Gary Acosta is an entrepreneur, public policy advocate, investor, and thought leader passionate about advancing prosperity for Latinos and other underserved communities. As an industry leader, he protects and improves the business environment required to close the wealth gap, particularly via homeownership. Amongst other endeavors, he is Co-Founder & CEO of NAHREP, the country’s leading Hispanic business organization, and Co-Founder of L’ATTITUDE, the preeminent platform for Latino economic empowerment. Acosta is also a general partner of L’ATTITUDE Ventures, the nation’s largest venture capital fund exclusively focused on Latino-led start-ups. Join Gary as he dives into today’s issues through many creative formats.
Lebron James is producing a three part documentary series on the changing role of athletes in the current political environment. The show, Shut up and Dribble, will appear on Showtime and takes its name from conservative pundit Laura Ingraham’s remarks to James after he voiced support for the players of the Golden State Warriors who declined…
Almost everyone is aware that LeBron James, the greatest basketball player in a generation, exercised his option to become a free agent and promptly signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. After the worst five years in franchise history, Laker fans like me were thrilled with the news. However, it also reinforced the sobering fact that…
Is Lebron James the greatest basketball player of all time? Are the Warriors the best team ever? Who knows? The Warriors clinched their third NBA championship in the last four years and that puts them in a very small class of great teams. Lebron on the other hand, seemed to elevate his already brilliant game…
Less than 3% of high school basketball players go on to play at a four-year college — less than 1% play division one. The numbers are slightly better for other sports. With odds like that it is shocking to some people that the business of youth sports is now a 12 billion dollar industry. Critics…
Most of you probably heard that the NFL ruled this week that beginning next season players who don’t stand for the national anthem could be penalized and fined. I’ve already written about how I feel about the subject; I think the players should be allowed to protest peacefully. However, while it’s no surprise that Whites…
This year March Madness feels less fun for those of us who closely follow college basketball. The FBI investigations, the drama with UCLA in China, and the ongoing debate about whether college players should get paid has taken some of the fun out of the season. The issues are not mutually exclusive, rather they are…
Last week, the Ball family received worldwide attention, but not for the reason anyone would have hoped. While in Shanghai, China for a non-conference game between UCLA and Georgia Tech, LaVar’s middle son LiAngelo Ball, along with two of his teammates, were arrested by Chinese police for shoplifting at a high-end shopping mall. The incident…
I haven’t watched a World Series, in the complete sense, in years. I was born in LA and was a Dodgers fan growing up. Over the years I lost interest in baseball as the lack of parity made the game less interesting. Admittedly, after the Cubs won the World Series last year, my interest was…
Last Sunday the Phoenix Suns fired their young head coach, Earl Watson. Three days earlier, my son Aaron and I traveled to Phoenix as invited guests of Earl Watson and the Phoenix Suns to sit in on practice, have dinner with the coaches, and watch the Suns take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Coach Watson…
I think I have already expressed that I am a fan of the Ball family. The patriarch, LaVar, is a fascinating person. Above and beyond everything, he is an unabashed family man and I like that about him. Some people think he is the worst thing in sports and others think he is a genius…
Last month I wrote about my son’s experience playing AAU summer basketball. I said that he was fortunate to find a good program where he received great coaching and good competition, but that I could see there was a shady factor with other programs and I thought shoe companies had way too much influence. Last…
I think anyone born in America is blessed beyond words and should never take it for granted. I also understand why some people contend that our flag, anthem, and other American icons should NEVER be used as vehicles for protest. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that I don’t like the sight of wealthy…
After losing his epic boxing match against Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Conor McGregor bragged that he was able to turn Mayweather into a Mexican. McGregor has been known to be loose with his lips when it comes to race, but in this case he was paying a compliment to the proud history of Mexican boxers who…
1983 is universally considered the best draft year for quarterbacks of all time. Hall of Famers, John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly were only three of six quarterbacks drafted in the first round that year. Some experts believe 2017 could rival that year with as many as five QB’s taken in the first round.…
I spent the last three weeks watching the best high school basketball players in the country compete in tournaments in SoCal and Las Vegas. I also heard a lot of negative things about the growing influence of AAU basketball. The scuttlebutt is that AAU basketball has replaced high school basketball in terms of its relevance…
OJ Simpson was granted parole last Thursday and will be released from prison as early as October 1st. This is another amazing development in a seminal story that has captivated public interest for more than two decades. OJ was my hero in the seventies. I even wore number 32 for my middle school athletic teams…
Last week I mentioned that this year’s NBA draft is widely considered one of the most talent rich in years however, many basketball experts say if the 6’11” Marvin Bagley III and 6’8″ Zion Williamson, both rising seniors at Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles and Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina were eligible…
Last week, Steph Curry agreed to a 5 year, $201M contract – the richest in NBA history. Lebron James saluted Curry by stating that the two-time MVP and world champion deserved twice as much. He also criticized the NBA salary cap by pointing out how much the Warriors franchise has increased in value during Curry’s…
Last month, the long awaited NBA draft finally took place. Experts say that 2017 is the most talent rich draft in years, and thanks mostly to the entertaining and provocative Lavar Ball, it’s one of most drama-filled as well. As expected the Lakers selected Lonzo Ball. Lonzo’s newly famous dad has been criticized by practically…
