Detroit Pistons Went All In On Monty Williams, Even Setting Up A Private Fund To Supplement Health Coverage Expenses For Wife Who Has Breast Cancer
Monty Williams recently signed a massive deal with the Detroit Pistons to become their newest head coach, and along with that deal, Williams becomes the highest-paid coach in the NBA. But he also secured some extra benefits for his family as well during one of the most trying times of his life.
Talk about having your coach’s back, Monty Williams, 51, signed a lucrative six-year, $78.5 million contract, which is the largest coaching deal in NBA history. This was one of the main reasons that Monty took the deal, and he stated this during a press conference.
ESPN quoted Detroit’s coach as saying “That’s something that people don’t talk about; they always say it wasn’t about the money,” Williams said. “I always laugh at that. I think that’s disrespectful. When somebody is that generous to pay me that kind of money, one, that should be applauded, and two, it should be talked about.”
Monty Williams said “it messed me up” to know that the #Pistons players would be at his presser. Here he is after, making his way down the line: pic.twitter.com/lVHRrVxkjB
Williams definitely will be handsomely rewarded for the success he bought to the Phoenix Suns, and now taking over a Detroit Pistons team that is in a similar position to the Suns when he first took over.
The Suns were one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, and it was their undefeated run in the bubble, and the acquisition of guard Chris Paul that helped Monty fuel the Suns to reach the NBA Finals the next year.
Detroit is hoping he can do the same with their young roster, but hopefully with the addition of a championship.
But that’s not all the reason why Monty chose to take on Detroit’s job. He also talks about the patience Detroit’s front office displayed when courting Williams for the coaching vacancy in Detroit. That was one of the reasons he decided to take the job also.
“That was a huge part of my decision-making,” Williams said Tuesday at his introductory news conference. “The patience the Pistons had with that told me a lot.” ESPN writes.
But to top it all off for Williams, another perk of taking on this job are the health care benefits that the Pistons are offering Williams and his family.
INTERVIEW: Monty Williams explains how Troy Weaver, the #Pistons roster, and the historic contract drove him to Detroit
According to multiple sources, Williams’ wife, who was diagnosed with breast cancer which also played a part in Williams delayed signing with the Pistons, will be receiving different benefits along with his children as well.
Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II writes “The Pistons included levers in Williams’ contract that will provide private jet travel and health care benefits for his wife, along with assistance in finding housing and schools for his kids, to reduce the impact of moving cross-country as his family continues to handle her health situation.”
“This is huge for Monty due to the fact that he already lost his first wife Ingrid Williams to a car accident in 2016, so the fact that Detroit is taking precautionary measures to help ensure the comfortability and convenience of the Williams family is remarkable.
With Detroit having their coach’s back, Monty can take the time to focus on the team and not only rebuild their young and promising roster, but figure out the system to best make Detroit successful.”
Shaq Says He’d Be Fine With Lakers Erecting Statue Of LeBron James, But Greedy L.A. Fans Would Want Another Ring Before That Happens
No one knows the Lakers fans better than the legends that played for the historic franchise. The one thing they all can attest to is that the fan base only cares about winning titles. The Lakers have made an NBA record of 32 appearance in the Finals and won 17 total titles. Shaquille O’Neal understands this as well as any former Lakers player and gives LeBron James a bit of advice heading into the final stretch of his career.
(Left) Shaquille O’Neal on the red carpet of the 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards. (Middle) A.I. generated LeBron James statue. (Right) James on the red carpet of “Shooting Stars” premiere. (Photos: Getty Images & @realmomentsAI/ Twitter screenshot)
Statue Talk
This week O’Neal was asked by Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Johnson his thoughts on James being deserving of a statue outside Crypto.Com Arena.
“I am not the one you should ask on that question. However, he did win a championship with the Lakers. A lot of people say that don’t count. Well, if it don’t count here, you can’t count Mr.Tim Duncan’s bubble championship [the 1999 lockout season title]. … LeBron has won as a Laker. He broke the record [scoring] record as a Laker,” said O’Neal to Johnson.
O’Neal continued, “If they wanted to give him a statue, I’d be fine with that. He’s a great player, great ability and he did what he was supposed to do as a LAKER. But the thing about the Lakers is that Laker fans are real greedy. OK, you got us this bubble championship, but when are you going to give us another? It’s always that.”
Roller Coaster
James’ tenure as a member of the Lakers has been up and down. They missed the playoffs his first season there in 2018-2019. The following season was extended due to COVID-19, and they were able to earn an extra four months of rest but won the title in 2020.
The Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors and secured a playoffs berth in the 2020-2021 season. Then they blew a 2-1 lead to the Phoenix Suns and lost the series in six games. They missed the playoffs the following year.
James and the Lakers struggled until trade deadline moves gave them new life this past season. They won eight of their last ten games and went 17-9 after the trade deadline. The Lakers went from disappointments to favorites and found themselves in the Western Conference finals.
His recent injury history with the Lakers is another issue as well. He has yet to play more than 70 games in a season, which excludes the 2019-20 season shortened by the pandemic. He played in just 55 games this past season.
There is no denying James’ greatness, but to put a statue next to O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor might be a bit of a stretch.
Before we talk about James’ statue, Lakers fans first need to see that Kobe Bryant statue.
Florida Stripper Busted On Charges Of Stealing $62K From Client Also Illegally Sold Growth Hormones and Steroids To Athletes at Miami Strip Club, Police Say
A Miami stripper was arrested this week after authorities say she attempted to run off with $62,345.91 of a client’s money by filling him up with tequila shots and then using his credit card and PayPal to send money to herself.
Yannelin Rivera-Bosaw, 34, is facing charges of committing an organized scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of a credit card for $100 or more, grand theft and selling narcotics without prescription. While Rivera-Bosaw was being investigated for funneling money from a client’s account in the strip club, she also was caught selling illegal growth hormones and steroids by authorities from an incoming message on her phone.
Yannelin Rivera-Bosaw’s mugshot from jail. (Photo: @nypost/ Twitter screenshot)
Scandalous
According to Miami-Dade Police, a man visited Playmakers Club on June 9 and requested the services of six strippers to entertain him while in VIP. Among those strippers were Rivera-Bosaw. The police reports stated that the suspect danced for him privately and the other five women joined later.
River-Bosaw and her scandalous co-workers kept giving the victim tequila shots and claimed they were “on the house.” It led him to becoming drunk very quickly and he lost the ability to stand up.
She and the other women then began to distract the man by continuously dancing on him while Rivera-Bosaw used his phone to send transactions from his accounts to her accounts. The male victim decided to leave the club around 4 a.m. when he started to feel better but realized his credit cards in his wallet were missing.
According to police report, he realized on Saturday that his cards were scanned by phone applications used to send various amounts.
Rivera-Bosaw made a total of six PayPal transactions that were transferred from his cellphone to her bank account. She also made several charges to his Chase, American Express and Wells Fargo accounts from Playmates Bar and Grill.
He later found Rivera-Bosaw’s number in his phone as he was trying to cancel the transactions and realized she put the number in his phone to send herself the money.
Web of Lies
Police interviewed Rivera-Bosaw and she admitted to paying herself but said that he allowed her to send herself the money.
Investigators said that River-Bosaw’s story was inconsistent with what she initially told police and she didn’t know the other five women who were involved. She also told police that she wouldn’t pay herself.
Authorities received written consent to search her phone and found text messages between her friend and husband that showed pictures of the PayPal transactions. The messages also showed her complaining about the victim canceling one of the accounts.
Police also discovered that she was selling illegal growth hormone and steroids to clients from the club. The message popped up from an incoming text messages that requested she bring the product to the club, according to Local 10 News.
She was arrested and transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
NBA Suspends Ja Morant For 25 Games And Reveals The Only Thing That Matters
The NBA and commissioner Adam Silver suspended Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant for 25 games without pay on Friday. The suspension begins immediately and will include all offseason activities, training camp, and preseason, with the team’s first regular season game of the 2023-24 season counting as game one. There is also a “program” Morant must “fulfill” to be reinstated, but the length and timing reveal the only thing that matters to the league.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will be suspended for 25 games to start the 2023-24 season, sources say.
“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”
Is A 25 Game Suspension An Adequate Punishment?
Many predicted at least half a season (41 games) suspension and possibly more for Morant, so the news of 25 games seems light. More important than the amount of games are the details of this “program” Silver says Morant must “fulfill.”
“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time,” Silver said in the statement. “Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”
What are the particulars of this program? What entities is the league and the NBPA working with to ensure Morant is on the road to recovery? Once he “fulfills” the “program” is that it? Will he have ongoing support? Will there be mandatory requirements and check-ins?
Of course we will never get the answers to those questions, and I’m not even suggesting we should. The real question is, does the league have Morant’s best interest at heart?
The NBPA and Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio called the suspension “excessive and “inappropriate.”
Twenty-five games means Morant will be eligible to return in early December, give or take. That gives the league some margin to extend his suspension if he’s behind on his “program fulfillment.” But it likely ensures that he will be available for the NBA’s slate of Christmas Day games, where the Grizzlies will likely be one of the featured teams.
The NBA’s Christmas schedule is very important to the league’s broadcast partners and with a new deal pending, those numbers have to look good. That means all the superstars are on parade.
The league is demonstrating where its priorities lie. The bottom line.
Twenty-five games also means Morant will only play a maximum of 57 games, which means he’ll be ineligible for all regular season awards and All-NBA. That has already cost Morant $39 million on his contract extension, which begins on July 1. His failure to earn All-NBA means his five year-$194 million rookie max extension didn’t jump to “supermax” at roughly $233 million.
Morant will also lose an additional $7.6 million next season as a result of the suspension.
His poor decision-making is putting his life and the well-being of people that depend on him at risk. It is also negatively impacting his personal bottom line.
Statement from Nike on Ja Morant: “We are pleased that Ja is taking accountability and prioritizing his well-being. We will continue to support him on and off the court.”
This moment is where Morant and those around him need to invest in all the necessary resources to keep him safe and get him what he needs to mature, grow and deal with the responsibility and opportunity in front of him.
“It Was More Special What We Did In Minnesota” | Karl-Anthony Towns Shows His Delusion And Why It’s Time For The T-Wolves To Go In Another Direction
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is definitely one of the more talented big men in the NBA.
But talent isn’t everything, and as it pertains to Towns, that could never be more true. Towns a former Kentucky star has been a solid player in the NBA since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. But in that time frame he’s always thought more of himself as a player than his numbers, work or accolades show.
This week he’s made it a point to say some very strange things, that actually make you wonder if he’s trolling or is he really being serious.
Karl Anthony-Towns Overrating Himself Again?
Towns, made a recent appearance on the “The Pat Bev Podcast,” and let’s just say he sent everyone for a loop with his comments.
When asked by Beverley his former teammate about the Denver Nuggets winning the championship, Towns’ response was super awkward.
“I just played them in the playoffs. Bro, they was telling us our plays,” he said.
“They weren’t even talking. Ball would just go to an area, and the person was just randomly right there. I’m like, ‘How is that possible?”
“It was more special what we did in Minnesota because we had like a month, and then we had training camp,” Towns said, referring to his one season with Beverley, who came to Minnesota in August 2021. “It was like, ‘You better figure it all out right now, and we really figured it out quick.”
“Four years? We got it done in four months,” Towns added, explaining how the Timberwolves’ new players jelled in 2021-2022 during their magic ride to the playoffs as a seventh seed and losing 4-2 in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Towns can’t be serious trying to compare the Nuggets winning their first championship in franchise history to the T-Wolves winning the play-in 2022 and then going out in the first round.
KAT believes the Timberwolves run with Pat Bev was more special than the Nuggets championship run
It’s one thing to believe in your abilities, but Towns probably has more false confidence than anyone in the league.
Also during his interview, Towns took the self-adulation a step further and even predicted the mark he’s going to leave on the game.
“I feel like when my time’s up, and I retire, and I put the shoes up… I feel like there’s going to be people who are going to say that I changed the game. And I’m going to be very appreciative of that.”
Those sentiments didn’t go over to well with many including ESPNs Kendrick Perkins, who let Towns have it on “First Take” Thursday morning.
“How can you change the game when at times we don’t even know you exist?” Perkins said. “I feel like with Karl-Anthony Towns, just stop with the interviews at this point, bruh. And who are the people that are gonna say you actually changed the game? You haven’t done it yet.”
.@KendrickPerkins reacts to KAT saying that at the end of his career, people will say he changed the game:
Towns has career averages 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. He’s also a 52 percent shooter from the field and near 40 percent from three-point range. He’s also been named an All-Star three times and a two-time All-NBA third team selection.
Timberwolves Need To Cut Bait With Towns
Once the face of the T-Wolves franchise, 2020 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards has now assumed that role. At some point the team needs to move on from Towns and give Edwards complete autonomy as the franchise player.
That may be this offseason or next, but with former MLB player Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore taking over as the owners in 2024, the belief is Towns’ time in the Twin Cities may soon be up.
“Pat Who?” | Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Takes Apparent Dig At Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow Cleans It Up
The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the most confident teams in the NFL, and they should be. In the past two seasons with 2020 No. 1 overall pick and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow at the helm, the Bengals have made a Super Bowl appearance, and were literally one play away from making it back-to-back appearances in the ultimate game.
That included a 3-0 record against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who final broke through and beat the Burrow-led Bengals in last season’s AFC Championship Game.
That 3-0 record until the January championship loss had fans and even some of Burrow’s teammates saying Burrow is the best quarterback in the league.
It’s obvious that Chase loves his QB, but to disregard a two-time Super Bowl MVP and two-time MVP by acting as if he doesn’t know who he is is 100 percent cap.
Burrow Didn’t Agree With The Troublemaking Chase
We’re all for supporting your guy, and that’s what Chase did, but his own QB knows Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL. While speaking to the media earlier this week, Burrow spoke highly of Mahomes.
“I don’t think there’s any argument right now, it’s Pat Mahomes,” Burrow told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. “Until somebody has a better year than he’s had, he’s the one to knock off.”
Burrow is speaking about what Mahomes was able to accomplish in the 2022 season despite losing the dynamic Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins in March 2022.
Burrow says Mahomes is the best QB in the NFL right now:
“Mr Ketchup On Errthang,” aka Mahomes, passed for nearly 6,000 yards and 48 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions over the regular season and playoffs by the time the final horn sounded on Super Bowl LVII in February. But it was the way Mahomes played the position that impressed even more, as he became more patient and less of a live wire under center. The play further solidified his hold on being the top QB in the league.
Bengals Seen As One Of Teams That Could Dethrone Mahomes And Chiefs
Heading into the 2023 season, Cincy has the fifth-best odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. They trail only the the aforementioned Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, whom the Bengals manhandled 27-10 in snowy Buffalo to advance to the AFC title game last season.
John Gotti III Receives Six-Month Suspension For Mayweather In-Ring Brawl | With Racist Overtones, Why Is A Rematch Possible?
The fallout from the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. John Gotti III bout was swift and mainly felt by Team Gotti. The Florida State Athletic Commission suspended John Gotti III for six months as punishment for his post-fight aggression after referee Kenny Bayless stopped their exhibition boxing match last Sunday.
Gotti III, the grandson of notorious mob figure John Gotti, has embarked on a mixed martial arts and boxing career and hit the lottery as an opponent on the Mayweather exhibition tour. Gotti’s frustration with the incessant trash-talking from Mayweather as he was getting the best of him sparked an in-ring melee that took several minutes to contain at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
“The DBPR Florida Athletic Commission took immediate action the evening of Sunday, June 11, and suspended John Gotti III for six months,” confirmed a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which oversees the Boxing Commission.
Mayweather did not get sanctioned due to the incident, as he shouldn’t have since he was receiving the unprofessional shenanigans from Gotti. However, despite the in-ring debacle, reports are that the fight might be rebooked based on the renewed beef mainly coming from Gotti.
TMZ reported that Gotti and Mayweather have already discussed the potential rematch, which could be very lucrative given the toxicity between the two. However, Florida is not likely to be the venue unless they are willing to wait until at least December and the expiration of Gotti’s suspension.
“It seemed to me Gotti didn’t really want to fight until the fight was called off. He got aggressive as if he really wanted to take Floyd out, but when the fight was actually taking place, he didn’t have that energy, he really didnt,” Antonio Tarver said to TMZ Sports the day after the fight. “It was entertaining; Floyd showing out as usual but it was no match but the energy was in the crowd and if you were looking for that, you got it.”
Complete chaos after the Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III fight was stopped 😳
Although jarring, this is not the first time the boxing business has seen an in-ring unsanctioned brawl.
“Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota, that was a melee,” Carver continued. “Floyd with Zab Judah was kind of the same thing but I don’t think it’s happened in an exhibition before. Last names matter, and I think with these two huge brands it brought a lot of energy.
“At every exhibition, a real fight breaks out. Gotti was the instigator. If anybody was at fault here, it’s the Gotti camp. I think a rematch is definitely in store … Can you imagine Madison Square Garden, the big house?”
Joseline Hernandez arrested for beating the brakes off of Big Lex..
at the backstage of Mayweather and John Gotti III Fight.. She was fighting any and everybody in sight..or who try to stop her licks..
The other fight could be between Gotti’s sister, Victoria, and Mayweather’s daughter Yaya, who have beef in the aftermath of the melee. She went online immediately after and went on a racist rant against Mayweather, his grandson, and rapper NBA Youngboy, the child’s father. Reality stars Joseline Hernandez and Big Lex also had a scuffle backstage during the fight that went viral, and many would like to see them also battle in what is becoming an extended saga of drama.
‘Basketball Is Not The Main Thing In My Life.’ | Finals MVP Nikola Jokic Shows You Can Be Great Without Being Obsessed
NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic would already be back in Serbia if he had things his way. But there are a few championship obligations, like Thursday’s parade for the Nuggets in Denver. But his perspective on basketball offers a refreshing alternative to the accepted paradigm that one must be singularly obsessed to become the best in the world.
🎙️ Nikola Jokic was asked if he was looking forward to a championship parade…
Following the Nuggets’ Game 5 victory on Monday clinching the franchise’s first NBA championship, a lot of the online conversation focused on how unbothered Jokic seemed with al the fanfare. His reactions subdued. Certainly not the image of Michael Jordan clutching his first trophy in 1991 as a member of the Chicago Bulls or Kevin Garnett’s “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” scream when the Boston Celtics won in 2008.
Nikola Jokic Likes Basketball But Loves Home
In Jokic’s on-court interview with ABC’s Lisa Salters when asked how he felt, Jokic said, “The job is done. Now we can go home.”
Jokic’s need to want to be home of course is born in the fact that he is not American. He grew up in Sombor, Serbia. When the Nuggets’ season ends he doesn’t head to Los Angeles with many of the NBA’s players. He goes home to spend time with is family, friends and especially his horses.
Jokic’s superstar turn runs in direct opposition to what American NBA fans expect. For decades Michael Jordan has been the archetype. A maniacal ruthless focus on being the best, to the exclusion of everything. The player who patterned his entire persona and game off of Jordan, Kobe Bryant, was the exact same way.
Bryant once famously said, “friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.”
In his postgame press conference Jokic was continuously asked how he felt about winning a championship and accomplishing something so important and his answer was always some variation of basketball isn’t the most important thing in his life.
“OK, I won it. Not I. We won it. But I think it’s not the most important thing in the world. Still there is a bunch of things that I like, that I like to do. Probably that’s a normal thing, right? Nobody likes his job. Or maybe they do, they’re lying.”
“Basketball is not the main thing in my life. It’s something that I’m good at.”
To say Jokic doesn’t care about basketball would be wrong and foolish. You don’t become the best player in the world, a two-time league MVP (should’ve won his third straight), a Finals MVP and become the first person in league history to lead the playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists by not caring.
Just to accomplish that from where he was when he got drafted 41st overall in 2014 took a ton of work on his body, his game, his mind, everything.
But it isn’t the most important thing in the world to him.
Growing up in Serbia he never thought about playing in the NBA because it seemed so far off.
His approach to the game game as a young player and now as a champion is the opposite of what most American-born players think is needed to be successful.
Jokic is not about rugged individualism and the singular hero narrative. He is far more happy making his teammates better and celebrating their success. He once said “the open man wins the game.” That is how he plays.
Of course it helps to be 7 feet tall, 280ish pounds, an excellent kinematic mover, and possess elite processing speed, touch, vision, etc. But all of that in a player with a different perspective wouldn’t be Jokic.
This isn’t to say that the Jordan, Kobe or LeBron James model doesn’t work. If that’s how a player wants to be and it works for them, great!
But for all the young kids out there dreaming of starring in the NBA someday, that old message of singular obsession as the only way to achieve rings a lot less true today.
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson Feels Some Type Of Way About Not Being In Latto’s ‘Put It On Da Floor Again’ Music Video With Teammate Angel Reese
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year in women’s basketball, helped lead her team to a national title this past season and is a talented rapper. But she’s feeling some type of way about not being included in rapper Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” music video. Adding some spice to the situation is Johnson’s star teammate Angel Reese was in the video.
Flau'jae Johnson On Latto Music Vid Omission, 'Why Wouldn't You Put Me In It?' https://t.co/yB4moP9XEv
“Latto she hit me about it, the day before,” Johnson explained to Baller Alert this week. “She was like ‘I want you to be in the video.’ I was like, ‘I’m in L.A. right now. But, yea,h we can make it happen.’ But we didn’t make it happen. Her people never hit my people. I seen she had asked Angel like a week before. And I was like, ‘OK, maybe she ain’t really want me in the video for real. But she had to ask, ’cause we kind of had a relationship before and she put Angel in it.'”
Flau’jae Is A Rapper For Real
It’s clear that Latto and Johnson know each other on some level. No doubt Latto saw or heard about Johnson’s remix of “Put It On Da Floor Again.” It went viral.
https://youtu.be/1d6NX6lDu2o
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Maybe Latto didn’t like it?
But how does Johnson really feel about her teammate Reese being included and not her?
“I didn’t really care because Angel was in it and that was a big moment for women’s basketball, and at the same time, why wouldn’t you put me in it? It just makes sense. I did the remix, it went viral!” Johnson said.
Johnson, who’s signed with Roc Nation, has music in her blood. Her father Jason Johnson was the late Savannah, Georgia, rapper “Camoflauge.” He was a local legend but died months before she was born.
“Just being who he was, I feel like it’s just in me. I get inspired, but it’s really in me to do great things,” Flau’jae said. “I feel like he’s who I look up to, especially in music. Cadences and flows and rhymes that I do are inspired by him. He still has a lot of inspiration on everything that I do.”
Flau’jae’s musical talent and her basketball career would have been a problem in the past. But now that college athletes can profit off NIL deals, they sky’s the limit.
“It’s a blessing to have NIL because now I can sell my music and my merch and my name, image and likeness and anything else I want to do, so it’s great,” she said. “There’s literally nothing you can’t do with NIL. You just gotta be creative.”
Reese may have gotten the shine of being in the Latto music video. But as a true rapper, Flau’jae will have tons of opportunities to shine, earn and appear on larger platforms. The Roc Nation rapper is rumored to be connecting with Lil Wayne soon on some music.
Apparently The IG Influencer Life Ain’t What It Seems | Singer And Fitness Model Allegedly Caught With 200 Pounds Of Cocaine
Police say a pair of Instagram influencers were caught with over 200 pounds of cocaine which converts roughly to $3 million, according to reports.
The two women, given names Racquelle Dolores Anteola, 34, of Van Nuys, California, and Melissa Dufour, 36, of Miramar, Florida, were arrested last Thursday while driving on Interstate 10 in Mobile County, Alabama.
Fitness Influencer Pal Caught With Over 200 Pounds of Cocaine Stuffed into Hidden Compartments in SUV, Police Say https://t.co/0m20n7w2OY
Anteola, a singer and rapper who goes by the name Rahky on Instagram, where she has 118,000 followers, and fitness entrepreneur Dufour, who owns a clothing line called Sexy Sweats she purveys to her more than 10,000 fans, face a minimum 10 years behind bars on federal drug trafficking charges.
The two women were pulled over while driving from Houston to Atlanta, with court documents stating the women met each another at a house party in Houston, where they got “very drunk.”
During the traffic stop a K-9 indicated drugs might be present in the vehicle. Police combed through the Black Ford pop pop Expedition and allegedly found several hidden compartments concealing 216 pounds of cocaine packed in 84 bundles.
Police believe the vehicle’s back seat was “modified with a steel aftermarket compartment,” In addition, they believe the floor had been lowered and welded back together to provide storage room. A second compartment was located in the back of the SUV, where the side panels were hollowed out.
The women remain in Mobile County Metro Jail and are each being held on $1 million bonds. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly attempting to take the women into custody to charge them at the federal level.
Transporting drugs across state lines is a federal offense, and given the amount that was seized that’s where the minimum 10-year sentence comes into play.
This is a bad look whether they sought this opportunity or were convinced to do it.
No matter how well you think you’ve got the illicit drugs hidden, they will get sniffed out by a K-9.
Given the states the two were traveling to and through that’s presumably why a K-9 unit was present. Otherwise it does seem odd that a K-9 was part of a routine traffic stop.
The route the women were traveling could also be a known drug transportation corridor.
According to the Justice Department just about “every interstate and highway in the United States is used by traffickers to transport illicit drugs to and from distribution centers and market areas throughout the country, and every highway intersection provides alternative routes to drug markets.”
It wasn’t reported if the women have any prior drug connections or charges on their records. In all likelihood they were looking for some quick cash and this opportunity presented itself. Now they’re looking at serious time behind bars.
It’s unlikely these two women are the sole people responsible for over 200 pounds of cocaine. When the federal prosecutors start applying pressure, will one or both women start singing? Or will they take the full weight? Time will tell.
Lawyer Who Hobnobbed With NFL Stars As She Swindled $8 Million From Client To Fund Lavish Lifestyle Will Plead Guilty To Fraud
A California lawyer who swindled her clients out of more than $8 million and blew the funds on her lavish lifestyle has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Sara Jacqueline King, 39, recruited investors to fund business loans from January 2022 until January 2023, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in California. She reportedly used her business King Family Lending LLC in Newport Beach, California.
This week the U.S, Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced King has reached a plea agreement to plead guilty to the federal charges levied against her. King could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, and she agreed to pay back a total of $8,785,045 to five investors.
(Left) Sara King posing in her new Porsche with her dog. (Right) King on a golf course in Las Vegas with (from left) Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen.
Living Lavish
After recruiting the investors, King reportedly used her victims’ funds to gamble at las Vegas casinos, support her lavish lifestyle, and withdrew $132,156 from her company’s business account to purchase an electric Porsche Taycan.
According to the New York Post, LDR International Limited filed a lawsuit on Feb. 11 against King and her company for fraud, civil theft, and breach of written contract. The alleged phony loans were presented with documentation that was supposedly from borrowers showing that they were secured with collateral.
“The purported loans from King Lending to the third-party borrowers were purportedly secured by various forms of collateral, including but not limited to luxury automobiles, boats, yachts, jewelry, watches, precious metal coins, and the earnings from guaranteed professional sports contracts,” the lawsuit states.
The British Virgin Islands-based company claimed they made 97 different loans that were worth about $10.3 million to King’s company.
“They show the lavish lifestyle she was living, jewelry, cars, and the image she was trying to portray, as well as being a successful California licensed attorney,” the lawsuit filing said.
The civil lawsuit also claims she used celebrity connections to impress investors. The lawsuit included a picture of King posing with Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen during “The Match” celebrity golf contest that airs on TNT.
“King spent the majority of the funds loaned by Plaintiff to King Lending to gamble in Las Vegas, fund an extravagant lifestyle, and for other personal uses by King,” wrote attorneys representing LDR International in their 33-page filing. “Plaintiff is informed and believes that King moved into the Wynn Las Vegas resort and hotel, lived there for six months, and gambled 24/7.”
Dead Broke
The lawsuit shows King claims she is now dead broke and her ex-husband, Kamran Pahlavi, fled to Morocco and backed the allegations of his ex-wife being involved with a “massive fraud.”
“King has recently provided evidence she only has $11.98 to her name,” according to the lawsuit.
It was also reported in February that King went to LDR and asked for more money to help recoup the funds she previously lost.
Devalued! Zion Williamson Rookie Card Value Plummets Amid Scandal | It Was All Good Just A Year Ago
It was all good just a year ago. New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson is taking losses, not just in the relationship realm but on the value of his rookie card. Romantic relationship scandals and a lack of consistent activity on the court have negatively affected the worth of said card. Williamson entered the league in 2019, when “the hobby boomed during COVID,” said Mark Channing to Sports Illustrated. Channing is the owner of Louisiana-based Markman Sportscards and Collectibles, the official exclusive card ‘breaker’ of the New Orleans Pelicans.
As the official opener of exclusive hobby boxes of cards during breaks in Pelicans games, Channing said last year to SI that “Zion and Ja (Morant) came in that 2019 class, and things just exploded. Great young players, a fantastic draft.”
However, now roiled in off-the-court shenanigans, both players have damaged their brands, and Williamson’s rookie card is a casualty. During the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, prices for Zion Williamson’s rookie cards were high, due to his being the number-one pick by the New Orleans Pelicans. According to Card Ladder data, Williamson’s PSA 10 Panini Prizm Silver rookie card has dropped from $705 to $460 in three months.
Before that, his value in the NBA card market significantly had decreased from its peak for the hobby market.
The world banked on his potential; however, injuries have saddled his ability to live up to the hype, and now the accusations in his personal life are a factor. Factor in the allegations of poor conditioning, criticisms from prominent NBA analysts like Charles Barkl, and more, and you have the perfect storm of doubt in a speculative market. Now trysts with adult entertainers and social media “influencers” are only plummeting his stock.
Cardholders must decide if they will offload the cards based on what might be a lackluster future for Williamson or hold on to them, with expectations of a professional rebound.
Best live pack opening ever? 🤯
This 1/1 Zion Williamson rookie card was then sold by @PWCCmarketplace for $111,211 in 2020.
Since being selected No. 1 overall by the Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has spent a lot of time rehabbing from various injuries. He played in just 24 games as a rookie due to a knee injury; Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 NBA season with a foot injury, and was limited to 29 games that season due to his hamstring.
Many sold their Williamson cards early when the newly signed All-Star was rehabbing, but that wasn’t a smart move to Channing.
“That was a mistake. It’s like a stock. When it’s high, get your money,” Channing continued. But to sell low on Zion early. That’s a mistake. Just look at the excitement around the team now. I’m not saying they win a title, but they look great.”
Former porn star Moriah Mills, who prefers to be called “Moriah” is alleging to be a disgruntled ex-lover of Williamson. She recently doubled down on her doxxing crusade against the power forward, going on extended rants against him on Twitter, exposing sexual encounters and financial arrangements with him.
When another woman came out afterward with similar accusations, the clout chase reverberated to the soon-to-be father, who was already trying to rehab his basketball image.
“I Know The Risks, We’ve Had This Conversation Before” | Deion Sanders Is At Risk Of Losing Entire Foot Again, Behind-The-Scenes Video Suggests
Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders is at risk of losing his entire foot.
That’s the same foot that Sanders had two toes removed from during the fall of 2021 while the head coach at Jackson State. Sanders’ health hasn’t really been a topic since he recovered from that near death experience nearly two years ago.
On Monday, Sanders, the two-time Super Bowl champion and one-time DPOY announced that he wouldn’t be able to attend the mega camp at Morehouse. Sanders recently attended one at Prairie View A&M but had to pull out of this one with some pretty serious health implications.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances that’s real, I unfortunately will not be attending the Morehouse camp on tomorrow,” Sanders said via his Instagram while aboard what appeared to be an airplane. “I’m sorry. I apologize but I gotta take care of the body. Gotta take care of the body.”
On Wednesday, a video released by Thee Pregame Show showed out exactly what Sanders meant by that statement concerning his body.
— Thee Pregame Show (@theepregameshow) June 14, 2023
Sanders Meets With Doctors Concerning Foot
During a meeting with his team of doctors on Wednesday, it was mentioned that some of the arteries to the foot which were operated on in Mississippi aren’t receiving ample blood flow, which has caused Sanders to struggle walking, and be in chronic pain.
In the meeting Sanders can he heard saying this ….
“I know the risks. We’ve had this conversation before. That’s how we got here.”
At the same time Sanders wanted to know what could be done so he doesn’t have to miss time with his new team during the season.
“I just want to know what we can do, so we can do it this summer. Because when we get rolling, I’m not going to have time to do it.”
Sounds like Sanders is trying to expedite the process so he doesn’t have to miss any of the Buffaloes’ games this season. The team opens up at defending national runner-up TCU, before hosting Nebraska in a classic Big 8 battle from back in the day.
WE LIVEEE 🦬
The first episode of @JoelKlatt’s Big Noon Conversations with @DeionSanders is available now:
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) June 12, 2023
Sanders Is Optimistic For 2023 Season
Always the optimist, Sanders recently interviewed with former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt. In the interview, Klatt who’s just hoping to see an improvement from last year’s abysmal 1-11 season, asked Sanders about if a 4-5 win season would be viewed as major improvement?
Sanders’ response was just about what you’d expect from him.
“I don’t think like that. I don’t want a sip. I want it all. And I want it now. And I feel like we’re assembling the type of young men and the staff to have it all.”
Sounds like a confident answer, but what’s more important at the moment is for Sanders to get healthy so he’s able to be there with his team all season.
Patrick Beverley Obviously Didn’t Watch The NBA Finals | Ranks Karl-Anthony Towns Ahead Of Nikola Jokic As The Best Center In The NBA
The Denver Nuggets’ playoff run to win the NBA title this year clearly meant nothing to Patrick Beverley, or he is on picking up where he left off last season when he took shots at Chris Paul. The three-time NBA All-Defensive selection recently made a shocking revelation about who he think is currently the best center in the league.
(Left) Patrick Beverley during a Chicago Bulls game. (Right) Karl-Anthony Towns during a Minnesota Timberwolves game. (Photos: Getty Images)
Beverley, like many current athletes, has started his own podcast titled the “Pat Bev Pod” with co-host Rone. The two had Karl-Anthony Towns on as a guest, and they discussed who is currently the best center in the NBA. Of course, Towns picked himself, but Beverley also choose the Timberwolves big man. The news was a shock, because on Monday night the world saw Nikola Jokic win his first NBA title while leading the entire playoffs in points, rebounds and assists.
Pat Bev Is On Something
Co-host Rone asked Towns about who he thought was the best shooting big man of all-time.
“Yes, yes. You don’t gotta finish the rest of the question. What’s the next one?” Towns replied.
Then, the conversation shifted to who was the best big man in the NBA.
“’You played with KAT, you played against Embiid, and you played against Joker. ‘Who you think the best big man is?'” Beverley described being asked. “And I go, ‘Y’all not gon’ like my answer.’ And they go, ‘No, no, for real, Pat, we are talking basketball talk, not, like, Patrick Beverley talk.’ I’m all right, like, cool, KAT.”
He continued by saying he thought Towns was the most skilled of the three players.
“My man when it comes to like offensively gifted players, I say, man … it’s two people, bro. It’s K.A.T. and it’s James Harden, and I think I got K.A.T. [No. 1],” Beverley said.
Pat has KAT as the best 5 man in the league and the most skilled!
Towns doubled down on his greatness claim later on in the podcast episode.
“When my time is up and I retire….There’s gonna be people who are gonna say that I changed the game,” he said.
What About the Playoffs?
Jokic’s historic run was well documented throughout the playoffs. He was the first player in NBA history to lead the entire playoffs in points (600), rebounds (290), and assists (190). He was the first player with a 30 point, 20 rebound, and 10 assist game in the NBA Finals. His 10 triple-doubles set an NBA playoff record as well.
Last but not least, Jokic is the first center since Shaquille O’Neal to win Finals MVP.
Beverley and Towns played together during the 2021-22 NBA season, and that would explain his bias for his former teammate.
Towns averaged 18.2 points per game and 10.2 assists per game in their first round series against the Nuggets. Before the Timberwolves could blink, they found themselves in a 3-0 deficit and on the brink of being swept. They managed to win one game in the series, but it wasn’t a competitive matchup. So Beverley might want to rewatch the tape because Towns shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as Jokic.
“Wish Me Luck” | Why LeSean McCoy Is The Best Candidate To Replace Shannon Sharpe On FS1’s “Undisputed”
From the moment it was announced that Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe would be leaving “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless, rumors quickly swirled that two-time Super Bowl champion and Philadelphia Eagles all-time leading rusher LeSean McCoy was a real possibility to replace the outgoing Sharpe.
Sounds like the cat’s out of the proverbial bag, and McCoy will be joining Bayless on the show.
McCoy Is Likely Choice To Replace Shannon Sharpe
Currently a co-host on FS1’s “SPEAK,” McCoy seems like the best fit to replace Sharpe, who held the seat opposite Bayless since the show’s inception in 2016. While, Shady is still relatively new to sports television, he’d be a very good adversary for Bayless, and here are a few reasons why.
McCoy is very opinionated and sticks to his guns. He’s also a former athlete who in many folks’ eyes is a borderline Hall of Famer, sort of like Sharpe, who’s enshrined in Canton.
Lastly, as still a relative newbie in the sports television realm, Shady can’t command a huge salary. Sharpe was making $4 million a year, which is half of what Bayless makes at $8 million.
McCoy Had A Great Career
During his 12-year career, McCoy rushed for over 11,000 yards. Known for his shiftiness and elusiveness he also caught over 500 passes for nearly 3,900 yards and 89 total touchdowns.
McCoy also won two Super Bowls at the end of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers without ever playing a single down.
So he’s been on a roll.
‘There’s Things I Could Do Better To Help Out With This Process’ | Josh Allen Speaks On Stefon Diggs Situation. What Is Going On In Buffalo?
Something is going on with the Buffalo Bills and star WR Stefon Diggs. The two-time All-Pro was absent from the team’s first mandatory minicamp practice Tuesday after being at the facility earlier that same day. QB Josh Allen says there are some internal things going on that he can do a better job with. What?
Does Diggs Want More Of A Say In The Offense?
“There’s things that I could do better to help out with this process and try to get him back here and be the Buffalo Bill that he’s meant to be,” Allen said. “I think we’re just, as an organization, maybe not communicating the right way with everything. So again, just trying to talk and listen at the same time and hear him out. And like I said, just try to move this forward as quickly and as respectfully as possible.”
This likely isn’t a money situation. Diggs signed a four year, $96 million extension last offseason. He made his second All-Pro team and his third Pro Bowl. He was third among all WRs last year in DVOA. He had 108 catches for 1,429 yards and 11 TDs.
But Allen also hinted at incorporating Diggs “a little bit better in what we’re doing here.”
Maybe Diggs wants more of a voice in the offensive game plan. That’s not unheard of.
“Stef, he’s my guy,” Allen said. “Excuse my … I f—ing love him. He’s a brother of mine. This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him. We wish he was in here today and was out there on the field with us and that’s not the case, but I’ve got his back no matter what. And again, I’ve got no doubt that we will figure out what’s going on. I frigging love him. I can’t stress that enough.”
Allen is right about that. As good as he and the Bills offense are, second in overall DVOA last year, Diggs is a big part of that. He commands a lot of attention and safety help over the top. Opening up space for others to make plays.
Diggs has been posting cryptically all season and again this offseason. Perhaps the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs, where he was visibly upset with Allen, was a bigger deal than we thought. Diggs had four catches for 35 yards on 10 targets in the 27-10 divisional round defeat.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he is “very concerned” about Diggs’ absence.
“When players miss, in particular [a] player of Stef’s caliber, you’d love to have those players here,” McDermott said.
It’s June and this is a mandatory minicamp as opposed to OTAs. If this persists into training camp, then the alarm bells really need to go off.
But if the organization gets any hint that the relationship is unsalvageable then they need to pivot quickly. Trading him would cause a dead cap hit, including $13.2 million this year. Not to mention where can they replace that production and talent.
Diggs did show up to practice on Wednesday and was a participant.
But if you think all is well in Buffalo, that’s wishful thinking.
Parents Of 17-Year-Old High School Football Player Who Committed Suicide In Nigerian “Sextortion” Scheme Call It Murder Through Instagram
The parents of Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old Michigan high school senior who committed suicide, is saying that their son was driven to kill himself due to a Nigerian sextortion scam on social media.
“My son was smart. He was a good student. He was a great athlete,” John DeMay, Jordan’s father, told Fox News Digital. “Someone came to his bedroom at 3 in the morning and murdered him through Instagram when we were all sleeping at night, and we had zero chance to stop it.”
After three Nigerian men were arrested in the "sextortion" of 100 young men and the 2022 suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay, DeMay's family is speaking out. https://t.co/NJtxAw41sA
Jordan DeMay, a student at Marquette Senior High School, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 25, 2022, after he was contacted by an Instagram account that appeared to be from a woman with the username “dani.robertts.”
According to reports, the account had been hacked and sold to Samuel Ogoshi, a 22-year-old Nigerian who allegedly used the profile to trick young men into sending him explicit images of themselves.
Ogoshi, is one of three suspects from Lagos arrested earlier this month for allegedly hacking Instagram accounts and sexually extorting, or “sextorting,” more than 100 young men online.
“I can send this nudes to everyone and also send your nudes Until it goes viral,” Ogoshi allegedly messaged DeMay after the teen sent an explicit photo of himself.
“Just pay me rn [right now]. And I won’t expose you,” the suspect reportedly responded.
“How much?” DeMay asked.
Ogoshi allegedly asked for $1,000 and DeMay sent him $300.
Suicide Is The Second Leading Cause Of Death Among Teens
DeMay allegedly told the scammer he was going to kill himself over the sextortion and the response from Ogoshi was callous.
“Good. Do that fast. Or I’ll make you do it. I swear to God,” Ogoshi reportedly answered.
In March the United States attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, announced three Nigerian men, Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogoshi, 20, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, 19, had been indicted on charges including sexual exploitation of a minor, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and internet stalking in connection with Jordan’s death.
Jordan’s father John urges parents to warn their kids over the dangers of internet scams and threats.
“(Kids) have to just understand that this isn’t the end of whatever they think is their life, because it’s not,” Mr DeMay said.
According to studies suicide is the second-leading cause of death for ages 10-24. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college-age youth and ages 12-18. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined.
Every day in America, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people in grades 9-12, according to The Jason Foundation.
This is a tragic loss for the family and an unnecessary death.
There are so many nefarious forces that can harm the vulnerable. Plus the fact that the world is smaller and more connected as a result of the internet and social media. That’s a lot of stimuli for still developing teenage brains. Probably too much.
“I Uplift People Google Me”| History Support’s Shaq’s Claim That Message to Viral Home Depot Girl Was to Uplift Her Spirits, Not to ‘Slide Into Her DMs’
Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to headlines, especially when it comes to his love life. He was spotted leaving dinner with social media influencer Brittany Renner on last week in Los Angeles. Then, screenshots of him sending messages to Ariana Josephine Cossie, also known as the “Home Depot girl,” were shared by her but fans took it as O’Neal attempting to slide into her DMs.
(Left) Shaquille O’Neal on the set of TNT’s “Inside The NBA.” (Right) Viral Home Depot girl posing in the mirror for a picture. (Photos: @MrsBarnesII/Twitter screenshot)
Shaq Dedicated ToUplifting the Community
Cossie went viral on last week after she made a post saying how older men always give her compliments and tell her she is too pretty to be working at a regular job like Home Depot. Social media encouraged her to start an OnlyFans account and she said no because of her strong religious beliefs. The OnlyFans community took it as a personal shot at their profession and Cossie’s good viral moment quickly turned sour.
Several people on social media chose to take shots at Cossie and took it as far as to share her home address and other personal information. O’Neal sent her an uplifting message on Instagram.
“Don’t let them peopl bother u,” O’Neal wrote.
Cossie replied, “Thank You Shaq!!!”
O’Neal next two messages is what got social media buzzing.
“Don’t read the comments stuff like that will drive you crazy,” he wrote. “Have a great day tell all your boyfriends I said hello lol.”
O’Neal and Cossie both set the record straight by telling social media that is was just uplifting words and nothing more.
“Shaq just uplifting people that’s what the diesel do baby I uplift people google me,” he wrote in response to DJ Akademiks.
O’Neal is absolutely correct when he said he always tries to uplift the community. In April, he sent shoes to teenage boy that struggled with finding sneakers to fit. O’Neal sent 14-year-old Eric Kilburn five pairs of size 23 shoes and called him personally to tell inform the teenager of the good news.
In 2015, O’Neal sat down with Graham Bensinger to explain how he always help people even when no one is looking.
“Like I tell people all the time, I do a lot of stuff seen and unseen. Like, it doesn’t matter to me if you know I just feed 10,000 homeless folks…..I am doing this because this is what I was taught,” O’Neal said to Bensinger.
In 2022, O’Neal partnered with TNT to start a show called “The Game Plan.” The concept of the show is to shine light on small businesses and their owners in the Atlanta area. So, the backlash from social media was unwarranted, because he has always helped out the community.
“We Gotta Collab” | Baby Gronk’s Dad Feeds Him Lines To Say In Interviews, Gets Called Out For Jumping Into Paige Spiranac’s DMs
Jake San Miguel is currently going around exploiting the heck out of his 10-year-old football prodigy son Madden San Miguel, better known as “Baby Gronk.”
People thought Lavar Ball was bad smh look at this clown 🤡
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) June 13, 2023
While San Miguel is doing all he can to push his son’s name, he also found time to jump into the DMs of golf top-rated influencer Paige Spiranac. The 30-year-old Spiranac, who’s known for her sexy videos and posts, doesn’t seem too enthralled with the possibility of actually collaborating with San Miguel.
Spiranac recently mentioned that she’d gotten two messages from the dad of “Baby Gronk.”
The first one last November read like this:
“Are u ever in Dallas TX?”
The second one came this past March.
“We gotta collab,” with a flexed bicep emoji thrown in for good measure.
San Miguel Has Master Plan For Son ‘Baby Gronk’
Now, this could be just part of San Miguel’s master plan he says he had since birth for his son, or it could be his way of hitting on the beautiful Spiranac. At this point it could be a little of both. You know, business and pleasure.
Spiranac does have over 4.5 million followers between her Instagram (3.8M) and Twitter accounts (885K).
San Miguel Tells Baby Gronk What To Say In Odd Interview
On Tuesday, the father-son duo appeared on the “Bring The Juice” podcast, and let’s just say the interview was cringeworthy as it pertained to San Miguel. Every question that Baby Gronk was asked saw dad step in and give him what to say. The kicker was when the host inexplicably asked the 10-year-old if he’s taking Olivia Dunne to his prom. Dad then whispered in his ear and told him to say this.
“I already DMed her and she said yes.”
First of all, the host had no business asking him that, but to have his dad direct him to answer it that way is just as bad, if not worse than the question itself.
This kid has football talent, and you can see it from his videos, but with a dad like that it wouldn’t be surprising if he quits football at some point down the line. It’s not fun for him and it should be, but his dad is living out some personal grand scheme or dream he has through Baby Gronk and using him for personal gain.
During a recent interview San Miguel has been pretty adamant about his intentions for his son despite receiving blowback for how he’s going about it.
“I’ve had a plan for my son since before he was born,” Jake told The Athletic. “It’s playing out now.”
San Miguel is holding no punches as he pushes Baby Gronk into whatever he’s looking to accomplish with his internet sensation son.
“It’s just not for content. We put five or six days a week of training. He diets, he eats clean foods, salmon and brown rice. He is in a routine. He’s a real athlete. He’s not a normal kid. Normal kids are emotional. They put their head down when they make mistakes, talk back to the coaches, they make noises, but he doesn’t do that. He has been trained and programmed since he was 6 years old.”
That right there has drawn the ire of many in the sports world, including future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, J.J. Watt who called out San Miguel in a tweet for training “Baby Gronk” year-round and focusing just on football.
“I’m Here Because Of You” | If Leaving Skip Bayless Is So Painful Why Did Teary-Eyed Shannon Sharpe Break Up The Gang In The First Place?
Tuesday morning Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe bid an emotional goodbye to FS1’s “Undisputed” and co-host Skip Bayless.
The powerhouse daily debate show team joined forces in 2016 after Bayless left ESPN‘s ‘First Take’ and former co-host Stephen A. Smith.
Sharpe, the two-time Super Bowl champion, was chosen to debate Bayless on a myriad of topics daily. And while the two saw plenty of success, they also hit many rough patches, and it seems as if a recent series of debates that turned personal led to their divorce.
Soon-to-be free agent Shannon Sharpe will be leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” and might be looking for a new home. Would Uncle Shay Shay be a part of the McAfee umbrella?https://t.co/NXW8nb6aVN
Shannon Sharpe Emotional, Attributes His Career To Skip Bayless On Last ‘Undisputed’ Show
On Tuesday, a tearful Sharpe thanked everyone that played a role in his rise at FS1, and he even gave Skip his flowers for taking a chance on him.
“I’m here because of you,” Sharpe said to Bayless, fighting back tears. “You’ve allowed me to share the stage with you. You allowed me to share the platform.
“The opportunity that you gave me,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer continued. “To become what I became, I’m forever indebted to you. I’ll never forget what you did for me. You helped me grow more than you’ll ever know.”
Bayless praised Sharpe in response to his emotional goodbye.
Calling Sharpe “a worthy adversary,” Bayless said, “This is a happy-sad moment for me. Because I look forward to your next great achievement — and it is coming.”
Last month it was announced that Sharpe would be leaving the show at the conclusion of the NBA Finals, which ended Monday night out in Denver. Sharpe and the network agreed to a buyout.
An emotional Shannon Sharpe tears up while thanking Skip Bayless for “fighting for him” during his final episode of “Undisputed” pic.twitter.com/mOMSoMQRk4
With no reason for their breakup revealed, many speculate it had something to do with Bayless constantly disrespecting Sharpe amidst debates. Especially ones involving Tom Brady, and disregarding Sharpe’s Hall of Fame career.
Damar Hamlin’s near-death experience, the insensitive tweet Bayless sent following that near fatal ordeal, and his refusal to apologize, were also speculated to be factors in Sharpe exiting the show. When the separation was announced, rumors also spread that Sharpe felt like his voice wasn’t heard in production meetings as show topics and angles were discussed.
The tearful way Sharpe talks about Bayless makes one wonder why they couldn’t get past whatever problems they had and continue on with the successful show.
Sharpe is expected to continue his hit podcast “Club Shay Shay” in the meantime, but that reportedly is also leaving Fox Sports.
As fellow FS1 analyst Colin Cowherd stated last week, Sharpe will land on his feet. He’s too talented not to, and there aren’t many in this opinion space that can captivate an audience like Sharpe.
In February Interview With Sirius XM Radio Sharpe Said He Needed ‘Undisputed’
Prior to Sharpe’s arrival to FS1 in 2016, he dabbled in some media, but not enough to really say he had a media career. But being on “Undisputed” every day changed that perception, and Sharpe knows it.
During an interview with Sirius XM Radio, the former NFL great expounded on that very subject.
“I needed this format. I needed a format where I can talk about a lot of different things and give my opinion at that point. And so Skip gave me this opportunity. And the platform that I have, ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast and ‘Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,’ and more people know me now from ‘Skip and Shannon: Undisputed’ than they know me in all my 14 years that I played in the NFL.”
Things might have gone south fast, but it also seems as if Sharpe got the daily exposure and celebrity boost he needed to go on and do his own thing in media. Only time will tell where he ends up. Or truly why he left.
