DENVER (AP) — Jeremy Bloom is off to the X Games — not to compete for the first time, of course, but to become the organization’s new CEO.
The ex-Olympic freestyle skier and Colorado football player will step into the executive role, the company announced Thursday, and lead the annual summer and winter events as it transitions into a new, team-friendly format beginning in 2026 in addition to individual awards.
Over his career, the 42-year-old Bloom never got the chance to go for gold at X Games simply because the competition didn't offer his signature event, moguls.
This, though, feels like another sort of win.
“The opportunity to lead the X Games is more than just a professional milestone — it’s a deeply personal honor,” Bloom said in a statement, with the winter X Games set to be held in Aspen, Colorado, next month. “Returning to my roots in sports and action sports, in particular, feels like coming home. The X Games is an iconic brand, and I have immense admiration and respect for our athletes, who are truly the best in the world.”
Well-versed in the world of business ventures and philanthropy, Bloom brings an athlete's perspective to X Games, a sports franchise that MSP Sports Capital bought a majority interest from ESPN two years ago.
Bloom was a dual-sport standout, pursuing his Olympic dreams on the mogul-filled slopes and his NFL aspirations on the football field at Colorado. Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in skiing so he could fund his Olympic dreams. The NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams.
It was a different time two decades ago than it is now, where athletes can benefit from name, image and likeness.
Bloom was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 as a wide receiver/kick returner and had a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers before branching out into philanthropy. In 2008, he started “Wish of a Lifetime,” a foundation that’s granted thousands of wishes for older adults.
Two years later, he co-founded the business-to-business marketing software company Integrate and served as the company’s CEO after it was acquired by Audax Private Equity. He stepped down to take over at X Games.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy as the leader of X Games,” said Jeff Moorad, a partner at MSP and executive chairman of X Games. “His dedication, athletic experience and proven track record of building and managing successful companies will be instrumental in continuing to elevate our X Games properties and the X Games League.”
In June, X Games introduced a new concept, where summer athletes in disciplines ranging from skateboarding, motocross and BMX compete as a team as well. Same with winter stars in snowboarding and skiing events. It’s a way for, say, freestyle skiing superstar Eileen Gu to combine with snowboarder Scotty James to contend for team prize money in addition to an individual title.
The plan is to expand to four global winter competitions and four more in the summer. Both leagues will be selected through a draft process and have a points system. Last season, X Games doled out around $2.4 million to athletes.
“I’m excited to work with the team to further elevate the X Games,” said Bloom, who's also served on the board of trustees for U.S. Ski and Snowboard.
As for his discipline, moguls, not being in X Games, Bloom wrote via a text: “They don’t have my sport, (asterisk)yet.”
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Former skier and football player Jeremy Bloom, center, is greeted by onlookers before Colorado hosts Utah in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. EST, NFL Network
BetMGM NFL odds: Rams by 6 1/2.
Against the spread: Cardinals 9-6; Rams 8-7.
Series record: Rams lead 50-41-2.
Last meeting: Cardinals beat Rams 41-10 in Glendale, Ariz. on Sept. 15.
Last week: Cardinals lost to Carolina 36-30, OT; Rams beat New York Jets 19-9.
Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (5), pass (20), scoring (14).
Cardinals defense: overall (20), rush (22), pass (13), scoring (T-13).
Rams offense: overall (15), rush (20), pass (13), scoring (17).
Rams defense: overall (24), rush (25), pass (19), scoring (21).
Turnover differential: Cardinals minus-4; Rams plus-5.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has had a relatively productive rookie season with 51 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. But it’s also true that he hasn’t always looked like the true franchise changing force the Cardinals expected when they took him with the No. 4 overall pick. Arizona might be out of the playoff race, but Harrison’s development continues to be a major focus for the team down the stretch.
RB Kyren Williams is coming off his best game of the season after rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to help Los Angeles grind out a win at the Meadowlands. He hardly factored into the first meeting against Arizona, a game the Rams trailed 14-0 halfway into the first quarter and 24-3 at halftime, getting 12 carries and running for 25 yards and a touchdown behind a battered offensive line.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray vs. Rams defensive line. Los Angeles had no answers for Murray in September as he threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and added 59 yards rushing. But their defensive front is much more cohesive than it was in the second week of the season, with rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske proving to be menaces in the backfield. If Murray feels that pressure and can’t keep his eyes downfield, the Rams will be in much better shape to limit Arizona’s passing game.
The Cardinals have been beat up over the past two games. Both of the starting tackles — Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and Jonah Williams (knee) — are out for the season after they were put on injured reserve this week. Others such as RB James Conner (knee), LB Baron Browning (neck), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (concussion) and DL Darius Robinson (calf) have been limited during practice. … The Rams are in good shape, a far cry from where they were to start the season. RT Rob Havenstein was the only name on their injury report through Wednesday, when he was limited because of a shoulder injury.
Arizona has not swept the season series since 2014 when the Rams were playing in St. Louis. ... The Rams and Cardinals have split the past four meetings. Arizona had dropped 11 of the previous 12 in the series. … Los Angeles is 3-2 against Arizona since moving into SoFi Stadium in 2020, kickstarting its run to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season with a 34-11 win in an NFC wild-card game.
The Cardinals have lost four of their past five games and were eliminated from the playoff race after last week’s 36-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals have made the playoffs just once over the past nine seasons. That was in 2021 ... Harrison had four catches for 130 yards and two TDs vs. the Rams in Week 2. All of that production came in the span of seven plays in the first quarter. ... The Cardinals are No. 5 in the NFL with 145.8 yards rushing per game. They also rank No. 2 with 5.28 yards per carry. ... Chad Ryland has made 25 field goals since his debut in Week 5, which ranks fourth in the NFL over that span. ... Safety Budda Baker has a career-high 148 tackles this season, which broke his previous high of 147 set in 2019. ... James Conner has 1,500 yards from scrimmage this season, including 1,090 rushing and 410 receiving. ... Trey McBride has caught 91 passes this season, which is a franchise record at tight end for the Cardinals. … The Rams can clinch a playoff spot with a win and either a Seahawks loss or tie or a series of results elsewhere to secure the strength of victory tiebreaker. … Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw for 110 yards against the Jets. Los Angeles has won all four games this season where Stafford has finished with fewer than 200 yards through the air. … WR Puka Nacua had a record-setting rookie season, but Arizona was the one team that kept him in check. Nacua made four catches in each of the two meetings in 2023, finishing with 26 and 27 yards. … The Rams didn’t have LT Alaric Jackson (suspension), LG Steve Avila (knee) or Nacua (knee) in the Week 2 game against the Cardinals. … Los Angeles has run for at least 132 yards in four straight games, with Williams accounting for at least 87 yards in each outing that span.
Cooper Kupp likely sank many a fantasy title push with his limited production over the past month, and the Rams WR should remain on benches this week for any owners still in the mix. Kupp has topped 44 yards receiving once in his past five games against Arizona.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner runs past Carolina Panthers cornerback Michael Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams runs against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) runs after the catch as New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes as New York Jets safety Chuck Clark, bottom left, applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
