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‘Shedeur and Travis Could Be No. 1 and No. 2 In NFL Draft’: Deion Sanders Has Beef With EA Sports Rating and Clearly Doesn’t Know Georgia QB Carson Beck 

The 2024 college football season is about 50 days away, and one of the season’s storylines will feature the Colorado Buffaloes, who’ll be playing their second season under Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

Another storyline will feature the Georgia Bulldogs who enter the season as the prohibitive favorites to win their third national championship in four seasons. Each team is led by dynamic signal-callers who will both enter the season as Heisman Trophy candidates.

Shedeur Sanders Leads Colorado Buffs, Carson Beck Leads Georgia

The Buffaloes are led by Shedeur Sanders who proved that he belonged on the big stage in his first season at the FBS level, passing for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

The Bulldogs are led by Carson Beck who in his first year as a starter finished with 3,941 yards passing, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. In many ways comparable numbers, and Beck definitely played the tougher schedule being in the SEC. In fact EA Sports College Football 25 top-100 player rankings ranked them the same, and that didn’t seem to sit well with Coach Prime. 

Prime Is Gonna Speak His Mind

While speaking at Big 12 Media Days, Sanders made light of the rankings that have Shedeur as the No. 17-ranked player (No. 1 QB). Beck is ranked right behind him at 18 (No. 2 QB). But what seems to be bothering Coach Prime is they both carry the same overall rating of 93. The outspoken Sanders didn’t miss the opportunity to mention that during his time at the podium. 

“I don’t know nothing about that video game,” Sanders said this week at Big 12 Media Days. “I am not a video guy. I love video games, but I’m a real game guy. You talk about ratings and rankings; I don’t know about that stuff. I’m just trying to figure out how Shedeur can be tied with another person. How did that happen?”

Coach Prime always does this, and for him to believe that Beck isn’t on par with his son is crazy. Beck is actually the top-ranked NFL prospect at the quarterback position heading into the 2024 season. 

Both he and Sanders are projected top-10 picks. 

Coach Prime Also Vouched For Travis Hunter 

Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter made the list at No. 6 overall, but that wasn’t good enough for Coach Prime, who considers him the best player in all of college football at both wide receiver and cornerback. 

“How can Travis not have the highest score on the game when he’s arguably the best receiver and best defensive back in college football? So, how can you not be the number one-rated guy, period? I don’t understand that either. … Shedeur and Travis could be No. 1 and No. 2 in the NFL draft. Based on need and desire, they could be No. 1 and No. 2. I don’t see any flaws, if there’s any flaws, in their game. They don’t give a darn about that, though. They want to win.”

Related: Travis Hunter’s Fiancée Leanna Lenee Claps Back At Those Who Questioned If She Could Afford $120K Truck She Gifted Him For 21st Birthday

Coach Prime is a great hype man, and with his influence it is almost a given that Shedeur and Hunter will go very early in the 2025 NFL draft, but not No. 1 and No. 2. And as good as Hunter is, he’s not the best at either position in college football. He’s in the conversation for his overall ability. There are better players at each position, and mainly because they’re not attempting to play both ways. 

$300M NBA Star Jaylen Brown Snubs 44-Year-Old Bernice Burgos For 26-Year-Old WNBA Bust Kysre Gondrezick

WNBA star Kysre Gondrezick, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft, was cut earlier this season by the Indiana Fever after just playing five games. 

After her appearance, standing arm in arm with Boston Celtics’ $300M NBA finals MVP Jaylen Brown on the ESPYs red carpet, it’s clear that she could care less about losing the $35K to $60K per year a WNBA salary brings.  

Being beautiful arm candy for a super rich and popular NBA player definitely trumps the 6 a.m. practices, unchartered flights, physical play and high-level intensity the WNBA requires. 

Two weeks ago, Brown and Gondrezick were first seen hanging out together at the Celtics parade, sparking rumors that they were dating. Another video shows Brown holding the NBA championship trophy in one arm while holding Gondrezick in the other.

Thursday night’s red carpet pop-out was the proof we needed. Godrezick’s stunning black dress stole the show. 

Gondrezick Is A WNBA Bust, But A Winner In Life 

Gondrezick managed just 1.9 points through 19 games before stepping away for personal reasons. 

She elaborated on her absence in a tweet on Nov. 22.

“My mental health was at high risk as I was under a lot of stress coping with my own personal silence of traumas,” she said at the time.

Reportedly, after the death of her father, Gondrezick lost sight of “the fun in the game.” 

Grant Gondrezick, her inspiration, was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1986. He had a brief two-year NBA career and also balled overseas but suddenly died at the age of 57.

“I am better as a person and am absolutely comfortable in my own skin,” she said. “I realize now that prioritizing my mental health was the most important lesson of all to move past unlearned lessons that caused continued pain…”

Jaylen Brown Has $300M NBA Contract, NBA Finals MVP But Overlooked For Team USA

So, it seems Gondrezick has a new focus and one that brings her mental peace. His name is Jaylen Brown, who was recently “snubbed” from being a Team USA replacement for the injured Kawhi Leonard. 

There has been rumors that Brown’s exclusion has to do with his criticism of the Nike company and the political mess that causes. Others say he has an “I’m better than you” attitude. Brown didn’t spend too much time addressing his perceived snub.

In fact, Grant Hill and the committee selected Brown’s less-heralded teammate, who according to Martin Weiss of ‘The Bad Boys’ radio show on Sports Rap Radio, “is a better fit because of what he offers as far as defending guards and his perimeter shooting. Team USA didn’t need another wing player.”

Brown Used To Date Video Vixen Turned IG Model Turned Entrepreneur Bernice Burgos

Well, clearly, Brown got himself another wing woman in Gondrezick. Not too long ago, however, Brown was rumored to be in a solid relationship with IG model, businesswoman and former video vixen Bernice Burgos, who at the time they were dating was significantly older than the 25-year-old Celtics star, who led his team to its NBA franchise-record 18th title in June over the Dallas Mavericks. 

Burgos rose to fame after featuring in several music videos of popular artists like Rick Ross. Brown isn’t the first celebrity athlete she has been linked to. She’s also been associated with several music stars. 

In 2015, she was famously linked with Drake after the two were pictured with one another in Australia. But according to Burgos, she and the Canadian superstar are merely friends.

Burgos crossed over as a legit entrepreneur when she ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing clothing lines and a sleepwear brand called Bold & Beautiful.

Bernice Burgos Net Worth Is $4M

She reportedly has an estimated net worth of $4 million, so she comes with age, experience and a bag of her own. The pair had been linked heavily from September 2022, when they were spotted dancing together in a New York City club, through 2023, when they were photographed together on a beach.

Related: “We Failed. I Failed.” | Jaylen Brown’s Postgame Comments Were Honorable And Showed Accountability, But Could Cost Him Supermax Deal Close To $300M

Burgos’ relationship with the 25-year-old Brown made them the target of plenty of social media conversation. It also made Burgos a hero among middle-age women as she continues to break age norms in her budding fashion enterprise and her most recently appearing on the VH-1 show “The Impact.”

Not that anything was wrong with Burgos being 20 years older than Brown, who is now 25, but KG is more his speed. She’s 26, no kids and ready to build her life from scratch.

“Damn, C-Mac, I Couldn’t Get An Invite?” | Cam Newton Hasn’t Texted Back Former Teammate Christian McCaffrey In Four Years, So He Was a Wedding Snub

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has made the successful transition into the sports media and podcast realm. His former teammate Christian McCaffrey has become the best running back in the league, helping the San Francisco 49ers reach the NFC Championship and Super Bowl in his little over a season and a half with the team.

The duo were teammates with the Carolina Panthers from 2017-19 and 2021, and most believed they had a good relationship. 

The two former teammates are in the news because apparently Newton wasn’t invited to the nuptials of McCaffrey and his new wife Olivia Culpo who’s also a former Miss Universe. The former NFL MVP addressed not being invited during a recent episode of his hit podcast “4th and 1 with Cam Newton.” 

Newton Wonders Why He Wasn’t Invited, Run CMC Responds

After hearing that McCaffrey and Culpo had recently tied the knot via his girlfriend Jasmin Brown, Newton wanted to know why he wasn’t invited to attend. The former Heisman Trophy-winning passer explored this on his podcast. 

“Damn, C-Mac, I couldn’t get an invite?” Newton asked.

“Is it because of the Brock Purdy beef? Was Brock there?”

Newton is making light of him calling the aforementioned Purdy a game manager last season. Something he stands by till this day. 

That wasn’t the case, and McCaffrey used a mock exchange with his former Panthers tight end teammate Greg Olsen to highlight this on Instagram. 

“This was a great night, but you know what would have made it even better?” McCaffrey said in reference to Newton’s video. “If Cam Newton were here. I haven’t gotten a text back in 4 years. In fact, they just go green now.”

Cam Newton Disputes McCaffrey’s Claim That Cam Hasn’t Texted Him Back In Years

A seemingly surprised Newton responded to McCaffrey’s claim with, “What number do you have? Share it here.”

What’s obvious is McCaffrey acts as if he wanted Newton to be in attendance for his big day, but since the two former backfield mates haven’t spoken in four years that didn’t happen. Newton makes it seem as if McCaffrey hasn’t been texting the correct number. 

Newton Was Reason Panthers Drafted McCaffrey 

Prior to the 2017 NFL draft the Panthers were considering trying to move up to take LSU Tigers star running back Leonard Fournette.

At the time Newton advocated for the team to stay with No. 8 pick and take McCaffrey because Fournette was similar to current running back Jonathan Stewart. 

The team did so and drafted McCaffrey who quickly became the most dynamic dual-threat back in the league with his elite rushing and receiving prowess. The duo played 35 games together, with McCaffrey rushing for 1,768 yards and touching paydirt 23 times in those games. 

Related: Niners Have The Most Explosive Backfield In Football | Deebo Samuel And Christian McCaffrey Tandem Is Doomsday For Seattle

Newton, on the other hand passed 7,558 yards, with 49 touchdowns and a QB rating of 85.4. 

In the end Newton did send congratulations to the newlyweds, although he obviously would’ve liked to have been there. And from the sound of it McCaffrey also would’ve liked that as well. 

‘Racist, Jealous, Coon, Monkey, Hatin A– B—- Who Needs To Go Back To Africa’: Caitlin Clark Fans Will Never Forgive DiJonai Carrington

There’s a lot of games within the game and themes within the theme in the WNBA. In addition to the various attitudes towards Caitlin Clark’s fame and Angel Reese’s gritty court demeanor (she just recorded her WNBA record 15th straight double-double). There are also various relationships that are highlighted from time to time. 

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington took an opportunity to shout out her girlfriend, while throwing smoke at fans who came for her head again, after she appeared to take a subtle swipe at the Indiana Fever rookie star on Wednesday afternoon. 

Is Caitlin Clark A Flopper?

Clark is earning a growing reputation for being a flopper and the Washington Mystics let her know about it throughout Wednesday’s game. Carrington was the first to bring it to light, mocking Clark in a game earlier this season and getting viciously attacked by the Clark Committee. 

Everytime Clark is involved in an on the court skirmish, the majority of media frame it as a jealousy shot at the WNBA’s new cash cow. 

Clark got into several verbal spats and got physical with Washington Mystics guard Julie Vanloo during their game. Vanloo was guarding Clark tightly, and the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer wasn’t feeling the intense, hands on defense. 

Clark shoved Vanloo a couple of feet and the two competitors jawed at each other while Clark’s Fever teammate and veteran Katie Lou Samuelson interceded and broke up the potential scrap. 

Carrington, fourth-year player for the Connecticut Sun and a quality starter averaging 13 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists has a girlfriend named NaLyssa Smith, who happens to play for Clark’s Fever.

The tense moments in a hotly-contested game that the Fever lost 89-84, inspired Carrington to throw what many see as subtle shots at Clark on her X account: 

“But I’m a racist, jealous, c—, monkey, hatin a– b—- who needs to go back to Africa when I do it huh? plssss. Like I said, this is basketball,” she wrote on X.

Carrington and Clark Have History 

The two players got into it during their matchup earlier this year and Carrington made headlines when she mocked Clark. An expression of her disgust for what she perceived as flopping. 

Many fans believed Carrington was once again throwing shade at Clark by calling out the double standard in how Clark’s behavior is covered versus everyone else’s. She clearly thinks it is based on race. 

However, Carrington claimed that she was not directing anything toward Clark, but she clearly got the attention he was seeking. 

Carrington Dates Clark’s Teammate NaLyssa Smith

Carrington laid it out for X users in another post. 

“1. Close!!! BUT no :/ my gf is on a fever … so I was trying to catch the rest of her game.

“2. This has nothing to do w/ Caitlin. This has to do w/ how nasty yall fAnS are to call me ridiculous things for something that is literally just mfers hoopin.

“3. I was still in my uniform.”

Remember, Carrington was also the one who accused Clark of allowing her name and success to be used for misogyny, which Clark vehemently denied. 

Caitlin Clark’s initiation continues, and what can’t be missed in this rookie journey is the fact that she has spunk and talks trash and isn’t afraid to get just as physical as any other player. Some thought Carrington was calling out a double standard.  But then she dragged her girl into it. 

Wonder what that conversation at home is like between Clark’s teammate Smith and Carrington when they are Netflix and chilling.

‘David Wasn’t A Drug Addict’: Families Of Kansas City Chiefs Fans Found Frozen In Backyard After NFL Game Won’t Accept Fentanyl As Cause Of Death

Six months ago, a group of friends in Kansas City, Missouri, gathered to kick it and watch a Chiefs game, which ended in three men going missing for 48 hours and then all found frozen to death in the one surviving friend’s backyard as he slept.  

The body of Lorie Kruse’s longtime boyfriend, 37-year-old David Harrington, and his high school friends Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, were discovered frozen in the backyard of Jordan Willis’ Kansas City home on Jan. 9 after an NFL watch party at the home. The three men were last seen alive inside the house two days prior, watching the Chiefs play the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Families Want Answers

As of July, the families of those three dead men are frustrated and still searching for answers and feel like investigators are ignoring them.

According to WDAF, the new outlet was previously told that medical examiner reports were holding up the investigation.

Yet nearly six months after the reports were certified, all three families have struggled to get any additional information out of police or the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office except confirmation that this is an open investigation.

Based upon prior reporting, the police have admitted that drug use was involved. Autopsy results showed that each had fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid, in their systems, which would explain how they fell asleep long enough to freeze to death. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the overdose death rate for 2023 was 112,000 people, a new record.

Is Case Closed? Families Still Feel Nefarious Activity Led To Deaths 

It doesn’t help that the families of the victims suggested that they died because of the nefarious actions of the homeowner, who despite having a clear view of his backyard claimed he fell asleep for two days and never realized his friends were outside. 

It prevents them from accepting the tragedy and moving on. It seems the police have.  

“Through this whole thing I’ve had a hard time getting anybody to answer me,” Jennifer Marquez, the mother of David Harrington, said. Jim McGeeney, the uncle of Clayton McGeeney, added: “My nephew died a tragic death along with two of his friends and nobody is being held accountable.”

In fact, after reaching out for months to the prosecutor’s office, WDAF news was told there was “nothing more to talk about (with) this case at this time. (Platte County Prosecutor Eric) Zahnd is not commenting on phone or otherwise about it until the investigation is complete.”

A lawyer close to the families told NewsNation that due to the time that has passed and the lack of communication from police and prosecutors, it leads him to believe charges may never come.

Will Jordan Willis Be Charged?

The family wants someone to pay for the death of their loved ones, but at this point, police don’t seem motivated to charge anyone with a crime. It appears this will be left as an unforeseen and terrible tragedy. 

Preliminary Medical Reports Show Fentanyl Levels at 30

According to Fox 4, preliminary toxicology reports were released to the families in January, showing high levels of cocaine and fentanyl in the systems of the three men.

“The family source says level 10 fentanyl is enough to kill,” according to the source. “The #KansasCity3 were at level 30.”

NewsNation reporter Alex Caprariello later reported that the details have now been confirmed by a second family member. 

“Yes, our office finalized cause and manners of death for all three of the referenced decedents,” said Kelsie Gwartney, the chief of investigations and administrator at Forensic Medical of Kansas in a statement.

However, the medical examiner has also refused to release the official cause and manner of the men’s deaths, even to their parents.

Family Says Foul Play Was Involved

Willis, the homeowner, who has relocated since describing his experience after the incident as uncomfortable, says he has no idea what happened to his friends and didn’t speak to them. 

Kruse and the family members of the deceased still insist there is foul play involved. She says her boyfriend wasn’t a drug user and says murder is the only answer. 

Kansas City Police completely ruled out homicide being investigated as a cause of death for the three men early in the investigation. 

Kruse, however, insisted in an interview with News Nation’s Chris Cuomo that Harrington’s death was not an accident. 

“David was murdered,” she told Cuomo. “Those three guys were murdered.” 

Jordan Willis Was Sleeping, Doesn’t Know How His Guests Died

“I don’t know if Jordan gave them something like they’re talking about,” Kruse continued. “David wasn’t a drug addict like they’re talking about… David didn’t do stuff like that.” 

“Maybe they did take something because they were drinking,” she continued. “But I know David wouldn’t have taken it.”

Willis is lawyered up, and his attorney, John Picerno, told Fox News that his client was sleeping for much of the period between allegedly escorting his friends out of his house after the Chiefs game on Jan. 7 and police knocking at his door around 8:51 p.m. on Jan. 9 after finding the bodies on his property.

According to reports, McGeeney’s fiancée contacted police on Jan. 9 after finding one of the bodies on Willis’ back porch. She broke onto the property after McGeeney failed to return her calls and texts and no one answered the door.  

“It does not make any sense to have three men dead, laying in the yard and [Willis] asleep for 48 hours,” Kruse told Cuomo. 

Related: “Level 10 Fentanyl Is Enough To Kill. The #KansasCity3 Were At Level 30”| Toxicology Tests Reportedly Confirm The Worst For Families Of Men Found Dead After NFL Watch Party 

She had plenty of things to say about Willis despite never meeting him personally.

“I’ve heard a lot of terrible things about him,” she said. “I don’t know the truth in it … David never had a conversation about Jordan.”

She also told Cuomo that Willis was “on drugs” but didn’t say what kind.  

As the families of the deceased Chiefs fans continue to search for answers, police and medical examiners seem to be content with the results, another tragic end because of fentanyl.

Anthony Edwards Proved He’s Team USA Option No. 1: Carmelo Anthony Says Send Curry, Lebron and KD To The Bench

Leading up to this exhibition, Anthony Edwards proclaimed himself as option No. 1 on a Team USA squad littered with living legends. Some people took it as Edwards overstepping his rank and chalked it up to his youthful exuberance.

But clearly the All-Star who elevated into superstardom this past season by leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a deep run to the Western Conference Finals and drawing comparisons to a young MJ, was not talking smack. 

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards led the way for Team USA, by coming off the bench along with NBA champion Jayson Tatum and pouring in a team-high 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting to pace a balanced attack against Canada in suburban Las Vegas. Stephen Curry added 12 points, and LeBron James filled up the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win Wednesday night.

Who Started For Team USA?

Team USA is stacked, and Canada, which lost 86-72 in the exhibition game in front of a T-Mobile Arena record 20,757, might have played them tougher than any team will in the upcoming Olympic Games. 

Team USA started their push for a fifth consecutive gold medal with an exhibition game against Canada, a team that has the second-best odds to win the gold medal at +900. Team USA is the overwhelming favorite at -400. 

Stephen Curry and Devin Booker started in the backcourt, along with Jrue Holiday. LeBron was the forward and Joel Embiid got the nod at center.  

Holiday scored 11 points and Anthony Davis finished with 10 for the U.S., which has four more exhibitions before getting to France.

Dillon Brooks Gave The Game Meaning With Trash Talk

The superstars may have to leave their egos at the arena door, but they can definitely bring them onto the court and into press conferences. 

NBA player Dillon Brooks, who plays for Canada, is known to be an antagonist trash talker in the NBA. Brooks set the tone for the exhibition and gave it meaning by running his mouth prior to the contest. 

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, the Houston Rockets swingman was asked about the upcoming matchup against Team USA. 

Brooks, who hit the first shot of the game, a short jumper just outside of the paint, responded with some trash talk, saying the U.S. would have to be ready to play defense.

“Yeah, well, they gotta guard,” said Brooks. “They gotta play defense. Every team that has to play against us has to guard us, has to scout against us. We’re just gonna play our game and make adjustments during the game.”

This USA Team features an upgrade in star power than last year’s past. The legendary names all playing together had fans comparing this team to the immortal Dream Team of 1992. 

Canada Leads Early And Fades Out Late

Canada, who actually jumped out to an 11-1 lead behind the play of their NBA talent (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, among others), came out and blitzed team USA before Curry got the party started with a three. 

it wasn’t until the young bucks entered that Team USA’s defensive pressure really ramped up, leaving some to wonder if Steve Kerr might want to start the game out with the high-energy guys.

Olympics Legend Carmelo Anthony Says Bench Steph Curry, LeBron James and KD

USA Basketball and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony gave a shocking take on who he would start if he was in charge of Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

In an interview with Overtime, Melo said he would start a younger lineup comprised of Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker. All well under age 30.

Anyhony’s reasoning for this was that such a rotation would allow for established veterans such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry and Jrue Holiday to contribute off the bench, which makes them a stronger team.

Canada held a 21-14 lead into the second quarter before USA started overwhelming them and went on 14–2 run and never relinquished the lead again. Edwards and Tatum led a stifling defense that forced 11 steals and held Canada to a measly 33.8 percent shooting. SGA and Murray shot a combined 5-for-18.

Barrett scored 12 points for Canada, and SGA and Dillon Brooks each had 10. Canada’s NBA guys gave it their best shot in front of President Barack Obama and dozens of USA Basketball dignitaries in town for the federation’s 50th anniversary celebration. 

So many legends were present, from Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony to Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Teresa Edwards, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen and many more.

Team USA Too Talented

Team USA just had too many weapons; Edwards was draining jumpers and blocking shots, Tatum was shaking and baking and making buckets. 

Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Davis were dishing dimes. Steph is always good for a backbreaking three. 

Just too much firepower. Embiid was hitting from the top of the key and Bron got into the action making defensive plays, running the floor and power slamming. Jrue Holiday got hsi when he was on the floor.  

USA opened up a 50-37 lead by the third quarter, but Canada hung in and cut the lead to 60-54 with under two minutes left, but Team USA went on another blitz led by Davis, Tatum and LeBron and Antman’s dagger three at the end of the third quarter, put the game out of reach at 69-54. 

Related: TSL Olympic Blitz: Team USA Men’s Basketball Shuts It Down in Rio

The only aspect of the game that they must improve on is the defensive effort from the OGs in the first unit, and LeBron spoke to that after the game.

“We know we are a lot better, so we have only been together for days,” said LeBron, who is getting the rare opportunity to play with a guy who has been his archnemesis in Stephen Curry. “As long as we defend, we are going to give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

“The things we can control are effort, intensity and physicality,” Curry added.

Those are all of the attributes that the 25-and-under crew was providing, along with AD, whose defense is always on 100.

With all due respect to the veterans on this squad, the 2024 Olympics is going to be a young man’s game.

NBA’s $76B Media Deal Is Great For WNBA, Spells Doom For Charles, Kenny, Shaq, Ernie and “Inside The NBA” on TNT 

The WNBA might still be in a financial deficit despite its explosion in popularity, but as long as it has the NBA to back it up financially there’s no reason why eventually the league won’t get the money, exposure and all of the chartered flights it wants. 

The new TV contract that the WNBA envisions would expand on the current $60 million annual deal, but those numbers couldn’t be finalized until the NBA closed its mega deal because the WNBA’s money will be pieced out by the NBA.

But have no fear, because the NBA is loaded. 

According to reports, the NBA agreed on a $76 billion media deal which starts in the 2025-26 season, with games set to be scattered across ESPN, ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime. 

Now stop asking why NBA players are able to make $40 million to $50 million a year. The league is thriving, and the money could feed the other six continents two times over. 

How Much Does New Media Deal Help WNBA? 

The NBA is sitting pretty on an 11-year deal worth a reported $6.9 billion per season. Imagine a big bag and then Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC and Amazon just throw wads of cash into that bag in order to secure the rights to NBA coverage. The NBA and WNBA will both get a boost in popularity this summer with the Olympics. Both leagues also have star players participating on various international teams.  

According to Ben Strauss of The Washington Post, the WNBA, which has never turned a profit, is facing a $50 million deficit this season.

Even with all of the league’s record ratings and newfound success, according to Strauss: 

“This year, the WNBA and its teams are still expected to lose around $50 million, according to two people with knowledge of the figures, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the league’s finances.”

Despite The Hype, WNBA Will Lose $50M This Season: The Rookie Class Can Only Do So Much

The NBA has spent several years subsidizing the WNBA, and continues to do so today.

“The truth is, this league would be hard-pressed to exist without the NBA,” a WNBA team executive told Strauss.

Strauss reports that the NBA holds around a 60 percent equity stake in the WNBA. 

WNBA Expansion and New TV Deal

Despite the financial setback and the hole the league is digging itself out of, it’s headed in an upward direction, so much so that the league recently announced expansion franchises in Toronto and the Bay Area, while currently in talks to add two more.

In addition to expansion, the league is currently working on a new TV deal, which was previously reported as being worth $60 million, a figure Strauss claims could triple in the years to come, especially if the league can hit its revenue marks.

It’s not an independent deal, however, as the exact amount is determined by the NBA, who brokered the deal as part of its own larger rights package. It then gives the WNBA a small piece. So maybe the TV deal will be even more significant than the amount reported months ago. 

The NBA’s new TV deal annually almost triples the current agreement which began in 2015-16 and ends after the 2024-25 season. The new contract will kick in starting with 2025-26 and end in 2036-37.

Looks Like End Of The Road For Inside The NBA On TNT

Turner Sports (TNT) is not part of the new agreement. Turner Sports does have an opportunity to match a portion of the deal, which might be Amazon’s piece of the package, according to sports reporter Andrew Marchand. Ernie has said he would remain with the station and Barkley has said he will ride off into the sunset. Who knows what Shaq and Kenny will do.

Disney, NBC and Amazon Pay $6.9B Annually 

Disney will pay $2.6 billion, NBC $2.5 billion and Amazon $1.8 billion annually in a deal that incorporates streaming into the fold more than it ever has in the past. Amazon positioned itself for this moment, as it already has a deal to stream WNBA games, and the league has developed a relationship with the company.

The league and Amazon agreed to a deal to broadcast games. The company adds this treasure to the $1 billion a year it already pays for “Thursday Night Football.”

The Return Of The NBA on NBC

The NBA is back on The Peacock network. Comcast’s NBCUniversal reportedly will pay $2.5 billion a year for its package, agreeing to a broadcast deal to carry the league’s third package of games. NBC takes over for Turner Sports.

The Finals are still scheduled to air exclusively on ABC and ESPN.

Related: “Women’s Sports Rights Fees Have Been Undervalued” WNBA Hopes To Double Revenue To $120M On Back of New Celebrity Ballers Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

What the WNBA won’t do is fold from financial woes. With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making history as the first assists and rebounds leader both under 24 years of age, and the explosion in ratings, plus the bag the NBA just got from various media outlets, the NBA is healthy.

It’s up to the league how much it wants to invest in the WNBA, and, if anything, the women’s pro league is a stock that’s on the rise. Maybe Adam Silver opens up the bank account to help elevate the league even more. 

“Egregious Abuse Of Power from LBJ and Rich Paul”: Former NBA Player Steven Hunter Eviscerates Bronny James’ $7.9M Contract As “Manipulation” Because LeBron Is No MJ

Bronny’s James’ calculated entrance into the NBA with the help of his dad’s influence and a Lakers team who was willing to take a flier on him at pick No. 55, has caused plenty of debates on social media about nepotism and privilege, even among the Black and affluent. 

There is a large contingent of media, fans and casual basketball observers who believe Bronny James deserves the opportunity and if his pops got him that opportunity then more power to them. Others don’t like it one bit. Why? Because they can’t do it, which is understandable when trying to have a career or set your kids up for a career that’s supposed to be based on skill and skill alone. 

The fact that many second-round picks often sign two-way contracts with no guarantee, while Bronny was awarded a fully guaranteed four-year, $7.9 million contract, ticked off the detractors more. 

As LeBron unfriended anyone who threw shade their way, 10-year NBA vet Steven Hunter decided to do a full disclosure IG post, eviscerating LeBron James after seeing his son land that guaranteed deal.

Former NBA Veteran Steven Hunter Says LeBron James Isn’t Playing Fair

“For those that don’t know… Late second round picks don’t get guarantees (Especially before summer league). Typically, late second round picks don’t get 4-year guaranteed roster spot deals either. This wasn’t earned, I’m sorry… And it’s an egregious abuse of power from LBJ and Rich Paul,” Hunter said via his IG account (Steven Hunter/Instagram: @s_dot45).

LeBron and Rich Paul Deny Influencing Lakers Coaching Hire Or Bronny’s Draft Day

LeBron and Rich Paul have denied that they have anything to do with Bron’s podcast pal JJ Redick bening named Lakers’ head coach after Danny Hurley decided to stay at UConn and get the $50 million bag from them. 

They also have said that they didn’t influence the Lakers to draft Bronny, even though Paul was making it public what kinds of deals Bronny wouldn’t accept and calling certain teams to warn them not to draft him. 

Hunter continued: “It’s a slap in the face to all of the kids out there who work their a—- off to get to the league. It’s sneaky Hollywood s— like this that turns a lot of people off about LeBron… This is just another example of what they are talking about right when you try to like ’em. This is why most people prefer MJ or Kobe over him because you know at least MJ or Kobe gone be straight shooters…”

Hunter Says Michael Jordan Would Never Help His Sons Get Drafted If They Couldn’t

Hunter expresses what he feels are some general beliefs about LeBron and how he is perceived in the public eye. He also implies that things like this hurt LeBron’s legacy and moves him further from the GOAT conversation with MJ and Kobe. 

People often criticize the fact that none of MJ’s sons made it to the NBA, but Hunter theorizes that MJ could have easily made it happen if he wanted to use his influence and push the issue to position his son as LeBron did. Hunter basically implies that MJ has more integrity. 

“Trust me, MJ could’ve easily gotten one of his sons in the league if he chose to abuse his power like that… But he didn’t because MJ stands on earned, not given, and he would’ve never given his son a sense of entitlement which is what LeBron James just did with Bronny…

Not taking anything away from Bronny nor am I upset at Bronny… Just know that this is a manipulation of our league and the integrity of what it truly takes to get there.”

Who Is Former NBA Player Steven Hunter?

Hunter wasn’t considered an elite player during an NBA career that spanned five teams between 2001 and 2010 after being drafted 15th overall by the Orlando Magic. 

For such a high pick, he didn’t exactly take the league by storm, averaging just 4.5 points and 3.2 boards across 400 games.

In any event, Bronny, according to his dad, has been blocking out all negative criticism, especially after his Summer League debut produced a 2-for-9 shooting performance before it was announced that he would be sitting out the next game due to knee swelling. 

Related: LeBron James Is Most Powerful Basketball Player Ever: Bronny James To L.A. Lakers With Pick No. 55 In 2024 NBA Draft Was A Foregone Conclusion

“I don’t know if people really understand Bronny,” LeBron told ESPN at a USA Basketball practice for the upcoming Paris Olympics. “He doesn’t care. I actually care a little bit. When I came in [as a rookie], I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. … He doesn’t give a f—.”

“He does not care about anybody,” LeBron added. “He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s like the coolest. He’s like the complete opposite of his dad. His dad will say something [to address the critics]. Bro does not care. … Everything that’s being said about him, he really does not care.”

This criticism of Bronny James will continue to be a regular occurrence, but he will have the opportunity to change the narrative with the way he plays. The Lakers seem willing to give him every opportunity, despite what the malcontents feel. Or if their beef is valid. 

‘A lot of Money Was Lost’: Carmelo Anthony Says Gambling Was All Good In The NBA Bubble During COVID

When COVID hit and the NBA decided to play in the Disney Bubble once played resumed, fans were cut off from the situation. Couldn’t even attend NBA games. There were cardboard figures of fans and fake crowd noise, which to this day seems surreal.  

“The crowd noise was crazy,” said former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star, on his podcast,“7pm In Brooklyn.”

The average fan to this day wonders about the rumors and stories concerning  the dynamics of the Bubble and what was going on as the entire league, media and some family members were trapped inside their own kingdom as to avoid the spread of what at the time was being promoted as a deadly pandemic. 

What Was Going On Inside NBA Bubble? 

Melo and Kemba Walker got together on Melo and The Kid Mero’s podcast, “7pm In Brooklyn,” and gave us all some insight into the dynamic within Disney’s Bubble. 

“It was weird for everybody,” Walker, who recently retired after a great NBA career, said. 

From the digital fans to the fake crowd noise, Walker and Melo agreed that it was definitely a different experience, but also a familiar atmosphere. Both Melo and Walker claim the NBA Bubble was “like college.”  

“We all going to one spot, then you have your old teammates and old coaches you haven’t seen in a long time. Like, we can play a game and then go chill with them,” Walker interjected. “We chillin’. That’s how it was. We even had a players only floor.”

Melo also suggested that there was some gambling going on. 

“A lot of relationships was built in the bubble,” he said. “A lot of money was lost too. It was just a mosh pit of everybody on campus. It was almost like camp in a sense. … I see you, we walk by each other every single day. We eat in the same restaurants. We see everybody. When it’s time to go play, you go play.” 

A Chance To Earn Respect From Peers

Melo says the dynamic of the Bubble, which included not being allowed to leave the premises, ensured that all players watched every game, which is not something that usually happens in a non-pandemic situation. It was an opportunity to develop a deeper respect from your opponents. 

Said Melo: “What you didn’t want to be was the n-gg who ain’t do nothing in the Bubble. Ain’t hoop in the Bubble ’cause everybody’s watching every game.That’s where you get the players’ respect. The peer-to-peer respect. 

“’Cause they get a chance to watch you. See what type of time you on. And now you’re the big man on campus coming back from the hotels and resorts. … Everybody is talking about your game.”

It was also an opportunity for unheralded players to elevate their standing within the league. One player who fit the bill was then-Indiana Pacers forward TJ Warren. Although he had already established himself as a solid NBA scorer, he went crazy in Orlando, scoring 53 points in his first game and ending his stint averaging 31 points per game. 

The Story Lines Coming Out The Bubble

There were more salacious stories and rumors that emerged from the Bubble, such as possible hookups between unnamed reporters and players, and organized fistfights and wrestling matches. 

But Melo and Walker gave us some insight into a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and despite all of the negatives of the Bubble and the ramifications it had on fans and the atmosphere, there was value found in the experience. The competition was more personal. It was less of a show.   

“Nobody in the arena,” Melo said. “It’s just you and us. You can’t run. You can’t hide. There’s no fans. It’s just let get too it.”

Related: Carmelo Anthony Was Just 2 When He Lost His Dad To Cancer And Has Been on Journey of Discovery Ever Since: “My Dad Was a Young Lord”

Melo says the trash-talking came through loud and clear, because without fans. the stuff you usually wouldn’t hear was reverberating throughout the entire empty stadium as dancing cardboard heads of Lil Wayne bounced across your TV screen at home. 

Melo said the intimate atmosphere ignited “real beef” between teams in the bubble. 

“The Bubble was lit. That was a great experience, but I wouldn’t do it again,” Melo said. 

Is Cooper Flagg The Next Larry Bird ?: He Gave Team USA Numbers

In advance of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA Basketball has descended onto Colorado Springs to begin preparation of defending its gold medal.

The team, which consists of NBA superstars Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant is expected to once again hoist this gold medal. Since the 1992 Dream Team was assembled, they’ve always faced a Team USA Select group, which usually consists of some of the young rising players in the NBA. 

This year that team boasts 17-year-old soon-to-be Duke Blue Devils freshman and the nation’s No. 1 ranked recruit Cooper Flagg. The 6-foot-8 Flagg is the first college player invited to participate with the USA Select Team since 2013, when current NBA players Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott both did.

While Smart and McDermott flashed at times, after a couple of practices Flagg is looking like one of the best players in the gym, and that includes the Olympic team.

The Montverde Academy product by way of Newport, Maine, has all the tools, and he’s putting them on full display in front of some of the league’s top players, coaches and executives. 

Flagg Has The IT Factor

One thing the rangy two-way sensation has always exuded is supreme confidence in his abilities. That’s exactly how he’s played against some of the best the NBA has to offer. During Monday’s session Flagg put in 11 points in a variety of ways, hitting step-back threes, driving and finishing through contact and even a putback dunk on a miss in which he was also fouled.

In all, Flagg showed no fear of the talent-laden Team USA. His play caught the attention of Kevin Durant, who also happens to be Team USA’s all-time leading scorer. 

Flagg told reporters this about his play:

“I was just competing and trying as hard as I can. Giving it 100 percent. I’m confident in my ability and skill. I am confident in who I am and what I can do. It’s a surreal feeling being able to share the court with the national team. I’m blessed to have this opportunity to be here. I had no worries. I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I’m here for a reason. I know that.”

Others Rave About Flagg’s Play

That’s how Flagg has always been, and his play caught the eye of many, one being Kevin Durant, who had nothing but praise for Flagg. 

“He looks like a helluva player. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like a veteran almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job,” Durant said. “That’s a good sign.”

Flagg’s head coach with the USA Select Team is Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and he also raved about Flagg:

“Cooper Flagg has a high basketball IQ, tough, willing to learn. He gets to the spots that he needs to for a shot a lot, able to get to the rim, great touch on his shot. I mean, he can play. There’s no in between. There’s me saying, in many different forms, he can just flat-out play.”

That coming from a guy who gets to coach former Rookie of the Year and All-Star Paolo Banchero daily is huge. It also doesn’t hurt that Banchero was also once a Dukie for a season. 

Flagg Is The Projected No.1 Pick In 2025 NBA Draft

As he heads to Duke for what will be one season, Flagg, who averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals per game in leading Florida high school powerhouse Montverde to an undefeated (33-0) season and unprecedented eighth national championship, now has his sights set on leading the Blue Devils to their sixth national title and first in the post-Coach K era. 

He’ll be the unquestioned No. 1 pick in next June’s draft and likely help revive a now-dormant franchise like the Washington Wizards or Brooklyn Nets. 

With the WNBA landing Caitlin Clark and seeing a huge spike in everything around the league, the NBA would love nothing more than to have Flagg do the same with many of the players he’s facing this week on the downsides of their illustrious NBA careers. 

What’s crazy is he may be just the guy to do it. He possesses all the things needed to do so.

They Gave It To Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Got It Out The Mud: Now They Stand On Even Ground Racing To Rookie of The Year  

Caitlin Clark was indeed an overnight sensation. The No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, entered the league with all of the hype and fanfare and a $28 million Nike deal in tow. Angel Reese, however, has had to get it from the mud.

Despite being the second-most celebrated player in women’s college basketball with a national championship win over Clark on her résumé, Reese dropped to seventh overall in the WNBA draft. 

Well, after starting out the season as the subject of doubt, Reese is breaking records and running neck-and-neck with a familiar adversary in Clark for the Rookie of the Year award. 

In the third quarter of the Chicago Sky’s 84-71 loss against the Seattle Storm, Reese grabbed a rebound and put back a layup to give her 11 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s contest, marking her 13th consecutive double-double, the most in WNBA history. 

Angel Reese Sets WNBA Record With 13 Consecutive Double-Doubles

WNBA legend Candace Parker held the record of 12 but accomplished it in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Reese finished the game with what has become a typical 17 points and 14 rebounds. She has officially become the double-double machine. 

After she scored a career-high 27 points and added 10 rebounds during the Sky’s 88-84 win over the Storm on Friday, Reese said she doesn’t think about getting double-doubles.

“I just go out there and do my job. My job is to rebound, so I’m going to go out there and do my job and rebound. I know that’s what my teammates need me to do, and I’ve committed to that,” she said.

Reese has recorded a double-double in 14 of her first 20 career games, and she leads the league in rebounds at 11.7. She’s averaging nearly 14 points per game, which ranks second among rookies behind Caitlin Clark.

Chi Barbie’s fashion sense mixed with her rugged style on the court makes her very relatable to a large audience. She doesn’t miss an opportunity on social media to show off her latest fashion statements and live in her undeniable beauty. 

She is every bit the marketing tool that Clark is credited with being. What she brings to the WNBA is just as necessary as all of the elements that Clark is credited with bringing. 

The good thing about Reese’s elevated play on the hardwood is that she has changed the opinions of some outspoken critics, such as sportswriter and agitator Jason Whitlock, who once called Reese untalented” and “unathletic” and the most “overrated” player in women’s hoops. 

Jason Whitlock Changes Tune On Angel Reese

He’s at least finally admitting that she can hoop and being in ROY contention means you are an elite rookie hooper. To be on Clark’s heels for the award after it was a foregone conclusion before she ever suited up for her first game, is proof that hard work and a daily grind can get you where you want to go. 

Reese is also helping fans appreciate all aspects of basketball, as her main focus is rebounding and defense. She does the dirty work that Clark, who is a ball-dominant gunner, doesn’t have to do.

Both have equal value to their team, and, if we are being honest, we have seen a more steady progression in all-around game elevation from Reese, as Clark has been consistent all season playing at the level she has. She’s yet to find her three-point shot, but she takes as many of them as anyone. 

The first month of the season was all about Clark as they crammed multiple games in a short period and moved games to larger arenas to accommodate The Caitlin Clark Effect and all of the new publicity the league was getting. 

Clark Leads ROY Voting

Caitlin Clark leads Angel Reese in the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year race, according to official polling results released by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

A 15-member panel of voters update their votes each week. At the halfway point of the 2024 WNBA season, Clark holds a 9-5 advantage — with one panelist choosing not to vote.

“Today, I would say Clark, only because they have one more win overall as a team and have a 2-1 lead head-to-head,” voter Christy Winters-Scott, a basketball analyst for the Washington Mystics, said. “Clearly this could change as the WNBA season progresses. It has been a complete joy for me to witness how both players have evolved as professionals in such a short amount of time in the league.”

Clark has been as advertised, playing a solid all-around game while handling the burden of being the first option on an up-and-coming team. She’s averaging 16.1 points per game, six rebounds and 7.4 assists. 

She also plays 38-40 minutes every game, so as she builds more stamina and gets used to the physicality, her low shooting splits (39.3 FG/33.1 on threes) will improve. 

As we approach the Olympic Games later this month and the WNBA takes a break, both Clark and Reese will get to reflect on the first half of their WNBA careers and dream of the collision course these two teams are on for league supremacy in years to come. 

Zach Wilson Allegedly Cheated On Ex-Girlfriend Abbey Gile With His Mom’s Friend: Now She’s Engaged To His Former College Roommate

Zach Wilson’s NFL career hasn’t gone as planned, but the first-round bust stays in the public eye, usually because of scenarios with various women. His mom used to be the subject of a lot of social media drama, but as his career has nose-dived, she has been less active. 

Wilson’s Ex Marries His Former College Teammate

Now a backup quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Wilson is still in the news. Latest developments place him as a player in a love triangle in which his ex-girlfriend Abbey Gile is now engaged to his former teammate and good friend, Dax Milne of the Washington Commanders.

This comes on the heels of L.A .Rams quarterback Matt Stafford’s wife Kelly admitting on a podcast that she dated her husband’s college roommate and backup to make him jealous and get back at him. Social media had a ball with this as well.

Zach Wilson and Dax Milne Both Get Engaged

Wilson and Milne were roommates when they attended and played for Brigham Young University. Both have elevated to the NFL, so the checks are coming in. 

Milne plays wide receiver for Washington, and, like Wilson, hasn’t done much as far as production on the field, with just 15 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown over his two seasons with the Washington Commanders.

On Monday, Dax Milne posted a photo of himself proposing to Gile on Instagram with the caption, “She said YES.” 

So another example of a scorned ex or scorned current, building a relationship with a friend of her unsuspecting ex. You can’t really fault Gile for going for the jugular or Milne for being Captain Save-A girl. 

Zach Wilson’s Love Triangle and Active Social Life

The twist of events began in 2022 when Milne posted a photo to Instagram which implied that he was dating Wilson’s ex-girlfriend Gile.

Fans, of course, had some negative comments, but Gile struck back, claiming that Wilson cheated on her with his mom Lisa’s best friend.

That was also a situation that was well-documented in the tabloids and reputable sports outlets. 

Wilson looked ecstatic in a series of June 30 Instagram photos announcing his engagement to girlfriend Nicolette Dellanno.

The photo of Milne and Gile together was also posted less than a month after Wilson was spotted at a Yankees game with Dellanno, a well-known TikToker at the time with over 230,000 followers.

So Wilson stays busy and he loves social media models and MILFS. He’s the typical star QB but without any star production. Being handsome and blond and a QB in New York has done great for Wilson’s love life. 

Dellanno, however, now has only one video on TikTok that’s been posted since October of 2022. She’s done thirst-trapping and has secured the prize. She and Wilson are now engaged, as he popped the question while the couple was vacationing on the Amalfi Coast in Italy last month.

Dellanno grew up dancing, thanks to her mother, and has tried her hand at modeling for various brands such as Target. She’s currently a fashion designer

“To the love of my life, I never truly understood what love was until I met you,” Wilson wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Dellanno showing off her engagement ring. “You’re not just my partner, but my best friend and my everything. I can’t wait to make a lifetime of memories with you, Nic. I love you.”

“Zach, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Everyday I admire your strength and I’m so incredibly proud of you,” she wrote in an Instagram post of her own. “I’m so in love with you and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. I love you.”

WFAN Host Bashes Jets QB Zach Wilson For Going On Vacation With GF Before ‘Biggest Stretch Of His Career’: Says It’s Not What Elite QBs Do

Somebody hand me a handkerchief. It’s great being young and rich with zero expectations. Shout to Zach Wilson, who always keeps the ball out the end zone but is all in on his celebrity lifestyle and all of the drama and benefits that come with it.

“You Don’t Like What We Said, Then Box Better”: Cam and Ma$e Double Down On Criticism Of “Lil” Shakur Stevenson’s “Boring” Boxing Style

Shakur Stevenson made his first defense of the WBC lightweight title and beat Artem Harutyunyan in the main event of Top Rank’s card from Newark, New Jersey by a unanimous decision on July 7. 

Although Stevenson, a three-division world champion, having held titles at featherweight and junior lightweight before moving up to 135 pounds won the fight, his hometown fans were raining boos at certain points in the contest because of the lack of action.

Stevenson has been accused of being a talented but “boring” fighter and many attribute his defensive style to his unengaging boxing matches. Shakur doesn’t lose, but critics of the boxer often refer to his performances as “sluggish” and “unentertaining.”  

Cam’ron and Ma$e Rip Shakur Stevenson Boxing Performance

Cam’ron and Ma$e always have an opinion on the world of music, sports and culture. Oftentimes, it isn’t filtered and not always favorable to the subject. 

Stevenson, who became a lightweight champion last November when he outpointed Edwin De Los Santos in a what has been called an “historically sluggish” affair to claim the vacant WBC belt, didn’t impress the former Dip Set member and his former Bad Boy partner. 

Speaking on their sports show “It Is What It Is” on Monday, July 8, both Cam and Ma$e went in on Shakur. 

“I don’t want to see Shakur fight, I’m just going to be honest,” Cam said. “No disrespect to Newark, but I don’t want to see Shakur fight nobody. For him to be hanging out with Terence Crawford and Andre Ward, there is absolutely no way that he’s fighting the way he’s fighting.”

He continued: “He just needs to accept he’s a defensive fighter. He’s not an offensive fighter — and there’s nothing wrong with that […] He’s gotta get some offense and he’s gotta get some strength in his hands.”

Ma$e went on to call Stevenson a “cocky fighter” and claimed he would get “obliviated” if he were to fight Gervonta Davis.

Killa Cam was equally critical of Stevenson, saying: “Somebody said on Instagram, ‘If I never see Shakur Stevenson fight again, that’s too soon.’ I did the right thing. It was on ESPN so I recorded it and my n-gga said, ‘Nah,’ so I didn’t have to watch it.

“I got home, seen the 11th, 12th round and saw n-ggas walking out. Them n-ggas was booing! I’m like, ‘Yo, you’re at home [in Newark] and they’re booing you.’”

Stevenson didn’t like what they were talking about and spent hours on social media taking shots at the “It is What It Is” Harlem crew. 

Hitting back at Ma$e, he wrote: “Same way I felt bout his rap career n-gga more famous for his podcast then his failed career,” before adding: “Mass [sic] was a fake pastor Surviving Diddy ass n-gga.

“F-ck Mase yall n-ggas crazy i don’t respect nun of these b-tch ass n-ggas and yall ain’t gone make me respect them, Surviving diddy ass bull.”

He then set his sights on Cam as well, writing: “U know what irks me when a n-gga talk boxing but ain’t never glove up.. This fat mf Mase and Big teething Camron need to STFU them n-ggas a never step foot in a boxing ring, We got all types of entertainers gloving up tell these n-ggas glove up or shut up.

“PAC the Goat who tf is Mase and Camron these niggas not legends they just was the n-ggas hanging around the legend.”

The 27-year-old continued going at Ma$e: “How he doing podcast til this day and yall think he had a successful rap career that n-gga is not Jay Z stop it he was a momentary rapper f-ck him and his mans.”

He concluded by saying: “Boring ass podcast they got, That sh-t ain’t fw Million dollars worth of game Gillie the real voice of the streets!!”

Prior to responding to Shakur’s social media rebuttals, Cam’ron and Ma$e posted on the official Instagram account for “It Is What It Is”:

“FAILED RAP CAREER HEY #SHAKURSTEVENSON 3 MONTHS AFTER YOU WERE BORN #MURDA DROPPED HIS FIRST ALBUM & SOLD 5 MILLION COPIES & WENT QUADRUPLE PLATINUM BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA #FACTS WE JUST CALLING IT HOW EVERYBODY ELSE SEE IT.”

Cam and Mase Respond To Shakur’s X Rant

Then Cam and Ma$e took it a step further, as they are known to do and addressed Shakur directly on their podcast on Monday.  

Said Ma$e: “Since its all comedy, I’m gonna deal with it like comedy, nigg-. Ya hear that. Chill out, lil nigg-. We got the right to have our opinion, and I say that with all due respect. Just keep it where it is, man. Let humor be humor. …You don’t like what we said, then box better. Until you beat Tank, there really is nothing to say.”

Ma$e focused on Shakur’s low knockout rate. Stevenson only has 10 KOs in 22 fights. 

“I got three knockouts in All-Star weekend, so I got a 100 percent knockout ratings if we checking the record,” he said

“Listen, bro. I’m gonna be honest with you. I see why they call you Shakur ‘Twitterson.’ Four hours of tweeting about me and Mase is wild. You boring. … You boring. Everybody seen it. We ain’t the only pens who seen it. You boring. I was polite about it.” 

Cam and Mase Think Shakur Stevenson Is Boring

Cam went on to berate Shakur about his style of boxing and referenced other fighters, such as Teofimo Lopez and former champ Tim Bradley who allegedly agreed with him. 

“Your grandfather’s in your corner telling you to let your hands go, ya won’t let your MF hands go because you scared of getting hit. You want to swim without getting wet, and that’s not going to happen.” 

Shakur was definitely in his feelings, and he will probably have another 15 to 20 Twitter post reactions to Cam and Mase. Truth be told, the interaction between the boxing star and the rap legends was more exciting than the actual fight. 

Maybe Shakur just needs to come on the show and hash out his problems in person. Man to man. It still won’t change the growing narrative that Stevenson isn’t worth the price of admission. Defeating Tank Davis would go a long way to changing the narrative surrounding Stevenson.

“The Rabbit’s Got The Gun Now”: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Reporter Accusing Brett Favre Of Welfare Fraud Is Now Facing Prison Time

The Brett Favre and state of Mississippi welfare fraud scandal has taken another turn. 

Journalist Anna Wolfe won a Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on the ongoing State of Mississippi welfare fraud scandal allegedly involving the Hall of Fame Packers quarterback, that has been going on for a few years now.

Reporter Anne Wolfe Who Broke Mississippi Welfare Fraud Scandal Facing Prison

In a twist of events that challenges a reporter’s right to keep their sources confidential, Wolfe is facing the possibility of having to go to prison after being sued for defamation by former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.

According to NBC News, Wolfe and her editor, Adam Ganucheau, have been ordered by a judge to turn over files containing the names of their confidential sources.

Naturally, they are refusing to do so, claiming that if they did it would go against everything true journalism stands for. 

“If one of us goes to jail, we will be the first person to go to jail in the Mississippi welfare scandal,” Wolfe told NBC News. “How can I make promises to sources that I’m going to keep them confidential if this is possible?”

Wolfe and Ganucheau’s employer, Mississippi Today, is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn it.

However that creates a complex political hurdle to maneuver through because reportedly four of the nine Mississippi Supreme Court judges were appointed by Bryant.

“A former governor of our state — a central subject of our Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporting — filed a motion on Tuesday asking a judge to find our newsroom in contempt of court because we refused to turn over our notes and sources to him,” Ganucheau recently wrote in a New York Times op-ed. 

“Breaching the confidentiality of sources violates one of the most sacred trusts — and breaks one of the most vital tools — in investigative journalism. No serious news organization would agree to this demand.”

Ganucheau continued, “His lawsuit does not challenge the accuracy of the reporting, but Mr. Bryant has made clear he wants everything we’ve got related to our acclaimed investigation that revealed the depths of his involvement in the state’s welfare scandal.

Bryant clearly has some tricks up his sleeve to get Wolfe to reveal her sources, even taunting the reporter through his lawyer who recently said, “The rabbit’s got the gun now,”

Bryant’s latest political maneuver follows Brett Favre, who filed lawsuits against broadcasters Pat McAfee and then Shannon Sharpe in Lamar County, Mississippi, in 2023 for comments implicating him in the scandal.  

Favre Sued Shannon Sharpe

Favre’s lawsuit against Sharpe was removed from state court to federal court so that Sharpe has a better chance of fighting the charges. There is a loophole based on local cases brought against out-of-state residents. Since Sharpe doesn’t live in Mississippi and Favre is seeking more than $750,000 (cases qualify to move from state to federal if the plaintiff is seeking more than $75,000), Sharpe exercised his right to take the case out of the Mississippi state courts and into the federal court system.

So while that’s going on, Favre who still has not been charged with any crimes, refused to turn over his tax returns and objected to all 27 requests from Mississippi Department of Human Services lawyers last October.

So with nothing really resolved as far as Favre’s alleged theft and involvement in this widespread fraud, two prominent members of the journalism community are fighting to stay out of jail and maintain their right to protect their confidential sources

Ganucheau continued: “That scandal featured prominent Mississippi leaders and celebrities who were among those who benefited from at least $77 million in misspent funds — federal grant money intended to help the poorest residents of America’s poorest state.”

According to a October 2023 deposition given by former University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney Bennett, Brett Favre promised to fund an entire volleyball arena project for the university.

The deposition was given as part of the civil lawsuit filed against Brett Favre by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS).

Favre, whose own biographer called him “an idiot” last June, has been fighting allegations made against him as part of the welfare funding scandal, “has raised multiple objections to every request,” according to MDHS, citing more than two dozen of them in October.

A attorney for MDHS asked Favre during his December deposition, “Do you know of any reason why Dr. Bennett, now chancellor at University of Nebraska, would lie?” 

“That’s a good question. I don’t. … I have no idea,” Favre replied.

As of now Favre is still free of any charges and this situation is getting soaked with red tape, counter moves and intimidation tactics by powerful people who seem to have something to hide but won’t make it easy on anyone trying to uncover the truth.

“I Gave Her A Little Tap To Make Sure She’s Cool” | After Rookie Initiation WNBA Vets Are Beginning To Show Caitlin Clark Some Respect

Caitlin Clark’s arrival to the WNBA has been good for business. For the first time in the history of the league viewership, attendance, merchandise sales and All-Star voting are up at the same time.

A league that’s been run on $60M in revenue is even looking to double that to $120M, and that’s all a residual effect of the former Iowa Hawkeyes legend joining the league after an illustrious four-year college career. 

Despite all the good Clark’s arrival has done for the league from a business standpoint, not everyone has been to happy about the love she’s received. From the opening game this season, Clark has been the target of some of the league’s veteran players who likely felt as if hadn’t earned her stripes to be getting so much coverage. Each game put Clark was targeted by vets, and at times it even went beyond the game of basketball. 

At times Clark’s Indiana Fever teammates seemed as if they were jealous of her, and they often showed it by not coming to her defense. That has seemingly changed over the last couple weeks, and it seems other teams and their veteran players are taking notice. 

Aces Star Jackie Young And Others Display Great Sportsmanship 

Prior to last Sunday’s Fever road win over the Phoenix, Mercury stars Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner both made it a point to go over and hug Clark, with Griner sharing some words of encouragement with her. That hasn’t happened much this season for Clark, who even mentioned that she gets no advice from anyone during games. 

Following Taurasi and Griner’s extending an olive branch to Clark, Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young seemingly followed suit during a matchup last Tuesday. After Clark fell, Young did her best to make sure she was OK, and even untied her shoe to stall and give Clark more time to collect herself.

“Just doing the right thing — just making sure she’s good, and just checking on her,” Young said. “I gave her a little tap and made sure she’s cool. Because at the end of the day, we just wanna play this game, have fun, and be healthy.

“Just giving her a little time to reset, regroup and make sure she’s OK.”

Clark Caps Off Great Week With Triple-Double

The past week for Clark was one of many firsts, from the newfound sportsmanship being exhibited towards her, to the over 20,300 fans packing T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to see her play. It was the fifth-largest crowd in WNBA history and the largest since 1999. 

To cap off the week, the WNBA Rookie of the Year front-runner went out and recorded the first triple-double (19 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists) by a rookie in league history. She also did it against the league’s top team, the now-17-4 New York Liberty in a huge 83-78 win. 

All it took was Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman saying that Clark’s teammates need to defend after some rough play early on this season. It seems that they’ve gotten the memo, and opponents have since followed suit.

They’ll be no targeting Clark without consequences, and because of that her play has picked up drastically. 

Former Dodgers Star Raul Mondesi Made $65M In MLB, Became Mayor Of San Cristobal and Stole $6.3M From The People

As an outfielder who spent seven of his 13 MLB seasons as a slugging star outfielder for the L.A. Dodgers, Raul Mondesi was a formidable package of speed and power, surpassing the coveted 30-30 mark three times and winning NL Rookie of the Year in 1994. 

Born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Mondesi rose from modest beginnings, carved out a career in which he reportedly made $66.5M and then rose to mythic status when he became mayor of his hometown from 2010-16. 

Mondesi could have gone down in history as one of the most honorable and transcending figures in baseball history. 

Instead he chose to use his power for corruption. 

Mondesi has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, along with a fine of 30 million pesos (approximately $500,000). The San Cristóbal Collegiate Court handed down the sentence for embezzlement during his tenure as mayor of San Cristóba. 

Mondesi’s sentencing follows a plea agreement between the prosecutor’s office and his defense. He will, however, get to serve the first six years of that sentence under house arrest, with the knowledge that he still has to do nine months behind bars for. 

Why Was Former LA Dodgers Star Raul Mondesi Sentenced To Six Years?  

Mondesi, 53, will serve his sentence after completing six years of house arrest. This punishment was initially imposed in 2017 for corruption and mishandling public funds. 

Aside from Mondesi, the former secretary general of the mayor’s office, Bienvenido Araujo Japa, and the former treasurer, Jesús Antonio Ferreira, were sentenced to three years, including one year under house arrest for their roles in the disheartening embezzlement case. 

At the beginning of the 2023 season, 104 players from the Dominican Republic were on an MLB roster. That’s the most for any country outside of the United States and 11% of MLB players. 

The multi-tooled Mondesi broke into baseball in the early ’90s and was one of the early inspirations for what has become a Dominican explosion in MLB, with the game’s all-time great players over the past two decades – from Pedro Martinez to David Ortiz to Albert Pujols – hailing from that country. 

Mondesi racked up 271 homers and 229 steals while also playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, and Atlanta Braves, finishing his career with a .273 batting average, before retiring from baseball in 2015 in 2005 and transitioning into politics, being elected mayor of his hometown in 2010.

How Much Did Mondesi Steal? 

The attorney general’s office charged Mondesi of mishandling public funds to the tune of $6.3 million while he was mayor of San Cristobal from 2010-16, according to the court.

The former treasurer and secretary of San Cristobal were sentenced to seven years in prison, the court said.

How did Raul Mondesi Become Mayor Of San Cristobal? 

Joining the Dominican Liberation Party, Mondesi contested for a seat in the Dominican Republic’s Chamber of Deputies, representing his home, San Cristóbal.

He was elected in May 2006 but after 1.5 years, he switched allegiances to the Dominican Revolutionary Party, which always comes with future problems. 

Three years later, Raul Mondesi was elected mayor of his hometown on May 16, 2010. Barely a year into his term, allegations of widespread misconduct started making headlines and he was being tried and sentenced. 

It was a long rise and a short fall for Raul Mondesi who never even got to scratch the surface of the good he could have done from his hometown. Instead, he chose to be another corrupt politician stealing money from hard-working people. The house arrest is actually a blessing for him, because living behind those steel gates as someone who deceived the people is a whole other situation.

Raul Mondesi Has An MLB Son

Raúl Adalberto Mondesí played in the Kansas City Royals organization from 2015-2022, winning a World Series in 2015 and leading the American League in steals in 2020. The 28-year-old is currently a free agent playing in DR.

Caitlin Clark’s Historic Triple-Double Ratings Bonanza Doesn’t Erase Her Dismal Three-Point Shooting Percentage Ranking 34th In The WNBA

Caitlin Clark continues to accomplish new milestones. She also has plenty of work to do on the one aspect of her game that was supposed to be her calling card; the three-point shot.

Fresh off her 15-point, 12-assists and nine-rebound performance in the Fever’s comeback road win over the Phoenix Mercury last Sunday, Clark helped the league reach an attendance milestone in a road game at Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Not done, Clark helped the Fever get their biggest win of the season, an 83-78 win over the league-leading New York Liberty who entered Saturday’s contest 17-3, which included three early season blowout wins over the Fever. 

After coming close on so many occasions, including last Sunday’s win over the Mercury, Clark finally messed around and got a triple-double, becoming the first rookie in league history to do so.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. In the game Clark shot 7 of 17 overall, but once again struggled from three, going 3 of 12 from distance. Despite the long-range shooting being a trademark of who she is, Clark has struggled from deep this season shooting 33.1 percent. 

Clark Talks Triple-Double

In wake of grabbing her 10th rebound, Clark was baffled as to why the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd gave her a standing ovation to which at the time she didn’t know why.

“I honestly wasn’t too aware,” Clark said of the final rebound. “But I think everybody was a little confused as to why fans were going so nuts over a rebound. I mean, they can do that every time, I guess.”

Why Has Clark Struggled From Deep?

Despite making history, Clark’s three-point shooting hasn’t reached the level that was projected for her so far. Clark takes the fourth most threes per game (8.2) and has a green light that no other rookie in the league and few players have.

She’s shooting 33.1 percent and while she’s currently tied for fifth in the league in makes at (2.7) per game with the league’s all-time leader in makes, 41-year-old, Diana Taurasi, her overall percentage is just 34th in the WNBA.

Stephanie Dolson (49.5 percent), Alanna Smith (45.6 percent) and Kayla McBride (43.8 percent) are the top three sharp shooters in the W.

Clark’s struggles stem from a variety of things, from the type of offensive sets being run to get her high-quality looks to the fact that she’s the team’s best playmaker.

That means Christie Sides, who’s in her first season as a head coach, isn’t diagramming plays to get her sharpshooter some good looks. It also means the Fever don’t have a bevy of consistent playmakers outside of Kelsey Mitchell, capable of creating good looks for Clark. 

At Iowa Clark was able to dance and create her own looks from three, but thus far with the Fever that hasn’t often been the case. At some point Clark is going to have a stretch where she catches fire from deep. She’s too good a shooter not to. 

Did Clark Upstage Angel Reese?

One night after Reese recorded her WNBA single-season record 12th consecutive double-double, going for 27 points and 10 rebounds, Clark’s three-point shooting failed her, but every other aspect of her game was brilliant as she led the Indiana Fever to another win with the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history.

The performance also keeps Clark firmly in the lead for WNBA Rookie of the Year, a race that’s heating up and is likely to go down to the wire. 

Investigators Believe He Could Be Victim Of Alcohol-Related Crash: 24-Year-Old Minnesota Vikings Rookie Khyree Jackson Dies Along With Two Others

A tragedy has struck the NFL family as Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was reportedly killed in a tragic accident in the early hours of Saturday morning. The Oregonian reports that according to Jackson’s agent, the 24-year-old’s tragic death comes as the result of an automobile accident.

Jackson’s mother confirmed the news to TMZ. She says she received the unfathomable call  at 4 a.m. on Saturday that her son had died in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. 

Jackson’s journey to the NFL was truly a legendary one in the making, basically being out of football and working at a grocery store deli to make ends meet, and then persevering and eventually reaching his dream. 

Jackson’s football journey started at  Dr. Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro before attending Fort Scott Community College. He wasn’t really playing football at all in 2017 and 2018. 

“At one point I wasn’t thinking of football much,” Jackson said in a prior interview posted on X. “I had just won employee of the month at the grocery store. I was also trying to make it in the NBA 2K league.”

“For a bit of a second football got a little foggy, I’d definitely say”

Jackson said his friends inspired him to give football another shot and it paid off. 

He then transferred to East Mississippi Community College for the 2020 season, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then he played for powerhouse Alabama for two years, seeing action in 21 games in Tuscaloosa, before transferring to Oregon for the 2023 season.

Jackson was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection with the Ducks, producing 34 tackles, seven pass defenses and three interceptions in 12 games, as his name shot up draft boards. The Vikings selected him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft (No. 108 overall) and he was expected to provide depth to a Minnesota’s secondary that was ranked 27th out of 32 teams coming into this season. 

Jackson Was Expected To Increase Depth In Poor Vikings Secondary

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores introduced a complex and unorthodox defense in 2023, and the results were mixed. Safety Camryn Bynum was the highest-graded player in the secondary (73.2). The Vikings don’t have great players in the secondary and they have a rookie quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who doesn’t need to be down 13-0 before he touches the ball. The 24-year-old Jackson was supposed to help with that. 

Jackson’s Vikings teammate, defensive end Jonathan Greenard, took to social media on Saturday morning to mourn the rookie cornerback’s death.

Many heartfelt messages went out from a stunned NFL family. 

Two Other People Died In Crash

Two other occupants of the car died. A press release from the Maryland State Police indicated that Jackson was in the passenger seat at the time of the crash. The car Jackson was in was struck by another vehicle attempting to change lanes at a high rate of speed.

The police statement said that investigators believe alcohol may have contributed to the crash, and that charges are pending the investigation, which the Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell released a statement:

“I am absolutely crushed by this news. Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

We have lost several great football players over the years to car crashes, most notably former Philadelphia Eagles star Jerome Brown. Thirty-two years ago, the star defensive tackle, just 27, died following an automobile accident in Brooksville, Florida. His 12-year-old nephew was also killed when Brown lost control of his ZR1 Chevy Corvette at high speed and crashed into a palm tree. 

Last season, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs killed a lady and her dog driving drunk at excessive speeds. He is currently incarcerated. There’s no confirmed evidence of Jackson or whoever was driving being intoxicated based upon initial reports. The occupants of the other car may have been intoxicated and police feel that could be the case. In any event, prayers go up to Jackson’s family.

“Players Don’t F— With McMillan” | Former NBA Player Matt Barnes Isn’t A Fan Of Lakers Hiring Nate McMillan As An Assistant. He’s Long Been Sour On Him

Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers surprised everyone and hired the very inexperienced JJ Redick as their new head coach, they’ve also been trying to find experienced assistants to fill his coaching staff. Per reports they attempted to add former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts on three different occasions, but each time he remained uninterested. That led the Redick and GM Rob Pelinka to hire a couple of other former NBA head coaches.

On Wednesday it was announced that former Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks and former Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers head coach Nate McMillan both accepted assistant coach positions. Brooks has long been lauded as a player’s coach, but McMillan’s coaching style is said to be hard to deal with by many former players. While former NBA player Matt Barnes never played for McMillan personally, he’s seemingly had an ax to grind with McMillan for the longest. 

Barnes Says Players Don’t Like McMillan

In the wake of McMillan’s hiring by the Lakers, Barnes immediately chimed in on a fan’s post about the hiring on X with this statement.

“Players don’t f— with McMillan,” Barnes posted. “They didn’t when I played and I guarantee they don’t now.”

That’s just the latest comment from Barnes about McMillan and his old-school coaching style. Back in 2022 when McMillan and Hawks star Trae Young were at odds, Barnes also spoke out on McMillan’s handling of Young’s shoulder injury he was battling back from. McMillan told Young then if he couldn’t practice that he’d come off the bench, and if he didn’t like that don’t show up for the game, to which Young obliged. That drew the ire of Barnes, who let it be known on his podcast.

“It doesn’t seem like he has the locker room anymore, and he’s more of an old-school type coach, and that’s not a bad thing, but that’s not what the NBA is anymore,” Branes said. “I think there are maybe less than five coaches that are like these old-school type coaches. Nate McMillan is one of them. With all due respect, I think the game has passed his ways by. If you can’t adapt to this new younger culture, your days are numbered. I don’t think Nate McMillan will finish the season.”

Barnes was correct, as the Hawks fired McMillan during the All-Star break. They said it was for their 29-30 record, but the rift with Young that Barnes described didn’t help his cause at all. That style of coaching is no longer the way of the NBA, and although Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has somehow been pretty successful with it, most wouldn’t be. 

What Does McMillan Bring To The Staff

The one thing McMillan brings with him to the Lakers is experience. He’s been in the coaching profession since 1998, including  head coaching stints with the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, and the aforementioned Pacers and Hawks. In totality he’s been a head coach for 19 NBA seasons, sporting a career record of 760-668. He’s also 28-48 in the playoffs, with his best finish being getting the Hawks to within two games of the NBA Finals in 2021-22. 

Being adamant about adding former head coaches to Redick’s staff proves he had no business getting the job. While McMillan and Brooks have solid records, neither experienced much success over the last few years of their careers as head coaches, outside of McMillan leading the Hawks on that surprising run in 2022. 

While McMillan, who’s 59, will likely never be a head coach again, he can definitely provide the experience and leadership that the Lakers hopes will help keep them out of the play-in and advance beyond the first round of the playoffs. 

Religious Cult With NFL Connections?: Former NFL Stars Robert Mathis, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila Affiliated With Religious Compound Where 14-Year-Old Bryson Muir Was Found By Police 

Now that former NFL player Daniel Muir and his wife Kristen are in custody, details are emerging about the extreme religious group,Straitway Truth Ministries, that recruited Daniel Muir and his wife to join.

Muir eventually became a pastor, and he can be found in several YouTube videos preaching the rhetoric of the group. 

Indiana State Police have charged Muir, 40, with domestic battery and obstruction of justice, and his wife Kristen Muir, 38, is charged with obstruction. The couple was arrested following a police search of their home located on a religious compound, in which authorities found their 14-year-old son, Bryson, who was reported missing almost three weeks ago after his grandmother reported him being abused and pictures of him with a black eye surfaced. 

Related: Former NFL Player Daniel Muir and Wife Kristen Arrested On Religious Cult Compound, Revealing Missing 14-Year-Old Son Who Was Apparent Victim Of Domestic Abuse (theshadowleague.com)

The couple is being held with no bond and can’t have any contact with their son. 

Is Straightway A Dangerous, Radical Religious Cult? 

As TSL previously reported, authorities in Tennessee investigated what many are calling a “cult” lifestyle followed by Muir and his wife after they were reported to have been recruited to Straitway by Muir’s former Green Bay Packers teammate Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Straitway Truth Ministries is a religious group in Tennessee that some online participants familiar with it describe as a cult. According to Straitway’s website, the group is a “nation of Hebrew Israelites who are commandment keepers; obedient to Yah (God) and our savior, Jesus the Christ.”

Muir’s involvement with this organization dates back to his time with the Green Bay Packers, and he has embraced the religion. He can be seen preaching on various topics, including intimacy and strength of faith, via the group’s YouTube channel.

NFL Connection At Straightway:Green Bay Packers Teammate Got Muir Into Straitway

Former Packers star Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila joined Straitway after he denounced the Christian religion, and in December 2019 he reportedly was almost arrested after he sent his two armed friends to a school Christmas program. Fortunately, the men were arrested for trespassing.

The intriguing background nugget is that Gbaja-Biamila allegedly sent Muir videos of Straitway’s leader, Pastor Charles Dowell, and Muir found himself agreeing with the rhetoric of the pastor. 

Muir Started Recruiting For Straitway

As documented by Sports Illustrated, Muir then introduced former Colts legend and teammate Robert Mathis to Straitway following the 2018 season after a conversation that began with a coaching job and ended with Mathis asking Muir about his T-shirt that read: “HEBREW”

These two are still linked up and expanding their connection. 

In his LinkedIn profile, Muir lists himself and Mathis, a five-time Pro Bowl player, Super Bowl XLI champion, and Colts all-time sacks leader with 123, as co-founders of The Gridiron Gang since 2017.

Their company provides athletic development and high-level training performance for football players of all levels from professional athletes to kids.

Pastor Daniel Muir Was Deeply Involved In Straightway

Muir’s home in Logansport, Indiana, is listed as owned by a religious organization linked directly to the Straitway church, The Servant Leader’s Foundation. The estate called “Straitway Goshen” names Muir by the title “Pastor,” and the former defensive lineman is listed as the contact and leader of Straitway’s Indiana location.

The Muirs have had to totally change their lives since joining the church. A life separated from mainstream society. According to reports, Kristen stopped wearing makeup, began wearing a head covering and sold her Louis Vuitton and Gucci purses and wallets on Facebook to submit to Straitway’s teachings of a simple life. 

Straitway has chapters around the country, with Gbaja-Biamila heading up a Wisconsin extension – Straitway Praiseland. Reportedly, his association was red-flagged when he sent two armed members to a Christmas pageant at his children’s school, leading to the members’ arrests for trespassing and carrying concealed weapons, with Gbaja-Biamila getting caught up in the legalities.

More details to come.

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