Latest news with #Gund


Axios
16-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
WNBA expansion teams are entering a league transformed
When Cleveland's WNBA team takes the court in 2028, it will enter a league vastly different from the one the Rockers unceremoniously exited in 2003. Why it matters: This time around, the yet-to-be-named team — along with forthcoming expansion teams in Toronto, Portland, Detroit and Philadelphia — can expect a larger fan base, bigger paychecks and brighter spotlights. The big picture: Ownership groups in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia each ponied up $250 million to secure expansion teams announced earlier this month, record-breaking sums that speak to the explosive growth of a league that was once a backwater and a laughingstock. It's now the hottest brand in pro sports. Owners who in the early aughts struggled to find investors for their distressed assets are now clambering for a piece of a rapidly expanding pie. Driving the news: This weekend's WNBA All-Star Game will feature Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark — one of the biggest reasons for the league's surging popularity — captaining a team on her home court, though she is questionable to play after an injury Tuesday. The 18,000-seat Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis sold out within hours. Flashback: In 2003, the Cleveland Rockers' average attendance was 7,400 per game, a stat juiced by discounted and complimentary tickets. The Rockers were one of the WNBA's eight charter franchises, but failed to turn a profit in each of their seven seasons. Team owner Gordon Gund, who also owned the NBA's Cavaliers, cut ties shortly after that season, and the team folded when Gund and the WNBA were unable to find local investors to assume ownership. Between the lines: Gund was not alone. The WNBA had surfed a cresting wave of enthusiasm for women's sports after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but for years was unable to capture sports fans' sustained attention and spending power. Even the dynastic Houston Comets, who won the WNBA's first four championships, couldn't attract investors at an asking price of $12 million after the league took over the team in 2007. It folded a year later, to the dismay of its former stars. Fast forward: The landscape couldn't be more different today, as the WNBA monetizes the success of magnetic college superstars like Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. It's now the fifth-most popular league nationwide, behind only the men's big four leagues: the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Last year, the WNBA signed a lucrative media rights deal that will reportedly net it $200 million per year. Zoom in: Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage told reporters in a press conference last week that the record-setting 2024 Women's Final Four in Cleveland was a good sign that the city was ready for a WNBA franchise. "Every key performance indicator we've looked at over the last three years has this trajectory that you haven't seen in and around a sports asset in quite some time," he said. "What was even more important to us was the way that communities engage with these assets. They really wrap their arms around these teams." What's next: Cities are doubling down on their investments with ancillary developments like practice facilities for their WNBA teams.


Buzz Feed
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
The Ms. Rachel Singing Doll Is 40% Off For Prime Day
Helllooooo parents (or soon-to-be parents!), my name is Heather, and at the time I'm writing this, my son is 3 and my daughter is 1 (I'm out here truly in the trenches). As a parent of littles, the one thing I can *absolutely* stand by is my family's love for the admirable, adorable genius that is Ms. Rachel. If you also have kids, chances are she needs zero introduction. But if you *don't* and you're a delightful aunt, uncle, friend of the family (whoever!) looking for some insight, let me fill you in. That's me (pictured above) dressed as the queen herself for Halloween in Rachel has an *extremely* successful YouTube channel called "Songs For Littles" where she and other talented members of her team create videos of babies and toddlers that get them excited about learning to speak, sing, play, and more. The about page on her website perfectly explains that their videos are made "With a special focus on speech, language, and social-emotional skills, we're here to help your littles learn, bond, and thrive." TL;DR: Ms. Rachel is the best. Kids love her. Parents love her. The only qualms I personally had with her (and the brand) were that she didn't have merchandise for us to appreciate her further. Luckily, that's all changed! That's my toddler happily showing off his fresh Ms. Rachel era tee (she's basically his Taylor Swift). And you can check out more cute Ms. Rachel toddler tees, pajamas, or even a mini version of her signature look. Ms. Rachel has finally answered our parental pleas and released a *ton* of adorable and educational toys: think blocks, loveys, puzzles, tummy time items, and a book. Check out the Ms. Rachel shop page on Amazon to see for yourself. I've been lucky enough to snag the majority of these toys, so it is with GREAT authority that I tell you the cream of the crop is absolutely (and as expected) the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll — and it's on sale for 40% off for Prime Day!!! The cheapest it has EVER been! My kids (aged 3 and 1) are equally obsessed with our savior, Ms. Rachel. I've been using the fantastic Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll to help get us through the crankiest times of the day (one click of it changes my daughter's entire persona, it's wild). It's been crafted by Gund, so you know it's a quality plush item. My son immediately wanted this doll to sleep in his crib — we just turned the sound off for the evening and told him Ms. Rachel needed some rest (haha). But it actually has a low/high setting to ensure it's sensory friendly for all kids — which I love. The doll boasts four songs and 16 phrases — all of which have been embedded into parents' brains already. If you *don't* know all the words to "Icky Sticky Sticky Sticky Bubble Gum" you're about to 😉. The doll also sings 'Wheels on the Bus,' 'Hop Little Bunny,' and 'I'm So Happy' — fan favorites, if you ask me. The phrases are all extremely positive, engaging, and reassuring (and that's just how *I* feel when I hear 'em). Other reviewers (and kids, of course!) adore this sweet plush Ms. Rachel as well: "I LOVE THIS! Ms Rachel is amazing, so I was so stinking happy for official merchandise. The doll is made so well, and my 1-year-old puts her through the wringer. The second she starts singing, it's like magic how quickly things can calm down. Super fun, no issues with my child using it, and she even made the volume changeable (thank you from an overstimulated mom). And it's soft and cute. Finally, I have a physical version of our best friend, Ms. Rachel!" —Momazon"This Ms. Rachel doll is a fan favorite in our house! My child loves carrying her around while singing along to the fun songs. The doll is soft, well-made, and looks just like her, which makes it even more special. It's a great companion for little fans of the show and encourages lots of imaginative play. If your kid loves Ms. Rachel, this doll is a must-have!" —Misty"I would highly recommend this doll! The attention to detail is impeccable, making it super realistic. It's so easy to use, just press the buttons and the doll sings and speaks. The size is perfect for little hands to carry and play with. This is such an amazing toy, every kid will love it!" —Lovannie When it was first launched, the doll was going in and out of stock on Amazon and was rumored to be as high in demand as Tickle Me Elmo was back in the day. Honestly, now that I've had it for seven months I can totally see why! I mean, just look how happy my kids are! A rare sight to see them both engaged and smiley at the same time — a parenting miracle, one might say. Get the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll for 40% off Amazon for $17.99 (don't forget to clip the coupon to snag this price) immediately, I promise you won't regret it. And while you're at it, take a look at all the other Ms. Rachel toys that are on sale for up to 58% off right now! Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.


Boston Globe
15-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Graham Gund, architect and philanthropist shaped Boston's skyline and museums, dies at 84
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'My role as a collector is directly linked to my work as an architect, which is integrally involved with the artistic notions of our time,' he wrote in the introductory essay for the catalog of the 1982 MFA exhibit 'A Private Vision: Contemporary Art from the Graham Gund Collection.' Advertisement Mr. Gund, who left his most sweeping visual and philanthropic legacy in Ohio 'Graham was a pillar of the MFA and a true believer in the role of public art museums,' Matthew Teitelbaum, the Ann and Graham Gund director of the MFA wrote to museum trustees and advisers after Mr. Gund died. Advertisement 'He was about light, scale, material, movement, entrance and exit, and the feeling you get when you are embraced in a building,' Teitelbaum added. Mr. Gund and his wife, Ann, both honorary trustees, endowed the MFA director's position and the Ann and Graham Gund Gallery. In addition, Mr. Gund was the museum's longest-serving trustee, joining the board in 1973. Through his board work and donations of artworks, Mr. Gund guided the visual experiences of MFA patrons much in the way he helped define Greater Boston's skyline with the buildings he designed. Those included the Hyatt Regency hotel, along the Cambridge side of the Charles River, and 75 State Street, a 31-story office tower in downtown Boston that is topped with windows framed in gold leaf. 'It fits neatly, even gracefully, into the complicated web of little streets, and as such proves that it is not true that tall new buildings must always be at odds with older central business districts,' Mr. Gund was always keenly sensitive to the surroundings of the buildings he designed, and to the history of the buildings he renovated. In an interview, Goldberger said Mr. Gund 'was motivated by a desire to do right' by the locations where buildings would stand. 'His starting point was not just a shape in his head,' said Goldberger, who as a Kenyon College trustee saw Advertisement As president of Gund Partnership, the firm he founded more than 50 years ago, Mr. Gund designed, developed, and oversaw the planning and creation of buildings and projects across the country — from Locally, he had served as a trustee, director, chairman, or board member of institutions including the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Boston Society of Architects, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Foundation for Architecture, which he founded. He also had been a member or trustee of, or had served on, the National Committee on Design, the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, and the National Building Museum and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In a 2004 Globe interview, Mr. Gund called Boston his favorite city. 'It has everything: a sense of neighborhood, a wonderful scale,' he said. But he retained an abiding affection for all his creations, wherever they rose from plans to prominence. 'I'd like to live in 'em all,' Advertisement Born in Cleveland on Oct. 28, 1940, Graham de Condé Gund was part of one of the wealthiest families in the nation. His father, Young Graham was a bookkeeper and teller. 'It was kind of slow,' he told the Globe in 1985. 'I kept wishing there would be a robbery or something to liven things up.' His mother, Jessica Roesler Gund, sensed his artistic talent when he was young, and died when he was 12. Mr. Gund was then sent to boarding school, where a roommate died young of cancer. 'Very early on, when faced with any difficulty, I looked for ways to organize and transform everything, from my room to the surrounding landscape,' Mr. Gund told the Globe. 'It was a way to make things right. I would create this perfect environment in which to exist. I think all art grows out of some kind of struggle.' He graduated from Westminster School in Connecticut and headed to Kenyon. His bachelor's degree was in psychology, which necessitated taking art courses at the Rhode Island School of Design to prepare for the Harvard Graduate School of Design, from which he graduated with a master's in architecture and a master's in urban design. Before founding his own firm, Mr. Gund worked for The Architects Collaborative, a legendary Cambridge firm where Walter Gropius, the modernist who founded the Bauhaus school in Germany, was a mentor. Mr. Gund's affluence allowed him to accumulate his impressive art collection and to be both architect and developer with new buildings, such as the Hyatt, and rehabilitation projects, such as the Charles Bulfinch-designed courthouse in Cambridge that he turned into a home for offices for business such as his firm. Advertisement He wore his wealth lightly, though. When he met 'He's so meticulous with his architecture, as he is with friends,' she said, and that included waiting seven years after they met before asking her to dinner. Mr. Gund was 'a very steady, thorough, thoughtful person. He never did anything radically or quickly.' In addition to Ann and their son, Graydon of New York City, Mr. Gund leaves two sisters, Agnes of New York and Louise of Berkeley, Calif.; and two brothers, Gordon of Princeton, N.J., and Geoffrey of New York. A celebration of Mr. Gund's life will be announced. 'He was so driven to pursue his craft, which financially he certainly didn't have to do, and that shows how much faithfulness he had to his craft and to the importance of work,' said his friend David Rockefeller, a philanthropist and life trustee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. 'He worked so hard all his life and did it so beautifully.' Bryan Marquard can be reached at


Time of India
09-05-2025
- Time of India
Unemployed man gets RI for 2016 murder of 16-year-old
Pune: Additional sessions judge Mohan Chavan convicted and sentenced a jobless man (30) to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs5,000 for the murder of a 16-year-old student over a dispute involving a girl in his 61-page judgment on May 8, judge Chavan stated that the assailant, Vitthal Gund , a resident of Gundewadi in Ashti taluka, Beed district, barged into the residence of the student, Balkrushna Dhas , in a pre-planned manner. Upon finding Balkrushna, his mother, his brother and his uncle sleeping at their home in Patil Vasti in Loni Kalbhor on June 29, 2016, Gund brutally attacked them with a stick, inflicting serious attacked Balkrushna over a dispute regarding vicitm's refusal to end relationship with a girl, who did not belong to their community. On July 7, Balkrushna succumbed to multiple head injuries while recuperating at the Sassoon General Hospital. Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list Victim's family members survived. Gund has been lodged at the Yerawada Central Prison since his arrest on July 9, judge sentenced the assailant to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 3,000 for attempting to murder the victim's mother, Manda Dhas (55), her son Amol (20), and her brother Bala Gavade (23). The assailant was also sentenced to five years of imprisonment and fined Rs 1,000 for trespassing into the victim's residence. All the sentences will run concurrently. The district legal service authority was directed to grant suitable compensation to the victim's public prosecutor Javed Khan relied on the evidence of 16 witnesses, mainly the three injured victims, and the extra-judicial confession given by the assailant to prove his guilt in the crime. The judge noted that the assailant's intention to commit murder was well established, as there was no provocation on the part of the hapless the verdict, deputy commissioner of police (Zone IV) Rajkumar Shinde announced a reward of Rs 10,000 to pairvi officer Lalita Kanawade from the Loni Kalbhor police for training the witnesses on how to correctly depose before the court. The victim's family, upon hearing the verdict, broke into tears and bowed down with folded hands to thank the presiding officer for expediting the trial. They also feted Khan and Kanawade for securing the conviction of the accused.