April 18, 2022 - The Chicago Journal

Record-Breaking Crowd Watches Barcelona Win in Women’s Quarterfinal

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Over 90,000 fans came to watch the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinal in Camp Nou in Barcelona, the largest football stadium in Europe, breaking the record for the largest audience ever to watch a women’s football match. The crowd added up to a total of 91,553 people.

The quarterfinal was between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

With a two-goal advantage from the first leg last week, Barcelona took advantage of the home support, winning 5-2 against Real Madrid and securing a place in the semifinals.

“The fans [are] not leaving for home, they’re just staying to celebrate with us. I didn’t imagine anything like it and it’s just goosebumps all over the place,” Barca forward Caroline Graham Hansen told reporters after the game.

“They have been singing all game and it’s been amazing. It’s something I never dreamed of happening and here today we did it. Hopefully it’s not the last time we’re doing this.”

The new record beats the previous one in 2019, with 60,739 fans watching Atletico Madrid versus Barcelona play in the Metropolitano.

The attendance at Wednesday’s El Clásico also breaks the overall record for any women’s game, which was 90,195 in 1999 when the US beat China in the women’s World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

‘You LOVE to see it’

Other football stars welcomed the new record.

In a Twitter post, US women’s national team superstar Megan Rapinoe wrote, “A crowd fitting for the team on the pitch! You LOVE to see it.”

With the home support, Barcelona played to win.

The host team scored three quickfire goals in 10 minutes after trailing 2-1 early in the second half.

Barcelona advances to the semifinals for the fifth time in six years with an 8-3 win.

It will face either Arsenal or Wolfsburg for a place in the final.

“I’m speechless. It’s a dream come true. I can only answer with more work, getting better and winning games so we can give them a big spectacle,” said Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, who was one of the goalscorers.

“I saw a lot of girls, children with that spark in their eyes. It’s amazing to be part of history.”

Naomi Osaka Reaches First Final since 2021

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Photo: Getty Images

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka will now play incoming world no. 1 Iga Swiatek at the Miami Open final after beating Belinda Bencic on Thursday.

This marks Osaka’s first final since the Australian Open last year.

Having struggled for form since her hiatus from the sport, Osaka recovered to beat Bencic 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal.

“(I was) just battling my inner thoughts and trying to know that I must play one point at a time and adjust if I have to but try not to overwhelm myself with my thoughts,” she told reporters.

“I feel like if I was negative for a split second, I would have lost the match today.

“I have to keep pumping myself up and I haven’t played as many matches as a lot of these other players, so I just have to keep learning.”

‘So grateful’

Osaka was heckled by a spectator at the Indian Wells last month, who yelled “Naomi, you suck!” in her second-round match with Veronika Kudermetova.

This shook Osaka, and she lost the match in straight sets.

After revealing that she had suffered bouts of depression last year, Osaka has confirmed seeing a therapist to deal with her mental health.

But now Osaka is finding her form again and facing an unfamiliar opponent.

Osaka had previously met Swiatek once before in a match, with Osaka winning straight sets in 2019. However, on Monday, Swiatek will be the women’s world no. 1 as she continues her 16-match winning streak.

The final will be held on Saturday, and Osaka has said she is looking forward to getting back on the court.

“Man idk what’s going on but I’m just so grateful right now,” she tweeted. “Cheers to the ups and downs of life for making me appreciate this moment even more.

“We’re back in a final, see you on Saturday.”

US Men’s Soccer Team Competes in World Cup after 8-Year Wait

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Photo: Getty Images

The US Men’s National Soccer Team will compete at the 2022 FIFA World Cup after an eight-year wait following their 2-0 win against Costa Rica at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica for the team’s 14th and final match of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

“I’m extremely proud of this group,” US player Christian Pulisic said. “It’s a bit of a weird feeling right now because I hate to lose so much, but I’m really proud, and I can’t wait to go to the World Cup.”

The top three teams in CONCACAF automatically qualify for the World Cup, so the US team already secured its ticket by Wednesday night. The fourth-place team will compete in an intercontinental playoff against Oceania’s qualifying tournament.

The US is positioned third after Canada and Mexico. Costa Rica finished fourth.

This is the USMNT’s first World Cup since 2014. The team did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup after finishing fifth in the CONCACAF.

The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar and is scheduled for November 21 through December 18.

Las Vegas Is Latest Formula One Location

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Photo: Formula One

Formula One has announced that Las Vegas will be one of its locations for next season’s F1 race in November 2023. It is the third US location alongside Miami and Austin and the city’s first F1 race since the 1980s.

F1 said in a press statement on Wednesday that the race will be held on the Las Vegas Strip “with the track sweeping past some of the world’s most legendary landmarks, hotels, and casinos.”

This is the first time that the Las Vegas strip has been named the stage of an F1 race. The city previously hosted the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982.

On a 3.8-mile track with 14 turns, the audience may witness top speeds of around 212 miles per hour (342 kilometers per hour) for the 50-lap race.

“This is an incredible moment for Formula One that demonstrates the huge appeal and growth of our sport with a third race in the US,” said F1 president and CEO Greg Maffei.

“Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills, and of course, the famous Strip.

“There is no better place for Formula One to race than in the global entertainment capital of the world and we cannot wait to be here next year.”

The Las Vegas location shows F1’s continued expansion in the US. Austin has hosted a race since 2012, while Miami will be making its debut in May.

The growing interest in the sport among the United States audience is said to be credited to the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.”

“Most of us experience the effect it’s had on the sport. There’s certainly been a lot of growth and I honestly see that most in America,” McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo said in October, while his teammate Lando Norris said, “I think it’s a cool thing. Coming to America there are so many people who are now into Formula One just because of watching’ Drive to Survive.’”

The Authority Playbook: Dillon Kivo’s Guide to Becoming Leaders in One’s Industry

danielruiz on April 18, 2022

Businesses haven’t been the same since the world was ushered into a new era wherein operations have become more reliant on the digital world. In the PR industry, media has been instrumental in helping companies and individuals thrive. Nobody knows this better than Dillon Kivo, an accomplished expert renowned for helping Fortune 500 companies and some of the biggest names in several industries become leaders.

Dillon Kivo is the founder of leading PR agency Authority Titans and Kivo Daily Magazine. Millions have recognized his works for his influence in raising sales. He would later receive awards and accolades. While most people waited until their education was over to pursue a professional career, Dillon’s ambitions drove him to start early, resulting in his first PR and marketing agency, the Kivo Media Group. The agency quickly grew and became the fastest-growing digital publication in North America. From there, his career would only get better.

An accomplished individual, Dillon is also renowned as an entrepreneur, speaker, social media influencer, and PR expert. He has also co-authored the award-winning and bestselling marketing guide book The Growth Hacking Book. Recently, he picked up the pen to share more advice with his book, The Authority Playbook: How to Become The #1 Authority in Your Niche.

Published on March 4, 2022, The Authority Playbook lays the foundation for future entrepreneurs and individuals seeking a professional career in the PR industry. In the book, Dillon describes how he dedicated himself to understanding how the digital world works, sharing how leveraging media can play an instrumental role in helping people become authorities in their niche.

The book earned rave reviews from readers, with many sharing how insightful the book can be with such simplicity, making it easier for anyone to digest Dillon’s tips and strategies. In addition, the author received many compliments, with one reader calling him a pioneer and trailblazer in the industry.

“Dillon gets right to the point and doesn’t mess around when it comes to giving value in the book,” wrote one Andrew Weiss.

“Dillon delivers once again with cutting-edge industry insights, strategic branding tips, and actionable strategies on becoming the #1 authority in your niche,” praised reader Austin Zelan.

“If you’re an entrepreneur or thinking about starting a business, you have to get your hands on this book,” urged Juliette L. Moody. “Definitely a page-turner, and I left with so much insight into areas of business I didn’t know anything about. This book is worth its weight in gold, and it’s only 99 cents (the Kindle version).”

The Authority Playbook is Dillon Kivo’s guide for people eager to break away from their nine-to-five jobs and pursue a career that can cement their legacy in their professional endeavors. The book reveals how one can utilize the power of media to transform their businesses and obtain wealth, influence, and freedom. Dillon Kivo shares personal experiences and professional concepts, breaking them down into elements for his readers to digest and quickly apply to their endeavors.

Although the book was only released one month ago, The Authority Playbook quickly gained recognition and became the number 1 best seller in the Media and Communications Industry category on Amazon. While the book has already significantly impacted readers, Dillon’s youth means that there is more to come.

Dirty Dawgs NFT Building a World of Excitement for Basketball Lovers in the Metaverse

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Non-fungible tokens and their run in the digital world have remained relentless and unstoppable. Dirty Dawgs NFT is the latest entrant, giving basketball enthusiasts and fans something to be a part of.

Dirty Dawgs are uniquely generated NFTs that get their traits assigned once they are minted. The unique NFT offers some perks right off the bat, such as untethered access to the Baller Universe, where holders get to be a part of an expansive play-to-earn game, a unique secondary market, and one-of-a-kind real-world experiences available only to Dirty Dawgs NFT holders.

As a collection of 8,888 characters/tokens, Dirty Dawg NFT is all about giving holders real value and an assurance that they are joining a potentially rewarding project. The collection is stored on the Ethereum network as an ERC-721 token. In addition, the combination of hand-drawn bull dawg artwork with a wide range of traits makes each Dirty Dawg’s identity unique.

Dirty Dawgs features over 100 hand-drawn traits, with holders getting access to an exclusive group of Dirty Dawg collectors, exclusive utilities, massive cash benefits, and play-to-earn opportunities. All holders will get a baller in the metaverse that will enable them to earn some Dirty Dawg Coin. A thriving community is already building up on Discord while the project is gaining massive traction on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram.

Describing the motivation behind the project, a spokesperson said, “Our love for the game of basketball is the core of this project. With that being said, we will be giving away endless forms of entertainment to all holders, which include NBA tickets regularly, watch parties, and exclusive web3 networking events as a means to give back to the community.” In what the creators have tagged the “Dirtiest Dawg,” the 8,888 Dawgs in the collection will all be involved in a contest, and their athletic skills, technical mastery of basketball games, and the willingness to go through continuous upgrades to become legend will determine the winner.

The world of the Dirty Dawgs NFT is one filled with competition and adventure, and holders are not left out. The project also takes pride in being a community-first NFT project, as the developers have expressed their desire to give back to the community through rewards and project growth. “We focus on networking and are looking for a strong community of people who want to expand their horizons, meet new people, and be a part of something far greater than themselves. We plan to give profits back to the community and contribute to an empowered world,” a member of the team said.

Dirty Dawg NFT offers holders some remarkable perks that are second to none, such as the baller in the Metaverse that will give them access to play to earn in the project’s upcoming Metaverse games launching in late 2022. Additionally, holding at least one Dirty Dawgs NFT gives holders access to the huge Tesla Model 3 live giveaway draw. A $25,000 cash incentive has also been announced, which five holders of the Ultra Rare Dirty Dawg will split after they have successfully minted an Ultra Rare token.

As part of the numerous real-life benefits that Dirty Dawg NFT offers, the Dirty Dawg team is purchasing “The Dawg Pound,” an Airbnb property that Ultra Rare and Legendary holders will share 50% of the monthly revenue generated from renting the property out. The remaining 50% of the revenue will be channeled towards community giveaways, marketing efforts, funding floor sweeps and play-to-earn development. Dirty Dawgs NFT will become available for minting on OpenSea in May 2022.

Tronic: A One-Of-A-Kind Marketplace That Champions Artists and Creators in the NFT Space

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

One can safely say that artists are the driving force behind the NFT industry’s meteoric rise. Yet despite that, these creators often face a plethora of issues that hold them back from doing their best work. As such, the NFT marketplace Tronic aims to help address this predicament by providing these creative minds with an intuitive platform.

The primary goal of the enterprise is to empower artists and brands to dream big in the Web3. One way for the innovative venture to do this is by building a complete and holistic ecosystem for NFT creators where they can plan, create, build, market, and sell their NFTs. This means they would no longer need to jump from one platform to another, thus providing a more organized experience and ultimately increasing efficiency.

As a testament to its dedication to NFT developers, Tronic recently launched, with its first drop: Panther Phobia, a collection by the world-famous tattoo artist Luke Wessman. This marks the first time anyone will be able to purchase his artwork in a medium other than a tattoo.

In addition, Qverse by Magdiel Lopez was also part of the release. The highly coveted collection includes 20 distinct NFTs, and they will be auctioned off one piece at a time over the next few months. Each piece is guaranteed to be one of a kind as they are designed and created by a different guest artist.

If these stellar collections are anything to go by, NFT enthusiasts can safely infer that the brand is faithful to its vision of elevating the industry and promoting the fantastic work of artists and creators.

As the brilliant team behind the enterprise said, “We believe wholeheartedly that blockchain technology is here to stay and that exciting new worlds are forming just beyond the horizon. We want to be a part of those worlds, and we want everyone to come along with us. That is why we are dedicated to helping individuals and brands make the transition to Web3 through partnerships and projects that are fair, useful, make sense, and move us all forward together.”

Of course, Tronic has also shown its determination to create a tight-knit community that supports the industry. In line with this, the venture is also set to release the Tronic Pass. It is a unique utility token that provides NFT creators and collectors access to the enterprise’s creator tools, which are currently in development.

On top of that, it also gives an incredible value to token holders as it comes with numerous perks and utilities, such as getting early access to subsequent drops and invites to in-real-life and virtual events.Tronic has impressively proven to the NFT community its genuine commitment to its goals and objectives. In the near future, the outstanding platform will remain steadfast in its mission of pushing the boundaries of the NFT space. Above all, it will continue to champion the welfare of artists and creators to ensure that the industry will thrive for a long time to come.

Monique LeClair Shares a Different Side of Her Multi-Venture Life

Claire Peterson on April 18, 2022

Too many times, society tends to put people in a box. We’re forced to be one thing and not another. But one inspirational personality is proving that you can be whoever you want to be if you put your heart and soul into it. So now she’s sharing that story with the rest of the world.

Monique LeClair, also known by many as Nick, is a Native American, a full-time nurse in school to become a nurse practitioner, mother, model, and successful actress. In addition, she is a multi-talented host, writer and passionate humanitarian. This amazing woman has a child named Nova Lee Jasper LeClair, born November 15, 2019, and is also the daughter of musician and songwriter Cody Alan Jasper.

The passionate humanitarian wanted to help people at a very early age. However, her family acknowledged that she was always that kid who would always have a heart toward others. One of the fondest childhood memories she had was when she would bring possums off the side of the road after being hit by a car.

“I was that girl and always helped other family members when they were sick. And compassion and empathy have always come naturally to me”, says the outstanding nurse. As a result, the successful actress grew up as a kind-hearted individual, which allowed her to serve and lead in different ways.

Monique LeClair’s versatility started when she was still young. Growing up, she was an athlete and was also the only girl on the all-boys varsity wrestling team in high school. In addition, she did weight lifting, tennis, and volleyball. “I wanted to go into sports medicine, but, when I was about eleven years old, I lost my dad to cancer. He had colon cancer, you know, that had metastasized. And he passed away at the age of 38. And I was eleven. And he had some wonderful nurses that just changed his life and changed my life and made his last few months very comfortable and memorable”, recalls Monique.

Monique LeClair believes touching other people’s lives, in the same way, is a great privilege for her. Being a nurse puts her in a position to help in the most vulnerable hours of people.

“Aside from being a mother, it is an amazing human experience, so it’s gratifying,” says the compassionate nurse. Monique LeClair became a nurse at the age of 20, and so she started taking College credits before she graduated from high school. She graduated with honors like the National Honor Society in high school, had some college credits, and went straight into the program after high school. She has been a nurse for about twelve years now.

LeClair believes that discovering and pursuing one’s passions are essential to success. “I think the most important thing you have to remember in life is to be true to yourself,” explains Nick. “You have to follow your passions. Of course, you will come across bumps along the way and obstacles. But you just have to know that everything in life happens for a reason. So I have a very diverse and colorful background, but I’m proud of every bit of that I’ve known.”