Dana White is looking crazy again, as another fighter whose growth he couldn’t stop manifested his plan outside the UFC. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou landed his dream fight against Tyson Fury.
The event will be a boxing match for the MMA fighter against the undefeated lineal and WBC heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday, October 28, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in an epic showdown between two giants of their fields following the opening of the months-long Riyadh Season sports and entertainment festival in the Persian Gulf nation.
Titled “Baddest Man on the Planet,” the fight will take place under the official rules of professional boxing, with three judges ringside adopting the 10-point must system. However, both fighters promise to meet in the middle of the ring and win by knockout.
“As soon as that bell goes, it’ll be bombs away!” said Tyson Fury in a statement. “This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK. I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights. I’m looking forward to showing the world that The Gypsy King is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft.
“Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the (Dillian) Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me, and you’ll all see that in devastating fashion on October 28. It’s going to be a fight for the ages. Get up!”
The fight was created through an agreement with Queensberry, Top Rank, and Ngannou’s promotional banner, GIMIK Fight Promotions, partnering with Riyadh Season to host the event.
The world will discover who can rightly claim the title of “Baddest Man on the Planet” in the capital of the Kingdom when “The Gypsy King” goes up against “The Predator” to determine the true heavyweight king.
“I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years,” said Ngannou. “My dream was always to box and to box the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet. All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.”
In May, “The Predator” signed a historic deal with the Professional Fighters League after leaving the UFC as a champion. Ngannou receives “just shy” of eight figures for each fight on the two to three-fight deal and ensures his opponents make $2 million a fight.
Ngannou also has total control over his sponsors and a salary as a PFL brand ambassador, and the ability to take boxing matches with no promotional consequences, like fellow PFL fighter Claressa Shields, is immensely beneficial.
The fight game and free agency in mixed martial arts have changed the opportunities for MMA fighters. Francis Ngannou is continuing the path blazed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor, and now more UFC fighters might realize the power they have.
The former University of West Virginia Men’s basketball head coach is letting everyone know to drop the former because he hasn’t resigned or retired. Bob Huggins and his lawyers sent out a statement on Monday night that denies he resigned on June 17. The reason for the resignation was because Huggins shined a negative light on the university after using an anti-gay slur during an appearance on a radio show in Cincinnati back in May and a DUI charge on June 16 in Pittsburgh.
West Virginia released a statement of the Huggins resignation letter that was signed by him. He also met with his team on the night of June 17 and told his players that he was gone.
In the statement his lawyers released on Monday, Huggins said that he didn’t send a statement nor sign one.
“I am employed by WVU pursuant to an Employment Agreement. I never submitted the notice required under the Employment Agreement to voluntarily resign. I let WVU know that I was seeking rehabilitation. However, WVU was not willing to speak with me about the Pittsburgh event nor to provide me time to obtain counsel to review my Employment Agreement. I met with my players on June 17, 2023 and let them know the truth,” the statement read in part.
The legendary head coach expressed in his statement that he would like to remain with the university as their head coach. He wrote, “the basketball program is in need and I have a strong desire to conclude my career as the Head Basketball Coach for the program that I love.”
It was also reported that his lawyers wrote the a letter to the school for them to reinstate him or else he would sue.
If the resignation remains in force, Huggins would finish second in school history with 345 wins. He is also responsible for leading the Mountaineers to their second ever Final Four appearance in 2010. The coach once known as Bob “Thuggins” compiled over 935 wins with coaching tenures at Walsh College, Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State, and West Virginia.
Huggins was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2022.
As for the DUI case, Huggins appeared in court on Monday for a hearing. He reportedly waived his preliminary hearing and has a formal arraignment set for 8 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
The speculation about the status of Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen’s relationship might be over as the son of “Air Jordan” let the cat out of the bag. Larsa recently celebrated her 49th birthday on Thursday, and she shared a snapshot on her Instagram Story of the birthday note that came with flowers from her 32-year-old beau and her four children.
The note said, “Happy Birthday To The Best Mom & Wife On The Planet! — From Marcus, Scotty Jr, Preston, Justin & Sophia.”
Read that again: “wife.”
Marcus did everything except say the word “wife” on his Instagram Stories, sharing a celebratory series of birthday mentions to Larsa, solidifying his love for her and their deep relationship amid the massive hate.
“Happy Birthday to my best friend & partner in crime @larsapippen,” Marcus wrote in his Instagram Story.
The world has been vocal about disliking the Jordan-Pippen romantic relationship dynamic. Even Michael Jordan resounded “No,” when asked if he approved of the union. Of course, Jordan is dealing (rather well) with the grudge held against him by the man he won multiple championships with and who helped him change the game of basketball, Scottie Pippen.
The issues between Jordan and Pippen were revealed after the release of “The Last Dance” documentary, which chronicled the final season of the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the ’90s. Pippen felt that Jordan had the final edit and shaped a narcissistic narrative devoid of the credit he and his Bulls teammates deserved.
Former teammate Dennis Rodman agreed.
“Michael couldn’t do it by himself,” Rodman said during a Vlad TV interview. “Michael’s scoring 40 points a game, and Scottie came in, man just fill in the blanks and just made him just like a major, major superstar. I just think Scottie Pippen is probably one of the innovators of the power-forward point guards.”
“Because he’s 6-9, and these kids said they are 6-10 doing the same thing Scottie was doing,” Rodman added. “I mean Scottie, his game was polished, he was good.”
Meanwhile, Scottie isn’t letting the news affect him too much, as he was recently spotted driving an SUV with an unidentified woman in the back seat. When they noticed paparazzi, she rolled down the window and flashed her bra to the photographer.
Take that, world.
Le’Veon Bell got a lesson in the rap industry after receiving “trash verses” from MoneyBagg Yo and Stunna4Vegas. The former NFL running back has been a full-time rap artist since he last played in the NFL during the 2021 season along with his former Steelers and Buccaneers teammate Antonio Brown. He is planning to release a new project on July 28 titled “Make It Boom.”
He didn’t explain in his recent Twitter rant directed at those two artists if the songs he was referring to had been intended for the new project, but he made it clear that they weren’t being released. Bell has dabbled between music and boxing but seems to take both just as seriously as he did football.
He recently took to Twitter to voice how he would not be dropping the songs in a series of tweets and felt like the two rappers just wanted the money.
“Moneybagg & Stunna4Vegas, I paid both for .. decided not to drop these tracks with these guys because honestly, I didn’t like their verses .. I feel like they just went in the booth and recorded something as fast as they could to get a quick couple bands .. Koudos, y’all got it” Bell wrote on July 9.
He continued by saying he would only drop songs with trash verses from a select group of artists.
“For me personally, unless your Drake, SZA, or Rihanna, you gotta at least TRY or I’m not about to just drop the song just because your name is attached to it …straight up so that’s why I never dropped the tracks with Moneybagg or Stunna4vegas & most likely never will.” he wrote.
After he called out MoneyBagg Yo and Stunna4Vegas, he then went on to show love to artists like Lil Keed, Lil Durk, and Snoop Dogg.
He also wrote, “you didn’t have to genuinely help me but YOU DID!”
The comments were directed at those artists and producers he previously mentioned in the other posts he made. He finished his rant by apologizing for going on a rant and says he has been serious about making music for ten years.
Maybe he should consider boxing a little more seriously and leave the music alone after his TKO of Adrian Peterson during a celebrity boxing match in September 2022.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is in Las Vegas with the rest of the NBA and stoped by Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” podcast. The two-time All-Star kept it real about his role in his inability to stay on the floor so far in his career.
“That s–t hard. It’s hard, man,” Williamson said when asked by Arenas if it’s hard to diet at his age. “I’m 20, 22, have all the money in the world — well, it feels like all the money in the world. It’s hard.”
Zion has played in only 114 games over his four-year career due to a variety of injuries.
It’s unfortunate because when he’s on the floor he produces at an All-NBA level. Many respected basketball people feel he is an MVP candidate when healthy.
But Zion hasn’t been the most diligent about taking care of his body, particularly his diet.
The NBA season is a grueling 82-game marathon followed by the intense pressure cooker known as the playoffs. If you’re not physically fit you have no chance at sustained success.
“I’m at that point now because of certain things, I’m putting back the wisdom around me. I don’t want to say older because they get defensive, but I’m putting people around me with wisdom. Put me on game to certain things. And just go from there.”
Diet isn’t the only thing hindering Zion these days. He’s been in the news recently over a messy situation with a woman he was allegedly sleeping with, Moriah Mills.
Zion held a gender reveal party with another woman and once Mills found out she’s been outing all of the baller’s sexual proclivities on social media.
Do what you do in your free time. But none of that is good for the business of playing basketball and being the best player he can be.
“Like [former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] taught me, I have to own up to my responsibilities. There are a lot of things I could have done better. I didn’t. I’m in the process of fixing those wrongs.”
Athletes have a way of opening up and being honest with their peers, in a way they don’t with media. For Zion to make these public admissions on Gil’s podcast is a step in the right direction.
He just signed a five-year, $197 million max contract extension that begins this season. The Pelicans still believe he is their future. But the time for him to show up and prove it is here.
This has to be the best offseason of his career, where he gets his diet under control through the help of professionals. Hire a personal chef, a nutritionist, whatever you need to get and stay on the right path. Limit distractions and focus on being the best player he could be.
When healthy he and the Pelicans were at the top of the West in December. A full healthy season of Zion could mean big things come playoffs.
An arrest was issued on Monday for Davonte Pack, who is Ja Morant’s close friend.
According to the Shelby County criminal justice portal, the warrant was issued in connection with the altercation between Morant, Pack, and 17-year-old basketball player Joshua Holloway.
Both Morant and Pack have been the center of controversy on several different occasions over the past two years. Most recently, Pack was the person who filmed Morant on Instagram Live when the two were riding in a jeep and the Grizzlies star appeared to be holding a gun. They both later claimed it was a toy, but the NBA commissioner wasn’t buying that excuse.
Morant was suspended for 25 games at the start of 2023-24 NBA season. Many popular Black sports figures and entertainers have advised him to change his inner circle, especially Pack.
The warrant issued by Shelby County Sheriff’s Office charged Pack with a misdemeanor assault with intent to do bodily harm.
“The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant for the arrest of Davonte Pack, who has been charged with simple assault in relation to the July 2022 altercation involving Mr. Pack, Memphis Grizzlies basketball player Ja Morant, and a juvenile basketball player at Mr. Morant’s residence in Eads,” the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said in an email statement Monday evening. “The SCSO consulted with the SCDAG before obtaining the warrant.”
Pack is also named as a co-defendant in the civil case filed by Holloway. They are both accused of punching the 17-year-old at Morant’s home in Eads, Tennessee, during a pickup basketball game in July 2022.
Court Details
Holloway and Morant altercation started after the teen threw the basketball at the 23-year-old’s head. Attorneys on both sides and witnesses had different accounts on whether Holloway threw the ball to purposefully hit Morant with intent to harm him or it was an accident.
According to the court depositions, the teenage boy then got into a fight stance and told Grizzlies star to “square up.” Morant punched the teenager but witnesses say it did not knock him down. Pack followed his friend’s punch with a blow to the back of Holloway’s head and witnesses say that the punch knocked Holloway to the ground. Among those witnesses was his father, Tee Morant, and former Grizzlies sharpshooter Mike Miller.
Pack admitted that he punched the teenager and pulled Morant from the scuffle. Bystanders said that the scuffle was over with very quickly.
Attorneys argued in the civil case that Morant’s actions should be self-defense immunity because he was attacked first. The Shelby County Sheriff’s office was also in court on Monday and has been subpoenaed for additional documents but has not produced them, citing an ongoing investigation.
In addition, Pack also was banned from the Grizzlies arena in February for a year after he verbally abused Pacers players during and after the game.
It was also believed he pointed a laser attached to a gun after the game as well.
Morant unfollowed his childhood friend on all of his social media accounts in May.
Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of female Olympic and college gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times, reportedly as many as 10, by another inmate at a federal prison in Florida, according to reports.
The incident happened on Sunday, July 9, at the United States Penitentiary Coleman where Nassar is serving 40 to 175 years on his sexual assault conviction. He is said to have suffered a collapsed lung and to be in stable condition following the attack.
According to the report, the officers guarding the unit where Nassar was held were working mandated overtime shifts because of staffing shortages. These particular guards reportedly had worked several overtime shifts in a row, with the shortages, according to officials, making it harder for officers to guard inmates and respond to emergencies. Nassar was stabbed in the neck two times, twice in the back and six times in the chest. As reported by CBS News, that’s according to Jose Rojas, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 506, which represents employees at the prison.
“An inmate was assaulted at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman II, in Summerville, Florida,” the Bureau of Prisons reported. “Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. The inmate was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. No staff or other inmates were injured and at no time was the public in danger. An internal investigation is ongoing.”
Nassar is serving his sentence for convictions in state and federal courts. He admitted sexually assaulting athletes when he worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians. Nassar also pleaded guilty in a separate case to possessing images of child sexual abuse.
The Department of Justice launched a probe into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s handling of the allegations of sexual abuse made against Nassar, and its decision to not prosecute two agents accused of mishandling the case.
USA gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman slammed the FBI for failing to take their complaints seriously, failing to protect them and hundreds of others, and allowing Nassar’s sick predation to continue.
As a result of these convictions, USA Gymnastics has paid $380 million in settlements to the victims. Michigan State has paid $500 million in settlements.
According to reports, the man at the center of the University of Alabama baseball gambling scandal made a scene at the sportsbook and allegedly told the bet takers he had inside information which set off concern by sportsbook employees. Bert Neff Jr. was at the BetMGM Sportsbook at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati with over $100K in cash when he tried to place a wager on the No. 1 LSU Tigers with the knowledge that Alabama would be scratching their ace starting pitcher, a new Sports Illustrated report shows.
Investigators told S.I. that security footage of the sportsbook shows Neff Jr. at the window pleading his case for making the wager, and his admitting to having inside information as he was texting directly with Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon.
Neff Jr. was forcing the issue because the sportsbook has a house limit on college baseball and the amount he wanted to wager far exceeded said limit.
The video surveillance cameras were able to zoom in on the details of Neff and Bohannon’s text exchange, making Bohannon’s name visible later in screenshots.
“[Video cameras] can see the [text] conversation back-and-forth,” a source familiar with the incident told the magazine. “It couldn’t have been any more reckless.”
This sounds like something straight out of a movie. This wasn’t hubris on the part of Neff Jr. It was outright stupidity. Sportsbooks have cameras, everyone knows this. The goal of casinos and sportsbooks isn’t to lose money. Did he not realize his ridiculous behavior would be flagged?
Bohannon was quickly fired back in May as he breached several university policies, including: supplying sports-related information to likely gamblers and soliciting, placing, or accepting a bet or wager on any intercollegiate or professional athletic contest.
Gambling on sports is as old as sports itself. But the worlds are too close now that it has become legal across most of the United States. With sportsbooks inside arenas, stadiums, and ballparks, the temptation might be too great for some.
Bohannon was making $500K a year as the head baseball coach and now he’ll likely never coach NCAA baseball again.
Once Neff’s behavior was flagged, the Ohio Casino Control Commission was made aware in conjunction with the South Eastern Conference and all wagers on Alabama baseball were suspended. No players are believed to be a part of the scandal. It looks like the connection is between Bohannon and Neff, but the investigation is ongoing.
“This is an active, ongoing investigation,” says Jessica Franks, director of communications for the OCCC. “In this particular case, everyone [at the BetMGM book] did their job. Once the staff at the sportsbook reported what they thought may have been suspicious or unusual activity, it was passed along to the commission and to U.S. Integrity.”
This is the new reality of legalized sports gambling. Those intimately familiar with the actual game (coaches, players, etc.) will continue to try to find ways to operate around the regulations and profit off inside information.
After years of saying he’d never do business with Nike again, Deion Sanders is once again repping “The Swoosh.” Sanders who was once signed to Nike, severed ties with the sports apparel giant back in 2008-09 as his endorsement deal ended, but as they say, guess he wanted that old thing back.
After publicly bashing the sneaker behemoth for years, Sanders is returning to the place he first signed with in 1992 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves.
In a press release, Nike welcomed Coach Prime back:
“We welcome Deion Sanders back to the Nike family, the company said in a statement.
Sanders took to Instagram to shout out his infamous “We coming” catchphrase.
On Friday, Sanders sort of let the proverbial cat out of the bag when he posted his legendary Nike Diamond Turf shoes in an Instagram post.
Sanders Left Nike Amidst Dispute Over Money
As with most business relationships that end, money is usually at the root of it. That’s reportedly what happened between Sanders and Nike the first time around, as Sanders felt he wasn’t compensated for his effort in creating the iconic sneaker. In an interview with Complex in 2017, Sanders didn’t bite his tongue one bit in telling his side of things.
“That’s why I’m upset with them Nike right now. We created these together, but they don’t want to seed me, they don’t want to direct deposit.”
At the time, Sanders vowed to never work with Nike again. But as they also say, time heals wounds, and here we are in 2023.
Sanders Leaves Under Armour After Over A Decade
Sanders, who’s been sporting the Under Armour logo on his gear for over a decade, also led Jackson State to leave Nike for Under Armour upon his arrival in 2020. In ending the relationship with Under Armour, the apparel giant released this statement.
“Under Armour has a longstanding partnership with Deion Sanders for more than a decade and we are proud of what we accomplished together,” the statement sent to USA Today Sports said. “Now that he has gone on to Colorado, we can’t wait to see him to continue to positively impact the game and look forward to watching him find continued success with his new partners, athletes and expanded communities.”
Colorado is a Nike school, who’s contract with the shoe and apparel giant doesn’t end until 2025. And from reports it’s highly plausible that the relationship between CU and Nike will continue long beyond that.
For Sanders this move was a smart and of course calculated move by him. Sanders even said he felt like he was cheating having to wear Nike gear when he took the job in December.
Now he doesn’t have to feel guilty anymore, and you can definitely expect to see the retro Diamond Turf kicks sooner than later.
After some really lean years in H-Town, the Houston Texans believe they have what it takes to turn things around.
The hiring of first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator the past couple of seasons, seems to be just what the franchise needs to resurrect itself from some trying times.
In the post-Deshaun Watson era the Texans have been bottom feeders who lacked leadership, which is something Ryans has now provided.
Per star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Ryans has been as advertised and more, and he’s already changed the culture in Houston. Tunsil, the former Ole Miss Rebels star, recently raved about Ryan, who was drafted by the franchise in 2006 and won Defensive Rookie of the Year that same year.
Tunsil Talks Ryans, Stroud On “Pat McAfee Show”
During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” last week, Tunsil spoke very highly of the job Ryans is doing and the change in culture he’s seeing since his arrival.
“It’s a whole new vibe, man. Coach DeMeco Ryans came in with that energy he brought from San Fran and just changed the whole vibe around the building, and that’s something that we needed, especially since these last three years we’ve been in a rut,” Tunsil said. “So, DeMeco comes in the building, he brought some new coaches, we’ve got some new player. Man, it’s just a whole new vibe that’s in that building. It feels great to be there.”
That’s a far cry from those Past three seasons where the Texans had David Culley and Lovie Smith replace former head coach Bill O’Brien. The two went a combined 7-26 as the Texans head coach for just one season a piece, further showing the instability of the franchise. They also dealt wit the Deshaun Watson sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to their franchise QB being traded.
Ryans Will Turn The Reins Over To C.J. Stroud
Tunsil is the veteran of a young offensive line that will be asked to keep 2023 No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud upright. If they can do that tha Texans have some playmakers on the outside. When asked about what he sees in Stroud, Tunsil said this.
“He handles himself well. He came in the building with these unbelievable leadership skills, and he’s killing it, man. How I describe C.J: dawg. He’s a straight dawg. He comes in there ready to work, he handles the huddle perfectly and goes out there and balls, man. You’ve got to appreciate that, especially in a young quarterback like C.J.”
Ryans will look to the Tunsil/Stroud combo for years to come. The two are joined at the hip with Tunsil signing an extension that pays him $25 million per season, and Stroud under team control for five seasons.
These two are cornerstone players for the Texans under the Ryans regime.
Xavier Michael Babudar, also known as the ‘ChiefsAholic’, was arrested on Friday in Lincoln, California, near Sacramento.
The 29-year-old super fan of the Kansas City Chiefs saw his troubles begin when he was arrested in December 2022 in connection with a robbery at Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma. Authorities believed he stole $150,250. He was released on bond in February.
He asked authorities to allow him to attend Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12 after the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, but his request was denied. Babudar allegedly removed his ankle monitor in March and was on the run until he was captured.
According to court documents, it was determined that Babudar purchased over $1 million in chips from casinos in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas between April and December 2022, and redeemed a similar amount from those same casinos.
Following his December arrest in connection with the Tulsa robbery, authorities reviewed bank and casino transactions to assess the extent of his potential crime streak. They were also prompted to look into unsolved bank robberies over that same time frame.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office found that Babudar traveled to various locations throughout the Midwestern part of the United States to execute a string of robberies at various banks and credit unions before returning home to the Kansas City metropolitan area. He then would launder the robbery earnings through area casinos and deposit these proceeds in his various bank accounts, authorities say.
In addition to Babudar’s bank robbery charges in Oklahoma, the affidavit connected him to four other robberies in Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, and two attempted robberies of Minnesota credit unions.
One new bank robbery charge has been added to Babudar’s docket.
According to the complaint filed against him, Babudar is accused of stealing $70,000 from Great Western Bank in Clive, Oklahoma, on March 2, 2022. The complaint also stated he drove the money across state lines from Iowa to Missouri. The criminal complaint was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City on May 24 but was unsealed after he was arrested in California on Friday.
An investigation determined his cellphone was in the same cities and locations at the time of these incidents. He was also arrested with the same masks and gloves used in other robberies on Friday.
Babudar was charged with one count of bank theft and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines in connection with last year’s robbery in Oklahoma. He was scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento on Monday afternoon. It’s not clear on whether Babudar had an attorney to represent him.
The Carolina Panthers didn’t let concerns over the size of diminutive quarterback Bryce Young deter them from drafting him No. 1 overall. For what Young lacks in size he more than makes up for with his cerebral play. That helped him win the Heisman in his first year as the starter at Alabama, and it’s definitely why he’s slated to lead the Panthers in Week 1 of the season.
Young, has been so impressive throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp that first-year head coach bumped the former Mater Dei gunslinger up to the first team early this offseason. It was a sign that Carolina’s coaching staff and veteran players trust the rookie to lead them from the jump in 2023.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler raved about Young during a recent appearance on Get Up, saying the Panthers view Young as a savant.
Pre-Draft Perceptions About Young Are Definitely Legit
Panthers head coach Frank Reich’s offense has been called difficult to grasp, but Young hit the road running and per reports is handling the transition with ease. Here’s what the aforementioned Fowler had to say about Young’s play this far.
“I was told his mental aptitude has been as advertised. That’s what he was known for during the draft process, as a mental savant. I was told the Panthers offense is a hard install. It’s got shades of the Los Angeles Rams system from new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. No new quarterback bats 100 in learning in the first month, but I was told he was pretty darn close to 100 percent. So, the Panthers really believe that as long as he has command of the offense, they’re in good shape. They don’t need him to be a hero because this is a really good emerging roster.”
Sounds like the Panthers made the right choice in drafting Young, who’s mature, humble and always prepared.
Young’s Character Traits Are Hard To Ignore
With any young player, it takes some time for them to mature. But when you’re drafted to be the franchise quarterback of a team looking to return to to the days when former MVP Cam Newton led the team to the Super Bowl, that may not be the case. For many that would be too much pressure, but for Young who’s mature beyond his years, that won’t be a problem.
In fact, Young possesses three traits that he’s exuded since his arrival in April, leadership, poise, and top-notch improvisational skills.
Those three alone will take you a long way in the NFL, but with Young there’s also so much more to him than that.
The Panthers got a good one, and in a very winnable NFC South, Young could very well be the deciding factor in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the reigning NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP. The 27-year-old gunslinger by way of Texas Tech wows NFL fans weekly with his insane repertoire of throws, runs and jaw-dropping plays.
One player who’s seen Mahomes up close and personal over his career is former Los Angeles Chargers stud linebacker Drue Tranquill. The former Notre Dame standout has seen it firsthand, and let’s just say he’s happy to now be going into battle with Mahomes as a member of the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
In a recent interview with NFL Total Access, Tranquill raved about the “Mahomes Experience,” and what it’s like seeing it every day in practice and not just on game day as an opponent. In five career games versus Mahomes, Tranquill didn’t have much success going 1-4.
Tranquill: Those Throws Happen In More Than Just The Game
With Mahomes it’s always about the magical plays he makes on any given play, and Tranquill now sees it daily.
“You just see the highlight throws that are up every year, year after year,” Tranquill said. “Those throws aren’t just one-off things that he makes in a big-time game. He seems to make those throws every day in practice. Every day I’m either out there or getting a break on the sideline and I’m just like, Wow. What a throw. What a talent.”
Following a career season with the Chargers, (146 tackles, 95 solo, and five sacks), Tranquill, a three-down linebacker, was surprisingly not retained by the team. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was able to sell Tranquill on the idea of competing for a Super Bowl, and that explains the one-year deal he signed with K.C.
Tranquill will fit seamlessly alongside rising Chiefs linebackers Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton. They’ll all play a ton in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive and at-times demanding scheme.
Tranquill Is Huge For Chiefs And Hurts A Division Rival
For some reason the Chargers decided not to keep Tranquill in L.A. but letting him play for the best team in the NFL, who also happens to be in your division, isn’t a good look. The Chargers believe they have the necessary players to replace what Tranquill did in 2022, his career-best season.
As for Mahomes, he’s got to be elated to now have Tranquill on his side as the Chiefs look to go back-to-back and three SB titles in five years.
If Tranquill is to play a vital role in K.C. repeating, he’ll be able to cash in there or elsewhere in 2024.
Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is apparently doing just fine, even though his ex-wife is dating the much younger son of his former teammate and and recently appointed archenemy Michael Jordan.
Pippen was seen escorting a young lady in a vehicle, and as they drove off the woman pulled her window down and flashed the onlooking paparazzi exposing her upper body covered by a white bra.
This all went down in Malibu last Friday. It might have been a response to a viral video of Larsa and Marcus making out in the club.
All of this on the heels of the GOAT Michael Jordan revealing he’s not cool with Marcus and Larsa being boo’d up.
The six-time NBA champion was seen leaving dinner at Matignon in Paris’ 8th arrondissement earlier this month, when he was asked about his 32-year-old son and the 48-year-old ex of his former teammate.
MJ laughs at first, but when the photographer asked again, he said no. Then when the photographer asked if Marcus and Larsa would marry, MJ is seen shaking his head.
The high-profile nature of this relationship and given the Pippen and Jordan connection means whenever any of the people involved do anything, it will be news. That’s the 2023 media economy.
It would seem that kind of scrutiny and pressure would doom any relationship. Yes, Larsa and Marcus appear to be going strong.
Marcus and Larsa launched their new podcast “Separation Anxiety” last month, which focuses on their “life, love, sex, and 16-year age gaps!” They’ve been extremely candid and shared a lot about their relationship.
They’ve even discussed the possibility of having kids.
“When we go and we meet people, or I’m introducing you to some of my friends, or you introduce me to some of your friends I feel like it gets brought up,” Marcus shared. “But I feel like we’ve never had a one-on-one, private conversation about having children. It’s one of those things where I think time will tell, you know?”
You can’t help who you like or love. Of course the fact that his father and her ex-husband were title-winning teammates and running mates makes the whole thing more tawdry and weird. The age difference also creates controversy, with many suspecting Larsa knew Marcus when he was a baby.
All of that has been disputed by both and it seems like everyone else is just going to have to accept that this relationship is serious.
The first week of Las Vegas Summer League is in the books, and fans have already been treated to excitement from rookies, second-year players and journeymen hoping to catch on with an NBA team this coming season. But what are the three biggest questions so far through the first week?
Yes. We have no idea what he will ultimately become in the NBA, and anyone who is giving you definitive prognostications right now is just guessing. He’s 19 years old, we have no clue. We’ll know much more about him at the end of the 2025-26 season than we do right now.
But what anyone who understands the game can see are the reasons he was taken No. 1 overall in the draft. The length, skill set, and feel for the game. If developed and unleashed properly he will be an all-time great. But we have a lot to go between now and then.
He appears to have the work ethic. It will be up to the San Antonio Spurs and Team Victor to put it all together.
Last year’s No. 3 overall pick had a tough rookie season on a terrible Houston Rockets team. He struggled shooting the ball at times and looked unsure of himself offensively.
Through two games in Vegas, he looks completely different, averaging 35.5 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Now, summer league is nowhere near the level of competition of real NBA basketball. But what you expect of second-year players who played a lot of minutes as rookies is that they look dominant.
Small sample size, to be sure. But if this level of certainty and shot making is legit, the Rockets will certainly be exciting and better than last season.
The 6-foot-10 big man from Fresno State went undrafted in 2022 but signed a two-way deal with the Heat that was converted into a standard contract earlier this month.
In one game in Vegas Robinson scored 36 points in 33 minutes while going 13-for-22 from the field, including 3 of 4 from three. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, had four assists, two blocks, was a +19 and dominated the Boston Celtics’ summer league frontcourt.
This is the definition of small sample size. But given the Heat’s track record with undrafted players, there is reason for optimism.
O.J. Simpson is the latest victim of “fake news” after false reports recently claimed that he suffered a heart attack and dealing with major health problems.
The former NFL running back is known for one of the most high-profile criminal court cases of all time after being acquitted of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her boyfriend Ron Goldman. He took to Twitter to respond to the false report and even took a shot at the media in his response video.
The report stated that the 76-year-old underwent a critical procedure that could have been fatal. The report also mentioned that his son, Justin, left his real estate business in Florida to be by his dad side in Las Vegas because he was so fragile after the emergency surgery, according to the false report.
Justin, 34, did not comment on the report, but his father did.
“Well, the Twitter world is yours truly. I was kind of falling asleep watching the ladies’ LPGA golf tournament today when all of a sudden I started getting texts from various people wish me well from the heart attack that I had. Well, you know what? I never knew I had a heart attack. So I guess,” said Simpson in the video.
He then proceeded to take a jab at the media.
“I don’t know. Heart attack would feel a lot worse than whatever this is. In any event, it must be true because it was in media. So maybe I should run to the hospital real quick. Maybe I had a heart attack and didn’t know it. I’m just saying take care,” he added.
Despite the scare with the false report, Simpson seems to be enjoying retirement. He was released from prison in 2017 following being convicted of armed robbery in 2007 and sentenced to 33 years. His release from prison early was due to good behavior. He continued his good behavior and was granted an early release from parole in 2022.
Since being released in 2017, Simpson spend much of his time on the golf course and making sports commentary videos then posting them to his personal Twitter account.
It was never revealed who or where the false heart attack rumors came from, but it seems like Simpson is pretty healthy.
Shaquille O’Neal is known for his business ventures, endorsement deals, music career, charity work, and incredible Hall of Fame basketball career. He is also known for dating attractive women. He was once again spotted out with a beautiful woman on his arm but this time it was in Las Vegas.
O’Neal has made it clear that he is not ready to settle down again after being married to Shaunie for nine years before the two divorced in 2011.
A fan was posted outside of a venue and recorded the basketball legend escorting two women inside. Both women looked like they were much younger than the 51-year-old, which comes as no surprise if you follow his dating history.
In June, O’Neal was spotted leaving dinner with social media influencer Brittany Renner at Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles. Then, he was accused of attempting to slide into a girl’s DMs who went viral because she was supposedly too attractive to work at Home Depot worker. O’Neal denied those allegations and said he was “upfliting the young lady.”
In addition to enjoying the Las Vegas nightlife, O’Neal also watched some NBA Summer League games and worked his DJ gig at the Encore Beach Club on July 8.
The popular Vegas club is known for their elaborate day and nighttime parties. The club has a outside and inside setup with sand serving as the dance floor on the outside. It is one of five venues that “DJ Diesel” will be touring this summer as he spends time away from his sports analyst job on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”
O’Neal will return to Encore on August 5 and probably won’t be alone.
He also was in “daddy mode” this past weekend. His 17-year-old daughter’s AAU team was playing in Chicago in the Nike Nationals. Me’Arah O’Neal is ranked as the 35th player in the class of 2024 by ESPN.
The much talked about NBA in-season tournament is finally here and will debut during the 2023-24 season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver unveiled the format and procedures last week in Las Vegas. Silver, a fan of European football, has long coveted the idea of an event like this with the hopes of drawing more fan interest to the game. Will this latest innovation help boost a regular season that has been struggling for years?
“This is a concept that has been rumbling around the league office for around 15 years,” Silver said on a special episode of “NBA Today” from “NBA Con” as part of the league’s annual gathering in Las Vegas. “We thought what a perfect opportunity for a global league like the NBA, and it’s a perfect fit for our game. New traditions take time. But, all throughout sports, we are seeing new innovations, and now is the time for this NBA in-season tournament.”
Silver is correct. New traditions will take time to gain a foothold. But let’s remember NBA superstar LeBron James blasted the league in 2021 for coming up with a new playoff format, including the play-in tournament.
“Whoever came up with that s— needs to be fired,” James said at the time.
Fast forward to the 2023 postseason and which team was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the playin tournament? James’ Los Angeles Lakers.
Sadly, it’s human nature to reject the unfamiliar. But fans of European football who also like the NBA will be fine with an in-season tournament. It gives teams another goal to shot for. Of course the NBA championship will still mean the most, just like the Champions League title does in Europe. But finishing the season with a trophy means something too.
In its first couple iterations the NBA Cup champion will not feel so important, but as the players take it seriously and the potential for greater cash incentives occur, you’ll see more interest. Once the players say it has meaning the fans will as well.
This tournament has the potential to truly transform the league, if they remain committed to iteratIng. Shortening the entire regular season and adding an international component against other leagues to make it a true global championship would be monumental. That’s a pie-in-the-sky fantasy, but sports viewing has changed, and the leagues that keep pace will thrive.
The Golden State Warriors shocked most when they decided to trade rising star Jordan Poole for aging veteran Chris Paul on NBA draft day.
The move signaled that the Warriors value Paul’s leadership and veteran presence over Poole’s upside as they look to still compete for championships as their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green enter into the twilight of their Hall of Fame careers. While the move came nearly three weeks ago, Poole had yet to comment until last week.
Maybe he was still in a state of shock, which he says he wasn’t because he thought it might happen. Or could it have been the fact that deals weren’t finalized until July 6, because of the collective bargaining agreement? That sounds more like it, Poole was waiting for things to be official before he commented on it. Now that he’s officially a member of the always rebuilding Washington Wizards, the former Michigan star who played a vital role in the Warriors’ 2022 title run is now speaking.
During an interview at the Las Vegas Summer League, Poole spoke candidly about a few things.
After playing behind the Splash Brothers (Curry and Thompson), Poole will now have the opportunity to lead a Wizards team in search of a different look after finally trading star guard Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. Despite the trade, Poole still considers the “Splash Brothers” his brothers.
“I can text Steph, I can text Klay. I can text all of them and just have a conversation,” Poole told reporters. “That doesn’t leave. That doesn’t go anywhere. If anything, I just know the plays that they run — split-actions and high-ball screens. Competitive advantage.”
Steph and Klay were mentors for the talented Poole, and although he’s now on a different coast he still thinks highly of the two Warriors legends.
While, Poole was also pretty open to answering just about all the questions sent his way, he was very diplomatic in his words as it pertained to the Draymond Green punch question. Poole was intent on not falling for the bait of a question about that infamous moment, that in many ways ruined the Warriors season before it began. He instead opted to talk about his new team and teammate Kyle Kuzma.
“I’m in Washington now,” Poole told reporters last week. “Playing with Kyle Kuzma, great duo. Being able to really flourish, expand our game. New team, an entirely new group of guys. It’s a challenge that we’re up for. There’s a new front office and there’s a lot of people who are invested. Everybody’s locked in, wants to be here. It’s the start of something we think can be special.”
The Wizards likely won’t compete for much more than a play-in spot at best, but for Wizards fans the Poole and Kuzma duo should be fun to watch.
The end of Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe opposite Skip Bayless on FS1’s debate show “Undisputed,” has left executives at Fox Sports scrambling to find a viable replacement. After receiving a buyout, Sharpe’s last day was on June 13, and at the moment the network seems a bit out of sorts trying to move on from Sharpe after seven years.
After three weeks of not seeing the show in its normal 9:30 a.m. ET slot, the show’s Twitter account tweeted that the show will return on Aug. 28. That means 76 days, or two and a half months, since the very popular Sharpe departed its airways. Bayless, who makes the final call on who sits across from him, has been going heavy on his own podcast, “The Skip Bayless Show.” He tweeted out his own message not long after the show’s tweet.
Sources Say Fox Execs Are Calling Finding Replacement A Puzzle
Finding a viable replacement won’t be easy, as Sharpe left an indelible mark on the show. Although Sharpe arrived with not much by way of journalism or sports television in his background, the two-time Super Bowl champion was still very accomplished. That confidence and swagger showed, and from day one he showed he was not intimidated by Bayless, who’s got nearly 50 years in the business. If you’re Fox, how do you replace that?
That’s the magic question. Front Office Sports is now reporting that its purported sources close to the situation say the changes have not gone according to the network’s plans.
“Shannon’s exit moved way faster than they expected. So they had no choice but to go on hiatus,” the Front Office source said, continuing, “Skip has never done anything like this during all his years at FS1 or ESPN. Not being on the air during all these NBA moves is killing him.”
Who’s Next? “Unc Left A Void”
While there have been numerous names floated as the possible new debater, there are a few names that seem to be getting more love than the rest.
Current FS1 on-air talents LeSean McCoy and Nick Wright have gotten the most hype as far as in-house goes. If the network wants to go outside, as many believe they should, there’s a plethora of new available talents courtesy of the big ESPN layoffs. Names like Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson and, yes, even Max Kellerman, who sat across from Stephen A. Smith for five years on ESPN’s “First Take.”
No matter what, unc did leave a huge hole that needs filling.
