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‘She’s Definitely Not That Person!’: DeWanna Bonner Defends Wife and Teammate Alyssa Thomas From Domestic Violence Accusations After Angel Reese Body Slam

The WNBA world remains the topic, especially after one of its new fan favorites, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, was cross-checked and arm slammed on her back by Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas while both were trying to secure a rebound during the Sky’s 86-82 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

Thomas wrapped her arm around Reese’s neck and sent her flying backward with such force that Reese’s head and shoulders banged the hardwood. 

Reese was clearly shaken up, but as the announcer alluded too, she is from Baltimore, where the inner-city kids are known to be tough, resilient and embrace a physical game. After the play, she ultimately returned to the game and had no hard feelings toward Thomas.

Alyssa Thomas Accused of Domestic Violence By Social Media

Thomas was ejected for the hard foul, and after it played on social media a couple hundred thousand times, the opinions and analysis came flowing. 

From that play, some fans’ imaginations ran wild. Alyssa Thomas’ fiancée, DeWanna Bonner, is also on the Connecticut Sun.

Bonner is the fifth-leading scorer in WNBA history, and together they form one of the top 1-2 punches in the entire league. 

Fans began suggesting that Bonner was a victim of domestic violence because of the way Thomas viciously threw Reese to the ground in the heat of competition. 

It’s a stretch to think that Thomas’ on-court battles mean she abuses her partner. I mean, nobody accuses Draymond Green of being a wife abuser. Despite his troublesome history with physical altercations on the court, he’s considered a gentle, loving father and husband. People are able to separate the athlete from the person. 

The senseless ramble and social media banter must have affected Bonner, because she felt it was necessary to go to X and address these allegations against Thomas. 

DeWanna Bonner Defends Fiancé and Teammate against Domestic Violence Accusations

“Yall.. I can take the heat all day because I’m totally locked in on our season. However, implying that domestic violence is going on in what we have, not going to happen. AT ALL! Be mad, upset, angry at the play… But we are not those people..it’s not cool! That’s WAY too far,” Bonner wrote. 

She also posted a photo of her and Thomas embracing after Saturday’s game, with the caption, “She’s definitely not that person!!”

With the WNBA receiving unprecedented exposure, naturally more people have opinions about the league. People are entering the conversation who have nothing to really offer other than comedy, or hate or divisiveness, so the player really should take every post with a grain of salt. 

Everyone is overly dramatic, and many have a very low IQ when it comes to the actual culture of sports itself because many have not played. They would rather try to say something that will garner them likes on social media than get educated on the history of the game and competition itself.

To imply that Thomas, who is a double-double machine and one of the game’s elite all-around forces, should not be in the league because she plays aggressively is the kind of comment that will set women back 100 years.

The WNBA conversation has become annoyingly oversaturated very quickly. It’s become a popular moment people want to exploit for their own benefit.

Bonner Accused Of Bringing Attention To Herself and Thomas At Expense Of Angel Reese

It’s not clear what X user originally suggested domestic violence, but Bonner’s post confirmed there was an issue. Some X users felt she was bringing attention to herself and copping pleas for Thomas instead of just accepting the blame for what happened to Reese. Bonner would have been better off ignoring it. You can’t control what people say, and athletes can’t control the narrative once they are in the public eye. 

Have to let the negative fly. The vultures are at the front door. The “W” is a thing.

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

The Colorado Buffaloes football program is preparing for its first season back in the Big 12.

They’ll once again be led by the dynamic duo of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter. Both will be preseason Heisman candidates and very likely preseason All-Americans.

While Sanders has been very vocal about the former Colorado players who’ve transferred, Hunter is the complete opposite. The All-American spends his downtime playing video games while wearing his big onesie and hanging out with his fiancée Leanna Lenee. 

Hunter Gifts Fiancé $100K Engagement Ring

Lenee and Hunter have been together since the dynamic playmaker’s senior year of high school. In February, Hunter, who’s NIL valuation is a staggering $2.3 million, making him one of the most lucrative athletes in terms of endorsement deals and partnerships, proposed to Lenee and presented her with a $100,000 ring.

Now, Lenee has given Hunter a very expensive gift, that has haters questioning how she bought it. 

Lenee Presents Hunter With $120K Truck

Earlier this month Hunter reached a milestone, the future NFL top ten pick turned 21. For his birthday, Lenee blessed her fiancé with a tricked out Dodge Ram TRX which is valued at over $120,000.

Following the unveiling of the vehicle on social media, the questions began to mount with followers wanting to know how she could afford something like that.

Many made mention that she used some Hunter’s NIL money to make the purchase, to which Lenee quickly clapped back with this on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

“You wanna see my bank statements? Like what” 

Lenee holds a master’s degree and also makes a nice living from her social media platforms and YouTube.

So she does have her own money, making it plausible that she could buy the truck with her own bag. 

Hunter Had A Great Birthday: Cover Of EA Sports

Not only did Hunter get a brand spanking-new pickup truck, he also is one of three players on the cover of EA Sports’ “NCAA Football,” joining Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Michigan tailback Donovan Edwards.

Making it even sweeter is Hunter is the first Colorado player to grace the cover of the popular video game. 

In many ways it’s another win for the Buffaloes, who now need to turn that into wins on the gridiron after last year’s 4-8 season.

Staying healthy this season is key for Hunter. who missed four games last season. He needs to show NFL teams that he can handle the rigors of a full season.  

His health and play will go a long way in determining how the Buffaloes’ season plays out. 

More TSL Stories:

“Teams Know That I’m Not Doing That” | Rich Paul Says Klutch Sports Will Control Bronny James Draft Narrative (theshadowleague.com)

LeSean McCoy Snitching On Dikembe Mutombo For Allegedly Cheating On Wife and Flying Side Pieces To France Is New Masculine Energy (theshadowleague.com)

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future (theshadowleague.com)

“Teams Know That I’m Not Doing That” | Rich Paul Says Klutch Sports Will Control Bronny James Draft Narrative

As the 2024 NBA draft approaches, all the talk seems to be about Bronny James, the oldest son of NBA legend LeBron James.

Bronny entered the draft after just one season at USC where he didn’t even average five points, nor did he start. Not all was James fault, as he suffered a cardiac arrest scare last summer which caused him to be sidelined from August until December. 

Many believe James needs more time in college, but he’s gonna try his hand at the pros and see what happens. While nowhere near a finished product, James does possess good athleticism and shot-making as he displayed during the NBA combine earlier this month. With the likelihood he won’t get drafted a real possibility, his agent Rich Paul is speaking out what he wants for the son of his most famous client. 

Paul Doesn’t Want James On Two-Way Deal

Speaking with Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Paul, who’s become one of most respected agents in the business let it be known what he’s seeking for Bronny.

Paul told Haynes that he’s not into the former Sierra Canyon star signing a non-guaranteed two-way deal which is what most executives are predicting is the best starting point for Bronny. 

When asked about that Paul was blunt: 

“Yes, that’s absolutely true. Teams know that. I’m not doing that.”

Paul followed that up with, “Is he a finished product? No, nowhere near. Most guys that come in our league aren’t at 18 and 19.”

While this is true, Bronny seems to have a much steeper learning curve than most of those 18- and 19-year-olds Paul is speaking of. Which is why most executives don’t see him being drafted by a team, and if so very late in the second round. 

Paul Downplays Nepotism With Bronny

It’s no secret that if Bronny’s last name wasn’t James he wouldn’t even be mentioned in the draft. But that’s an advantageous thing he does possess, and it’s not his fault. Hearing Paul own up to that fact was good to hear, and he even mentioned that’s how America was built and operates to this day.

“If his name was different, would he get different treatment?” Paul asked. “Yes, probably so. Some may feel like he’s getting an opportunity because of his father, and I think that’s very a naive logic, especially in America. When you look at America as a whole, it’s built on nepotism. No one’s having this conversation about James Dolan. He owns the Knicks, but his dad built a business.”

Strong words from Paul, whose job is to protect and get his client to the best situation he can. But hearing him say they won’t sign a two-way deal, which would be very beneficial for James’ development, proves Klutch Sports believes they have the power to control the narrative. 

And just maybe they do. We’ll find out in late June. 

For Anyone Interested In Basketball | The Brilliance Of WNBA Rookies Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark Is The Real Scoop 

While most fans basked in the bickering and emotional roller coaster that has defined the early season coverage of the new and improved WNBA, there was a high-level battle going on Friday night between the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 overall picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft. 

While that should have been the headline narrative for WNBA action leading into the weekend, this constant cycle of Caitlin Clark love and hate and discussions about how people should feel and should not feel about her personally have drowned out the actual elite play on the court.

Cailtin Clark and Cameron Brink Trade Clutch Daggers Late 

Clark of course was the highly-touted No. 1 overall pick of the Indiana Fever. Stanford’s Cameron Brink was the No. 2 overall pick. The 6-foot-4, versatile shot-blocker has been asserting herself on the defensive end over the first four games of her WNBA career. 

Brink, the god sister of Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry, also has her share of IG followers (950K) and endorsement deals with New Balance and other companies. Her arrival into the NBA hasn’t been covered with the same fanfare that Clark’s has, but Brink is performing just as well this season and some would say she outperformed Clark in their first head-to-head matchup, which the Indiana Fever came back to win 78-73. 

Clark hit two huge threes to help seal the win after struggling in the first half. She shot miserably from three over the course of the game (2-of-9), but came up clutch when it mattered, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on 4-of-14 shooting. She also played a season-high 37 minutes. 

Brink played a great game on both ends of the floor. Her defense was solid as usual with several blocks and nine rebounds. However, her offensive game, which continues to expand since arriving in the WNBA, allowed her to score 15 points on post moves and some long-range bombing. It’s an aspect of her game that Brink said she didn’t get to showcase as much as she wanted in college. 

Rickea Jackson Is About That Action: Best Pure Scorer In Draft 

If you’re keeping score, No. 4 overall pick Rickea Jackson was better than both Clark and Brink when it comes to getting easy buckets. 

That should have been the narrative the WNBA was promoting. Jackson had her breakout game as a pro and on the season she is hitting 54.8 percent from the field and almost 56 percent from three. 

She’s actually being undercovered and might be the best offensive player in the 2024 Draft, Clark included. So far this season, Jackson is the only WNBA 2024 rookie currently averaging 10+ points while shooting above 50%.

The media is going to keep going to the well and trying to incite trouble because most have never even covered women’s basketball before and don’t have a genuine interest in it. 

“Over the last couple of months, I feel like I talk to the media more than I get a chance to talk to my own family,” Clark told reporters after her first career WNBA win. Which is kind of sad in a way, which is a lot for someone 22 years old. Nights like tonight remind me of why I started playing basketball.”

(Start at 40 second mark)

Clark spoke to basketball being the reason why she is even in this position and despite the media circus she still finds peace in playing ball, even if all of the things that come with it are getting to be a bit overwhelming.

So, the storylines that should be celebrated probably won’t be all season. Both the Fever and Sparks were picked to finish at the bottom of the league and both teams have been fighting, allowing their rookies to grow and seem to have a great core for future success. 

For now, it will be a love or hate Caitlin Clark narrative where some try to unfathomably make her a victim and others refuse to give her the props she deserves. 

Message To the Media: Just don’t’ forget about the real story and how this 2024 WNBA Draft is shaping up to be the most talented ever.

Mores TSL Stories

‘I’ve Walked That Road’: LeBron James Triggered By ‘Animosity’ and ‘Hatred’ Caitlin Clark and Bronny James Get From ‘Grown … Men and Women’ (theshadowleague.com)

LeSean McCoy Snitching On Dikembe Mutombo For Allegedly Cheating On Wife and Flying Side Pieces To France Is New Masculine Energy (theshadowleague.com)

Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand? (theshadowleague.com)

LeSean McCoy Snitching On Dikembe Mutombo For Allegedly Cheating On Wife and Flying Side Pieces To France Is New Masculine Energy 

Dikembe Mutombo has been minding his business recovering from brain cancer surgery since 2022. The former NBA great has also been happily married for 30 years.

During this time in his life, the living legend doesn’t need any dirt being thrown on his name during another glorified gossip and tea session run by a pro athlete and disguised as an informative podcast. 

Shady McCoy Snitches On Dikembe Mutombo: Bro Code Is Dead

Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy, who has been known to let his lips do the thinking, may have inadvertently outed the NBA legend cheating on his wife during a recent podcast.

They don’t call him Shady for nothing. 

Mutombo met his current wife Rose in 1995 and married her shortly after in 1996. They have two children, a girl and a boy. 

Earlier this week, McCoy told a story about an Instagram model he met in Atlanta about eight years ago. McCoy, who didn’t need to drop names to tell a personal story about his jock exploits back in the day, said the woman claimed she was hooking up with Mutombo and revealed that Mutombo would take her on lavish shopping trips to France.

“She told me he is not that type of dude, you know he takes good care of me. … He doesn’t take me shopping, he takes me to France. I was like who is the dude? Guess what she said his name was? Dikembe Mutombo. I was like you’re taking him over me? But I get it, yeah, he’s taking you shopping from PJ to France, I said, babe, keep him.”

Dikembe Mutombo and Wife Rose Happily Married Since 1996

McCoy got blasted by social media for name dropping Mutombo, who has been happily married for nearly 30 years.

Shady definitely didn’t gain any brownie points by snitching on Mutombo all these years later. I don’t know if Dikembe has ever cheated on his wife. If true, she probably knows about it and it doesn’t need to be rehashed for a clout chase or for lack of a real topic to explore. 

Social Media Says McCoy Violated “Man Code”

Social media didn’t take too kind to McCoy throwing such a respected figure under the bus. It reeked jealousy and hate. Plus he broke the man code among athletes.

One social media user said: “Well I’ll be damned. If this ain’t some sucker shi-t, so basically you was mad that she picked him over you and so mad that you remember that sh-t from so long ago and wanna open your goofy ass mouth talking about another man and his business. I lost all respect for Clown ass McCoy.”

“That’s why his name is Shady McCoy!!!! Typical man when a woman chooses someone better, wanna get mad and start name droppin!!! Snitch as B-tch!!!!, said another Newsbreak user named Wayne Carroll.” 

Who Is Dikembe Mutombo?

Dikembe Mutombo is one of the most influential characters in NBA history as a pioneer, ambassador and humanitarian.  

The Congolese-American NBA Hall of Famer played 18 seasons in the NBA as one of the first African-born superstars of the league. The 58-year-old Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for six teams. The 7-foot-3 center out of Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, four-time defensive player of the year, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015. 

He’s known for his exceptional shot-blocking ability and the now outlawed finger wag that he made famous after rejecting a ball into the stands. 

More than his basketball prowess, Mutombo is beloved for his humanitarian work and dedication to uplifting the conditions in his homeland. As well as helping to spread the sport of basketball and the many possibilities the game provides. 

Dikembe fulfilled a lifelong dream by contributing 15 million dollars and opening the doors to the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center. The 300-bed hospital provides health care to people in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Mutombo was born.

If this is what we can expect going forward, then nobody’s personal business or past experiences are safe, because snitching for profit is now apparently an acceptable part of masculine energy.  Shady McCoy needs to find a better way to gain some clout on these podcasts.

This Isn’t Dodgeball: Angel Reese Didn’t Take A Shot At Caitlin Clark. This Is the Rivalry the WNBA Has Been Waiting For, Embrace It

Where would women’s basketball be right now without a good beef inspired by Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark?

People are emotionally invested in the careers of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese as both start to make their mark on the WNBA just a few games into their respective careers. And as expected, both have divided WNBA fans among the same lines that elevated both players to popularity during their classic, racially-charged duels in college.

Much of the supposed concern for the well-being of Clark comes from certain celebrities and social media types who insist that the women of the WNBA should be on their knees thanking her for attracting the interest of the chauvinistic, 20-something-and-up male who never even glanced at a women’s basketball game or respected the thought of it enough to take interest in the talent the league has offered for 28 years.

Elle Duncan had a solid take on this damned if you do, damned if you don’t dilemma that many players and media find themselves in regarding America’s Sweetheart. She’s just exhausted from all of it.

“What else are these women supposed to do? Fawn over her? Fangirl over her? Bend the frickin knee?” Duncan asked, in one of her most classic rants.

Women Are Here To Compete With Clark, Not Take A Knee

That pressure, from the new WNBA fan base, to anoint Clark on and off the court, and the fact that both Clark and Reese are ascending as leaders of their teams as rookies, has set the stage for the entire social media mosh pit surrounding these women to keep the rivalry flowing on all levels.

Of course, this infatuation with Clark, combined with her $28 million Nike deal and preferable status with chartered planes and top billing when it comes to nationally televised games doesn’t sit well with other players and certain media. Most agree that Clark is a phenomenal talent but would also agree that it’s overkill at times.

Jemele Hill suggested that because Clark is a heterosexual woman and white, those factors play a role in her burgeoning popularity. People went crazy.

Angel Reese Buys Stake In Soccer Team, Licks Shots At Charles Barkley and Clark?

Angel Reese, a face of Reebok and contributor to the Chicago Sky, who upset the New York Liberty on Thursday to advance to 2-1 on the young season, is also getting deals and recently bought ownership in a professional soccer team (DC Power Football Club) and her social media followers continue to spike past a WNBA league-high 3 million.

After helping the Chicago Sky get a hard-earned victory over the NY Liberty, Reese seemingly called out Clark and Charles Barkley on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

“And that’s on getting a WIN in a packed area not just cause of one player on our charter flight,” Reese wrote. 

This post from Reese immediately went viral, although she eventually deleted it. The Clark Hive came out shooting back at Reese.

Just like old times. The plan is coming together better than an A-Team episode.

“Incredibly disheartening to see Angel Reese attack Caitlin Clark like this,” Riley Gaines of OutKick said. “Just entirely baseless and distasteful. The tweet screams jealousy and insecurity.”

“I really don’t get it,” a fan replied. “Everyone wanted people to watch the WNBA. Now they have a player in Clark that has attracted fans and they are trying to take her out.”

Another fan said, “Disappointing, since Angel had previously been far better than that.”

Every movement needs a leader. CC’s got her people and Chi Barbie has hers. Reese has never been one to hold her tongue, and we know dating back to college that their rivalry is a storyline that everyone can follow.

Getting to know them personally, off the court is also part of the experience. The WNBA needs to keep leaning into that. People need to stop simping for CC and start appreciating the rivalry that is now continuing into the WNBA.

Everyone Wanted WNBA’s Version Of Magic vs. Bird

You wanted a WNBA version of Bird vs. Magic: this is as close as you’re going to get. Regardless of the players around them, both Clark and Reese come with their own bult-in culture and invested fan base.

Reese has been energetic and ferocious on the boards for Chicago Sky. She has played big late in the game in both of their unexpected wins. Many preseason polls had Chicago picked to finish last. But Teresa Witherspoon’s fast-paced offense and strong defense is proving to be a winning formula. They are top seven in scoring and top three in defensive rebounding.

While Clark is heard blasting her teammates on audio and a protective narrative grows in Indiana about the lack of talent surrounding her and the inability of her coach, Reese continues to promote team unity and remind people of the dedication, focus and magnificence that she and her teammates also bring to the table.

“I don’t play with my girls. I want my girls to experience that. A lot of people don’t get these same opportunities and I’mma let everybody eat on it,” Reese said to reporters after the Sky blitzed Breanna Stewart’s Liberty 91-80.

She knows that a league can’t survive on the back of one player. She also knows it’s disrespectful for anyone to suggest that Clark is the only brand and woman of value that takes the court each night in the W.

Reese refuses to be marginalized in a league that is supposed to uplift all women equally. So if she has to call out disparities in coverage, charter flights, opportunities and praise for women who traveled the same journey as she and Clark, then so be it.

She’s also going to do it with a smile on her face.

As emotional as everyone gets about Clark, no superstar can ascend to the highest level without an adversary. A villain to some, a hero to others. Either way, Clark vs. Reese is alive and well and the WNBA will benefit from all the drama. Because at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.

More TSL Stories:

Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand? (theshadowleague.com)

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future (theshadowleague.com)

Russell Wilson’s Getting Compared To Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown By Pittsburgh Media, and He Couldn’t Be Happier About It (theshadowleague.com)

‘Screwed This Up So Badly’ | Charles Barkley Cites Low Morale, Blasts Warner Brothers Discovery For TNT Losing NBA Rights

As the NBA prepares to sign its new television deal, it’s becoming increasingly possible that TNT, which has broadcast games since 1989, will not be in the mix. Instead the NBA will be keep its deal with ABC and ESPN via parent company Disney.

That deal will average between $2.6 billion and 2.8 billion annually. Joining them will be NBC who hasn’t broadcast an NBA game since 2002, and they’re rumored to be set to pay the league $2.6 billion. 

Last but not least will be Amazon, who also got into the NFL package with their whopping $11 billion for 11 seasons for its Thursday Night Football package.

While they’re not paying that much to take on NBA coverage, they are shelling out between $1.8 billion and $2 billion annually to join the party.

That’s roughly $7.4 billion, and TNT is nowhere to be found. That means America will lose the most popular NBA pregame and postgame show “Inside The NBA” on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. 

That foursome has become a household fixture on Thursday nights, and, per early indications, that’s about to come to an end. 

Charles Barkley Not Happy With WBD Brass

One thing for sure, and two things for certain is Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is gonna speak his mind, and that’s exactly what he did during an appearance on the “The Dan Patrick Show.” There Barkley took aim at the Warner Brothers Discovery brass who make the decisions. Barkley mentioned that the “morale sucks” on the show. He also told Patrick, “The people I work with screwed this up so badly.”

Barkley is speaking of the WBD executive group, which includes embattled CEO David Zaslav. Per Barkley, WBD also told NBA commissioner Adam Silver that they didn’t need the NBA, which is something Barkley says has hurt the negotiations.

He believes that type of comment is what spurred Silver and the league to look elsewhere for television deals, and in the end it looks like they’ll be on the outside looking in. 

He also questioned why they’re spending money to get College Football Playoff games, and not using that money to try to keep TNT covering NBA games. 

2024-25 Would Be TNT’s Last With NBA Games

If the rumor is true, then TNT would have one more season of broadcasting NBA games. The dynamic foursome who’s been together for 13 going on 14 seasons would be entering its final season together. In all EJ has been there since the network’s second year (1990), Smith arrived in 1998, Barkley came in 2000 after flirting with a comeback and joining former close friend Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards. O’Neal joined the cast in 2011 following his illustrious playing career, which included four NBA championships. 

Barkley also told Patrick that he believes Johnson, the show’s host, would retire before going to another network. But in the same breath Barkley said he may attempt to hire all three to his Fine Line Production Company and go independent.

While it would be odd to not see them on Thursday nights and come playoff time, if next season is truly their swan song they had a great and memorable run. 

But money talks, and you know the rest.

More TSL Stories:

Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand? (theshadowleague.com)

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future (theshadowleague.com)

Russell Wilson’s Getting Compared To Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown By Pittsburgh Media, and He Couldn’t Be Happier About It (theshadowleague.com)

South Beach Sale?: Tyler Herro Puts $12.2M Miami Mansion On Market As Heat Fans Await Fallout From Pat Riley Telling Jimmy Butler To ‘Keep His Mouth Shut’

Tyler Herro star has been the subject of trade rumors for the past several seasons. The Miami Heat star is an 18.1 ppg career scorer, who has averaged over 20 points per game the past three seasons. 

In 2022, rumors of Herro getting traded prompted him to publicly say that he wanted to stay in Miami. 

Then in 2023, Herro was reportedly part of a proposed trade package by the Heat to acquire Portland Trail Blazers superstar guard Damian Lillard, who eventually ended up with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.  

With another season in the books for Miami and the team once again falling short of its goal with Jimmy Butler and Herro as its lead point producers, speculation is rampant again that Herro might be on his way out of South Beach.

Herro’s House On Sale For $12.2 Million

Herro’s house is reportedly up for sale, and the listing has fan speculation at an all-time high, wondering what his next move will be. 

Herro purchased the home, located on 12900 SW 63rd Ave, Pinecrest, Florida, in 2022 for $10.5 million, setting a record for the highest sale in the area, according to The Real Deal.

He’s now selling it for $12.2 million on Zillow. 

The listing agent will not confirm the property as Herro’s, but property appraisal records indicate it’s owned by the same trust that purchased the home in 2022. (Herro owns the trust, per the Real Deal.)

The Miami Heat have made several runs to the NBA Finals since Herro joined the team five seasons ago. Failing to make the playoffs this season has the organization and czar Pat Riley re-evaluating the direction of the franchise. 

It appears as if Riley’s patience with Jimmy Butler and Herro is running thin and the Miami Heat, who have not won an NBA title since 2013 with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, may have gone as far as they can with this Heat team.

Butler was caught on tape, appearing kind of tipsy and talking crazy about he Knicks, Josh Hart, his former coach and the Boston Celtics.

“If I was playing, Boston would be at home,” Butler says in a video that surfaced online.  “New York would damn sure be f-ckin at home.” 

The interviewer then mentioned Knicks all-purpose guard Josh Hart. 

 “What does the F that mean to me?” Butler replied, dismissing Hart. “Josh Hart? C’mon.” 

ESPN reported Riley as saying: “If you’re not on the court playing, you should keep your mouth shut.”

Most everyone in the basketball world would agree with Riley, who has been a part of hoops culture at the highest levels in all capacities for over 60 years. 

Riley seems to be getting fed up with the lack of success and also a culture that seems to be losing its way and becoming a bit outdated on and off the court. Riley took it a step further and publicly commented on Butler’s extension that he’s in line for. Riley didn’t mince his words when he said the organization needs to do some soul searching before they offer Butler an extension because of his lack of availability. 

Butler has plans on sticking around, as he just bought another lavish home, a waterfront Coral Gables property in February.

As Eastern Conference teams, including the Knicks and Indiana Pacers continue to round into championship caliber, Miami seems to be moving in the opposite direction. Maybe that means moving both foundational pieces in Herro and Butler and starting from scratch. Herro might know something we don’t, or he could be just upgrading. Hard to tell right now, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

LaMelo Ball’s Need For Speed Led To Lawsuit From 12-Year-Old With A Fractured Foot, But Former Charlotte Hornets Guard Bobby Phills Wasn’t So Lucky

LaMelo Ball has had a rough go of it. He was limited to 22 games in 2024 due to ankle problems. As he tries to get back into the groove and prepare for a great comeback next season, a mother from North Carolina has initiated legal action against the Ball Brother and his Charlotte Hornets franchise. 

The mother, Tamaria McRae, is claiming that Ball drove over the foot of her 12-year-old Angell Joseph so she filed the complaint against Ball and the Hornets, WSOC-TV reported. 

McRae alleges the incident happened in October 2023 at the Spectrum Center, as her son and other fans approached the players as they were leaving the Hornets’ annual Purple and Teal Day.

“[Angell] was like, ‘LaMelo, I love you. I love you, sign my … give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?’” McRae said in an interview with WSOC-TV.

According to McRae, Ball ran over Joseph to avoid signing autographs. The multi-talented point guard, who averaged 23.9 points per game last season, allegedly accelerated his vehicle suddenly, causing injury to Joseph’s foot, which resulted in a fracture.

“I just saw my son kind of go down and I thought maybe he had dropped something,” McRae said.

What Does LaMelo Ball Lawsuit Claim?

The lawsuit outlines claims of negligence against Ball, citing failure to exercise proper control of the vehicle, failure to yield to a pedestrian, and failure to apply brakes in a timely manner to prevent the incident. The legal action also alleges that the Hornets failed to provide adequate security and pedestrian control measures at the venue, contributing to the incident. The lawsuit, filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, seeks redress for the damages incurred during the incident.

McRae Says Incident Caused Physical and Mental Challenges 

McRae is claiming that the incident has negatively affected her son physically and mentally. 

“For a while, I couldn’t even recognize who my child was because, like depression, not being able to go outside and play,” she said. “It’s been rough. It’s been really rough. I mean like I’m a strong person. This broke me. This right here, it really did.”

The family’s lawyer, Cameron DeBrun, said missing information from the police report has made it difficult for his clients to file a claim with Ball’s insurance and pay for Joseph’s medical bills.

Back in July, Ball and the Hornets were reportedly finalizing a five-year designated maximum extension worth up to $260 million that would keep Ball in Charlotte through the 2028-29 NBA season. His pockets aren’t hurting.

While this is probably something very unfortunate that goes away with a phat check, the Charlotte Hornets organization can only be relieved that this alleged car incident didn’t result in tragedy like the one that rocked the organization and NBA world twenty-four years ago.  

Charlotte Hornets Guard Bobby Phills Dies In Crash Racing Temmate David Wesley After Practice

After the team’s morning session on Jan. 12, 2000, Charlotte Hornets guards Bobby Phills and David Wesley decided to race home from the Hornets’ facility. It was something that they did often, but this time it ended differently.

Phills lost control of his 997 Porsche 993 Cabriolet and swerved into oncoming traffic, colliding with another car, and the consequences were fatal for Phills. He was just 30 years old.

According to Charlotte police, Phills was going 75 miles per hour in his car when the crash occurred. Phills was a fan favorite and team leader whose impact didn’t always show up in the stats sheet.

Over his nine-year career, Phills averaged 11.0 points per game, and he defended the greats of the game, from Michael Jordan to Reggie Miller to Mitch Richmond. His best scoring year came in 1995-96 with the Cavaliers when he dropped 14.6 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting that season. After spending his first six seasons in Cleveland, Phills moved on to the Hornets in 1997, averaging double-digit scoring for three straight seasons.

“This is the ultimate tragedy, and our immediate thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kendall, children, and family,” Hornets owner George Shinn said at the time. “Not only was Bobby a tremendous person, but a great husband, father, and role model that everyone respected and admired. He was someone that you would want your children to be like.”

LaMelo Ball Has History Of Running Red Lights

According to reports, Ball has an assortment of luxury, high-horsepower vehicles and a history of blowing red lights while speeding out of the Hornets’ facility, apparently in a rush and not obeying the laws of the road.

The emotional toll of witnessing her son’s injury is not something another human being can assess. If the 12-year-old’s foot was truly fractured, then the recovery process and the mental anguish of not getting any sympathy from the Ball camp or the Hornets is something they have every right to seek compensation for.  

Hopefully, this is a misunderstanding and not an instance where Ball’s celebrity status got the best of him and forced him to make a great error in judgement. In any event, the fans are what makes the game go round. The young fans become older fans and share their experiences with the next generation.

Peeling out of a parking lot where fans are sure to be frequenting and blowing through red lights at busy intersections can lead to disaster. Melo needs to bring it down a bit and open his cars up on roads designed to accommodate the speed and power of such deadly machines. Grow up a bit.

Part of earning that $260M extension is being available to the young fans, and sometimes that requires taking time out from the many things that that being a star provides you just to be a human being for a couple of extra minutes. Life is too short. Ask Bobby Phills’ loved ones.

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‘The Collective Never Had The Money’: Four-Star QB Jaden Rashada Makes History and Sues Florida Gators Over Failed $13.85M NIL Deal (theshadowleague.com)

‘I’ve Walked That Road’: LeBron James Triggered By ‘Animosity’ and ‘Hatred’ Caitlin Clark and Bronny James Get From ‘Grown … Men and Women’ (theshadowleague.com)

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future (theshadowleague.com)

‘I’ve Walked That Road’: LeBron James Triggered By ‘Animosity’ and ‘Hatred’ Caitlin Clark and Bronny James Get From ‘Grown … Men and Women’

It was only a matter of time before LeBron James jumped in on the Caitlin Clark drama. The endless stories and commercials and social media posts and corporate attention Clark has received has elevated her popularity past that of the WNBA itself, making it open season on the 6-foot guard out of Iowa.

She’s received her share of criticism, analysis and praise. On JJ Redick’s “ThreeFourTwo” podcast, James jumped into the conversation with his defense of Clark.

James basically reinforced what everybody else has been saying:

“Don’t get it twisted. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things are going to happen in the WNBA. … I’m rooting for Caitlin because I been in that seat before. I’ve walked that road before. I hope she kills.”

LeBron James Compares Caitlin Clark Drama To Bronny

Then Bron, with future Lakers coach JJ Redick listening intently, related Clark’s situation to the “animosity” and “hatred” he perceives towards his 19-year-old son Bronny’s quest to become an NBA player.

“There is a very small percentage of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing a professional sport,” he said. “We have grown-ass men and women out here doing whatever they can to make sure that does not happen. That’s the weirdest thing in the world.”

There’s been many opinions about Clark and why she is popular and why she has been rewarded with corporate gifts that the other great players in WNBA history never got. Her success is also at the center of another divisive race debate.

Jemele Hill Says Being White and Heterosexual Has Helped Clark’s Brand

On the heels of Jemele Hill supposedly offending people because she said Clark’s popularity was heavily influenced by her status as a white, heterosexual woman, “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin also caught some flak from the Clark Hive for agreeing with the underlying sentiment of Hill.

Hostin said Wednesday, “I do think that there is a thing called pretty privilege. There is a thing called White privilege. There is a thing called tall privilege, and we have to acknowledge that.”

“And so part of it is about race because if you think about the Brittney Griners of the world, why did she have to go to play in Russia? Because they wouldn’t pay her,” she claimed, while taking a shot at the WNBA.

Did Bron Use Caitlin Clark To Get Sympathy For Bronny?

With Clark at the center of almost every discussion these days, it wasn’t surprising to hear LeBron James finally stir the pot and draw some attention back onto himself and Bronny, while also getting brownie points for standing up for Clark.

By jumping on the bandwagon and taking indirect shots at any media members who do anything but praise Clark, he is dismissing any of the points that were made exploring Clark’s popularity and the various dimensions of her rise to fame.

Never has anyone who pointed out the advantages Clark holds as far as marketing is concerned, claimed that she isn’t good for the game. And it’s not just Jemele Hill acknowledging these things. WNBA stars of all races have voiced their displeasure with the way Clark has been covered, while at the same time admitting that she has elevated the attention being focused on the game and deserves her fruits.

Of course, Charles Barkley jumped into the fray. Always bringing a comedic twist to the situation. How many WNBA games do you think Sir Charles watched in the past 10 years? Probably one less than LeBron James.

As Caitlin Clark Popularity Grows, So Will Pressure and Opinions

The more people say the name Caitlin Clark, the more her net worth explodes. She’s continuing to be the popular conversation and when that happens, everyone with a media company or a mission to attract new viewers will use her as a jumping point.

Her team is 0-5 on the season but have played one of the league’s toughest schedules and Clark has dealt with the adversity as best as she can. She’s averaging 17.8 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists per game. She’s only shooting 40 percent from the floor and about 33 percent from three-point range, so she is much less efficient than she was in college.

If what LeBron says is true about Clark being in a similar situation to him, then she can expect to be the center of the sports universe at least until NFL season starts. She’s paying the cost to be the boss, and we know that when you are boosted as the chosen one, people are going to test you to make sure its authentic.

More TSL Stories:

Calling The New York Knicks, The ‘Dallas Cowboys’ Of NBA Is A Huge Miss | Sounds Like Hate Because It Doesn’t Equate (theshadowleague.com)

Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand? (theshadowleague.com)

‘The Collective Never Had The Money’: Four-Star QB Jaden Rashada Makes History and Sues Florida Gators Over Failed $13.85M NIL Deal (theshadowleague.com)

Calling The New York Knicks, The ‘Dallas Cowboys’ Of NBA Is A Huge Miss | Sounds Like Hate Because It Doesn’t Equate

Fox Sports commentator Jonas Knox really had his New York hate hat on when he co-signed a random social media post calling the New York Knicks, the ‘Dallas Cowboys’ of the NBA. 

His argument was flawed, even if both franchises are similar in that they are among the most lucrative franchises in sports history — and when perceived as championship contenders — dominate the conversation and people either love them or hate them. They also both have meddling owners who have done more damage than good over the past two decades. 

Jonas said: “Somebody made a comparison on social media last night and I think it’s brilliant. They’re calling the Knicks the ‘Dallas Cowboys’ of the NBA. That’s a pretty good comp because they haven’t won a damn thing in a long a** time.”

Well, he’s totally right about that, but there’s plenty of other teams in the NBA and NFL who have never won a thing in the history of their franchises. So, long championship droughts don’t necessarily put these teams in their own category.  

“The way they were talking yesterday, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson were getting their jerseys retired and raised to the rafters after that game. They haven’t won in a LONG A** TIME. They haven’t won it all since 1973, yet the way that they were celebrated, and the way everybody talked about them, and ‘OH MY GOD, WHAT A GREAT TEAM AND A GREAT STORY!’… It’s like, dude, what are we doing here? 

Are Knicks fans not allowed to celebrate a team that they can feel prideful about? A couple of those Carmelo Anthony teams went to the playoffs, but those experiences were marred by undisciplined guys who did things like party with Rihanna the night before playoff games and cost the team and the fans. 

The fan base was never all in. Not like when Patrick Ewing had them as perennial contenders for a decade and the heart of the team was one with the city. 

That’s what happened when Jalen Brunson came to the Garden. A former Big East legend familiar with the lights out on Broadway. As well as the grit of the people, as his Dad Rick (Knicks assistant coach) played here after crafting his basketball acumen under the leadership of Temple’s legendary coach John Chaney. He’s 14th on Temple’s all-time scoring list. 

Knicks fans have felt ignored by ownership for years. They’ve continuously called for owner James Dolan to sell the team, as the franchise and culture plummeted, and the Knicks became laughingstocks of the NBA. A destination that no superstar wanted to embrace. Meanwhile, the lack of hoops success ripped a part of the soul from the city. 

So the recent success is a huge reason to cheer again. Yes!  A great team and a great story Jonas. 

“The last time the Knicks were playing relevant basketball, Jeff Van Gundy was hugging on somebody’s ankles. They were celebrated by everybody like this is the most historic run in the history of the National Basketball Association. The way it’s being talked about by Knicks fans who are disguised as members of the media; ‘WHAT AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY! OH, MY GOD, WHAT A STORY THE NEW YORK KNICKS ARE! TO FIGHT THROUGH ALL THE ADVERSITY AND ALL THE INJURIES!’… Great, but they’re going home and haven’t won anything in a long time, so to be compared to the Dallas Cowboys I think is a fair one. The only thing is Dallas has actually done something in the last thirty years, and the Knicks haven’t done anything in the last fifty.” 

The overall argument is flawed. Dallas has been Super Bowl contenders since Tony Romo was quarterback. They’ve not only had the talent and team to win the Super Bowl more than once in the past decade, but they also have a quarterback who is among the highest paid and was second in the MVP voting last season. 

Every day on these sports talk shows, Dallas Cowboys fans who don’t even disguise themselves as members of the media, talk about the Cowboys and the tradition and how this is the year they will get over the hump. It’s nonstop. Every season. They have great regular seasons, beating up on NFC East competition, and then flop in the playoffs. Then we go into the offseason and the quarterback negotiations and Jerry Jones doing his usual PR show. 

The Knicks have been virtually nonexistent since LeBron said “No Thank You” before starting a mini-dynasty in Miami. There are no expectations. There’s been no preseason predictions of the Knicks winning an NBA Championship. The franchise hasn’t had any Top 5 players as the face.

The failed expectations of the Cowboys and the rut the Knicks have been in aren’t comparable. There were no expectations with this Knicks team led by the Nova Boys.

Fan delusion is another area where Dallas Cowboys fans have New York Knicks fans beat. Knicks fans have not disputed that their franchise has been lacking and have been reduced to cheering for first-round playoff wins.

Entering these playoffs, without their second-best player in Julius Randle, most fans knew that any chance of a miracle playoff run was gone. 

But when Brunson puts on one of the greatest playoffs shows in history, as the team continued to lose key players and still show the fight New York fans are accustomed to and appreciate, then that makes this a huge win for New York basketball.

So, Jonas had it half right, but for the wrong reasons.

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Jemele Hill Draws Wrath Of Caitlin Clark Fans Again: Is Clark’s Status As A White WNBA Player With a Boyfriend Boosting Her Brand?

Jemele Hill is back in the news again for comments about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

The former ESPN talent opined on why Clark is more famous than any other player in the league, despite being a rookie, and people having an issue with it. “It’s not jealousy. It’s just the fact that in our society, black women are often erased from the picture,” Hill said

Hill also alluded to the fact that Clark is white and has a boyfriend, which she implies also boosts her social profile.

Jemele Hill on Caitlin Clark’s success:

“We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity. While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success — including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game…”

Hill received plenty of backlash for her comments from X users who dismissed her comments as typical race-baiting.

With every situation like this, Clark becomes a most polarizing figure that White America is protecting at all costs. She’s been elevated to the front of the money and marketing train with her unprecedented $28M Nike signature shoe deal. And most recently she became the first athlete since Michael Jordan to have a signature basketball collection deal with Wilson Sporting Goods.

Black “gatekeepers” of race as it pertains to sports, politics and economics in this country, will continue to study the Caitlin Clark phenomenon very critically because of the clear disparities in how she’s covered and treated as compared to other players in the 70 percent Black league.

This isn’t the first time Hill got caught in the crossfire and incited a mini-race war by simply giving her educated opinion on The Caitlin Clark Effect.

Jemele Hill Criticized For Comments Made About Clark During NCAA Tournament

When Caitlin Clark went Kobe Bryant-postal on LSU, scoring 41 points and helping Iowa advance to the Final Four for the second straight season, the Jemele Hill haters came out in full swing.

They challenged comments she made prior to the game, that the market was oversaturated with Clark coverage and college basketball’s all-time leading scorer got more love and credit than deserved for elevating women’s hoops because she is a white player. 

Twitter struck back at Hill’s comments because Clark had a good game, but can’t Jemele Hill be right and Clark still be great for women’s basketball at the same time? 

Clark has been the darling of most mainstream media and the catalyst for this women’s college basketball explosion that has people talking about the golden girls instead of the big boys who usually rule the March Madness landscape. 

Being a white basketball star always makes for a polarizing figure, because we don’t have many of them. The Clark dynamic has taken over conversations about race, competition and women’s sports. 

Hill’s comments came on the heels of Ice Cube offering Caitlin Clark $5 million to join his Big3 League and Black Twitter, former and current WNBA players lost their minds because they felt there were other choices such as Angel Reese or maybe even some current Black WNBA players that Cube could have chosen.

Everyone chimed in leading up to the rematch between Clark and LSU star Reese, who got the best of Clark in the 2023 NCAA Tournament final, before Clark exacted her revenge in 2024.

Jemele Hill Says Caitlin Clark Gets Mega Coverage Because She’s White

Former ESPN host Hill said that she had a problem with how the media is covering Caitlin Clark, prior to the win over LSU. 

That of course created a firestorm, because when Hill speaks it’s usually to point out a misrepresentation or some controversial issue in gender or race, which usually automatically divides people in the conversation. There’s a contingent of right-wing media and affiliates who label her as a “racial rabble rouser.” 

Hill is never one to back down from a good showdown and argues that, despite Clark’s greatness, the media covers white players like Clark — and UConn star Paige Bueckers — more than great Black players like A’ja Wilson.

“Everything about this sport has been trending up for years now. It did not just start with Caitlin Clark,” Hill said in an interview with Megan Armstrong of Uproxx.

Women’s Hoop Explosion Didn’t Start With Caitlin Clark

Women’s basketball certainly didn’t start with Caitlin Clark. There’s a laundry list of transcending and pioneering women’s players from Cheryl Miller to Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi to Dawn Staley. 

Clark, however, is undoubtedly the player who has ignited the interest of the casual fan. So while Clark certainly proved her superiority as a basketball player, the oversaturated media coverage and the attacks on and failure to give equal coverage to other great players is Hill’s gripe. And she’s not wrong. 

UConn’s Paige Bueckers, a white college basketball star, expressed the same sentiment Hill was alluding too, during her ESPYS speech in 2021.

“A study I cited recently for a piece I wrote in The Atlantic [found that] when you compare [the coverage] of, say, someone like (Paige) Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, or Caitlin Clark to A’ja Wilson, who has dominated basketball at every single level. She’s probably the best player in the world right now. And I’m not trying to act like she gets no coverage, but the coverage that sometimes non-white women get, or specifically Black women get, is not even close. It’s two-to-one,” Hill added.

Hill pointed to Clark’s current Fever teammate Aliyah Boston, who was dominant in college, but didn’t get the attention Clark received for losing in the National Championship game twice.

“I mean, Aliyah Boston was the best player in college just a couple of years ago. And she did not get even a 10th of this media coverage that Caitlin Clark did. Now, some people would say, ‘Oh, it’s her game.’ But I don’t think it was that. She’s tremendous on television, and I’m thinking, what a missed opportunity for the national media to really elevate who she was as a person. Caitlin Clark seems to be a great personality, but it is not like Caitlin Clark is walking around saying crazy stuff. They’re just covering her excellence, and that’s good enough. Whereas it feels like for Black athletes to get the same amount of coverage or even fair coverage, there has to be something extra [beyond basketball].”

We all know that basketball is one of those sports that often inspire conversations surrounding race, because it is dominated by Black athletes. Hill is right, that mainstream media has put all of its resources and coverage potential behind Clark. Hill will also admit that has benefited women’s basketball.

Conversations like these are what’s hyping the women’s basketball scene right now. And whether you agree with Hill or not or even understand what she’s saying, Caitlin Calrk is getting disproportionate coverage and deservedly so.

For More TSL Coverage:

“We Have The Best Player In America” | Ice Cube Offers Caitlin Clark $5M To Play In Big3, But Nobody’s Talking About Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins

Hailey Van Lith Took It There | You’re Mad Because She Owned Her Privilege and Rides For “Dirty Debutantes” (theshadowleague.com)

“You Can’t Do That In The Women’s Game” | Candace Parker Says Women’s Basketball Is Hurt By Overprotective Gatekeepers T

‘The Collective Never Had The Money’: Four-Star QB Jaden Rashada Makes History and Sues Florida Gators Over Failed $13.85M NIL Deal

Current Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jaden Rashada, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class and No. 6-ranked signal caller in the class, was slated to attend Florida.

Not only was he to be the prized recruit of embattled head coach Billy Napier’s 2023 class, but he was also reportedly offered some major NIL money to do so.

Did Florida Offer Rashada $13.85M deal?

Per Rashada and his team, the talented gunslinger was offered a four-year deal at a whopping $13.85 million. 

For those adding at home that’s $3.46 million per year to be the quarterback in Gainesville. That never came to fruition after the proposed deal fell through, Rashada asked for and was released from his national letter of intent.

Rashada ended up signing with the Arizona State Sun Devils for his freshman season and has since transferred to Georgia after one season in Tempe.

Now in Athens, Rashada is not letting the Gators, the aforementioned Napier and Gators boosters off the hook for the deal going awry. In fact, Rashada is suing all of them in what is known as the first lawsuit filed against a program in the NIL era. 

Rashada Files Lawsuit Against Florida

The lawsuit filed doesn’t give a specific amount that Rashada is seeking, but per reports he’s suing head coach Billy Napier, Florida booster Hugh Hathcock and his company Velocity Automotive and former Gators off-field staffer Marcus Castro-Walker for the failed deal.

The suit which was filed in federal court on Tuesday accuses those individuals of a handful of things to include fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement and aiding and abetting fraud, amongst other charges. 

A statement released by Rashada’s representatives:

“Hathcock on behalf of himself and Velocity Automotive), Castro-Walker and Coach Napier orchestrated and executed a fraud upon Jaden and were substantially and knowingly assisted by one another in carrying out the fraud. Each of their individual schemes would not have succeeded without the assistance from one another.”

Did Florida Lie To Rashada Costing Him $9.5M Deal With Miami?

Rashada’s legendary attorney, Rusty Hardin, also claims that the defendants convinced him to leave a $9.5 million deal at Miami for the $13.85 million deal at Florida with no intention of making good on the payment. Hardin has reportedly been in litigation against Napier and the two boosters since January 2023, not long after Rashada was released from his letter of intent. 

Hathcock And Castro-Walker Upped The Ante

In an effort to get Rashada to flip his commitment, Rashada’s reps say, the boosters offered him the $13.85 million deal with $5.35 million, which also included a $500,000 signing bonus to come through Hathcock’s Velocity Automotive company, and the rest from Gator Guard, which is the NIL collective that Hathcock started.

That changed when Hathcock announced he was selling his company and reportedly informed Rashada’s team that he didn’t want the payments to be taken from his company. Hathcock and Castro-Walker instead opted to have the payments come through the now-defunct Gator Collective.

Something sounds fishy here, and just maybe Rashada was lied to. His legal claim even says during a recruiting visit they promised his dad a job in the security industry. All of it has the aforementioned Hardin, who’s represented the likes of Roger Clemens and Adrian Peterson in the past, to accuse the group of bargaining in bad faith. 

“The collective never had the money and yet they were making all these promises to the kid,” Hardin told CBS Sports. “You dangle life-changing, generation-changing money in front of a 19-year-old kid who grew up without it, you can’t expect that young person to not be affected by it. The bargaining power is totally unequal here.”

And because of that Rashada is fighting back. If he wins things could get real dicey in the NIL world. 

Italian Tennis Star Turned Lingerie Model On The Run: Accused Of Stealing 100K In Furniture, Owes Six Months Back Rent, Tax Fraud, COVID Vaccine Scheme

You never know what someone is going through. Italian tennis star Camila Giorgi was on her way to becoming a world-renowned player before her life started down this winding road of bizarre twists and ill-informed choices. 

It’s a rabbit hole that probably goes deeper than we know, and it’s safe to say money is at the root.

Tennis Star Camila Giorgi Quits WTA To Become Lingerie Model

As often happens for female athletes considered attractive, Giorgi’s celebrity and appreciation for her beauty grew faster than her tennis skills. She appeared to be on her way to tennis superstardom after reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2018 and ascending to as high as 26th in the world rankings. 

Then strangely, she reportedly abruptly and unexpectedly retired from tennis to become a lingerie model to the pleasure of many of her 740,000 IG followers, many who are male. 

If the tennis world thought it was weird that Giorgi retired out of the blue, it got even more interesting when WTA officials tried to contact her upon hearing about the retirement and they say they were unable to reach Giorgi or her family as all numbers were disconnected for her parents and siblings.

Camila Giorgi, Dad and Brothers Investigated For Tax Fraud

Adding another layer of intrigue to this entire situation is that another report surfaced that Camila Giorgi, her father, her mother, and her brothers were under investigation by the Florence Prosecutor’s Office for “several ‘gaps’ regarding tax returns, which have never been submitted.”

We aren’t done yet. The former tennis star and lingerie model is also due to appear before the investigating magistrate of Vicenza on July 16 for a preliminary hearing in a case involving her relationship with a doctor who allegedly administered numerous fake COVID vaccines.

After her first absence from tennis, Giorgi eventually surfaced via a statement saying, “there have been many inaccurate rumors about my future plans, so I hope to provide more information about the interesting opportunities I will have in the future.”

Considering all of these legal and financial dilemmas that she faces; it’s easy to believe Italian authorities, who have released a statement saying they believe Giorgi was on the run and had fled Europe and moved to the United States.

Has Italian Tennis Star Camila Giorgi Left Italy With Stolen Property, On Run From Authorities?

In light of the latest developments, Giorgi’s statement now looks like a desperate attempt to throw people off her scent. 

Another wild report by Corriere Della Sera claims Giorgi fled Italy and whatever problems were there, with around “100 thousand euros” worth of property from the villa she was renting in Calenzano, including Persian rugs, fine furniture, and an antique half-ton table.

Neighbors noticed a few months back that vans were being loaded up with property and informed the villa owner. When he arrived “there was no one left and the house was half empty.”

“In the garden, however, there were other pieces of furniture and carpets piled on top of each other,” he reportedly said. “They had probably already filled the trucks and didn’t know where to put them anymore.”

So, she basically robbed the villa owner of his stuff and also reportedly left him with a bill of back rent spanning six months. 

Giorgi Earned $6.4 Million During Her Tennis Career

The owner of the villa says he contacted Camilla Giorgi’s father to retrieve the items, but Sergio  “responded in a contemptuous way, saying that they were objects of little value.”

The villa owner feels different.

“Those objects are part of my mother’s life and mine: I want them back, at least this much, given that we have lost out on thousands and thousands of euros in back rent.”

A native of Macerata, Giorgi is a four-time winner on the WTA Tour known for her aggressive style and powerful flat groundstrokes. She earned her first major championship at the 2021 National Bank Open in Montréal, defeating former world number one Karolina Plisková in the final. After winning her first ITF title in 2009, she made her Grand Slam and main draw debut at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.

Giorgi quietly retired in early May when her name surfaced on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) retired players list. At the time, she was down to No. 116 in the WTA rankings. 

Where Is Camila Giorgi?

Her last Instagram post is dated March 18. There’s a mixture of support and also people mocking her situation with the Italian tax services.

This story has many possibilities. It can be one of white privilege gone wrong. Maybe Giorgi is dealing with the same mental health challenges that forced tennis star Naomi Osaka out the game for a minute. It could just be money mismanagement that caught up to her and her family.

She’s still young at 32, but it’s possible that her tennis career wasn’t producing money fast enough and her family seems to have several legal battles they are waging over finances. 

It’s kind of sad to see such a rising star hit one troublesome situation after another to the point where she seems to be fleeing prosecution and her financial obligations. 

Stay tuned. 

‘That Was In Your Bag?’: The Steph Curry Connection Might Make Cameron Brink More Popular Than Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark gets the attention, but the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA draft Cameron Brink has been quietly establishing herself on and off the court.

In Week 1, Cameron already joined Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker as the only Sparks rookies to tally five blocks in a game. She’s averaging seven points, five rebounds and 3.5 blocks for a L.A. Sparks team that looks way better than advertised with the addition of Brink and fellow rookie Rickea Jackson.

Brink Talks Adjusting To WNBA, Growing Up Curry On Podcast P

Brink, the first women’s basketball player to sign a deal with New Balance, recently appeared on “Podcast P with Paul George” and explained how the WNBA game is a welcomed change because it allows her space to bring out elements of her game that were not revealed in college.

(See the 46:55 mark of the YouTube video below):

She’s also still adjusting to the speed and talent at the next level.

“Everything else is harder — the physicality, the speed … the way your confidence just goes up and down like this. But, the spacing — let me tell you, the spacing is amazing,” Brink said.

“When I was at Stanford, I would get tripled like this. There was no spacing … the defensive three … it’s not clogged at all. There’s just so much space to work. Yesterday, I did like a push-cross, and everyone was like, ‘That was in your bag?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, because I have space to work, and I’m actually allowed to play on the perimeter.’

Cameron Brink Is Already A Celebrity

While Brink works to increase her production and comfortability at this level, she is already considered a huge celebrity, with a great fashion sense and 1 million IG followers as of May 21.

Brink was the No. 2 overall pick, while Jackson went two picks later. Last week, both players made their debuts.

On Monday, Brink and Jackson got another view of their new Los Angeles digs as they were invited to throw out the first pitch prior to the L.A. Dodgers’ 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. It was an introduction to a legion of new fans for the WNBA’s latest crop of college stars.

“For them to even want to bring us out, this means a lot,” Jackson said. “The support we’ve gotten from L.A., we’re just grateful to be here.”

Cameron Brink & Rickea Jackson arrived at Dodger Stadium to throw out first pitch #TheNewClassic #WNBA #LetsGoDodgers

🎥: @TheHardwood94 pic.twitter.com/SGvjsypVwE

— Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) May 21, 2024

Sonya Curry Was In Attendance At WNBA Draft For Goddaughter Brink

This 2024 WNBA draft had a heightened sense of excitement and more media appeal, and that’s of course, because of the women’s basketball wave that has taken over sports since the first Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark faceoff. 

Brink says no one prepared her for how exhausting the draft day was. PG, who was also a highly touted player, understood and enjoyed the same hectic experience as Brink referred too when he was the 10th overall pick of the Indiana Pacers in the 2010 NBA draft.

Among the celebrities of the basketball world in attendance was Sonya Curry, mother of Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry, who was sitting among the supporters for Brink, who starred at Stanford. 

It just so happens that the 6-foot-4 Brink is Curry’s goddaughter. 

The Curry genes have definitely rubbed off on Brink in some way because she was a dominant baller in college. Her game is based on her height, width and defensive prowess, however, which is quite different than what the Curry family is famous for. 

During her time at Stanford, Brink won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year three times. She also won a national championship and was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. 

Sonya and Brink deeply embraced prior to the Stanford legend walking onto the podium, hugging WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert and holding her L.A. Sparks jersey. 

Clearly Steph’s mom has been a huge influence in Brink’s life, because she gave the basketball mom a shoutout during her interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. 

Steph Curry Provides Guidance and Encouragement To Brink

Steph Curry as well. Brink says she shared a FaceTime with the four-time NBA champion prior to the draft, and she told “Podcast P” that Steph finds time to help her navigate her newfound fame and the pros, despite his hectic schedule as a legendary baller, married father and business mogul.

“We’re both so busy,” Brink said. “But he always takes the time to just set it straight. He’s taught me to just bring the joy to everything. Life’s just a joy when you’re around him. It’s a job, but it’s also a privilege to do this for living.”

Steph Curry Helped Cameron Brink Improve Her Shooting

In addition to the words of wisdom her godmother Sonya and lifelong friend Steph Curry imparts, Brink, known as a defensive force, has a sweet stroke from the perimeter and says Curry played a part in the development of her all-around game. In 2021, the year Brink won the national championship, Curry gave some insight into his relationship with Brink. 

“She was trying to develop her jumper and I spent a little bit of time with her, gave her some pointers,” Curry told USA Today reporters. “My dad did as well. But just in terms of your development, you put the work and the time in, every year, you’re going to get better. She’s taken advantage of that.

“To see her in college, I know she’s gonna keep getting better, honestly. I don’t really have to tell her much now. She’s kind of off and running, so it’s been awesome to watch.”

NIL Deals 

Brinks has also benefited from the NIL explosion in college sports. Before the season started, she became the first women’s basketball player to sign with New Balance.

“Cameron’s exceptional skill on the court and her desire to give back align perfectly with New Balance’s desire to change the game for the better,” the Boston-based athletic company said in a statement.

According to NIL website On3, as a college player Brink had deals with Icy Hot, Chegg, Daps collectibles, and Stanley cups.

Why Are Sonya And Dell Curry Cameron Brink’s Godparents? 

Dell and Sonya Curry are both Brinks’ godparents. The relationship dates back to college, before Steph and Seth were born and starting to forge their paths to the NBA, following in Dad’s sharp-shooting shoes. 

Dell and Brink’s father, Greg, both played at Virginia Tech. Sonya and Brink’s mom, Michelle, were roommates at the school.

Brink recalls being young and attending Davidson games. Curry has known young Cameron his entire life and attended several of Brink’s games throughout her life. 

‘It’s Supposed To Be Like WWE … Let Her Kill’: Former NBA Player Jeff Teague Says If WNBA Were Smart Players Would Make It Easy For Caitlin Clark

You might want to go back and look at some old footage of Jeff Teague, who spent 12 years in the NBA from (2009-10 to 2020-21), his first seven with the Atlanta Hawks. Teague was considered one of the best defensive point guards of his era, but he might have been letting the superstars eat his food on certain nights so as not to disrupt the league’s revenue flow. 

That’s a stretch, but so was Teague’s take about Caitlin Clark and the WNBA on the “Club 520 Podcast,” where the former sharp-shooter suggests that WNBA teams should be letting Cailtin Clark score and not defending her so tenaciously early in her career because it’s bad for business. 

Jeff Teague Says WNBA Should Let Caitlin Clark Have Her Way

“The WNBA is playing this all wrong,” said Teague. “My dad even said that to me today. It’s supposed to be like WWE. Y’all supposed to play hard against her, but y’all supposed to let her kill. When he starts having bad games and it don’t look how it’s supposed to look, like we just saw in college … everyone is so excited about her coming to the league and changing it. If she don’t kill like that it’s going to bring it back down to reality. 

“Like the great white hope ain’t got that much hope,” he added.

Teague’s comments miss the mark considering the WNBA has been on a hunt for respect and legitimacy from NBA players, especially, since its inception, so turning it into a circus for one player is not an option. If he was trying to be funny, that’s even worse. 

Jeff Teague’s Comments Offended Jemele Hill

He caught some flak from influential X users such as Jemele Hill, who labeled his comments as downright stupid.

Teague immediately dismissed the authentic competitive nature of the league and the highly skilled women who have built it over the past 28 years. There’s not one player in the league who considers herself part of a gimmick or would back down so another player could shine. Even if it means everybody eats. The WNBA’s new socialism that Teague is suggesting has a bad ring to it. 

One of his co-hosts asked, “You want the WNBA to really write a script for Caitlin Clark?”

“No, I’m not saying that … As a smart person … she damn near about to get the league charter flights,” said Teague, before being reminded that the flights are already a done deal. 

“All the stuff that they want and need, more money, new teams getting added and all this. When she [Clark] comes [to play at an arena], you gotta protect her at all costs.” 

“So you want them to let her win?” the co-host asks Teague.  

“Not let her win, but play the game,” Teague answered. “Play the game within the game. Y’all know this is a cash cow right here and everything is changing. If she’s having a good year and she averages 22 and people are like, ‘Hey, Caitlin Clark is really that deal,’ then the league is just going to get bigger. Bigger, bigger, give her four years to be that. Now everybody lit. We up. New contracts and everything. Then you can dog her.”

Jeff Teague Has A Point? Faster Clark Become Star, Better For W

Teague wasn’t tactful in his description of how the WNBA can get the most out of the Caitlin Clark explosion, but there’s some legitimacy to his point that the sooner she develops into a top 3 player, or one of the greatest players ever, then that’s advantageous to the league who will continue to ride the momentum of her presence to new branding deals and accommodations and signature shoe recipients and rivalries and more expansion teams, all of the things that have manifested themselves in the first three games of Clark’s career in conjunction with her time at Iowa. 

So far, she has been good, averaging 17 points per game and nearly six assists. Her impact has been felt, but it’s safe to say that she’s been less than what the fringe fan hoped for. Her legend has been blown up to mythical proportions by people who never gave an iota of their attention to women’s basketball prior to her ascension in the NCAA Tournament and obliteration of the NCAA all-time scoring record.

If Clark came out the chute with three straight 45-point games, the WNBA would be on fire, even more than it is now. You can’t deny that the people aren’t satisfied so far. Some over-the-top fans are already calling for the firing of head coach Christie Sides. 

Maybe Teague has a point from an all-in business standpoint, but there’s also a thing called personal pride, and legends like Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, DeWanna Bonner and the like aren’t going to roll over for the new kid on the block. Clark may be calling the shots in every phase of WNBA life. Her brand might be the centerpiece of every business and marketing conversation for the W. But she doesn’t control what happens on the court. At least not yet. 

More TSL Stories:

‘Lisa Bluder Could Coach The Team Better Over Zoom’: Indiana Fever Fans Are Calling For Team To Replace Christie Sides With Caitlin Clark’s College Coach (theshadowleague.com)

“Media Needs To Give Her a Little Grace and Time To Develop”: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Silenced Critics In First Few WNBA Games (theshadowleague.com)

“It’s Going To Translate” | WNBA Legend Diana Taurasi Changes Tune On Caitlin Clark and The Rookie Had Best Game Of Career (theshadowleague.com)

‘Y’all Are Blatantly Being Disrespectful To My Relationship and My Husband’: Simone Biles Tires Of Fans’ Weird Obsession With Jonathan Owens

There’s something about Jonathan Owens’ confidence that his wife Simone Biles loves and everyone else seems to hate. 

Ever since the NFL player proclaimed to be the “catch” in his relationship with the popular Olympic legend, X users and fans of Biles have levied constant attacks on the man’s character. 

Despite his wife not having a problem with the man she loves knowing what he brings to the table, Biles has been forced to once again address the vitriol and backlash directed at the Chicago Bears safety.

Simone Biles Tells Fans Who Hate On Her Husband To Respectfully, F*** off”

The gymnast took to her Instagram page to share photos of the Green Bay Packers football player supporting her at the 2024 Core Hydration Gymnastics Classic. “My whole heart,” she wrote in her caption. “The best supporter, I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

Following the post, some people, mostly women, were triggered by her loyalty and praise for her husband and felt compelled to remind her that she was the “prize” in the relationship. 

Some even insinuated that Owens was doing the “bare minimum” as if they had some personal insight into the couple’s everyday interactions.

The feedback to his December 2023 appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, where Owens claimed he had “no idea” who Biles was when he saw her on dating app, Raya, has remained spirited to this day. 

There was a large contingent of women who called “bs” on Owens’ claims.

“When she won the Olympics, I was in college and we didn’t have NBC, we didn’t have Olympics channels, and we were in [training] camp [in] late July, early August,” he said at the time. “So I’m not paying attention. I never would’ve had a moment where I would’ve watched [her compete].”

Who Is Simone Biles’ Husband, Jonathan Owens?

Owens, an NFL safety, signed a two-year/$4.5 million deal with the Chicago Bears in March. Owens appeared in all 17 games for the Green Bay Packers last season, defending three passes and recording a sack. He’s appeared in 48 NFL games over five seasons, recording 227 tackles, one interception, eight pass breakups, and 2.0 sacks.

After various shots levied at her husband, Biles was moved to post another Instagram Story, pulling no punches and telling her followers to fall back on her man. 

“I’m going to quickly address this, the joke was never a joke! Y’all are blatantly being disrespectful to my relationship and my husband. So I’m gonna go ahead and say this one time. Respectfully, f*** off,” she wrote.

“[And] if you keep commenting or tweeting at me I’m just going to block you. Simple as that. And no I don’t need to touch grass or whatever tf y’all suggest…”

Biles Thinks Its “Weird” That Some Fans Are So Invested In Hating Her Husband

Biles also pointed out how weird the situation is and doesn’t understand why people are so negatively invested in her relationship. 

The post concluded: “@everyone else that supports us, we love y’all so much. “Chicago with the arrival also came to his family’s defense on his own Instagram Stories, where he wrote: “Being fake mad about people y’all don’t know from a can of paint is weirdo behavior.”

This isn’t the first time Biles has publicly responded to mean and unfounded comments made about her husband. 

Back in April, she appeared on an episode of Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast and explained that the comments were comical at first and then transformed into a painful experience.

“I thought it was hilarious what people were saying divorce him, divorce him. All of this crazy stuff,” she said to Cooper. “And, like, he doesn’t even like to say divorce. So I thought it was hilarious at first, and then they hurt my feelings.”

“And then one night, I broke down and I’m like: ‘Why are you guys talking about my husband like this? Like, you don’t know him. You don’t know who he is. And if anybody’s met him, they know he’s the sweetest guy and will do anything for anybody.”

Biles Looking To Break More Records: 2024 Paris Summer Olympics

Biles will make her much anticipated return to competitive gymnastics in August. The seven-time Olympic medalist shocked the world at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when she withdrew from multiple events to focus on her mental health.

The 27-year-old would be the oldest woman in two decades to qualify for the Olympics. Anna Hatch was 26 during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Biles will also be the first U.S. female gymnast since Dominique Dawes to qualify at least three times for the Olympics. Biles will have a chance to break her tie with Shannon Miller for most Olympic medals (seven) by an American gymnast. So far Biles is proving she will be a huge factor in August. 

Simone Biles Fans Should Be Supporting Her Olympic Run

If Biles fans truly wished her well, then they would be encouraging her as she travels the road to the Olympics. What’s the weird obsession with her man? He’s basically minding his business and being calm and collected, which is what Biles seems to adore about her man. 

Not all of the people licking shots at Owens are Biles fans, clearly. There are a lot of trolls who want to put doubt into her confident mind. They don’t care that she’s had extreme battles with mental health and even withdrew from multiple events in the Olympics because of her struggles. 

There should have been nothing but congratulations for Biles as she competed against 13 other medalists from the Olympics, World Championships and/or Pan American Games this weekend, including Tokyo Olympic floor champion Jade Carey and six-time world championship medalist Shilese Jones.

Simone Biles Wins All-Around Gold At Core Hydration Classic

Biles came out on top at the Core Hydration Classic on Saturday winning the all-around gold and announcing her presence as true challenger to regain her No. 1 World ranking before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this summer.

Biles crushed the field. Her overall score of 59.500 was nearly two full points better than all-around silver medalist Shilese Jones and more than four points clear of bronze medalist Jordan Chiles. Her performance earned her a gold medal on floor exercise and silver medals in the uneven bars and balance beam.

The living legend is used to living in the public eye but explains that she will continue to get defensive when her loved ones are targets.

“Because for me, it’s like: ‘Talk about me all you want, but don’t come for my family, never,’” she said. “Because I’ve been in the limelight long enough where I can brush things off…But I only cry about it because I can’t clap back. Just know that.”

That’s why she’s even competing in these Olympics and going through the physical rigors that it takes to compete.

She found a strength in her union with Owens that has allowed her to do what she wants to do and know that she is protected and loved regardless of the choices she makes. Biles is as strong as ever and much of the credit should be given to her supportive husband. Isn’t that the point of marriage? 

Some people have issues, and they are surfacing with an unfounded attack on Simone Biles’s husband. If you don’t support him, she doesn’t want your support at all. 

More TSL Stories:

‘Lisa Bluder Could Coach The Team Better Over Zoom’: Indiana Fever Fans Are Calling For Team To Replace Christie Sides With Caitlin Clark’s College Coach

Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever are off to an 0-3 start, and while the schedule makers didn’t do them any favors by having them play perennial contenders in the Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty (twice), fans are not happy with first-year head coach Christie Sides after three games.

Fans Scapegoating Fever’s Coach Christie Sides Already

It’s been a rough start for Sides and her team, with three double-digit losses, including being embarrassed 102-66 by the Liberty in their home opener. After having their toughness questioned, they did respond and put up a much better effort in Saturday’s 91-80 road loss to the Liberty. 

The effort in Saturday’s loss was good for the psyche of the team early on, but not everyone is buying into Sides and her handling of Clark thus far. In fact, there are some anxious Fever and WNBA fans who want to see a new coach take over. Just three games into the season, Fever general manager Lin Dunn hasn’t given any indication to believe Sides’ job security is on shaky ground, but that still hasn’t stopped fans from calling for a change. 

Bluder To NapTown Next Season? 

It’s no secret that Clark is the Fever’s franchise player and they’re going to do whatever it takes to make her comfortable and successful. If that means a coaching change is needed to make it happen, it’s highly plausible. WNBA and Fever fans even took to X to offer Bluder as the next coach, and to criticize Sides coaching.

“Caitlin Clark has 5 shot attempts and there’s 4 minutes left in the third, OMG I’ve never seen a player get sabotaged by coaching like this,” one fan said. 

Another fan took it a step further. 

“I think Lisa Bluder could coach the Fever better over zoom than Christie Sides is doing. The team is a mess, no offensive rhythm amongst a lot of other substitution problems. Also why is Boston always so far away from the basket?”

Another fan even believes Bluder, who retired from Iowa earlier this month, will take a year off and then possibly take over in Indiana. 

Would Bluder Be A Good Fit? 

Through three games, the perception is that Sides has struggled to figure out how to use Clark. In fact, the offense she’s attempting to run looks disjointed and out of sync. With Clark at Iowa, Bluder designed a scheme where Clark was the focal point and had the basketball in her hands.

That allowed her to score and make plays for her Hawkeyes teammates, which led to her leading the nation in scoring and assists.

With the Fever Clark isn’t on the ball much, and that’s something that needs to change. If it doesn’t, don’t be surprised if the Fever do look at possibly bringing in Bluder, who went 884-396 in 40 seasons as a coach, including the final 24 at Iowa. 

Remember it’s all about making their newfound franchise player comfortable.

More TSL Stories:

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future (theshadowleague.com)

“Media Needs To Give Her a Little Grace and Time To Develop”: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Silenced Critics In First Few WNBA Games (theshadowleague.com)

‘Diabolical Lies Told To Women’: Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Fumbled Opportunity To Inspire By Condemning Room Full Of Graduates (theshadowleague.com)

“Letting Another Grown Man Raise Your Child … Are You Not Ashamed?”: Russell Wilson’s Happy Birthday Post To His “Amazing Son” Had Twitter Taking Shots at Rapper Future

On Sunday, Russell Wilson gave a heartwarming happy birthday shoutout to his son, Future Zaire, who also happens to be the biological son of rap star Future. 

Happy Bday Future! The big 10!! We are so proud of you and so grateful for you. You are the biggest blessing. An amazing son! The best big brother~~ An absolute baller! So kind and loving! Keep shining, Keep loving. It is our greatest joy watching you grow into the young man God created you to be! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! 

God is good! 

We love you forever!!! @ciara

Of course, Russell’s affection for rapper Future’s biological son, set off a social media stream of opinions and shots aimed at Future, whose real name is Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn.

Others praised Wilson for stepping up.

The drama surrounding Wilson raising young Future, the biological son of rapper Future who dated Ciara prior to her union with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, is always fodder for Black Twitter and those looking to start some trouble. 

At one point, when the public was still unsure of how strong and legit Wilson and Ciara’s marriage was, so some took that potential vulnerability as an opportunity to clown Wilson for assuming parental responsibility of another man’s child. A notorious playboy at that. 

Channing Crowder Challenges Russell Wilson’s Manhood

Former NFL player Channing Crowder was the first to take a swing at Russ for accepting his parental duties with his wife, by attacking his character, insinuating that Russ is less of a man than Future because he assumed responsibility for another man’s child and put a ring on her finger.  

“Russell and Ciara. Yeah, if Russell ain’t have that bread, Ciara ain’t going to be with him,” Crowder proclaimed. “Russell’s square, Russell’s square, Russell’s square, Ciara she has a good situation, but you don’t leave Future and get with Russell Wilson.”

Co-hosts Fred Taylor and Ryan Clark tried to interject with Taylor saying, “I think that’s where you’re wrong though; women want peace,” but Crowder did not have the patience to listen. He needed to make a point.

“It’s a type; everybody has a type. You don’t leave Future and get with Russell Wilson; he’s so godd-mn square, and I love him on the field. He’s a square; he’s a f**king square.”

Clark added, “Channing, you go from this level of toxicity, you just want something stable. You want the guy that was sitting with that girl with that big old mouth at the draft that was laughing, and you knew she didn’t deserve to be with him.”

Ciara and Russell Wilson Have Three Kids Of Their Own

When Ciara met Wilson in 2015, she was already a mom to Future Zahir, who is now 10 years old. After tying the knot in 2016, the couple welcomed their eldest daughter, Sienna Princess, who is 7 years old, a year later. Ciara then gave birth to their son, Win Harrison in 2020, and their daughter, Amora Princess, in December 2023.

Social media has always had fun with this topic, and Future has expressed that he’s not happy with his son calling Russ Dad, but he surely doesn’t have the time to worry about that because the boy is taken care of and Future likes to make babies, so stability isn’t his strong suit, dispute his success as an entertainer. 

Future Has Eight Kids Between ages of 4 and 21

In total, Future has eight confirmed children. The eldest of Future’s children is Jakobi Wilburn, born on June 30, 2002, to Jessica Smith. They range in age from 4 to 21 years old. 

Future’s last attempt to throw dirt on Russ and Ciara’s blooming relationship, which has become an example of what many women perceive as the “perfect” union, was back in 2022 when some song lyrics he dropped inferred that he still has sex with his former girlfriend. 

Social media went crazy suggesting that Future’s toxicity was seeping into Russell Wilson’s head and affecting his performance on the field, which was disastrous at times.

Through Russ’ first five games he threw for over 1200 yards, but just four TD passes and three picks, with an uncharacteristic 59.4 completion percentage. He also had an 82.8 passer rating, which was the lowest rating he’s ever had in his career. 

Around the time that the drama started, Russ was coming off another inconsistent game where he threw for 274 yards with no touchdowns and two big interceptions against the Indianapolis Colts. The Broncos lost that game 12-9.

To make matters worse, they suffered that L on prime time “Thursday Night Football,” where once again their inability to generate any type of consistent offense was exposed.

Russ got past that situation and has come up roses. His wife always looks happy, and they are very open and honest with their family and how the world receives them.

Russell Wilson In A Great Situation Financially, With Football and Family

Regardless of the “noise” Wilson is in a great situation. Living what most would call the ideal life for a man. He’s happily married to a beautiful superstar entertainer and his family of six continues to grow. He’s in a great spot with Mike Tomlin as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback and he already has pocketed his salary — close to $40 million — for this season. 

Recently, wife Ciara was spotted in a video serving looks and hanging out with Serena Williams, so it’s all the way up for this royal couple. As gangster as they say Future is, Russ’ post celebrating the life and experiences he shares with Future’s son was about as G’d up as it gets.

“Media Needs To Give Her a Little Grace and Time To Develop”: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Silenced Critics In First Few WNBA Games

The Fever is struggling at 0-3 and Caitlin Clark has had her ups and downs, but she’s established herself as the team’s go-to player already, leading them in scoring (17.0 points per game) and assists per game with 5.7.

She’s already endured the gauntlet of WNBA supremacy in her first three games. She faced the Connecticut Sun led by WNBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer DeWanna Bonner, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard/forward who also creates issues on the defensive end. Alongside Bonner is Alyssa Thomas, a 6-foot-2 triple-double machine who is also a defensive wizard at power forward. 

Clark has battled the New York Liberty twice in her first three games. The Liberty went to the WNBA Championship last year, led by reigning MVP Breanna Stewart, sharp-shooter Sabrina Ionescu (who also launches from the logo and almost beat Steph Curry in a three-point contest) and a host of other top-quality players on both ends of the floor. 

The Fever got beat down in all of those games, but Clark scratched and clawed through each contest and despite a record 10 turnovers in her debut, she showed enough talent and tenaciousness to gain everyone’s respect.

It’s clear she’s not going to be a bust. With all the pressure she has and all of the haters and fans using each success and failure as a measuring stick of who she will be a decade from now, Clark has done nothing to change people’s lofty opinions of her. 

Liberty star Jonquel Jones joined Breanna Stewart in the post-game presser, and both were complimentary of Clark.

Jones did point out that, “I think the media needs to give her a little grace and time to develop into a player. Shes learning every game as she’s out there and I can see her impact on this league is going to be tremendous when she matures.”

Jones also cited Kelsey Plum, who averaged around nine points a game in her first three seasons and then exploded into the 20 ppg scorer she is now in 2022, as an example of allowing a highly decorated pick to develop because the league is tough.

The schedule should get a bit easier from here, but she still has to face the Las Vegas Aces a couple of times and will have some challenging nights. But these early games against contenders will surely help her development.  

Angel Reese, AKA “4th-Quarter Barbie,” Leads Chicago Sky To First Win

Angel Reese’s preseason debut wasn’t even on television, but it was streamed via someone’s phone on social media and garnered 2 million views when it was all said and done. That was just a flex of the star potential that Reese has had since her days at Maryland and then LSU.

The WNBA continues to underestimate the enormity of her fan base outside of those interested in WNBA hoops, but they are slowly getting the picture. 

For one, Reese can also ball at the next level, averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Chicago Sky, who are 1-1 after being picked to finish among the bottom three teams in the league.

It didn’t take her long to assert her influence on the team, winning her first WNBA game on Saturday night after the Chicago Sky beat the Dallas Wings 83-74. Reese rebounded from four early fouls, and the self-proclaimed “4th quarter Barbie” finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and went 5-for-7 on free throws, to help Chicago with a comeback win after trailing by as many as 12 points. 

“4th quarter barbieee,” Reese posted on X alongside a crying face emoji.

“Ima stay outta fouls trouble yall but whew i’m so happy for this team! FIRST WNBA WIN & MORE TO COME!” Reese added with a fire emoji.

“Chi Barbie” was part of a huge energy that springboarded the team to a late second half run.

“I think everybody just came out with energy, did all the little things…blocks, steals, boxed out,” Reese, who is already the team’s spokesperson after two career games, said during the postgame press conference. “Everybody did what they needed to do to get the win.”

As the Sky continues to upgrade the talent on its roster and await the arrival of 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso, who is out nursing a shoulder injury, Reese will continue to assert herself as she gets her feet wet in the league. So far, they look very balanced and better than projected. Those projections might have something to do with a narrative that Reese is not a high-impact player like Clark is. 

Both women were elite in college as they battled for national championships and top billing. It’s clear they have brought the son intangibles, leadership skills and influence on the WNBA, while still learning on the job.

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