Latest news with #DraftDay2025
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Dwyane Wade leaves NBA stars speechless with one powerful message on Draft Day
The world is buzzing as Draft Day 2025 kicks off, but before any names are called, one legendary figure has already won hearts with a message louder than the crowd. While teams prepare to make franchise-changing picks, former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade took a different approach, he dropped a powerful and emotional post for every young player waiting to hear their name. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now No trades, no deals, just real talk. Wade's words didn't just speak to the drafted, but also to those still chasing the dream, reminding everyone what this moment is really about. Dwyane Wade offers heartfelt encouragement on Draft Day Just before the 2025 NBA Draft tipped off in Brooklyn, former NBA star Dwyane Wade shared a moving message on his official X account. He wrote: 'DRAFT DAY!!!! Good luck to all the hoopers whose dreams will come true today! I'm sending patience to the ones whose dreams will take a detour. Keep dreaming. Keep believing. Keep working!' The timing couldn't feel more perfect right as players and families gathered in Barclays Center, Dwyane Wade's message reminded young men that this is just one step on a long journey. His words were spread quickly by fans, teams, and media alike, giving both reassurance and inspiration across social platforms. Fan reactions show mix of excitement and emotion Fans and analysts wasted no time responding online. One user commented: 'That's exactly what these kids need to hear on Draft Day.' A fan from Chicago posted, 'It's been 23 years dwag and you still gassing the nba draft….' One comment simply read: 'Please wade, take over for pat. We need saving' Dwyane Wade leaves NBA stars speechless with one powerful message on Draft Day (Image Source: X) Teams also shared the post, with several NBA front offices reposting Wade's message to remind draft picks that work ethic and mindset matter. Social feeds lit up with clips of hopeful players and their supportive families, all echoing Wade's advice. Seeing Dwyane Wade's encouragement sparked memories for many fans of their own journeys, challenges, and the day they cheered from home or from the stands. His message became a uniting voice during an emotional day. Wade's message helped set the tone for Draft Day: a moment of pure hope, dreams realized or deferred, and the belief that one day or more big things are still possible. Also read:
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Above the Mantel: It's NFL Draft Day, and Topps and Panini are picking!
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 8: A general view of the 2025 NFL Draft logo at the NFL Experience fan festival a day prior to Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles inside of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on February 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Don) It's NFL Draft Day, Collectors, and this year 34 teams are picking stars… that is, of course, if you include Topps and Panini in the mix. The two sports card manufacturers have been hard at work competing to sign the biggest names in the draft, and Mantel broke down which players have been 'picked' by each sports card team (including Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Cam Skattebo, Jaxson Dart and Emeka Egbuka). Advertisement Who faired better - Panini or Topps? Let's debate! Speaking of Topps vs. Panini… For the first time since 2020, Patrick Mahomes will sign autographs for licensed NFL trading cards, with new autos set to appear in Panini's 2025 product line. Mahomes, one of the hobby's most valuable names, is returning to Panini just as the brand nears the end of its NFL license (Topps takes over in 2026). His involvement is expected to drive major demand, especially as Mahomes' autographed cards have fetched record-breaking prices, including a $4.3M sale in 2021. The partnership also includes strategic and marketing initiatives between Mahomes and Panini. Luxury watch startup Kettle, founded by three Penn State grads, is fusing high-end timepieces with NFL hype by creating custom-engraved Rolexes for 2025 draft prospects Will Campbell and Tyler Warren. Each watch—retailing at $17,000—features the player's name, signature, and 'Draft Day 2025' engraving, and fans can enter a $10 raffle to win the watches or signed gear. Advertisement A baseball autographed by the late Pope Francis is being auctioned by RR Auction and is expected to fetch over $15K. Signed with 'Francisco,' the ball comes from Randy Kaplan's unique collection of baseballs signed by world leaders. Kaplan, who has gathered over 450 such balls since 1996, worked directly with the Vatican to obtain the signatures of both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI. The winning bidder will also receive Kaplan's correspondence with Vatican officials, including a candid letter from Cardinal Turkson explaining an autograph mix-up. Miu Miu and New Balance have teamed up with tennis star Coco Gauff for a co-branded collection of activewear and sneakers. Gauff will debut unique colorways of the gear during tournaments in Rome, Berlin, and Cincinnati, showcasing distinct palettes for each city. On court, she'll wear updated versions of her Coco CG2 sneakers, while off court she'll sport casual looks, including the New Balance x Miu Miu 530 SL and co-branded tracksuits. The collection launches online and in select Miu Miu stores in September. A collection of four Shakespeare Folio's are headed to auction with Sotheby's, marking the first time all four will be sold together since 1989. The First Folio, printed in 1623, is considered one of the most important literary works ever published, preserving 36 of Shakespeare's plays. Only about 235 copies survive, mostly in public institutions, and complete editions are especially rare—one sold for nearly $10 million in 2020. The later three Folios are updated versions, with the Third Folio being the rarest due to the Great Fire of London, with only 182 known copies remaining. The sale is scheduled for May 23rd, and the lot is expected to fetch more than $6M.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Will Campbell and Tyler Warren to wear custom NFL Draft Rolexes that will be given away
Think of it as an NFL Draft night debut patch, like something Topps would produce for a sports card, but shinier. At least that's the idea for LSU tackle Will Campbell and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren as they'll sport their one-of-one Rolex watches specially engraved by watch marketplace and authenticator Kettle at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. And in debut patch-type fashion, fans will have the chance to win the watches worn by Campbell and Warren through Kettle's website. Advertisement 'The custom suit jackets are like the newest trend of the draft,' Kettle founder Jordan Hefler said. 'Everyone goes on stage. They shake (NFL commissioner Roger) Goodell's hand. They flash the jacket open. You see the college logo and their family's names. So we wanted to elevate them to have a custom piece that they could flex, while also making it a collector and memorabilia item similar to what Topps is doing. 'We're calling this their introduction into the NFL.' Campbell and Warren, both potential top 10 picks in Round 1 on Thursday night, will wear their custom watches throughout the night, including while each takes the phone call from their prospective team, leading up to when Goodell announces where each player has been picked, followed by the customary bro hug with the commissioner. The watches read 'Draft Day 2025' and feature the players' signatures scanned into the engraving. Kettle also leverages the blockchain to verify the authenticity and provenance of these watches. Campbell said it took 'zero' convincing for him to agree once he heard the idea. Warren jumped at the chance as well, calling it 'a unique opportunity that was different from some other deals.' Now prying the watch away from Campbell? That might be an issue. 'I hadn't taken it off since the day they gave it to me,' Campbell said. 'I take it off for workouts and stuff like that. But when I'm just hanging out and going around, I've got it on for sure.' The company started what it hopes becomes a trend with Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean during Super Bowl LIX. Kettle designed a custom engraving on a Rolex for DeJean to don Super Bowl week. Not a bad player to open up with considering DeJean's interception for a touchdown off Patrick Mahomes will be one of the most memorable moments during the Eagles' second Super Bowl win in franchise history. Advertisement This scenario is different for Campbell and Warren. DeJean kept his watch, while the NFL Draft prospects will have their watches as part of the Kettle's 'Draft Class Giveaway.' Even though he'll have to eventually remove the watch from his wrist, Campbell said he can appreciate being attached to the piece of memorabilia, even more so given his on-field position. 'This is awesome, especially being an offensive lineman,' Campbell said. 'You know not a lot of offensive lineman don't get a lot of love in the marketing world. So for me to be able to do a deal, not just any deal, but something as cool as a watch is pretty special.' Neither Campbell nor Warren feel the need to practice displaying their Rolex Bluesy and Root Beer watches, respectively. 'I think the watch will bring enough attention to itself so I won't have to do too much,' Warren said. Although they didn't feature the unique concept behind Campbell and Warren's watches, the 2024 NFL Draft class also flashed some high-end timepieces. No. 1 pick Caleb Williams wore an 18K white gold Patek Philippe Calatrava Skeleton, worth about $70,000, No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels wore a custom diamond set Cartier Santos, and No. 6 pick Malik Nabers wore a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak worth about $50,000, among others. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Photos: Kettle)
