The Sunday Scroll - 07/20/2025
Where sports, business, and culture collide - stay sharp for the week ahead.
What’s up everyone and Happy Sunday - I spent the weekend up in Pittsburgh with my boy Tommy Craft. It was Mac Miller Bobblehead Night at PNC Park, and it was an incredible experience. The lines were crazy, the Mac stories shared by fans were really special, and Mac’s Mom and Brother threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Mac’s global impact lives forever, but his impact in Pittsburgh truly transcends community.
Shoutout to Substack for raising $100M at a $1.1B valuation. With all this talk of content-creators, Substack is one of the most important modern platforms - it empowers the individual and aligns with “the future of media” concept that I always bring up.
On a similar but separate note, I spotted this interesting job posting on LinkedIn - a16z is now building a podcast network -- intending on bringing indie podcasts ("externally created but strategically aligned") under their roof.
A VC Firm turned media hub - it reminded me of my Bloomberg days where I learned that Bloomberg was created as a marketing ploy for the Bloomberg Terminal.
Continuing this discussion of the “future of media” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred admitted that the MLB had the wrong approach to creators like Jomboy, whom they are now invested in. This tied in with the Portnoy X Fox deal signals that more legacy media companies and sports leagues will follow this trend.
Lastly, Ronnie Fieg (Founder of Kith) is cooking up a Scarface collab, and congrats to Scottie Scheffler for continuing to be a cold blooded killer.
Some cool videos to check out ⬇️
In The Intern, Adrien Brody trades Hollywood for Stuttgart, joining the team at the Porsche Factory as a new intern.
The “Aged Well” trailer, out in fall 2025. This film tells the story of Joe Robinson, creative director and artist behind Joe Freshgoods Inc.
Pharrell and Nigo’s friendship goes way back. So cool that they’re both under the LVMH umbrella now with Pharrell running LV and Nigo running Kenzo.
This Weekend’s 3 Spotlights
The Tom Sachs X Nike Mars Yard 3.0 Releases In September
Summary & Key Takeaway: Tom Sachs and Nikecraft have launched the I.S.R.U. Summer Camp, an interactive online challenge where participants must complete tasks, earn points, and rise up a leaderboard for the chance to purchase the highly anticipated Mars Yard 3.0 sneakers this September. Nikecraft is turning product access into an immersive experience, blending gamification with exclusivity to deepen fan engagement ahead of the Mars Yard 3.0 release.
My Thoughts: The Mars Yards are some of the most coveted sneakers in the world -- with past releases reselling for over $5,000. This “Summer Camp” is such a cool and immersive way to reward real fans. It’s consistent engagement, it’s fun, it’s entertaining, and it demands real work.
3 Modern Media Platforms To Follow: Almost Friday, Acquired, TBPN
Almost Friday TV Teams Up With LA Kings
How the ‘Technology Brothers’ Seized Silicon Valley
Summary & Key Takeaway: Three breakout players in modern media -- Almost Friday Media, Acquired podcast, and TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network) -- are reshaping modern media. Almost Friday is building a full-stack entertainment brand around viral content, live shows, and merch. Acquired just packed 6,000 people into Radio City Music Hall for a live podcast with Jamie Dimon, showing the influence two strong voices can have. Meanwhile, TBPN is becoming a top dog in tech, broadcasting live daily interviews with CEOs from Coinbase, Substack, and more --positioning itself as a modern Bloomberg or CNBC.
The future of media continues to be personality-driven, platform-agnostic, and community-powered. These brands prove that with the right voices and formats, indie media can scale into cultural institutions and multi-million dollar businesses.
My Thoughts: Almost Friday has built a media empire by owning their IP, creating hilarious shows, and building a loyal fanbase through merch, sponsorships, and live events. Acquired shows that two people with deep insights and consistency can command Radio City-level attention. And TBPN is proof that if you go live, book smart guests, and speak the language of your audience, you can become the go-to outlet in your niche.
ISHOWSPEED
Summary & Key Takeaway: IShowSpeed, the 20-year-old YouTuber from Cincinnati, is still making international waves -- recently traveling to Latvia where he shut down streets and met with high-ranking government officials. Speed’s global impact shows the power of digital creators to transcend borders, uplift local communities, and become unofficial cultural ambassadors in the modern media era.
My Thoughts: Wow - a 20-year-old from Cincinnati having this kind of global influence. Speed is putting entire countries on the map, connecting with communities, and spreading positive energy everywhere he goes. The fact that he’s meeting with presidents and ministers, shutting down streets overseas is a testament to how powerful internet culture & content has become.
🏟️ Sports Business
FOS
SBJ
📺 Sports Media, Content & Streaming
Penske Media (Variety + Hollywood Reporter)
USA Today
Stephen Colbert Is Out At CBS. Is All Of Late-Night TV Officially Doomed?
Fox signs Portnoy, CBS cans Colbert? I wonder if CBS has plans to sign a Portnoy-esque deal with someone younger.
CNBC
FOS
The Athletic
Awful Announcing
Wimbledon Viewership Surges On ESPN, Scores Best Audience Since 2019
YouTube Golf Star Grant Horvat Turns Down PGA Tour Invite Over Content Restrictions
BBC
🎽 Sports & Culture: Athletes, Brands, Partnerships, Style
The Athletic
HypeBeast
Sports Illustrated
StupidDOPE
