Culture

New Music Friday: AZ Chike, Rakim, Kurupt & Masta Killa — September 18, 2026

AZ Chike's Kendrick-adjacent breakout, Rakim x Kurupt x Masta Killa's Godbody reunion, Chaka Khan's Chakzilla, and Miley's Bass Persuades all landed this Friday.

Sneakers

A'ja Wilson's Nike A'Two 'Dawn Staley' Releases September 18 for $145

A'ja Wilson's Nike A'Two 'Dawn Staley' releases September 18 for $145, a White/Black/Barely Volt tribute to her South Carolina coach modeled on Staley's own Nike Zoom S5 signature shoe.

Sports

Stan Kroenke Agrees to Buy the Angels From Arte Moreno at a Record $4 Billion

Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to buy the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno at a reported MLB-record $4 billion valuation. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, and Moreno keeps a minority stake.

Sports

Steve Ballmer Accepts NBA's $30M Clippers Fine and One-Year Suspension

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said the team will comply with the NBA's penalties in the Kawhi Leonard salary cap case, including a $30 million fine it has paid, his one-year suspension and five forfeited first-round picks.

Technology

OpenAI Tests Sponsored Agents Ad Format in ChatGPT With Angi as an Early Partner

OpenAI is testing Sponsored Agents, a ChatGPT ad format that lets users chat with a business-sponsored AI agent after clicking an ad. Angi is among the first US pilots, and new HubSpot and Shopify ad tools shipped alongside it.

Sneakers

Nike Kobe 8 Protro "Mambacurial" Returns September 19 for $200

Nike brings back the 2013 Kobe 8 Mambacurial as a Protro on September 19, 2026 for $200, in the pink-to-purple Mercurial-inspired colorway, with matching apparel and a $150 basketball releasing the same day.

Sports

Joe Buck Signs Six-Year, $108 Million ESPN Extension to Stay on Monday Night Football

Joe Buck agreed to a six-year ESPN extension worth roughly $108 million, raising his pay to about $18 million a year from $15 million and keeping him on Monday Night Football. Partner Troy Aikman has not signed a new deal.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: Lions-Bills Open New Highmark Stadium, adidas AE 3 'Cold Blooded', Rolling Loud Florida 2027, and OpenAI's $1.5 Trillion Valuation Target — September 17, 2026

The Lions visit the Bills tonight in the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium, the adidas AE 3 'Cold Blooded' drops Friday at $130, and OpenAI seeks private funding at up to a $1.5 trillion valuation.

Games to Watch

Games to Watch — Thursday, September 17: Lions at Bills on Thursday Night Football, nine MLB games

Two 1-0 teams meet on Thursday Night Football as the Lions visit the Bills, with Buffalo favored by 5.5. Phillies at Mets airs on FOX at 7:15 ET, and the 95-win Brewers open the day in Pittsburgh at 12:35 ET.

Games to Watch

Games to Watch — Wednesday, September 16: Braves at Cubs Rubber Game

The Braves and Cubs play a rubber game at Wrigley at 7:40 ET, with Chicago -157 on ESPN. Blake Snell starts for the Dodgers in Cincinnati, and the 94-win Brewers visit Pittsburgh.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: Nike Leaves the S&P 100, Dodgers Clinch a 14th Straight Berth, Drake's 'FOMO' Livestream, and Profound's $180M Series D — September 16, 2026

Nike leaves the S&P 100 on September 21 after nearly 18 years, the Dodgers clinch a 14th straight postseason berth with a 4-1 win over Cincinnati, Drake airs his 'FOMO' livestream, and Profound raises a $180 million Series D.

Technology

Profound Raises $180 Million Series D at $1.8 Billion Valuation

The two-year-old New York company sells software that tracks how brands appear in AI-generated search answers. Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins co-led the $180 million round, which landed less than seven months after a $96 million Series C.