Turn off the Maple Leafs and tune into the pending sale of the Ottawa Senators, which has now become something of a celebrity showdown with news that Snoop Dogg has joined a prospective ownership group rivalling the reported billion-dollar bid involving Ryan Reynolds.
Earlier this week (May 1), news of Snoop Dogg's link to the Sens was broken by The Athletic, reporting that the artist had aligned himself with the bid fronted by LA-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks.
Of the Doggfather's involvement, sources with knowledge of the Sparks bid told the publication, "He's passionately involved. He's coming up with ideas. And he's legitimately excited. He wants this team."
Many years removed from wearing Mario Lemieux's Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in his music video for "Gin & Juice," Snoop has rarely passed up an opportunity to wear the Senators' colours — joining the likes of the Notorious B.I.G., Big L and Rihanna in rendering Maple Leafs fandom remarkably uncool.
Hours after the report, Snoop confirmed his involvement on Instagram, sharing that a successful bid by Sparks and co. would make the entrepreneur the National Hockey League's first Black owner. "Amazing what [Neko Sparks] is trying to do in Ottawa & I'm looking forward to being a part of that ownership team," he wrote in a caption, affirming, "I WANNA BRING HOCKEY TO OUR COMMUNITY."
The next day (May 2), Snoop expounded his comments in an interview on ESPN's First Take, sharing with host Stephen A. Smith, "I've been watching hockey for about 25 years now and I watch more and more kids that look like me play the game, but I'm not seeing it being offered to the kids over here in America."
It's possible Snoop could look to establish a hockey league for youth, not unlike the Snoop Youth Football League he founded in 2005, and the Youth Basketball League founded in 2021. He told ESPN, "The kids need to know that there's an option to play hockey if you look like me."
Snoop reminded Smith and viewers that he's "been down with the NHL for a long time," whether as a fan in the stands, or a commentator in the booth. Here he is as the former, speaking with CBC while taking in a game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals in which the Senators played the Anaheim Ducks:
The omnipresent Snoop Dogg has recently sought a role on Coronation Street and delivered the people's elbow in front of thousands at WrestleMania, and should his group's bid for the Senators be successful, the nation's capital could be where he pops up next.
Until then, he's due to play Canada on a summer North American tour with Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort, Warren G, Berner and DJ Drama.
Earlier this week (May 1), news of Snoop Dogg's link to the Sens was broken by The Athletic, reporting that the artist had aligned himself with the bid fronted by LA-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks.
Of the Doggfather's involvement, sources with knowledge of the Sparks bid told the publication, "He's passionately involved. He's coming up with ideas. And he's legitimately excited. He wants this team."
Many years removed from wearing Mario Lemieux's Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in his music video for "Gin & Juice," Snoop has rarely passed up an opportunity to wear the Senators' colours — joining the likes of the Notorious B.I.G., Big L and Rihanna in rendering Maple Leafs fandom remarkably uncool.
Hours after the report, Snoop confirmed his involvement on Instagram, sharing that a successful bid by Sparks and co. would make the entrepreneur the National Hockey League's first Black owner. "Amazing what [Neko Sparks] is trying to do in Ottawa & I'm looking forward to being a part of that ownership team," he wrote in a caption, affirming, "I WANNA BRING HOCKEY TO OUR COMMUNITY."
The next day (May 2), Snoop expounded his comments in an interview on ESPN's First Take, sharing with host Stephen A. Smith, "I've been watching hockey for about 25 years now and I watch more and more kids that look like me play the game, but I'm not seeing it being offered to the kids over here in America."
It's possible Snoop could look to establish a hockey league for youth, not unlike the Snoop Youth Football League he founded in 2005, and the Youth Basketball League founded in 2021. He told ESPN, "The kids need to know that there's an option to play hockey if you look like me."
Snoop reminded Smith and viewers that he's "been down with the NHL for a long time," whether as a fan in the stands, or a commentator in the booth. Here he is as the former, speaking with CBC while taking in a game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals in which the Senators played the Anaheim Ducks:
The omnipresent Snoop Dogg has recently sought a role on Coronation Street and delivered the people's elbow in front of thousands at WrestleMania, and should his group's bid for the Senators be successful, the nation's capital could be where he pops up next.
Until then, he's due to play Canada on a summer North American tour with Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort, Warren G, Berner and DJ Drama.
