Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant sat down with ESPN’s Jalen Rose on Wednesday to discuss the run of off-court incidents that saw him suspended for eight games and entering a counseling program at a facility in Florida. Morant was asked about the gun he was seen waving inside a club in Denver and where he’s at mentally. His answers all sounded rehearsed. None of it matters unless his actions prove otherwise.
“The gun wasn’t mine. It’s not who I am,” Morant said. “I don’t condone it or any type of violence, but I take full responsibility from my actions. I made a bad mistake. I can see the image that I painted over myself with my recent mistakes. But in the future, I’m going to show everybody who Ja really is, what I’m about and change this narrative that everybody got.”
Morant was involved in four separate incidents dating back to last summer in which there was either a threat of violence or actual violence. In three of the four incidents a gun was allegedly present. In these incidents it wasn’t only Morant, but also his friends.
“Honestly, I feel like we put ourselves in that situation with our past mistakes, and now it’s only right that we focus in and lock in on being smarter and more responsible, holding each other accountable for everything,” Morant said. “I feel like in the past we didn’t know what was at stake. And now finally me having that time to realize everything, have that time alone, I realize that now.
“I realize what I have to lose, and for us as a group, what we have to lose. It’s pretty much just that being more responsible, more smarter and staying away from all the bad decisions.”
Morant signed a five-year, $194 million rookie max extension set to begin on July 1. He has a signature shoe set to debut with Nike next month, and he just signed a multi-year deal to be the face of Powerade.
What was it Morant and his associates didn’t understand was at stake? You were involved in incidents with guns. The main thing is, you could lose your life.
Not to mention, a two-time All-Star, All-NBA face of a contending team and new face of the NBA. He wasn’t aware that he has the world at his feet and has the opportunity to make generational impact?
The answers given by Morant during the interview sounded rehearsed as though they were prepared by the team’s public relations staff. In truth Morant can say he’s taking full responsibility and will make better decisions, but he’s going to have to prove it with his actions.
Unfortunately, the spotlight will be on him like never before. He’s no longer the fun, brash, young leader of an upstart contender. He’s labeled as something else now because of his actions, and everything he does will be dissected and scrutinized.
While Ja will face extreme scrutiny, so too will those around him, and that includes his father. Tee Morant has been front and center courtside and present in at least two of the alleged incidents.
It’s great that he supports his son, but many have accused him of being too much of a friend and not enough of a father, including rapper Cam’ron.
Outrageous fame and riches are difficult to manage for almost everyone. Add in the hubris and immaturity of youth and it’s even harder.
Morant is only 23, so he has time to mature, but everyone will be watching.
More news from our sponsor:
Look Inside the First Home Rihanna Purchased After Making it Big, But Never Moved Into (finurah.com)
Golf legend Tiger Woods is firing back at the complaint and $30 million lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Erica Herman. The 15-time major championship winner, in his response to her filed complaint, says Herman is abusing the judicial process in her attempt to break the NDA and is “a jilted ex-girlfriend.”
“Ms. Herman’s Complaint does nothing more than cite to these federal statutes. She has never asserted any claims for sexual assault or sexual harassment against Mr. Woods, does not do so in this case, and cannot assert such claims truthfully. The federal Ending Forced Arbitration Act is not applicable to the claims in this case and Ms. Herman’s attempt to use the statute to prevent arbitration of her claims is nothing short of a rank abuse of the judicial process that undermines the purpose of the statute and those whom the statute seeks to protect.”
When Herman filed her complaint she cited the Federal Speak Out Act which 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 the court documents Herman filed she argues the NDA should be declared unenforceable under the federal Speak Out Act. In that new suit filed last week to revoke the NDA, under the question “Does this case involve the allegations of sexual abuse?” the yes box is checked, but she does not go into any details of specific allegations in the corresponding documents. Herman’s $30 million landlord-tenant suit was filed in October.
Woods split with Herman in October after about six years of dating. He alleges he told her he was ending the relationship, and that she was “no longer welcome” in his home. Woods also alleged he did provide her with temporary housing and financial support following the breakup.
We don’t know the facts of this case. All we have is Herman’s complaint and the response from Woods.
If Herman is to use the Speak Out Act, it would seem that she is prepared to make a legitimate claim or claims of sexual assault or harassment.
Whether any sexual assault or harassment occurred at the hands of Woods looks like it will be a matter for the courts to decide.
On the course, Woods last played at the Genesis Invitational in February where he finished tied for 45th at 1 under par.
He did not play in The Player’s Championship last week at TPC Sawgrass. But all signs point to the Masters.
“My intent last year was to play in all four majors, I got three of the four,” Woods said after the final round of the Genesis Invitational last month, his first start since July’s Open Championship at St. Andrews. “Hopefully this year I can get all four and maybe sprinkle in a few here and there. But that’s it for the rest of my career. I know that and I understand that. That’s just my reality.”
The 87th Masters at Augusta National will take place April 6th – 9th, Woods is a five-time champion.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
La La Anthony Sparks Debate After Resurfaced Video Encourages People to Work for Free (finurah.com)
Sports betting is supposed to be fun, and for the most part fans take losing with a grain of salt and move on. Notice the “most” there, because then there are those who take it personally and tend to come for the athlete via social media when the financial outcome isn’t in their favor. That was the case recently with Charlotte Hornets star Terry Rozier and a bettor.
Following a recent Hornets game, Rozier was called out by a fan for messing up one of his parlays.
The fan picked at the wrong NBA player on this particular night. Rozier’s response had Twitter talking, with fans saying things like:
@_alexwrld_ said “Terry bouta turn Ja forreal”
@NINOBROWN chimed in with this … “He think he Ja the way he talking”
@Kawhinewera said … “Rozier is a real thug unlike Ja.”
Real thug or not, Rozier let the keyboard gangsta know he wasn’t playing with him. Was it necessary to even respond? Probably not, but athletes are humans with emotions as well, and they lurk on social media themselves. And sometimes they get tired of the backlash and tough talk from fans. Staying off Twitter would be the best way to avoid this during the season, but few in the world seem to possess that kind of discipline.
With sports betting alive and well, this type of thing happens often, where fans lose parlays because players don’t meet the benchmarks for them to collect from their bets. And players usually don’t respond, unless they are thin-skinned like Kevin Durant, but this time Rozier wasn’t for any games, and he acted accordingly.
Betting on the abysmal Hornets this season isn’t the wisest move when you consider their 22-49 record. That, in itself should tell you all you need to know as it pertains to them and parlays. But if you’re actually going to place any individual bets on the Hornets the safest would be Rozier or injured star guard LaMelo Ball, who’s out for the year with a fractured ankle.
Hall’s injury left Rozier to carry the load, and his numbers say he’s having a good year despite the team’s record. With averages of 21.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists, it’s a pretty safe bet to hit a parlay with Rozier. Just so happened that particular night was an off one for the talented scoring guard.
Having the fourth-worst record in the league is also something a fan could also parlay into a winning bet. As the Hornets and many other teams look to position themselves in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, the bets on who’ll have the most ping-pong balls has to be a thing.
And while that may make someone a tad richer, it only helps if that actually lands the franchise-changing big guy.
But it’s highly unlikely the Frenchman would come on social media and tell a fan what Rozier did. No matter what, you can guarantee not many fans will come for T-Roz in the manner that fan did. The former Louisville star set him straight right away.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
La La Anthony Sparks Debate After Resurfaced Video Encourages People to Work for Free (finurah.com)
Ja Morant was suspended for eight games without pay by the NBA for ‘detrimental conduct’ the league announced Wednesday. The enigmatic 23-year-old superstar has already been credited with the six games he has already missed, so he will return with enough time to help Memphis make a late season push for playoff positioning.
So all in all, he escaped the “gauntlet.” The fact that no charges were filed makes some question if the suspension is too harsh, but the NBA has sent a clear message that they don’t like when players make the brand look bad.
Morant’s name has been a constant name in NBA headlines over the past several weeks and he has received criticism for it from former and present NBA players. Now Patrick Beverley has decided to give his input on the Morant’s recent behavior. He blames the rap music that younger players like Morant listen to.
The younger generation are heavily influenced by rap artists such as NBA Youngboy, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, etc. Last year, NBA Youngboy was the most streamed American artist on Youtube. His channel surpassed over 2 billion views.
Beverley appeared on Barstool Sports “Rundown” podcast earlier this week and offered some insight on Morant’s behavior.
Beverley comments:
“I think music has a lot to do with this now. You know, especially with this culture. Everyone holding a gun in the video is okay. You know, bling on your teeth is okay. Pants half down your a**, that’s okay. So, that’s like okay now. Back in the day there was a motherf***** on the beach in a silk shirt talking about some ‘Yeah, baby, let’s party like we’re in the 80s.’ Everybody had on silk shirts and everybody was dressed the same. It’s just a product of what we listen to. The culture now is ‘shoot them up, bang, bang, shoot them up, bend you over, I got this amount of money, I’m on private jets, that that that.’ That’s what the younger generation is. Sadly to say it shouldn’t be based on our music, but it is mostly based on what we listen to and that’s how it is.”
Beverley also placed some of the blame on Tee Morant, Ja’s father. Rap artist Cam’ron recently echoed those comments as well.
“You gotta start being more of a father figure…the sunglasses, the wilding out trying to fight Shannon Sharpe, having look alike contests with Usher. I understand you’re the new age dad, but this is a little too cool… we have to set a better example,” said Cam’ron on his “What It Is” podcast.
In Morant’s latest strip club incident, NBA Youngboy played in the background as he waved the gun on his Instagram live.
Morant also had NBA Youngboy music playing on his Instagram Live as he headed to the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
It is nothing wrong with having a favorite artist, but NBA Youngboy music seems to glorify violence, being apart of gang, and criminal activity. His music has one of the biggest influences on our youth and they have started to act out some of things he talks about in his music.
Morant recently completed a short stay at a treatment facility in Florida to help him deal with personal issues. Morant will be eligible to return to the team on March 20. He also did an interview with Jalen Rose that is yet to be release, detailing his journey and explaining some of his indiscretions.
Former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin and his legal team continue to work tirelessly to prove his innocence in the ongoing battle between him and a female employee of Marriott hotels with the attorneys, on March 14, releasing video of an alleged hotel incident. The employee accused Irvin of inappropriate behavior, unwanted touching and disrespectful remarks during an incident on Feb. 5, 2023, at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel during Super Bowl week. The accusations resulted in Irvin being pulled off the air for ESPN and the NFL Network.
Last week, Marriott was told to provide the name of Irvin’s accuser and a video of the incident following Irvin’s $100 million lawsuit filed against Marriott for defamation of character, among other things. Marriott tried to have the lawsuit thrown out in Texas by saying that the brand doesn’t own the property in Phoenix and only leased its name to the property.
On Tuesday, lawyers for Irvin filed to have the case dismissed in Texas without prejudice and they filed the case in Arizona.
The new case that was filed in Arizona Superior Court lists six defendants. Those defendants include: the accuser, three other hotel employees, Marriott International and Renaissance Hotel Operating Company.
“Defendants acted in willful disregard of the severe impact of their false accusations upon Mr. Irvin, his family and his livelihood. The damage caused to Mr. Irvin by Defendants’ actions has been swift and catastrophic, devastating Mr. Irvin personally and professionally,” the new lawsuit states. “Mr. Irvin brings this action to clear his name in Court and begin the process of trying to restore his reputation and professional career.”
Marriott stated in a court filing on last Friday that Irvin appeared to be noticeably intoxicated and showed aggressive behavior toward the employee by stating she was attractive, touching her arm and asking if she watched football, according to court reports.
Irvin also allegedly asked the accuser “whether she knew anything about having a ‘big Black man inside of her,’ ” according to the filing.
Irvin has continuously denied a conversation like that ever took place. He says he simply introduced himself to her and talked about the sports shows he was on.
“I don’t speak like that. I’ve never spoken like that. I totally deny saying that,” said Irvin.
Irvin’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, told the media that his client is a victim of ‘cancel culture.’
“I’m so thankful for this video because without it, I don’t know where this would have gone,” Irvin said. “The eye in the sky don’t lie.”
Marriott has said the NFL has investigated the incident. McCathern said that court documents of the claims made to the league by all three of the accuser’s co-workers and the hotel representative’s statements were defamatory and malicious.
“There is no doubt, this woman was not offended. This is not a sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment. This tape is very, very clear,” said McCathern.
Marriott has not yet made a statement since the video was released to the public.
______________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Jalen Rose wants you to know that when it comes to the gangster side of Detroit, he was there. Rose clapped back smoothly at a Twitter troll who came for his appearance on the BMF series season 2. When a Twitter user posted, “Jalen Rose in BMF is hilarious,” he responded, “I lived it. Ask your Uncles.”
That was a Jalen Rose version of shade.
For Rose, playing himself next to a young version of Big Meech was a full circle moment, as when he was an aspiring basketball player in Detroit, he watched the 50 Boys become the future infamous Black Mafia Family. In the late ’80s, when Demetrius and Terry Flenory were carving out their territory in Detroit, a young Jalen Rose bypassed high school basketball powerhouse Cooley High School, opting for Southwestern High School in southwest Detroit.
The move, which was supposed to take him away from the harsh environment, landed him in the realm of the then-50 Boys, precursor to the Black Mafia Family, while becoming a basketball star at Southwestern. Subsequently, the spoils of being a ball player connected to drug dealers were aplenty, with the Flenory brothers taking him shopping and celebrating heartily after his wins.
When Rose was changing the game as a member of the Fab Five in the early ’90s at the University of Michigan he stayed in touch with Meech, and by 2004 when the Detroit drug dealer held his audacious Meech of the Jungle party in his new hub of Atlanta, Rose attended. From live animals, including tigers, elephants, zebras, and naked women with bodypaint, along with celebrities galore, Rose basked in the success of himself and his former quasi-benefactors from home.
Now, playing himself alongside Demetrius Flenory Jr., aka Little Meech, who plays his father on the show, Rose wants everyone to know he’s been outside for a long time. He recently compared himself and the things he went through as a young player with ties to the streets to the current debacle experienced by Ja Morant.
“I am Ja Morant,” Rose said on NBA Countdown. “You guys got a chance to see me grow up for public consumption since 1991. I’ve been involved in drug raids. I’ve survived assassination attempts; I’ve been that undisciplined young person that was trying to figure out how to be famous, how to be successful, and how to change the dynamics of my family.
“What I had to learn is that people come into your life for four reasons: to add, subtract, multiply or divide; you have to choose wisely. He has way too much to lose. Trust me, I’ve been that young player carrying a gun; when you start waving it that can get you killed.”
When Jalen Rose proclaimed that he lived through BMF in real life, believe him but know that his life is no longer that, as he took the path toward positivity. However, like us all, nostalgia about our past exploits is always a fun game to play, especially when it’s on a top-rated premium cable television show and you’re not watching it from prison.
According to several reports Coppin State has fired head men’s basketball coach Juan Dixon. The former NBA player and All-American at Maryland is also a star on the reality television series “Real Housewives of Potomac” with his wife Robyn. During his six seasons with Coppin State the team had a record of 51-131, and he was named in a lawsuit for his role in covering up a sex scandal between a player and coach on the team.
So was Dixon suspended for bad coaching or his role in downplaying the scandal?
Maybe it’s the best of both worlds for Coppin State. They got rid of a coach coming off a 9-23 season who during his six-year tenure reached double digit victories in only one season, yet still finished well below .500.
Then there is the fact that Dixon was named in a lawsuit filed against the school by former player Ibn Williams last November.
According to reports, former Coppin State director of player development and director of basketball operations Lucian Brownlee has been accused of catfishing Williams online. In this scam he allegedly coerced Williams into providing intimate photos and texts, then blackmailed him into videotaping a sexual encounter before publicizing the material when the player resisted further demands for sex.
The lawsuit filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleges that Brownlee harassed, tormented and sexually assaulted Williams, before publishing intimate material he had obtained from the student. According to the lawsuit Williams met with Dixon to discuss the matter, but the head coach did nothing about it.
In the 15-page lawsuit, Williams also cited the school for breach of contract. The suit alleged that the university promised a safe school environment free from drugs, abuse and violence which was violated by the alleged actions of Brownlee.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Williams’ attorney was hopeful for a quick resolution.
“We’re hopeful this is a bridge to a quick discussion and a quick resolution to resolve this for all parties,” said Daniel “Donny” Epstein, Williams’ attorney and lead counsel on the case. “We just want justice for Ibn, and we want to shine a light on what happened here.
At this time the lawsuit is still pending and the basketball team is terrible, so the university probably did this preemptively to somewhat solve both issues.
Of course the problem is the school can still be held liable for what happened to Williams. They hired Dixon, who recruited Brownlee as a player and then added him to the staff. The athletic department is supposed to have oversight of all sports programs, coaches and athletes.
No doubt the producers over at Bravo for “RHOP” are hopeful for another season of the show. If they’re able to use anything from this scandal involving in the portrayal of the lives of Juan and Robyn Dixon, it’s sure to generate interest and viral moments.
If as a result of this lawsuit a full audit of the men’s basketball program is conducted, what else might we find out?
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Chicago White Sox baseball star Tim Anderson is a hero again. The All-Star shortstop, who had a rough past year with the media, some opposing fans, staying healthy and a run or two in the gossip mill, is enjoying a favorable light in the public eye and the kind of media attention that makes legends on the field on the heels of his contributions to Team USA’s 12-1 win over Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic on Monday night.
Anderson, who hadn’t been on an MLB infield field since August before playing shortstop in an upset Pool C loss to Mexico, hopped out of the telephone booth like Superman, moved to second base and recorded two hits, including an electrifying opposite field triple. He also registered a walk and a steal along with an RBI.
So far, Anderson is slashing .571/.625/1.000 from the batter’s box between two games in the WBC.
If Team USA lost that game they would have been in embarrassing jeopardy of not making it out of WBC pool play and failing to defend their 2017 title.
Anderson not only provided the speed, excitement and production that we have become used to, but his energy and locker room character has been acknowledged by his coach and fellow players.
“I do think when you play in the WBC, it’s a feeling-out process at first,” manager Mark DeRosa said. “He kind of wanted to let some people know how good he was in that dugout, in that clubhouse, the coaching staff, down the line. He has really caught the eyes of a lot of people on this team.”
Anderson, as usual, is blunt about his purpose for being here and representing the United States.
“I’m always out to prove something,” Anderson said to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. “Just to be among some of the greats, I just get a chance for the world to see what kind of athlete I am. And also the guys get to know what kind of person I am, the human being.”
Well, he’s been proving it so far and Anderson’s package of effectiveness and energy is something USA Baseball will need to overcome the power teams of the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, PR and Venezuela.
What a difference a WBC makes. The old adage, “Baseball cures all ills” rings true for Anderson, who is finally getting the respect the former batting champion deserves.
Last season, Anderson’s fourth-straight campaign hitting over .300, was marred with several suspensions, including one for arguing balls and strikes and making contact with an umpire, which prompted Anderson to speak out against a baseball culture that some have described as “archaic” and too attached to the unwritten rules of the past.
The first month of the season was rough for Anderson as he struggled defensively recording six errors in the first three games. Those unusual defensive lapses started attracting the harassment of opposing fans. This all came to a head when the usually cool and calm Anderson flipped off Cleveland Guardian fans in an 11-1 loss after he made two errors in the first two innings. Anderson was suspended one game by the league for that, but it was just the beginning of his tumultuous 2022.
During a May 21 game between the Yankees and White Sox, NY player Josh Donaldson, who is white, called Anderson “Jackie,” referring to Jackie Robinson. That led to the benches clearing out and a war of opinions on race, the legacy of Jackie Robinson.
People also blamed Anderson, who had referenced Jackie Robinson in an interview about himself sparking some backlash from baseball fans of all ethnicities.
“I kind of feel like today’s Jackie Robinson,” Anderson said. “That’s huge to say but it’s cool, …because he changed the game, and I feel like I’m getting to a point where I need to change the game.”
Then in June, Anderson’s life on and off the field was coming unglued. He suffered an injury earlier in the month which curtailed a great start with the bat; a strained right groin injury that took the All-Star to the 10-day injured reserve list.
A few days later his personal life took center stage for a messy situation as Anderson, a married family man of two, had some uncomfortable revelations made public on the internet; he was allegedly the father of social media influencer Dejah Lenae’s unborn child.
Anderson had maintained a picture-perfect image of father and husband, marrying Bria Anderson in 2017. During their relationship, the pair has had two children, a daughter reportedly in 2016, and a second daughter in 2019.
Anderson and his wife were seen out and about in Chicago. The two attended a gala event and looked happier than ever. Unfortunately, the next day, Dejah Lanae crashed the party, posting a picture of Anderson, making the internet abuzz with curiosity, and added a video with a baby bump.
The tea got hotter when Anderson’s wife Bria was reported as saying that she was initially mad, like any married woman would be in this situation, but has become more accepting of the child and has not filed for divorce or separation from her husband.
In addition to dealing with those distractions, the White Sox team was faltering, and rumors swirled about the health and job security of 77-year-old manager Tony LaRussa. But the team still had an outside shot at the playoffs. That was until Anderson suffered a tear in the sagittal band of his left middle finger that effectively ended his season.
Anderson wasn’t vocal about his experiences during the offseason, but one could find cryptic Twitter messages directed at no one but everyone that became common for Anderson over the past few months.
Anderson is a much-needed enigma for MLB. He’s way more the gift than the curse. He doesn’t always give the politically correct answer or move through life like a choir boy. Nobody with his talent, desire, edge and unapologetic self-love does. What is undeniable is Anderson’s greatness as one of the faces of baseball and a Black diamond-miner with elite accomplishments. He’s part of the new breed of MLBbro bombers who flash five-tool packages, are comfortable in their own skin and have made the game re-adjust to their unique cultural influence and presence.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
The Virginia Cavaliers football program has been through hell and back. Just four months after four football players were shot, with three dying, running back Mike Hollins, who survived, is back on the gridiron.
“He was asking one of the football players about a video game,” said Gordon McKernan, a family friend of Hollins, to Sports Illustrated. “The guy answered, and at that moment, he pulled a gun and started shooting. The belief from those on board was that he was targeting football players.”
In a remarkable turn of events turn of events, Hollins, who was once on a ventilator fighting for his life has returned to the field in time for spring practice.
While, the other three teammates unfortunately didn’t survive, Hollins has fought his way back to do what he loves. He is the silver lining in this tragic and unfathomable situation that still leaves all affected perplexed and searching for answers.
Following the team’s first practice, Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott spoke to reporters about Hollins and what it means to have him back out there again.
“Just to watch how he’s attacked everything, could easily have made excuses, easily have overthought things, but he’s taking it upon himself to respond and show perseverance and be resilient,” coach Tony Elliott said. “I think a lot of it is for himself, but the majority of it is for his teammates. There was a time where we didn’t know if he’d ever have a chance to play football again.”
“Just so happy for Mike, because we all know that as a football player that your time is going to come to an end. You definitely wouldn’t want it to come to an end in that fashion. So to see him to have another opportunity, just go out on his own terms, makes it really special.”
Hollins’ return to football activities is huge for a Cavaliers team in transition, as they look to replace quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who transferred to N.C. State.
While Elliott will bring Hollins along slowly, if the first spring practice was any indication, it won’t take long for him to get back to his former self.
The resolve Hollins has shown is definitely noticed by all his teammates, but especially by his roommate and backfield mate, Perris Jones, who told reporters this.
“Just the way he’s carried himself throughout this tragedy and how he continues to carry himself, it’s surreal,” Jones said. “He is a strong man, and his fight every day encourages all of us to continue to fight and do the best that we absolutely can because of he can do it, we can as well, so it’s definitely motivating.”
In an effort to honor fallen players, Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry, Elliott talked about them, while also letting his team know to be grateful for another opportunity to strap up the chinstrap again and get after it. Elliott also reiterated to not take that for granted. The second-year head coach then mentioned there will be many other opportunities to honor those fallen teammates throughout the season.
Finally, those unfortunate deaths will never be forgotten, their legacies will live forever in Hollins, all his UVA teammates and the surrounding Charlottesville community.
“We’re moving forward, not moving on.”
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Georgia Tech announced on Monday that they have hired former 15-year NBA veteran Damon Stoudamire as their next men’s basketball head coach. It was a quick turnaround for the Yellow Jackets after they fired former head coach Josh Pastner less than a week ago.
The Yellow Jackets were once a proud basketball program that produced NBA talent like Glen Rice Jr., Jarrett Jack, Chris Bosh, Stephon Marbury, Iman Shumpert, Kenny Anderson, Derrick Favors, and others. Now, they have fallen on hard times with just six NCAA appearances in the past 25 seasons.
Stoudamire will have his hands full to get the Atlanta program back to being an ACC powerhouse. The Yellow Jackets have hired a new men’s basketball coach, football coach and athletics director in the past six months.
“We are thrilled that Damon Stoudamire will be the head coach of our storied men’s basketball program,” Georgia Tech director of athletics J Batt said. “Coach Stoudamire’s success and credibility as a player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels make him a great fit to lead our program. He will serve as an outstanding mentor on and off the court and will attract talented student-athletes to The Flats. We could not be happier to welcome Coach Stoudamire to the Georgia Tech family.”
Stoudamire is a native of Portland, Oregon, and helped lead his Arizona Wildcats to the 1994 Final Four. In 1995, the point guard was drafted seventh overall to the Toronto Raptors and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers after three and half seasons with the Raptors. He spent eight seasons with the Trail Blazers, three with the Grizzlies, and one with the Spurs before he retired in 2008.
He started his coaching career as Rice University’s director of player development. He worked as an assistant coach for the Grizzlies, University of Memphis, and Arizona before he got his first head coaching job with Pacific.
Stoudamire coached at Pacific for five seasons and he had a 71-77 overall record. In 2020, he put together his best season with 23-10 record and West Coast Conference Coach of the Year award. After the 2021 season, he joined the Celtics’ staff as an assistant coach. He helped guide them to the 2022 NBA Finals under former head coach Ime Udoka.
The Yellow Jackets’ rich basketball tradition has given way to mediocrity over the past two decades because of forever-changing landscape of college athletics. NIL has made it legal for college players to receive money, and the phenomenon of one-and-done players made it tough for college coaches to recruit. For Tech, their high academic standards also pushed kids away from playing at the program.
Favors was the last recruit to sign with the Yellow Jackets ranked in the top 25 of his recruiting class (2009). The university require a minimum 3.3 gpa for their College of Computing and College of Engineering applicants. They require a minimum 3.0 gpa for the College of Design, College of Sciences, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and Scheller College of Business applicants. The acceptance rate for the school is only 22.6 percent.
“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach at Georgia Tech,” Stoudamire said in a statement this week. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading such a tradition-rich program. I am excited to get to work with the goal of consistently having our team compete at the championship level that we all know we can and should compete at. I’m proud to represent Georgia Tech and can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel and onto the floor at the Thrillerdome in front of our fans.”
Stoudamire surely has work cut out for him, but the Atlanta area has rich pool of high school talent.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Shaquille O’Neal has never been afraid to speak his mind, and he has done it again. He recently came to the defense of Dallas Morning News reporter Meghan Mangrum after she was fired for a comment she made on Twitter toward Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
Johnson tweeted in February that the local media in Dallas has no interest in reporting that the crime numbers for the city have been down.
Mangrum responded, “Bruh, national news is always going to chase the trend. Cultivate relationships with quality local news partnerships.”
Johnson replied, “Bruh? Have we met?”
Mangrum eventually deleted her tweet, but it didn’t help her save her job. She was hired in August 2022 and didn’t make it to her one-year anniversary.
O’Neal was asked by his co-host Spice Adams in the recent episode of his podcast “The Big Podcast with Shaq” about the situation.
“This world is getting too soft. You know what; I cannot wait till I check into my god***n old folks home, that I will own. You kidding me, you fired a lady coz she said ‘bruh.’ Come on though; stop it,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal wasn’t the only one to think that firing the reporter was a bit too much. Comments on Twitter were in support of Mangrum and suggested that the Dallas mayor had something to do with it.
Another comment read, “You can bet it was the Mayor that wanted her gone to send a msg to other reporters. It wasn’t the “bruh” that did it, it was the story itself that made him look bad. Because that’s how Demorats roll. They will eat their own if they get out of line even a little bit.”
As for O’Neal, those who have followed his off-the-court career might have thoughts as to whether he’ll reach out to the reporter to offer her some sort of financial support.
He has made headlines for a number of his goodwill moments, such as buying engagement rings for a couple during a time that he was mall shopping, buying groceries for families, supporting countless charities, and for his efforts to assist Black-owned businesses with post-pandemic recovery.
Mangrum doesn’t seem to have spoken to any media outlets about the matter, but she did write a column on Medium.com to share her thoughts. She also tweeted, less than 24 hours ago, a picture of a moving van with the caption “2023 is going swell.”
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Wall Street Wrap: Stock Losses Deepened and Bonds Rallied (finurah.com)
2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is calling out the report from Adam Schefter that the Baltimore Ravens QB turned down a contract offer worth $200 million from the club in September. How is the All-Pro QB not signed long-term yet?
Teams can start sending offer sheets to Lamar today at 4pm, but because Jackson doesn’t want to take less than he deserves on a deal he might not have too many teams clamoring for his services, which smells fishy. The criticism of his mom as his agent, implies that owners don’t want to set a precedent of negotiating without an agent. Schefter has also been critical of that dynamic.
“Chris Mortensen and I reported on this last September, when Lamar Jackson was offered a deal that he turned down. A deal that included at the time he was offered $133 million due at signing,” Schefter said on his podcast. “$133 million guaranteed. The contract also had injury guarantees that brought the guarantees to $175 million and it then had a signing guarantee that could’ve brought the value for the contract, the guaranteed money of the contract to $200 million in guarantees… and yes, those were the actual numbers and that was the situation. So those really were the guarantees for Lamar Jackson.”
Curious that Jackson is calling BS on ESPN’s noted NFL news breakers. But we know that Schefter and Chris Mortensen are plugged in on the team side with general managers and owners. So whatever they generally report is from one side of the equation.
Why would Jackson turn down a deal with $200 million in guarantees if that was offered? There seems to be some ambiguity around the particulars of a deal. What was actually offered?
Did he turn down $133 million and three years fully guaranteed? Was there a more complicated deal that involved non-guarantees and clauses that if Jackson reached them would pay him over $200 million?
The Ravens and Jackson have been trying, in vain, to work out a contract extension. Earlier this month the team placed a nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson, giving him the right to negotiate with other teams, and themselves the right to match any offer.
The Ravens have until July 17 to sign Jackson to a long-term deal, but if that doesn’t happen, Jackson will earn $32.4 million next season. It would have been $45 million if they gave him the exclusive tag.
Locking up young MVP-caliber QBs is a no brainer for every team in this league. Teams will even heap hefty sums of money on bad QBs because of the importance of the position.
Last year, the Cleveland Browns signed QB Deshaun Watson to a $230 million contract that included the most guaranteed money for a player in league history. This all happened despite Watson serving an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s code of conduct policy after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage treatments. He settled civil lawsuits with more than 20 of his accusers.
Last week, the New York Giants signed their QB Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal that included $82 million in guaranteed money. Jones is 21–31–1 as a starter and was 20th last season among QBs in DVOA.
NFL owners are paying attention to the QB market and don’t like the guaranteed deal that the Browns gave Watson. A Pro Bowl QB but not an MVP. If that’s what he got, other QBs on better trajectories will certainly demand more in their deals. As they should.
When Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert are up for their extensions the fear from owners is someone approaching $250 million or $300 million in guaranteed money.
That’s capitalism, baby. Something these billionaire owners know well enough. The market demands what the market demands. If you want it, you pay the going rate.
But this is the beauty of a league where the billionaires make the rules. By nobody throwing the bag at Jackson they are limiting his leverage, and artificially suppressing his value. Which benefits them all when it’s time to negotiate with another QB.
The simmering beef between ESPN’s biggest talking head and the NBA’s most mercurial superstar is apparently personal.
Stephen A. Smith was a recent guest on “The Mike Missanelli Podcast,” where he revealed that he and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving have differences on a personal level, ones that also involve Kyrie’s father, Drederick Irving.
“Now Kyrie and I have our differences on a personal level, which is none of anybody’s business and I’ll never tell why,” Smith said. “He knows why. And his daddy knows why.”
For the legions of Kyrie Irving fans out there, this admission by Smith is seen as some sort of vindication. They’ve long felt Smith went too hard at Irving over his variety of issues.
“They know how I feel about how they’ve acted towards me and they know how I feel about them and I know how they feel about me,” Smith continued. “But I can say that to anybody out there because I know that that does not interfere with my reporting on him and my perspective based off of the facts.”
Smith was discussing an episode of his show “First Take” from February where the conversation got heated between him and guest panelist Jay Williams.
Smith didn’t provide any further details or clarification beyond that in his appearance on “The Mike Missanelli Podcast.”
In the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” Nucky Thompson tells his adversary Gyp Rosetti, “I learned a long time ago, not to take things personally.” Rosetti replied, “Everyone’s a person, though, right? So how else could they take it?”
Smith’s assertion that how he feels about the Irvings and how they feel about him doesn’t interfere with his reporting and his perspective on the facts is laughable. Of course it does.
Any critique Smith makes of something Irving does is going to have emotional weight to it. It’s evident on the show.
But for fans of Kyrie, this doesn’t mean Smith is out to get him.
When Kyrie is the topic in the “A” block on the debate shows, it’s not because of some hidden agenda. The All-Star guard often does something that causes the sports world to notice and discuss.
During the 2020-21 season as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie took an unexcused 10-day absence from the team. During that absence, he was seen at a birthday party violating the league’s COVID-19 safety guidelines and on a Zoom session for Tahanie Aboushi, a former Democratic candidate for Manhattan’s district attorney.
Last season he refused to comply with the New York City COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the only Nets player to do so, and was ineligible for home games. His refusal brought media and public backlash upon his organization and his limited availability negatively impacted team chemistry as he only played in 29 games. It led to James Harden demanding a trade and forcing his way to the Philadelphia 76ers.
This season, before he made a public trade demand, Kyrie was suspended for promoting an anti-Semitic video and refusing to apologize.
Those are all things Kyrie Irving did, nobody else. Those are facts.
Now, when discussing these facts did Smith’s personal issues with Irving impact his perspective? It’s hard to imagine they didn’t. But it’s safe to say Smith would’ve looked negatively upon all of these issues whether he and Kyrie were on good terms or not.
But this “beef” and back and forth drama is what drives sports media these days, sadly.
As long as viewers flock to watch “First Take” and shows of that ilk without demanding more substance, and as long as the video clips go viral this is what a lot of sports media will continue to look like.
________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Russell Wilson has transcended the football space to become an athletic evangelical via his faith-based tweets and overall vocal affinity for The Most High. Now that love for the Lord might conflict when your wife makes secular music like “Goodies.” The culture clash came to a head at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet.
Everybody assumes that Ciara has killer curves; she is a dancer. Now there is no more questioning as her barely there dress at the Oscars gave the world a glimpse at her assets. The 37-year-old R&B star made headlines with a sheer black dress replete with very visible thong underwear and pasties covering her chest.
When Ciara turned for the camera, she gave the world a glimpse of her physique, baring her backside for the paparazzi. The sheer netted gown by Dundas was fresh off the Paris Fashion Week runway. She finished the look with elbow-length gloves, some blinged-out diamond drop earrings, and black Santoni strappy heels. The mother of three is showing that having a “bawdy” is still possible after childbirth, and if you’ve got it, why not flaunt it?
She completed the reveal with a video on her social media that was captioned “Oscar Nights,” with M.I.A’s song ‘Bad Girls’ playing in the background. The video also shows Ciara with Megan Thee Stallion, a rap artist whose raunchy content is also eye-opening to the faith-based world.
Enter the followership of Russell Wilson.
The “Let Russell Cook” crew came for the quarterback star and his wife on Twitter for her fashionable audacity. Despite his troubles on the field, many of Wilson’s fans have stayed loyal based on his faith-first mentality. However, Ciara’s freeness conflicts with their perception of the quarterback star. Immediately, the internet came for Russ.
“30 mins ago, wasn’t you just (in) a prison providing church?” one fan commented on Ciara’s post.
“I’m questioning Russell’s morals,” a fan said in judgment of Wilson.
“If you don’t get the joke, I’m tired of sexist double standards and ppl slut-shaming Ciara for her dress at the Oscars. It’s her body, her choice,” a fan said critical of the online hate. “These men from single-parent households think she’s unworthy of marriage and a loving husband just bc she was a single mom. Haters.”
Ciara has been a media sex symbol for years by being beautiful and unapologetic about her physique. Last year, she joined Kim Kardashian, Maye Musk, and Yumi Nu as 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover models. The editor-in-chief of the swimsuit issue described why he chose Ciara.
“The journey we’ve been on—to break out of the mold the world put us in—may sound familiar,” said the SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day to Sports Illustrated. “It’s certainly familiar to the women we’ve chosen to be our cover models: Maye, Ciara, Yumi, Kim.”
Ciara has broken the mold in single-parenting, reinvented herself as a wife and mother, and enhanced Russell Wilson’s career by her sheer presence. If she wants to show a little “look back at it” while living her best life, we are here for it.
With Bronny James set to soon make a decision on where he’s going to play college ball, Bryce James will be the next obsession for a lot of high schools basketball junkies. Just as the cameras and media followed Bronny off the court and tried to pry into his everyday life as a private citizen, Bryce will get the same treatment, of course, being a child of one of the greatest basketball players to ever live.
Bryce James himself seems to live a normal life off the court as well. It’s one that includes friends, family and basketball. The only thing with Bryce is that he’s part of a rich family, with a famous dad who holds a resume and legacy like no other.
Recently a video of Bryce James went viral on social media. The 6-foot-6 Sierra Canyon hooper was in a video call with some friends, which included two Caucasian girls who were singing New York native Ice Spice’s viral hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)”.
In the song, Ice Spice uses the N-word, and as the girls were rapping it, Bryce seemingly paused during their rendition of the song to make sure they didn’t say that word.
Once the girls cleared the line and didn’t drop the racially charged expletive, Bryce then nodded his head in acknowledgment of them avoiding the word. What made it hilarious was his facial expression throughout the rapping of the line.
The internet has gone crazy over this eight-second video because it shows a human, down-to-Earth side of Bryce. It shows him being a 15-year-old, instead of the famous son of arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.
Throughout the years there have been loads of content similar to this, showing Bryce just living a regular teenage life and enjoying his friends.
Videos such as Bryce comedically impersonating his father, or him making Tik-Tok content with his older brother and younger sister.
Plenty of other younger celebrity athlete children have had similar treatment such as the aforementioned Bronny James and the Ball sons (Liangelo, Lonzo, Lamelo). Even Michael Jordan’s son, who doesn’t play basketball, is in the spotlight of late (especially with his new girlfriend, Larsa Pippen.
While Bryce does garner coverage for who he is outside of being a nationally ranked basketball player, he’s now in the media because of the possibility he’ll depart from Sierra Canyon.
According to MaxPreps, Bryce could possibly be leaving Sierra Canyon, the school he played for the last two seasons with his brother, coached by Campbell Hall.
Los Angeles Daily News’ Tarek Fattal first reported on the possible transfer.
“Multiple sources have said the move is a ‘done deal’ and Bryce James’ school application for transfer has been submitted,” Fattal wrote. “James and his family already have toured the school. The family’s youngest child attends the elementary school.”
With Bryce possibly finding a new school to play at next year now that his brother is done at Sierra Canyon, he will surely be on everyone’s timelines.
________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Top Five Players In The NCAA Tourney | Let The Madness Begin – The Shadow League
The corporate sponsors behind some of the NBA’s top-tier talent have some explaining to do. When trouble, or at minimum, the perception of it, comes to its paid athletic ambassadors, one decision must be made: fight or flee. The fight is usually in the vein of standing by fallen heroes when the media runs them through the wringer of morality.
Take the cases of Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant, a tale of two controversies. With Kyrie Irving, a cumulative effect of an anti-vax stance collided with his self-awakening for a polarizing perspective on already polarized topics.
Although many were perturbed that Kyrie opted not to get the vaccine, sacrificing play in NYC when he was a member of the Brooklyn Nets during the city’s early stance on mandatory vaccinations for indoor performances, it was his tweet of the documentary “From Hebrews to Negroes” that rang the alarm.
His signature endorsement agreement with Nike would have expired on Oct. 1, 2023, until it was abruptly ended 11 months before its expiration date after Irving posted a link on social media to the book and movie deemed anti-Semitic by many.
Team Irving called the subsequent split from Nike amicable.
“We have mutually decided to part ways and wish Nike the best in their future endeavors,” Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, told CNBC last December.
Nike stated their position very differently.
“Kyrie stepped over the line. It’s kind of that simple,” Nike co-founder Phil Knight said to CNBC last year on Nov. 10. “He made some statements that we just can’t abide by, and that’s why we ended the relationship. I was fine with that.”
Nike canceled the planned release of the Nike Kyrie 8 and asked retailers to pull new merchandise from Irving’s line off the respective sales floors. However, capitalism trumps all, as in early February, Nike released a new colorway from the Nike Kyrie Low series with no fanfare. It showed that making money from the product without marketing the athlete that inspired it is acceptable for Nike’s business.
Enter Ja Morant, who has alleged involvement in physical altercations against a minor, and a security guard at the mall before his epic fail at Denver’s world-famous Shotgun Willie’s strip club. His actions are legitimately concerning, yet his sponsors are staying with him despite no day of return.
Nike is staying by his side.
“We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being,” Nike’s statement read via Shams Charania.
So sharing a documentary about one version of a culture’s origin story is more damaging to the Nike brand than brandishing a gun on social media from the interior of a strip club?
It is a reminder of an often-regurgitated conspiracy theory that the powers that be will support ignorant actions by Black people versus media material that may awaken that same population. No one wants Ja Morant to lose money, but the contradictory moves made by arguably the most popular athletic apparel brand on the planet are too apparent to be ignored.
________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
According to several reports, members of pop star Adele’s inner circle are concerned that her boyfriend Rich Paul is in the relationship with the British singer for the wrong reasons. They fear Adele wants to get married and that Paul is just stringing her along for the clout.
“Rich is a very charming, influential guy. But the worry is he’s using Adele to boost his Hollywood profile and it’ll all end in tears once he’s gotten bored with her,” an insider told RadarOnline.
Upon those alleged comments from the insider making their way around the internet, some fans took issue with the stance that Paul is using Adele to boost his Hollywood profile, given who he is and what he’s accomplished.
Paul is the CEO of Klutch Sports Group, which represents NBA and NFL athletes — most notably LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jalen Hurts and Chase Young.
Klutch was founded by Paul, and the firm has received a significant investment from the global talent and entertainment powerhouse United Talent Agency. Paul is now also a member of the UTA board.
With Paul’s proximity to James, learning under Leon Rose at the world’s number-one talent agency Creative Artists Agency, what could being with Adele get Paul he couldn’t already get on his own?
“Before they went public, hardly anyone had heard of the guy. Now he’s front and center at all the big events, soaking up the limelight and encouraging her to get out there and party alongside him,” a source shared.
The worlds of sports and entertainment often overlap, but there are probably people in the entertainment world who have no idea who Paul is. That’s not a knock on Paul; it’s just reality. Not everyone is dialed into sports, and specifically sports agents.
Adele is much more famous and a front-facing global superstar.
We have no idea what the reality of their relationship is. The Grammy Award-winning singer has made it publicly clear she would like to grow her family and have more children someday. She shares a 10-year-old son, Angelo, with her ex-husband, Simon Konecki.
Adele was spotted at one of her Las Vegas residency shows last month wearing a diamond engagement ring. All the tabloids ran with the engagement story, quoting a “reliable source.”
Both Paul and Adele are notoriously private, as they should be, about their personal lives and neither has made an official statement about being engaged.
Time will tell if their relationship is built to last and if marriage and children will be the next steps. Time will also reveal what, if any, professional benefits Paul has gained from his time with Adele.
Paul like LeBron is a businessman. He sees Klutch as more than just a sports agency. No doubt he would like it to someday rival CAA, Wasserman and WME, the preeminent talent agencies in the world.
What possible role could Adele play in that future? Does he plan to include artist management under the Klutch banner?
Again, time will tell.
The Philadelphia Phillies have a shocking discovery about their old stadium. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports its investigation found that the artificial turf used at Veterans Stadium contains dangerous compounds commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” raising the specter of a correlation to the deaths of six former Phillies players. The Eagles and Phillies played at the stadium from 1971 to 2003.
The death of former Phillies’ relief pitcher David West caused the Philadelphia Inquirer to get curious and start their own investigation. So, they went online to purchase pieces of the turf and had it sent to two different labs to be tested. The turf in question was replaced several times throughout the years. The lab tested 70 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.
The CDC consider the chemicals to be dangerous because they don’t break down easily and have be known to contaminate drinking water.
The Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environmental Testing center, one of two labs that was used by the Inquirer, found 16 PFAS in the turf samples. Among two of the PFAS that were found are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Both are two of the most studied, produced, and used PFAS.
Other players in addition to West are: Tug McGraw, Darren Daulton, John Vukovich, John Oates, and Ken Brett. All six players were discovered to have glioblastoma that resulted in their deaths. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer found more commonly in white males between the ages of 40 and 70.
The cancer starts out as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. It grows quickly to invade and destroy healthy cells. There is currently no cure for the disease, and it is a very rare form of cancer.
“We know that the liver is affected. We know that the kidneys are affected. We know the testicles are affected,” Graham Peaslee, a physicist at the University of Notre Dame, told the Inquirer. “But nobody’s ever done the study to see if the brain is affected, because glioblastoma is such a rare disease.”
The report also stated that the turf used by the Phillies could have released chemical vapors that the players inhaled during the summertime when temperatures were usually to be over 100 degrees.
The Phillies responded in a statement and said that several brain experts told them that there is no proven link to the turf and the brain cancer found in the six former players. Brett (1973), Oates(1975), and West (1994-96) all played for the Phillies in three or less seasons. The other three players suited up for the team in five or more seasons.
According to the Inquirer’s report, the alarming rate found in over 500 former players that played on the turf is about three times higher than the average rate.
There has been no link to former Eagles players. The Phillies played their last game at Veterans Stadium in September 2003 and it was demolished in 2004.
________________________________________________________________________
Tyreek Hill Really Is The Cheetah, Winning Track Race Over The Weekend – The Shadow League
Over the weekend the Sacramento Kings did something they haven’t since 2005-06, they reached 40 wins and are now tied for second in the West with the Memphis Grizzlies. That got former NBA player turned ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins talking bright and early on Monday morning. During a segment on the network’s hit show “First Take,” Perk, while discussing the Kings’ surprising season also took a shot at the defending champion Golden State Warriors as it pertains to them turning it on and making a deep playoff run.
“They could flip it on and then realize the light bill wasn’t paid, because the lights ain’t coming on this year. And here’s why: for the first time I can say that the Warriors don’t have an identity.”
Perk wasn’t done. He then added this about the Warriors’ run, and where the Kings will be:
Perkins, a well-known Lakers and LeBron James apologist, then deciphers who he thinks has a higher championship ceiling between the Lakers and Warriors, without ever mentioning the Lakers, but further praising the Kings and Mike Brown.
“I’m looking at them and, no, they’re not a championship team right now. They better stay the hell away from the Sacramento Kings. Because no matter how young that group is, no matter now inexperienced they may be as far as coming down to the postseason, they have old souls. And coach Mike Brown is doing a hell of a job right now.”
Maybe Perk is looking at the current standings, where the Kings are tied for second, with the Warriors at No. 6. Meaning, they are a very likely first-round matchup. But to just write off the defending champions while praising a team that’s never been to the playoffs is blasphemous, to say the least.
While the Warriors haven’t played like championship contenders, Perkins shouldn’t be the one saying their window has closed. He was the main culprit saying that nonsense prior to last year’s playoffs, and we saw how that ended, with them hoisting another Larry O’Brien Trophy. But putting a team that’s never sniffed the playoffs in the conference finals is a bit much. Let’s see them win a playoff game and series first.
Just a couple days ago, Perk allowed himself to spew that the Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies are the lone NBA rivalry. That’s laughable at best, because for a rivalry to exist both teams have to win at some point, and the Grizzlies haven’t done so as of yet.
So, in other words, take Perkins analyses and hot takes with a grain of salt.
Seeing what the Kings are doing has been good for the NBA. A rabid fan base once again has a viable team. The fans and city have even adopted the “Light The Beam” mantra following every home win at Golden 1 Center.
The aforementioned Brown says he thought the gesture was “corny” now says it’s “really frickin’ cool.”
It’s become a real part of the Kings culture, just like the cowbells were at ARCO Arena, and with De’Aaron Fox and Domnatas Sabonis leading the way, things are definitely looking up in the Cali state capital.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
Maybe the greatest athlete in history — he’s certainly on the short list — Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson once got ejected from a baseball game on purpose. On July 21, 1990, the Kansas City Royals All-Star was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire. But he did so to get to the hospital to see his newborn daughter, Morgan.
“I purposely took strike three right down the pipe, and I turn around and got into the ump’s face and called him a name,” Jackson told ESPN in 2016. “He threw me out the game and I said thank you.”
According to Jackson, his daughter was born that morning and he got to spend the day with her and his wife in the hospital.
That’s a pretty good reason to get tossed from a game. Though maybe he should’ve just asked for the day off?
Back then it likely wasn’t looked upon favorably if men missed games for the birth of their children. It’s still not really part of the macho jock culture, but players would get less public ridicule today.
In fact, Bo would never have to got to those lengths today just to be there for the birth of his child. Pursuant to Major League Baseball’s 2011 collective bargaining agreement with the Player’s Union, Major League Baseball players were afforded three days of paternity leave.
According to Foley Family Law, the provision came to light when New York “Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, exercised his right to paternity leave in early April 2014 to join his wife and new son.”
As expected, Murphy’s decision was met with great criticism, but is much more socially acceptable and common now.
A two-sport star in college at Auburn, Jackson won the 1985 Heisman Trophy and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but refused to play for them. He instead opted to play for the defending World Series Champion Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the fourth round.
Jackson eventually played in the NFL for the Raiders and became the only athlete in history to be named both an MLB All-Star (1989) and NFL Pro Bowl player (1990).
He became a household name through Nike’s “Bo Knows” advertising campaign. The series of ads starred Jackson alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Bo Diddley, and other star athletes, including Andre Agassi and Wayne Gretzky, while promoting a cross-training shoe named for Jackson.
A devastating hip injury robbed Jackson of what might have been a Pro Hall of Fame football career. But he did dazzle and awe us at his peak. When you tuned into a Jackson game on the diamond or gridiron you never knew what you were going to get, but there was always the possibility of greatness.
These days you can see Jackson on commercials, on the sidelines at Auburn football games, and doing charitable work. He also runs “Bo Bikes Bama”, a charity benefit bicycle ride he started to honor the Alabamians who lost their lives during the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the state on April 27, 2011.
“As I enter a new decade, I am most proud of what I have been able to give back,” said Jackson in a press release announcing the 2023 date. “Bo Bikes Bama is an extraordinary event that brings together people from all walks of life who share a common cause. Over the past 12 years, our work to help fund community storm shelters and warning sirens has made Alabama a safer place to live.”
Jackson is a proud Alabamian and is always looking to give back to his home state.
_________________________________________________________________________
More news from our partners:
