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Male Fans Want WNBA Star A’ja Wilson To Stop “Gaslighting Up This Talk That They Could Compete With NBA Players” After Three-Time MVP Makes Bold 1 v 1 Claim

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson started another gender war in the basketball world. This one could be rather enjoyable. Wilson, a three-time MVP, who dominated the league this past season, outshining all of the game’s celebrated players, including Caitlin Clark, has an array of skills that makes her a WNBA GOAT candidate.

A’ja Wilson Says She Would Beat NY Knicks Guard Josh Hart In 1 v 1

Wilson’s confidence and swag is part of the package that elevated her to two-time champion and a recent recipient of a Nike signature shoe. That brashness also got her into some hot water on social media.

In a recent episode of the “Roommates” show with New York Knicks guards Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that now has about 700K views, Wilson, who averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season claimed that she could beat Hart in a one-on-one game.  Wilson went as far as to predict a final score of 11-8. 

“I would get the ball, and you would never get it back,” boasted Wilson. Then she got serious and said, “Score would be 11-8, me. I’m not saying you gonna go scoreless, 8 to 11 is pretty solid. So, what do you think it’ll be, Josh?” Wilson said. Hart appeared to recognize that Wilson was just creating some controversy and they both laughed. 

Josh Hart Says He Would Beat A’ja Wilson 11-2 In a 1 v 1

Then he offered a score of 11-2 in his favor, which he later amended it to 11-7 in his favor, before they started going back and forth.

Brunson interjected that he would “pay to see that” matchup. Following a WNBA and college season where women’s basketball exploded, a battle of the sexes between A’ja Wilson and Hart would probably be great for streaming services, pay-per-view and social media. It would attract huge interest from people being that basketball is a universal sport and gender wars are always attractive to sports fans. 

Some Male Fans Attack A’ja Wilson For Saying She Could Beat Josh Hart In a 1 v 1

However, there were several fans on social media who immediately got in their own feelings and lashed out at Wilson for even forming her lips to say she could beat an established and accomplished NBA player. Some fans took it personal, as if she was diminishing Hart’s role as a bench player and boosting her status as someone with “G-14 Classification,” as Shaq would say.  

 “She’d lose 11-0 w him only playing w his offhand,” one fan said.

“Josh hart would average 60 PPG on the Aces,” commented one X user.

“I really wish some NBA player would play a WNBA player 1v1, but like for real real. Just so they can stop gaslighting up this talk that they could compete with NBA players, let alone be better than them in a 1v1.”

Another X user chimed in: “She’d lose to Pacome Dadiet.“

Wilson did have a few defenders. 

“Aja will cook him what are we talking about,” said one X user. To which another fan responded, “How can I bet on it? Josh rolls her easily.” 

One Wilson fan mentioned, “she’d actually embarrass josh i’m not even joking.”

Meanwhile, another fan chauvinistically remarked, “Only a woman would say it ‘8-11’”

WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson vs Any NBA Player Would Be Big Money Streaming Event

Some fans were eager to see it happen, to stop what they feel is a delusion that Wilson could compete with an NBA player. 

“Let’s set it up and then when she gets embarrassed let’s never make these silly claims again,” said one fan. 

“Don’t think Josh would even feel comfortable playing his max effort against her,” said another. 

“The placating they’re forced to do for these female athletes to make them feel better it’s like when you have to let a child win so they don’t get upset/mad cause you’re an adult and know better. As if it’s not enough that the NBA subsidizes the WNBA”

The smugness and disrespectful dismissiveness of some male X users, inspired others to root for Wilson to win if the matchup ever did occur. 

“love the boys but man i hope she wipes the floor clean with him.” an X user said. His enthusiasm was tempered by another fan who isn’t even in the NBA and commented, “I am beating aja 11-0.”

It was obvious that A’ja had men all up in their feelings, which means that a potential matchup between her and any NBA player would cause a firestorm of opinions and eyes on social media.

When Sabrina Ionescu represented herself well against Steph Curry in a three-point contest during NBA All-Star Week in 2024 in February, it was very popular, despite the fact that they shot from two different distances. A’ja vs. Hart would be straight up and possibly another come-up that the WNBA needs.

‘I Ain’t Never Seen Him Do That, Bruh’: Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson Give Honest Take On Failures of Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor ‘Sunshine’ Lawrence

Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson both won Super Bowls in the NFL, and they bring some interesting takes on their “Get Got” podcast.  

Lynch has never been one to worry about political correctness or filtering his words. As a player he rarely liked talking to the press, but since exiting the NFL, Lynch has become one of the more opinionated and beloved podcasters because he’s a straight shooter. 

While referencing the Week 10 52-6 beating that the Detroit Lions delivered to Trevor Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars, Robinson made reference to Lawrence’s huge salary, which pays him $55 million per season, and how the QB that was once lauded as a generational talent has been anything but spectacular. 

Trevor Lawrence Hasn’t Lived Up To Generational Talent Projections

The former No. 1 overall pick has been inconsistent during his four years as Jaguars quarterback. He’s had a couple of 4,000-yard passing seasons, but he’s also thrown his share of picks. Seventeen in his rookie season with just 12 TDs and another 14 last year. There’s been no real elevation in his game that indicates he is indeed the elite quarterback they proclaim him to be. He’s never won more than nine games and is a miserable 2-9 this season. 

The Jaguars may not have the most talented team in the NFL, but Robinson made a point to take Lawrence to task for not elevating his team when needed. 

“They paid Trevor Lawrence, but I’ve said this before,” Robinson said. “I’ve never seen Trevor Lawrence say, ‘Aight, team. I know we might not be the best team today, but I’m just going to win this thing, get on my back.’ I’ve just never seen him do that, bruh,” 

“You ain’t seen him drop his nuts,” Lynch added, giving his own slang-based analysis of what Robinson was actually saying. 

Then Lynch went on to compare Lawrence to the blond-haired quarterback in “Remember The Titans,” the classic football movie featuring Denzel Washington about integration at T.C. Williams High School. His teammates nicknamed him “Sunshine” because he had blond hair and kept a sunburn.

“That’s sunshine right?” the former NFL stars joked about Lawrence. Not sure if there was any other hidden message in Lynch’s joke, but Lawrence does favor the actor in the movie somewhat.

Robinson refused to put any of the blame on Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson because he’s won a Super Bowl before as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, so he knows what it takes to hoist that Lombardi Trophy.  

Trevor Lawrence Needs More Jared Goff In Him

Robinson also said he would like to see more of what Jared Goff brings to the Detroit Lions, in Lawrence’s game.  

The hosts were raving about the Detroit Lions offense and quarterback Goff, who attended Lynch’s alma matter, Cal. Goff was traded from the L.A. Rams to the Lions in 2021, the same season that Lawrence hit the scene. Goff has been balling, and his impact as a game-changer has been evident with the blowouts the Lions are posting against teams. 

Lawrence didn’t play in the blowout loss to Detroit. It was actually Mac Jones, another former first round pick, of the New England Patriots, that started. But Robinson mentioned the money Lawrence is making and said he’s not living up to the billing and has done nothing to help bring a winning culture to the team. 

Lawrence was considered a can’t-miss prospect coming out of Clemson. ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper called him “historically great.” Following a horrendous rookie season, he showed slow improvement over the next few years. This season is a total wash. 

Trevor Lawrence Is At Career Crossroads With Jacksonville Jaguars

So, he’s entering a crossroads in his career. Just getting him to be consistently deadly would be a nice first step, but because of his billing out of college people are still projecting when he will win his first Super Bowl, even though the statistical odds are against him. 

Since 2010, 34 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round and the only one to actually win the Super Bowl is Patrick Mahomes.  

RELATED: ‘He’s Getting Paid Off Promise, Not Production’: Emmanuel Acho Says Trevor Lawrence $275M Extension Is A Reward For Career at Clemson

“Kiper recently added, “You have to believe that when it’s all said and done in his career he will have played in a minimum of two or three Super Bowls.” 

Only time will tell, but right now Lawrence isn’t passing the eye test.

‘I Can Talk Bad About His Team…Miss Me With That’: Shannon Sharpe Says Media Targets Colorado Buffs Team Members Because They Don’t Like Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders is a lightning rod for controversy and drama, whether he’s trying to stir the pot or not.

Shannon Sharpe is Team Deion all the way and has a solid relationship with the charismatic Colorado Buffaloes coach dating back to their days in the NFL and as on-air colleagues at CBS.

Shannon Sharpe Says Race Dictates the Way Deion Sanders Is Covered

In an appearance on the “Get Got Pod” this week with Marshawn Lynch and Michael Robinson, Sharpe discussed his friend and also suggested that race is the defining factor in the way Sanders is covered.

“The crux of the argument is Black people are supposed to be humble,” Sharpe explained. “Be thankful you’re coaching, be thankful you’re in the NFL, be thankful you’re in the NBA, be thankful you’re the heavyweight champion of the world. Just be thankful that you have a job. Who are you to boast and brag and tell us how great you are? You should just be thankful that you’re here. That’s the expectation for us. And when you don’t do that, [it’s], ‘I’m going to put you in your place.’”

Sharpe reasons that certain people’s criticism and disdain of Sanders dates back to his days as a brash and confident all-world athlete at Florida State and in the NFL. He’s one of the all-time greatest athletes because he played baseball as a side hustle and excelled in that as well. His flashy style was an unapologetic cultural presentation that definitely rubbed some traditional media the wrong way back in the ’80s and ’90s. But his dominance was undeniable.

Shannon Sharpe Thinks Media Vitriol Towards Deion Is Not Soley Racism

Certain media folks have tried to clown Deion, attack his coaching ability and recruiting style. Bash the family atmosphere he has going on in Colorado.

The criticisms of Shedeur Sanders, despite his success this season, and certain reporters belittling the exceptional play of Travis Hunter, are all part of the personal feelings that some have toward Deion. 

‘I Think That He’s Regressed’: NFL Analyst Chad Forbes Says Travis Hunter Is Overrated and Not On The Level Of an AJ Green Or Julio Jones

Sharpe did emphasize that criticizing Sanders as a coach does not mean the analyst is racist. Deion has other aspects of his personality that may not jive with certain people such as his style, religion, and lifestyle — which indicates that any ill will toward Deion extends far beyond his actions on the football field 

“Now, a lot of that vitriol is, well, I couldn’t say anything about him then, but I can talk bad about his team,” Sharpe said. “Prime, that’s my dog. He’s not above reproach where you can’t critique his coaching. But when you start talking about, oh he’s a false prophet and he ain’t what he says, now you’re making it personal and he’s giving you no reason to take it there. If you want to say his team hasn’t gotten better, if you want to say his defense hasn’t gotten better, he has done a poor job assembling a staff, that’s well within your right if you’re an analyst. But when you start talking about his religion and how he doesn’t live a certain way, miss me with that.”

Even in this successful 8-2 season, where Sanders is in contention for a College Football Playoff spot, negativity seems to find a way to creep into any narrative surrounding Coach Prime. 

Deion Sanders Battles With Media: Flips No. 1 QB Julian Lewis From USC

The latest distraction has to do with his potential move to the NFL or another college team. This comes in the midst of five-star quarterback Julian Lewis de-committing from USC and committing to the Buffs. This implies that Deion will be sticking around in Boulder even after his sons move on to the next level. 

Deion not going to the NFL doesn’t mean he will remain in Boulder much longer. Stephen A. Smith says Deion needs to be under the big lights of a big-time program.

“The ideal place for him would be the SEC,” said Smith. “That’s what you need when you Prime Time, and if it ain’t that it’s the NFL.”

So much speculation and opinion surrounding every move Sanders makes, which can be annoying but also keep the cameras on his program which he loves. 

Sanders has traded blows with the Denver Post, CBS and ESPN this year at some point. He won’t hesitate to call out anything he sees as counterproductive, malicious or uninformed in Boulder and nationally in college football media.

The incident with Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler serves as an example of Sharpe’s point. After Keeler wrote a scathing column calling Sanders “desperate” and scared, Sanders told ESPN’s Mark Jones that he felt Keeler went after his faith.

“Condescending Man, The Perennial Victim”: Deion Sanders Shuts Down Reporters Because “What They Did Was Foul” With CBS Ranking Him Second-Worst Coach In Big 12

A confident black man could be considered offensive to much of society, who’s used to seeing Black men portrayed as either down bad, committing crimes or just happy to be here, according to Sharpe. A brother with too much swag and originality in how he operates is automatically seeen as a threat to the establishment 

Look at Deion. He turned college football upside down and some folks still call him names and dismiss the job he’s done on and off the field in Boulder. His authenticity and dedication is often questioned by those who think he’s as much of an opportunist as a man of faith. One can be both. 

RELATED: “My Thoughts On Deion Wouldn’t Be Good”: Parents And Former Players Allege Toxic Culture Courtesy Of Coach Prime In Colorado After 23 Players Enter Transfer Portal

If it’s his confidence as a Black man that turns people off, then they will continue to be ticked off by Coach Prime, because he’s just getting started.

“In a Raiders Uniform … A Dream Come True” | Ice Cube Tells Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Candidate Deion Sanders and Son Shedeur To Follow Daddy Ball Formula Of LeBron James

Deion Sanders has the Buffaloes sitting at 8-2 overall and tied for first place with BYU atop the Big 12 at 6-1. A huge reason for the second-year success has been star players Travis Hunter, the two-way dynamo, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the top-rated QB slated to be in the 2025 NFL draft.

There’s been some discussion about what Deion will do when his Louis Vuitton luggage leaves Colorado. Will he follow Shedeur to a team that can draft him and wants Prime’s head coaching services? Deion has already said he will shut down teams who don’t have the infrastructure and coaching to help Shedeur rise quickly at the next level.

Plenty of respected NFL analysts have said he’s a prime candidate, or at least should be, to replace Mike McCarthy in Dallas.

Could Deion and Shedeur Be A Draft Day Package Deal For NFL Teams?

During the inaugural episode of his new Tubi podcast “We Got Time Today” with co-host Rocsi Diaz, Sanders asked guest Ice Cube for some advice on the situation that’s looming, “What would you do if you were in my situation?”

Cube, a fellow father of five, responded with fatherly support, advising Sanders to help his son reach the next level “any way I can.”

Deion Sanders Open To Coaching In NFL With Son Shedeur: Ice Cube Wants Both On The Raiders

While Sanders has been adamant that he isn’t leaving Colorado, the two-time Super Bowl champion-winning defensive back and 1994 NFL DPOY let Cube know that he is open to coaching in the NFL if it means he can still coach his son. 

“Why not?” Cube responded enthusiastically. “And, if it’s in a Raiders uniform … Come on, baby … That would be a dream come true as a fan.”

Cube is a diehard Raiders fan and would love nothing more than to see the middling franchise add Coach Prime and Shedeur to the mix.  That’s a LeBron James and Bronny James type of power move.

With Shedeur Leaving Will Dad Follow? 

As Coach Prime continues to lead the Buffs, everything they set out to do is still in front of them. Win out and they earn a spot in the Big 12 championship game. Win that and they’ll very likely be one of the teams chosen to participate in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoffs. While that’s the focus now, they’ll come a time soon when Coach Prime has to make a decision to stay in Boulder once his sons are gone or possibly follow Shedeur for another round of daddy ball in the NFL.  

Michael Irvin Says Coach Prime To Cowboys Under One Condition

The Raiders might not be the only team vying for the services of the father/son duo. One of Sanders’ former teams, the Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of a down season and at (3-7) it’s looking like a rebuild could be coming.

Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who also happens to be one of Deion’s closest friends, recently spoke during his guest spot on FS1’s “The Herd” about the possibility of Sanders coming to Dallas if they fire Mike McCarthy. He also reiterated that the only way that happens is if they draft Shedeur.

“I believe 100% [yes], and I can tell you, good sources have told me that,” Irvin said. “Great sources have told me that. That’s all I can say like that without violating anything else.”

With the aforementioned Hunter the Heisman favorite, plus he and Shedeur both top five prospects expect to hear a lot more out of Coach Prime in the coming months. 

As he’s said since he arrived in Boulder “WE COMING,” but it’s more like WE’RE HERE.

‘You Playing … I Need You To Sweat That S*** Out’: Doc Rivers Once Had A Great Reason For Making Party Animal Lou Williams Play NBA Game Drunk 

NBA champion turned podcast celebrity Stephen Jackson has told us stories of him playing NBA games while high as a kite off some good pregame ganja. Jackson describes his experience as challenging for the first few shots of the game as he tries to settle into his state and locate the hoop. 

Liquor seemed to have the opposite effect on former NBA star Lou Williams.

It’s well-documented that Lou Williams — a three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and Lemon Pepper wing king at the world-famous Magic City strip club in Atlanta — used to have some wild nights out at the gentleman’s clubs, often drinking heavily and racking up exorbitant tabs.

According to Williams, one time the partying got the best of him, and he came to a game drunk. These are the retirement stories that we are here for. 

This happened because, the night before, he unexpectedly stayed out “until the lights came on,” even though he knew he had an early game against the New York Knicks at The Garden.

“I got to the arena, and I’m fuc**** drunk as hell. Mind y’all I come from the bench, so I got about eight minutes to get my sh** here,” Williams said on the latest episode of the “Underground Lounge.”

“Doc Rivers calls my number, I turn the ball over twice immediately. I had to make a business decision — either I’mma look drunk out there, or I’mma go tell somebody the truth. And I’mma go sit the f*** down and deal with my suspension.” 

“Lemon Pepper Lou” decided to come clean with coach Doc Rivers about his irresponsibility when it was evident his performance was off. 

Most players would have been sent to the bench and then given a serious scolding afterward and a possible suspension. 

Doc Rivers Made Lou Williams Play Drunk To Sweat Out

However, Rivers, allegedly flipped the script on Drunken Lou and told him to continue playing under the influence because he needed him to work off that alcohol. Plus, Rivers couldn’t have him on the bench sitting idle and looking crazy. Sending him to the locker room would have created too many questions. 

“He looked me straight in my eyes and said, ‘You playin’ the whole second quarter, because I need you to sweat that sh** out, because I’mma need you in the fourth quarter.’ I had 25 in the fourth,” the retired guard concluded.

Internet sleuths and basketball historians have surmised that the specific game he’s referring to, was a noon tipoff matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Knicks on March 24, 2019. 

That also shows you how much respect he has for that particular Knicks team at the time that he didn’t even consider the fact that he had to play the next day when he decided to stay up all night binging and boning. 

Lou Williams Dropped 29 Points While Intoxicated

When you consider that that The “Underground GOAT” completed the contest with 29 points, including 15 (not actually 25) in the fourth quarter, that’s the stuff of legends.

It also gives you some insight into why Rivers continues to get jobs and is considered the ultimate players coach. It might even be to his detriment at times, but that’s Doc’s style. He protects his players and is deeply respected because of that. 

Personal moments like these, that the fans aren’t privy too, is why Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard wanted former coach Adrian Branch fired and replaced by Doc, despite enjoying the best stretch the tandem has ever had going 30-13 out the gate under Griffin before Doc surprisingly worked himself from adviser to HNIC. The star players vouched for that more than anybody. 

Williams says he loves playing four years under Rivers even credited the NBA champions and one-time Coach of the Year for reviving his career after he came to L.A. 

RELATED: Let The Shenanigans Begin | Is 50 Cent Using A Throwback Pic With Denzel Washington To Taunt Dwight Howard’s Latest Drama?

Rivers knew how to maximize Williams’ offensive prowess and allowed him to freely be himself within Doc’s system. 

‘I’ve Done Alot Of Damage to The Body’: ‘Gladiator II’ Star Denzel Washington’s New Dope Is San Antonio Spurs Unicorn Victor Wembanyama

Legendary actor Denzel Washington has blessed us with some great roles in his extraordinary career as actor. Who can forget him playing drug kingpin Frank Lucas in “American Gangster.”

Or how about the father of NBA legend Ray Allen in “He Got Game,” I say that to show the versatility of the Mount Vernon (near the Bronx), New York, native who’s bagged two Oscars in his career. Even Washington’s two Academy Awards (Oscars, Glory and Training Day) show his unique versatility as an actor. 

Denzel Washington Makes Gladiator II Paris Promo Tour

With his newest project (“Gladiator II”) set to hit theaters this Friday, Washington made a promotional tour stop in Paris. During his time in the French capital last week, the once professional football hopeful had a chance to talk about San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, and he didn’t miss at the opportunity to rave about the rising 20-year-old Frenchman.  

Denzel Heaps Praise On Spurs Star

Speaking with L’Equipe, Washington spoke candidly about the uniqueness of Wemby and how fortunate he and the Spurs franchise are to have one another. 

“It’s not fair someone that big can shoot from that far and be that good.” He was gleeful that the tall Frenchman had headed to Texas. “For him, sky is the limit. And the best thing that happened to him was going to San Antonio. He has one of the best coaches possible, in Gregg Popovich, who’s going to build him up step by step. It’s going to pay off. His best years are obviously ahead of him ”

Washington, further said, “Wembanyama reminds us that limitations in sports, like in life, are often self-imposed. Victor’s journey speaks to the power of persistence and discipline.”

Denzel Washington Played Basketball At Fordham

Back in the 1970’s Washington played college basketball while attending Fordham University. Washington was a member of the school’s junior varsity team coached by former Seton Hall and longtime NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo. Never recruited to the varsity program, Washington locked in on his craft and became one of the most iconic actors ever. 

Denzel Washington Overcame Early Addictions

In the past Washington has mentioned that he battled addiction from the age of 14. During this promotional tour he’s opened up and told even more of his story as it pertains to that. First it was alcohol (wine), and then it turned to prescription drugs like Vicodin, Xanax and OxyContin. He says he was never strung out on alcohol, but he did indulge in some pretty heavy libations when he finished a film. It was his way of celebrating, but he also mentions that it “did a lot of damage to his body.”

Denzel says when he turned 60, he gave up drinking altogether. He’s now 69 and finishing up an illustrious career in front of the camera. 

“He Hired a Shooting Coach, Camera Man, and Editor”: Mad Dog Russo and Jason Whitlock Clown Audacity and Authenticity Of Stephen A. Smith’s Shooting Video

As if enough people around the sports stratosphere haven’t given Stephen A. Smith plenty of grief for hiring a shooting coach and posting a video of him draining jumpers Klay Thompson style (If the video is unedited), Mad Dog Russo took his Wednesday co-host to task in one of his closing, classic rants on his “What Are You Mad About?” segment on “First Take”. 

Russo referred to a scene in the classic movie “Hoosiers,” starring Gene Hackman. 

“Remember that famous scene in Hoosiers when Gene Hackman is trying to get Jimmy Chitwood (local hoops star who quit the game) to join the Hickory(HS) team and Hackman  goes out there to visit him and rebounds the shots and (Jimmy’s) hitting shot after shot after shot. You know who now is our new Jimmy Chitwood? The phony,” Russo said, pointing at Smith with the video playing in the background.  

“He hired a professional basketball coach,” Mad Dog said in disbelief, trying to clown the 57-year-old Smith. “And by the way it is all edited. They made sure the ball went in. This is ridiculous.” 

“What are you doing???” Mad Dog asked, implying that the entire setting was staged.

Mad Dog Clowns Stephen A. For Hiring A Shooting Coach

Co-host Molly Qerim, who had to have seen the video circulating last week of Smith draining jumpers under the guidance of a coach, asked “You hired a shooting coach?”

Smith, looking like the cat who ate the canary, claims the guy was there for some segment he was doing on “his show.” Not sure which show Smith is referring to, but the entire cast got a kick out of the footage. 

Of course, the comedy of the situation, aside from the possibility that Smith really would have a shooting coach, is that SAS has always bragged about his prowess as a college basketball player at Winston-Salem State under legendary coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines back in the ’80s. 

Smith played collegiately at Division II Winston-Salem State University, a historically Black university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, whose alumni include Basketball Hall of Famer Earl Monroe and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, who graduated from his hometown’s HBCU after playing collegiately just 10 minutes away at Wake Forest University.

Smith reportedly transferred to play at Winston-Salem State after spending a year playing on the junior college level at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. 

Stephen A. Smith Says He Hit 17 Straight Three-Pointers To Earn Scholarship From Winston-Salem State

During a 2023 podcast, Smith alleged that his scholarship offer to Winston-Salem State came after he sank 17 consecutive 3-pointers in front of Gaines during a campus visit. The story has been the center of much controversy and has not been substantiated to this day. 

Smith’s basketball career was cut short due to injury, a circumstance he explained on Paul George’s “Podcast P with Paul George” show.

“I was on a basketball scholarship at Winston-Salem State University. My first year there, I cracked my kneecap in half. I was never able to play again. I actually had to leave school for a semester to go home under my mother’s insurance to rehab because they wouldn’t pay for the insurance in North Carolina. I would come back, make the team, trying to practice and once every 36 to 48 hours, my knee would just give out. I couldn’t run without the limp and that’s what happened.”

Stephen A. Smith Has Flexed His Basketball Skills Before

While his injury kept him from becoming a basketball force, Smith has remained involved with his alma mater and HBCU athletics as a whole, hosting shows from there each season.  In 2017, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Winston-Salem State’s athletic conference, the CIAA.

There have been a few moments, where Smith had an opportunity to flash some of his basketball skills for the camera. Let’s just say the reviews were mixed, but he does appear to have some idea of what he’s doing on his jump shot. 

In this YouTube video, posted five years ago, a young SAS looks like he can stroke it a bit, before getting beside himself and bricking the last few, including a layup off a spin move. He did do all of this in a suit, so you have to give him some flavor points there as well. 

Then, there was the time NBA legend James Harden clowned him for airballing a three-pointer during an interview. 

Jason Whitlock Says Stephen A. Smith Shooting Video Was To Prove Him Wrong

Of course, social media got a kick out of seeing Smith shooting jumpers and the comments didn’t end. Smith archnemesis Jason Whitlock, who got into a heated social media war with Smith that hit a boiling point with Smith going on an expletive-filled and offensive rant against Whitlock on Smith’s podcast, didn’t waste any time calling Smith out

“It’s clear that I’m living rent free in Stephen A. Smith’s head,” Whitlock posted via X. “He hired a shooting coach, camera man, and editor and posted a video just to attempt to prove that he made 17-straight threes in high school. The man is 57. What is he doing?

Some folks will never let SAS live down what many feel is hyperbole on his part as it pertains to his high school and college basketball career back in the late 80s in Hollis, Queens, New York. The story surrounding how he actually ended up on the end of Winston-Salem’s bench is still one that has certain folks calling BS.

RELATED: Stephen A. Smith Versus Jason Whitlock | The Verbal Fisticuffs We Didn’t Know We Needed

Stephen A. says he’s doing it for content, fans think he’s doing it to prove a point he already lost, and Whitlock thinks he’s doing it to disprove Whitlock’s attacks on his alleged fabricated basketball career. Either way, it’s Stephen A against the world once again.

It’s All About Snow: Shedeur Sanders Says It’s Basketball Sister Shelomi “Bossy” Sanders But Baby Que Rules Coach Prime’s Rankings

Deion Sanders‘ favorite siblings list has fluctuated ever since he assumed his high-profile coaching gig at Jackson State and had most of his family involved in the operation in some way.

His youngest daughter, Shelomi is the baby of the family, and she joined her brothers Shedeur and Shilo at Jackson State. She plays basketball. Then she bounced with her bros when dad’s Louis Vuitton luggage left for Colorado. At the time, she was consistently in the top 3 and often leading her brothers and older sister in the sibling rankings. 

Shelomi Sanders Disappointed Deion When She Transferred To Alabama A&M

Things changed a bit when Sanders and his boys left the HBCU for Power 5 Colorado, currently in the Big 12 conference. Sanders assumed he would keep the family together and continue to helicopter parent them to success, but Shelomi made her first adult decision and had other plans for herself and decided to leave Colorado after one season and transfer to Alabama A&M. 

Shelomi made the announcement on YouTube, posting a video in which she said, “I am about to commit to Alabama A&M.” During the video, she FaceTimed head coach Dawn Thornton and told her of her decision. 

Her decision inspired a very public scolding by her daddy, who said it was “stupid” 

“Which was stupid,” Deion Sanders said. “You get a team before you enter the portal. That’s what I would advise a child. I know it’s illegal, c’mon, c’mon. Everybody knows somebody that knows somebody, that knows somebody. You kind of want them to do something. … And she truly has been advised. 

“You have to understand. I am a real father; I am a real man and a real dad. Where I come from and historically, kids follow their parents. When do parents start following their kids? That doesn’t work in my book. That does not work where I am from. I am the leader of the family, I have been dictating where my kids go, not them dictating where I go.”

Shelomi Sanders Back atop Coach Prime Sibling Rankings?: Shedeur Sanders Thinks So

Sanders’ old school parenting wasn’t sustainable with his youngest daughter, who wanted to carve her own path and also wanted to return to the SWAC. She clearly didn’t reap the same benefits as her football brothers attending Colorado. 

That move hurt Shelomi in the sibling rankings for a while, especially as Shedeur has risen into Heisman contention as a potential top 3 pick in the NFL draft and adopted his father’s charismatic persona. 

According to Shedeur, the tide has turned due to Shelomi’s performance so far this season at her new hoops home. “Bossy” helped Alabama A&M demolish Oakwood 96-50 in her debut exhibition game in early November by recording 14 points, two steals, one block, and one rebound in just 10 minutes. Later, Coach Prime did the expected by hyping his daughter on social media saying, “I’m SO PROUD OF MY BABYGIRL!”

Shedeur Sanders appeared on the “2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders” on Nov. 20 alongside Colorado wide receiver Drelon Miller. In the new YouTube episode, he asserted that he’s his “own favorite sibling” but not without shining the spotlight on his younger sister Shelomi Sanders. He said, “I think right now, my dad’s favorite is my little sister cause she went out there and she scored some points at her game. I think she’s the favorite right now.”

Since that game Shelomi hasn’t been lighting it up. She’s only played four games so far and is averaging just 3.8 minutes per game, but she has the potential to do more and proved that in the preseason. All it took was a prime performance for her to quickly fall back into her dad’s good graces. 

What Did Shedeur Sanders Do To Drop In Deion Sanders’ Sibling Rankings? 

Shedeur had a whale of a game in a recent 49-24 win against Utah, but the 22-year-old knows that he couldn’t escape the wrath of his perfectionist pops, saying, “I started off the game with a pick, so I know I’m not the favorite right now.” 

With Shelomi officially out of the doghouse, Colorado is 8-2 and have already doubled its win total from Deion’s rookie season as head coach. After that first mis-throw against Utah, Shedeur was sensational, finishing the game by completing 30 of 41 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns for the win. Colorado is now ranked No. 16 in the latest AP Poll rankings, their highest since 2016.  

Deion Sanders wasn’t as boastful as he was last season after the Utah game, even though his team, who had been dismissed and ridiculed, are two wins against Kansas and Oklahoma State away from completing a one-loss season in conference. 

In this instance, reporters didn’t get the soundbite they were looking for.

“Our expectations aren’t your expectations. We focus on one game at a time,” Deion said.

Same with Shelomi, who knows how quickly the sibling rankings can change when you go against Daddy’s game plan. 

Deion’s Daughters Dropped In Sibling Rankings As They Began To Make Own Choices

Back in April, Deion’s oldest daughter, Deiondra, 31, announced her pregnancy with R&B star Jacquees, and Sanders wasn’t initially thrilled to become a grandfather for the first time, saying he hadn’t “fully digested” that reality, but he supports his daughter as she enters another stage of adulthood.

Deiondra welcomed her first baby, a son named Snow on Friday, Aug. 9. 

She shared the news on Instagram, detailing the obstacles she faced throughout her pregnancy.

“This journey has been long, but seeing your face, my sweet baby boy, made every moment worthwhile,” the proud mom shared. “I am overjoyed to be your mom and cannot wait to share a lifetime of love and adventures with you. I love you so much Baby Que.”

“I was gon say Dang that Doctor look like @jacquees ,” Deion joked in the comments. “Proud of y’all. Keep him before God and God will keep him before us. .”

In fact, Deion has been all in promising and preparing a place for his grandson to play. Prime shared a video on Instagram driving and captioning it:

“Gotta find a place for Snow … I gotta find a place to put the playground for the baby. I’m thinking about like cutting into those bushes right there and having it.” 

Jacquees Is Thrilled To Be Part Of Sanders Family: Envisions Great things For Snow

Since the arrival of the “miracle” baby, Sanders has been a supportive grandfather and Jacquees is thrilled to be a part of the Sanders family. 

During an interview on “Super Star TV Online” on November 20, Jacquees highlighted the advantages that his son undoubtedly has due to his lineage, including Deion Sanders and his grandmother Caroline Chambers. 

“He (Baby Que) gotta be something dawg,” Jacquees said. “He’s special, his whole life is gonna be special. His dad is Jacquees, his momma is Deiondra, his grandfather is Deion Sanders. His uncles, like look at who his uncles are college football heroes and it’s like his dad is a giant. Like, come on, men.”

What’s the odds that Snow is already Deion’s favorite? And for now, he’s the only grandchild, so he’s in a category of his own.

‘I’m Playing Too Well’: Draymond Green and Gilbert Arenas Have Very Different Explanations For NBA Ratings Tank

The 2024 NBA season is about 15 games in, and let’s just say things aren’t going well in the ratings department. After seeing their viewership decrease by 12 percent during last season’s playoffs, the start of the season has seen as big as a 28 percent decrease on ESPN, which is the league’s lead broadcast partner.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has used various excuses as to why the league to keep fans interested. His latest is the low ratings are a byproduct of presidential election and World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, which went a very quick five games. That excuse isn’t flying with most, and now one of the more outspoken and controversial players in the league, Draymond Green, is speaking on it. 

Green Says Suspending Him Would Create Buzz And Boost Ratings 

Usually when you hear the name Draymond Green the word drama or controversy isn’t far behind. Speaking on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show,” the four-time NBA champion and former DPOY said his name is only being mentioned for a suspension stemming from a dustup with Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey last Friday as a way to increase ratings. 

“I’m playing too well, BD. And guess what, the ratings are low,” Green told his co-panelist Baron Davis. “We know Draymond’s name sparks buzz. We know that name carries weight.”

“If many people around the league think Draymond should be suspended, guess what, Draymond will be suspended,” Green added.

That comes on the heels of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith saying on the Nov. 19 edition of “First Take,” “You have a lot of people in the league that believe Draymond should be suspended.”

While Smith wasn’t in the majority, he did agree with the league for upgrading the foul to a flagrant 1. 

Arenas Chimes In On Ratings Collapse

NBA ratings, or lack thereof, even got former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas talking on his “Gil’s Arena” podcast, and he thinks the league has an expense issue. 

“It’s expensive to watch games now,” Arenas said. “They used to be free. So you buy cable for your own teams, then you have to buy League Pass to get the League Pass stuff.”

“And they’re harder to find,” he added. “That’s the problem. We have to find it. It used to be available. The NBA, money-wise, perfect for you, but for the viewers, you’ve f—ed us.”

Strong words from Arenas, but in many ways he’s correct. With so many streaming services and applications getting involved with showing games, just having basic cable isn’t good enough anymore. It’s the same thing the NFL has done with all of its changes to its games, mainly the entire Thursday night rights going to Amazon Prime, and without it you can’t watch the game. 

Stephen A. Smith Says He’s “Very Concerned” and Sees Same “Slippage” In Dallas Owner Jerry Jones That Forced Joe Biden Out of Presidential Race

The Dallas Cowboys franchise is in turmoil, and nobody seems to have the answers. Not even Jerry Jones, the omnipotent owner of a team that is probably in need of a rebuild but still lives with the delusion that they can be championship caliber at the snap of a finger. 

After passing the blame around to players and head coaches, the public sentiment is that it’s finally time to place the blame on the one consistent element for the past 30 years; 82-year-old owner Jerry Jones. 

Stephen A. Smith Insinuates He’s Concerned With Jerry Jones’ Mental Health: Compares Cowboys Owner To Joe Biden

Stephen A. Smith isn’t ready to blame Jerry for any ineptitude because he thinks there’s more going on than we are willing to acknowledge.

“When he’s in front of the reporter where he says one thing after another after another. I find myself thinking of Joe Biden before he backed out of running for reelection,” said Smith on Tuesday’s “First Take.”

“Jerry is one month older than President Joe Biden, for crying out loud,” Smith continued. “I remember when I was on the airwaves 10 months ago and said Biden can’t be the nominee. So, I look at Jerry and I ask myself where the hell is Stephen Jones. Where the hell are his family members?”

“I know he’s the owner and president and GM and I get all of that, but somebody in your circle has to be able to stop you from adding fuel to the fire,” Smith implored. “Because it is so bad right now, they literally took the fun out of it. It’s not a laughing matter. It is a state of … to the point where it’s almost an exercise in futility to keep laughing at them.”

Jerry Jones Fabricates Numbers, Stuck In 90s  

With their 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans on “Monday Night Football” in Week 11, the Cowboys have lost five straight games to fall to 3-7. They’ve also lost six straight games at home, dating back to last year’s wild-card round defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Despite the disastrous whirlwind, Jones remains positive and reveling in the glory days of yesteryear, but to some he seems oblivious.

According to ESPN, Jones said Tuesday in his weekly appearance on “Shan & RJ”:  

“I’m disappointed that we are bringing the team we are on to the field, and we got to approve on that. The Super Bowl years that I was involved in… since those years we have been the sixth winningest team in the NFL. We haven’t been to an NFC Championship Game. We haven’t been to the Super Bowl, but we been around the rim. Sometimes it has worked, and sometimes it didn’t work as well as we hoped it would.” 

SAS dropped his head after hearing that with a look of bewilderment. It got worse when Molly called Jones’ comment “fake news” and pulled the receipts, proving that Dallas has been 11th in winning percentage in the past 29 years, which “First Take” co-host Jeff Saturday says also proves that in Dallas, “It’s just OK to be OK,” now.  

Stephen A. Doubles Up On Jerry Jones and Joe Biden Comparison

“I’m very concerned,” Smith added, doubling down on his suggestion that Jones has lost his marbles. “There is slippage. I’m telling you right now when it comes to Jerry. This Is slippage, something ain’t right.” 

Don’t take Stephen A Smith’s Joe Biden comparison lightly. He didn’t elaborate on it, but we know what he meant by comparing Jerry Jones’ age and Biden’s and referencing back to when Smith suggested Biden should drop out of the race for health reasons. His mental capacity to hold the presidency was put into question, forcing Kamala Harris into the race. 

Age discrimination is also a real thing in this country, although it’s a slippery slope, as you saw in Biden’s case, but Smith is questioning Jones’ mental capacity. Jones says plenty of bizarre things in press conferences and continues to be defensive and indignant despite his team sinking into the abyss. 

“If you do what you’ve always done. You get what you’ve always gotten,” Shannon Sharpe added, when discussing the Cowboys’ problems. 

The team is in shambles. Dak Prescott is sidelined. All of the players are disgruntled. The head coach reportedly gets no respect, and the owner still believes he has the magic touch and has to run the entire show. 

Problem is, he sounds like he’s just rambling. “These quotes are out there. In some place I don’t know,” Smith said referencing Jones’ recent press conferences.

“I have no idea what Jerry is talking about,” Sharpe added…He has no idea what impacts a locker room,” Sharpe said. 

Jeff Saturday said: “This thing is off the rails. It’s not an anomaly anymore.” 

In the past, analysts, including Smith have tip-toed around blasting Jones directly for the Cowboys’ annual disappointing season. Somewhere along the line, just being good became acceptable to Jones, as his empire rose. 

Jerry’s still living in the past. In the ’90s, the glory days. Like Molly Qerim said, “He’s winning based on brand, rather than championships.” 

Somebody needs to take the mic from Jerry Jones at the very least. Even if you can’t get him off the stage. 

‘She’s Got The Target On Her Back’: Chloe Kitts Has All-America Potential For South Carolina, But Will Dawn Staley Let Her Rock Out?

Dawn Staley goes through this same process every season. She has a dynamic team, who shares the ball and functions like a well-oiled machine. There’s usually one player that emerges as a National Player of the Year contender and while her team steamrolls towards a championship, her individual players are often outshined by bigger names, with bigger stats on other college teams. 

South Carolina, led by Kamilla Cardoso won the 2024 NCAA Tournament, but Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were the headliners. Staley got her props for capturing her third national championship to go along with five SEC regular season championships, seven SEC tournament titles, four Final Fours, seven Sweet 16 appearances. 

But the championship was a team effort. With Cardoso off to the WNBA, the next unsung star of Staley’s Gamecocks team is forward Chloe Kitts, who is currently averaging 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories. 

Chloe Kitts Popularity Growing

While SC has several players who have the talent to contend for All-America honors, Kitts is definitely the most popular player. She has over 215,000 social media followers. She signed with Excel Sports for NIL representation in 2022 and has since landed deals with Sephora, Marathon, Carolina Rise and Powerade, among others.

Kitts had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 1 South Carolina to a 95-44 win over East Carolina on Sunday for the Gamecocks’ 42nd straight victory.

MiLaysia Fulwiley and highly-touted freshman Joyce Edwards added 12 points apiece as the Gamecocks (4-0) finished with five players in double figures on the way to their 61st consecutive home win. In addition to that, Staley flexed the depth of her squad by playing 12 players, who all scored for the Gamecocks.

Fulwiley has the highest NIL valuation of any female athlete in the state of South Carolina. The sophomore isn’t as popular as Kitts yet, but her NIL bag coming out of high school is bigger according to On3.com, although the amount is undisclosed. She’s also approaching 200K followers. Her time to shine and lead will come, but right now, it’s the junior from Florida who is seizing the moment 

Dawn Staley Says Chloe Kitts Has A Target On Her Back

In the postgame news conference, Staley clearly has raised the level of expectations for Kitts, saying that the national champion “has to make some adjustments,” as the season progresses and the stakes grow.

Now that Kitts is emerging as the go-to player, “She’s got the target on her back as far as the scouting report,” Staley added. Staley noticed that teams are tightening up their defenses on Kitts and she’s not as effective when the pressure is on. That’s something the coach is monitoring. 

It’s also a new dynamic for South Carolina, who in the past have been led by Black women, post players such as three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in 2022.

Kitts is white with a versatile, ever-evolving game. She’s not a post player, but the 6-2 forward, who definitely can stroke it, is also not a long-range threat in Staley’s offense. She’s only attempted five threes this season. She plays within Staley’s system and has defensive principles, but she makes shots at nearly a 60 percent clip and moves well without the ball. 

Chloe Kitts Doesn’t Have Green Light But Can Light It Up

While Kitts may want to light it up, Staley noted that it wouldn’t be a bad thing for her to ease up on the offense a bit to throw off the opponents.  She missed a couple of layups, which isn’t a big deal, but when you’re a Dawn Staley team that has won 61 straight at home in addition to the 42 game win streak, the coach and media will nitpick your performance. 

“She probably needs to just kind of make them forget about it a little bit and then come back. Sometimes it does a defense good that you’re not going to be as aggressive as you’ve been.” 

The Gamecocks are cruising at 4-0 with the toughest stretches of the season on the horizon. Kitts proved her value as a sophomore, contributing 11 points and 10 boards and great defensive effort in a convincing title game win over Caitlin Clark and Iowa.  

“I am not worried about Chloe,” Staley assures.

The rest of the country should be though. Just a junior and an integral part of a history in the making dynasty program, the level of her greatness will be tested on the court and by her legendary coach. 

RELATED: “Caitlin Is A Supernova … JuJu Probably Is The Better Player”: Charles Barkley Says Caitlin Clark Is Already Yesterday’s News Because JuJu Watkins Is The Future

The spotlight will only get brighter as she strives to crack the elite players of the game. As a member of Staley’s team, that will happen naturally, through winning. So, the favorite ballers; JuJu Watkins, Paige Beuckers, Flau’Jae Johnson and the other leading ladies of college basketball will have to make a spot for the walking double-double Chloe Kitts.

Heisman Leader Travis Hunter Says Players Are ‘Basically Just Getting Robbed’ and Should Get $100K Cut Of $116M College Football Playoff Bag

The college football season is winding down, and soon the CFP committee will have to decide which teams to select in their inaugural 12 team playoff.

While many of the selections will come from conference winners, the remaining at-large choices surely will leave some fan bases complaining that the process is rigged or set up for the bigger brands to join the party.

The beauty of the new format should help eliminate a lot of the noise as pertains to selections, with no instance bigger in the CFP era (2014-present) than the once-beaten Alabama Crimson Tide, who won the SEC, getting in last season over Florida State, also a Power Five conference champion (ACC) but undefeated.

Travis Hunter Says College Players Should Get $100K For $116M Playoffs

Then there’s also the money aspect of the CFP, and as it draws nearer Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter is speaking out on the payout and how the players won’t receive one penny. 

With $116 million up for grabs for the conferences, commissioners all around will be doing their very best to get as many teams from their conference into the dance. 

Why is that, do you ask? 

The conference receives $4 million for each that qualifies for the CFP. Then another $4 million for each that advances to the quarterfinals. And $6 million for each team that makes the semifinals and finals. For instance, right now the SEC would make $20 million for Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee (all making it and ranked in the top 12). The Big Ten would make $16 million for Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana, all in the top 5 of the rankings. 

If most of those teams advance the SEC and Big Ten stand to clean up, and that’s not sitting well with the aforementioned Hunter, who, speaking on the “Travis Hunter Show,” said he believes players should at least receive $100K apiece for their efforts. 

“Well, $116 million and we’re not touching,” Hunter said this week. “The players are not getting none of that. Like, we don’t work this whole time. It’s basically saying we don’t have NIL no more. After we get there. We’re basically just getting robbed. We got them all the way there, and then, we don’t even get the money. We don’t even get to see it.”

Travis Hunter Has $3M In NIL But Says Other Players Getting Robbed

Hunter continued, “Know, that’s what happened when schools signed for these conferences. That’s what happened. They get their money out of you. That’s why we went to the Big 12. They did get us. They thought they were slick. I’m on to y’all. They said, ‘Oh yeah, Colorado might be good. We’re going to gamble with them right now. Get us to that playoff. Thank you. 116 mil, thank you, no, but they probably have to pay the coaches, though you know the coaches might get a little raise.”

Hunter isn’t afraid to speak up, and that’s great that he’s using his platform to try and help others, but he’s also already one of the highest compensated athletes in collegiate sports thanks to the NIL opportunities he’s been afforded. So, in retrospect that $100K doesn’t hurt him at all, it would be more for the guys that don’t have a $3 million NIL valuation like Hunter. 

Travis Hunter: Heisman Favorite

As of Monday, Hunter holds the best odds (-500) via BetMGM to take home college football’s top award given annually to the nation’s most outstanding football player. Hunter, the two-way sensation has been that and then some for the surprising (8-2) Colorado Buffaloes. If the Buffs can win out and win the Big 12 championship game they’ll make the new 12-team CFP. 

This season Hunter has wowed college football playing an average of 124 snaps per week. He’s become the most dynamic two-way player we’ve ever seen at the college level. With 74 receptions for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on offense, and three interceptions and one forced fumble he’s become the second player in NCAA history with at least 40 receptions and three picks in a season. 

RELATED: “This Is One Of The Most Exciting Duos I’ve Ever Seen In College Football”: Win Or Lose, Colorado Will Be Must-See TV With Heisman Hopefuls Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter

He joins former Heisman winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson as the only two players to do such, Hunter’s done it twice. 

‘I Don’t Give A Damn There’s Only One Superman’: The Real Petty Reason Why Shaq Won’t Box Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard’s “DWTS” elimination has apparently rekindled his competitive juices, and everyone is still in the fighting spirit after they were left unsatisfied by the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul-Netflix money heist.  

The future Hall of Famer hasn’t received any offers from an NBA team yet, but he is interested in facing his OG nemesis Shaquille O’Neal in the ring.  

“Shaq wassup let’s make bread,” was Howard’s response to Shaquille O’Neal and Rob Gronkowski engaging in an NBA vs. NFL celebrity showdown. 

Social media immediately blasted Howard for not tagging Shaq, until the NBA Top 75 snub revealed that, “I’m blocked lol.” 

Just like the prison walls, social media is a place where news travels quickly, and Shaquille O’Neal got word of Dwight’s potential business offer, and unsurprisingly shut it down with extra-insulting sauce. 

Shaq Says Doing Celebrity Boxing Match With Dwight Howard Is Beneath Him

 “Gotta have more than one ring to get in the ring with me, I’ll stick with a real champion like @RobGronkowski , and you can have the Superman belt, all yours buddy.” 

Howard, finally getting a chance to speak with Shaq via social media, replied quickly. 

“My bad I didn’t read the rulebook,” wrote Howard.

Back in his prime, most people would probably put money on Shaq to handle Dwight Howard in a boxing match. At 52-years of age, with broken knees that suffer the glory of NBA wars and deep pockets, Shaq is all talk. If he has a problem with anybody, the solution is just a phone call away. He doesn’t handle any physical confrontations with anyone, anymore. Not even for a check. He cuts checks, not chins.

Howard is hungry still. He also has a chip on his shoulder because Shaq has never liked him ever since Howard won the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk contest with a leaping jam rocking a Superman cape and Kenny Smith sparked the hijacking of Shaq’s most beloved moniker. 

“I don’t give a damn what he had on, there’s only one Superman,” Shaq said at the time. 

Superman, of course, was one of Shaq’s many nicknames, until Howard stole it during his peak years with the Orlando Magic … and kept using it. Fans and analysts started calling him that and Shaq was never able to let it go. He’s been diminishing Howard, who never won a championship 

Then, of course, Howard complained that his jersey should have been retired before Shaq’s by Orlando, because he had a bigger impact on the franchise and played there longer. 

He probably had a point, but most fans saw it as sour grapes from an inferior player. 

Could Shaq Beat Dwight Howard In A Boxing Match? 

Now, in Shaq’s mind, he might believe that he can take Howard, who is a very fit 39 and still trying to return to the NBA, at least for a proper farewell tour. 

Some fans on social media, however, don’t think Shaq is up to a boxing match with Dwight and accused Big Diesel of using the ring count as an easy way to bail out and end any further speculation. 

 Said one X user: “Shaq knows he would lose so he brings up the ring counts.” 

“Soon as Shaq get in an argument. “RIIINNGSSS RIIINGSSS,” one fan complained. 

Other fans didn’t appreciate the way Big Diesel just dismissed Howard, who was probably just joking around with Shaq, as is his nature. 

“Man Shaq, this man can’t even joke with you. I don’t get this disdain Shaq has towards Dwight!!!!” With plenty more siding with DH12, despite him having fewer rings.

Social Media Says Shaq Would Lose To Dwight Howard In Boxing Match 

“how did Shaq become so unlikable?” asked @jutiz28

 “Howard would beat Shaq, no contest.” added another.

Another X user said: “Dwight would f*** Shaq up.” 

The consensus opinion seems to be that Shaq was trying to avoid smoke with Howard. It’s definitely a rabbit got the gun situation for Shaq, who has always had it out for Howard, had the better career, and constantly demeaned him on large platforms, which definitely influenced people’s opinion of Howard. He would love to get Shaq in the ring and make him answer for his treatment of a fellow center.

RELATED: ‘I Strive Off Professional Jealousy’: Shaquille O’Neal Admits His $500M Worth Can’t Stop Him From Being Envious Of James Gang’s Generational G-14 Classification

It won’t happen though and in Shaq’s world the reason is legit: “You have to have G-14” classification and Howard doesn’t. 

‘What’s Going On?’: Twitch Streamer Blindsides Miami Dolphins All-Pro Tyreek Hill With Accusations That Aren’t Beyond The Realm Of Possibility

Although it’s been a bit of a down year for the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Tyreek Hill thus far, the last two games have revived their season and slim playoff chances. The return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and consecutive wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders has improved their record to 4-6.

In those games, Hill has touched pay dirt twice, bringing his touchdown total to three. But, while things on the gridiron are getting better, Hill is seemingly once again being affected by off-the-field drama — or maybe just a sarcastic joke.

Tyreek Hill Paternity Problems Keep Coming

If you’ve been following Hill, you know the drama concerning his personal life. Hill, who allegedly has a plethora of children already, has someone else claiming he is their father.

Twitch Streamer Claims Reek Is His Dad

A couple days ago, Twitch streamer Blake @blakeeps, who has nearly 240,000 followers on X, insinuated that Hill was his daddy. User @plantysnatcher ran with the narrative, commenting, “He’s a lot of people daddy, Blake.”

It may just be a bad joke, but Hill’s checkered past opens the door for things like this to be said. A surprised Hill retweeted Blake’s message with this caption:

“What is going on.”

It sounds like a sarcastic joke and move by Blake to get more followers by using Hill name amidst his legal troubles which include multiple paternity suits this year. Long story short, when you hear Hill’s name and children being involved anything is possible when you consider the tribe he’s allegedly fathered over the last calendar year. 

Hill Reportedly Has 7 Children With Multiple Women

The exact number of children that Hill has fathered has varied from seven to as many as ten in some reports you hear. In September, following the birth of son Trae Love Hill which was proven by an official declaration by a Florida court, the dynamic playmaker is claiming seven children in total. While none are by his wife Keeta Vaccaro, she’s currently pregnant with what will be his eighth child. 

Hill May Need Wrist Surgery

The speedster has been hampered by a wrist injury since the summer, but despite the pain he continues to be in, he’s opted to wait until the offseason to have surgery. 

Speaking with reporters on Thursday prior to Sunday’s win Hill described how he’s playing through injury.

“At the end of the day, I just got to suck it up and just deal with the pain,” Hill said. “It’s going to get worse the more I play, but I got to [gut] it out for my team. I’m here, I’m locked in no matter what, no matter how I feel. So even if I’ve got to cut my wrist off, I’m still out there because I love the game of football.

“Surgery was brought up and it was talked about whenever I talked to a few of the doctors, but it’s my call at the end of the day, and my call is to stay out on the field,” Hill added.

RELATED: “Tyreek Hill Is A Black Superhero”: The Outrage Over Tyreek Hill Detainment Also Earned Him Some Points With Fans

For the Fins’ sake it’s great, because just having him out there attracts so much of the defense’s attention weekly. 

‘Just Gotta Say ‘Pause’: NBA Fans Are Outraged That League Accepts Cursing but Fined Melo Ball $100K, Which Is “Way Too Serious For Saying No Homo”

Lamelo Ball tested the temperature of Trump’s new America and quickly found out that the president might be able to say what he wants with no repercussions, but the rules of etiquette still apply for players in the NBA, a league that is probably more offended by the H-word than the N-word. 

The Charlotte Hornets registered a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at Spectrum Center, improving their record to 5-7.

While the focus should have been on basketball, during a postgame sideline interview, Ball used a slang term that straight men use to emphasize the fact that they are heterosexual men, while discussing his squad’s successful defensive strategy on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s missed attempt at a game-winning shot. 

Lamelo Ball’s Comments Deemed “Offensive and Derogatory” By NBA

“We loaded up – no homo. But that’s what we wanted; we put a hand up and lived with the result,” Ball said.

Many people described what Melo said as an “anti-gay” slur, but it’s still a term that is commonly used among heterosexual men. 

However, Melo has to read the room better and be in touch with the audience he’s addressing and also stay away from any kind of potentially offensive language. Cursing is not suggested but acceptable. Phrases identified as anti-gay speech are a definite no-no as the NBA wasted no time addressing the situation. 

Melo Fined $100,000 For “No Homo” Comment: Coach Responds to Controversial Remark

On Sunday, Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of basketball operations, hit Melo with a $100,000 fine. The league described the remark as “offensive and derogatory.”

The 100K fine is the highest penalty allowed under NBA rules and the league hopes the punishment is an example of the NBA’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment on and off the court.

As the controversy quickly made the social media rounds, Hornets coach Charles Lee addressed the situation during his postgame press conference. 

He had to be pissed that while he struggles to get a young team to gel, he has to publicly defend the character of his star player for something stupid he said. 

“As an organization, that is obviously not something we condone. Our standards and what is required of our players in the environment we create is really important to us,” Lee said.

“From what I’ve seen since I’ve been around him, he loves everyone. He’s a joy to have around in the facility, and that’s not typically how he operates,” he added.

Melo also had to be asking himself why he even went there. After scoring 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, the Hornets star could have let his game speak for himself or offered a safer explanation. 

Social Media Reats To Melo Ball Comments and Fine

In response to the fine, one fan said “way too serious for saying no homo”

Naturally, NBA fans on social media were split on the drama with some concerned about what language the NBA seems to accept and the language it seems to be dead against. 

It wasn’t a serious situation for everybody. 

“Seen that coming he should’ve said ‘no Dwight,’” said one X user, referring to former NBA player and ”Dancing With The Stars” contestant Dwight Howard, whose sexuality has been a centerpiece of social media discussions at times. 

“Guess no Diddy ain’t reach the mean streets of Chino Hills” said an X user under the re-post of Melo’s comments on Shannon sharpes Burner (PARODY Account). 

A number of fans felt the punishment was overblown and didn’t fit the crime. 

Another said: “Bra been cussing and saying type sh-t in all his postgame interviews with team reporters but ‘no homo’ where they draw the line?”

“So not him cussing, but no homo?” asked one fan. 

“Should change the NBA to SBA Soft Basketball Association,” said another X user. 

Melo Ball Had Other Options Of Speech To Use

There are ways that Melo could have gotten around his dilemma. Black slang in particular gets picked up by other cultures once it’s used enough and travels around the world. Once it becomes mainstream, they put labels on how it can be used and if it can be used at all. Have to stay ahead of the slang game if you want to avoid cringy situations like this.

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“Just gotta say ‘pause,’” one disappointed fan suggested. “Pause” is just another way of saying no homo but it’s more coded to avoid situations just like this. 

Of course, the best solution would be to articulate the defense in a way that doesn’t compel oneself to have to defend their sexuality when discussing a basketball game. 

“Yeh no homo been offensive to my community,” said one X user who was unimpressed by Melo’s humor or choice of words. 

Tough spot for Melo, who is averaging 29.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.2 for the Hornets. It has sparked a discussion about NBA media training that commissioner Adam Silver will surely look into further. 

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Melo learned a lesson about being the face of big business. You don’t want to do anything to alienate your fan base, especially when your intentions aren’t malicious. 

Lesson learned.

‘It’s Not Like I Asked Him To Do It’: Chiefs Assistant Porter Ellett and College Basketball Star Hansel Emmanuel Both Have One Arm and The World In Their Hands

Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes experienced the third game of his career with less than 200 yards passing (196 and two interceptions) on Sunday and they’ve all come this year. Despite his uncharacteristic play, the Chiefs are still 9-1 and the current No.1 seed in the AFC.

Winning is all that matters to Mahomes and coming off two straight Super Bowl wins, the only goal is a third straight trophy and the culture of the team come playoff time will be in tact.

With Sunday’s 30-21 road loss to the Buffalo Bills, the two-time Super Bowl defending Kansas City Chiefs fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, but if you expect a minor setback to stop a team that is built to overcome then you don’t understand the Chiefs.

Porter Ellett Has One Arm and The Heart and Guts That Personify KC Chiefs

Consistency and culture are the staples of this Chiefs Dynasty, driven to become the first team in NFL history to win three rings in a row. The team is full of heart and guts and Mahomes’ pregame preparation explores just how deep the roster of world beaters on the Chiefs runs.

Prior to every game Chiefs assistant running backs coach Porter Ellett catches the football for Mahomes as he’s warming up. While this may not mean much to most, it’s amazing in itself when you consider Ellett is doing it with one arm.

Fans Love Ellett For His Efforts: How Did He Start Catching Balls For Mahomes?

A lot of times as quarterbacks warm up you may see other coaches or players catch the football for them. Other times the quarterback catches it himself, and in Mahomes case that’s what he used to do until one day the three-time Super Bowl MVP says Ellett just started doing it.

In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Mahomes said, “He just came and started doing it. It’s not like I asked him to do it. He saw me doing it and he just took it upon himself to say hey I’ll come catch if you want me too.”

That routine has been in place since 2020, and it’s something that Mahomes now looks forward to every week before stepping in between the white lines for battle. 

Ellett Lost Arm In Farm Accident: Became All-State Baseball and Basketball Player

In the interview, Ellett talks about losing his arm in a farm accident at four-years-old and how it didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams of playing baseball and basketball.

In fact, he became an all-star player in both in high school, and in many ways his story is inspirational, just like that of college basketball player Hansel Emmanuel, who also lost him arm in an accident at a young age. The most amazing thing is neither let that stop them from pursuing and conquering their goals. 

Ellett Coaching With Chiefs, Emmanuel Starring In College

Ellett has been with the Chiefs for eight seasons, the last two as assistant running backs coach. He’s been a part of all three Super Bowl-winning teams and is a fan favorite for his story and efforts to help Mahomes weekly.

RELATED: College Football Programs In Hot Pursuit Of Gifted Quarterback With Seven Fingers | Meet Ty Kelley

As for Emmanuel, he’s doing his thing playing at Austin Peay since last season. Emmanuel began his college career at Northwestern State but followed coach Corey Gibson to Austin Peay prior to the 2023 season. 

Both are inspirational stories of fortitude, will and perseverance to continue despite that which would hinder most. As a result of those things, these two have shined brightly.

“No … I’m a Little Spoon, He’s a Big Spoon, That’s Me”: Despite Her Denials, Funny Marco Says 6-Foot-3 Angel Reese Is Too Tall To Be Submissive and Probably Sleeps “Booty To Booty”

Angel Reese has turned up her social media marketing ever since the WNBA season ended. This weekend, she had the honor of representing her team at the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery.

Angel Reese Represents Chicago Sky at WNBA Draft

Reese was one of four players representing their teams, joined by Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks, Aaliyah Edwards of the Washington Mystics, and Maddy Siegrist of the Dallas Wings. Reese, also known for her fashion, pulled up to the Draft Lottery rocking an all-pink Business Barbie suit that instantly made a statement.

As she gears up for her debut in the new Unrivaled League for women ballers, she’s been interacting with some of the biggest podcasters and content creators in the world. 

She’s also been living on the edge of controversy as her brand grows bigger. She recently appeared on a video with YouTube creator Funny Marco, and a discussion about Reese’s dating habits drew over 2 million views on Raphousetv. 

Funny Marco Says Angel Reese Is Too Tall To be Submissive To Her Partner

Funny Marco told Reese, who is 6-foot-3 and says that she only dates men taller than her, that she doesn’t know how to be submissive because she’s tall. 

“It’s because you tall AF, you don’t know how to be submissive,” he said via a split screen interview with the WNBA star before offering to play matchmaker. “So we can try to actually get you somebody that you can physically…”

“That I’ll allow me to be submissive?” Reese interrupted, finishing his thought. 

Marco asked the face of Reebok, “What do submissive mean again?” 

Reese replied, “I guessing like let ya guard down. … Being soft like a soft girl. … But you don’t think that’s me though.” 

Marco doubled down on his analysis. “That’s NOT you,” said the content creator and comedian with over 750,000 YouTube subscribers. “You wouldn’t cuddle. You don’t like cuddling and sh*t.”

Angel Reese Shoots Down Funny Marco: Says She’s A Lover Girl And Loves To Spoon

Reese, who appeared to be lying on the bed in her room tried to set the record straight on how she expressed her femininity. Her explanation directly contrasted with what Funny Marco said.  

“I’m a lover girl, I’m definitely cuddling,” said Reese.  

“You a booty-to-booty type of person,” Marcos insisted. “Like you turn around and I turn around.”

Reese refused to be mislabeled. 

“No … Like, I’m a little spoon, he’s a big spoon, that’s me,” she explained, but Marco wasn’t buying it.    

“No, no, no, no,” he answered. “That just doesn’t work like that”

The WNBA rookie rebound record holder didn’t like the constant badgering about her love life and eventually warned Marco, “Don’t ask me about no man, because I’m not interested I’m not gonna keep repeating myself when it comes to that.”

To which Marco replied, “ Well alright somebody has an atti-. And that’s attitude”

But honestly, how could we not ask Angel Reese about her love life? She’s positioned herself in a way that people will always ask about her mysterious relationship life. She’s rarely seen with one man more than a few times. 

Social Media Blasts Funny Marco and Reese

Some fans on social media blamed Marco’s ignorance because “this man ain’t been with a tall girl and it shows,” said one X user.  

Others expressed their disappointment that it always seems to be a sexually driven conversation surrounding Reese. 

“Bruh, anytime I see this girl now it’s about some sexual sh*t,” said another X user. “She still playing ball? 

Reese is still balling, and you can catch as one of the leading faces in Unrivaled League kicking off in January 2025. That won’t stop her from being one of the most discussed athletes on social media, especially urban Gen X. 

More Relationship Drama For Angel Reese: Halle Berry and DDG? 

Recently, according to gossip site MediaTakeout, she’s been dragged into the rumor mill after DDG, the father of singer Halle Bailey’s child, popped up on TikTok with Reese. 

In a short clip, DDG rapped about having intimate relations with Angel and dropped lines such as she “F*** till her a** is sore.” Angel flashed her Baltimore smile during the verse, while making gestures towards Halle’s baby’s father.

When the celebrity couple made their breakup public, DDG said he wasn’t interested in a new love interest.

“I am not dating anyone,” he clarified during a livestream. “I don’t have a potential girlfriend, nor do I even think about that.”

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It’s not clear what the nature of their relationship is, but social media didn’t think it was a great look for Angel if she is involved at all with DDG, but we know she’s going to do what she wants.

“Placing Him Under Arrest for Assault on a Peace Officer”: What Happened With Former NFL Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones After Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Fight?

There won’t be any legendary stories of rappers getting shot or gang members getting beat down by musicians or athletes following the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight. However, you can always count on somebody acting up after one of these big-time events.  

Former NFL star Pacman Jones is no stranger to run-ins with the law and odd situations that fill the social media moshpit as he has had many throughout his NFL career and after. 

Why Was Adam Pacman Jones Arrested After Tyson-Paul Fight?

Adam Jones, a former cornerback, was arrested after the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight early Saturday morning. He was one of many celebrities, including Shaquille O’Neal, who caught the action at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but he found himself in serious trouble with the law shortly after.

According to reports, Jones was by several officers inside the Loews Arlington Hotel, which is next to the stadium. Known to act a fool at times, Jones is accused of public intoxication, resisting arrest, evading arrest, and assaulting a police officer. 

The Arlington Police Department confirmed that Jones was taken into custody early Saturday morning after authorities responded to a bar fight at the Live By Loews Arlington Hotel. The altercation was broken up by the time officers hit the scene, but according to the police report, “Jones continued approaching and yelling at the others involved.”

We know Pacman has a loose temper and he’s not afraid to mix it up going back to his legendary NFL days where he used to bring bags of money into the club and throw it at strippers. 

Even in his OG stage, he’s willing to mix it after a few drinks. 

“The officer stepped between them and told Mr. Jones that if he tried to fight again, he would be arrested,” the report reads. “A short time later, another fight broke out in the bar area, again involving Mr. Jones. While the officer and hotel security were working to separate the individuals involved, Mr. Jones hit the officer on her arm. At that point, she informed Mr. Jones was placing him under arrest for Assault on a Peace Officer.”

Adam Jones was reportedly still in custody as of Saturday morning. 

“According to jail records, Pacman is still behind bars … with a bail amount of $319, which might sound low, but Pacman still needs to appear before a judge who could bump it up … considerably,” TMZ noted. 

Pacman Jones Has Lengthy History Of Police Encounters

Now 41, Pacman has a lengthy history of getting into sticky situations and violent outbursts. 

In 2023, Jones was at the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky airport catching a United Airlines flight to Newark when he suffered an issue on the plane. Jones, who purchased his seat and the one next to him, couldn’t find a working outlet for his phone charger.

After claiming that his request to move to a different seat on the plane would result in the aircraft returning to the gate, things went awry. Police were reportedly called, and Jones was escorted off the flight, arrested, and taken to the Boone County Jail in Kentucky.

Nothing’s changed with Pacman, who was also filmed in 2018 getting into it with a guy in an airport as his baby’s mother desperately tried to intervene.

Bars and clubs are a popular source of Jones’ relapses, who once decked a guy in a bar and was sentenced to 180 days, but 150 of the days were suspended.

Dating back to his days at West Virginia when he beat a man with a pool cue, it was so easy to see that this type of thing would be happening to Pacman before he was even drafted. He received probation after a fight in West Virginia while he was still playing for the Mountaineers. The troubles would predictably continue with an arrest in July 2005 for assault and felony vandalism at a nightclub in Nashville.  

In September 2005, Jones threw a fit outside of the annual Nashville Sports Council luncheon after being told he had to wait in line for his vehicle. He reportedly did not pay the valet, claiming he was broke. 

A February 2006 arrest for marijuana possession was dismissed, replaced by charges of felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice followed by the August 2006 arrest on disorderly conduct and public intoxication after an altercation in which he spat on a woman he accused of stealing his wallet. 

That got him six more months’ probation.

A lover of the nightlife, his 2007 incident at a Las Vegas nightclub left a bouncer paralyzed; a dancer at the club was also allegedly assaulted by Jones. 

Back then, Jones was at the height of his popularity and used to frequent various strip clubs carrying large trash bags of single-dollar bills. As a result of the incident, Jones was suspended for an entire 2007 season and part of the 2008 season as well. He had a civil judgment of $11 million levied against him, which he had to pay.

Pulled over by police time after time throughout his career, he once told an officer, “I hope you die tomorrow.”

Could Pacman Jones Play Football?

Jones was a solid NFL player, who never lived up to his No. 6 overall billing. After being drafted by the Tennessee Titans, Jones was a good cornerback and even better returner who couldn’t seem to shake a stigma surrounding his off-the-field-issues. 

He flashed potential in his first two seasons with four interceptions and 23 passes defended. Jones was also an über-talented kick and punt returner who had four return touchdowns while also gaining 1,618 yards on kick returns and 712 on punt returns.

In total, he had 17 interceptions (two returned for TDs), 97 passes defended, seven forced fumbles, 509 combined tackles, one Pro-Bowl selection, one All-Star selection 

There were moments when Jones appeared to be getting his life in order and maturing, but they were short-lived.

Adam Jones Adopts Chris Henry’s Sons

On a Fox Sports Podcast, Jones revealed that he’d adopted former college teammate Chris Henry’s sons. Jones and Henry were teammates at West Virginia in 2003 and 2004. Henry tragically passed away in 2009 after he fell off the back of a pickup truck during an argument with his girlfriend. Henry was diagnosed with chronic CTE, following a brain scan after his death.

“We love each other hard. We cry together, we pray together. We do everything together over here,” he said, adding that both of Henry’s sons are “unbelievable athletes.”

There was a time when Jones was getting props from the public for changing his life around, especially when Henry committed to Ohio State University. Henry Jr. is in the class of 2026 and was the first player from that class to commit to OSU.

RELATED: Shaq Says Pacman Jones Put Them ‘Paws On ‘Em’ For Him During 2018 Atlanta Airport Scrap

Jones always seems to get into at least one of these dust-ups a season. Maybe he misses the field and needs to get into something that can help release his misplaced energy. Because it seems that drama is always around the corner when Adam Jones is in the building.

‘Everybody Thought They Were Somebody’: Pittsburgh Steelers Safety DeShon Elliott Calls Miami Dolphins “Soft” and Caught Up In Miami Lifestyle

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-2 and preparing for a huge AFC North clash against the rival 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Pittsburgh. In an era of “Air Raid” football and high-scoring offense the Steelers and Ravens still play an old-school brand of football, one that features physicality at all levels and brute trench play, and that’s something that first-year Steelers safety DeShon Elliott can appreciate.

DeShon Elliott Says Miami Dolphins Are Too Finesse On Defense

Elliott, who’s playing at an All-Pro level this season (64 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and four passes defensed) spent last season with the Miami Dolphins, and let’s just say he wasn’t a fan of the finesse style of the team. During a recent appearance on Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s “Punch Line Podcast” the seven-year pro didn’t have a lot of good things to say about his former team. In fact, he called them soft, while also saying the entertainment and nightlife in and around South Beach play a part in this. 

Elliott didn’t mince words or hold back when discussing his former Dolphins teammates.

“I haven’t been able to play against Baltimore the way I wanted to because last year I played up for a team that was soft as [expletive],” said Elliott, who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later added that “there were some guys who were tough, but like for the majority of the team, there was not mentally tough individuals. So, to be on a team with the full team of mentally tough guys going against another mentally tough team and AFC North ball, it’s going to be fun.”

The belief around the league is that the Fins don’t play a physical brand of football and don’t like it when teams play that way against them. With guys like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Devon Achane, Raheem Mostert and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on offense, the Fins are known as a team that wins with skill more so than grit and toughness. So in essence using the word soft, which is a no-no in sports, especially on the gridiron, might be a bit much. 

Elliott Calls South Beach A Distraction 

As he continued, the hard-hitting safety even took a subtle jab at the city.

“Miami, it’s a distraction,” Elliott said. “I would say that we already didn’t hang out much as a team, because there’s so much to do in Miami. So guys are dispersed so much, and everyone thought they were somebody because of the mindset of, ‘Oh, I’m In Miami, I can be somebody different,’ you know? And then we go into that city, and I felt like we were a really good team.”

Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Could Care Less What Elliott Says

Upon hearing Elliott’s comments, Fins third-year head coach Mike McDaniel, who’s trying to string together some wins following Monday night’s season-saving win at the Los Angeles Rams, responded in this manner. 

“Our team played a tough-fought game the past three weeks and ended up finding a way to win this past week,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “That’s not the easiest thing to do.

“I’m just worried about this year’s team. He said it on a podcast? Cool podcast.”

It’s safe to say Elliott won’t be invited back to South Beach for Thanksgiving.  

‘I Think That He’s Regressed’: NFL Analyst Chad Forbes Says Travis Hunter Is Overrated and Not On The Level Of an AJ Green Or Julio Jones

With the college football season winding down, many players will soon begin prepping and training for the 2025 NFL draft. One of those players who expects to hear his name called very early should he declare for the draft is Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter. While all indications are this will be Hunter’s final collegiate season, the true junior does have another year of eligibility left if he so chooses.

That likely won’t be necessary for the dynamic two-way star who’s expected to be a top five selection. The bigger question for Hunter is what position he’ll play at the NFL level, will it be cornerback or wide receiver, where he excels at both. It’s become routine for Hunter to play over 100 snaps combined on offense and defense, and to do it a high level. The 2022 No.1 overall recruit has drawn comparisons to former Michigan Wolverines Heisman Trophy-winning star Charles Woodson. But, not everybody is all in on Hunter as a pro. 

NFL Analyst Questions Hunter At The Next Level

Despite all the hoopla surrounding Hunter and his pro prognostications, not everyone is sold on it. During an appearance this week on Jacksonville radio station 1010 XL/ 92.5 FM NFL analyst Chad Forbes seemingly went in on Hunter.

Forbes said, “I think that he’s [Travis] regressed. He’s not the wide receiver that everyone’s made him out to be. This isn’t like AJ Green and Julio Jones coming into the NFL where it was like, you look at him and say, Okay, I can see that guy being a bona fide number one wide receiver I look at Travis Hunter and I think, you might have to play him a lot in the slot, right? And I don’t love slot-only wide receivers. That’s why I was a big believer in Brian Thomas Jr, the wide receiver from Arizona. I think it’s really close between him and Travis Hunter at this point.”

While Forbes may be correct in his assessment of Hunter not being a bona fide No.1 receiver because of his sizes, the aforementioned Thomas Jr. played at LSU alongside Giants rising star Malik Nabers, not at Arizona. But, if we’re talking Arizona wideouts they have one in Tetairoa McMillan (who stands 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds ) and is currently the top-rated pass catcher slated to enter the 2025 NFL draft.

Hunter Overrated? 

In no way, shape or form is Hunter overrated. With three left in the season the Heisman Trophy favorite has been brilliant on both sides of the football this season in helping lead the Buffaloes to a (7-2) record. Because of Hunter’s elite play along with a star QB Shedeur Sanders and an vastly improved defense the Buffs also have an inside track to the Big 12 championship game and a possible spot in the first ever 12-team CFP Playoffs. 

He’s done that with 69 receptions for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively he’s also earned his stripes with 20 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and seven passes defensed. His unique skill set aligns perfectly as a Heisman Trophy candidate which is the award that recognizes college football’s most outstanding player, which Hunter looks like weekly. 

Hunter Will Play What Position In NFL?

Hunter wants to continue to play both positions in the NFL, while that will be much more difficult his unique and elite skill set says he could possibly do it. And while he shows out at both the belief is playing cornerback he could be a Hall of Famer, at wide receiver he’ll just be good, but not HOF material which is also OK.

In a September interview with Fox Sports “Big Noon Game Day” Hunter’s coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders told the pregame show this about one of his prized pupils:

“The thing about Travis is, if you put him on, if he plays cornerback, and he’s being dominant out there, and you sit up there and you can’t move the ball at the next level, you’re gonna say ‘Well, my best receiver’s on the sidelines, somebody come on.’ … Travis is a football player, and you can’t have a football player on the sidelines.”

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