The CAA Carriage Showcase was hosted in Duchess County from June 10 to June 12th. It was a magical celebration of tradition that has been passed down for generations and still thriving today.
I had the pleasure to interview Jahfari Harvey, Harvey is a defensive end for the University Of Miami football team. Harvey is a rising senior who is majoring in Sociology.
Did you play other sports growing up? What inspired you to pursue football?
“I played football, basketball, and also ran track growing up. I was inspired by my family who already played the football game,” said Harvey.
Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete?
“The two strengths that make me a great athlete are my work ethic and how resilient I am. I always want to be the hardest worker,” states Harvey.
What are some of your personal and team goals for the University of Miami this upcoming year?
“My personal goal for myself is double-digit sacks and for the team, I believe we can win every game on our schedule and win the ACC championship,” said Harvey.
Can you tell me more about your clothing collaboration with Fan Arch?
“My collaboration with Fan Arch is an apparel brand with my logo and pictures on different merch and accessories like hats and phone cases,” stated Harvey.
What impact has the new head coach, Mario Cristobal, had on the University of Miami football team?
“Mario Cristobal is organizing a toughness, discipline, effort, and accountability program,” said Harvey.
What is it like having Jason Taylor on the University of Miami’s football staff? Any new learnings from him?
“It’s great to have a hall of fame guy on the staff to learn from. We have very experienced defensive line coaches so we’re always learning something new from the film room to the field,” stated Harvey.
What is a motto you strive to live by?
Harvey lives by the motto, “Make tomorrow better than yesterday.”
Who is your biggest inspiration on and off the field?
“My biggest inspiration is knowing I can change my family’s life with my craft,” states Harvey.
Any exciting plans after you graduate from the University of Miami that you can share with us?
“My plan after graduation is to have a great combine and pro day and enter the NFL draft,” said Harvey.
To keep up with Jahfari Harvey, follow his Instagram, and for business inquiries, please email Harvey HarveyNIL@gmail.com. The Knockturnal wishes the University Of Miami and Jahfari Harvey an amazing upcoming season.
Today with streaming taking over the world, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t know the biggest gamer on the internet: Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. Ninja is one of the most recognizable gaming and entertainment personalities in the world. With more than 70 million fans worldwide on major digital networks, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins became a pop culture phenomenon in 2018, after he streamed on Twitch playing Fortnite alongside rappers Drake, Travis Scott, and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. Since then, he’s gone on to become the first creator to get an exclusive skin in both Fortnite and Raid: Shadow Legends, and was the first professional gamer to be featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. Recently Ninja has partnered with Los Angeles and Paris based branding and graphic design firm EAT Studio, to launch a new brand look that embodies who Ninja is today. EAT was founded in 2009 and since has evolved into a world-class creative studio. EAT now works with some of today’s most exciting startups and global brands like Amazon, Netflix, Adidas, Red Bull, Activision, Warner Brothers, NBC Universal, Samsung, and Twitch. They are at the intersection of art and expression and truly love to create. The Immigrant-Owned company founded by Women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. With members residing around the world, are perfectly positioned to tap into a wellspring of inspiration from international hubs of creativity. This access allows them to develop innovative brands that are relevant from a global perspective.
The goal in this branding was to retain brand references that pay homage to Ninja’s gaming origins while also creating and operating within a space where tech and talk collide. This new branding hopes to show loyal fans that Team Ninja is still very committed to their roots while showing those who might not understand the gaming world a refreshing concept they can relate to as well.
For those that may not be too familiar with Ninja, there is one key defining aspect to his brand- his hair. EAT Studio met Team Ninja’s objective, taking one of the streamer’s most unique and distinct features, his hair, and transforming it into a piece of iconography. Now this very key detail to the Team Ninja brand is taking up its own space across the various platforms where it’s applied and is an extension of Team Ninja. All of these seemingly minor details show the essence of Team Ninja which Tyler was eager to authentically capture and convey.
Renata Amaral Morris, Founder & CEO of EAT said, “Working with Tyler was like watching his streams, but instead of talking about games, he was immersed in creating his new brand,” she goes on to say,“Tyler and his manager Jessica were fun and professional, present and aware of what they wanted, while always appreciating our work and team. Team Ninja was a true dream client.”
Loyal fans of Team Ninja will be happy to see that this new branding remains true to Tyler’s character while leaving space for continued development as he continues to gain more recognition. Another key factor in the rebrand was changing the typography of the iconic Ninja logo. This new logo embodies the versatility many have come to recognize in Ninja’s character and career. The logotype, with its bold and varying stroke widths, proudly proclaims the Team Ninja brand while championing variety – two aspects that were also present within EAT.
“For this project, EAT’s team consisted of an international group of designers from 4+ different countries, two project managers, our CEO and account manager, Renata’” noted Gabriel Seibel, COO & Creative Director of EAT. “The professional and cultural diversity in the room brought a unique creative spark that led to so many exciting routes for NINJA’s brand.”
The unveiling took place across billboards and notable media appearances such as The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, and Nightline – and it doesn’t plan to stop there. Team Ninja Manager, Jessica Belvins said, “EAT was a great partner to work with as they knew from the start that this project had to be something truly special. The new look transcends the gaming world that Team Ninja already dominates, and takes it to the next level.”
So what’s next for Ninja? Tyler has set his sights on Hollywood to tell stories for fans of gaming and internet culture. Recently, he can be seen making a cameo in 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy, starring Ryan Reynolds, and can be heard in Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. He is also the author of two graphic novels published by Ten Speed Press: Ninja: The Most Dangerous Game (2019) and Ninja: War for the Dominions (2021). Additionally, Tyler is a noted philanthropist who has been active in his hometown community of Detroit as well as his new home in Chicago, Ninja was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019, and is the announced sponsor of the Ninja Esports Lounge at the Matilda R. Wilson Boys & Girls Clubs location in Auburn Hills, Michigan. As a partner on Twitch, Ninja currently streams Fortnite, Halo, Lost Ark, Valorant, Apex Legends, League of Legends, and Final Fantasy XI Online.
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@theknockturnal.com We got to check out Red Bull Dance Your Style secret party in Downtown Los Angeles! #theknockturnal #vlog #redbulldanceyourstyle #redbull #danceyourstyle @Red Bull Dance #bts #fyp #foryou #dance #streetdance #party #losangeles ♬ original sound - rennyxaudios
On Wednesday March 23rd, The Knockturnal got an exclusive invite to a secret party taking place in Down Town Los Angeles. This secret party which included cocktails, food, performances and more was held by Red Bull for their “Red Bull Dance Your Style” campaign. The long awaited premiere one-on-one street dance competition Red Bull Dance Your Style returns for its 2022 season. Red Bull Dance Your Style is a competition which challenges the best dancers and entertainers around the globe in epic 1-on-1 battles and Red Bull Dance Your Style brings improvisation to a new level. Red Bull Dance Your Style is a global all-styles street dance event series with a unique battle format. From hip hop to house, to locking to popping. The onsite and incredible DJ provides the dancers and audience with unpredictable tunes from mainstream hits to timeless classics and fire up the dance floor, allowing dancers to showcase their skills and wow the crowd! Because this competition incorporates the world of street dance the catch is that the crowd are the judges! The dancers participating in Red Bull Dance Your Style need to ‘wow’ the crowd and ultimately win their vote. We got to experience the Red Bull Dance Your Style first hand and were not disappointed at all.
When I was told we would be attending a “secret event” I had no idea what to expect at all. After confirming our attendance through email I was sent a phone number I had to message through which I would receive the address within 24-hours of the event. This definitely added to the “secret” aspect of the whole event and help build up our excitement of what was to follow. After receiving our text and heading over to Los Angeles, we had to walk through an alley in Down Town to get to the party and were almost sure we had gotten lost until we could finally feel the ground vibrating with a heavy bass and saw staff outside of the party. After we checked in with staff and got our wrist bands, immediately we were transported to another world. The neon lights all around the venue set the mood for the night and also offered some amazing sets to snap some pictures for social media. We were greeted by a group of dancers already beginning to tease their skills on the dance floor while a crowd slowly began to build around them. We grabbed some drinks, complimentary of Red Bull Dance Your Style, and started exploring the venue.
In this building, split in three parts, there were so many things to see. First we walked through the main room with DJ and dance floor to the back room where there was a giant neon sign wall and photo booth. We couldn’t help ourselves and had to snap a couple of photos before the major crowd arrived. Through that same room there was an upper level were you could be a spectator and get a birds eye view of the dance battle. We headed back downstairs and walked into another room not knowing what to expect and there was a red and blue lit hall of mirrors. We took some photos and headed back out to the main room just in time to see some of the battles start. After more dancers and spectators arrived the battle began. There were two teams consisting of four dancers in total who all took turns individually showing off their unique moves and showing the crowd why they deserved to win. I had never witnessed something like this before and the energy was absolutely unmatched. The crowd was so expressive and completely feeding off the dancers in a symbiotic excitement. After the dancers finished they exchanged some hugs and laughs in the name of sportsmanship, and the winner was crowned. After that, the real party began with the dance floor opening up to everyone.
Immediately as the hypnotic music began to play, everyone began to slowly get into the music and found their rhythm, and eventually the swaying turned into actual dancing. After completely exhausting ourselves while trying to keep up with the real professional dancers we headed out for some cold night air to cool off and were immediately greeted to the heavenly smell of tacos. We headed over to the taco truck, complimentary of Red Bull Dance Your Style, and quickly refueled before heading back in to continue the dance party. The energy of the whole night was absolutely electrifying and it was so amazing being in such a creative and expressive space like that.
Red Bull Dance Your Style is actually an event that takes place all over the United States between January 1st and May 31st 2022. By visiting https://www.redbull.com/us-en/event-series/dance-your-style you can some of the top dancers from around the world in your city while they connect and celebrate the diverse dance community. For its 2022 season, Red Bull Dance Your Style will amplify dance scenes from all corners of the country, traveling to Tampa, Chicago, Washington D.C., Oakland, Atlanta and New Orleans to determine who will go on to represent the country at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final.
Check out our Tik Tok on the event for some behind the scenes of the Red Bull Dance Your Style event and let us know what you think!
Photo credits: @joshaikin
Wigs and gym shorts heavy, the 70s and 80s are in full force in HBO’s latest period drama. The television honcho unlocks and reimagines events of the Showtime Lakers in a land where Los Angeles glamour and glitz meet domination on the hardwood. HBO and HBO Max roll out episodes of original drama series Winning Time: the Rise of the Lakers Dynasty every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET and PT.
The coaches, players, executives, and cheerleaders of the Showtime era all contributed to the legacy of the Los Angeles Lakers being an unparalleled franchise in the National Basketball Association’s 75-year history. Two decades into their residence in the City of Angels, the team ignited a stroke of energy, showmanship, and game that led to five championships within the late 70s to early 90s. In comparison, rivals Boston Celtics earned three in that same time span.
The franchise’s success also propelled the immense personalities of its members into Hollywood celebrities. With colossal stardom in and out of California, these past figures catapulted the Los Angeles Lakers into the household name it is today with basketball fans and those outside of sports and the United States. Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Norm Nixon, and Jerry Buss threw the lob so that modern-day athletes could embrace a capacity for influence in their crafts, on the social scene, and in entertainment.
To play these illustrious masterminds of game, HBO drafted a range of stars in their own right. For DeVaughn Nixon, household memorabilia and memories growing up helped him portray father Norm Nixon. Other actors cast as players looked towards their youthful experiences with a basketball in hand or on-screen. Actors cast as Lakers players during the Showtime period include: Quincy Isaiah (Magic Johnson), DeVaughn Nixon (Norm Nixon), Solomon Hughes (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Delante Desouza (Michael Cooper), Jimel Atkins (Jamaal Wilkes), Austin Aaron (Mark Landsberger), and Jon Young (Brad Holland).
Executives, front-office staff, coaches, and other power figures include: John C. Reilly (Jerry Buss), Hadley Robinson (Jeanie Buss), Jason Clarke (Jerry West), Adrien Brody (Pat Riley), Gaby Hoffmann (Claire Rothman), Tracy Letts (Jack McKinney), Jason Segel (Paul Westhead), Brett Cullen (Bill Sharman), Stephen Adly Guirgis (Frank Mariani), Molly Gordon (Linda Zafrani), and Joey Brooks (Lon Rosen). Analyst and commentator Chick Hearn also gets a nod through actor Spencer Garrett.
With a combination of creative liberty and imitation of real life, the roles of Sally Field (Jessie Buss) and Rob Morgan (Earvin Johnson, Sr.) as parents of key figures aid in character development and drama. An added layer, Julianne Nicholson (Cranny McKinney), Tamera Tomakili (Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly), and Sarah Ramos (Cheryl Pistono) play the romantic partners of players and coaches.
Altogether, Winning Time: the Rise of the Lakers Dynasty accentuates the bold and unique psyches amid halls of The Forum. The production team excels at balancing vintage motifs, humor, and styles. It’s campy like any good 1970s work of entertainment. Costume and makeup crews not only foster a sense of timewarp but also thrush each actor into an uncanny metamorphosis—much like past projects directed by Adam McKay like Talladega Nights, Anchorman, and Vice. Unforgettably, writers and executive producers Max Borenstein, Jim Hecht, and Rodney Barnes seamlessly squeeze quips into dramatic scenes. Regardless of whether you are a sports fan or not, the dry humor is enough enticement to anxiously await another episode.
It is hard to believe Super Bowl was already a few weeks ago. But the time-lapse and recent entertainment news makes us realize the power of the NFL.
@theknockturnal.com a little vlog from “The Pregame Los Angeles Edition Super Bowl Brunch Event” #theknockturnal #jamiefoxx #football #superbowl #hollywood ♬ Pensando en ti - Litos
On Saturday, February 12th, The Knockturnal was invited to the highly exclusive QC Sports, a full-service sports representation agency, ‘The Pregame’ Event at premier hotel The Dream on the the Highlight Room rooftop in Los Angeles in celebration of the Super Bowl LVI. This event featured tons of actors, models, athletes, influencers and more. Along with an amazing buffet style brunch, the event also offered an open bar for guests.
QC Sports curated a one-of-a-kind experience for their clients and guests by merging the world of sports and entertainment to celebrate one of the biggest moments in football taking place in Los Angeles. This monumental and showstopping afternoon featured an elevated experience including sponsored activations such as on-site gaming with XSET, audio station by VIWONE, a cigar lounge curated by Escobar, crafted cocktails by Dano’s Tequila and libations with some of the industry’s favorite celebrities and influencers including music trailblazers Migos, Jamie Foxx, London On Da Track, Lecrae and more. Also spotted at the event was BMF actress Seraya, Love and Hip Hop star Princess Love, Wild “N Out comedian Dan Rue, Selling Tampa star Sherelle Rosado, NBA All-Star Charles Oakley and more.
QC Sports continues to expand their footprint across the industry from the NBA, MLB and NFL with players in this year’s Super Bowl -Rams player Donte Deayon and Bengals player Auden Tate. QC strives and is committed to bringing exceptional service that started back in 2013 with Quality Control Music and its A-List roster including Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty and more.
Check out our TikTok on the behind the scenes of the event and pictures of some of the stars in attendance.
London on da Track
Coack K and Quavo on the red carpet.
Comedian Dan Rue
UCLA Wide Receiver Kam Brown
Musician Melii
Actress, model ,and singer Sereyah
Photo Credit: Mark Gunter
As everyone knows, the highly anticipated Super Bowl was last week and was coincidentally also being held in Los Angeles. As a part of the cities pregame festivities, The Knockturnal got to check out the celebration for Gillette’s nationwide launch of the new GilletteLabs Exfoliating Bar razor through an immersive pop-up roller skating rink in Santa Monica. The rink was bringing to life the quick and easy shave of the new razor, effortlessly, just like skating! This roller skating experience featured tons of guest appearances from well-known athletes and influencers. The rink was also filled with local skate community members who were excited for the unique outdoor roller skating experience. In addition to the roller rink, Gillette was also offering a pop-up barber shop with celebrity barbers from the official Gillette Barber Council. This event was open to the public through the weekend and luckily we got the chance to join in on all the fun. Once we arrived we immediately ran into Derwin James, football strong safety for the Los Angeles Chargers. There he was taking photos, skating, and even getting a hair cut right before the Super Bowl. After we checked in with staff and confirmed our reservation, we got to grab a pair of skates and head out onto the rink. The Gillette skating staff was also on site to help beginners like us figure out how to maneuver. The event also featured a DJ to keep up the high energy enthusiasm amongst all the skaters. After being completely outdone by all the amazing skaters and a failed attempt of making it all the way around the rink, we got to walk around and check out everything else the pop-up had to offer. The on-site barber shop featured appointment only professional cuts helping you get ready for the exciting weekend ahead. We were also gifted GilletteLabs Exfoliating Bar razor and shaving cream. Don’t forget to check out the new GilletteLabs Exfoliating Bar razor and let us know what you think!
For over a decade, Sports Illustrated has been a fixture during Super Bowl week, creating an epic one-of-a-kind party experience that intersects the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment. This year’s grand affair for Super Bowl LVI was no exception and continued its dominance to be one of the most sought-after parties during football’s biggest weekend.
On Saturday, Sports Illustrated The Party x Palm Tree Crew, kicked off the late night festivities with a bang at Century City Park in Los Angeles, which attracted the biggest A-list celebrities and athletes in town. The VIP guests included Leonardo DiCaprio, Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The other top guests were Kevin Hart, Ciara, Russell Wilson, Shaquille O’Neal, Julianne Hough, Diplo, Keegan-Michael Key, Ashley Greene, professional wrestling twins Brie Bella and Nikki Bella, Amanda Kloots, Dr. Mehmet Oz and many more, who all walked the red carpet and were in good spirits.
Presented by ABG Entertainment and Talent Resources Sports, the extravagant outdoor party featured unforgettable live music sets by rapper Jack Harlow, DJ Irie, David Solomon, Frank Walker and headlining performer Kygo, the popular Norwegian DJ artist. Kygo shocked guests by bringing out Joe Jonas and the rest of DNCE group members onto the stage to play their popular hit songs such as “Cake by the Ocean” and “Dancing Feet.”
The thousands of stylish dressed guests that got invited to the party danced past midnight and enjoyed an all-inclusive open bar offering complementary premium liquor, wine and beer. VIP tables located in front of the stage music included dedicated bottle service and replenished spirits. Hart, Ciara and Wilson were one of the lucky ones assigned to those seats. Guests also enjoyed eating little Dunkin’ Munchkins donut holes and Snickers and Twix flavored Candy Pop Popcorn treats.
As thank you gifts, attendees of the party were given the opportunity to collect a free, sports-inspired NFT at oneof.com. Other free gifts handed out were Sports Illustrated branded hooded sweaters and for those who participated in one of the activation booths, they got to take home an entertaining video souvenir to post on social media, and to remember the exciting party for years to come.
Photo Credit: Christopher Polk / Polkimaging
Caption: ABG Entertainment and Talent Resources Sports Presents Sports Illustrated The Party x Palm Tree Crew
The event featured some amazing activations! Read more below:
Kiswe was the live-streaming partner for The Party and featured carpet coverage hosted by NFL Network anchor Taylor Bisciotti.
Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey hosted their ‘St. Practice Day’ activation and branded Illustrated whiskey bar.
Sports Illustrated and JCPenney recently launched Sports for JCPenney, an inclusive performance driven lifestyle apparel line for men, women and kids. This year, JCPenney hosted an interactive Style Studio at The Party where attendees could browse and shop the elevated activewear that focuses on form and function. After trying on a few of their favorite pieces, guests entered a life-sized Sport Illustrated cover for a fun photo moment.
Col Bleu partnered with The Party as the official vodka partner. PATRÓN Tequila, the world’s number one ultra-premium tequila, was the official tequila partner for The Party offering specialty PATRÓN cocktails. Additional partners include Soultox, C4, SI Tix, SI Sportsbook, SI Resorts, Skinny Mixes, and Body Armour.
Super Bowl LVI weekend is jam packed with a flurry of exciting parties leading up to Sunday’s championship game between the home team Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. But, the one bash that served the most delicious food was the Taste of the NFL, an immersive culinary affair where NFL legends, sports icons and entertainment stars gathered to eat delightful, unconventional, bite-sized game-day dishes created by world-renowned celebrity chefs.
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