Personal Honor and Professional Milestone
In a heartfelt statement, Bloom expressed his deep sense of honor in being entrusted with the leadership of the X Games. "The opportunity to lead the X Games is more than just a professional milestone — it’s a deeply personal honor," he said. This sentiment reflects his passion and connection to the world of sports and action sports.The Winter X Games in Aspen
The winter X Games are scheduled to take place in Aspen next month, and Bloom is excited to be a part of this iconic event. "Returning to my roots in sports and action sports, in particular, feels like coming home. The X Games is an iconic brand, and I have immense admiration and respect for our athletes, who are truly the best in the world," he added. His love for the sport and the athletes is evident in his words.Bloom's journey in sports is truly remarkable. As a dual-sport standout, he pursued his Olympic dreams on the mogul-filled slopes and his NFL aspirations on the football field for the CU Buffaloes. However, his path was not without challenges. He got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and have sponsors in skiing to fund his Olympic quest. The NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and ski professionally after he received endorsement money for his quest. But times have changed, and now athletes can benefit from name, image and likeness.
His athletic achievements are widely recognized. Bloom was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 as a wide receiver/kick returner and had a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, he branched out into philanthropy and started "Wish of a Lifetime" in 2008. This foundation has granted thousands of wishes for older adults, showcasing his compassion and commitment to making a difference. Two years later, he co-founded the business-to-business marketing software company Integrate and served as the CEO after it was acquired by Audax Private Equity. He then stepped down to take over at the X Games.
Jeff Moorad's Praise
Jeff Moorad, a partner at MSP and executive chairman of X Games, expressed his enthusiasm about Bloom's appointment. "We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy as the leader of X Games. His dedication, athletic experience and proven track record of building and managing successful companies will be instrumental in continuing to elevate our X Games properties and the X Games League," he said. This endorsement highlights Bloom's qualifications and potential to drive the growth of the X Games.Regarding his discipline, moguls, which is not currently part of the X Games, Bloom wrote via a text: "They don’t have my sport, (asterisk)yet." This shows his determination to bring his signature event to the X Games and make it an even more inclusive and exciting platform for athletes.
Unveiling the Physical Card Game Adventure in the League of Legends Universe
Project K: A Unique Gaming Experience
The physical game currently goes by the codename Project K and is set to launch in China in early 2025. Riot Games' announcement today reveals that they are developing a physical trading card game within the League universe. This game is being led by director Dave Guskin and producer Chengran Chai. According to Riot, Project K has unique gameplay that truly shines when played with friends in person. Just take a look at the images below to get a sense of what this game has to offer.There aren't many details available yet about Project K, but it's clear that Riot is taking their time to ensure its success. They are working with an unnamed partner in China to make this launch happen. As for a global release, Riot is being cautious and looking for the right publishing partners.The Expanding League of Legends Universe
The League of Legends universe has been expanding rapidly in recent years. So far, we've seen mobile games like Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift, the Netflix series Arcane, and the competitive fighting game 2XKO, which is expected to launch next year. However, not all of these spinoffs have been successful. In January, Riot announced that they were cutting more than 500 jobs, which included shutting down Riot Forge Games and making some changes to Legends of Runeterra. Legends of Runeterra, a mobile card game that launched in 2020, didn't perform as well as needed.Card Games' Moment and Project K's Timing
The news of Project K comes at a time when card games are experiencing another surge in popularity, largely driven by the new smartphone version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This presents an exciting opportunity for Riot to enter the physical card game market with their own unique offering. With Project K, Riot hopes to capture the hearts and minds of card game enthusiasts around the world.Thatcher Demko's Road to a Comeback with the Canucks
Progress from Knee Injury
Demko's recovery has been on a day-to-day basis, which is a positive sign as he has moved out of the week-to-week stage. He believes he is now in a position to have a discussion with coach Rick Tocchet about potentially backing up in the upcoming games. This shows his determination and eagerness to get back on the ice.Since last season, when he was injured in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Nashville Predators on April 21, this is only the third time he has spoken to the media. He had previously missed 5 1/2 weeks due to a different left knee injury during the regular season.
Although he resumed skating during the Canucks' second-round match against the Edmonton Oilers and expected to return for the Western Conference Final if they hadn't lost in seven games, it has been 6 1/2 months since he last played a game.
Learning from the Experience
During this time, Demko has gained a lot of knowledge about his body and how to manage his health. He admits that sometimes knowing too much about the body can be a bit torturous, but through his experiences with different injuries over the years, he has learned valuable lessons.He can now tweak certain aspects of his preparation and workload, whether it's during practice days or goalie ice sessions. This allows him to manage himself better and be in a better position when he does return.
Last season, Demko was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the League's top goalie. He set NHL career highs in wins (35), shutouts (five), and save percentage (.918) despite being limited to 51 games due to his first knee injury on March 9. This shows his exceptional skills and potential.
Teammate Kevin Lankinen
When Demko does return, he will be playing alongside Kevin Lankinen, who signed with the Canucks as a free agent after training camp. Lankinen has been outstanding, with a 12-3-3 record and an NHL record 10-straight road game wins to start the season, having a.906 save percentage.This has given Demko the confidence to not rush back and manage expectations. He gives credit to Lankinen and understands that it will take time to get back to his best form.
He doesn't expect to come back and be immediately at his A-game. Instead, he sees it as a gradual process of getting game reps and fully recovering from rehab. This approach shows his maturity and understanding of the situation.