Sunday evening in Greenville, South Carolina, college basketball fans were treated to another epic battle between Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo and their blue-blood programs.
This one went to Coach K and the Duke Blue Devils, as they outlasted a well-equipped Michigan State Spartans team 85-76. It was the 16th and final meeting between the two legendary coaches.
Coach K will head into retirement with a 13-3 head-to-head record, including 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament over Izzo. But that doesn’t tell the whole story, like Sunday’s matchup, where the Blue Devils had the clear talent advantage but found themselves trailing by five points with five minutes left. This after leading by as many as nine earlier in the half.
𝙎𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙏 #DukeDub
🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺🔵😈#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fCN4FxwKaV
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 20, 2022
Coach K had this to say about the epic battle.
“It was a great game. They kicked us back. So proud of my guys. … For a young group, they showed incredible guts. It wasn’t any coaching. They had guts. I’m so proud of them. Jeremy Roach made a couple shots. We just … Tom Izzo’s team is so good and they played their hearts out.
“And to beat them when we lost the lead … it looked like our ship was sinking.”
Coach K vs. Tom Izzo.
One last time.
(via @MarchMadnessMBB)pic.twitter.com/352VjKixLz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2022
In a game of back-and-forth, in the end it was the talent of the Blue Devils, mainly future top-3 pick Paolo Banchero, that prevailed. The bruising yet nimble 6-foot-10 250-pounder showed his elite talent, going for 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Banchero’s stats don’t tell the whole story either. In an effort to contain him, the Spartans double-teamed him constantly. But as a result, it opened up things for his teammates. Every one of the Blue Devils’ starting five scored in double figures.
Coach K Gets Payback For The 2019 Elite Eight Upset By Izzo
Sunday’s matchup was just the latest in a series of classics between the Blue Devils and Spartans. To meet this early in the tourney is very unusual, as they’re use to seeing each other in the Elite Eight or Final Four. In fact no two current coaches have led their teams to more Final Fours, with K doing it 12 times, and Izzo eight times.
Prior to Sunday’s matchup, their last two meetings had gone to Izzo’s squad. The most memorable took place in the East Regional Final in 2019. In that game Izzo’s Spartans upset the national title favorite Blue Devils, who were led by Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish. All three of those players were drafted as one-and-done players in the top 10 of the 2019 NBA draft.
Coach K is probably the best coach in College Basketball history
He just lost with the #1, #2 and #4 picks to a team with almost no NBA players
It happens. It’s why College Basketball is great
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 31, 2019
Sunday’s battle was met with apprehension and anxiety from both sides. In an interview on Saturday Izzo said:
“This game is bigger than normal. There’s gonna be weird emotions on both sides of the scorer’s table. It’s kinda hard for me to prepare,” he continued. “Everybody’s saying, Are you going to end his career on this note? Are you going to do this? Are you going to do that?
“First of all, I’m not going to do any of that. The players will hopefully find a way to win. But just think what he’s going through and his players are going through. Emotionally, it’s got to be an incredible — I can’t even imagine.”
While a win wasn’t in the March Madness cards for Izzo’s crew, the Green Machine played valiantly, and pushed a much more talented team to the brink of elimination, seriously threatening to end Coach K’s illustrious career in the second round.
This rivalry dates back to 1998, when Duke, already an established program with two national championships and five Final Fours, faced off against the Izzo-led Spartans for the first time. That day, Duke was superior, as they have been for the bulk of the rivalry, but Izzo remembers that loss fondly as a steppingstone to great things.
Tom Izzo on the impending matchup with Coach K and Duke: "I like the game. I just don't like the record in that matchup over the years … I've got to be his favorite coach, because they've beaten us like a drum."
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) March 19, 2022
“We didn’t get beat that bad [73-67]. We were a good team, but that’s when we were just growing our program. I remember you want to have a measuring stick, and it was Charlie Bell, I think, earlier Andre Hudson, one of those guys, always said ‘to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.’ … It was kind of like we have an opportunity to play Duke and measure up.”
Coach K Advances To His Record 26th Sweet 16
Adding to his long list of accolades, Coach K advances to his final Sweet 16. He also extends his record of 30-win seasons to 16.
Coach K was impressed by his young team’s resiliency.
MARCHpic.twitter.com/b4igPpF1nw
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 21, 2022
“I love these kids — they’re becoming men,” he said. “We were so good in the last part of the game. I can’t tell you how proud I am of them. I’m 75, how damn lucky can you be to have moments like that.”
Duke looks to advance to the Elite Eight and possibly further as Coach K’s retirement run continues.
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks and head coach Shaheen Holloway have become the darlings of this year’s NCAA Tournament.
The 15th-seeded Peacocks, a small Division I program of about 2,600 students in Jersey City, New Jersey, has its first two tourney wins ever. First, they knocked off No. 2 seed and college blue blood Kentucky in the first round. Their massive upset is just the tenth time a 15 seed knocked off a No. 2 seed.
THE PEACOCKS HAVE DONE IT 🤯
15-SEED SAINT PETER'S TAKES DOWN 2-SEED KENTUCKY pic.twitter.com/tqS07tJD4O
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 18, 2022
The Peacocks then handled the No. 7 seed Murray State Racers in the round of 32 to advance to next week’s East Regional in Philly, roughly 90 miles from their campus. His Peacocks are connected on both ends and that’s how he coaches. Effort, efficiency, and desire.
Following the win Holloway revealed his recipe to an unprecedented run during March Madness as “CINDERELLA” ….
Here’s what he told Mike Wells of ESPN:
“That’s how I played, right? I played that way. I played to give it 110 percent all the time. I tell my guys all the time, you give me 100 percent and I’ll give you 200 percent. I was a decent small player. I’m small, people counted me out.”
Holloway, from Queens, New York, was a typical gritty and flashy but undersized NYC point god. Despite his size, he was considered one of the elite playmakers and hardwood shakers in a long line of spectacular New York guards in the ’80s and ’90s who not only killed in-school competition but honed their skills on the playgrounds of legendary street hoop venues such as Rucker Park in Harlem.
He was a 1996 McDonald’s All-American and also the MVP of the historic high school basketball game, in which he played alongside — and outshined — a young Kobe Bryant, before enjoying four seasons at Seton Hall (1996-2000) in the “old” Big East.
Holloway’s pro career ended after playing eight seasons of professional ball overseas. At that point he returned to the states to become a coach.
“So I had something to prove every time,” Holloway continued. “So I coach that way. … My thing is this: It’s a give-and-take thing. If you give me hard work on defense, I’ll let you play on offense. That’s us.
“Give me what I want on defense, offense, you can go out there. You don’t come out of the game playing for me making mistakes on offense. You come out of the game for making mistakes on defense. That’s just how it is.”
Holloway was asked how his team dealt with the larger Murray State team when it started to increase the physicality in the game.
“I’m going to say this, and it’s going to come off a bit crazy,” Holloway said. I got guys from New Jersey and New York City you think we scared of anything. You think we worried about guys trying to muscle us and tough us out. We do that.”
Although Holloway is handling his business with St. Peter’s, the noise surrounding a possible move to his alma mater Seton Hall is becoming louder with each win.
Holloway was the talk of social media and even got a legendary endorsement as a great up-and-coming coach. Iona head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Pitino mentioned that he’d love to see Holloway at UMass, Pitino’s alma mater. But he also said Seton Hall should contact him right away if current coach Kevin Willard leaves for Maryland.
The Sweet 16 is nothing new for @PeacocksMBB head coach Shaheen Holloway 😤
(h/t @SilversteinAdam) pic.twitter.com/tcUxOsp6vR
— ESPN (@espn) March 20, 2022
“He’d be an awesome fit, awesome fit, they shouldn’t even make another call,” Pitino said. “And I don’t promote coaches for jobs too much. They should never hire search committees, they should ask coaches.
“But Shaheen’s a young superstar, I just love him to death. I think he would do a fabulous job at my alma mater and if Seton Hall opened. If I roll a seven tomorrow, I’ll get him here at Iona.”
Seton Hall May Be In Holloway’s Future: Willard Already Endorsed Him
Following Seton Hall’s opening round loss and St Peter’s surprising first round win, current Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, gave Holloway a ringing endorsement as the possible Pirates next head coach. Willard has been linked as the favorite to take over the Maryland program, and here’s what he said about his former assistant.
When Holloway was hired by the Peacocks in 2018, then-athletics director Bryan Felt saw something in him. The two shared the same vision for the program. Felt has since become the athletics director of Holloway’s alma mater Seton Hall.
After watching what Shaheen has done at St. Peter’s it would be a natural fit for Felt to bring him back to the program if Willard in fact leaves.
The relationship between Felt and Holloway began at Seton Hall and grew when he hired him away from Willard’s staff four years ago. And it’s still very strong to this day.
Felt had rave reviews for Holloway after the Kentucky game.
“I am beyond thrilled. I am proud of the incredible job he’s done,” Felt told the Ashbury Park Press. “When I hired him, I knew what he could do, and to do that in a four-year span, where you could see the improvement, every year is amazing.
“Sha and I spoke late that night. He called me. Incredibly kind of him. He did not need to do that. We had a nice moment. It was touching.”
We're back! 🏠Thank you Peacock Nation for showing love today and always! ❤️#StrutUp pic.twitter.com/W5Jy4xML7p
— Saint Peter's Men's Basketball (@PeacocksMBB) March 20, 2022
The expectancy is no matter what happens the rest of the way for St. Peter’s, if Willard leaves Seton Hall, Holloway will be a highly-touted candidate for next head coach of Seton Hall.
Detroit is not one of the major TV markets, and while there’s a tremendous sports passion among fans, the Motor City hasn’t been a successful sports town for a while. But there is much hope for the Detroit Pistons in the future, given the amount of talent they’ve compiled in a short amount of time.
Their play hasn’t been spectacular as a unit, but they’ve had a lot of promising individual outputs from some of their young talent.
But when it comes to the Pistons as a unit, a lot of GMs in the league like what they see. After an annual GM survey, many GMs of the league voted the Pistons highly in terms of their drafting, core, and their place in the league moving forward.
To be quite frank, Detroit has a very talented young core that in three to five years could be something very special.
NBA Rookie Meter 15 | Motor Cade Cunningham Continues Ascension Into ROY Race
Cade Cunningham
They have the makings of an Eastern Conference powerhouse with the young franchise cornerstones they’ve acquired, such as No. 1 overall Cade Cunningham, who has had a huge presence on this Detroit team as a rookie.
Cunningham, the Oklahoma State product is the franchise player of the future. The 6-foot-6 guard was touted as the best player in this year’s draft and was seen as a high-volume-scoring, do-it-all guard.
“Motor Cade” is averaging 17 points per game, to go with six rebounds and assists per game, and while these are above-average stats for an NBA player, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Cunningham. According to head coach Dwane Casey, “He has a lot of growing to do but I have all of the confidence in the world he is going to get there because of his ability and IQ.”
Casey and everyone else in the Detroit organization can see the top-tier potential Cunningham has.
Along with Cunningham, there is second-year baller Saddiq Bey, who is a forward that can put the ball in the bucket — on Thursday night he exploded for a career-high 51 points against the Orlando Magic.
Bey is a forward who can play great defense against some of the best wings that the league has to offer, as well as averaging 16 points per game to go along with just under six rebounds per game.
There is also standout Jerami Grant, and gritty enforcer Isaiah Stewart, whose tough play provides energy and momentum for this team and the fans as well.
Jerami Grant
Grant is the elder statesman, having been in the league for eight seasons. The 28-year old has been a standout on this Pistons roster, averaging a team-high 19 points per game.
His name was on the radar for many teams looking to contend around the trade deadline, but ultimately Detroit knew his worth and felt like he was a veteran keeper.
And Detroit still has the option in the offseason to flip Grant to another team for some draft capital or young assets to help down the line.
Ben Simmons Almost Dealt To Detroit Pistons| Trade Did Not Meet The Joel Embiid Standard
Isaiah Stewart
Then you have the tough-as-nails Stewart, and after the near-scuffle with LeBron James he’s put the league on notice as a beast and an enforcer on the court. He averages eight points per game to go with eight rebounds, and he will look to improve as a paint protector down low.
With another lottery pick on the horizon for Detroit, the Pistons potentially could be adding the likes of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, or another star in the NCAA ranks.
This team is an average age of 25 years old, so it’s all about the future and the development of Detroit’s aforementioned rising stars (Cunningham, Bey, Stewart). Their future is in good hands moving forward.
It’s that time again where we rank the rocking rookies of the NBA.
No. 1: Scottie Barnes — Toronto Raptors (Forward)
Barnes has continuously shown his elite two-way ability all season. His game is a Swiss Army knife of production; scoring, rebounding, playmaking. Barnes has been very impressive. This week alone, the former FSU Seminoles star had a slashline of 31/17/6 and 21/9/5 against the Lakers. His play has been stellar, and the Raptors rookie even has LeBron James singing his praises.
“I saw Scottie Barnes for the first time in seventh grade and told one of my good friends that this kid is gonna be special. I seen the length of his arms and he was playing point guard at his size that game.
“Obviously, he’s still doing it now, he can play multiple positions, but for him to have that size and that ability, I knew he was gonna be special.”
LeBron James: “I saw Scottie Barnes for the first time in seventh grade and I knew he was going to be special … it may have been a surprise to some of you guys but it’s no surprise to me … it’s a beautiful thing to watch.” pic.twitter.com/FIu1k0EsHs
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) March 19, 2022
This season he’s averaging 15.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game
No. 2: Evan Mobley — Cleveland Cavaliers (F/C)
Since the injury to Jarrett Allen, Mobley has seen an increase in his minutes at center, and he’s handled it seamlessly. The two-way big had several standout games recently. Against the Clippers, Mobley went for 30/6/4, he followed that up with 13/9/6 against Embiid and the Sixers and laid 27/11/4 on the Nuggets.
Mobley’s shown maturity and high basketball IQ that seems to resonate with his teammates. He’s still the front-runner to win the Rookie of the Year award, but he’s got some serious competition from Barnes and Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham.
This season Mobley is averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
No. 3: Cade Cunningham — Detroit Pistons (Guard)
Cade only played in one game this week due to a minor injury, but the 2021 No. 1 overall pick made it count with a near triple-double, going for 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
With all the talented players in the draft, Cunningham has shown why he’s got the highest ceiling. His skill set is elite, and once he becomes a more consistent range shooter he’ll be even tougher to guard.
His season slashline is 17/6/6, displaying his all-around abilities.
It's 2:22PM on 2/2/22. pic.twitter.com/y5oNsLuhin
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 2, 2022
No. 4: Franz Wagner — Orlando Magic (Guard)
Wagner continues to be a bright spot for the rebuilding and youthful Orlando Magic. The uber-talented wing has shown an ability to score at a high level and create offense for others. This past week he was solid as usual, including a gem against the Pistons where he went for 26 points, five rebounds and a couple of assists.
This season he’s averaged 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
No. 5: Jonathan Kuminga — Golden State Warriors (Forward)
Blessed with freakish athleticism, Kuminga has injected some real life into a Warriors team that didn’t have that type of player on its roster last season.
He filled in admirably while Draymond Green was out with a back injury, averaging 16 points and six rebounds on 57 percent shooting. Although still raw, the rookie has been a huge boost for a Warriors squad with championship aspirations.
It is going to be a football gantlet for any team to reach the AFC Championship next NFL season. Most of the league’s top quarterback talents are all in this conference and have all won at least one playoff game.
Although the path is not easy, the Buffalo Bills are in the best position to win Super Bowl LVII.
If not for the historical heroics of Patrick Mahomes, Buffalo might have accomplished that goal last season.
Bills GM Brandon Beane’s immediate reaction to the Cleveland Browns trading for Deshaun Watson was to poke fun at the NFC. Before he jokingly considers voting for realignment, his Bills should take a deep breath and understand they have a distinct advantage over other AFC teams.
Bills GM Brandon Beane on the talent in the AFC: "I'm voting for realignment."
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) March 18, 2022
Bills Use Free Agency For Finishing Touches
Starting with their approach this offseason. Most championships are won through team building and shrewd executive leadership, but when used correctly, free agents can be the finishing touches for a team on the brink of a title run.
The line of scrimmage is everything in football and Buffalo has made it a point of emphasis during free agency. The headline of their offseason signings is future Hall of Famer Von Miller.
Von Miller said the only way he was going to join another team is if it was something special, the Bills were that special team. @WGRZ #BillsMafia
"It had to be this, it had to be the Buffalo Bills." pic.twitter.com/2RsMyb4HEB
— Brian Chojnacki (@BroadcastingBri) March 17, 2022
Buffalo is adding Miller to a defense that allowed the lowest amount of points in the NFL last season. Besides being a playmaker on the field, Miller can provide the championship mindset to get the Bills over the hump just as he did for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
Top 5 NFL Defenses Entering Week 18 |Buffalo Bills Return To The Top As New Beasts Of AFC East
AFC East Wide Open Since Brady Bounced
The main advantage Buffalo has over the other AFC contenders is that they play in the AFC East.
For the past 20 years the New England Patriots controlled the AFC because their division opponents did not have the roster to compete with them, which allowed for them to earn first-round byes constantly. The Bills have the same opportunity in front of them.
The flurry of recent moves in the AFC West and AFC North puts those teams in a difficult position just to make the playoffs. There are six division matchups a year, so while teams in the West and North are fighting just to stay above .500, the Buffalo Bills expect to either sweep their division or at worst go 5-1.
The AFC North and West are going to be an absolute fight all season
Meanwhile, the Bills in the AFC East like pic.twitter.com/uRQwg4jnDX
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) March 18, 2022
Winning the AFC East is just the first step for the Bills, because their ultimate goal is controlling the conference. The new playoff format only allows one team to earn a bye, which is why playing in a weak division helps Buffalo’s chances at securing the No. 1 seed.
The importance of earning the top seed is not only an extra week to rest players (after a 17-game regular season), but to force opposing playoff teams to play in a hostile environment.
Home Field Advantage
Bills Mafia is notorious on social media and always brings the energy to Orchard Park. To have a team travel to freezing Buffalo in January to compete in a loud stadium for the AFC Championship is a possible scenario.
Yup, this adds up. 👌#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/INu2w28lUF
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) March 18, 2022
Josh Allen showcased his talents during the 2021 playoffs, and he’s ready to lead the Buffalo Bills to their first Super Bowl win this coming season. It won’t be easy, but the stiff competition throughout the season and the bitter taste of last season’s playoff loss should inspire a season of success.
March Madness is in full swing, and through the upsets and the glories, one thing remains: the NCAA and its schools will reap the financial haul that is generated during the tournament month.
However, even though student-athletes can now make money through the name, image, and likeness deals (NIL), there still has yet to be a resolution for the revenue the schools are generating off the backs of the athletic scholar.
Recently, “Shark Tank” panelist and entrepreneur Daymond John gave his thoughts on the collegiate athletic system.
“I don’t know where there’s an upside because to have to fight for your right at the Supreme Court and what percentage (of student-athletes) will make money?” said John to TMZ. “Five percent? What about the average player that’s going to make $500? I think this is horrible actually guys.”
According to the Department of Education, collegiate athletic programs accumulated $14 billion in total revenue in 2019; this was up from $4 billion in 2003, not including income from broadcasting rights or corporate sponsorships.
Since the NIL laws were passed, the NCAA has felt like it is off the hook for the imbalance between student-athletes generating revenue and the lack of financial trickle-down.
I’m excited to announce that I will be teaming up with @OurChatInc for my first NIL deal! #ourchat pic.twitter.com/l9kEOhGs87
— Jaden King (@iamjadenking) March 18, 2022
“This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement back in 2021 when the legislation was passed.
“With the variety of state laws adopted across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity on a national level. The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve.”
However, to John, the school and NCAA system still have a long way to go to even the playing field.
Bose has signed three new NIL athletes:
🎧 Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
🎧 Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
🎧 Wendell Moore, DukeEach will receive QuietComfort 45 noise cancelling headphones as part of their deals. pic.twitter.com/JgyUG2hgmO
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 14, 2022
“There’s no other business like this; this is the modern-day version of slavery,” John continued.
“Think about it like this, TV rights in 2020 alone was $850 million. They said the sportsbooks are going to gamble somewhere around $10 billion for March Madness, and that has nothing to do with their merch, other alums who are donating to the schools and selling more entry-level into the schools, and the players make nothing. Zero after all that.”
To John, the value proposition of a free or reduced tuition for education just isn’t enough anymore.
“They say, ‘Well, listen, we’re giving you a scholarship.’ Well, you know what, why don’t you give me $2 million, and I’m going to pay for me and my whole damn family to go to school. So I think this is modern-day slavery, and they’re just giving them a little bit of a crumb.”
Today, a 2023 5-star recruit signed a deal with an unnamed school’s NIL collective potentially worth $8 million, per @slmandel.
He'll be paid $350K, then monthly up to $2 million per year.
Experts believe it's the largest individual NIL deal in the history of college sports. pic.twitter.com/XbzpLHhyzi
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 12, 2022
According to reports, more than 100 Division I coaches earn over $1 million per year. With the team members making nothing or hoping to get a NIL deal, it’s hard not to see how the NCAA has absolved itself of the burden by passing the buck to private sector partnership to work directly with the student-athlete.
“These players are bringing in billions of dollars, and they’re making absolutely zero, and they have no up in their life. They have no guaranteed career. Whether it’s any given Sunday, they hurt themselves, or they just don’t make it into the league.
“What business model do you know that makes billions of dollars and they pay their employees zero? Because, by the way, the schools aren’t paying, the NCAA isn’t paying. It is brands like me and other people who are paying them.”
Mike Tyson has become one of the most extraordinary lifestyle product pitchmen in the last few years, using his unique experiences to explain his product choices.
However, now his well-known love for cannabis has turned a different direction with Tyson’s introduction of his cannabis gummies brand shaped like a bitten ear.
“Iron” Mike famously bit a piece of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield’s ear during their infamous 1997 rematch for the WBA heavyweight title Tyson had lost to Holyfield just a year earlier.
What’s next? A rebranding of domestic abuse with Robbin Givens’ face?
How does one of the most deplorable and shocking events in sports become a marketing tool to earn millions?
It ain’t funny. pic.twitter.com/ZaMw6sX3G4
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) March 17, 2022
The incident sent ripples through sports as one of the most unsportsmanlike things to happen, and it was in real time on pay-per-view.
Now Tyson uses it as clever marketing, turning pop culture famous fail into a tool to sell his cannabis edibles. Unfortunately, the polarizing move has caused the ire of some who feel that Tyson is taking one man’s trauma and turning it into profit.
Former “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actress Charisma Carpenter caught wind of Tyson’s new move and decided to call him and his cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 out.
“What’s next? A rebranding of domestic abuse with Robbin Givens’ face?” Carpenter said on Twitter. “How does one of the most deplorable and shocking events in sports become a marketing tool to earn millions? It ain’t funny.”
Mike Tyson’s weed company is making edibles in the shape of an ear. Genius pic.twitter.com/VOU3uAMzOf
— Greg Baroth (@gbaroth) March 14, 2022
Steered by industry veterans Adam Wilks and Chad Bronstein, Tyson 2.0 provides retailers nationwide with a suite of products designed to reach Mike Tyson’s vast national audience. The company’s mission is to produce “innovative,” high-quality cannabis products known for purity, precision, and broad accessibility.
“Cannabis has always played an important role in my life. My vision for Tyson 2.0 is to make high-quality cannabis products available to consumers at various price points,” said Tyson in a statement.
“With Adam and Chad’s leadership, I am confident that the Tyson brand of products will exceed market expectations. Cannabis has changed me for the good both mentally and physically, and I want to share that gift with others who are also seeking relief.”
Mike Tyson signing autographs
Phoenix, AZ (1998) pic.twitter.com/byTN6hAVX0
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) March 18, 2022
Tyson has been open and honest about his struggles with mental health and past hard narcotics usage. He is a staunch advocate of the plant and psychedelic remedies like toad venom to alleviate emotional and mental illnesses.
I believe in second chances + the healing benefits of cannabis, for sure. -When there is evidence of remorse and rehabilitation. But the market and branding of this ear product does neither.
It’s irreverent, dismissive and exploitive of the pain Tyson has inflicted. pic.twitter.com/FiiKI0rTUV— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) March 17, 2022
For Carpenter, the bitten ear product negates Tyson’s time and work to move past the Holyfield incident.
“I believe in second chances + the healing benefits of cannabis, for sure. -When there is evidence of remorse and rehabilitation. But the market and branding of this ear product does neither. It’s irreverent, dismissive and exploitive of the pain Tyson has inflicted.”
Tyson has slowly climbed back from prison and depletion of his wealth to have multiple businesses, a consistent entertainment and media presence, and an enlightened outlook on life.
With his top-rated “HOTBOXIN” podcast, multiple business endeavors, and ubiquitous pop culture ethos, Tyson remains one of the most polarizing figures in modern sports and entertainment history.
As a renegade that has traversed life abiding by his rules, Tyson’s newest cannabis product is a tongue-in-cheek lemon-turned-lemonade.
Everyone isn’t happy with the squeeze.
After the devastating leg break against Dustin Poirier, who almost finished his career, Conor McGregor feels better. Now he talks about the future and calls out another fighter in a weight class he has participated in before.
McGregor, who is looking bulkier, recently revealed that he wants to attempt to get another belt but this time in the welterweight class.
“It’s about finding out which weight now; I just don’t really see myself going back to 155 again,” McGregor said during a pub conversation on his The Mac Life YouTube channel.
“I’ve gotten myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. Coming back after a gruesome injury, I do not want to deplete myself. There’s no need to deplete myself.”
McGregor had won titles in two weight classes when he infamously knocked out Chad Mendes to win the interim UFC featherweight title in 2015 and then knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to unify it.
He defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to win the UFC lightweight title but has been without a title ever since. His forays into the welterweight division have been a fruitful two wins and one loss.
Conor McGregor believes he should fight Kamaru Usman on his return to action. pic.twitter.com/IfeSvhVMYs
— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) March 18, 2022
McGregor and Nate Diaz have one win apiece at 170 pounds, and McGregor made easy work of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone after a two-year absence from the sport.
“I’m eyeballing 170, I think. I’ve always had a great time when I have a full camp at 170 with correct preparation, the Diaz 2 rematch and the Cowboy fight in particular. They were some of my flawless performances. They worked for me.”
Now bulked up and “not cutting calories,” McGregor is enjoying his “natural state” and believes that a showdown against current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is a natural progression for his career.
St paddy’s eve work at crumlin boxing club. The school of excellence! pic.twitter.com/E6xqS8KFxo
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 16, 2022
“I believe myself vs. Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one I’m eyeballing at the minute,” McGregor said.
“I’ve gotten myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel big, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. Coming back after a gruesome injury, I do not want to deplete myself. There’s no need to deplete myself.”
Like most fighters chasing glory across different weight divisions, once you go up, you rarely go back, and now McGregor feels that he has found a home at 170lbs.
McGregor wants to return against Usman and sees no "danger" from the champ 👀
📰 https://t.co/PB9Jppovh5 pic.twitter.com/PLoUvvuPxW
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 18, 2022
The biggest obstacle in his way? Usman is already booked to defend his belt in a rematch with Leon Edwards in the summer.
“And I feel confident against Usman – a jab-happy, sloppy orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What’s he gonna do? Where’s the danger here? I don’t see a danger with him.”
Usman had quite the reaction to McGregor's callout 🤭
(via @USMAN84kg) pic.twitter.com/2FUsEpQkbi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 18, 2022
McGregor wants to return to action and make the statements he used to make in the Octagon. Now he is looking to achieve his third title dramatically.
“The world will talk again (about) the triple crown,” McGregor said. “No one’s ever obtained three knockouts in three weight divisions moving up like I have already. But no one’s ever obtained three UFC world titles across three divisions like I will do also if we make this fight.”
The NFL broadcasting duo of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck will now be calling “Monday Night Football” on ESPN. Both men were signed to five year contracts totalling $165 million. For those doing the math at home, Aikman will make $18 million a year and Buck $15 million per. Veteran journalist Rob Parker sees some hypocrisy in a network like ESPN critiquing the NFL for its lack of minority head coaches, while they don’t have any Black analysts in primetime very high salaried positions.
“It’s an important issue,” Parker told The Shadow League. “The same networks doing stories about the NFL’s poor hiring practices for Black head coaches and front office people appear to have their own race issues putting a Black man on TV in a prime role talking about the NFL. Nobody will address this. I had to shed light on an obvious case of racism. There can be no other answer.”
ESPN did use Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland in analysts roles over the past few years, but apparently they didn’t generate the desired results.
Some of that is on Riddick and McFarland, but a lot of it is on ESPN. They failed to put recent MNF broadcast teams in positions to succeed. The other dirty secret is the games on MNF haven’t been great over the years due to the inability to flex games out later in the season. A problem ESPN and the NFL have rectified just in time for Buck and Aikman.
But the critique from Parker — a former “First Take” co-host who was unceremoniously dumped by ESPN nine years ago amid a backlash over comments he made about Robert Griffin III — is fair. Why aren’t there any Black lead analysts on the major networks? CBS has Tony Romo. NBC has Cris Collinsworth. Fox will now likely elevate Greg Olson. Aikman is with ESPN, and Amazon will use ESPN’s college football lead analyst Kirk Herbstreit as the lead for “Thursday Night Football.”
“He never played in the NFL,” Parker said. “He’s Mr. College Football, and even in that spot, they gave it to somebody who didn’t even play in the league. … I know his résumé. I’m not saying he’s not qualified, but even that job, Chris! Even that job with Amazon went to another white guy.”
The lead NFL analyst position on a network is a coveted position, to be clear. But are there no qualified Black former players that can do that job?
“Other than OJ [Simpson] for those couple of years on ‘Monday Night Football’ in the ’80s, and I’m not ignoring him, and the cup of coffee and sweet roll that Louis Riddick got and Booger McFarland, other than that we’ve been shut out,” Parker said. “And I’m still waiting for them to pay a Black man $18 million to call 17 football games.”
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was the highest paid on-air talent at the worldwide leader until Aikman and Buck. But Smith hosts a daily show, does radio, and appears on “NBA Countdown” and other programs across the network. He grinds.
Not saying that what Aikman and Buck do isn’t hard. But there does seem to be a bit of a disparity.
Sports and sports broadcasting are just microcosms of the larger society. The lack of opportunity for Black people and people of color exists in all sectors in the larger world, so why should this be any different?
As long as the people in charge view the world through a specific lens, their choices will reflect that world view. All the producers on these networks are white, they think about producing the game for an audience that is white. Aikman and Buck are household names that fit with the audience.
Could the audience relate to something different? Of course. But they’re rarely, if ever, given the chance.
In the NFL, being a superstar doesn’t always guarantee you the big paydays that some of your peers may get. Breaking the bank depends on your skill level, but getting that major bag also depends on what position you play, timing and temperature of the market.
For example, wide receiver Christian Kirk got a huge payday.
On Monday, Kirk, who’s a solid second-tier starting receiver, signed a four-year, $84 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He receives a $20 million signing bonus as well, and instantly becomes the go-to guy in Jacksonville for Trevor Lawrence, who’s going into his second year as Jaguars quarterback.
With former Jaguar D.J. Chark signing with Detroit, the speedy Christian Kirk becomes the No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville and a vertical threat for Lawrence to exert his arm strength.
Congrats to Kirk for earning that money, but with that being said, a lot of people feel like he was overpaid, and further, this signing changed the financial landscape of the wide receiver free agent market.
Receivers are now going to their agents hoping for more lucrative deals because they saw a guy who wasn’t the No. 1 in Arizona make superstar money.
Kirk, in his fifth year, is a good player. He had 77 catches for 982 yards, which statistically makes him the NFL’s 27th best receiver.
And what about the players who have to defend these highly paid elite receivers weekly?
Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey aren’t mad at the guy. They definitely feel like Kirk’s signing raises the question of salary and pay for some of the league’s finest cornerbacks.
Ramsey is the NFL’s highest-paid corner and probably the best cover guy in the league, but he makes just $20M per. In fact, he’s the only cornerback (according to overthecap.com) that has reached the $20M mark.
The receivers aren’t the people taking issue with that signing; heck, they get to ask for more money for their services now. The people who really have a beef with this signing are the defensive backs, especially the premier ones.
Shortly after Kirk’s signing was announced, Eagles Pro Bowl defensive back Darius “Big Play” Slay put out a combo of tweets, starting with “Yea tae go want 30m’s lol,” in reference to superstar wide receiver Davante Adams, who at the time of the tweet was still a Green Bay Packer looking to cash in before ultimately being traded to the Raiders and signing a monster five-year deal making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
Slay’s second tweet was full of sarcasm, as Slay contemplated becoming a receiver to be able to get that type of contract: “I need to start working on my routes… back peddling is not it no more!!”
Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey added to this by replying to the latter comment saying, “Either that or our prices just went up, how we locking down guys who get paid more than us… it’s all blessings tho.”
Either that or our prices just went up❕ how we locking down guys who get paid more than us 😂… it’s all blessings tho 🙏🏾 https://t.co/rBWHnXeHtP
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 14, 2022
The two defensive backs were poking major fun at Kirk and his contract, but they weren’t joking, nor were they lying. Slay and Ramsey are some of most deserving of monster contracts for defensive backs, and there has to be a conversation about why the guys who are tasked with stopping some of the best receivers have contracts that pale in comparison.
Almost anybody who plays football will tell you that cornerback is probably the hardest position to play due to what little you have to work with, especially the fact that you’re already starting out backpedaling while receivers are running at you with full strength and can stop on a dime at any moment.
Sometimes cornerbacks are left alone with no safety help against some of the most dangerous receivers, so when you have someone that can come and shut that side of the field down by themselves that’s an extremely valuable asset to have.
Even more valuable when you can throw them on the opposing team’s best receiver and hold those players to minimum results, so guys like Slay and Ramsey need to get paid top dollar to defend the best of the best.
According to NFL.com, Kirk is dedicated to proving that he is worth the money.
“The $18 million-per-year average puts Kirk in the top 10 of highest-paid players in the NFL, more than Mike Evans, Cooper Kupp, Tyler Lockett, Allen Robinson, Stefon Diggs and many others with more prolific careers.
“I’m very confident in my potential and my ability,” Kirk told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I feel like I have so much more left in the tank to be able to show and be able to keep proving, not only to others but to myself that I’m the player I know I am.”
In the first round of NCAA men’s basketball tournament east region on Thursday, 15th seed Saint Peter’s upset the No. 2-seeded Kentucky Wildcats.
Saint Peter’s is a small school in Jersey City coached by former prep standout and Queens hoops legend Shaheen Holloway. In four seasons at the helm, Holloway has amassed a 62-56 record and earned his first NCAA Tournament berth this season. This is the 10th time a 15 seed has upset the a No. 2 seed in NCAA Tournament history. So where does this one rank?
First, let’s list all the times it’s happened:
Now we can get into where it ranks.
#5. Santa Clara defeated Arizona 64-61 in 1993
Arizona was turning into an elite program under Lute Olsen. This team was led by future NBA point guard Damon Stoudamire. They went 24-3 during the regular season to earn the two seed in the West Region. Santa Clara was a small school from the West Coast Conference making its first tourney appearance since 1987.
Santa Clara wasn’t given much of a chance by the prognosticators, but in a single-elimination tournament anything is possible. Santa Clara kept it close all game and received 10 key points off the bench by a future two-time NBA MVP named Steve Nash.
#4. Hampton defeated Iowa State 58-57 in 2001
Iowa State dominated the Big 12 in 2001, going 13-3 in the regular season to claim the title before losing to Baylor in the conference tournament. They finished the season at 25-4 and were led by future pro Jamaal Tinsley.
The Hampton Pirates out of the MEAC were making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Pirates’ Tarvis Williams hit a go-ahead jumper with under 7 seconds to go, and Iowa State’s Tinsley saw his layup roll off the front of the rim at the buzzer.
#3. Saint Peter’s defeated Kentucky 85-79 in 2022
Kentucky is the bluest of blue blood college programs. This was an all-time win by Holloway’s Peacocks.
#2. Middle Tennessee defeated Michigan State 90-81 in 2016
Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans were the No. 1 two seed in 2016. Many people predicted they would win the national title. They had a loaded roster that returned nearly everyone from the previous year’s Final Four team, including star guard Denzel Valentine. They went 29-5 during the regular season and won the Big Ten Tournament.
Middle Tennessee State was the Conference USA champion and made 11 of 19 threes to bury the Spartans.
#1. Lehigh defeated Duke 75-70 in 2012
Duke in many ways has been the gold standard of college basketball for the last 30 years or so. This was a classic Mike Krzyzewski Duke team. They had future pros Mason and Miles Plumlee, Austin Rivers and Seth Curry. Duke cruised through the ACC regular season and finished the season 27-6.
Maybe they received too high a seed, as they often do. But that would’ve ruined one of the great upsets in March Madness history.
Lehigh were the Patriot League champions, and as is customary when playing Duke in the first two rounds of the NCAA tourney, it was a road game in Greensboro, North Carolina.
But Lehigh was unfazed as they featured the best player on the floor in future NBA star C.J. McCollum. He torched the Blue Devils for 30 points, six rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes. It was sweet.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer is back on the mend and reacclimating himself with the football community by returning to Columbus.
This comes several months after his failed attempt to lead the Jaguars for a grand total of 13 games during the 2021 NFL season before being fired. Meyer is trying to shake the stains of a losing season and a bar scandal that was the talk of social media and marred his rookie season as NFL coach.
The legendary college coach is returning to the site where he led the Buckeyes to the 2015 College Football Playoff national championship and three Big Ten championships.
He’s not returning to be a head coach, but Meyer is joining a nonprofit called THE Foundation, co-founded by his former championship-winning signal caller Cardale Jones and Brian Schottenstein, a well-known Columbus developer and OSU graduate.
In an effort to rebuild his reputation and regain the trust of the football community as it pertains to his leadership, decision-making and commitment to football, Meyer will join a board that assists student-athletes in landing more NIL (name, image and likeness) opportunities. This is new for the three-time national championship winning coach. The last time he coached on the collegiate level was in 2018, and the letters NIL were an afterthought, if even mentioned.
The organization welcomed Meyer into the fold in a tweet on Wednesday.
We proudly welcome @CoachUrbanMeyer to our board. Urban has 3 Nat'l Championships on his resume, including the '14 title w/OSU. He's recognized as one of the best recruiters in college football history. Urban looks forward to seeing future success for OSU and local charities. pic.twitter.com/UEvRf7eKxf
— THE Foundation (@TheFoundation1_) March 16, 2022
Meyer Lands On His Feet Again After Questionable Exit: His Recruiting Prowess Is Unquestioned
THE Foundation is adding Meyer’s innate ability to recruit. In his 17 seasons, Meyer landed a top-five recruiting class 12 times, including top-three classes at both Florida and Ohio State where he won a combined three national championships. So having him involved in something like this is a shrewd move on Schottenstein and Jones’ part. In fact, Schottenstein had this to say to the Columbus Dispatch.
Best thing about being 14-1! https://t.co/kQlqf4rg6C
— Urban Meyer (@CoachUrbanMeyer) September 8, 2021
“There isn’t a better person to have on board than Coach Urban Meyer. It goes without saying he’s one of the greatest recruiters of student-athletes and coaches all time. I appreciate his support and friendship.”
The foundation’s goal is to support OSU student-athletes using NIL, while also promoting worthy charitable causes. Who better than Meyer to help with that initiative? He’s someone who’s familiar with how things work at Ohio State. Although Meyer may not be familiar with the new era of college football, he’ll adjust and again his recruiting acumen will help the Buckeyes in so many ways.
Meyer should be eager to explore the new NIL phenomenon. Becoming versed in the intricacies of how to use NIL deals will eventually become another recruiting weapon for Meyer to use when he re-enters the coaching realm, which is sure to happen.
Meyer Has Been Successful In Pretty Much Every Stop: Except His Last One
For his career, Meyer was 187-32 including 83-9 at Ohio State. His (.854) winning percentage is third all-time. It includes stints at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and the aforementioned Ohio State. In 17 collegiate seasons, Meyer only had two with more than three losses.
His last coaching stint was in the NFL with Jaguars and ended in embarrassing fashion. From the jump, Meyer was in over his head and his head-scratching decisions only complicated things even more. After months of questionable decisions, bullying tactics and basically calling his coaching staff “nobodies,” Meyer was relieved of his duties prior to Week 14 of the 2021 NFL season.
Returning to Columbus is a brilliant move for the disgraced Meyer. He can now rebuild his image. His track record for winning speaks volumes and the respect for his football acumen is there despite recent transgressions.
In the words of one LA-based sports talk host, “Is it safe to say Deshaun Watson got his happy ending” after all.
The Cleveland Browns are in the process of working out a deal to acquire embattled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Once trade compensation is agreed upon the Browns will sign Watson to a five year $230 million fully guaranteed contract. The highest guarantee ever given to an NFL player.
The trade market for Watson intensified after a Texas grand jury declined to indict him on criminal charges last week, stemming from the 22 lawsuits filed against him alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. The end of criminal proceedings meant the NFL could get back to business and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Every dollar of Deshaun Watson’s new five-year, $230 million deal is guaranteed, per sources, setting a new record for the highest guarantee given to an NFL player. @Browns and Watson’s agent @DavidMulugheta combine to make history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2022
The end of criminal proceedings only means Watson will not be facing any jail time. That doesn’t mean the 22 lawsuits and the allegations levied against him are without merit. The law is a tricky thing. The legal system can simultaneously fail to indict a person on criminal charges as the result of allegations, but hold that same individual liable in a civil case regarding the same allegations.
In this case that’s a distinction that matters to the NFL. If Watson had been indicted there would be no way a team would touch him. He’d be potentially facing jail time and likely wouldn’t be able to play while awaiting trial.
All that remains now are the 22 lawsuits and how they will play out in civil court, and/or how much money Watson will settle them for.
The point is the 26-year-old three-time Pro Bowl player will be able to get on the field and play, which is all anyone associated with the league’s 32 teams cares about. This is an elite quarterback in his prime. In a league that prioritizes that position, you do whatever it takes to acquire one that good.
Of course this flies in the face of what the league pretends to care about. From the league’s code of conduct policy:
“It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office, NFL Films, NFL Network or any other NFL business. Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must strive to conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.”
Many players have and will likely continue to violate this code of conduct that purports to care about the public and innocent victims. How many players that are guilty or alleged to have commited sexual, domestic, or any other form of assault are still in the league?
Fans and media need to stop pretending that this league is more than what it is. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar enterprise whose objectives are to increase revenue year over year though the distribution of its games. Period.
The league is run by billionaires whose objective is to keep the money flowing by any means necessary. Despite what fans think, winning is secondary. The conduct of the players, coaches etc?
That’s way down on the list of priorities.
Of course they can’t appear to not care how people that represent the league behave, so they put on a public face of zero tolerance. But the evidence clearly shows that’s not actually the case.
Again, fans and media need to stop looking at sports leagues in general, but in this case the NFL, to be anything more than it is.
The NFL doesn’t care about the victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. If they did, anyone accused of or found guilty would be nowhere near the NFL. Regardless of how talented they are.
The NFL doesn’t care about diversity and hiring Black and minority head coaches and general managers. If they did the numbers wouldn’t be what they are and they wouldn’t be facing a lawsuit.
The NFL can afford to not care because fans and media allow it. As long as stadiums are packed, television ratings continue to soar, and revenue is generated, the league has no incentive to care.
Watson will likely face some kind of suspension according to the league’s code of conduct policy. But obviously he will play again, otherwise this deal would not have been made.
The NFL continues to tell us who they are time and again. It’s time to believe them.
Naomi Osaka has been more than an athlete since her breakout after defeating Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in 2018, and her recent skin care endeavor, KINLÒ, cements that fact.
Described as a “functional suncare brand formulated specifically for people with melanated skin,” Osaka is making moves that include another athlete vested in communities of color.
Recently, KINLÒ announced that Osaka has added former NFL quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick to its leadership and partners at A-Frame Brands.
“I am honored to join Naomi and her amazing KINLÒ team of diverse and experienced leaders as the company works to grow a responsible business all while maintaining its commitment to the community we have set out to serve,” said Kaepernick via statement.
“Not only does KINLÒ produce compelling and sustainable personal care products, but it also calls attention to the ways that melanated skin-toned communities are often marginalized in research around suncare and often excluded from clinical studies on skin cancer. I believe KINLÒ has the capacity to right this wrong.”
According to a statement, Kaepernick and his partners, Canadian businessman Jim Nikopoulos and NHL veteran and activist Akim Aliu, have made a seed investment in KINLÒ, with Kaepernick joining the brand’s board of directors.
Colin Kaepernick has joined the board of directors for Naomi Osaka's skincare brand, Kinló.
Kaepernick and his business partners have made a seed investment in @naomiosaka's brand, designed to serve people of color. pic.twitter.com/YG3DRo4yH2
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 17, 2022
His investment group joins existing investors such as Forerunner Ventures, Initialized Capital, Bob Fisher, Endeavor, and Billie Jean King.
“I am really excited about the new leadership we have built around KINLÒ. Colin is such an important and iconic figure in our culture and also brings a smart business mind. There is no one I could think better represents the values of our brand,” said Osaka in a statement.
Kaepernick will join the KINLÒ board, which includes Osaka, Meachem, A-Frame co-founders Hill Harper and Ari Bloom, and Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid.
In some timeline refresher good news today, I was so happy to see the news of @Kaepernick7 and @Dreamer_Aliu78 joining forces to invest in @naomiosaka’s Kinlo which makes skincare products for melanated skin. Colin will also sit on board w Naomi. Akim making big moves as investor
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) March 17, 2022
Osaka has also brought on a new brand president, Mia Meachem. She has over 20 years of brand marketing experience with roles across beauty brands like The Estee Lauder Companies and Burt’s Bees.
“Bringing Mia on board is another essential move. Her experience in the industry gives her a unique perspective that I hope will help take the brand to the next level. Whenever I choose people in leadership positions on my team, whether on or off the court, I always look to people who are true experts in their field. Mia is exactly that and I can’t wait to get started with her.”
The skin care line makes products for melanated skin, including its Golden Rays SPF 50+ sunscreen to protect against melanoma. That is one of the reasons Meacham joined the KINLÒ team.
7. Naomi Osaka
Already featuring an insane list of endorsements and investments, Osaka recently launched her own brand: Kinló. https://t.co/FOXC9slCQd
— Nathan Baugh (@nathanbaugh27) March 11, 2022
“I am thrilled to join Naomi and the team at KINLÒ and feel incredibly inspired by the brand’s commitment of raising awareness to the importance of sun protection for melanated skin,” said Meacham in a statement.
“I am particularly excited to be leading a mission-driven brand that creates products that are accessible and specifically formulated for people of color.”
Although Osaka is still reeling from the polarizing effects of fame in tennis following her heckling incident in her second-round loss at the tournament at Indian Wells, she is still blazing a trail for women entrepreneurs in sports.
There’s three weeks left in the NBA regular season, then the play-in tournament from April 12-15, and the playoffs begin on April 16. It will be tense times for general managers and coaches around the league. A poor performance, and some of these guys could be looking for new jobs by the summer.
Eight of the NBA’s Black head coaches look like they will have their teams in the play-in or playoffs. Of course, that comes with varying degrees of pressure.
Which of these eight men is under the most pressure?
Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are currently the three seed. They have an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid and president of basketball operations pulled off a midseason trade to acquire James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, they entered the playoffs as the one seed and flamed out in the conference semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks. Ben Simmons was seen as the culprit in that loss and he was dealt away for Harden.
It’s only his second year but with Embiid and Harden Sixers’ ownership and front office, expect Doc to take this team to the conference finals at least, if not NBA Finals.
Pressure level: High
Nate McMillan, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are in 10th place in the East and likely a play-in team. That’s quite the fall from last season when they entered the playoffs as the four seed and advanced to the conference finals. Coach Nate McMillan didn’t forget how to coach all of a sudden, but the team started the season with poor energy.
Team leader Trae Young said it was hard to find “motivation” to play in the regular season after their conference finals run. That energy set the tone for a disappointing season.
Trae Young on the difficulty of sacrificing early in the season: "I think guys are learning that. We're no longer the hunters. It's regular season. I'm not going to lie, it's a lot more boring than the playoffs. You got to find that motivation to play like the playoffs."
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) November 5, 2021
General manager Travis Schlenk came out and said that maybe it was a bad idea to bring the entire team back this season. You never hear GMs making those kinds of statements unprompted.
It was just reported on Wednesday that forward John Collins will be out indefinitely. While that will hurt the team’s chances of advancing beyond the play-in, it will turn down some of the heat on McMillan.
Pressure level: Low to moderate
Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics
After a slow start to the season, first-year head coach Ime Udoka has the Boston Celtics rolling. They are the number-one ranked defense in the league and are fourth in the East, only two games out of second place.
FiveThirtyEight has the Celtics as the best odds of winning the NBA title. It’s not all smooth sailing for Udoka the rest of the way. If the Celtics flame out early and/or lose badly to a lower seed, questions will arise.
But he’s done an excellent job in his first year.
Pressure level: None to low
J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers O/U win total at the beginning of the season was 26.5. They are 39-30 and sixth in the East.
Though they’ve struggled of late, this team has far exceeded expectations this season. Thanks to Bickerstaff and the play of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
They are dealing with injuries and might fall out of the top six. Even so this is the definition of playing with house money.
Pressure level: None
“They Got Away With One” | Habitually Injured Anthony Davis Says Suns’ Run Last Season Was A Fluke
Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns
The best team in the NBA all season. From start to finish, they have been on a mission to prove that last season’s run to the NBA Finals was no fluke.
Before the season began, the team did not offer a rookie extension to Deandre Ayton. A scathing report was released early in the season about team governor Robert Sarver and the racist and sexist work environment he created in Phoenix.
Either of those incidents could have derailed the team. But they have blocked it all out and are on pace to win 63 games and be the overall number-one seed. That’s a testament to the players and the leadership of Williams.
If they fall short of winning the title people will have questions, but you can’t back up a trip to the finals with an excellent regular season and have any serious doubts about his ability.
Pressure level: Low
Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have the sixth-ranked defense in the league and are tied for fourth in the Western conference. In his first year in Dallas Kidd has implemented a new defensive identity and the team has bought in.
Luka Doncic has been playing like an MVP since the calendar turned to 2022. A team that guards as well as they do with Doncic, who can be the best player in a series, has a chance to win.
Doncic has yet to advance past the first round in his brief career. The arrival of Kidd may be the reason that changes.
Pressure level: Low
Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Lue might be the best in-game coach in the league. He’s on the short list with the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra and the Toronto Raptors’ Nick Nurse. The fact that the Clippers are .500 and in the play-in is a testament to Lue.
No Paul George for the majority of the year and no Kawhi Leonard all season. Lue should get an extension for this team being competent.
Pressure level: None
Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are bad, but they’re not as bad as they were the first third of the season. The Zion Williamson situation is weird and nobody’s quite sure what David Griffin and the front office is doing.
But first-year head coach Willie Green is doing a good job with what he’s been given. The Pelicans are in the 10th spot and could overtake the Los Angeles Lakers for ninth.
The Pelicans eliminating the Lakers in the play-in with a chance to make the playoffs would be a tremendous way to finish the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been in a position of need at quarterback since 2003-2004, before they drafted future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben retired following the season, leaving head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers with a void at the game’s most important position. The team was left with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins, not exactly great options.
Feeling they needed to make a move, the team signed 2017 No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky.
READ: Deshaun Watson Is Better Than Mitchell Trubisky – The Shadow League
.@heykayadams isn't here for people who don't like Mitch Trubisky to the Steelers.
"It's a perfect situation." pic.twitter.com/SCd2gQ0BKA
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 15, 2022
Originally that didn’t sit too well with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, among other longtime Steelers fans. But once the disappointment of not going for a big-name QB to replace Big Ben wore off, it became pretty clear that Trubisky is a better option than the aforementioned Rudolph or Haskins.
“I’ve gotten over the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers got Mitchell Trubisky. I’m trying to recover from that. We all know I’m a Steelers fan. We know I’m no fan of Trubisky’s. He just doesn’t move me. And it’s hard. Well, I will say this. He’s 29-21 as a starter. And he did take a team coached by Matt Nagy to two playoff appearances. So we can’t ignore that. He’s definitely better. He’s definitely than Mason Rudolph.”
Pittsburgh's odds to win the Super Bowl @FDSportsbook
Before signing Trubisky: 55-1
After signing Trubisky: 70-1 pic.twitter.com/tOo7Pad41r
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) March 14, 2022
The loquacious Smith wasn’t done, as he then chimed in on 2019 No. 15 overall pick Dwayne Haskins and his chances of staying in Pittsburgh and the league following the Trubisky signing.
Trubisky, who’s considered a bust by many in the football world, and career backup Rudolph are set to be the two QBs the franchise keeps heading into the 2022 season, barring injury. Despite his first-round draft billing, Haskins has never been able to impress a franchise enough to give him a real shot at the starting job. His maturity has been a problem.
“And Dwayne Haskins, I know you’ve got a $2.5 million offer,” Smith continued. “You might want to start looking for a new career. I mean you can’t get ahead of Mason Rudolph in the NFL. Quarterbacking is not a part of your future, Dwayne Haskins. I mean, you can’t be outplayed by Mason Rudolph, and now Mitch Trubisky. I just don’t even know what to say to you.”
Hopefully, Trubisky Learned A Lot Sitting Behind Josh Allen Last Year
After four seasons in Chicago, which ended in two playoff appearances, Trubisky’s fifth-year option wasn’t picked up by the team. They instead signed journeyman Andy Dalton and drafted their future starter in Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL draft.
For Mitch, the writing was on the wall; go somewhere and sit for a year and see if the market for your services as a starter becomes vibrant again. After successfully sitting behind Allen, an MVP candidate, and learning under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Trubisky should be better for it. He’s had time to see things from the sidelines, and the game should’ve slowed down for him a bit.
Blessed with a strong and accurate arm, poise and great mobility, Trubisky will have some quality pieces at his disposal in Pittsburgh. Running back Najee Harris and wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are weapons.
Mitchell Trubisky has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks rushing on scrambles since entering the NFL in 2017.
Trubisky has averaged 8.2 yards per carry on scramble runs during his career, the 4th-most in the NFL (min. 50 scramble carries). https://t.co/j5qt3CH5CI pic.twitter.com/cZoPEv7wMi
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 14, 2022
His new offensive coordinator Matt Canada witnessed first-hand what Trubisky could do in college. Canada was the OC at Pitt. While playing for the Tar Heels, Mitch lit them up to the tune of over 450 yards and five touchdowns. His mobility should bode well in Canada’s offense.
Bills GM Raved About Trubisky After Lone Season With Team
Following the Bills season, which ended in the heartbreaking overtime playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Bills general manager Brandon Beane knew teams would show interest in acquiring Trubisky via free agency.
“If anybody calls me about Mitch on another team, I’m going to give him a great recommendation,” Beane told reporters. “And I’ve told him and his agent, if he doesn’t get what he wants, we’ve got a spot for him.”
Well, it looks like that spot is with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, one of the classiest organizations in the league. If Trubisky is ever going to ascend past average starter, he’s in the perfect situation to maximize his ability to win football games playing for a head coach who’s never had a losing season
The Green Bay Packers traded disgruntled star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for their first-and-second-round picks in April’s 2022 NFL draft. Adams immediately agreed to the long-term extension he was seeking with the Packers.
The former Fresno State Bulldog signed a five-year and $141.25 million deal, putting his average annual value at ($28.25 million), making him the highest-paid pass catcher in the NFL, surpassing DeAndre Hopkins ($27.25M) and seven-time Pro Bowl player Julio Jones ($22M).
The deal comes on the heels of Adams telling the team he wouldn’t play under the franchise tag placed on him last week.
“If you’re Oakland Raiders HC Josh McDaniels, you’ve got to be ecstatic right now,” said NFL analyst Booger McFarland on “SportCenter” with Stan Verrett a few hours after the deal was announced. “If you look at the Raiders offense, we knew about Darren Waller, we knew about Hunter Renfrow in the slot, but now you add the best receiver in the game. You go with a power back in Josh Jacobs and you have a [QB in Derek Carr] who can deliver the ball. I would say the pressure is on Josh McDaniels. You have all the weapons and a veteran quarterback, everything you need.”
Now, the stakes are even higher in the AFC West, which is loaded after the flurry of offseason moves.
It looked like Adams might be sticking around in Green Bay when the franchise released linebacker Za’Darius Smith and his $27.6 million cap hit, but ultimately the two sides were far apart on the terms needed to secure Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target. When Rodgers signed his mammoth deal, the probability of signing Adams dwindled considerably. The star has a thirst to be the highest-paid receiver in the game.
Aaron Rodgers Gets Huge Deal: Makes It Nearly Impossible To Keep Adams
The Packers and Rodgers agreed to a deal that will pay the quarterback $150 million over the first three seasons, that’s a whopping $50 million per season, which for all intents and purposes threw things into a tizzy for a team already $40 million over the salary cap.
Had Rodgers been willing to take less, say in the $35 million to $40 million range, then it would’ve been much easier to fairly compensate Adams. One would think Rodgers’ would’ve done such the way he recently raved about his best target since 2014.
Rodgers had this to say about DA, via the team’s website …
“I’ve played with some incredible players but the kind of dominance that I’ve seen from Davante warrants that type of praise. I’ve played with some great receivers over the years and appreciated the different skill sets that they brought to the table. But I feel like the way Davante’s been playing the last few years, it’s something that I haven’t quite seen during my 17 years.”
While Aaron Rodgers was negotating his contract, he knew Davante Adams would never play for the #Packers again. The situation was too far gone. Something had to give. And when Adams informed GB he wasn’t playing on the tag, talks got fired up. Now, Adams will be on the #Raiders. https://t.co/YTAxHov0Rj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2022
Adams Deserved His Money
There are more than a few NFL analysts who believe that Aaron Rodgers won back-to-back league MVPs the last two seasons because of Adams, who caught 238 passes for 2,927 yards and 29 touchdowns. Rodgers threw a total of 85 TDs in those seasons, and more than a third of them went to Adams.
Adams got paid, but it wasn’t in Green Bay where he’s spent his entire eight-year career, amassing 669 receptions, 8,121 yards and 73 career touchdowns, five Pro Bowl selections and two First-team All-Pro selections.
His first year in Las Vegas won’t be totally unfamiliar territory. Adams is sort of getting the gang back together again.
Adams Reuniting With College QB Derek Carr
Adams and Carr played together at Fresno State in an explosive aerial attack that connected on 233 receptions, for 3,030 yards and 38 touchdowns. There’s no better place for DA to land than with a QB he already has a connection with.
The most glaring issue in professional sports, with a raging war between Russia and Ukraine, is Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia. The country recently announced that she would be held until May 19.
Local authorities detained the decorated WNBA player after vape cartridges allegedly filled with hashish oil were discovered in her luggage.
“The court granted the request of the investigation and extended the period of detention of the U.S. citizen Griner until May 19,” the court ruling said, according to Tass, the state news agency.
Brittney Griner's detention in Russia has been extended until May 19, according to Russia's state news agency. pic.twitter.com/ColW4FTdWM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 17, 2022
Griner was returning to Russia as a player for UMMC Ekaterinburg. The Russian league’s season started and went on a two-week break for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments in early February. Now she is working on getting released.
The movement behind the scenes involves Griner’s family, the WNBA, and world leaders. Her detention comes at a time when U.S. President Joe Biden has issued economic sanctions against Russia.
Brittney Griner has been in russian custody for 3 weeks and her whereabouts are unknown. if a top 10 NBA star was a political prisoner this would be front page news every day. we have to do better. #FreeBrittneyGriner
— jordy (@meidasjordy) March 10, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made more threatening statements as the war progresses.
“The Russian people will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors, and will simply spit them out like an insect in their mouth onto the pavement,” said Putin.
Not the most inviting energy.
WNBA center Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court today, where she reportedly pleaded not guilty (to drug charges). The court extended her detention for another two months, according to @mash_breaking pic.twitter.com/Lm0TPzNYH0
— Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) March 17, 2022
The U.S. has been actively involved in Griner’s release.
According to reports, the U.S. State Department provided an update recently during a press briefing.
Brittney Griner still Locked up in Russia!!! I’m gonna need @POTUS to get her home like Yesterday @KamalaHarris y’all do something! I know it’s a lot going on but this need to happen straight up
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) March 16, 2022
Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton tweeted, “Free Brittney.”
Griner is an American champion, two Olympic gold medal winner, a national championship winner at Baylor, and a seven-time All-Star. The U.S. doing everything it can to make sure her stay is safe and that she is released is expected.
“Everyone’s getting the strategy of say less and push more privately behind the scenes,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said to the AP. “It’s the strategy you get from the State Department and administration. It’s our No. 1 priority in talking with her agent and strategists.”
With the WNBA season opening on May 6, it calls for a look at the pay disparity between the U.S. and a league in Russia.
According to reports, Griner’s tenure in Russia has been lucrative, as she earned over $1 million per season. That’s more than quadruple her WNBA salary, reportedly.
She has played there for the last seven years, seasonally every winter as a result. Europe has always been an outlet for professional basketball players and a lucrative way to stay in shape. The women’s game has boosted their income in ways many won’t feel as a pro in the WNBA.
Will WNBA players still go to certain European countries that are in crisis for work? Or sacrifice and stay home or go to a conflict-free country?
With other players like Lucky Jones, who made it back to his wife and four children with a riveting tale of tension in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the lure of the continuity of income is hard to pass up.
Ultimately, until the pay disparity between the men’s game and even between countries for the women’s game is more balanced, probably so.
Despite being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft and earning approximately $33 million over his career, it’s clear Michael Beasley is struggling. The 11-year former NBA veteran is the latest guest on “The Pivot Podcast” with co-hosts Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor. Beasley opens up on his struggles to get back to the NBA, and his need for help.
“Being black is so fake right now. Motherf***rs only care when someone dies and it’s time for the cameras to show up,” Beasley sad. “People are out here every day saying that they need help. It’s in the music we’re listening to. Everyone needs help, but everyone is out here walking like they have it all together.”
We don’t want to speculate on Beasley’s mental health status, but it is clear watching the interview that he is struggling with something.
Beasley hails from the DMV area (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia). The same area that Brooklyn Nets’ superstar Kevin Durant is from. Beasley and KD played ball together at the AAU level and have known each other since they were kids.
While their paths to the league were similar on the surface, Beasley’s home life was far more tumultuous. He opens up about bouncing around homes and shelters as a kid every six months as his family dealt with eviction. Beasley was homeless for a time as a kid.
No doubt that trauma has impacted him in ways he doesn’t even fully realize at 33, despite being so open and honest about it.
Beasley also opened up about going down the wrong path as a kid and being arrested, and the decision he had to make at 14.
“I got a rap sheet that started in fifth grade, my first time getting locked up and all that type of stuff. I’m saying, so I stopped playing basketball when I was 11 because I just wanted to do what the dummy is doing, you dig? But like, 14, I had to make a decision. I was on house arrest, and it was either I get locked up until I was 21 or I play basketball.”
Basketball proved to be an escape in a way, as he developed a reputation as a highly skilled and talented prep player. He earned a scholarship to Kansas State University and earned First Team All-American, First Team All-Big 12, Big 12 player of the year, and national freshman of the year honors. Just as KD did the year prior at Texas.
But for Beasley, he was never fully able to overcome his past demons. Just after being drafted Beasley was involved in an incident at the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program, where he lied about being present in a hotel when a fire alarm went off.
In 2009 he checked himself into a Houston rehab center citing exhaustion.
The warning signs were all there. You have a child who has dealt with extremely traumatic events, who doesn’t have the facility yet to process what he’s experienced. He gets into trouble as a teen, but he’s supremely talented at sports. He’s presented two paths. Continuing down the bad road or playing sports and becoming a star.
The latter is the obvious choice, but was he given the opportunity to truly be successful? Not just on the court, but off? Having experienced the kind of trauma Beasley did as a child and going from that straight to college basketball stardom is probably not ideal.
He becomes the No. 2 pick and is now a millionaire overnight. Again, probably not the best situation without the proper safeguards and help in place.
“Do I have to be in Delonte West’s shoes to get help?” said Beasley. “No disrespect to Delonte West or people in his position. But, what does it take to do the right thing? My whole life I asked for help. People called me crazy.
“I don’t leave the house. I play basketball, and I go home. I don’t care what y’all do no more. I try to talk to my kids as much as I can. I’ve reached out so much, so many times to different people and it’s just, I have to die with some kind of dignity.”
Athletes, and Black athletes specifically, are not often granted the humanity they deserve. Just because they are gifted or talented in a sport and make millions doesn’t mean they are immune from suffering.
It likely took a lot for Beasley to be that open. Kudos to him and Clark, Crowder, and Taylor for offering to help. The emotional words from Beasley during that interview sound like a man desperate for someone to see the humanity in him.
Colby “Chaos” Covington is feeling himself after dismantling Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal at UFC 272. Now he wants Dustin Poirier or a step up to more considerable competition like UFC middleweight champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya.
“I think I can definitely go up to 185 and fight Adesanya,” Covington said to Submission Radio. “But I don’t know if he’s gonna turn around like that. But he doesn’t have a dance partner right now. I mean, some of the guys they’re trying to line him up with, it’s unoriginal.
“Why can [Kamaru] Usman fight him — and all the fans want that — but the guy that beat Usman … I beat Usman. I beat Usman twice. Usman sucks, dude. Everybody knew in Madison Square Garden I won those last three rounds.”
Covington is the former interim welterweight champion, fighting at 170 pounds. Adesanya, who is flawless in the 185-pound weight class, where he holds his title, is currently one of the UFC’s most famous champions.
“It was an easy win for me, easy decision victory. Unanimous,” Covington continued. “So, why can’t I fight Adesanya? He can’t stop my wrestling. I’ll pick him up and drop him on his f*cking head. He’s a cardio kickboxer.
“They got enough cardio kickboxers in women’s classes around the U.S. Like, I could go join one of those as well, but I decided to pick up hard grueling American wrestling. So, I don’t think Adesanya could stop my American wrestling, and I don’t think he’s that good a fighter.”
Adesanya is a former kickboxer from Auckland, New Zealand, who fought for the Glory kickboxing organization, where he challenged for a middleweight title and came up short. He left kickboxing in 2018 and entered the UFC.
“I want to give the fans the biggest and best fight possible,” Covington said. “So, I don’t cut weight to go to 170, so I’m not gonna go up to 185 and make it a full-time home.
“But I’m waiting for the big fights to present themselves. And the two biggest fights in my mind, go beat up Adesanya, the guy who just has cardio kickboxing, he’s not that good of a fighter, he’s not well-rounded, he can’t stop my American wrestling.”
Dustin Poirier: "It's still on sight" with Colby Covington. pic.twitter.com/stZ21YNXsH
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 13, 2022
After neutralizing strikers like Masvidal with his Oregon State University-honed wrestling, Covington feels he now has the advantage against strikers. However, with 15 KOs in 23 fights, Covington is making a big bet if he is granted access to Adesanya, with the extra weight taken into account.
Dustin Poirier is ranked higher P4P than Petr Yan, Colby Covington and Robert Whittaker. Outrageous. pic.twitter.com/d5ZsmXO9Tj
— notNotorious (@Notori6us) March 9, 2022
“I’ll melt that guy. He’ll a hundred percent melt under my pressure and my pace. Or fight Dustin, the guy who said it’s on sight. He wants to come up to my weight class, 170, he said this and that; he’s supposed to be some pound-for-pound great fighter.
“So, if you’re pound-for-pound great, then come fight. What are you so scared of, man? Like, how are you going to live with yourself knowing that I talked down on your family and on your people and your friends and you didn’t do sh*t about it. You didn’t even try.”
