fires began Tuesday, 125,000 evacuation notices have been sent. Schools across the county were shut down, and the Legoland amusement park had to close Wednesday. It reopened Thursday.

While local authorities congratulated themselves for the cooperative effort among agencies and the bravery shown by firefighters, not everyone was pleased.

Greg Saska stood in front of his charred Carlsbad home Thursday in sandals that showed his soot-covered feet. He said he was not impressed with the fire response.

'I don't want to complain, but I wish they had just made a little more effort to put the fire out,' Saska said. 'The end of the house ... was still burning. And they (firefighters) just left. And I'm just kinda going, 'What would've been the big deal to stay here another 10 minutes and put that out totally?' I just don't get it.'

The flare-up in San Marcos ran up a slope in a heavily vegetated area but with no wind on it. The fire was being driven by fuel and topography, said Division Chief Dave Allen of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

'It's created its own weather pattern there as it sucks oxygen in,' he said.

State fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said the fire was running east along hillsides behind California State University, San Marcos, which canceled graduation ceremonies because of the danger from the flames.

The 1 1/2-square-mile blaze was only 5 percent contained by late Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters have been contending with sweltering heat in their fight to contain flames fueled by brush and trees left brittle by drought. Temperatures on Thursday ranged from the high 90s to 100.

Calmer winds allowed aircraft to make a heavy contribution to the firefighting efforts. Four air tankers and 22 military helicopters were being used, in addition to local agency helicopters.

Ten of the military helicopters were being used to battle a blaze that grew to almost 9 1/2 square miles on the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton. Despite its growth, the fire was 20 percent contained and was no longer considered a threat to communities.

Watson reported from San Diego. Contributing to this report were AP photographer Lenny Ignelzi and videographer Raquel Maria Dillon in San Marcos, and AP writers Robert Jablon and John Antczak in Los Angeles.

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News Trend: Rachel Roy's Role In Elevator Attack: She's Worried Fight Will Ruin Her Career

Solange Knowles' reputation isn't the only one that's taken a hit after the shocking video of her attacking brother-in-law Jay Z was leaked on May 12. People have also been buzzing about Rachel Roy's role in elevator smackdown, and now the fashion designer is worried that it could have a devastating impact on her career, a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

reference on May 15, suggesting that she doesn't give a hoot what the world may think about her Rachel Roy boldly tweeted a thinly veiled Jay Z'too close' relationship with the rapper, or her long-standing feud with Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles. But now HollywoodLife.com can EXCLUSIVELY tell you how Rachel really feels about the situation. Read on. Rachel Roy's Role In Elevator Attack: She's Worried Fight Will Ruin Her Career

Jay Z,Beyonce and Solange tried to reassure fans that their family was alright on May 15 by issuing a joint statement about the elevator attack, and perhaps Rachel should do the same thing if she wants to save her good name.

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'She's worried this story could ruin her career and hurt her socially,' a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

Unfortunately, we think Rachel could be right about that. That said, if she quickly does some damage control - and cuts out the Jay Z tweets - we think she'll come out of this whole thing okay. Rachel Roy Disses Solange Knowles In New Jay Z Tweet

Solange violently lashed out at Jay Z following a Met Ball after-party at the Standard Hotel on May 5 because she felt that his relationship with Rachel was 'too close for comfort,' a source told HollywoodLife.com exclusively.

And Rachel didn't help the situation by referencing Jay Z in a tweet on May 14! She totally stirred the pot when she tweeted lyrics from Jay's song, 'Beach Is Better,' which appeared on his last album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Rachel's tweet reads: 'The beach is better! Escape with RRR's Summer '14 video http://t.co/CqHIlScIEo.'

It may not seem like a big deal, but given Rachel's much buzzed-about connection to Solange and Jay Z's family feud, she might want to steer clear of sending out any more Hov-related messages!

HollywoodLifers, has YOUR opinion of Rachel changed for the worse since the elevator attack? Do you think she should release a statement about her role in the incident? Let us know. - Written by Tierney McAfee, Reporting by Chloe Melas More On Jay Z & Solange's Fight:

Jay Z V. Solange: Standard Hotel Fires Employee Who Leaked Fight Video Solange Knowles: Why She Verbally Lashes Out At Jay Z Often Solange Knowles: Mad Beyonce Didn't Defend Her After Fight Video Leaked

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News Trend: Jill Abramson pulls no punches in online photo post-firing from New York Times

Ousted New York Times chief Jill Abramson climbed up off the mat and donned the gloves again Thursday after suffering a potentially career-ending knockout.

A day after she was abruptly fired, a photo surfaced of the tattooed former executive editor wearing boxing gloves and hitting a heavy bag.

Abramson's daughter, Cornelia Griggs, posted the 'badass' pic on her Instagram page.

'Mom's badass new hobby #girls #pushy ,' Griggs wrote.

The sudden ouster of Abramson, 60, the Times' first female executive editor, sent shockwaves rippling through the journalism world.

Evan Agostini/AP

Dean Baquet, the paper's managing editor, was named Abramson's successor.

Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of the New York Times, released a statement Thursday countering media reports that the firing was centered on her complaints over unequal pay.

'Compensation played no part whatsoever in my decision that Jill could not remain as executive editor,' it read.

'Nor did any discussion about compensation. The reason - the only reason - for that decision was concerns I had about some aspects of Jill's management of our newsroom, which I had previously made clear to her, both face-to-face and in my annual assessment.'

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