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“I Hope That The Cincinnati Bengals Fall Flat On Their Face” | Stephen A. Smith Thinks A Record Contract Offer Of $140M With $90M Guaranteed Is Insulting To Ja’Marr Chase

Fresh off of their surprising season-opening 16-10 home loss to the New England Patriots, the Cincinnati Bengals will travel to face the reigning two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at raucous and rowdy Arrowhead Stadium.

Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who’s 5-1 versus the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, the Bengals will look to even their record.

They’ll need all hands-on deck to win at K.C., and as of Thursday it doesn’t look like that will be the case. 

Contracts Catching up To Bengals

With wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was franchised this past offseason, out with an hamstring injury for the second consecutive game, things will be much more difficult. One player the team will have is star wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who despite his ongoing contract dispute, suited up and played in Week 1 after missing a lot of training camp. 

For a team that didn’t win a playoff game from 1990-2021, they’ve since experienced some real postseason success with five wins and a trip to the Super Bowl. 

Bengals Issues Stem From Severe Frugality 

For years the Bengals have been considered safe with how they spend their money. Team owner Mike Brown has been called the cheapest owner in the league, and his track record precedes him. The aforementioned Burrow signed right before last year’s season opener an extension at the time that was most lucrative deal in league history of five years, $275 million, or $55 million annually. 

But that’s where the aforementioned Brown seems to have drawn the line, as he’s chosen not to extend Higgins and now is in a standoff with Chase.

Why Is Stephen A. Smith Made About Jamar Chase’s Contract?

Recently, Brown’s reputation as miserly owner had ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith riled all the way up. During Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith went in. 

“You are listening to a guy and looking at a guy who hopes Cincinnati loses every single damn game they play. Until they sign that man Ja’Marr Chase and they give him his money,” Smith said. “I hope the Cincinnati Bengals fall flat on their damn face. That organization makes me sick.”

Smith continued to attack Brown, who’s long been against signing veterans to big money extensions with guaranteed money, instead opting to use signing bonuses. This allows them to unload players much easier with no ties to money going forward. It’s what Brown has always done and despite the team’s recent success under head coach Zac Taylor and Burrow, this hasn’t changed. 

Chase Declines $140 Million Deal

To be fair, Chase does have two years left on his contract and he recently declined an extension that would’ve made him the highest-paid receiver in the league (4-years/$140M with $90M guaranteed) so it’s not like they disrespected him.

The fact that Cincinnati initiated the contracts talks early, implies that the franchise expected to knock Chase’s socks off with the offer. He didn’t go to them demanding a contract, but clearly there’s a holdup in the negotiations. By offering him a record deal, Cincy probably thought it was getting out in front of the situation. Chase’s team reportedly didn’t agree with some of the verbiage in the contract.

The Bengals also have the fourth highest total cap in the NFL, so it’s not like owner Mike Brown isn’t willing to break bread. The money he has tied up in Burrow, however, probably makes building the rest of the team around him difficult.

Social Media Blasts Chase For Turning Down Contract

While many quickly blasted Chase, who is under his current contract through 2025, for not signing the deal — which would’ve made him the highest-paid wide receiver along with Minnesota Vikings superstar and his LSU Tigers teammate Justin Jefferson — Chase’s guarantees wouldn’t begin until 2027. 

Some opinions on sports shows and social media are favorable towards Chase getting whatever he wants. Some fans feel like he’s overstepping.

“I just think he don’t wanna be there no more.” one X user said in response to why Chase wouldn’t take the record contract and be cool with it.

Another called it delusion and greed.

“Lmfao imagine thinking you’re worth more than the best wide receiver in the game when you’re not even top 5”

Stephen A. Smith went in on the Bengals on Thursday morning, but all of the money in the world might not keep Chase in Cincy.

‘I Wanted To Find Him And Beat The H*ll Out Of Him.’: Dwight Howard Thought He Was Buying WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, Then His Agent Stole $7M and Was Arrested For Fraud

Howard isn’t lacking for money. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the 2020 NBA champ’s net worth stands at $140 million, with a major portion of this wealth coming from his NBA earnings. He made $245.1 million throughout his NBA career over 18 seasons.

In fact, he’s still doing things that rich celebrities with too much time on their hands do. He’s entering “Dancing With The Stars.” Might as well go full mode celebrity if the NBA won’t be calling.

Dwight Howard Swindled Out Of $7M and Ownership Of Atlanta Dream 

Dwight Howard’s life off the court hasn’t been ideal, with dreams he had for WNBA ownership and his daughter’s legacy going up in smoke. Howard recently opened up about a betrayal that cost him $7 million and derailed his dream of owning a WNBA team.

During a recent episode of his podcast “Above the Rim With DH12,” the former NBA star revealed that his former agent had stolen millions, crushing his plan to purchase the Atlanta Dream.

He explained to his co-panelists, including former NBA player Joe Smith, “$7 million, it was a part of the agent. What was my mentality? My mental was I wanted to find him and beat the h*ll out of him. Like, I wanted to kill him. My plan that I had was, I was looking to buy the Atlanta Dream. The basketball team for women.”

Howard, whose two daughters were born in 2010, continued, “And so I was like, man, I wanna really do this cause I got two daughters. One day they’re gonna wanna play basketball. I can set it up to where they can play for the Atlanta Dream one day when they get older.”

“So we put this little group together, and at the time, the NBA — because I was still playing — said that I couldn’t own the team outright myself,” he described. “I was like, ‘OK, I can have a group and be the face of the team for now, and then I could be behind the scenes making all the decisions and stuff like that.”

Dwight Howard Thought He Had Closed A Deal To Buy The Atlanta Dream: “That One Hurt”

“I had talked to the GM, I had talked to the owners of the team,” Howard said. “I really thought this was going to be my team. So I gave the group the money, and the next thing I know, I didn’t hear from the people anymore. They started disappearing.”

Howard then describeD when he knew he’d been taken. “Then I looked online, and it was breaking news. They said that some other people had bought the Atlanta Dream. I had even called my mom before that and told her, ‘Mom, I’m going to send you a whole bunch of Dream stuff. We own the Dream!'” he said.

“I was happy because my mom had season tickets, and I was going to make sure she went to all the games,” he continued. “But they took the money, and I hardly ever heard from them again. The conversations with my agent became less and less.” 

“He kept saying, ‘Man, they won’t call me back now. I can’t get in contact with them.’ I was like, ‘Man, you’re lying. What’s going on?'” the three-time Defensive Player of the Year recounted.

“I really trusted this agent because he was my agent, so he had a duty to tell the truth and be honest with me. But these agents, these lawyers, all these people — they are scheming, they be lying, and they all have the same motive: to take from you. So it’s like you really can’t trust anybody,” Howard complaine.

Howard says that he wanted to own the Atlanta Dream, because he had a long-term vision to have his daughters play together for the franchise one day. 

He says he worked with a group of investors to make the purchase while he was still an NBA player. Howard couldn’t officially own a team during his playing career, so he decided to play a behind-the-scenes role. The deal was moving forward until his agent and other associates vanished with the money, and the Dream was sold to different buyers.

Dwight Howard’s Agent Charles Briscoe Arrested On Felony Fraud, Identity Theft Charges

In March 2023, Howard’s former agent, Charles Briscoe, was arrested on felony charges, including wire fraud and identity theft. Briscoe and his co-conspirators allegedly used the $7 million for personal purchases. In February he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges but avoided prison time.

Despite the setback, Dwight Howard hasn’t abandoned his entrepreneurial aspirations. In 2024, he became a part-owner of a Taiwanese basketball league and the Taiwan Mustangs team. This marked the first time in history that a player owned a stake in the league they were actively involved in.

Dwight Howard’s NBA Legacy Is Complicated

When it comes to NBA nightmare stories, Howard has a few of them, and he’s only 38 years old.

Being forced into retirement, left off the NBA’s Top 75 all-time list despite being a dominant center at his peak, even defeating LeBron James enroute to the 2008 NBA Finals. He’s also an NBA champion, earning that acclaim in a key backup role for LBJ’s bubble championship Lakers in 2020.

He’s had to go play for the Taipei Mustangs in Taiwan (The Asian Tournament), because no NBA team wants to sign him. The overall disrespect that many fans and media types have shown for his legacy on the court, which includes an unforgettable Slam Dunk contest, where he unveiled the Superman cape and made an enemy of Shaquille O’Neal forever, is sad, for lack of a better word.  

Related: Dwight Howard Is Done With The NBA’s Disrespect | He’s Taking His Talents To The Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan

Since his days as leader of a rising Orlando Magic’s team, somewhere along the line, the 6-foot-10, comical, child-like court destroyer developed a reputation as a negative locker room presence. 

When Shaq’s jersey was retired in January of 2024, that was the last straw of disrespect he could handle. Howard flat-out said his jersey should have been the first because he played for the team much longer.

In a 2013 interview, he called his former Orlando Magic teammates a “team full of people no one wanted”

In that same season, Bleacher Report dropped some heat asserting that Howard was a terrible teammate and had “extinguished all bridges with the franchise where he spent his first eight NBA seasons”.

Things didn’t get much better or in LA, where he and Kobe Bryant couldn’t get on the same page.

Atlanta Dream Ownership Was Not In The Cards For Dwight Howard

There was also a firestorm of political and social unrest around the time Howard was trying to buy the Atlanta Dream as the walls closed in on former owner, wealthy Trump supporter and former U.S. Senator from Georgia, Kelly Loeffler. 

Ultimately, the WNBA unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener, chairman of real estate firm Northland. During a contentious time in America, Loeffler feuded with the WNBA and her own players over their support to fight social injustices. The investor group also included former NBA player Renee Montgomery and Suzanne Abair, president of Northland Investment Corp. in Massachusetts.

Loeffler made headlines in July 2020 after she opposed the team’s support of social justice for Black people following several high-profile killings involving police.

The Dream wore jerseys supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and remembering Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, last March. Loeffler wrote WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to oppose the team’s support of the movement and to propose that players wear American flags on their jerseys instead.

In response, Dream players used their platform to support her Jan. 5 runoff opponent, now U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Players wore “Vote Warnock” shirts, which reportedly raised over $236,000 for his campaign.

On Jan. 19, reports surfaced that a sale of the Dream was finalized.

Dwight Howard Continues To Build Legacy

Maybe if Howard had the right people handling this situation, he could have secured ownership, or at least been a part of the ownership group. He definitely has the cash, and WNBA franchises don’t sell for more than $15M. The New York Liberty, owned by Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai is only considered to be worth in the $10-14M range. 

His quirky ways have not helped him create the legacy that he should have for his illustrious career. He’s one of the last truly dominant post players. An eight-time all-star and five-time all-NBA player, five-time NBA rebounding leader and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. 

“Be careful with what you’ve got,” because “nobody cares about you,” is the lesson Howard says he learned from that situation with his agent and that he preaches to his kids.

“You Ain’t Gay Today”: Was Shannon Sharpe’s Sexcapades Leak On IG Live An Old Man Mistake Or Attempt To Disprove Zesty Allegations?  

“Y’all thought I was bulljiving, Unc get it in,” Shannon Sharpe proudly said to Chad Ochocinco on their “Nightcap” podcast, in response to his leaked sex video that has gone viral and shocked social media  

Sharpe’s 3.2 million fans got a bit more than they wanted from the Pro Football Hall of Famer and podcast king’s Instagram live on Wednesday afternoon.

If you tuned into Uncle Shay Shay’s social media account, you were treated to audio of UNC putting in some work in real time. The video, which has been circulated and viewed more than 7 million times, doesn’t show any faces, but you can clearly hear the moans of a woman and the bedpost moving and shaking. 

Related: ‘You Wasn’t Hacked’: Shannon Sharpe Blames Hacker for Wild Instagram Sex Scandal Caught on Video, But Fans Are Not Convinced 

Sharpe initially claimed that he was hacked and therefore not responsible for broadcasting risqué content.

“Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out,” Sharpe’s now-deleted post on X, formerly Twitter, read in the wake of the incident.

This was a play from the old social media handbook, and many have tried to blame hacking and later had to admit they weren’t, which is more embarrassing than actually just admitting it. Which Shannon eventually did. 

Shannon Sharpe Admits He Lied about Being Hacked

The hack claim usually creates more problems, as people who doubt the authenticity of the claim, turn into social media sleuths and spies, slowly uncovering the truth. In turn, one’s reputation usually takes a double hit. For the content that was inadvertently or purposely leaked and then for lying to their followers about it. 

Sharpe’s IG Live leak, whether by mistake or intentional, actually didn’t hurt his public reputation at all. In fact, the allegations that he’s denied about having same sex preferences were proven to be false according to the reactions by social media. 

Was this entire fiasco actually a win for Shannon Sharpe and heterosexual males? 

The Pro Football Hall of Famer and “First Take” analyst hours later explained what actually happened on an emergency episode of “Nightcap” on Wednesday evening.

“I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity,” Sharpe said. “I did not know IG Live. I’ve never turned IG Live on so I don’t know how it works and all of sudden my other phone started going off.”

Did Sharpe Leak Video On Purpose To Dismiss Allegation Of Homosexuality?

After the social media mosh pit had a ball with Sharpe, he deleted his first comment on the situation and also reached out to his employers to come clean and protect his bag. 

“My heart sank. I called my agent, I called the agency, I called ESPN and I [thought] just tell them the truth. My phone wasn’t hacked, it wasn’t a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male.”

Shannon Sharpe told Ochocinco on a recent podcast that Kat Williams called him after the video leaked and the first thing he said to him was, “You ain’t gay today,” 

Even after Sharpe made the admission, a new narrative developed that he leaked it on purpose because of the constant questions about his sexuality. Gen Z had a moment for sure with play-by-play and the memes and tweets were contenders for content of the year. 

One user posted a meme of Damian Lillard flexing after a big shot and wrote: “Shannon sharpe coming onto twitter right now realizing he beat zesty allegations.”

Sharpe knows how to break the internet. He’s done it several times with his podcast interviews and now he’s done it by giving IG Live a whole OnlyFans preview. 

Shannon Sharpe Is A Rising Giant In Multi-Media Worth $14M

Honestly, you can’t be any bigger in the media and podcast celebrity game right now than John Elway’s former favorite target, who often speaks of his sexual exploits on his podcast. Not sure if the two minutes of funk made Unc a legend in the bedroom, but he definitely eased some of the curiosity about his personal life that people seemed so concerned with.  

Sharpe is worth an estimated $14 million, and his net worth is rising every day. He left “Undisputed” this past summer after a falling out with former FS1 cash cow Skip Bayless. Sharpe made a power move, joining “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim, where his career has elevated to even higher areas of prominence. 

His “Nightcap” and “Uncle Shay Shay” podcasts and his bombshell interviews with celebrities are all factors that combine to make him one of sports media’s biggest current stars.

“Obviously I am embarrassed,” Sharpe said. “Someone that is extremely, extremely private and to have one of your most intimate details – the audio – heard for the entire world to hear, I’m embarrassed for a number of reasons.”

If this video was truly leaked because of Sharpe’s ignorance concerning IG Live and how it works, then the embarrassment might have been worth it. 

Ochocinco Gets Payback, Also Applauds Sharpe’s Heterosexuality

After the spanking he gave Ochocinco about being professional and arriving on time, you know his partner took this situation as an opportunity to strike back.

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson did cosign the possibility that Sharpe was just technologically unaware, telling the audience during the episode that the three-time Super Bowl champ has butt dialed him in the past without even realizing it. 

However, while Johnson backed his boy, he couldn’t help but give Shannon some criticism for the OG’s lack of professionalism in the matter.

“I’m baffled. I never thought I’d see the day where you, Unc, would pull something so out of character,” Johnson said. “A little unprofessional. I’m not mad, I’m thoroughly disappointed because I hold you to a higher standard. The type of standard you just tried to chastise me for just Saturday. So this has really sent me into a complete shock.” 

“I was upset then I also remembered that you’re not very good and not very techincally savvy with phones and computer equipment…but the fact that it was a Michelle and not a Michael”

😂😂😂

– Ochocinco to Shannon Sharpe pic.twitter.com/E5LTFJ1B9N

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) September 12, 2024

Of course, he had to give Sharpe a pat on the back for proving what side of the sexual side of the spectrum he fell on.

“The fact that it was a Michelle and not a Michael, that’s my dog,” Chad said.

“It’s never been a Michael,” Sharpe responded.

When Paul Pierce appeared on his IG Live with strippers a few years back, that effectively ended his career with ESPN. Sharpe doesn’t appear to be in danger of any discipline from ESPN or Disney. The video, which is believed to feature Sharpe and a woman, is just dark enough where none of the participants can be identified, which teaches the fallout of the situation. When you’re on a roll you’re on a roll, and right now Shannon Sharpe can do no wrong.

“Y’all, @Tyrese On Here Callin WNBA Players Musty”: “Fast and Furious” Actor, After Owing $73K In Child Support, Questions Hygiene Of $300M NBA Star Jaylen Brown’s Girlfriend

Despite actor and singer Tyrese Gibson being in a heap of financial and legal troubles for failure to pay child support, he decided to take what many X users and WNBA players consider a shot at their overall hygiene, with a comment he made on a repost of a clip posted by Kysre Godrezick, a former WNBA player and current girlfriend of Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. 

Less than 10 minutes after the judge ordered Gibson jailed, his attorneys appealed the decision, according to reports.

Tyrese isn’t an inmate at this time, but he is doing a great job making himself an enemy of the WNBA. 

After his comments, Las Vegas Aces player and social media comedian and pot-stirrer Sydney Colson fired back at Gibson for trying to make a joke at the expense of Gondrezick, who posted the inspirational video as a positive example of how she is successfully moving on and still pursuing her dream after playing her final WNBA game for the Chicago Sky early this season.

“Y’all, @Tyrese on here callin WNBA players musty. Can we find out what game he was at?” Colson posted.

After questioning Gibson’s WNBA attendance credentials, Colson went in again and checked his grammar.

Tyrese Owed More Than $73K In Child Support, Ordered To Jail

A judge in Georgia on Monday ordered the actor and singer jailed over his failure to make child support payments.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Farmer found Gibson, a music artist and “Fast & Furious” franchise star, in contempt for failing to pay more than $73,000 in child support, according to an order for incarceration reviewed by NBC News.

Samantha Gibson’s attorney, Adam Gleklen, said Tuesday that she did not want her ex-husband ordered to jail but that he has very rarely met the full child support payments since late 2022.

“Mr. Gibson has chosen not to abide by the court’s child support order and he was held in willful contempt now for the third time,” Gleklen said in a statement. “He only paid full child support three times in 20 months.”

Tyrese Cries On Social Media Over Custody and Child Support

Gibson has often lamented on social media about having to pay child support and how the judge who is making these decisions is anti-male. He wants to be taken seriously. In this instance, he thought he was being funny, and nobody caught the joke.

In fact, Colson’s post instigated a bandwagon of social media fans to join in the roast of Gibson, who is probably regretting that tweet at this moment.  If it was sympathy he once craved, he lost most of that.

Fans Start Roasting Tyrese Following Comments About WNBA Players Smell

Plenty of people found his humor either confusing and unnecessary or offensive.

He left himself wide open for attacks on his own personal life.

“It’s gonna smell even worse in jail if he don’t pay that child support,” one X user warned.

”He need to be worrying bout that child support,” said another.

“I’ll never forget Taraji said his breath stink on Baby Boy,” another wrote.

The conversation morphed into a debate about levels of must and which sports produce the most must from its players.

“I bet he musty in jail,” one X user exclaimed.

“lol They are literally playing their asses if they won’t smell like roses,” said one voice of reason.

With WNBA players having a 0 percent tolerance policy for the nonsense, maybe Tyrese — whose entire remaining fanbase is probably 95 percent women — should stop typing and start working on fixing his life … and refrain from visiting any WNBA arenas anytime soon.

‘That’s Idiotic’: Deion Sanders Says Local Radio Host Lied About Coach Prime Shutting Down CU Band To Play His Son Shedeur’s Rap Song After Touchdowns 

The Colorado Buffaloes’ ugly (28-10) loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers did nothing to silence the critics of second-year head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Each week it seems as if the former NFL DPOY and two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive back has some sort of rumor leak from his program. 

All offseason former Colorado players have taken shots at how Sanders runs his program. Those same players have also said that he only cares about his sons (Shedeur and Shilo) and all-world, two-way star Travis Hunter.

While Sanders has vehemently denied the accusations, the drama has added another layer to the off-the-field banter hovering over Colorado’s middling program. Constant distractions that have become the norm since his arrival in December 2022.

Latest Accusation Revolves Around Rapper Shedeur

In the aftermath of Saturday’s beatdown in Lincoln, Denver radio host Jake Shapiro of 104.3 The Fan began pushing the narrative that Sanders told the band that Shedeur’s rap song would play after touchdowns instead of them. 

“Deion Sanders told the band they couldn’t play if his son Shedeur Sanders scores a touchdown so that the loudspeaker can play a recording of his son’s song ‘Perfect Timing.”

Upon hearing the accusations, Colorado’s administration quickly intervened while also expounding what the plan really is. 

“Nobody ever asked the band to refrain from playing the fight song. The band plays, ‘Glory, Glory Colorado after a touchdown. It plays Fight CU, after an extra point.”

During his Tuesday presser Coach Prime called out what he perceives to be a lack of journalistic integrity as it pertains to his program.

“Whoever reported that I told the band not to play the fight song, that’s idiotic. We’ve got to start having some accountability for this.”

Rocky Mountain Showdown Awaits

As the Buffaloes continue to deal with unnecessary distractions, they’re also preparing for their annual game with in-state rival Colorado State. The two programs have battled 92 times since 1893 with CU holding a decisive 68-22-2 advantage, which includes a win in last year’s double-overtime 43-35 thriller. 

Prior to that matchup Rams head coach Jay Norvell took some unnecessary shots at Coach Prime and his mom leading up to the game. After some tense moments in the aftermath of the Buffaloes’ come-from-behind win, cooler heads prevailed. In fact, when asked about this year’s matchup both coaches kept the focus on the players and the game. 

Last Showdown Until 2029

After Saturday’s matchup the two programs will take a four-year break in the series. Their next meeting on the gridiron after this weekend won’t happen until 2029, and the likelihood of Sanders or Norvell stalking either sideline then isn’t very likely.

“Terrible Commissioner Who Clearly Has No Plan To Protect Players”: Cathy Engelbert Got Thrown Under Bus By Fans and Breanna Stewart For Protecting WNBA Brand

The rookie rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and the influx of talented social media influencers has elevated the WNBA brand to new heights. 

While the rivalry has certainly helped raise the status of the league among average sports fans, the fanbases of these women can be pretty ruthless when sitting behind the anonymous keys on a phone or computer – and at times, the various elements that fuel these fanbases brings out the worst in fans. 

If some fans can so callously disrespect Russell Westbrook and LeBron James while standing within an earshot of them, then more fans are guaranteed to do similar things via social media.

Cathy Englebert Praises WNBA Cultural Impact and Cailtin Clark-Angel Reese Rivalry 

During her recent appearance on CNBC’s “Power Lunch,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was asked about the increase of racist, sexist and homophobic vitriol on social media — specifically in reference to the rivalry between Clark and Reese.

Instead of denouncing these things, Engelbert instead chose to speak about the league’s increased cultural impact and money-making opportunities.

“There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares. It is a little bit of that Bird-Magic moment if you recall, from 1979,” Engelbert said. “When those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one black. And so we have that moment with these two.

“But the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry,” Engelbert added. “That’s what makes people watch, They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don’t want everybody being nice to one another.”

Some WNBA fans and players are not happy with this response. But where’s the lie? 

Some are even calling for Engelbert’s dismissal as the league’s commissioner.

Fans Call For WNBA Commish Cathy Engelbert To Be Fired

One X user said “Serious question: How is Cathy Engelbert able to keep her job? What has she done to elevate the WNBA? They asked her about racism and sexism. She responded with verbal garbage that highlighted rivalry and endorsements. She needs to go ASAP and is a part of the problem.”

Another wrote: “Like many of us have been saying, the @WNBA is complicit in pushing the rhetoric this season without regard for the players, their safety, or their mental health. The players are people, not just a product. Shame on Cathy Engelbert and everyone involved.”

“Cathy Engelbert is a terrible commissioner who clearly has no plan to protect players in the league and is mentally stuck in 1979,” another said.

“Cathy Englebert should not be the commissioner of this league… There’s been so many indications before but being asked about racism and saying it’s makes a good rivalry and its good for marketing is insane…” another wrote.

Engelbert has been WNBA commissioner since 2019 and the fact that she didn’t condemn the social media world that is also helping to push the league to new heights isn’t the crime people, such as New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, are trying to make it out to be.

Stewart felt strongly enough about how Engelbert approached the question that she had to address it in the press. 

Breanna Stewart Wanted WNBA Commish to Take Strong Stance On Inclusion  

“To be honest, I saw the interview today, and since then have been in talks with Terri at the {WNBA Players Association},” the two-time Finals MVP said, per NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan. “I think that it’s disappointing to hear, because the way that the fans have surged, especially behind Caitlin and Angel coming to this league, but also bringing, like, a race aspect, to a different level.”

“And you know, there’s no place for that in our sport,” Stewart continued. “I think that’s really what it is. We want our sport to be inclusive for race, for gender, and really be a place where people can be themselves. So we wish, obviously, Cathy would have used her platform in a different way and have made that a little bit better, just telling the fans enough is enough.”

Engelbert clarified her comments and said that there is no place for “hate and racism” in the league or in society whatsoever. So everyone got what they so desperately wanted. 

Does WNBA Want To Start Attacking Fans? 

But is that the area of focus WNBA players really want to take? Business is thriving, people are watching, and they want to take shots at the commissioner. We understand that there’s no room for racism and sexism in any sports league, business, or any other American institution.

But Engelbert is a respected and accomplished woman who is the head of the largest and most successful and popular women’s pro league in the world. She’s not sitting in a barn in Wisconsin, a bodega in the Bronx, a high school locker room in California or a modest hut in Fiji trolling people on social media and purposely creating division to get attention or just watch the circus unfold. 

She’s handling real, tangible business. 

The WNBA has always been at the forefront of fighting against social injustices. But was this the moment to go at the fans? The ones that are finally tuning in and locking in on what the WNBA has to offer. 

Engelbert actually displayed the kind of tactical and emotional control you need in these moments. She didn’t want to make how the fans treat Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese the centerpiece of the conversation. 

Also, you can’t control anything anybody does on social media. We are talking about fanatics here. The idea that social media has become the go-to opinions on what’s going on in the world, when everyone is behind some kind of veil and trying to sound smart, ruffle feathers or be mean, is ridiculous. 

People have criticized the way WNBA handles business from their lack of charter planes to the low salaries, to the way they fail to promote certain players and events. Everybody has an opinion and that’s exactly what the league wanted. 

New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart Wrong For Challenging Commissioner 

When people such as Brenna Stewart make these kinds of remarks coming at the commissioner for keeping it business and not allowing the opinions of total strangers to seep into or taint the public conversation about a league heading into the WNBA playoffs, it makes you wonder if the veterans — despite the elevated attention the league has gotten due to Caitlin Clark and others — really want the WNBA to move into its next phase as an organization. 

Many of the league’s loudest voices have been discrediting Clark from the beginning. The veterans of the league haven’t fully embraced the fact that they aren’t actually running the league anymore. They hold power, but its no longer recognized by the people. 

Calling out the commissioner because she chose to focus on the success of the league, the new “Bird-Magic” rivalry that has everyone talking about the WNBA in the first place is strange work.  

Related: Angel Reese Put More Sauce On ‘You Can’t See Me’ Than Caitlin Clark, But “There’s A White-Black Issue Here” Like Magic vs. Bird ’79 Championship Game

If social media interaction has truly become a problem for players and the league, then tell the players they can’t engage in promoting their brands on social during the season. 

That would be a disaster, however, and wouldn’t make it to the league’s governing door. People do what they want. You can’t control speech on social media. As commissioner she also has the right to refuse to entertain nonsense in the middle of the league’s finest hour. 

Priorities. Priorities. WNBA players and leading voices need to focus on finishing this record season magnificently and building on the new $2 billion media deal, the chartered flights, the rise in attendance and ratings the league is enjoying. 

WNBA Needs More CC and Chi Barbie Collaborations, Commercials

Business-wise, they are still operating in the deficit and need to focus on making the product and promotion the best it can be. Dismiss any narratives with more Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark collaborations. 

If the league is truly riding this rivalry as the commissioner says, then where are the commercials? Magic and Bird did commercials together, playing off of that “rivalry.” 

It gave fans an understanding that it isn’t that serious. Nobody hates each other, but on the court, they were NOT friends and dedicated to giving fans the best the league has to offer. 

That would create a more unified fan base, with more respect for all players and I’m guessing, less fuel for the social media mosh pit. Instead of fighting an invisible enemy, keep coming up with creative ways to really milk this moment.

“Everyone Failed My Son”: Mother Sues For $2.5M As Brooklyn Football Coach Accused Of Smashing 14-Year-Old’s Head Against Wall, Requiring Six Staples, Appears In Court

In a shocking, violent and sad turn of events, a 15-year-old James Madison High School football player’s football aspirations came to a bloody end when his coach allegedly smashed his skull into a wall. 

Shayson Willock, a freshman at the Brooklyn school, and his mother, Deslyn, want answers and are heading to court for justice. She filed a $2.5 million lawsuit in August against coach Nicholas Nugent, the city of New York and the New York Department of Education.

As of Tuesday, the coach is also facing criminal charges after appearing in court for the alleged beating.  

Nugent was arrested days after the Sept. 18, 2023, incident and was charged with multiple counts of felony assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and menacing, according to the criminal complaint against him.

Now he’s fighting to stay out of prison.

Reached by phone this week, the coach said he couldn’t speak about the case.

“I’m shocked by the phone call to find out it’s a news thing, but hey, it is what it is. It’s all good,” Nugent said. “That’s why we’re going to trial, because I’m all about defending my freedom. I’m all about defending my rights.”

James Madison HS Football Player Allegedly Badly Beaten By Coach

Deslyn’s son, who is now 15 and has since transferred to another school, was reportedly pummeled so viciously by Nugent in a James Madison High School stairwell last September that he lost consciousness and needed six staples in his skull according to a criminal complaint and civil lawsuit. 

“I don’t know who to trust,” mother Deslyn Willock admitted to the New York Post. 

She doesn’t think the administrators have done their due diligence in finding out what happened to her son. According to Willock, they swept the vicious beating under the rug, forcing her to report the attack to the local authorities. 

“I don’t know if I can trust the teachers. I don’t know if I can trust the coaches. I don’t even know if I can trust the justice system. I don’t know who to trust at this point, because I felt like everyone failed me. Everyone failed my son.”

Reportedly, when the coach was asked about the situation by the post, his response to a reporter was, among other remarks, “It’s all good.”

In addition to the staples in his head, photos produced by The Post show wounds that the boy’s attorneys report include spinal damage and additional brain and head injuries.

Who Is James Madison Coach Nicholas Nugent?

Nugent’s X page shows that he’s a New York sports fan and his interaction about high school football is positive and represents Nugent as an advocate for kids trying to navigate life and sports.

With this story growing legs in other areas of the country, the engagement on Nugent’s X page has been hit with a few negative comments alluding to jail time that he might be serving in the future. 

In the latest twist, Nugent has made his account private, but that hasn’t stopped details from emerging.

Shayson Willock Speaks On Alleged Assault By His James Madison HS Football Coach

Shayson, who has been trying to keep a low profile during this ordeal, says he wasn’t feeling well that day because he was recovering from COVID and fell asleep in an after-school video review session with his football team.

He says, his lethargy upset coach Nugent, who was upset and brought the sick child into a strairwell.

“He slammed twice, so the first time I hit in my head and then, you know, I was on the floor and then the second time…was full of blood,” the victim said, according to reports.

The traumatizing incident has shattered Shayson’s love for football. He says it was his life before the incident, but he’s had to transfer schools because of the attention and doesn’t think he will ever play again.

Stay tune for how this shapes up.

“You Say ‘Yes Sir’ and Cooperate 100 Percent”: Charles Barkley, Stephen A. Smith Suggest Tyreek Hill’s Attitude Got Him Handcuffed, Jemele Hill Says Cops Were “Totally Unprofessional”

The Tyreek Hill situation continues to take on layers and a clash of opinions as it pertains to race and law enforcement had reared its head again. Ironically, right around election time. An election that is already fueled along racial and gender lines. 

There’s been some clear disconnects between people who feel as if Hill should have just complied with officers requests with a Coke and a smile. 

And people who want it to be clear that having an attitude with police or being egotistical doesn’t justify being attacked and mistreated by law enforcement. 

Charles Barkley and Jemele Hill Don’t See Tyreek Hill Arrest The Same

It appears that Charles Barkley and Jemele Hill both agree that the cops were out of line, but Barkley insinuates that the situation and many like it that end in tragic circumstances can be avoided with some subserviency. 

Charles Barkley was on the “Roc and Manuch Show,” where they asked his thoughts about it. Hill was pulled over in his sports car at a traffic stop before catching an 80-yard TD in Miami Dolphin’s 20-17 win over Jacksonville on Sunday. 

The situation escalated quickly with the aggressive cops pulling him out of the car after he refused several requests to roll down his window before being told to exit the vehicle. 

Barkley admitted that he didn’t read up on it but on the surface, it appears it “clearly escalated quickly.” 

Charles Barkley Suggests Tyreek Hill Should Have Just Complied

Chuck seems more concerned with the media frenzy the incident might cause than Reek, an actual victim in the situation. In fact, speaking from his own personal experience, Barkley infers that Hill handled the situation wrong. 

“I think the one thing you can’t do as a celebrity, you can’t say, ‘you know who I am,’” Chuck said. “And like I say, I don’t know what happened but that’s the one thing you cannot do.” What he does recommend is, “You say, ‘yes sir’ and cooperate 100 percent.”

Barkley implies that other media immediately labels a situation like Tyreek Hill’s as racially motivated, but he doesn’t do that until he has all of the information.

He claims, “when we put these fools on TV and radio who start talking about it, they go straight towards it’s racism. I’m like well wait a minute now, we don’t know that.”

Barkley, a loud-mouthed and proud member of the media then went on to act as if the media had something to do with blowing up this situation, saying, “so many fools in the media who love to play the race card.”

According to the officers’ bodycam footage released from the incident that went down in Miami-Dade County on Sunday, it was a tense exchange between Hill and a few officers.

When he was first stopped, Hill initially sounded desperate to get to the season opener and argues, “Don’t tell me what to do.” 

But he later seems terrified and somewhat cooperative when he’s getting cuffed.

Of course, “those media fools” Barkley referred to stood on the right side of justice for the most part.  

The incident has sparked a debate about who’s more culpable in the embarrassing and totally unnecessary situation. 

Stephen A. Smith also placed some blame on Tyreek Hill.

Did Tyreek Hill Being Uncooperative Justify Such Treatment?: Jemele Hill Clarifies  

Hill maintains that he didn’t do anything to deserve that and was cooperative. Barkley says he would rather de-escalate the situation than turn it into a nightmare scenario, which Hill was fourth-and-inches from. 

The comments somehow trying to shift the blame to Reek for how the cops behaved has infuriated some media members, including Jemele Hill, who cleared up some misconceptions on X:

“For all of those who don’t understand this, having an attitude with the police or being irritate is not an excuse for the police to drag you from your car, aggressively handcuff you, and then threaten other citizens (Calais Campbell).”

Hill asked the players on his team who pulled up to stay with him until the situation was resolved.  The cops threatened to arrest anyone who showed concern or wanted information about Hill’s current detained status. 

It was an ugly sight to behold. 

Then again, people are often ugly and when you’re rich and successful especially, they always want to see you humbled. 

Officer Didn’t Know Tyreek Hill Was Miami Dolphins Player

Reportedly, one responding officer didn’t know that Hill was a football player.
According to The New York Post, one cop, who appeared to be looking at Hill’s ID, asked his colleague about the receiver’s behavior.

“Why is he acting up like that?” one officer asked on bodycam video, as Hill could be heard yelling in the background. “You know who that is right?”

Whether the cop knew who Hill was or not doesn’t change how mishandled the situation was, and doesn’t make Hill any less of a target in that McClaren.

Hill posted on his X account, “Let’s make a change” on Sept 9. 

Some applauded his new energy and others weren’t buying it. 

Fans and Media Take Shots At Tyreek Hill’s Character

“This is coming from a guy that beat up his pregnant girlfriend’s one X user said. 

Jason Whitlock was even uglier with his response to Reek’s public request. 

“Start with wearing a condom and quit relying on your ‘pull-out’ game. Police asked you to pull out of the car and once again you were too late. Start change there,” Whitlock blasted in his reply on X.

Whitlock was of course referencing the many kids Hill has, which is anywhere between six and 11, depending on who you ask. 

Related: ‘Woefully Inadequate’ Tyreek Hill Is The NFL’s Nick Cannon: Court Declares Dolphins WR Is a Dad Again as He Closes on Fathering a Full 11-Kid Squad

That certainly shouldn’t have anything to do with whether or not Hill was a victim of racism or police brutality or profiling or just hate. Or just being unlikable.

An NFL season in an election year wouldn’t be an NFL season without these kinds of bizarre incidences and media highlights on race and police interaction.

“God Will Punish You. Mark My Words”: The Latest Rap War Is Nicki Minaj and Cash Money vs. Jay-Z For Lil Wayne’s Super Bowl Legacy With K. Dot Caught In the Middle

When Jay-Z said “We’re done kneeling,” effectively ending Colin Kaepernick’s campaign for social justice, and then cut “an entertainment and social justice” deal with the NFL which brought him the power to determine which artists will be featured on the robust Super Bowl halftime stage, most people celebrated his come-up.

Some thought the move was nasty work, but most praised him for another shrewd business maneuver. Probably many of the same people who are now blasting the hip-hop and business mogul for choosing Kendrick Lamar to perform at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Nicki Minaj, Others Blast Jay-Z For Choosing Kendrick Lamar Over Lil Wayne Super Bowl Show

Nicki Minaj is among the rap elite voicing their discontent after Kendrick Lamar was unveiled as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show headliner instead of Lil Wayne, who ascended to superstar status out of the drug and crime ridden Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana.

It was announced earlier this week that the “DAMN” artist will perform at the event in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2024.

Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation works with the NFL to select the halftime show performer, said in a statement:

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer.

“His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Artists Blame Jay-Z For Snubbing Lil Wayne Over Past Beef With His Associates

Some artists have seemingly called out Jay-Z for choosing Lamar over New Orleans native Lil Wayne, allegedly due to the mogul’s personal feelings about Wayne and his associates.

“Denying a young Black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” Minaj wrote on X/Twitter on Monday (9 September).

The rap songstress accused Jay-Z of letting petty jealousies and grudges over the years influence his decision to eliminate a superstar such as Lil’ Wayne from the historic festivities. This isn’t the first time that the Super Bowl has been in New Orleans, but this is the first chance Jay-Z had to represent the town’s hip-hop culture with its homegrown GOAT. 

“Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake and Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50 Cent come out.”

The “Barbie World” rapper added in a separate post: “And btw, you don’t know the half of what Lil Wayne has done for me and others. Wayne had Drake and I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed.

“This man has literally changed the FACE of hip hop. The hair too. IYKYK. He inspired so many to tat their faces & get locks. Inspired your faves to wanna be a great MC. he never was in this for the money. It’s always been for the love of music.”

She was also coming for anybody that came for Wayne or her comments.

“God will punish you. Mark my words,” she responded to an X user who suggested that the “halftime show needed to be someone who would represent the art to its highest degree,” and that’s not the 2024 version of Lil’ Wayne.

It’s widely known in the hip-hop arena that Jay-Z has a long-running feud with Birdman, who signed Lil Wayne to his record label in 1998. 

Birdman addressed the controversy at one point, posting “these n***** p****” and tagging Lil Wayne, Minaj and Drake. “I’m make these n***** respek us [sic]. Jay-Z doesn’t respond to anything, but he sees everything and he is truly the silent assassin when it comes to how he moves.”

Jay-Z Helped Lil Wayne Pay $7M In Taxes

Many of Jay-Z’s fans believe the vitriol towards the Brooklyn rap legend, who is married to Beyoncé, is unwarranted. Especially considering that when Lil Wayne had tax issues of over $7M, it was Jay-Z, not , who helped him out of his financial bind. Birdman was too busy caught up in legal battles and trying to keep all of the money he allegedly stole from Wayne over the years.

Between 2011 and 2012, Lil Wayne owed a significant amount of unpaid taxes.

According to Hip Hop DX, the IRS had two separate liens against the “Go DJ” rapper. One of the liens was from 2011 for failure to pay an over $7 million tax debt. The other was from 2012 for $6.8 million, totaling $14,194,944.

According to a 2018 report from USA Today, Lil Wayne expressed his gratitude to Jay-Z for stepping in and helping him out of his tax debt. Reports say the “You Can’t Knock The Hustle” rapper covered more than $7M. 

“There’s people like Jay-Z. He helped me when I was really, really, really down. Really, really, really down,” Wayne said to a crowd during a performance in Chicago. “Jay don’t want me to tell nobody. That man helped me with my taxes. He’s a real friend, y’all.”

Lil Wayne has always given Jay-Z the proper respect, even citing Jigga Man as his all-time favorite rap artist, and admitted he was tempted to sign with him after fulfilling his first contract with Cash Money Records.

Speaking of the record label that helped jumpstart Wayne’s iconic career, if Weezy was picked to perform at the Super Bowl, then of course that would have opened the door for him to bring out the original Cash Money like Juvenile and BG and also Nicki Minaj and Drake. 

Juvenile, an artist whose turn of the millennium hits like “Back That Azz Up” launched the Cash Money run in rap music, was also very critical of Jay-Z’s selection. 

Juvenile Goes At NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell For Lil Wayne Super Bowl Snub

“I’m mad about the situation just like y’all, but my hatred is towards the NFL. I’m mad at the people that hired the MF that booked the halftime how. Yall have done 11 Super Bowls in New Orleans and are yet to put a damn New Orleans artist in the Super Bowl. This time it really hit hard when you don’t have Lil Wayne doing the Half time show. Somebody who has a whole bunch of hits…,” Juvenile said on a social media post.

He continued: “Roger Goodell. You need to get it right. You coming into our city sucking up all the culture, putting all this bread in other people’s pockets and leaving us dry. It’s gotta’ stop.”

Kendrick Lamar Fans Defend Jay-Z’s Super Bowl Halftime Choice

Of course, Kendrick fans struck back, citing that he’s probably the hottest artist in music right now coming off the heels of his battle with Drake and the success of his hit diss track “They Not Like Us.” It’s hard to argue with the choice, but you can understand why the city of New Orleans and the artists who put that city on the map (along with Miami) would be tight at being totally shut out of a monumental situation and an opportunity for their brand and legacy to forever be cemented on a stage that drew 115 million viewers last year. 

There were those fans who didn’t understand the outrage. From their perspective, having the Super Bowl is in your hometown doesn’t mean the committee is going to feature the artist you want to see in the Super Bowl.

Said one X user: “When the Superbowl was in Houston we didn’t have Beyonce performing in the HTX. By his logic we didn’t get Kelly, Scarface, Bun B, Travis Scott we got Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake and a nipple slip.”

Don’t Forget How Greasy He Did Colin Kaepernick

Some people pointed to the way Jay-Z officially sank Kaepernick’s movement after suggesting that artists boycott performing at the Super Bowl and then hopped in bed with the NFL and snatched the bag for himself. The prevailing thought was that the artists who feel snubbed by Jay-Z should know that he can be shady in his dealings. 

One X User responded: “The real issue I have with Black People is their lack of Unity. To be honest @Kaepernick7 lost his job standing up for Black People and those same Black People did not stand in solidarity to ensure he still played in the @NFL .Capitalistic greed allowed Black men such as Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Big Boi, and others to push and promote still supporting the NFL even though Colin did nothing wrong. Taking a knee during the national anthem should NOT be the thing that gets someone fired especially since this entire country was founded upon freedom of speech, expression, religion, press, etc. What happened to liberty and justice for ALL? In 2024 zero Black People own an actual NFL team outright. However, the players in the NFL are the majority. Something doesn’t seem right. In addition, Black People as Entertainment has always been a highlight of the halftime shows since Michael Jackson who had one of the best halftime shows ever. Something needs to change ASAP.”

Some blamed Lil Wayne himself for not being invited.

Lil Wayne’s Fan Base Feel That Jay-Z Minimalized A Rap Legend Of Equal Standing

Relationships matter in this business, and in life you have the winning team and the losing team. If you live long enough, you’ll suffer both fates eventually. If Jay-Z didn’t want Lil Wayne to perform because he definitely couldn’t stand any of his past adversaries performing, then it’s his choice. Sean Carter holds the power in the matter. 

That doesn’t mean Lil Wayne supporters won’t attack Jay-Z’s choice, try to degrade his character and express their disappointment with how they think Jay-Z minimized an artist that as far as music and influence on the culture goes, is every bit as important. 

Lil Wayne’s manager had some strong words: 

“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all inspired. We will never again be in position or have the (GOAT) in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decision.”

“Aaron Rodgers Quit On His Team Tonight…So Pathetic”: NFL Fans On Social Media Blast “Loser” A-Rod For Early Exit In NY Jets’ Loss to 49ers

Aaron Rodgers is great at talking the talk, but we haven’t seen him walk the walk since he injured himself in Week 1 of the 2023 season.

Hitting the field for the first time against a team that is the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl after narrowly losing to Patrick Mahomes last season is no easy task. 

But when you have a contender for GOAT quarterback at the helm and he’s been implying that he’s going to bring his A game from the start of the season, losing 32-19 is not the start New York Jets fans desired.  

Aaron Rodgers Just Average In First Start Of Season For New York Jets

Don’t expect the Jets to win many games when Rodgers musters just 167 yards passing, as he did on Monday night in his second Jets debut. The positive twist is that he made it through the game unscathed and the team’s upcoming games against the likes of Tennessee, New England and Denver are very winnable.

NFL analyst Troy Aiman wasn’t impressed with the Jets, but he isn’t panicking.

“(Rodgers) was not able to get into a rhythm, but it had less to do with the Jets and Aaron Rodgers and more to do with the 49ers,” Aikman said in the postgame analysis. “This was a humbling night for the New York Jets, no doubt. To not play better than they did is pretty deflating.”

Rodgers, the new-look Jets and their vaunted defense deserved all of the social media ridicule. 

The history of losing and coming up short is one that Jets fans know well, so if they are going to deliver typical Jets performances Rodgers will find out quickly that even when he succeeds, the stench of his association with Gang Green will be irremovable. 

It’s only Week 1 and the competition was as good as it gets, so there should be plenty of optimism with the Jets, and it’s safe to say that A-Rod has some rust to work off and more chemistry to develop with No. 1 target Garrett Wilson and other receivers. 

Fans Livid That Aaron Rodgers Didn’t Finish Opening Game Against 49ers

Some fans expressed anger that Rodgers was pulled with almost four minutes left in the game. They felt that Rodgers should have used every minute of the game to build camaraderie and chemistry going into a very winnable game against the Titans next week. Maybe they were being a bit emotional about the loss, but the venom toward A-Rod was evident.

“The @nyjets are ass. @AaronRodgers12 quit on his team tonight,” wrote one X user. “Can’t even finish week 1?? So pathetic. A real teammate would go back in and continue to work on the game plan as it’s obvious they didn’t practice enough. Losers.”

Seeing Rodgers on the sidelines, clapping, looking smug while the game slipped away and backup Tyrod Taylor led the Jets on a garbage time scoring drive, incensed some fans.

A-Rod’s Act Wearing Thin Already In New York?

Aaron Rodgers is considered one of the characters and legends of the game. He’s been pretty much allowed to say and do what he wants — whether it be attacking the government, discussing the authenticity of vaccinations or accusing Dr. Fauci of being corrupt and lying to the public — his various conspiracy theories are an accepted part of his persona.

There are many other odd beliefs and behaviors Rodgers has exhibited since arriving in New York and gassing up Jets fans that he would be the savior to deliver the franchise’s first Super Bowl since Joe Namath on Jan. 12, 1969. 

Patience is a virtue, but 55 years without a Super Bowl appearance doesn’t afford this ready-to-win team and head coach Robert Saleh much grace.

Rodgers’ Mr. Untouchable act was already wearing thin on the NFL community prior to this inauspicious beginning to the season. Maybe he didn’t realize that when he signed to come to the Jets he signed on for a colossal task of not just winning but changing the entire culture and public perception of the franchise. 

Related: Aaron Rodgers Turned To Psychedelic Drugs To Be A Better Teammate, And It Worked

Nobody is giving the Jets the benefit of the doubt, and those Aaron Rodgers haters will pile it on even more until he gives the NFL world a reason to respect a franchise that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way in decades. Talking with confidence and taking things in stride won’t create wins, and neither will throwing teammates under the bus. This is the season we really get to see what A-Rod is made of.

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

“Tyreek Hill is a Black superhero.”

At least, that’s how one NFL Sunday Ticket YouTube user, Chaz Cheif87, described Hill following his incredible 80-yard TD and subsequent handcuff celebration after being arrested by overzealous Miami-Dade police prior to his incredible performance in a 20-17 Miami Dolphins comeback win on Sunday.

Even if you try to use some of the more salacious aspects of his life against him, like him admitting that he might have up to 10 kids, he also admits to taking care of all of them. Once proved in court, he has no problems with breaking bread.  

Related: Women, Beware. “Family Man” Tyreek Hill Might Have 10 Kids, Does Have New Contract: $90M Deal With $65M Guaranteed Ensures NFL Star Leaves No Child Behind (theshadowleague.com)

That aside, despite personal attacks and criticisms about the way he lives his life, he continues to be a great teammate and maintain his long standing as a candidate for best wide receiver in the NFL and its most explosive aerial weapon. He’s the only player in history with back-to back 1,700-yard seasons.

Tyreek Hill Has Networth of $40M

Tyreek Hill has a reputed net worth of $40 million and just signed a $90 million three-year extension with Miami. The bag he’s made at his craft in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins and the quarterbacks he’s set records and won with, make him especially successful as a Black man from humble beginnings in America. The son of Anesha Sanchez, and his father Derrick Shaw in Douglas, Georgia.  

Reek is considered a superhero in the community. A guy who has defied all odds to rise to wealth and prominence. He’s also known as a very active individual who has had a few brushes with the law and some domestic incidents that have earned him the bad guy label among some people.

He isn’t out here committing criminal activity, but his flamboyance, his money, his lifestyle choices and his fame, makes him a target for hater fans, racially motivated losers and law enforcement. 

Because Hill’s reputation of being the kind of guy whose involvement or victimization in this latest incident wouldn’t necessarily shock anyone, that doesn’t mean what happened to him at the hands of Miami-Dade PD is justifiable or acceptable. It’s just that if you made a list of superstar NFL players who could possibly be involved in such a bizarre incident in his own town, Hill would probably make the cut. 

That’s unfortunate, considering how much he makes it a point to connect with the community and give back, but a perceived reality for some, nonetheless.

Tyreek Hill’s Arresting Officer Put On Leave

According to reports, the wide receiver was pinned to the ground and handcuffed by cops, even appearing to have been struck by an unprovoked officer in shocking footage of the incident where Hill was reportedly pulled over for speeding and reckless driving, while making his way to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday morning.

A few hours later, the video had gone viral and after widespread outrage a statement from Miami-Dade Police Chief Stephanie V. Daniels revealed that the officer has been put on administrative duties during “a thorough review of the matter.”

Miami-Dade PD isn’t known for its lack of aggression or use of discretion when executing the law with Black celebrities, reportedly telling Hill to pull over around one block away from Hard Rock. 

The NFL star was pinned to the ground and handcuffed, even appearing to have been struck by an unprovoked officer in shocking footage of the incident. Cops released him shortly afterward.

Several of his Miami teammates are said to have pulled over to help de-escalate the situation and expressed outrage. 

Teammates, Stephen A. Smith and Agent Drew Rosenhaus Outraged

Despite his client being released, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has described the incident as a “heartbreaking situation” which was “completely unnecessary” and suggested they will take action.

‘I’m very distraught about it, I was greatly worried about Tyreek,” Rosenhaus said. “All the extra stuff that happened just seems, from my perspective, completely unnecessary.”

Reports say this incident is already motivating Hill, who’s entering his third season in Miami, to participate in long-needed police reform in Miami. Hill was asked about the incident after the game and replied with some insight into his frame of mind. 

“What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? Lord knows what those guys would have done,” Hill said.

Hill Handled The Day Like A Superhero

To be honest, Hill handled the situation like a true OG. He made it to the game, didn’t fret about the incident but used it as fuel to grab seven balls for 130 yards, including a signature 80-yard bomb, which he celebrated by performing a handcuffed gesture as one of the other receivers led him away. 

This was a very revealing moment. No matter how obnoxious or rich Hill is, his interaction with police one block from the stadium should not have resulted in handcuffing and rough treatment. 

If anything, the cops should have offered to escort him to wherever he needed to go or made sure he got to his destination quickly. Instead, it became an assault and detainment of a guy who brings pride to the city every time he steps up on the field.

Police who resent successful people of color or equate every Black man in a McClaren with a drug dealer or criminal. 

All Hill could do for now is kill it on the field in front of a national audience. He did that and his symbolic gesture was way deeper than something cute he came up with. He also showed his team what kind of man he is by leading them to victory in a moment of personal tragedy for him. 

Stephen A. Smith Expressed Outrage Over Tyreek Hill Arrest

Naturally, News of Hill’s detainment sparked outrage online, with ESPN host Stephen A. Smith pointed out the “unnecessary” incident on Sunday morning and drew comparisons with golf star Scottie Scheffler’s infamous arrest in Kentucky earlier this year.

Smith wrote on X alongside a video of Hill being placed in cuffs on the pavement: “Look for yourself. This is b.s. Totally unnecessary.”

“And btw…., I know the Scottie Scheffler incident was in Georgia — not Florida — and he was arrested, detained, and booked,” Smith continued. “I also know we don’t know all the details, blah….blah…..blah! But he wasn’t faced down on the ground in cuffs? Then forcibly sat down again by officers a second time. Nah! This story isn’t going away — and it doesn’t need to.”

On a positive note, Hill made it out safely and lives to put on his cape and ride out next Sunday. 

Caitlin Clark Could Win MVP: A’ja Wilson Is Best Player, But Nobody’s Been More Valuable To Winning and WNBA Than Record-Breaking Indiana Fever Rookie

With Clark now in the driver’s seat for Rookie of the Year with Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese out the rest of the season with a wrist injury, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, also has to be considered a serious candidate for league MVP. 

In Clark’s past five games she has turned it up another notch, averaging 26.8 points on 47.2 percent shooting from the field, 10.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds. Indiana has won four of those five games as the team looks its strongest rolling into the playoffs. 

Clark has shattered rookie records since joining the WNBA, including the most assists and three-pointers by a rookie in league history as well as the most consecutive point-assist double-doubles by a rookie. She also has an outside shot at Seimone Augustus’ all-time rookie scoring record of 744 points that she scored in 2006.

With all of the respect she gets from fringe fans for elevating the game on a branding level, the way Clark has backed up the hype by working through her rookie mistakes and setbacks, locking into her team and eventually developing a consistent chemistry that has them functioning like a well-oiled machine is remarkable.  

Can Caitlin Clark Pull A Candace Parker and Win ROY and MVP? 

Candace Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Parker came into the league out of Pat Summit’s vaunted Tennessee program and bum rushed the show in 2008 with her unprecedented array of skills, averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game over 33 games. 

Her all-around magnificence was transcendent, and if she was able to hit the league during the social media explosion post-2015 and not at the advent of the social media boom, then she would have had a following similar to the WNBA rookies that emerged this season. 

Now an analyst, Parker was also a must-see attraction for the WNBA and her career didn’t disappoint. She’s a three-time WNBA champion, a two-time league MVP, a finals MVP and a seven-time All-Star. She also dominated overseas for various international pro teams. 

Why Did Parker Win MVP? 

The LA Sparks went 20-14 in Parker’s first season in 2008 and advanced to the Western Conference finals after finishing 10-24 the previous season. Her impact was colossal, and it was tangible. 

While Angel Reese’s double-double streaks and rebounding records can’t be overlooked. Clark has had the biggest impact on her team and on winning. In addition to the gaudy statistics, Clark has been the leader of the Indiana Fever team since day 1. Most rookies aren’t entrusted with that responsibility. 

With all of the fanfare, venom, interest, financial gain, popularity and pressure placed on Clark’s shoulders, along with plenty of smoke coming from established stars in the league prior to her ever getting drafted No. 1 overall, she’s done an incredible job of navigating her first WNBA season, while also changing the losing culture of a team that hadn’t had a winning record or made the playoffs since 2016, when they had Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings. 

Clark Had Her Share Of Doubters

Fever general manager Lin Dunn wasn’t one of them. Dunn recently shared her general thoughts with reporters on what her expectations and anticipation were when she drafted Clark versus where she’s at now.

“There was a lot about Caitlin Clark that I felt like I expected. Some people didn’t expect her to be as good as she was early. I did. I thought she would be. She handled all the pressure and all the tough defenses.” Dunn said.

It’s not like WNBA players just let Clark dominate. She had some early season scrapes with players to the point her fan base felt she was being taken advantage of by “jealous” opposition. Her rough games were heavily criticized, and her shining moments were unnecessarily hyperbolized. 

None of that broke her spirit. 

Clark’s rise is easy to see. The Fever started the season 1-8. She had 10 turnovers her first game. All we have seen since is steady improvement and glimpses of dominance.  

Linn later added, “They can’t guard her. So you just saw that growth from that first game to that all-star game.”

Clark Has Elevated Her Teammates

The beauty in all of this is that Clark didn’t achieve this transformation alone. She has other emerging, young talent on her team and once she and head coach Christie Sides got on the same page and Clark began to settle in and harness her overexuberance, it was on like popcorn. 

We are seeing growth and signature moments from not only Clark, but 2023 No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston, whose career performance in a 16-point comeback win over the Atlanta Dream in overtime comes at a crucial point in the season. 

Boston had a career-high 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists on 11 of 16 shooting from the field. She had 14 of her points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime. 

 “A.B.’s a dawg,” Clark said. “She’s all over the glass, came up with clutch buckets, tied it for us, solid in overtime. She’s just different.” 

Since coming out of the Olympic break, Kelsey Mitchell has been a top 5 player in the entire league. The No. 2 overall pick in 2018, Mitchell is a 17 points per game career scorer, and the addition of Clark has helped to strengthen her game to the tune of 19.1 points per game and 39 percent shooting from three this season.

She’s been an assassin, especially in crunch time, which also alleviates the pressure on Clark having to play hero. 

Both Boston and Mitchell, being elite WNBA players in their own right, allow Clark to do what she does best. When she’s not in a scoring groove, they more than adequately pick up the slack. When the three–headed monster is moving in unison and strength, they can beat anybody. 

Is Caitlin Clark More Valuable Than A’ja Wilson?

Clark is averaging 19.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and leading the WNBA with 8.5 assists per game. A’ja Wilson has been the talk of the Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA as far as the MVP vote is concerned. She’s done nothing to take herself out of the running.

We expect this from Wilson. She also plays with a team that sent six women to the Olympic Games for various countries. They are loaded, which definitely makes it easier for her to do her thing. Becky Hammon’s team is also expected to win. 

On Sunday Wilson, who’s averaging 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds, plus 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks, missed her first regular season game in three seasons. A lower leg injury left the Aces without their MVP frontrunner, but the game still went down to the wire, with the New York Liberty winning 74-71. 

With Wilson expected to return soon, the game was an indication of how deep and formidable the Aces are even without her on the floor. 

Caitlin Clark Had More Pressure Than Any Player In WNBA History

The Fever have been a losing organization, so the dramatic turnaround with the addition of Clark has to be noted and taken into MVP consideration. If you remove A’ja Wilson from the Aces, they are still a solid team, with a winning record. They probably aren’t championship caliber, but they can compete and win with the talent available for sure. 

Related: Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand?

Without Clark, the Fever are a completely different team. This season was going to be challenging as they reconstructed the entire team around Clark and the way she plays the game. Most teams aren’t able to do that on the fly.

A’ja Wilson is the best player in the league this year, but Clark is the Most Valuable Player, and that’s a hard statement to invalidate considering the numbers and the circumstances. 

‘I Just Need Deshaun Watson To Give Me 85 to 90 Percent Of What He Once Was’: Deshaun Watson Might Be NFL’s First $230M Bust

For the Cleveland Browns, Sunday’s season opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys isn’t all that bad when you consider the opponent. In the 33-17 loss the Browns were completely out-coached, out-schemed and plain out-roughed. While it’s just Week 1 of the 2024 season, there was something else that seems a bit more alarming. 

Star quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s being paid $46 million per season, looks nothing like the guy who as a member of the Houston Texans was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and led the league in passing yards in 2020.

Since his return from his two-year hiatus after being accused of sexual assault by massage therapists, Watson has suffered a season-ending injury and looks like a shell of his former self. He’s only made 13 starts in three seasons.

Stefanski Says Line Must Be Better, But Watson Looks Like A Lemon

In Sunday’s loss, Watson was pedestrian, going 24-for-45 for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked six times and harassed (17 hits) for a good portion of the day. But, there were still opportunities to make plays, and he just didn’t. That’s not why owner Jimmy Haslam signed him to at the time a league record five-year, $230 million extension after acquiring him via trade. 

Following Sunday’s loss, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski who has won two NFL Coach of the Year awards, in the last four seasons including last year, mentioned that his offensive line needed to be better.

“We can’t let our quarterback get hit that many times, period,” Stefanski said. You can’t let that happen.”

Stefanski also mentioned that he needs to scheme the passing game up better. 

“There were definitely things I know we can do better. … lot of things we can do in the passing game to get them off the field.”

That’s in regard to extending and taking some pressure off of the defense. But it still doesn’t take away from Watson’s mediocre performance that just wasn’t up to par. He looked like he was afraid to pull the trigger and push the football downfield on different occasions when opportunities were there. His passes didn’t have their usual tight spiral and zip, which could be a result of the broken shoulder injury he suffered last November. 

Shannon Sharpe Says This Is It For Watson

Speaking earlier in the week during a segment on ESPN’s ”First Take,” Sharpe spoke about the pressure on Watson as he entered year three of his huge deal.

“For me when I look at the Cleveland Browns, if I’m Deshaun Watson, it’s either now or never. He’s under immense pressure. That big contract, he has yet to live up to it because of injuries and obviously whatever happened off the field in Houston. I just need Deshaun Watson to give me 85 to 90 percent of what he once was. I like the Cleveland Browns.”

Sharpe even picked the Browns to face the reigning two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. After seeing Watson play Sunday it be hard pressed to the Browns anywhere near the AFC title game in late January. 

To his credit Watson, has had a rough week losing his dad recently and a former teammate on Saturday. 

‘When Does Russell Wilson Come Back?’: Six Field Goals Bails Out Pittsburgh Steelers Offense That Remains Grossly Unintimidating With Backup Justin Fields’ 157 Yards Passing

Justin Fields’ first start with the Pittsburgh Steelers was uneventful but victorious. As his replacement in Chicago, Caleb Williams, started his Bears career with a dramatic win over the Tennessee Titans, Fields also did his job in an 18-10 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons. 

If this is the usual performance that the Steelers can expect from Fields, then Mike Tomlin hopes Russell Wilson’s bum calf heals sooner than later. 

When it was discovered two days ago that Fields would have to start in place of Wilson who is nursing a bad calf, that news hit Steelers Nation to mixed reviews. 

As Fields struggled to get the offense going early, the chat room on YouTube started heating up.

Sky Bortz: “As always Boswell offensive MVP”

This was in reference to Pittsburgh Steelers marksman Chris Boswell, who booted six field goals – further proof of Fields’ ineptitude with the ball in scoring territory.

Bryden Watts said: “let Russ cook”

Double Antondre: “When does Russell Wilson come back?

Justin Fields Threw For 157 Yards In Steelers’ Opener

It’s clear that Fields (17-for-23, 156 yards passing) can make some plays, but for the Steelers to compete week in and week out they need a quarterback who can complete more passes and put more points on the board.

He didn’t use his legs to generate any scores but did rush for 57 yards. He didn’t throw any TD passes, which is what quarterbacks are paid to do. Fields completed some key passes to his receivers down the stretch, so he has to be credited for that. 

Game manager at his best, but it probably won’t be enough to get the most out of this season. 

Pittsburgh Steelers Won With Same Old Recipe: Defense, Special Teams, Coaching, Run

Fields was largely carried by a ferocious defense led by TJ Watt and a ground game led by Najee Harris (70 yards). Which means not much has changed in Steeltown under Mike Tomlin.

Six field goals and two crucial interceptions off Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins were the difference for the Steelers. 

Justin Fields Was Best Of Worst Quarterbacks On Sunday

Fortunately, Fields was up against an older quarterback in Kirk Cousins who is coming off an Achilles injury and looked worse than Fields did. Cousins’ 155 passing yards was a futile effort from a guy with over 39,500 in his career. 

There were plenty of Steelers fans who craved and predicted Fields as the starter, some even proclaiming that he was a better passer than Wilson at this point. A better option to move the offense. The verdict is still out on that, but if Russ’ troublesome calf continues to be a problem, then Fields will get several more cracks at it. 

Let’s not act like the Steelers aren’t used to winning games 18-10. Mike Tomlin always has his team prepared. The defense rarely makes mistakes, and the offense has been wildly inconsistent and unintimidating for years now. 

Throwing a few deep balls that don’t result in scores isn’t going to translate against the elite AFC teams. Atlanta isn’t even one of the more formidable teams in the NFC. 

Every win counts, so Tomlin isn’t going to complain about the victory. They are too hard to come by in the NFL. But you would be mistaken if you think if he left the field thinking he found his quarterback of the future. Or even for the next game against Denver. 

Russell Wilson Is Still The Answer At Quarterback For Pittsburgh

Justin Fields showed some guts in Week 1 and he’s probably a top 3 backup and stopgap to have in the pinch. But do you want him running your offense against some of the offensive powerhouses in the AFC? 

Steelers have no choice for now, but it always seems that the public optimism for Fields to one day put it all together on a consistent basis is higher than for any other quarterback. When he fails, they blame the offensive coordinator. When he has flashes of excellence, he’s the next coming.

Related: Russell Wilson Is Going From Denver’s Trash to Mike Tomlin’s Treasure | Steelers Coach Needs Russ ASAP Or He’s Cooked

Mike Tomlin is the one consistent in these Steelers teams. He’s always going to try and grind a win out. Having two options at QB is better than one, but big-time passing games don’t appear to be in Fields’ future. So with the exception of his legs, not much has changed for Pittsburgh at the quarterback position.

‘Caitlin Clark Made A Fool Of Herself’: With Angel Reese’s Season Ending Injury, CC’s Whining and Winning Owns WNBA Spotlight 

This has been a rookie season of growth and accomplishment for Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. The two most highly touted college players, maybe ever, were as advertised and kept the WNBA in the spotlight as important parts of the sports conversation. 

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that these two Rookie of the Year candidates could end their seasons today with nothing more to prove. 

Angel Reese’s Season Is Over: Caitlin Clark Still Learning, Growing

Caitlin Clark, according to some critical media members, needs to clean up her incessant whining on the court and complaining to referees. She has the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs to work on that. 

Angel Reese’s season is over, and the announcement came as a shock to everyone. 

The NBA All-Star and Chicago Sky’s No. 7 overall pick revealed a season-ending wrist injury she reportedly sustained against the Los Angeles Sparks. The injury has unexpectedly ended her historic rookie campaign, where Reese became the all-time single season rebounds leader.  

Before she exited stage left, Reese hit a three-pointer while scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in leading the Sky to a 93-78 win, which ended a seven-game losing streak for Chicago, which is fighting for a playoff berth alongside the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings.

The win and the three-point shot —-just Reese’s third of the season in 16 attempts — was positive for the Sky whose playoff chances were looking solid with Chennedy Carter back in the lineup.

One day after the win, Reese went on X to announce her season was over.

She wrote: “What a year. I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2.

She poured it on thick as she usually does, using fan criticism and her me against the world attitude to set the foundation for promises of future success.  

“Through it all, I have shown that I belong in this league even when no one else believes. All I have ever wanted was to come into the W and make an impact. I can confidently say I have done that “

With Reese eliminated from the Rookie of the Year race as the only rookie player capable of challenging Clark in popularity or performance, all eyes will be on the Indiana Fever guard, who continues to break records, gain fans, complain to the refs and win games. 

Jason Whitlock Calls Caitlin Clark Complaining To Refs An Embarrassment

Jason Whitlock has been very critical of Angel Reese all season and very favorable toward Clark. He’s also been very vocal about his perception that the Black women of the WNBA are jealous of Clark. 

However, after Friday’s loss against the Minnesota Lynx, Whitlock called out Clark on her behavior in that game. 

“Caitlin Clark made a fool of herself last night. Embarrassing performance. Her lack of emotional control and hyper-focus on arguing with and showing up the refs caused the Fever to lose composure and meltdown. … Her behavior in the third quarter is/was problematic,” Whitlock wrote on X.

“She has a well-earned bad reputation with the refs. No player in the WNBA spends more time whining and bickering with the refs.”

Caitlin Clark Says She Has To Control Emotions Better

Clark acknowledges that she has to control her emotions, even when every call doesn’t go her way.

“I could have done a little bit better job controlling my own emotions,” Clark reflected after Friday’s game.

Clark is a competitor, and she has a mean streak that fuels her competitiveness. No player is perfect, and with Reese out, there’s no villain to attack, so all eyes will be on Clark and her growing reputation as a constant complainer on the court. 

“I think there’s definitely a line. I thought it was frustrating, I thought I got fouled a couple times there in the second half on midrange jump shots. And … it happens. Sometimes they get called, sometimes they don’t. It is what it is,” Clark said after the game.

“I think I could have done a little bit better job of controlling my emotions. But I think it just started bad for us and continued to snowball.”

Related: “I’m 22 Years Old, I’m Allowed To Date and Have A Good Time”: Angel Reese Says Caitlin Clark Fans Have Followed Her Home, Sent AI Nudes To Her Family and Sent Death Threats 

Clark and the Fever will be back in action on Sunday, Sep. 8, when they face the Atlanta Dream. We will have to wait until the “Unapologetically Angel” podcast to find out what’s up with Reese.

‘I’ve Never Talked to DeSean Jackson’: Davante Adams Says Clout-Chasing Media Is Making Up BS About Him Wanting To Leave Raiders

As the Las Vegas Raiders get set to open the 2024 NFL season there have been rumors that star wide receiver Davante Adams is unhappy and wants out.

DeSean Jackson Says Davante Adams Is Unhappy In Las Vegas

The rumor was started by former NFL player DeSean Jackson who holds the NFL record for most 60-yard touchdowns with 28.

During a recent appearance on FS1’s “The Herd With Colin Cowherd,” Jackson spoke at length about Adams being unhappy with the Raiders. 

“Me and Davante we’ve talked,” Jackson said. “I hate to do it, because I don’t want to be the guy that says DJax says this, and said that, but at the end of the day he is unhappy. I mean you go from Aaron Rodgers then you come to the Las Vegas Raiders. You had not only Jimmy G and your boy Carr, and it didn’t really work out.”

While Adams showed visible frustration with Jimmy G during the Netflix docuseries “Receiver,” the star pass catcher is calling cap on wanting out of Vegas. 

Adams Says He And Jackson Don’t Talk

Following Jackson’s comments Adams seemingly did everything in his power to keep it a non-story until Wednesday’s presser when Adams expressed his frustration with Jackson’s comments. 

“Whatever has been put out there lately is complete BS. I’ve never talked to DeSean Jackson about one thing. … In terms of me being upset or not being happy in this organization, it’s just a bunch of BS that’s meant to throw everybody off and get clickbait.”

Maybe Jackson was getting a feeler for Adams’ remarks during the Netflix series, but one thing the former Fresno State star wanted to clear up was he’s told Jackson that in confidence. 

Davante Adams Only Confides In Wife

Further disputing Jackson’s claim is Adams saying that he only confides in his wife as it pertains to the happenings in this NFL career, and she doesn’t snitch.

“And she ain’t out there leaking anything, and dropping stuff like that in the media. If it ain’t from the horse’s mouth, it’s probably bull—,” he said.

That’s straight, no chaser from Adams, who while visibly upset with the quarterback play at times is adamant that he doesn’t want out of Vegas. 

Don’t Expect Much From Raiders Offense This Season

Adams, confidence in the team’s current offensive setup will definitely be tested this season.

With career backup Gardner Minshew stepping into the starter role there isn’t a lot of excitement around the league about the offensive capabilities of the Raiders. 

Making matters worse is the team parted ways with star running back Josh Jacobs this offseason, leaving a void that’s likely to be filled by committee.

Related: Davante Adams Tells Uncle Shay Shay He Would Take A 58-Year-Old Brady As His QB “At This Point”

Not exactly a winning recipe, and for Adams it could also mean the team may struggle getting him the football consistently. 

‘I Was Pregnant, All These Crazy Things’ | Angel Reese Keeps It Real On Her Puzzling Hiatus Last Season at LSU

On Friday night Chicago Sky star Angel Reese recorded her 26th double-double of the season (24 points and 12 rebounds) in a 92-78 home win over the Sparks.

That outstanding performance brings her just two shy of tying the league record in a season held by Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas (28). Reese also extended her league record of 10 or more rebounds in a game to 28 games. 

Why Did Angel Reese Miss Two Weeks Of College Hoops Season In 2023?

The Rookie of the Year candidate played arguably her best offensive game of the season, while also providing strong defense.

Reese’s rebounding, toughness and defense have long been her staple and are a huge reason the LSU Tigers won the 2023 NCAA championship and made the Elite Eight this past season.

But not all was peachy for Reese this past season, her final one in Baton Rouge. In fact, Reese had a very odd hiatus at the beginning of last season, something that she finally addressed on her new podcast, “Unapologetically Angel.”

Angel Clears The Air

Reese who’s become known for simply being unapologetic, spoke about her disappearing act at the beginning of last season.

After the defending champion Tigers’ season opening loss to Colorado, the chatter was loud, and Reese was at the center of it.

Following the loss and a win over Kent State in which she was benched for the entire second half, Reese says she wasn’t herself. Reese says the two weeks off were for her mental health and so she wouldn’t become a cancer to the team. 

“Coming back to practice, the vibes were kind of weird,” Reese said. “Obviously, the energy was pretty weird in practice because everyone was like we just lost our first game, we don’t know what to do and then our next game wasn’t for another two weeks.’

“I didn’t feel like it was in a good mental space for my own team and myself and just being able to give my best self,” Reese added. “Me and Kim Mulkey got into it about something in the Kent State game, which is normal, and I respectfully sat the second half.”

Why Did Angel Reese Disappear For A Few Weeks After Colorado Loss In 2023: Rumors of Pregnancy, Academic Failure

Reese went on to say her absence from the Cayman Islands Classic was huge for her and gave her the time she took to reflect and reset before rejoining the Tigers. She also credited the aforementioned Mulkey for allowing her time to step away and get herself right. 

Reese Quells Low GPA And Pregnancy Notion

Rumors ran with many different stories as to why Reese was absent. One was her GPA was low, and another was that was pregnant. Reese expounded as to why neither was true. 

“People saying I was suspended, wasn’t playing because of my GPA, I was pregnant, all these crazy things,” Reese said. “Everything they could think of and they didn’t even know what was going on.” 

The former All-American took some much needed away from the spotlight and game in what she says was “probably the hardest time in my life.”

The move seemed to ignite something in Reese and her teammates, as she once again made a deep NCAA Tournament run which ended in an Elite Eight loss to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“You Need That Triangle Offense”: Marlon Wayans Tells Shannon Sharpe NBC Pulled Out Of Deal For “Wayans Bros.” Hit Show Because Brothers Wouldn’t Drop “Country” and “Ghetto” John Witherspoon

Shannon Sharpe had comedian, actor, producer and standup comedian Marlon Wayans on Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast for another insightful and uninhibited show that produced more pearls than jam.

Shannon asked Marlon how he and his brother Shawn got the “Wayan Bros” show picked up by WB TV networks back in the ’90s. The answer gives fans tremendous insight into the business of Hollywood. It can be a dirty game, but loyalty, integrity and gut instinct in relationships have led to longevity for the entire Wayans family.

Marlon Wayans Tells Shannon Sharpe The Story of John Witherspoon and Wayan Bros Show On WB

“Shawn did a showcase for Warner Bros. and all these different companies at the Laugh Factory and Warner Bros. wanted to sign him to a deal,” Marlon said. “And I had just had (the movie) “Mo’ Money” come out.

Marlon says Warner Bros. execs asked Shawn what he wanted to do, and he told them he always wanted to do a show with his brother. They were high on the idea, and that’s when the formation of the “Wayans Bros” show began, prepping it for a national audience.

Marlon went on to talk about the talent they added to the show, and one incredible talent in particular named John Witherspoon, who eventually rose to fame in the show as the brothers’ crazy father, “Pops.”

Wayans Brothers Tell NBC No John Witherspoon, No Deal

Marlon says when they initially took the show to NBC for a table read, the executives liked the show but didn’t want John Witherspoon to be in it.

“They thought he was too ghetto,” Marlon told Sharpe. “They thought John was too country. They thought he was too Detroit. John has a very distinct personality. John is ghetto. They didn’t want him as our father.”

Marlon says he and his brother refused to budge on having John in the show, which led to an ultimatum from NBC. The brothers stood with John and lost the show. Until another opportunity came around, because you can’t stop talent and a unified base.

“Then we were nowhere,” Marlon said. “WB is being created and they need a flagship show and we did this pilot called ‘Wayans Bros,’ and they were like, “We’ll take it.”

From there, the rest is history.

“The Wayans Bros.” ran from Jan. 11, 1995, to May 20, 1999, exploding into one of the groundbreaking programs that captivated Black audiences and launched fledgling WB to a new level of viewership, solidifying it as a major network in the market. The show remained in syndication until 2023.

John Witherspoon Completed Wayans Bros. Show Triangle Offense: Pops Never Missed

Sharpe praised the brothers for making that decision and also pointed out that most people would have changed the character faster than you can say “John Witherspoon” out loud rather than miss an opportunity to be on major network TV

“We have loyalty, and we have instincts, and you have to trust your instincts,” Marlon said. “Me and Shawn are always going to be funny, but without John Witherspoon … You need that triangle offense. That triangle offense. Every time we threw John the ball, we knew it was good. He’s Steph … or Klay. We knew it. And we had the time of our lives We laughed so much.”

Witherspoon was a genius at his craft and sadly passed away at the age of 77 in 2019. In addition to his successful run on “The Wayans Bros.,” he starred in classic films forever embedded in the culture of Black America, such as “Friday,” “Hollywood Shuffle,” “Boomerang,” “The Five Heartbeats,” “Vampire in Brooklyn” and numerous television shows.

Witherspoon was also the person, says Marlon, that inspired him to expand his horizons and overcome his fear of doing stand-up comedy.

“I’m 22 Years Old, I’m Allowed To Date and Have A Good Time”: Angel Reese Says Caitlin Clark Fans Have Followed Her Home, Sent AI Nudes To Her Family and Sent Death Threats 

If you haven’t gotten enough of the wide world of Angel Reese and her exploits on social media, her jet-setting with celebrities and her rebounding exploits on the basketball court, then you can catch her on her new podcast “Unapologetically Angel” which dropped on Thursday. 

There’s been plenty of speculation about who Reese is dating, her relationship with Caitlin Clark and a host of other things surrounding “Chi Barbie,” as she completes her first WNBA season. 

Angel Reese Shares Horrors Of Dealing With Caitlin Clark Fans

Now all of these burning questions can be addressed directly, and you might find out some crazy things about Reese’s journey and current life that you weren’t prepared for. 

The Reese versus Clark narrative that dates back to college is alive and well in the WNBA. Fans and social media have tried its best to make sure that these two, at the very least, don’t become good friends anytime soon. 

Reese revealed on her first episode some of the hate she’s been getting from people she described as fans of Clark, which included racism and death threats. 

Reese isn’t blaming Clark directly for these unpleasant things and says she didn’t believe the Indiana Fever star “stands on any of that.” 

“I think it’s really just the fans. Her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are like, they ride for her, and I respect that respectfully,” Reese said. “But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it … but when it comes to death threats — I’m talking about people have come to my address, followed me home, it’s come down to that — multiple occasions people have made AL pictures of me naked, literally.”

Reese says that people sent those A-I created images to family members which in turn have resulted in them reaching out. 

“Uncles are sending it to me and asking, “are you naked on Instagram?” Reese said.

Reese’s fanbase may not be as aggressive as Clark fans, but they get petty too.

Reese did add during the one-hour episode that she feels that Clark “is an amazing player and I’ve always thought she’s an amazing player” 

She also mentioned that they have been playing and talking trash to each other since high school and AAU before these psychotic fans got involved and started stirring the pot on a daily basis.

Again, it’s fan ignorance that tries to fuel many of these narratives and Reese acknowledged this, saying that “She has no hatred” for Clark and she doesn’t think Clark hates her.

Angel Reese Says She Will Play On Same Team With Caitlin Clark One Day

Clark and Reese, the front runners for WNBA rookie of the year, looked very strong playing together in the WNBA All-Star game, leading their squad to a win over the WNBA Olympians. 

Reese predicted that the two would play on the same team one day, which probably doesn’t excite Fever or Sky fans, but that’s down the line, and never say never. Maybe the 2028 Olympics. The way their games contrast, teaming them up would probably be a problem for opposing players and a recipe made in championship heaven. 

Again, Clark doesn’t do too much talking off the court, so we don’t know how the WNBA’s assists leader feels about eventually teaming with Reese, but we know where Chi Barbie stands.

“We’re gonna play on the same team one day, I’m sure. We’re gonna definitely play on the same team one day,” said Reese.

Angel Reese Says Shes Going To Play The Dating Game

One topic that gets Angel Reese fans excited is trying to figure out who the celebrity baller is dating at the moment. There are constant rumors and anytime she is seen with a man, people assume they are an item.  

People associated her in some way with Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, even though her homie and former Chicago Sky teammate Kysre Gondrezick is openly dating the Celtics star. Reese, Brown and Gondrezick were seen together at a Summer League game, so social media decided to turn it into what Reese says is false gossip. 

Then, Reese and Detroit Pistons player Jalen Duren were seen cozying it up in Paris during the Olympics.

She dismissed the Kevin Durant and G Herbo dating rumors. Reese says the KD rumors was social media reaching because Reese says she was just sitting next to him at a game and social media took that story where it wanted to.

Reese was actually out one night with her friends and G Herbo, when the two were spotted together, but that was platonic.

“G Herbo is somebody that if I ever need anything in Chicago, he told me when I was drafted, he would make sure I’m straight and because I’m new to the city. We went out to (a club) that night. I am 6-foot-3 and sitting in the front seat of a car that isn’t tinted. You didn’t see me kissing this man. … He has three kids. I don’t move like that.”

Related: ‘Be Safe Out There’: Angel Reese Spotted Cruising In Rapper G Herbo’s Tesla Cybertruck, Paige Bueckers Hits The Casino With A Boogie

Reese says 95 percent of the time when these dating rumors emerge, “I’m not dating them.”

On her being spotted cozying up with Detroit Pistons player Jalen Duren:

“I’m 22 years old I’m allowed to date and have a good time,” Reese said. “People invaded my privacy. I’m living my best life and I’m going to date.”

Reese’s podcast is quite revealing and regardless of how her basketball life shakes out, she’s building her brand and allowing the people to touch her. She doesn’t run from smoke and is always willing to set the record straight.

‘They’re Making All This Money And Can’t Play’ | Shaq’s Worth $500M But Is Clocking ‘Bums’ Rudy Gobert and Ben Simmons’ Pockets

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has never been one to hold his tongue.

When the four-time NBA champion and “Inside the NBA” analyst and co-host feels a certain way concerning something he’s gonna let it be known. For years now O’Neal has had an ongoing beef with Minnesota Timberwolves big man and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. 

The Diesel, as Shaq is affectionately known, has questioned Gobert as a defender, while also mentioning that he’s way overpaid.

Gobert has fired back, but for the most part has done his best to steer clear of a possible back-and-forth spat with O’Neal.

Nobody wants to be the target of a Shaq diss record. Ask Shannon Sharpe.

That hasn’t stopped Shaq from still calling out the man known as “Stifel Tower” whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Shaq Ups The Ante As It Pertains To Gobert

Speaking with his son Myles O’Neal, the charismatic big man called Gobert “the worst player of all-time.”

That was just the beginning as Shaq also took aim at Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons who’s played a grand total of 101 games the past three NBA seasons. 

“Ben Simmons is another bum. You know why? Because I’m going to tell you why. If you sign a contract for (250 million), show me $250 million. There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck, and why I can’t do it … because I played for $120 million.”

Shaq continued, “You guys like him that f— the system over. They’re making all this money and they can’t f— play. So I don’t respect guys like that. You know every time I make these comments people think I’m hating but these are facts. You got teachers, you got firemen, you got doctors who have real jobs and don’t get paid s—.”

Gobert and Simmons Make $75M Per Year Combined

Of course O’Neal is making valid points as it pertains to both Gobert and Simmons who make a combined $75 million per season between them. While Gobert’s impact is felt defensively as evidenced by his four DPOY awards which ties him with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most in league history, Simmons has completely disappeared since leaving Philly via trade in 2022.

Shaq Won’t Stop Speaking His Mind

O’Neal and his “Inside the NBA” co-host Charles Barkley have long been called haters who are just jealous of the type of money they’re paying players today, even if they’re mediocre. This versus the type of money they made during their careers at any point, ha become a sticking point in debates. In fact, hearing Shaq and Barkley criticize players is rather refreshing, because for the most part no one calls them out on their gibberish, but it also comes a point where it gets old. 

Based on who both Shaq and Barkley are, it doesn’t seem like something their opinions will change on today’s players, especially with contracts continuing to balloon. But what O’Neal must remember is that when he constantly complains about the huge contract Gobert signed while he was a member of the Utah Jazz, it does sound like hate. 

Are Gobert or many other players actually worth the money they’re being paid? Probably not, but someone has to take it with the steadily climbing market calling for it. 

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