Fortune Favors the Ball

11.13.26 11.13.26

Welcome back to the Spotlight! I am happy to report that have been marked ‘safe’ from the Microsoft Outlook outage of 2026. That being said, I will be brief this week as I am digging out from the backlog. That, and I am not confident that many of my email subscribers will be able to read this email. Or maybe it’s that I am not confident that many of my email subscribers will want to read this email…? Whichever camp you’re in, on this unlucky Friday the 13th, consider yourself lucky that the lights are back on and the wheels are a-turnin’.

American tennis professional Ben Shelton switches apparel sponsors, leaving On for New Balance – so you might call him Ben Shelt from now…on.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver duo Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are reportedly building homes at the ultra-exclusive Legacy Club at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – soon making them neighbors with professional golfer Tiger Woods. With an initiation fee of $300,000 and annual dues of $60,000, it’s clear you need to earn much more than stripes to link up with these big cats.
NBA superstars LeBron James and Kevin Durant are among the biggest names partnering to launch a new under-18 youth basketball league called the Futures League, with an eye towards revamping the youth basketball development pipeline by having the best players compete against one another while giving players an opportunity to build their NIL brands. Now, if only there were a program to revamp parents’ behavior at youth sports…

Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships and Investments

Florence Pugh Turns Heads in a Skintight PVC Catsuit as She is Unveiled as Jaguar’s Inaugural ‘New Era’ Brand Ambassador
November 11, 2026 via Daily Mail

ScHoolboy Q and Malbon Golf Release Collaborative Apparel Collection
November 11, 2026 via Hypebeast

Dave’s and Mike’s Didn’t Need Celebrity Backers to Sign Franchisees. But LeBron and Drake Added Some Spice to the Already-Flavorful Brands
November 10, 2026 via Franchise Times

Calvin Klein Unfurls the Icons With Jung Kook of BTS for Holiday 2026
November 9, 2026 via Women’s Wear Daily

College Sports Commission: NIL Go Cleared More than $190 Million in Deals Across September, October 2026
November 9, 2026 via On3

CeeDee Lamb Showing Fans a Different Side of Himself With Latest Off-the-Field Move
November 9, 2026 via SI

Ben Shelton Reportedly Inks Deal With New Balance Ending Sponsorship With On
November 9, 2026 via SI

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce Wear Hilfiger for Chiefs-Jets Game. Her Polo Sells Out
November 8, 2026 via Kansas City Star

Small Footwear Company Moves into Spotlight with Bears QB Caleb Williams Wearing its Cleats
November 6, 2026 via ABC News

Gotham FC Announces $100 Million Capital Raise to Accelerate Vision of Becoming a Global Leader in Women’s Soccer
November 6, 2026 via Gotham FC

Sports