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- ๐ฅ Are YouTubers saving boxing?
๐ฅ Are YouTubers saving boxing?
Happy Tuesday! Itโs October 17 โ people are talking about Rite Aidโs bankruptcy, the rise of YouTuber boxing, and more.
As always, weโve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.
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๐ฅ In the news: Rite Aid files for bankruptcy
Pharmacy chain Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy. Was it because of all the opioid lawsuits, or was the business a mess anyway?
๐ฅ The NYT says sales had been dwindling for years, while debt had been piling up. The company used to be the top pharmacy chain in the US and was worth $13b in 1998 โ it's now worth about $40m, with no other path forward.
๐ฅ The NY Post thinks the filing will help Rite Aid resolve the slew of opioid-related lawsuits it faces. New CEO Jeffrey Stein says the company is ready to get back on track.
๐ฅ But the WSJ points out that Rite Aid was in trouble well before the lawsuits, suffering years of bad management decisions and failed deals.
๐ฅ Fast Company says it's further proof that big chain pharmacies just aren't working. Workers at CVS and Walgreens have recently staged walkouts due to poor working conditions. This model clearly isnโt working.
๐ฅ Cultural trend: YouTubers in the boxing ring
YouTuber boxing has enjoyed huge popularity, led by Jake Paul and KSI. But is it good or bad for the sport?
๐ฅ Boing Boing says boxing is in a strange spot. The best fighters are cautious about scheduling matches, unlike the UFC โ fight scarcity is one of the reasons boxing was dying. But now YouTubers are helping revive the sport.
๐ฅ TJlovesFights thinks these YouTubers are good boxers. They made the world's greatest sport marketable again, and are helping save boxing.
๐ฅ Mike Tyson agrees: The YouTubers are doing more for boxing than the champs. He even called Jake Paul his "hero".
๐ฅ But Outkick disagrees: These fights are shams and destroy the sport's credibility. They're obvious money grabs, and the Paul brothers are to blame.
๐ฅ The Conversation thinks YouTubers are a symptom of boxing's problems, not the cause. Boxing waters down the competition with a ridiculous belt system, leaving fans wanting more. The YouTubers provided that โ can you blame them?
Shades poll: What do you think of YouTuber boxing? |
Quick hits
๐ฎ๐ฑ President Biden accepted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's invitation to visit Israel. He'll arrive on Wednesday. (CNN)
๐ Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in London while protesting a meeting of fossil fuel executives and government leaders. (The Guardian)
๐ Colts QB Anthony Richardson is likely out for the season. He injured his shoulder in week 5 and plans to have surgery to repair it. (NBC Sports)
๐ฅ The Biden campaign joined Truth Social, the media platform Trump created after being banned from Twitter. Its first post was "Converts welcome". (The Hill)
Thatโs it for today. Reply to [email protected] with any feedback, or ideas for tomorrowโs topics!
- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)