Sports
UFC: What Will It Take To Lure Conor McGregor Back This Time?

It’s now been a little over a month since Irish fighting superstar Conor McGregor announced his third retirement from UFC, and from the idea of getting into a cage to fight in general. So far, there’s been little to no sight that he’s considering going back on his word. In the past, McGregor’s ‘retirements’ have been written off as stunts – designed either to generate headlines or elicit a better pay deal from UFC supremo Dana White. This time around, his motivations appear less clear, and the route back for him seems to be less certain. Despite that, though, the general perception in and around the world of mixed martial arts is that he isn’t really ‘done,’ and he’ll be back when the right opportunity presents itself.
Compared to his previous retirements, this most recent one was low-key by McGregor’s lofty standards. It consisted of little more than a basic tweet, and a ‘thanks’ to his fans for the good times. It wasn’t timed to coincide with any major event, and as best as anybody’s aware, it hasn’t happened in the middle of any significant fight negotiations. McGregor is, for all of his talents, a notoriously unstable character, and there may be more going on with him than meets the eye, but the fact remains that he’s only 31 years old. He’s theoretically in the prime of his life, and it’s hard to believe the idea that he’ll never put the gloves on again. Cage fighters, like boxers, rarely retire and mean it until they’re much older. McGregor is probably just waiting for something – but what could that ‘something’ be?
The most obvious suggestion is a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, who famously and decisively beat McGregor in 2018 after McGregor spent weeks before the fight subjecting Nurmagomedov, his family, and his fight team to constant ridicule and abuse in the press. The Russian has himself only fought once since beating McGregor, and was quoted in the media as recently as March this year as saying that he both wanted and expected a rematch with the Irishman. Could that fight be arranged, it would be the biggest-money bout available to UFC at the moment, and Dana White would surely love to book it. Both men would want enormous paydays for agreeing to the contest, but with so much pay per view revenue generated on the back of such a fight, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t be paid accordingly. Indeed, it’s a mystery that the fight hasn’t been agreed already – but perhaps McGregor has reasons for that.
When Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor on that fateful day, it was the fourth defeat of McGregor’s career. Nurmagomedov has never lost at all. In cage fighting, that’s almost unheard of. While an extremely talented boxer might be able to retire undefeated, the sheer number of variables that go into an MMA contest usually make at least one defeat inevitable over the course of a career. That’s why the various slot categories and themes that now adorn the pages of online slots websites represent the sport so well. The fact that so many such games – ‘Cage Fight,’ MMA Legends,’ and ‘Mighty Winners Assault’ being just three of the most recent examples – are now available online reflects the popularity of the sport, but also its random nature. You can never predict the outcome of the next spin on an online slots game, and nor can you confidently predict the outcome of a real fight. Anything can happen to any fighter on any day. The fact that Nurmagomedov appears to be exempt to that rule suggests that he’s an anomaly, and perhaps one that McGregor has decided he’d rather avoid.
If that fight isn’t going to happen, there’s another contest that was expected to take place in his future. Famously (and lucratively), he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr in a boxing contest a few years ago and drew huge pay-per-view numbers in the process. Unsurprisingly, he lost the fight. Almost everybody expected him to. As great as McGregor undoubtedly is, the reality of the situation was that he was never likely to prove to be a threat to one of the greatest boxers in history inside a boxing ring. According to most insiders at the time, though, that fight was supposed to be the first of at least two. After McGregor stepped into a boxing ring, Mayweather was supposed to step into a cage and return the favor. We even heard a few months ago that Mayweather was in negotiations with Dana White, and it’s hard to believe those negotiations would have been about anything other than a fight with McGregor. We may never know what happened during or after those negotiations, but if McGregor is really retired, then the fight is out of the question.
Perhaps he’s become tired of getting hurt for our entertainment. Perhaps, like Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey before him, he’s realized that he can make more money with less risk by stepping inside a professional wrestling ring in the theatrical world of WWE. WWE has a long history of paying big money to ‘real’ sports starts to step inside the right (Mayweather and Tyson Fury are both examples of this, along with the aforementioned Rousey and Lesnar), and McGregor’s ‘over the top’ persona would be a perfect fit for the ‘sports entertainment’ world of WWE. He could even pick up a thing or two from wrestling legend the Undertaker, who knows all about retiring and then coming back repeatedly. Again, though, we suspect there’s an issue with this. Wrestling is scripted, and its performers are sometimes required to lose. McGregor’s ego might not allow for that, and he’s also a smaller athlete. It’s one thing for Brock Lesnar – a hulk of a man – to step into a wrestling ring and start throwing three hundred pound men around. For McGregor to do the same thing at his size would stretch the boundaries of plausibility.
Whatever comes next, we’re still confident that the McGregor story isn’t over. It’s only been a month, and a month is no time at all in the world of professional fighting. Whether it’s next month, next year, or the year after that, we expect to see McGregor return to the spotlight again. It’s all just a question of timing and money – and it probably always will be.
Sports
How Data and Analytics are Revolutionizing Sports Betting

Sports betting has been a fabric of the culture of populations around the world. Numerous people continue to engage in the activity as a way for them to be able to enhance the experiences that they are able to get when watching their favorite sports.
It is an activity that has also been able to gain traction and momentum for a variety of reasons. The landscape in terms of its legality has started to evolve and change, with players in the Great White North able to access sport betting Canada websites to participate. At the same time, their southerly neighbors are now able to participate, too.
However, while the legal landscape has evolved significantly over time, sportsbooks themselves have also seen great change through technology and advances that utilize data and analytics in innovative ways to transform how people wager on events that interest them – more informed decisions can be made. New bets may even become possible due to data availability and improved analytics systems used within sportsbooks.
Predictive Modeling
Predictive modeling has transformed sports betting experiences dramatically through data and analytics, providing bettors and operators alike the power to use historical information more precisely and predict future outcomes more accurately.
Predictive modeling takes into account many variables that could potentially alter an event’s potential outcome and provides users with an overall picture of what may unfold. With predictive models in place, competitive and fair odds can then be established to foster an enhanced user experience than what has previously been offered.
Statistical Analysis
Statistics analysis is another popular form of sports betting industry analysis that can be utilized by bettors, with sportsbooks using these insights to try and anticipate what may transpire based on available stats. Many sporting events today rely heavily on stats for prediction purposes; sportsbooks use statistical analysis tools as part of identifying possible trends or patterns which might occur.
By doing so, they are better equipped to make more informed decisions that lead to improved decisions and outcomes. Punters may use this insight as well; using it to their own benefit by trying to identify where there may be advantages for themselves or value bets that they place.
Use of Algorithms to Make Informed Bets
Algorithms have become a valuable technological resource across the sports betting industry, with bookmakers using algorithms to formulate optimal odds and markets based on available information.
Sportsbooks relying on algorithms can use these solutions to collect as much data as possible for more informed predictions of event outcomes, which in turn gives them more of a clear idea as to the probable end results of each match. Algorithmic solutions have the capability of processing large datasets while employing machine learning techniques for greater insight into each game experience.
Advantages of Using Data and Analytics in Sports Betting
Data analytics offer many advantages for sportsbooks and bettors when used for sports betting activities, from helping reduce errors made during wagering sessions, to more accurate predictions possible with data available.
Additionally, bettors are able to obtain better odds and a greater user experience when they enjoy a sport betting platform for all of their wagering needs, as the data and analytics used can help to make things more transparent and fairer, as well as more competitive.
Verdict
First, data and analytics are important across sports in general and, therefore, are relevant for the sports betting industry as well. Operators find them useful in ensuring that punters get even playing fields and good fun. Similarly, they also stand to gain because they have an opportunity to make precise forecasts, hence averting unnecessary losses due to human mistakes.
As technology continues to evolve and get better, there is no doubt that the sports betting industry will continue to use the data that is possible to capture, as they will continue to try and provide the best experiences to punters possible, while making sure they are able to profit as much as they can, too.
Entertainment
The Big Apple Scores Big With The Arrival of SPIN Midtown Flagship

SPIN, the original ping pong social club, celebrates the opening of – SPIN Midtown – its new flagship location, in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world. Located at 1626 Broadway between West 49th-50th St. as the brand’s newest Manhattan location and the ninth venue nationwide. SPIN Midtown has evolved its offerings to the public, while remaining true to the mission of connecting people around the ping pong table.
“We are thrilled to introduce SPIN 2.0, a cutting-edge digital evolution of the SPIN brand,” said Pieter Vanermen, CEO of SPIN. “From neon art integration to immersive social installations and unveiling of Spinny, the US’s first ping pong robot, SPIN is poised to be the ultimate entertainment destination.”
Catering to an eclectic New York City audience, SPIN Midtown offers a unique escape away from the hustle of the city to celebrate the simplicity of play and enjoy an immersive social experience. To begin, guests are transported into the underground venue following a trail of neon lights to a wall of art, and 10 ping pong tables surrounded by inviting lounge seating and a magnetizing wrap-around bar featuring a customizable ticker screen, welcoming guests of all kinds.
Setting the location apart from its predecessors, SPIN Midtown features elevated and exclusive offerings, interactive installations and special events. To encapsulate the energy and excitement of New York City and ping pong community, SPIN Midtown:
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Brings Spinny, the M-ONE Pong Bot to the U.S. for the first time. Providing guests with the opportunity to interact with a robotic ping pong arm with AI capabilities that optimize play for novices and pros alike, revolutionizing the SPIN experience by mixing technology, innovation and sport.
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Unveils an elevated immersive 20 camera ping pong bathtub installation, inviting guests to jump in a tub full of the brands’ signature orange balls, strike a pose and capture a video that can be shared across consumers’ social channels or email.
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Offers an innovative, social bar boasting beloved SPIN classics created by in-house mixologists, new spirit-free cocktails and one-of-a-kind cocktails, including a set of signature sips mixed with ultrasonic sound.
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Reintroduces SPIN’s signature design features, including a feature bar, reception and DJ booth, inviting guests to relax and enjoy food, drinks, and music. The custom millwork and commercial space build out was completed by NY-based contractor, Atlas Builders, and designed by NY-based architecture and interiors firm, New York Design Architects.
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Showcases custom work by local street artist, DAIN, blending the visual language of graffiti collaged with old portraits of Hollywood glamor featuring his unmistakable trademark circle red drip which is lit in neon for the first time.
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Debuts a newly designed Center Court presented in partnership with STIGA US which reigns supreme in the middle of the venue. With track lighting above, the court features automatic scoring and a SPIN-ified Jumbo-Tron that highlights the player profiles of SPIN Pros and engaging statistics.
SPIN guests can order tableside food and beverage from SPIN Midtown’s exclusive tailored options. Ping pong is a social game and SPIN wants the food program to be the same. They offer a wide range of shareable, snackable and delicious offerings that guests can enjoy and easily move between playing and eating, aptly named “left-handed” cuisine. While SPIN’s farm to table approach uses locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients wherever possible, the newest location offers a new signature blend of spices crafted in partnership with La Boite and edible mushrooms from Afterlife, a sustainable local mushroom farm, that are grown with compost generated from the food waste of SPIN Midtown and Flatiron locations.
SPIN Midtown will join the brand’s mission to cultivate and welcome a diverse, inclusive community of players by offering unique specials & programming throughout the year meant to inspire connection through play. Specials include weekday communal ping pong lunch hours, all day beer and burger specials, ‘$9 after 9’ Tuesday night unlimited ping pong and late-night specials, weekly Friday Nights at SPIN, interactive ping pong shows, seasonal, local and holiday themed special events, and party-packages fully customizable for any size of group.
Beginning Monday, October 9th, SPIN Midtown opened to the public Monday through Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. with reservations available from $9 up to $59 per table for 50 minutes of play. For additional information on SPIN Midtown, to reserve a table or book a private event, visit wearespin.com/location/newyorkmidtown/.
SPIN is the original ping pong social club that encourages human connection. The core of SPIN’s mission is to connect through a game that transcends age, gender, and any boundaries. SPIN welcomes diversity and embraces the unconventional. Each venue features ping pong courts, a full-service bar, restaurant, private spaces, and unexpected event environments that attract guests of all kinds. With locations in New York Flatiron, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, and most recently New York Midtown, SPIN has built an unparalleled social experience that encourages connection and celebrates play. #UnitedByPingPong
Events
Cricket Superstars In Times Square announce American Premiere League Event

American Premiere League (APL) www.AmericanPremiereLeage.us, the largest independent cricket league in the United States, is announcing its latest tournament with an all-star event at the Knickerbocker Hotel (6 Times Square at Broadway & 42nd Street) on Wednesday, October 11 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. This launch event will bring together international cricket superstars including Chris Gayle (West Indies), Fawad Alam(Pakistan), Andre Fletcher (Grenada), Samit Patel (England), Unmukt Chand (India), Ravi Ropara (England), Navneet Dhaliwal (Canada), Ali Khan (United States), and others. They will mingle with fans and talk about their participation in the upcoming American Premiere League tournament taking place in Houston, Texas from December 19 – 31 featuring the exciting, fast-paced and shortened version of the game known as T20. The kickoff event will feature a press conference, entertainment and a Times Square billboard takeover.
APL founder and CEO Jay Mir has turned his passion for cricket into a historic effort to bring the sport to the wider U.S. sports fan base. Officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, American Premiere League made history in 2021 with its inaugural tournament at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey. That tournament provided an unprecedented amount of prize money for a U.S. cricket event for the winning team and standout players, the MVP of which received a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette. This year’s tournament promises to up the ante with greater prize money and an expanded roster featuring some of the biggest names in the sport who will play alongside talented cricketers from across the U.S. The number of nationally-branded teams has also been expanded from seven to sixteen making this a truly global event.
Each exciting game will take place at Moosa Stadium just outside Houston from December 19 – 31 and will be livestreamed with professional broadcasters and multiple cameras for an exciting experience whether you’re watching in the stadium or at home.
“We made history with our inaugural event and are poised to go even bigger on every level this year with APL 2023, and what better place to tell the world than Times Square,” said Jay Mir. “I believe American fans who watch any of our games will see that cricket can offer the same excitement, the same drama and the same fun as any other sport and we’re determined to bring cricket off the sidelines and into the mainstream in the U.S.”
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, second only to soccer, with a global following of 2.5 billion. In the United States, the sport is mainly enjoyed by communities of ex-pats from cricket playing countries, but the potential for growth in America is tremendous. American Premiere League is determined to tap into that with its efforts.
For more information, please visit www.AmericanPremiereLeague.us
Family
Is It Time to Replace Your Boat’s Control Unit? Here’s What You Need To Know

As the description implies, your boat’s control unit is an important component and integral to the performance of handling of your boat. If you are operating your boat using an outdated control unit you could potentially benefit from an upgrade.
When you are searching for boat parts you will notice that there are two main types of control units to choose from. Either a dual-function control that can handle throttle and shift functions together, or a single-lever control unit.
If you are using an older control unit there is a good chance that it is providing a degree of functionality but you are missing out on engineering and technology advancements. These have improved modern control units to such a noticeable level compared to their older counterparts.
Here are some key points to consider when considering whether it is time for an upgrade.
An old control unit means old cables
Your control unit is reliant on a cabling system. If the unit is getting a bit tired and dated it is likely that the cables are in the same state.
Although you might not think that there is much that can go wrong with a cabling system it is worth remembering that hi-tech improvements and better construction methods have vastly improved performance and durability.
Changing your control unit is also the perfect opportunity to upgrade your cabling system for maximum performance.
Benefit from digital technology
When you consider the pace of technological advancements in all types of manufacturing it should be no surprise that the latest control units are a shining example of how things have moved on for the better.
A digitized control unit is able to send both throttle and shift commands through to the back of your boat using a wiring harness system. This system renders the old mechanical controls redundant and is a great improvement in boat technology.
Aesthetics are relevant to the discussion
In addition to the persuasive argument of updating your control unit for mechanical and technological reasons, there is also a relevant point to make about aesthetic appeal.
You want to be able to enjoy the look and feel of your boat every time you take to the water. If you have a clunky and old-fashioned control unit it adds to the feeling that your boat is a bit tired and needs a makeover.
Installing an attractive and modern-looking control unit that is sleek and efficient is a bit of a no-brainer from an aesthetic perspective. You are getting a unit that performs better than your existing one and looks the part too.
Fitting a new boat control unit can make a big difference to every aspect of your boating experience. You can even buy a retro version if you want to benefit from modern engineering and technology advancements but still like the look of a more traditional control unit.
All things considered, it makes sense to consider the idea of changing and updating your boat control unit.
Events
Get Ready A Pop Up Tennis Court Is Coming To Times Square

A pop-up outdoor tennis court is coming to Times Square on Thursday, August 24, in celebration of the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
Waterdrop, the microdrinks that offer a healthy alternative and are made from real plant and fruit extracts, is bringing the the tennis court coming to Times Square. They will also provide a “hydration station,” which will be filled with an array of complementary “Microdrink” beverages (a flavored cube tablet) from the brand. Everyone who recycles on the court will receive a free waterdrop drink. In total, waterdrop has saved up to 30 million plastic water bottles and can be found in 3000+ stores.
Tennis players of all levels are invited to play and ready for this the game is free. Tennis racquets and balls will be provided, which runs from 1pm to 8pm.
Participation is first come, first served, with no sign-ups required.
Keep your eye open to catch some surprise celebrity athlete appearances.
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