Vernon Forrest was a decorated world boxing champion and member of the 1992 US Olympic Team.  Then in 2009, Forrest was senselessly murdered.  Now his former teammate has created a boxing scholarship to honor his friend’s legacy.

The Durst-Forrest Boxing Scholarship—established by former Augusta boxer Frank M. Durst IV and his wife Caroline—was recently founded to support Augusta Boxing Club student athletes pursuing secondary education opportunities.  The Dursts formed the charitable fund with an initial $50,000 contribution through the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

Forrest was a native of Augusta, Georgia and began boxing at the age of nine.  He compiled an impressive 225-16 record as an amateur, won silver at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships, became the 1992 US junior welterweight champion, and made his professional debut in 1992.  Forrest, who became the first boxer to defeat welterweight Shane Mosley, held the World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight and welterweight titles along with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title.

The Durst-Forrest Boxing Scholarship was created to financially assist club members interested in attending local universities and technical schools.  The Augusta Boxing Club is led by director Ray Whitfield, a former National Golden Gloves teammate of Durst.

“Vernon and I were Augusta Boxing Club teammates in the late 1980s and remained good friends for decades,” said Durst.  “He is known mostly for his success in the ring, but I remember his wonderful spirit, humility and service to others.” 

Pictured from left to right are Forrest and Durst playing golf in the early 2000s.

Founded in 1976 by probation officer Tom Moraetes, the Augusta Boxing Club operates with the assistance of area law enforcement agencies and relies on donations for support.  The nonprofit is structured as an after school and community support organization designed to curtail drug abuse and crime among young adults and children.  Located at 1929 Walton Way, the Augusta Boxing Club uses boxing as a tool to steer troubled youth off the streets.

To contribute to the scholarship, visit the CSRA website.  For more information about the Augusta Boxing Club, call (706) 550-0382 or visit the website.

As Black History Month begins, Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the leader in sports simulation games now celebrating its Diamond Anniversary, is proud to announce the renewal and expansion of its partnership with the Negro League Baseball Museum (NLBM) and President Bob Kendrick. Strat-O-Matic continues to augment its selection of popular Negro League baseball roster sets, with 10% of all sales donated to the Kansas City, Mo., based museum.

Strat-O-Matic has the most robust and highly researched Negro League simulation products, now boasting more than 25 individual seasons rosters dating back to 1908, plus Stars and legendary Diamond Gems rosters. Three new rosters, 1918, 1928 and 1943, will be released on February 19 along with the rest of SOM’s current baseball card and digital sets.

“In our 60th Anniversary year, we couldn’t be more excited about extending our partnership with the Negro League Baseball Museum and we’re especially grateful to Bob Kendrick for his support and friendship,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “We look forward to celebrating the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues throughout 2021,”

“Strat-O-Matic has been a great partner in helping further the Museum’s mission of preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America,” said Kendrick. “Members and fans often talk about what it would be like to see these players in action, and Strat-O-Matic continues to be a great way to realistically relive their performances.”

Strat-O-Matic released its first comprehensive Negro League products in 2001 with more than 100 players in the Negro League Stars set.

About Strat-O-Matic

Strat-O-Matic was invented by 11-year-old Hal Richman in his bedroom in Great Neck, N.Y. in 1948 as a result of his frustration with the statistical randomness of other baseball board games. He discovered that the statistical predictability of dice would give his game the realism he craved. Over the next decade, he perfected the game at summer camp and then as a student at Bucknell University. After producing All-Star sets in 1961 and ‘62, he parlayed a $5,000 loan from his father (and made a deal that if it didn’t work out he would work for his father’s insurance company) into the original 1962 Strat-O-Matic Baseball season game. Needless to say, Hal never had to take a job with his father.

Strat-O-Matic, based in Glen Head, NY and on the Internet at www.strat-o-matic.com, manufactures the top selling sports board games and realism/stats sports digital games. The Company publishes baseball, football, basketball and hockey games to play both on and off your computer and mobile screens. “Strat-O” games are known throughout the sports community for their statistical realism and accuracy. The Company has the world’s greatest sports game stat libraries with top-of-the-line seasons dating back to the early 1900’s. At the start of the 2016 MLB season, Strat-O-Matic introduced Baseball Daily, its first product featuring digital player cards that update every day to reflect real life current player performance as the season progresses.

The Company has a loyal celebrity following including a bevy of sports broadcasters such as Bob Costas, Jon Miller and Dan Shulman, former MLB’ers Keith Hernandez, Doug Glanville and Cal Ripken Jr., and sports super fans including Drew Carey, Ben Bernanke, Bryant Gumbel, Spike Lee and Tim Robbins. More information is available at: www.strat-o-matic.com.

DDSports Inc. (ShotTracker), a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced an $11M USD funding round led by Evertz Technologies Limited (“Evertz”) and Verizon Ventures. ShotTracker will use the funds to accelerate its deployment across NCAA Division I Power 6 Basketball Conferences, expand hiring, further key partnerships and enhance sensor capabilities and data capture for players, coaches, fans and broadcasters.

ShotTracker brings elite-level real time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys, and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and will also be integrated with Evertz cloud based live production solutions. The real time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies.

With more than 63 Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs and a growing relationship with Learfield IMG College and their partner schools, ShotTracker’s cutting-edge technology is well-positioned to deliver deep data and analytics as well as video, scoreboard and broadcast integration. For its media company and broadcast customers, it currently delivers experiential activations and crossover content opportunities distributed via digital and social platforms.

The Evertz partnership brings to ShotTracker a global leader in providing professional video/audio infrastructure and cloud-based solutions to content creators. The partnership with ShotTracker’s advanced real time analytics, will enable content owners to create tailored content for their audience across multiple platforms. With automated camera operations, advanced statistics, and cloud services, producers can augment live production by telling unique stories that enhance the audience’s experience (in-venue and/or the broadcast) while realizing additional revenue opportunities.

“Combining ShotTracker sensor data and our DreamCatcher^TM suite of products will enrich live productions — on-premise and cloud-based — for broadcasters, leagues, teams, and fans." said Vince Silvestri, Evertz VP of Software Systems. “We are excited to be working with the ShotTracker team to bring enhanced and personalized game experiences to fans everywhere.”

“As real-time data tracking and analytics become critical components for coaches and players, instantaneous and interactive delivery powered by 5G is critical,” said Michelle McCarthy, Verizon Ventures Managing Director. “ShotTracker’s real-time sports data will transform fan experiences, athletic performance, sports broadcast and more. We’re proud to invest in a team of industry veterans as they pave the way for data capture in game play to improve all areas of the sport.”

“The entire ShotTracker team is excited to have the opportunity of working with two such farsighted technology leaders as Evertz and Verizon Ventures, each of whom brings special capabilities to enable us to fulfill our vision of what truly real time statistics and analytics can mean,” said Bill Moses, ShotTracker CEO. ShotTracker Founder and COO, Davyeon Ross, added: “The impact of tying the cameras to the ShotTracker sensors, in cost savings and in the quality of unique content which then can be delivered, will be dramatic and literally game changing for the sports world.”

About Evertz

Evertz Technologies Limited designs, manufactures and markets video and audio infrastructure solutions for the television, telecommunications and new-media industries. Evertz provides complete end-to-end cloud solutions to content creators, broadcasters, specialty channels and television service providers to support their increasingly complex multi-channel digital, ultrahigh definition (UHD) and next generation high bandwidth low-latency IP network environments. Evertz' solutions enable its customers to generate additional revenue while reducing costs through the more efficient signal routing, distribution, remote production, monitoring and management of content as well as the automation and orchestration of more streamlined and agile workflow processes on-premise and in the “Cloud”. For additional information, visit evertz.com.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is celebrating its 20th year as one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $131.9 billion in 2019. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

About ShotTracker

ShotTracker was co-founded in Overland Park, Kansas by basketball and technology experts Davyeon Ross and Bruce Ianni. ShotTracker’s innovative system delivers 70+ unique and completely autonomous basketball stats and insights to teams, broadcasters and game partners with sub-second latency. ShotTracker is currently being utilized by 63 men’s and women’s college basketball programs spanning 12 conferences. Its partners include Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Spalding and Wilson. For more information, visit ShotTracker.com

ATLANTA, GA, November 12, 2020 – Dickey Broadcasting Company is proud to announce a partnership with Fairway Social, a golf and entertainment concept combining golf games and unprecedented experiences under one roof at 240 South Main Street in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Located in The Maxwell, a mixed-use development at the northeast corner of South Main Street and Devore Road in Alpharetta, Georgia, Fairway Social will feature Full Swing golf simulators (www.fullswinggolf.com), an outdoor upscale putting course, known as “The Back Nine,” elevated bar bites, drinks, and a rooftop patio bar named “Over Par Bar” featuring live music every weekend.

As part of the partnership, 680 The Fan’s premiere golf broadcast, The Golf Show with Brian Katrek, will broadcast live from Fairway Social nearly every Sunday morning from 9am-10am and multiple 680AM/93.7FM prime time shows will also broadcast live from the venue throughout the year.

“On behalf of Dickey Broadcasting Company, I’d like to share the excitement surrounding our new partnership with Fairway Social! What a fantastic opportunity for 680 The Fan listeners to enjoy watching their favorite sports talk show hosts broadcasting live on-location, in tandem with experiencing all the ridiculous fun inside and out at Alpharetta’s premier golf themed venue,” said Ed Kennedy, Sr. Director of Local and National Sales.

Neal Freeman, visionary of Fairway Social said, “We are thrilled to include 680 The Fan as an added attraction for Fairway Social. Live broadcasts will provide one more opportunity for sports enthusiasts to come and play, have a bite to eat and enjoy some friendly competition.” Neal is founder of Sports Community Consultants and LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Georgia.

The Maxwell, home to Fairway Social, is a joint development between Mayfair Street Partners, LLC and The Providence Group of Georgia, LLC.  A total of 44,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office at The Maxwell will be complemented with 138 residential units.

“Opening in the first quarter of 2021, Fairway Social, will provide a lively destination for friendly competition for all ages,” said Neal Freeman. “Once inside, guests can travel through the world’s most famous golf courses to enjoy our golf simulators and play on California’s Pebble Beach or Georgia’s Sea Island.” The sports simulators will also offer   virtual golfing on 100+ notable courses as well as provide simulated games for baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, cricket and zombie dodgeball.”

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For the latest news on Fairway Social, visit https://fairway-social.com and these social media links:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/fairwaysocialalpharetta/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/fairwaysociala1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fairwaysocialalpha/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairway-social/

About Dickey Broadcasting Company

Dickey Broadcasting is a sports marketing and content distribution company with offices and studios located at The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park. The company has created a robust portfolio of distribution channels, including three regional radio networks, three local Atlanta area sports talk radio stations, a podcasting platform and content library, audio streaming via web, smart phone apps & in-home digital assistants, on-site event activation, personality endorsement and influencer marketing, social media and more.  The privately-owned company has been active in media for the past five decades and is credited with launching sports-talk radio in Atlanta on their flagship Sports Radio 680 The Fan WCNN nearly 28 years ago. Dickey Broadcasting Company is also associated with Atlanta-based media company Modern Luxury Media.

About Mayfair Street Partners

Mayfair Street Partners, LLC (“Mayfair”) was founded on the core beliefs and values of its principals whose mission is built on integrity, performance, and an awareness of balancing “margin and mission” in all of its investments. Mayfair’s investment strategy is based on developing and investing in commercial real estate assets across urban mixed-use retail, limited to full service hotels, multi-family, and land development. The company is a partnership of cycle tested Principals with a combined experience of nearly 90 years. Together, their experience and development platform provides investors with in-depth knowledge of the real estate industry and delivery of consistent returns over the life cycle of each transaction. www.mayfairstreetpartners.com

About Sports Community Consultants

Sports Community Consultants, LLC (“SCC”) is a real estate consulting firm assisting communities develop family-centric sports destinations that focus on family values and wholistic competition similar to the design of LakePoint Sports Community in Northwest Georgia. Entertainment venues and dining experiences, like LakePoint Station, Fairway Social and Roaring Social (located on the speakeasy level of Alpharetta’s newest boutique hotel) are three of the concepts and consulting services included in the firm’s creative concept.