The Denver Broncos are looking to recapture the glory days of yesteryear. In an effort to do so the franchise hired former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton to right the ship in the Mile High City.
Payton’s biggest job will be to get Russell Wilson back to the “Let Russ Cook” quarterback he was with the Seattle Seahawks. But that’s not all Payton must figure out. He must also decipher who his backup or backups will be.
This offseason the Broncos signed former Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller Jarrett Stidham to be the team’s primary backup, but they added Ben DiNucci from the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons last week.
While DiNucci is probably a long shot to unseat Stidham as Wilson’s primary backup, he could compete with third-stringer Jarrett Guarantano for that spot. If that were to happen he’d likely be stashed on the practice squad, as no NFL team carries three QBs on game day.
But for that to happen DiNucci will have to stop throwing interceptions in OTAs.
Known for being a jokester during his days in New Orleans, Payton has taken that side with him to the scenic Rocky Mountains. During Tuesday’s OTA session, DiNucci threw an interception with Broncos owner Greg Penner in attendance.
Payton didn’t miss the opportunity to rib his newly signed quarterback about working at Walmart if he continues to throw the football to the defense.
“Unfortunately for Ben DiNucci, it was his first interception,” Payton said. “And there was more to the interception if you looked at it. It was a good play by Sanders…I was telling Greg before practice how this Ben DiNucci was doing well. I told Ben, I said, ‘You know, he owns Walmart. If it doesn’t work out here, I’m sure there’s a greeting opportunity somewhere at one of his local stores.’”
As always, just hilarious stuff from Payton, who’s never been afraid to speak his mind or crack a joke while being serious.
With the XFL season coming to an end, NFL teams have signed 18 XFL players to free agent deals.
DiNucci, who passed for nearly 2,700 yards, 20 touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns for the Sea Dragons, also tossed a league-leading thirteen interceptions in just 10 games.
So the turnover bug is a bit of a problem for the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback. That won’t work with Payton, who’s been known to bench quarterbacks for turning the football over.
The Broncos also signed running back Jacques Patrick, a rugged back who rushed for over 400 yards and five touchdowns for the San Antonio Brahmas.
While both are probably long shots to make the opening day active roster, they are both definitely possible practice squad stashes if nothing else.
Getting players to the NFL from the XFL is the goal of XFL co-owner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the Broncos have two such players.
Ten months after losing the great Bill Russell, the sports world is mourning the loss of the another great, as the legendary Jim Brown has passed at age 87.
Brown dominated on the NFL gridiron just like the 11-time NBA champion Russell dominated on the NBA hardwood, embraced his celebrity and used it to influence widespread social change, Brown blossomed into an activist, actor and a gang intervention specialist, helping to negotiate temporary truces between violence-ridden gangs in California.
He was also strong-minded and his views became increasingly conservative as he grew older, at times, drawing the ire of the Black community that he has stood so valiantly and progressively for during the civil rights movement.
On Friday, May 19, Brown’s wife Monique announced his passing via an Instagram post saying he “passed peacefully” on Thursday night.
“To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star,” the post stated. “To our family he was a loving and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
Brown’s list of accolades from his time on the gridiron are nothing short of amazing, despite his short nine-year career.
Brown lettered at Syracuse ten times in four sports: football, basketball, lacrosse, and track and field.
That led to him being taken in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft. Brown played nine seasons in Cleveland, leading the league in rushing an amazing eight seasons. In his career, Brown rushed for over 12,300 yards while boasting a hefty 5.2 yards per carry.
The player nicknamed “First Down Brown,” rushed for over 100 yards in 58 out of 118 career games just one game shy of half his of his career. Durability was Brown’s name, as he never missed a game in his professional career.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time MVP, Brown, also led the Browns to the 1964 championship. It was the last championship the city would see until LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA title in 2016, 52 years later.
Two of Brown’s three best seasons came in 1958 — when he rushed for 1,527 yards in 12 games — and in 1963 when the dynamic and extremely physical Brown set his career high by rushing for 1,863 yards in a 14-game season.
Brown’s 106 career rushing touchdowns still rank sixth all-time in NFL history. And his 126 total pay dirt touches are still good enough for tenth all-time with former Minnesota Vikings legend Adrian Peterson, who ran the football a lot like Brown did.
The Georgia-born fullback stunned the sports world in 1966 when he retired from the NFL in the summer before the season. At age 30 then, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Brown was healthy and still in his prime after being selected MVP for the third time in his career following a 1965 campaign in which rushed for 1544 yards. His announced his next arena would be acting.
When Brown hung up his cleats in 1966 he already had appeared in the 1964 Western “Rio Conchos.” That summer he had been shooting “The Dirty Dozen” in England when weather issues slowed the production schedule so much that he had to call the Browns to report he’d be delayed in reporting to training camp. Team owner Art Modell told Brown he’d be fined for every day of camp he missed. Brown responded by holding a news conference from the movie set to announce he was done with football.
His football fame made the transition to Hollywood successful. He scored quickly with his role in the action classic “The Dirty Dozen,” which was released in 1967, and by the 1970s he was an in-demand actor for blaxploitation films such as “Slaughter,” “Black Gunn,” and “Three the Hard Way.” Brown would rack up dozens of credits in film and TV over the next several decades, but he also made a name for himself in a recurring role that was no act.
While he is considered by many to be the most dominant running back in NFL history, it’s what Brown did as an activist that stood out as well.
In 1966, Brown helped establish the Negro Industrial and Economic Union, a Black economic empowerment group composed mostly of Black pro athletes.
Describing to Ebony magazine in 1968 what the organization hoped to accomplish, Brown said. “Dealing with the white man economically is one of the things we’re teaching brothers. We believe that the closest you can get to independence in a capitalist country is financial independence.”
Brown took initiative and led the 1967 “Cleveland Summit.” That meeting brought together some powerful Black men, such as Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s battle against having to serve in Vietnam.
In the 1990s he helped mediate the 1992 truce between gangs in Los Angeles. In the years in between, he’d maintained credibility as a powerful voice in the community.
It’s a huge loss to the NFL community, and commissioner Roger Goodell’s statement in wake of the announcement says it all.
Goodell called Brown a “gifted athlete who “became a forerunner and role model for athletes being involved in social initiatives outside their sports.”
The Browns also shared a statement on the franchise’s greatest player.
“It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn this passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world.
“Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those, he impacted along the way.
The world lost an icon and legend who impacted life well beyond the football field. Rest easy, Jim Brown, you earned it.
The Baltimore Ravens are once again expected to have one of the better defenses in the NFL, led by All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith and All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey. But, in typical Ravens style, what they have up front will go a long way in determining just how dominant the 2023 defense will be.
That means the likes of Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, and 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo, who missed the entire 2022 after tearing his Achilles at Michigan’s pro day prior to last year’s draft. Now fully healthy, the former first-round prospect is ready to help the Ravens pass rush in any way he can. But he won’t be doing so in his college jersey No. 55. He’ll instead wear No. 90.
Ojabo who’s participating in the team’s OTAs, talked to the media following Wednesday’s session, and he explained that Suggs doesn’tisn’t for him wearing his No. 55.
“Suggs not letting me, man. We had discussions. We got owner Steve Bisciotti involved a bit, but that’s above me. He’s a legend, so I’m gonna stick with 90.”
Ojabo then said this about numbers after he obviously was told no more than once.
“Numbers don’t really matter. It’s what you do with the numbers.”
In retrospect, Ojabo shouldn’t be all that surprised, he hasn’t played one down in the league. While many retired players are OK with it, Suggs isn’t, and that’s more than OK.
Suggs Had A Legendary Carry In Purple-And-Black No. 55
Suggs, the former Arizona State standout, played 16 seasons in “Charm City,” becoming one of the most feared edge rushers in the league alongside Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
The trio led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2013.
As for Suggs, he racked up 132.5 of his career 139 sacks as a member of the Ravens. He also won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2003) and DPOY (2011). The seven-time Pro Bowl selection also was named an All-Pro twice.
Now you see why he’s not willing to allow his number to be worn.
The Philadelphia Eagles are hoping to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl loser hangover that tends to follow teams when they lose the ultimate game. While their 38-35 Super Sunday loss ended in controversy, the Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, have said all the right things to sound as if they’re moving on from the loss, and are looking ahead to the 2023 season.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown, whose 2022 draft-night addition was arguably the most important move for the NFC champions last season. Brown, who was named second-team All-Pro last season, told reporters that he’s still getting over the loss but he’s doing his best to move on, with the same for the team.
When you work hard to get the Super Bowl and come up short in the gut-wrenching fashion that the Eagles did, that close loss probably stung much more than a blowout.
Brown spoke to reporters Wednesday at the team’s NovaCare Complex practice facility about the temperature around the Eagles franchise right now.
“Me personally, I took some time to watch and try to learn from the mistakes — not just from that game, just from all year,” Brown said. “But in terms of that game, you just can’t dwell on it. That’s life. Not everything is going to go your way. At some point you’ve got to get off the mat and get back working. I think that’s where this team’s at right now, definitely have that chip on that shoulder. Still taking it day by day, still early. You’re just building the house brick by brick.”
In the same breath, Brown also said because of the Eagles’ talent-laden roster they’ll be able to make runs for years to come, which rarely happens in the NFL.
“No, it’s not hard to do, ’cause this is our lives,” Brown said. “We’re world-class for a reason. Adversity happens. That was a big one. It’s the Super Bowl. But as athletes, we face adversity all the time. Even if it’s small adversity, we face it, and we have to deal with it. I look at it in terms of it’s just life. Of course, you can’t want something so bad, but it’s not your time, it’s just not your time. Get back to work. Don’t quit. You never know, ’cause next time could be your time. We one day at a time. We not trying to look ahead, season’s far ahead, but we working one day at a time.”
Following the trade, Brown didn’t disappoint, breaking the franchise single-season receiving yards mark with 1,496, a record previously held by former Eagles speedster DeSean Jackson. He also tied for second-most touchdown receptions in a season with 11.
Brown’s arrival gave MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts the true No. 1 receiver the offense coveted. It also allowed 2020 Heisman Trophy winner and 2021 first-round pick DeVonta Smith to play a more comfortable No. 2 role for the Eagles.
With Brown and a host of other talented pieces returning on both sides of the football, Philly should be knocking on the Super Sunday door again.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Golden State Warriors and general manager Bob Myers are not close on a contract extension. Myers, the architect of the Warriors’ dynasty, is on the last year of his deal, which expires June 30. If Myers and the Warriors are unable to reach an agreement, this might spell the end of the dynasty in the Bay.
It would be foolish to discount the Warriors as a dead dynasty if they fail to retain Myers, because they still have Stephen Curry who plays at an All-NBA if not MVP level.
But Myers’ presence is critical. He is the bridge between ownership and players/coaches. Known as a great relationship builder, he is connected to the core players and head coach Steve Kerr in a way most general managers aren’t with their players and coach.
Draymond Green, the team’s second-most important player after Curry and their vocal leader, is a difficult employee. He runs hot and his emotions get the better of him often. We all saw him knock Jordan Poole out in training camp.
It is Myers and his empathy and relationship with Green that pulls the emotional star back from the brink time and again.
“The guy’s a force. He’s unique. He’s a leader,” Myers said of Green during this year’s playoffs. “He will tell you that he’s made mistakes. You cannot hide from them, they’re out there for everyone to see. He has a good heart, I know that. But that doesn’t mean he’s mistake-free.”
The relationship is a two-way street.
“Y’all don’t always get to see Bob’s work, other than putting the team together,” Green said after an important game to end the regular season as the Warriors were fighting to stay out of the play-in. “But he’s so important to everything that we do. I can’t imagine … and I know, I watch this league. GMs don’t keep a pulse on the team like Bob keeps a pulse of this team. Maybe two other GMs in the league right there would come down to the bench and say something. And that’s also someone who I have the utmost respect for.”
“If Bob comes and tells me something, that’s Bible to me,” Green added. “I’m going to listen to that. But that’s a relationship that has been built over the last 11 years, and that is a relationship that will continue to grow over the next 40 years. For him to come down in that moment and say something to me, you gotta honor that, and it was huge.”
This goes beyond basketball.
Team owner Joe Lacob has already said he does not want to have a $400 million salary and tax bill, which is what he’ll have if Green and Klay Thompson get extensions.
If Myers is the team GM maybe he gets Green and Thompson to take a little less so they can keep the championship run going.
Maybe Myers convinces Lacob to move Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga to get veteran players and some athleticism that can continue Curry’s extended prime.
The players and coaches want Myers back and they all want to keep the train rolling, because they believe they can still win titles.
“Our organization has a lot to sort through this summer,” Kerr said Tuesday during his end of season press conference. “My contract situation is not, nor should it be, at the top of the list. Right now Bob’s contract situation is No. 1 because that influences a lot of the player decisions that have to be made, contracts, draft, free agency. We will get to my stuff whenever that happens, and I’m in no rush for that.”
If Myers doesn’t return it will be a different tenor and mood around the organization. Assistant GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. is expected to be the front-runner if Myers leaves. While the organization believes in him, he doesn’t have the equity with the players and Kerr that Myers built over the years.
In that respect there would be no replacing Myers, and if that’s the case Lacob may want to go forward with Curry and the younger talent and look toward the future.
Alexis Morris has had a rocky start to her WNBA career after a dream ending to her college career. The former LSU guard was drafted with 22nd overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun, but she now finds herself unemployed.
Morris tweeted out from her personal Twitter account that she was waived on May 10 by the Sun. Since she was waived, WNBA fans have shed some light on some of her recent tweets talking about the basketball culture on the college and pro level.
Morris first made a splash on social media when she made a video after her first day of training camp. She talked about how college programs need to model their systems to the WNBA so it would be an easier transition for rookie players.
“This is for the colleges and institutions: In order to grow the league, you have to prep the players for what’s to come,” Morris said in the video. “In order to do that, you have to watch the league, you have to see the style of play, the systems that they’re running so that the adjustment and the transition for women college players to the WNBA won’t be so difficult.”
Then Morris wrote a series of tweets after she was cut that were seemingly directed at the hierarchy of the WNBA.
“If we can’t make roster spots for rookies, cut the vets,” wrote Morris.
She continued, “The vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch bro.”
Morris kept the snipes going with another tweet that attacked the age of certain players.
“If you knocking at 35, hang it up and I mean WIRED HANGER ‘Hang it up,'” wrote Morris.
Morris deleted the tweets, but that didn’t stop social media from getting screenshots. Now she is facing backlash from the WNBA community and Twitter users.
Tasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics commented to defend the veteran players.
“31 and I’m not leaving. You gotta try to take my spot,” wrote Cloud.
“As someone who’s been cut several, and I mean SEVERAL, times…it’s tough & not a great feeling, but it doesn’t mean it has to be the end of your career. Grind, have a chip on your shoulder, and work to get back,” wrote former WNBA player Sydney Colson.
Fans also pointed out to a bigger issue in the WNBA, which is there is not enough space for the talent. Brea Beal, Destanni Henderson, and DiDi Richards are among notable young players that were cut this spring. This is expected to happen in a league that just celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022 and only has 12 teams.
The revenue generated by the league does not produce enough money to keep players from playing overseas during the offseason to earn extra income. It is a problem that the league will continue to face for the time being. Before the 1980s, some NBA players would have to work offseason jobs to support their families. The breakthrough came when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson entered the NBA. The two are credited for helping to build the league to what it has become today. WNBA players and fans might have to wait patiently for their own such breakthrough.
Former NBA player Dwight Howard is having some fun at a few NBA players’ expense. The three-time defensive player of the year has been posting pictures on his Instagram story of current NBA players that have been knocked out of the playoffs. The players aren’t in their NBA jerseys but photoshopped in Taoyuan Leopards jerseys. The pro team in Taiwan that Howard plays for.
Players included are: Klay Thompson, Julius Randle, Jordan Poole, Ben Simmons, Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, James Harden, and Kevin Durant.
Howard also had a video in his Instagram story where he called the players out by name.
“Jordan Poole, come on! Julius Randle, come on!” Howard shouted. “Ben Simmons, come on man! … Klay, you can slide down here too, my boy. Deandre Ayton, you and CP3 come on. KD? Come on, KD! … They talking about him going back to Houston, but I think this might be a better look. James Harden, come on down here too, boy!”
Given who he chose to mention, is Howard saying these players are all washed?
Everyone on that list save Durant had a poor playoff run. Durant wasn’t his usual elite self. But still averaged 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists on 51 eFG% and 59 TS% efficiency splits.
This is just an attempt at being funny and it’s low-hanging fruit but not entirely unfunny.
Howard’s joke got us thinking, which current older NBA stars are looking at the end of the road in their storied histories.
Ayton is only 24 years old. He got his money last offseason, and now that the Phoenix Suns have fired Monty Williams maybe a new voice will unlock his potential and get him to play with more force.
Poole is 23 and after a rough postseason and never truly recovering from the Draymond Green punch, there is talk that he will be on the trade block this summer. Maybe a change of scenery would help the young baller, but it’s too early to give up on him having future postseason success.
Ben Simmons has not played productive basketball for a meaningful stretch since 2021. The Brooklyn Nets swingman has two years and just under $80 million left on his deal. He’s 26, but looks a long way from being what he once was.
Thompson is an interesting case. The 33-year-old four time champion had a nice run in the second half of the regular season, but was up and down in the postseason. Mainly down against the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming off two major injuries, his best years are clearly behind him. He’s extension-eligible. Will the Golden State Warriors get him to come back on a massive pay cut?
Randle had an All-NBA regular season and was nursing an ankle injury in the postseason. He’s demonstrated that hey can be a good player on a playoff team. But if you want to be a championship team, he’s likely best as a third option.
Paul suffered yet another playoff injury. The 38-year-old is in the twilight of his career. The Suns are going to guarantee his entire contract for next season, but that’s likely so it’s a full expiring in any trade scenario.
Harden had some incredible playoff games but in a critical Game 7 with the Philadelphia 76ers’ season on the line he and MVP Joel Embiid came up very short.
Howard, an eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, six-time All-Defense, five-time rebounding champ, and two-time blocks champ signed with the Leopards in November 2022 following 18 NBA seasons.
Former NBA player turned HBCU golfer J.R. Smith was a recent guest on JJ Redick’s podcast and said while he was a member of the Denver Nuggets they never had an out of bounds play under head coach George Karl.
Smith played with the Nuggets from 2006 to 2011, and during the 2008-09 season the Nuggets advanced to the conference finals and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
“Seriously, we didn’t have one out of bounds play my whole time playing for this man,” Smith said on “The Old Man And The Three” while lamenting the conference finals loss.
Karl was not a perfect coach but amassed an 1175–824 record over his career. He played his college ball at the University of North Carolina under the late legendary Dean Smith, who was one of his coaching mentors. It would stand to reason he has run out of bounds plays before.
Karl called cap on Smith and quote-tweeted a response on Twitter.
“I’m happy for @TheRealJRSmith these days with his education, golf etc. And he’s the second best athlete I coached after Shawn! Re out of bounds plays, I’m sure JR was smoking weed when we practiced them but it’s 15 years ago so let’s just celebrate and move forward!”
Smith had some questionable behavior as a young player in Denver under Karl and his shot selection always earned him a side eye from the coach. Perhaps they still have bad blood?
Smith blocked Karl after his response and Karl let everyone know.
Back in 2016, Karl released his book “Furious George,” where he talked about coaching Smith, among others.
“J.R. had a slightly different story. He went straight from high school in New Jersey to AAU success to the NBA. His father was on the scene and in his life, which is obviously good. But Earl Smith Jr. urged his son to shoot the ball and keep shooting it from the very moment I put him in a game, which is obviously bad.
“In his defense, sometimes J.R. can make it from anywhere and score in bunches. But I wanted defense and commitment to the team. What I got was a player with a huge sense of entitlement, a distracting posse, his eye always on his next contract, and some really unbelievable shot selection.
“He had problems off the court, too, which is none of my business. Until off the court affects on the court. J.R. collected cars. He drove them fast, resulting in tickets and license suspensions. He also got some jail time for a 2007 crash that killed his passenger, his friend Andre Bell.”
When the book was released Smith said of Karl, “Still trying to be relevant. Sad just sad.”
It’s clear these two still feel some type of way about one another and they will not be exchanging pleasantries the next time they see each other.
Smith earned the scholar athlete award at North Carolina A&T in 2022, the same year Karl was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
For most people, Rolando “Rolly” Romero is the guy Gervonta “Tank” Davis knocked out before the last guy, “King” Ryan Garcia. The loss was still fresh for Rolly, but his next fight, which happened on Saturday, saw him become a champion at 140 pounds controversially as a suspect flurry of barely landing punches and an early stoppage gave him the belt
Romero, a Mayweather Promotions fighter, fought Ismael Barroso in Las Vegas on Showtime for the vacant WBA super lightweight title. After looking reluctant throughout the fight, Romero was knocked down by Barroso in the third round. He was able to return the favor, knocking down Barroso, debatably, with what appeared to be a shove in the ninth round.
After the action resumed the fighters began exchange punches in a corner, with Romero busier but not landing clean shots and missing many others. At the 2:41 mark, referee Tony Weeks felt he had seen enough as Romero hurled a flurry of punches, and he stopped the fight while Barroso was still on his feet, defending himself and counterpunching. Immediately, the boxing world erupted, calling foul, with many believing early stoppages are killing the sport’s credibility.
Even the newly crowned champion questioned the ending.
“I’ll be honest,” Romero said during the post-fight interview, “he’s a warrior and he should have been allowed to continue.”
Ihe 28-year-old Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) was down on all three scorecards entering the ninth round. The 40-year-old Barroso was ahead by three different scores according to judges Tim Cheatham (76-75), David Sutherland (77-74), and mainly by Steve Weisfeld (78-73).
“I am fine,” Barroso said during the post-fight interview. “I think it was an injustice to stop the fight. I was landing the better shots. The referee just stopped the fight and he didn’t say anything,” Barroso said. “You can see it clearly. I’m the one who’s hitting him. There was nothing clear that he hit me with. I don’t understand why they stopped the fight.”
Many were surprised that Romero even received the title shot in a new division after losing his lightweight title shot devastatingly against Tank Davis one year ago in the Barclays Center. For his next fight to be a title fight after stepping up in weight is highly unusual, and coupled with the win, the boxing world was crying foul.
“Boxing took an L tonight,” Claressa Shields tweeted. “That shit was pathetic. And Barraso ain’t 40 Idc what y’all say. Good night y’all done ruined the GWOAT weekend.”
Romero called out who he wants to fight next, either a Tank Davis rematch back at lightweight or his first title defense against Ryan Garcia. However, Garcia saw the fight and thought about what he felt was an unfair win.
“WOW THAT WAS DIRTY WAY TOO EARLY #RomeroVsBarros,” Garcia tweeted.
Whether Garcia would agree to that fight is inconsequential as the win raises many questions about veteran referee Tony Weeks’ judgment and the WBA’s to give Rolly the title shot. Rolly proves that his previous antics to hype the Tank Davis fight are still paying dividends. Now he has a belt to prove it, whether he earned it or was gifted by a referee’s apparently faulty decision-making.
On Wednesday a Florida Judge ruled that golf legend Tiger Woods‘ ex Erica Herman must adhere to the NDA she signed in 2017 and cannot reveal anything publicly about her time with the 15-time Grand Slam winner. The lawsuits Herman has pending against Woods and a trust that owns his beachside mansion in Florida must be resolved in arbitration behind closed doors.
Florida Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Metzger, in an 11-page opinion, rejected Herman’s motion to break the NDA under the federal Speak Out Act.
The Federal Speak Out Act prohibits the judicial enforceability of a nondisclosure clause or nondisparagement clause agreed to before a dispute arises involving sexual assault or sexual harassment in violation of federal, tribal, or state law.
In her opinion Metzger called Herman’s sexual assault claim against Woods “vague and threadbare.”
“Herman has had the opportunity [to] provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, however, she has not done so,” Metzger wrote.
Woods’ attorneys have maintained their client’s innocence and said Herman is a jilted ex-girlfriend.
In documents filed with the court Herman alleges that Woods’ team told her to pack a suitcase for a vacation and when they dropped her off at the airport they told her she was being locked out of Woods’ home in Hobe Sound, Florida, where they lived together for six years.
Herman’s $30 million lawsuit alleges that she performed “valuable services” for Woods in exchange for living rent-free.
Herman says there was an “oral” tenancy agreement that was supposed to last five years after their breakup.
Herman also alleges that Woods’ legal team met her at the airport with a written proposal that resolved any of the issues between her and the golfer. She also alleges that Woods’ team confiscated $40K from her that she kept in the house.
The lawsuit was filed against Woods’ trust, which is the title holder on the property. The $30 million figure is “reasonable rental value” of the home for five years, according to Herman.
Woods’ breakup game is cold. Using his lawyers and team to trick Herman to get her out of the house was a wild move, if true.
The golf legend is notoriously private, so having her sign an NDA on its face isn’t weird. He doesn’t want details of his private life in the public space. He had enough of that experience during his marriage to Elin Nordegren, when it was revealed that Woods was a serial adulterer.
If Herman and her legal team were unable to provide evidence to get the NDA lifted under the Speak Out Act, it’s not clear what they have in the way of evidence that suggests an “oral tenancy.”
It is highly unlikely an arbitrator will award Herman $30 million. Whatever happens will take place behind closed doors and Herman nor Woods will be able to speak about it publicly.
Woods last played golf at The Masters in April. He made the cut but withdrew prior to the third round due to an injury. On April 19 it was announced that he had a subtalar fusion procedure done on his ankle to address post-traumatic arthritis.
Francis Ngannou is taking a page out of the Jay-Z book of entrepreneurship, because he’s “showing you how to do this, son!” After months of negotiating and over a year of professional inactivity, “The Predator” has signed a historic deal with the Professional Fighters League.
The Cameroonian heavyweight has executed a deal that makes him one of the most intelligent fighters in MMA history. In a press release announcing the signing, the agreement was referred to as a “strategic partnership” based on nontraditional elements outside a standard fighter promotional agreement. Ngannou will not be a part of the regular Professional Fighters League tournament schedule.
Instead, he will debut in the league’s “Super Fight Division” in 2024 and share in the pay-per-view revenue for his fights.
Additionally, he will lead the league’s push into Africa as chairman and minority equity owner of the organization’s new PFL Africa division. He will serve on the PFL athlete advisory board. Oh, and he can pursue boxing, too, as the agreement is just for his athletic services in MMA.
The former UFC heavyweight champion took to YouTube to reassure fans that he is doing better than all right; he did it his way.
“This is the best business decision that I have ever done,” Ngannou said in the video. “At the beginning of my free agency, I didn’t know that I could have a deal structure where I could have all this in one deal. I have myself a good guarantee, which is more important. And most importantly, I was even able to have a guarantee of $2 million for my opponent, [so] whomever I’m going to fight next is going to make money too.
“I appreciate your concern. I appreciate your worries about me. But man, believe me, I’m doing great,” he added. “With all due respect to all the other promotions, nobody could really get anywhere close to this point. All the stuff that mattered to me, nobody really cared about it. Everybody just wants to get a fight out of you and shake hands goodbye.
“Which is something I don’t have here. No matter what other promoters say, no matter what some fighters say, no matter what some media say, who do you think is the baddest motherf***er on the planet? Me.”
According to reports, Ngannou will receive “just shy” of eight figures for each of the two to three fights on the deal, complete control over his sponsors, and receive a salary as a PFL brand ambassador. He is also making sure his opponents make $2 million per fight.
Take that, Dana White. Ngannou famously left the UFC after his contract ended, and negotiations went south for his return.
“Before my last fight, when I fought Ciryl Gane, I met with Dana [White] in a restaurant,” Ngannou said on The MMA Hour. “I went to him, we spoke. I said, ‘I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me. I appreciate all the help, but at this point, I feel like I don’t belong anymore.
“I feel like I’m not in the promotion. I’m in a fight in the promotion and I don’t know exactly how I got into a fight with the promotion.’ And he was like, ‘Yes, we want you here. I think you have to change your team,’ or something.
“I was like, ‘I feel like I’ve been in a promotion lately without a promoter. I don’t have a promoter anymore.’ I said this to him, ‘I don’t feel like I belong.’ [White said,] ‘What do you mean? Have you ever wanted to come to an event and you don’t get tickets? Or have you ever wanted to go to the P.I. (UFC Performance Institute) and couldn’t access?’
“For a moment I thought about it and I was like, this guy is so good. Look at how he switched the situation. So I’m working my whole life to have access to events and the P.I.?”
Former UFC heavyweight champion turned UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Ngannou has just evolved the sport of MMA.
“Francis Ngannou has set a new standard,” Cormier said on his ESPN show D.C. & R.C. “It kind of feels like go play less golf for more money … big deal for Francis Ngannou. Congratulations to the former UFC heavyweight champion on really setting a new standard for what is out there in the free-agent market. It feels real after this one. It makes MMA feel real after seeing what Francis Ngannou just did.”
Portland fans still have unrealistic hopes for the team to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and get Victor Wembanyama.
The NBA draft lottery was held on Tuesday, and the Trail Blazers landed the third overall pick after finishing with an overall record of 33-49 this season. Fans were not happy, because every bad team this season was tanking for Wembanyama. The Trail Blazers fan base should still rejoice because they could have had their night spoiled like the Pistons, who had the worst record in the NBA and ended up with the fifth overall pick.
Since things didn’t go quite as hoped for by Trail Blazers fans, they decided to come up with trade scenarios on social media that involved superstar point guard Damian Lillard.
The San Antonio Spurs organization walked away from Tuesday’s draft lottery with the biggest smiles after landing the top overall pick. All sports media outlets and sports fans have predicted that they will take Wembanyama.
Trail Blazers fans presented their team with a scenario that they think would make everyone happy. They have proposed that the team trades their No. 3 pick in this year’s draft and Lillard for the Spurs’ top draft pick so they could draft Wembanyama.
Of course, Lillard clapped back on Twitter with a bold response.
“If the fans wana trade me … start the petition and send it in,” wrote Lillard.
Unfortunately, Blazers fans might not get their wish but hope is not lost to get their franchise back into the playoffs. They are projected to draft Alabama forward Brandon Miller or G-League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson. Both players could have immediate impact.
Many believe that Wembanyama will be the “greatest draft prospect ever,” including the Spurs. The Spurs fan base went crazy on Tuesday night after they found out the team won the draft lottery.
Wembanyama expressed how excited he was to be potentially going to the Spurs. He also shared a connection with French-born point guard and Spurs legend Tony Parker.
“There’s a special relationship between France and the Spurs because of Tony, of course, and also Boris,” Wembanyama said on Tuesday after the NBA lottery. “I know half of the country, maybe if not the whole country, wanted the Spurs to have the first pick, so I was looking at everyone, and everyone was happy, so I was too.”
Teams were fascinated with Wembanyama because of his 7-foot-5 height, shooting ability, ball handling skills, and shot blocking ability. The combination of his length and skill makes teams wonder if he could go down as one of the greatest big men in NBA history when his career is over. Also, the Spurs drafted David Robinson and Tim Duncan the last two times they’ve had the No. 1 pick. Both are in the Basketball Hall of Fame and considered two of the NBA’s top 75 players of all time. Spurs fans are hoping to duplicate that success with Wembanyama.
Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell is once again licking the wounds of losing recruits to former Florida State All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
The transfer of cornerback Travis Jay last Friday raised the total to five FSU players who’ve now joined Sanders at Colorado as he begins his first season surrounded by the scenic Rocky Mountains.
Sanders taking players from his alma mater at this rate has many believing he’s trying to make a point about the school not hiring him prior to making Norvell its coach. Since taking the job at Jackson State in 2020, Sanders, a Fort Myers, Florida, native, has been a strong recruiter in the Sunshine State. But that doesn’t seem to bother Norvell, who’s chosen to focus on his Seminoles team and who’s there.
In an interview with Brandon Marcello of 247Sports on College Football Daily, Norvell didn’t express any real concern about Deion constantly picking fine foods from his cupboard.
“I’m excited for those players,” Norvell said. “Guys got opportunities, and they made their choice. They felt it was in the best of their interests. When they find homes that they think are the right fit for them, you got to celebrate it and support it. We’ve got a great deal of momentum and excitement around all things Florida State. I’m not really as concerned about anything on the outside. But I’m happy for those guys. They get an opportunity and you hope they make the most of it.”
FSU has suffered some pretty big losses at the hands of native son Deion Sanders. While these transfers are tough losses despite what Norvell is saying, nothing tops the biggest loss of all, which occurred during the 2022 recruiting cycle.
For a little over two years, the Seminoles were thought to have the commitment of 2022 No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter. The dynamic two-way talent who plays both cornerback and wide receiver called FSU his dream school. That is until Coach Prime swooped in at the 11th hour and flipped Hunter to Jackson State. Thus changing the landscape of college recruiting at the time.
Not since the inception of the composite recruiting rankings had an HBCU landed such a highly touted recruit, and definitely not the top overall recruit in the country.
Hunter has since transferred to Colorado with Sanders, who also flipped the top cornerback in the 2023 recruiting cycle in Cormani McClain, a longtime Miami commit.
The San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night and the rights to the No. 1 pick in June’s draft. The Spurs will select French teenage phenom Victor Wembanyama, who was gathered with family and friends to watch the lottery. The 7-foot-4 teenager was visibly happy when the Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets were called before the No. 1 pick was awarded. But does he know what he’s getting into with the Spurs and head coach Gregg Popovich?
It’s completely understandable that Wembanyama would want no part of Charlotte, Houston or even Portland. These are among the most poorly run franchises in the league, and they don’t have a good history of player development.
The Spurs, on the other hand, have a championship history, a strong player development history, and an ownership, front office and head coach that have unparalleled continuity. That type of stability is key when you are drafting a generational talent and hope to build a championship dynasty around him.
But the Spurs have not made the playoffs in the past four seasons, and there are questions as to whether Popovich has lost a step or two and if his heart is still in coaching. He’s gotten a little more ornery as well, if that’s possible.
Wembanyama being a French national is also important. The Spurs have won championships with Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, French nationals who have spoken with Wembanyama about what to expect with the Spurs.
The Spurs also have success with international players in general, which Popovich has spoken about in the past.
By all accounts, Wembanyama is coachable but he has a will to do things his own way. How he meshes with Popovich will depend on how the two build a relationship and establish trust.
“I was probably born with that will to do things differently and do things my way,” Wembanyama says. “I’m really glad I kept that willpower, to not [let] sometimes coaches put me in a box. That’s really an everyday fight.”
No doubt Popovich and the Spurs will spend some time in France this summer ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
“My heart’s beating [fast],” Wembanyama said after he learned of his destination. “I’ve got everyone I know, everyone I love around me. It’s a really special moment I’m going to remember the rest of my life. I’m trying to win a ring ASAP. So get ready.”
Popovich and the Spurs will like that from the teenager.
A lesser organization would likely give Wembanyama the keys to the franchise on day one and let him make all the decisions. The Spurs won’t do that. He will have to earn it like all the great players before him.
Building around Wembanyama’s defense is where they should start. He should be an elite rim protector and rebounder from day one. In terms of his offense he can be a finisher on pick and roll, but the Spurs should resist the urge to let him be an offensive initiator on the wing.
Yes, he has handles and can do things. But he’s 7 feet 4 and has a high dribble. Guards will pick his pocket. He is an elite shooter. Run him around and off screens like the Miami Heat do with Duncan Robinson. Between threes, finishing in the pick and roll, and offensive rebounds, he should average a double-double his rookie season.
Runner Nijel Amos, who won Botswana’s first Olympic medal when he won the 800m silver at the 2012 London Games, says he is now forced to sell it to support his family. Amos made the decision after he received a three-year doping ban in early May.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) banned Nijel Amos for three years, backdated from July 12, 2022, the date of his provisional suspension, until July 11, 2025, for breaching the World Athletics anti-doping rules. His results on and since June 4, 2022, have been disqualified after an out-of-competition test detected a banned metabolite in his urine sample.
After Amos signed an admission, the ban was reduced from four years. He signed the admission on the advice of his legal counsel.
“Given the circumstances surrounding the case, my legal team and I saw it fit to take that direction so that I get a reduction on my ban,” Amos said to reporters in Botswana. “At this time, my only investment or pension is the famous 2012 Olympic silver medal.”
“I am in touch with different stakeholders, including financial advisers, on how that can sustain me and my family. I met with a team that wants to buy it with a value of 4.5m Botswana pulas ($339,750), but with my documentary coming out on Netflix it could change the value to 7.5 million.”
Amos brought Botswana its first medal of any color at the London Games. The country went on to win a bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Amos will be unable to participate in the anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics.
The banned substance found in the 29-year-old’s system was drug GW1516, which alters how the body metabolizes fat. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the drug is a health risk to athletes who take it. It was originally synthesized and evaluated for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and other disorders caused by metabolic problems but is now not approved for human use.
Amos claimed the silver medal in the same race that saw Kenyan runner David Rudisha shatter the world record. At only 18 years old, Amos’ 1:41.73 in the event broke the junior world record and matched British running legend Sebastian “Seb” Coe for the third-fastest time in 800 history, per Runner’s Tribe.
Despite his 2012 Olympic accomplishment for his country, Amos has not won any additional Olympic or world championships medals. However, in July 2019, he clocked a time of 1:41.89, which stood as the fastest in the world since the London Olympic final.
Amos said he plans to return to the track after serving his ban.
“I have no plans to retire,” Amos said. “I am still in good shape and I am hopeful that I will rise again in the World Championships in 2025.”
Jackson Mahomes, brother of Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, appeared in court on Tuesday for a bond hearing in connection to his arrest for aggravated sexual battery earlier this month.
Court documents reveal that the younger Mahomes, a social media influencer, told the alleged victim “what he could do for her business.”
According to a released court affidavit, police were originally called to an Overland Park, Kansas, restaurant in late February after a man told them Jackson Mahomes allegedly shoved his son who works at Aspens Restaurant. The allegations became more serious when local police interviewed the restaurant’s owner, Aspen Vaughn, that same evening.
The affidavit states, Mahomes told Vaughn he wanted to speak with her and the two went into an office. After Mahomes closed the door to the office, he allegedly grabbed her by the throat, pushed her head back, and kissed her three times, and put his tongue in her mouth per the court document.
The affidavit also states the restaurant’s owner did not consent to any of the contact from Mahomes. Vaughn allegedly pushed Mahomes off her at one point during the incident. She told investigators Mahomes told her not to tell anyone what happened between them.
When Jackson left the office, Vaughn showed two of her employees — whom she claimed did not hear her when she called out for help — her neck, which had fresh signs of injury, according to the affidavit.
Mahomes later returned to the restaurant, where he allegedly attempted to talk about “what he could do for her business,” and wouldn’t leave again until he gave Vaughn a hug. Vaughn’s boyfriend then allegedly kicked Mahomes and his friends out of the restaurant, with Mahomes angrily leaving. According to the court document, it was not the first time Mahomes had been kicked out of Aspens Restaurant.
Additionally the affidavit states, the waiter, who chose not to be identified, spoke with police on the night of the incident and said he had gone to the office on the lower level of the restaurant to retrieve his water bottle.
The waiter entered the code to the office and did not fully walk through the door when Mahomes allegedly pushed his chest and told him not to come in. According to the affidavit, the waiter then told Jackson he was an employee and needed his water bottle.
That’s when Mahomes allegedly pushed the waiter a second time and told him to get out.
None of this looks good for Jackson Mahomes but his lawyer Brandan Davies maintains his client’s innocence.
“Our investigation has revealed substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser including the statements of several witnesses,” Davies said at the time the charges became known. “We have reached out to law enforcement to provide the fruit of our investigation so that they may have a complete picture of the matter.”
Mahomes’ sister-in-law and wife to his older brother Patrick, Brittany Mahomes (née Matthews), posted cryptic messages on social media earlier in the week before taking them down.
“As you get older you start to understand the difference between friends and associates, family and blood, business and work, love and lust, want and need. And most of all what’s important and what’s not,” one quote from Matthews’ post read.
The video evidence shows what it does and the affidavit says what it says. It will be interesting to see what evidence Davies has that supports his client’s innocence.
Jackson Mahomes is due back in court in August.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has been in the news quite often since his second retirement from the NFL. But Brady hasn’t been in the news for anything football-related. Rather, the Brady talk has been more about his love life and what he might do now that he’s single following his October divorce from ex-wife Gisele Bündchen.
While Brady has been adamant that he’s focused on being a dad and just enjoying life without a rigid football schedule, he’s still Tom Brady and one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet. His name has been linked to numerous women since his divorce, including actress Reese Witherspoon whom, per reports, has never met.
The newest rumor about Brady involved the well-traveled Kim Kardashian, but reports are those rumors are, as they say, “all cap.”
With the alleged relationship being shelved almost immediately, where there’s smoke there’s often fire. Reports then surfaced that Kardashian and her reps reached out to Brady and his reps about buying property near his in the Bahamas.
A purported source described what happened to “Entertainment Tonight.”
“Tom and Kim have been in touch because Kim is looking to buy property where Tom has a vacation home,” the outlet reported.
Brady’s representatives were quick to dispel the notion that the two were romantically involved after word got out about Kardashian looking for advice on purchasing property on the beautiful island.
Kardashian’s reps piggybacked those same sentiments, saying this:
“They have friends and business partners in common, but are not dating. Kim is very focused on her kids, her businesses, law school and preparing for ‘American Horror Story’ which starts production next month.”
Brady and Bündchen divorced in October after 13 years of marriage. The two cited growing apart as the reason for their split.
As for Kim, she and rap and fashion mogul Kanye West officially finalized their divorce in November.
In the end Kardashian stated via her rep that she needed to end the marriage for the sake of her and her kids’ sanity. That hasn’t been confirmed as fact, but what we do know is they aren’t an item, and both are focused on other things in their lives.
Everyone hasn’t turned on Ja Morant just yet. Former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick has come out to defend the Grizzlies star point guard.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke about Morant ahead of yesterday’s NBA draft lottery. He stated that he was disappointed in the 23-year-old.
“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw, this weekend, that video,” Silver said in a televised interview with ESPN before the draft lottery in Chicago. “We’re in the process of investigating it and we’ll figure out exactly what happened as best as we can. The video’s a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst. We’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”
Reporters and NBA analysts close to the situation are predicting Morant probably will serve a 40-game suspension next season. The latest incident came just two months after he was in the commissioner’s office for having a gun on Instagram Live inside of a Denver nightclub.
Redick pushed back on the lengthy suspension that many are predicting for Morant. He made one of his regular guest appearances on ESPN’s “First Take” show and didn’t hold back in a spirited response.
“We can go into the backstory with the incident with the teenager, Ja is claiming self-defense that the teenager threw the ball in his face. We can go into the incident with the mall when he yelled at the security guard. We can go into the incident with the Indiana Pacers traveling party. As far as we know … all of these things have been investigated and no law has been broken,” Redick said on Wednesday’s edition of “First Take”.
He continued, “I’m not condoning the behavior, I’m not saying there should be no punishment. There should be. There should be consequences, you are the face of the league.”
Then, Redick took it a step further and took a shot at the gun laws that many have begged to be changed.
“In our country right now the gun culture is pervasive. … We’ve got mass shooting after mass shooting and nobody is doing [anything] about it. … But there’s no consequence for [Texas Gov.] Greg Abbott telling his constituents that they should ‘go buy more guns’ and then we have mass shooting after mass shooting in Texas,” said Redick.
“There’s no consequence for an elected Tennessee official to send out a Christmas card holding AR-15s with his young family. And then there’s a shooting in his very district. There’s no consequences to that,” said Redick. “So why are we trying to lay down the hammer on a 23-year-old who didn’t break a law? Explain that to me.”
Morant and his representatives released a statement to apologize on his social media yesterday.
The statement read:
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me. This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
Many social media users believe the statement wasn’t sincere because they apparently weren’t his own words, with some even suggesting he drafted the statement using an AI app.
In the worst-kept secret in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday after three seasons. Rivers failed to help the team advance past the conference semifinals, and Sunday’s embarrassing Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics sealed his fate. Now the question is who will Sixers president Daryl Morey choose to replace Doc?
“No one is safe in our business, and I get that,” Rivers said following Sunday’s season-ending loss, but added he planned to coach the team in 2023-24. He had two more years on the contract he signed when hired prior to the 2020-21 season.
Sixers owner Josh Harris and president Daryl Morey want to win a championship and believe the roster, led by reigning league MVP Joel Embiid, is good enough. They just need the right man at the helm calling the shots.
“Doc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely. We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise,” Morey said. “After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship.”
Reports out of Philadelphia this season said that Rivers’ message wasn’t getting through to the players. Sources tell The Shadow League that many of the players wanted a new voice.
There will be no shortage of coaches who want the opportunity to coach Embiid. The question is who does Morey want and who can sell Embiid and the roster on a style and system that will win?
No. 3. Sam Cassell/Frank Vogel
Cassell played 15 seasons in the NBA, was a three-time champion, and an All-Star. He has been an assistant coach for 14 years, the last nine with Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers and Sixers.
There is certainly continuity there and he’s a voice the players trust. But he might not fit Morey’s analytical style.
Vogel has been a head coach for 11 years compiling a 431-389 record. His teams have made the playoffs in seven seasons, advancing to three conference finals and winning an NBA championship in 2020 as the Los Angeles Lakers head man.
A defensive minded coach who doesn’t get enough credit for his offensive input and the way he handled the Lakers’ title run.
No. 2. Nick Nurse
The former Toronto Raptors head coach won a title in 2019 and amassed a 227-163 record over five seasons up north. He’s pragmatic in his approach, which Morey will like. He famously deployed the box and 1 defensive strategy on Stephen Curry in the 2019 NBA Finals.
This past season did not go well in Toronto. Nurse had some friction with team president Masai Ujiri and wasn’t connecting with the players. Maybe a change of scenery will do him wonders?
No. 1. Mike D’Antoni
Likely the only name that matters. Morey has experienced his most success with D’Antoni as his head coach. During their four years together with the Houston Rockets the team was 217-101, they made the playoffs every year, advancing to the conference semifinals three times and conference finals in 2018. They were a Chris Paul hamstring away from defeating the mighty Golden State Warriors featuring Kevin Durant.
Morey likes D’Antoni’s coaching style, knows he will favor tons of threes and shots at the rim. Not to mention he knows how to deal with superstars and egos. Particularly James Harden, who may or may not be back next season. If D’Antoni gets the job Harden will be back, and he and Embiid will try to scale the mountain again.
Cam’ron and Mase have shaken up the sports world with their new unhinged sports show “It Is What It Is.” The rappers made a splash in April when they went after Patrick Beverley. They criticized the scrappy Chicago native for his poor offensive performance after he made a comment about not having sex before games. Beverley’s friends from his old neighborhood apparently didn’t like the comments and were willing to take a trip to New York to express how they felt.
In April, Cam’ron and Mase responded to Beverley’s avowal that he holds to a pregame ritual of no sex the night before games, and the two went a little overboard with their comments.
“Pat you got permission to bone before the games. You averaging a single-single, you my n**** but go get you some p**** before the game,” said Cam’ron.
Someone from Beverley camp must’ve sent him a clip and he responded on his podcast a few weeks later.
“Very, interesting. I thought he was different. It’s some things you just don’t speak on when you dealing with — when you’re dealing with other real ones. Like, you know, I thought, like, he was one of them ones that truly understand the grind, truly understand like, making something out of nothing,” Beverley said in response.
Beverley is known for his tenacious defense and effort but not so much his offensive skill set. So that is probably why he was taken aback by Cam’ron’s comments that referenced his offense.
Nonetheless, he went to make a comparison from Cam’ron’s role in the movie “Paid In Full.”
“Rather go out like Rico than how my man money Mitch went out,” said Beverley. “I feel like if I’m 47 years old, I am not really on media like that. I am with my family, tucked off, in Europe. Big house, live in a castle.”
Cam’ron and Mase heard Beverley’s response and kept the “podcast beef” going.
“All I was saying was go get yourself some p****. Nobody tryna play you and s***. You telling me I should be living in a castle in Europe but I like America. I got mad cribs in America. Then you said I should be chilling out at 47 years old. I can’t be on social media or the internet at 47?” said Cam’ron.
Then, he explained to Beverley that their sports show is not a regular sports show. He also attempted to issue an apology before his co-host Mase interrupted him.
“Yeah, you crazy, man. Choke you out, Pat, you wildin’ Pat. Choke you out, Pat,” said Mase.
He continued, “Naw, we ain’t fans, Pat. Choke you out like Sprewell.”
Cam’ron and Mase comments were said in playful manner, but Beverley associates didn’t find it funny.
Beverley explained late last month on “The Pat Bev Podcast With Rone” that he was in Chicago and one of his friends asked him, “What’s to Mase, bro?”
He went on to say that they didn’t like Mase making a joke about choking Beverley and offered to send some of their acquaintances in New York to go press them.
“Naw, naw, naw. Relax, relax man. It ain’t that deep. We just, it just podcasting. You feel me? We are just podcasting. It’s podcast beef,” Beverley said to his friend.
Beverley defused the situation and things should be good between the rival podcasters now.
