‘Grid Girls’ won’t appear in this season of Formula One
According to CNN, Formula One announced on Wednesday that their tradition of the “grid girls” will end with the first race of the 2018 World Championship happening in March. The ‘grid girls’ were used to help promote brands and sponsorship deals as well as during the presentation of trophies on the podium. Sean Bratches, the managing director of F1, said that the “custom does not resonate with our brand values.” The decision comes four days after the Professional Darts Corporation also announced it won’t be using “walk-on girls” to accompany men onto the stage. The 2018 season of F1 starts March 25.
Vladimir Putin admits to Russian athlete doping allegations
According to CNN, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that there have been “instances of doping use in Russia” but that the problem is all over the world, not just in Russia. On a conference on Jan. 31, Putin said that the doping use was real but only in certain cases, adding, “I want the audience to know this and the whole country to know this.” However, the Kremlin leader later added that “there are many such examples around the world, but no one is making a big show of it.”
Baseball superstar Oscar Gamble dies at 68
Oscar Gamble, best known as the man with baseball’s best hair, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 68, according to USA Today. Over his 17-year career, he played for seven teams including the Rangers, the Yankees and the White Sox. He became a cult baseball hero for his large afro, which reached eight inches tall and could barely be confined by a baseball cap or helmet. His cause of death was not immediately reported.
Cleveland Indians to change their logo next year.
The Cleveland Indians announced that they will stop using the Chief Wahoo logo on their uniforms beginning in 2019, according to the New York Times. The team announced the change was because they believe that the popular symbol is no longer appropriate for use on the field. Phillip Yenyo, the executive director of the American Indian movement of Ohio, commented that the decision is “another step in the right direction” but wished that the move wasn’t being put off for a year.
Federer wins his 20th Grand Slam title
According to CNN, Roger Federer won his 20th Grand Slam on Jan. 28 against Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final by 152 over 128. The match lasted three hours and three minutes before Federer was named the champion of the 2019 Australian Open. Federer said he was happy about the outcome, trying really hard to keep his emotions in check, stating, “I’m happy it’s over, but winning is just an absolute dream come true. The fairytale continues for me. After the great year I had last year, it’s incredible.”
