Why did Caitlin Clark cross the road? 🏀

Despicable Nuggets

Two time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic arrived for a first-round playoff game last Saturday night dressed as a cartoon character. Apparently, all the best players are doing it. Really messes with the other guy’s head.

Not really. The Denver Nuggets star wore a similar outfit and signature wrap-around striped scarf as Gru, the infamous villain from Despicable Me. It was an instant hit on social media, with even the Nuggets franchise playing along, posting “going to play basketball, or going to steal the moon?”

Spoiler alert, the outfit wasn’t just a happy accident. Jokic’s fit was a teaser for his appearance in a promotion for Despicable Me 4. In the trailer, the basketball player is seeking therapy because the Minions insist that he’s their boss.

Perhaps the best part of this stunt is the subtle nature of it. Sure, the trailer spells out Jokic’s role quite clearly, but the quiet teaser beforehand? Seamlessly woven into real life. Pre game footage of the NBA player went almost unnoticed. But thanks to our friends on the world wide web, and a possible nudge from Hollywood, Jokic’s outfit made a big impression. Genius. Or an evil genius?

And this certainly isn’t the first time Hollywood has outsourced their PR to star athletes. In March, more than 1,000 college and high school student athletes shared content promoting Woody Harrleson’s latest comedy, Champions, as part of a sponsored NIL deal. It’s one of the largest NIL campaigns so far in terms of the more than 1,000 athletes involved, who generated nearly 2 million impressions. “The Champions offered a unique opportunity for student athletes to participate in promoting a major Hollywood film.”

Does this mean we could see Luka dressed as a Super Mario brother one day? One can only hope.

Top Stories

What is happening with Tesla?

The electric car maker has made the headlines more than once this week- and not the good kind.

The company cut prices in a number of its major markets, including China and Germany, following price cuts in the United States. Tesla is struggling with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles. Elon Musk reported earlier this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years. Profit fell 55 percent, to $1.1 billion from the first quarter, and revenue fell 9 percent, to $21.3 billion. And seriously, what’s the point of $21.3 billion?

The slump in earnings was seen as inevitable after Tesla sales dropped dramatically, and mass layoffs were announced for both factories in California and Austin. Musk seems to be taking the problems seriously, but assures investors things will improve. Critics are not so sure. “Tesla lived on the coolness of its car, the idea that the company was about to launch autonomous vehicles and investor confidence in Mr. Musk’s ability to do nearly impossible things. Now its cars are old, the fleet of Robo taxis promised five years ago hasn’t arrived, and confidence in Mr. Musk is battered by disappointment and behavior that mystifies investors.” Ouch.

And to pour salt on the electric wound, nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled Wednesday over a defect with the accelerator, causing it to get stuck when pressed, increasing the risk of crash. The recall number represents all of the vehicle deliveries completed by the company since the rollout of the long-awaited truck in late November. Another Cybertruck issue? It apparently shuts down if you try to take it through a car wash.

Oh, and a recent fatal motorcycle crash was blamed on Tesla’s autopilot mode.

In summary, Tesla is having a really, really bad week.

The Caitlin Clark movement.

Everyone’s talking about Caitlin Clark. And for good reason. The basketball star led the University of Iowa Hawkeyes to the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game for the second year in a row, and games repeatedly smashed viewership records. She’s already hailed as one of the best female collegiate athletes of all time, and shows promise to change Women’s basketball forever.

In early March, Clark declared for the WNBA draft and prices for tickets to see the Indiana Fever, the team with the first pick in the draft, soared. Opposing teams have had to look into alternative venues to host upcoming games, expecting sellout crowds to see Clark play. “It really is a remarkable thing to watch unfold. She’s changing the game.”

This week, Nike signed a fat endorsement deal with Clark, committing to an eight-year, $28 million contract, plus a signature shoe. Clark joins an impressive lineup, including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. Not so funny enough, the Nike deal makes Clark’s WNBA contract look pretty pitiful. The player will earn $338,056 over the course of four years. Considering the superstar has built a multi-million dollar brand as an elite playmaker, the measly pay stings.

My guess? When Caitlin Clark steps on the court to do her thing for the Indiana Fever, the crowds will show up, and the ratings will continue to soar. I see some hefty contract renegotiations in her future.

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We’re thrilled to introduce you to our new friends from Long Cove! The luxury lakefront community selected yours truly as their Agency of Record. Did our waterskiing skills seal the deal? Possibly.

Smart Strategy

Check out Hubspot’s roundup of six sales pitches to eliminate from your sales arsenal. I would like it noted that this list does not include smoke machines. Just sayin’.

Take a Break

Summer is just around the corner. Take that PTO, load up the kids, and hit the road. Check out Thrillist’s guide to America’s best national parks.

Weekly Mix

She’s done it again. We’ve had T-Swift’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department on repeat all week. Maybe take the day off tomorrow and give it a listen. Your boss will understand.