NBA legend and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan who in many realms of the sport is widely considered the GOAT, has built himself a fortune. From his greatness on the court to his business acumen off of it, MJ or “His Airness” has done it in every way, and because of that he can pretty much buy whatever he likes.
The father of five which happens to be three older children with ex-wife Juanita, and two younger children (twins) with current wife Yvette Pierre, Jordan is no stranger to blessing his children with expensive gifts.
That’s what the basketball savant did for his Jasmine’s 30th birthday. Making her milestone special day an even more memorable one, Jordan surprised her with a Bentley Bentayga supercar valued at over $250,000.
That’s a drop in the bucket for Jordan, whose net worth soared to over $3 billion with the sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in August.
In 2019, when Jasmine —- who’s Jordan’s oldest of his three daughters — gave birth to Jordan’s first and only grandchild he then gifted her with a Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 SUV.
The gift which ranges from $185K to $360K in price was a sweet gesture as Jordan who turned 61 on Saturday obviously wanted to bring his first grandchild into the world in style.
In 2020 Jasmine who was born at the height of her dad’s illustrious NBA career, told the Chicago Tribune that she thoroughly enjoyed the 10-part docuseries “The Last Dance,” which premiered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m definitely texting him nonstop. I think there hasn’t been an episode, a Sunday where I haven’t been like, ‘This happened — let me know your thoughts. I was super young, so I’m really taking this in as a fan.”
When it comes to family, MJ has reportedly always been a giver. During his rookie season the six-time NBA Finals MVP and five-time NBA MVP purchased seven vehicles for his family and a longtime friend.m
In September of last year that family friend Lewis Godwin’s son Don told reporters this about Jordan’s trip to a Wilmington, North Carolina, car dealership, and how he walked away with the lump some of new rides for those closest to him.
“Michael said, I want to buy seven cars. Do you see that big black Mercedes, he four-door? That’s the one for me. I want my mother to have the little Mercedes next to it, and I want my dad to have a Mercedes. I want my grandmother to have big Pontiac Bonneville, and my brothers and sisters — Firebird Trans Ams, beautiful Pontiacs.”
Jordan is an avid car lover himself so it’s no surprise that he’s into giving those closest to him new luxury vehicles.
It’s no secret that NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and George Karl, his former Denver Nuggets coach, don’t like each other.
The long-standing disdain for each other stems from Karl often calling Melo “lazy and hard to coach. “
Karl has often said that Melo cheated himself and the game because he couldn’t get him to buy in on the defensive end, or to consistently play within the team’s offensive system.
The height of their time together came in the 2008-2009 season when the Nuggets were beaten in six games in the Western Conference Finals by the Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol-led Los Angeles Lakers.
Melo, who was about as dynamic a scorer as there was in his NBA career, was traded away from the Mile High City to the New York Knicks in 2011, and while Karl says he demanded a trade, Melo says that just isn’t true.
However, it was no secret that Melo wanted out of Denver because of his tumultuous relationship with Karl.
Upon taking the Nuggets job in January 2005, Karl, who replaced then interim head coach Michael Cooper seemed to have a personal vendetta against Melo from the jump. Others say he was trying to motivate the rookie who seemed obsessed with his offensive game.
During a recent episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Melo detailed how his first one-on-one interaction with Karl went.
“He got the job a couple days before we played the Milwaukee Bucks so the whole thing was I’m not coaching no game,” Anthony began. “My first game I want to be against the Milwaukee Bucks. … I really don’t know the game when he came to the team. I’m 21 now. All I know is I got a big name coach coming. George Karl, coached Milwaukee, coached Seattle … you know, all of that. We get to Milwaukee after shootaround, he called me to his room and he tell me, ‘Hey, man, I think you are overrated.’”
In response to Melo’s accusations, Karl took to X formerly known as Twitter to tell him that he indeed was overrated …
“U were overrated.”
Karl even compared Melo’s efficiency, or lack thereof, to that of former Seattle Sonics player Detlef Schrempf who was a solid player for Karl, with about a tenth of the talent that Melo possessed.
For years the debate that has raged on for some strange reason.
Karl has gone on record saying he believes they should, but there’s a huge problem that’s developed in Denver.
Melo’s No. 15 jersey is now being worn by all-world center Nikola Jokic, who’s done nothing but lead the franchise to its first NBA title last season, while also winning Finals MVP and back-to-back MVPs in 2021 and 2022.
That makes it kind of hard to retire Melo’s jersey when he isn’t the greatest player to wear the number anymore. The Nuggets organization told Melo everything they needed to when they allowed Joker to wear the number of a franchise legend in the first place.
Jersey retirement or not, Melo should be honored in some way by the Nuggets. He is one of the Top 75 players of all time and every last one of those players gets and deserves the utmost respect as transcending stars of the sport.
Kevin Durant is living out his backpack rap dreams. The Slim Reaper dropped the visuals for his guest appearance on the song “Scared Money” with Ohio rapper and former Rick Ross signee Stalley.
Durant recorded the song with Stalley last summer, according to TMZ, and they shot the video a couple of weeks ago in New York City. The choice of Stalley, who is known for his B-side deep cuts more than commercial successes, lends to KD’s natural backpack rapper nature. Durant is more contemplative than boisterous, even though he is richer than most flamboyant rappers today as one of the faces of the NBA.
But with lines like, I wanted more room, so I copped the crib sitting adjacent, he doesn’t shy away from his spending power.
The song is true to form for KD with a no-frills music video that forces the viewer to focus on the words rather than a lot of pop and sizzle. With that focus intact, the normally publicly reticent Durant gives you a mini breakdown of his thoughts.
Check out the lyrics:
Rest in peace to Barbara Davis
We hit another layer
When she speaks to me, its like she’s saying prayers
I feel like Randy Moss when he was on the Raiders
Man, they love to hate us
This woman so fine
I give her cash payments
Baby I’m just so glued to the basics
I wanted more room
So I copped the crib sitting adjacent
In this cruel world, I’m Freddie, Jason
I’m sitting in the places of great but never complacent
Yeah baby, I’m a stoner
Yeah I took that long walk up the hill
That made me a loner
And nah, baby I don’t like being humble
I hang with mongrels
Got to pay attention
There’s a God sitting amongst you
And you know it
In the first line, Durant pays homage to his grandmother, Barbara Davis, who passed in 2022. He then alludes to spending money on his love interests, otherwise colloquially known as “tricking,” which is a statement that is not uncommon when artists discuss relationships in today’s rap music.
Durant also leans into his cannabis smoker lifestyle, calling himself a “stoner.” The Phoenix Suns star has been very transparent over the last few years about his usage of the plant. Last August, he was spotted at Drake’s “It’s All A Blur” tour stop at the KIA Forum in Inglewood, California, blazing up the same Chronic Dr. Dre made even more famous.
It’s not the first time KD has rapped, having dropped his own single titled “Tha Formula” back in 2012. He also is listed as an executive producer on Drake’s EP add-on “For All the Dogs.”
However, Durant predicted his slow ease into the music business as early as 2012.
“I enjoy doing a a lot of different things,” Durant told The Washington Post in August 2012. “I’m talented in a lot of different areas. Rapping is one of those things I just enjoy doing. … I think I’m going to do something. I have some resources and some nice people that’s going to help me out. I have a studio in my house already. Maybe I might put out a little something and have a little something.”
The music video kicks off NBA All-Star activities in Indianapolis this weekend, where KD will play for the Western Conference All-Stars. Durant joins NBA superstars like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James.
The 13-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year winner, and two-time NBA champion has an estimated net worth of $300 million from basketball and his other business endeavors off the court. KD is locked in for yet another endeavor: a recording artist turned executive producer turned recording artist.
Iowa Hawkeyes sharp-shooter Caitlin Clark made history on Thursday, passing Washington’s Kelsey Plum as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I women’s basketball.
Clark dropped a career-high 49 points at home on Thursday against Michigan and broke the record set in 2017, with one of her patented logo threes with 7:48 left in the first quarter. Clark was just seven points from the record, so she shattered it with her top performance of the year, and she’s still not done.
Wiithin hours of breaking the record, Cark became Fanatics’ top-selling NIL athlete, according to data provided to Front Office Sports by the retail giant, passing Colorado’s lauded quarterback Shedeur Sanders in total sales since Fanatics began selling athlete-branded college gear in 2022, a year after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in the NCAA v. Alston case that birthed the produced the first NIL guidelines and influenced the explosion of deals.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of college athletes in June of 2021. It found that the NCAA did violate antitrust law by limiting the amount of “non-cash education-related benefits” that schools can offer FBS football and basketball players.
According to Fanatics, the gear that elevated Clark to the top of the branding chart included a T-shirt bearing the “You break it, you own it” slogan that Nike featured on social media after Clark set the scoring record.
Another hot seller was the autographed Topps Now trading card commemorating Clark’s scoring feat which sold out in less than 10 minutes. Cards from that Fanatics Collectibles series are listed for as much as $1,750 on Ebay.
The female version of Pete Maravich (thus her nickname ‘Ponytail Pete’) went 16 of 31 from the field, including 9-for-18 from 3, with 13 assists and five rebounds.
She’s already been compared to Michael Jordan as a transformative athlete, and she’s been credited by several publications for elevating the woman’s game and transcending anything we’ve ever seen.
She’s been called a rare generational athlete. Whether you’re buying or selling, the hype is real. Therefore, the money that she’s worth and her brand potential is through the roof.
When Nike comes calling, you already know you’ve entered a legendary stratosphere and Clark hooked up with the footwear giant in fall 2022. The sharp-shooter became one of the brand’s first NIL basketball players along with Bronny James, Jaley Jones, DJ Wagner and USC freshman sensation Juju Watkins
There are no specific figures released for Clark’s Nike, but the total annual projected value for her NIL deals is $818,000, according to On3. That makes her the fourth-highest ranked among women’s college basketball players — behind Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Haley Cavinder — and 40th overall in athlete NIL valuation.
According to On3, which tracks NIL deals and monitors college sports, the top 10 NIL earners by valuation entering 2024 were: Bronny James ($5.9M), Shedeur Sanders ($4.6M), Livvy Dunne ($3.2M), Arch Manning ($2.8M), Caleb Williams ($2.8M), Travis Hunter ($2.2M), Angel Reese ($1.7M), Bo Nix ($1.5M), J.J. McCarthy ($1.4M) and Spencer Rattler ($1.4M).
As the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark is expected to continue her relationship with Nike as a full-fledged pro and her next deal is projected to be in the millions.
Through Clark’s NIL deal with Nike, Iowa’s entire women’s basketball brand has elevated. Nike sells official Iowa Hawkeyes jerseys, T-shirts and sweatshirts with her name on them. This is transcending, because prior to the arrival of NIL deals players couldn’t benefit from a jersey with their name on it, but the university could surely sell it.
Clark can thank ex UCLA Bruin Ed O’Bannon and others for that current financial privilege. Nike also began selling T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing her name and number leading into last year’s NCAA Tournament, both of which are still on sale now.
Clark has also collaborated on deals with Gatorade, State Farm, Buick, H&R Block, the Midwestern and Southern grocery store chain Hy-Vee and 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, that reportedly pay her close to $1M.
Clark’s stock is rising everyday, but as of now, according to multiple reports, Clark’s net worth is estimated to fall between $3 million and $5 million.
Clark’s State Farm deal is an NIL first and makes her a pitch person for the company that currently employs NFL three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes and NBA star Chris Paul.
Baseball got a piece of Clark-mania as well. In 2022, Topps signed a licensing deal with Clark to use her likeness in their iconic trading cards. She also signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs’ minor league affiliate, the Iowa Cubs.
Caitlin’s Clark’s assault on the scoring records isn’t done. She’s on pace to break the men’s scoring record, set by the aforementioned Pistol Pete Maravich in 1970 (3,667 points) in just three seasons.
She should also pass the pioneer Lynette Woodard, who set the all-time women’s college scoring record at Kansas from 1977-81 (3,649 points), prior to when the NCAA ran college hoops. Therefore, Woodward’s records stand only in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) record books.
Woodard didn’t have the benefit of the world seeing and respecting her mastery on the court. Clark is being spoken about in legendary terms and is already being burdened with taking women’s hoops to a new level once she hits the WNBA. She has the Nike machine behind her and there are some hungry veterans who can’t wait to see if she has the goods on the biggest stage against the world’s best women players.
The NCAA Women’s Tournament will be one of the most watched of all-time and the hype surrounding Clark (and don’t forget Angel Reese) might outshine the men’s tournament for the first time since … last season.
Every shared moment on social media that coincides with rare moments on the court is another dollar for these deserving superstar athletes.
The Who’s Who of the sports and entertainment world have descended upon Indianapolis, aka NapTown, for this weekend’s NBA All-Star Festivities. The weekend will feature an All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, one in which ESPN “First Take” host Stephen A. Smith will be coaching against his fellow colleague Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
The two morning hosts will lead rosters that features the likes of singer/actress/talk show host Jennifer Hudson, Houston Texans quarterback and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and even Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons will be participating in the weekend’s festivities.
As for the aforementioned Smith who prides himself on being a former hooper, having played collegiately at Winston Salem State, rumors of him being crossed over by the Parsons in Thursday night’s practice were spread by fellow “First Take” moderator Molly Qerim as Friday’s show began.
Smith Quickly Shoots Down Qerim’s Story Of His Demise
As Friday’s show began, Smith who’s been known to chime in even when not in the studio was nowhere to be found. Qerim didn’t miss the opportunity to take a shot at her longtime co-host. Qerim made it sound as if Smith had been dropped by a vicious crossover dribble by the supremely athletic Parsons, and the move so nasty it required Smith to seek medical attention.
After hearing Qerim’s remarks Smith quickly interjected, responding as only he could.
“Ladies and gentleme in America. Molly Qerim is a pathological liar. That did not happen to me,” Smith said in relation to Parsons crossing him up and injuring him. “She made the whole thing up. Crossed over by a Cowboy? By Micah Parsons?”
If you know anything about Smith and his disdain for the Cowboys, you know he wouldn’t waste any time telling his side of the story. The longtime Cowboys hater will never let anything concerning them one-up him, not even something at an All-Star Celebrity Game practice, even if it was a joke.
Smith Tells His Side Of Things, Vows To Be On Sidelines Tonight
Smith made sure to let everyone know what really happened and why he did end up at the hospital needing care, which resulted in him reportedly being placed in a brace.
“They had practice last night and Shannon Sharpe didn’t show up, so I go there cause I got to scout my team, ’cause I got to see who I’mma play, who I’m a put on the bench, ’cause I’m not losing this game tonight, OK?”
“And the next thing you know that damn Micah Parsons is on the basketball court acting like he’s trying to sack quarterbacks and stuff, and pushing people around, so after that, they were sitting up there and he and I were shooting around, shooting against one another, and there was sweat on the floor, and I literally was about to pull up, just shoot it, I literally bust my ass, I mean, feet flying in the air and everything, BOW. … It was like I was sliding into third base.”
So what we have here is Smith going down on the court, but not as a result of a Micah Parsons crossover dribble. Smith, must be telling the truth, because no way Parsons would sit back and let him tell this story if it weren’t true, especially with the grief he gives the Cowboys and their fans weekly on the show.
The Chicago Bears control how the 2024 NFL draft will play out. With the No. 1 overall pick in tow, the Bears must decide whether to draft 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and USC Trojans star Caleb Williams or continue to ride with 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields.
The growing sentiment around the league is the Bears will definitely take Williams who’s considered a generational talent and look to trade Fields for a nice haul.
Rumors spread this week that Fields could very likely end up in QB-needy Pittsburgh with head coach Mike Tomlin, or in his hometown of Atlanta with the Falcons. One way or another, Fields’ time in the Windy City seems to be over.
Fields has shown marked improvement, but passing on Williams, who’s drawn comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, just doesn’t seem plausible. That would mean a passing game that could finally produce a QB that passes for 4,000 yards in a season. If they let him fling it, Wiliams has the potential to do so.
Bears Sending Out Smoking Mirrors?
In an attempt to elevate Fields’ trade value, the Bears have been very complimentary of their current signal-caller. A couple of weeks ago it was a highlight video of Fields’ best plays since he became the team’s starter in his rookie season of 2021.
The latest love comes from Bears CEO Kevin Warren, who sang the talented dual-threat’s praises in a recent interview with WGN News.
“I’m a supporter of Justin because I got a chance to work with him, I was commissioner of the Big Ten conference,” Warren said. “He is incredibly talented. He is smart. He works hard. And he wants to be a great NFL football player. And now he just needs to make sure he has the support around him. He’s working hard. I would love to see him this offseason and make sure he’s totally healthy going into the season next year.”
“Justin has a rare combination of intelligence, of size, of strength of speed,” Warren added. “You forget how big of a man he is until you’re up on him. He’s not a small man. I just think every year that he’s going to continually get better. … I’m glad he’s on the Chicago Bears.”
A glowing endorsement by Warren, but this is the NFL, and front offices often send mixed signals in situations like this. The Bears hyping up Fields is a smart business tactic to make him more attractive in a possible trade.
One factor in the Bears changing course from their original plan and possibly drafting Williams and trading Fields, is how much success Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud had this past season. The former Ohio State quarterback, who followed Fields as the starter in Columbus, won Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Texans to an AFC South division title and playoff win over the Cleveland Browns.
If the Bears were going to pass on Williams, Stroud’s success could scare them, making them afraid to miss on a possible franchise-changing quarterback.
Williams could be a bust, but based on what he’s shown in his three years of college coaching that’s far-fetched.
And while Fields put up respectable numbers in his three seasons, with over 6,600 yards passing and over 2,200 yards rushing, he’s still got a ways a to go as a passer. His 40 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in three seasons are still a bit of a cause for concern.
Coming into the NFL Williams is already a better passer than Fields, and while he may not be as dynamic as a runner, he’s no slouch there either.
Expect Williams to lead the Bears into the 2024 season and Fields to resurface somewhere else with a fresh start.
Klay Thompson was down. He was struggling, averaging just 17 points per game (his worst mark since 2012-13) and his dynasty Warriors were looking like a shell of the team that won four rings during his tenure, including one in 2022.
The Splash Brother entered Thursday shooting career worsts from the field (41.5%) and from 3-point range (36.8%) and with his team struggling to stay above .500 and in playoff contention as All-Star break nears, Golden State coach Steve Kerr decided that benching Thompson for the first time since his rookie season in favor of rookie Brandin Podziems was the answer.
There’s a reason why Steve Kerr is considered one of the elite coaches in the game. Knowing how to motivate your players and keep them in a positive mental state is a skill.
Thompson clearly was inspired by the benching that snapped a streak of 727 games started for the five-time All-Star. The 34-year-old snapped back into “Trey Klay” from the back in the day, scoring a season-high 35 points on 13 of 22 shooting with zero turnovers or personal fouls. He also surpassed the 15,000-point mark in his career.
Thompson credited “fresh legs,” for his performance, which gives credit to Kerr’s move without actually mentioning the coach who benched him.
You know Klay’s ego was bruised, and sometimes embarrassment is the best motivation.
“More importantly, I realized I’m gonna play a lot of minutes. So you have to let the ego go when you think about coming off the bench. I thought of Manu Ginobili, that guy has four rings and a gold medal and he came off the bench his whole career,” Klay told reporters after the game.
Klay’s selfless action and the way he responded to a situation that would crush most prideful veterans (Iverson wouldn’t come off the bench and Melo was reluctant) is why Draymond Green calls Thompson the most important piece for Golden State’s team success.
During his podcast’s latest episode, Draymond had ex-Duke great and NBA player Shane Battier on to discuss the importance of teamwork and more specifically the dynamic between two superstars who play in similar styles, and how they make that work.
One player always has to be willing to take the back seat or sacrifice for the good of the team. Green says Klay has been that guy on the road to four rings. While Green is credited for being the lunch pail guy for the Warriors, Klay does his own share of the dirty work that isn’t acknowledged, and the loquacious Green used a pretty/ugly girl analogy to explain it.
“The reason why I have a ton of respect for Klay is because two guys walk into a bar – Steph and it’s Klay Thompson. And every night, Steph says, ‘Alright you see those two girls? I’m taking the pretty one, and you gotta take the ugly girl.’ And Klay say, ‘Alright, I’mma take the ugly girl, let’s go, and take one for the team,'” Draymond said.”
Klay is not the only Warrior who needs to go into the break on a positive note and prepare for a second half that will have the 27-26 Warriors fighting to get into playoff position.
Thompson took the benching in stride, didn’t make a huge deal about it and then reminded everybody that he can still light it up on any night. We also know that once you put ego aside and are truly invested in winning it’s not who starts the game but who finishes it.
“Because as great a shooter Klay is, he go and guard the best player,” Dray continued. “And yet he’s never going to get the credit… not one time did he ever complain about it not one time did he ever feel like, ‘Ah man, I need to be this.’ (He) didn’t care about what anyone else had to say, and to me, that set the tone for the team. Because you’re the second-best player on the team, you’re the second option, and you take that approach every single night.”
Now that Kerr knows Klay is probably more effective entering the game with fresh legs and competing against guys who have been running up and down the court for a couple of minutes, expect Klay to embrace the role. It might just be what turns this season around for a Golden State team that is still among the most talented in the league.
LSU freshman sensation Trey Holly was on his way to superstardom and then probably the NFL, now he’s been charged with attempted second-degree murder, just one of three felony charges he’s facing tied to a shooting last week in Farmerville, Louisiana.
Holly, who turned himself in to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, also faces charges of aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a weapon, both felonies, Law enforcement old ESPN.
Holly only ran for 110 yards on 11 carries this past season, including one touchdown against Army, but this season was going to be his coming-out party as Holly entered LSU as one of the most lauded backs in Louisiana high school football history. Holly, ESPN’s No. 10-ranked running back and No. 172 overall player in the Class of 2023, set the state’s all-time rushing record with 10,523 yards and scored 160 touchdowns in his high school career at Union Parish High School.
These accomplishments garnered him NIL deals and in 2022, Holly became one of the first rush of high school prospects to capitalize on the new NIL rules in a deal with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys. The terms of the NIL deal were not made public, but at the time, the 5-foot-7, 177-pounder had an On3 NIL valuation of $38,000 as of two years ago and it was on the rise.
Holly picked LSU on May 15 over offers from top teams like Florida State, Oregon, and USC. Guess he should have not stayed in Louisiana. It’s turning out to be the worst school he could have chosen.
Sheriff Dusty Gates of the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office in Farmerville told ESPN in a phone interview Thursday that Holly turned himself in around noon and is being held on $512,000 bond, which is significant.
Holly’s arrest on Thursday is one of three arrests tied to a Feb. 9 shooting, per Gates, in which two people were shot. Gates told ESPN that both of the shooting victims are expected to live, so if Holly is guilty, identifying him might not be a problem for the victims.
Holly has been suspended indefinitely from all LSU football team activities, but has not been expelled from the university, His future is in limbo with these serious charges hanging over his head and much more details to come out in the future.
Still reeling following the heartbreaking OT loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII and the incessant criticism he’s received for blowing another big game, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan inexplicably fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Shanahan, who’s been a part of three Super Bowls (two as an head coach and one as a offensive coordinator) where his teams have blown 10-point leads or more, decided that he and Wilks were no longer aligned, and surprisingly pulled the plug on the marriage after just one season.
Even stranger is Shanahan did this knowing that there were no defensive coordinators available since the NFL hiring spree of head coaches began at season’s end. Now Wilks is unjustly on the outside looking in.
Shanahan, who’s been the main culprit for the three Super Bowl losses he’s suffered, will now look to find a replacement for a guy who did his job good enough to hold the Kansas City Chiefs to one regulation touchdown in the Super Bowl.
The move by Shanahan has been questioned across all media platforms.
During Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s Get Up, Mike Greenberg said this:
“It just has the feeling of a scapegoat.”
He even tweeted this when the move was announced on Wednesday.
Colleague Damien Woody chimed in and took it a step further and said, “Shanahan doesn’t get it.”
Kyle Shanahan had no answers for why he choked away another colossal game and his answer for why he gave Wilks the boot also supports the assumption that the head coach needed somebody to blame.
“It just ended up being not the right fit,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a Wednesday press conference.
If Wilks wasn’t the right fit, it’s not the veteran defensive play-caller’s fault. Wilks wasn’t allowed to come in and run his defense. He was tasked with running the defense built by former coordinators Robert Saleh (Jets head coach) and DeMeco Ryans (Texans head coach). Saleh’s defense gave up 21 unanswered points in under eight minutes in the Niners’ 31-20 Super Bowl 54 loss to the Chiefs.
As for Ryans, his defense was blown out 31-7 in last year’s NFC Championship Game by the Eagles 31-7, and neither was fired, with Saleh returning to the Niners the following season before becoming the Jets coach in 2021. Ryans left to become the Texans head coach following last season and made the playoffs as a rookie.
In 2023, the Niners finished eighth in total defense, which is a drop from No. 1 the previous season. But they still only surrendered 31 total touchdowns, which was second to the Baltimore Ravens (26). They also finished fourth in scoring defense (18.8 per game) and, most important, went to the Super Bowl.
Not bad at all, and definitely not something someone should be fired for. But Shanahan found his scapegoat for his shortcomings, and it just so happened to be the guy who’s been done wrong before.
This isn’t Wilks’ first time been scapegoated. When he was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 he was given one season with at the helm.
The team drafted the aloof Josh Rosen in the first round, and the GM pressured Wilks to play the rookie, who is currently not even in the league. The team went 3-13 and Wilks was fired at season’s end. He was replaced by Kliff Kingsbury, who arrived with a losing record at Texas Tech, and the team drafted Kyler Murray No. 1 overall.
In 2019, Wilks helped the Browns’ defense jump from 30th to 20th in one season, only to be let go when the team fired head coach Freddie Kitchens — who was in way over his head — after one season.
Wilks didn’t coach in 2020 or 2021, but returned to the sidelines in 2022 as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.
He was promoted to interim head coach when the team moved on from Matt Rhule and led them to a respectable 6-6 record over the last 12 weeks. Despite the marked improvement and the players vouching for Wilks, owner David Tepper hired Frank Reich to be the permanent head coach.
The classless move by Shanahan just adds to the misery that’s been Steve Wilks’ career ever since he was promoted beyond a position coach. He clearly was hung out to dry and, like Stephen A. Smith has often referenced, Wilks is once again a qualified Black coach who’s a victim of the “old boys club.”
More details are emerging of The Kansas City Super Bowl parade Massacre and the violent shooting that hampered a third Super Bowl parade in five seasons for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
With confetti still hovering, bullets rang out, sending the crowd running or their lives, which led to law enforcement swarming the area in a chaotic scene.
When the smoke cleared, the shooting left 23 victims wounded, including a 43-year-old woman who died. According to Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves, the other 22 victims range in age from 8 to 47, and half are despicably younger than 16.
If not for a few heroic fans who tackled one of the suspects packing a gun, there could have been more senseless tragedy.
Two juveniles were reportedly among those detained and an unspecified number of guns were recovered by police in connection with Wednesday’s shooting, where 1 million people gathered by Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
They lined the streets and adjacent areas to bask in the glory of another Super Bowl title with their favorite players.
According to reports, the shooting was sparked by a “dispute between several people that ended in gunfire.” A dispute gone terribly wrong and most likely alcohol- or drug-fueled. Graves was sure to stress that the attack was a personal confrontation, not an attack on the event itself.
Witnesses say they saw a man pull out a gun and spin around and start shooting. Police added, however, that there is no indication of a “nexus to terrorism or homegrown violent extremism.”
Law enforcement also said the three people in custody are all believed to have been participants in the volatile dispute and initially, 10 people were detained and questioned.
During Thursday’s press conference, Graves said that police are yet to file any charges and the case is still under thorough investigation. Local officials don’t want to jump to conclusions and want to ensure that they have the correct culprits in custody.
Police are still accumulating physical and digital evidence, and interviewing witnesses and victims. Local authorities have brought in the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.
Graves promised to “get answers” in a post on X Thursday morning. Baker vowed to “get answers” in a post on X Thursday morning, writing in part, “I will use every tool at my disposal under Missouri law that allows me to address this tragedy.”
Thirty patients with 19 gunshot wounds filled four hospitals in the area, according to CNN. Children’s Mercy Hospital treated 11 children between ages 6 and 15. Nine of them for gunshot wounds via hospital spokesperson Lisa Augustine. Radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan died after getting shot at the rally, her employer KKFI 90.1 FM said.
“We are absolutely devastated at the loss of such an amazing person who gave so much to KKFI and the KC community,” station spokesperson Kelly Dougherty said in an email to CNN.
Lopez-Galvan was known throughout the community as the life of the party and is from a very large family of civic leaders in the Latino community. She “leaves behind an incredible legacy,” said Manny Abarca, a Jackson County, Missouri, legislator who was at the parade with his daughter.
Members of Lopez-Galvan’s family are reportedly among those injured during the shooting, according to a Facebook post by the mayor of Lee’s Summit, a suburb about 20 miles southeast of Kansas City.
Lopez-Galvan’s brother is Lee’s Summit Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez, Mayor Bill Baird wrote. Two of Lopez’s nieces and a nephew were also injured.
Shooting survivor Jacob Gooch Sr., his wife and son were shot. He told CBS on Thursday that he overheard an altercation prior to the shooting, in which a girl told someone else, “Don’t do it, not here, this is stupid.”
“My daughter said that some lady was, like, holding him back,” Gooch said, “and people had started backing up and then he pulled it out and just started shooting and spinning in a circle.”
Trey Smith, a Chiefs offensive lineman, told ABC that he took cover with bystanders as shots rang out, finding shelter in a closet with a group of people, including a child.
“Right before I run in there, there’s like a little kid in front of me so I just grabbed him – just yanked him – was telling him ‘You’re hopping in here with me, buddy,’” Smith said. “I don’t know how many people that were in the closet.”
The horror stories marred what was supposed to be the icing on the cake of an NFL season that was never packaged, sealed and delivered any better than this Taylor Swift Bowl.
“The Why with Dwyane Wade,” a new co-production of iHeartPodcasts and Wade’s 59th & Prairie Entertainment, featured a sit-down interview with NBA legend and co-host of “7PM in Brooklyn,” Carmelo Anthony, where the 10-time NBA All-Star opens up about the unexpected affiliation his father had with the Young Lords, while Melo delves into the emotional journey of his father’s impact on his life.
“Everywhere I would go in Brooklyn they would say, ‘’Ey, yo, you look just like your dad. You walk like your dad, you talk like your dad. Like your whole aura is your dad.’ … Even, like, when I got to ‘Cuse [Syracuse University], my dad was locked up upstate for a while, they called him Mr. Wonderful he scored like 50-something points upstate in the jail, so he was known as fly, Puerto Rican, ‘fro, you know, classy, tall, 6-5, 6-6”.
“But he hung with the Blacks,” Melo continued, “so it was always that connection, Black Puerto Rican so I always knew that connection.”
Melo has been digging into his roots for years, trying to find out more about family members who had passed away before he got to know them.
“So as I’m on this road of discovery, La [La La Anthony, Melo’s ex-wife] gives me a picture for Christmas. … It’s a painting, and it’s me as a kid, and then there’s my dad and he in like the jail pose. … I was like this is everyday attire for him. That’s something different. … As I started to discover, I realized my dad was a Young Lord.”
The Young Lords, also known as the Young Lords Organization (YLO) or Young Lords Party (YLP), was a Chicago-based street gang that was birthed in the 1960s and evolved into a civil and human rights organization, with a branch eventually started in New York City
The Young Lords’ mission stressed self-determination for Puerto Rico, Latino nations, all oppressed nations, and also supported neighborhood empowerment.
The mission is reflected in the Young Lords’ logo of a map of Puerto Rico, a brown fist holding a rifle, and the words “Tengo Puerto Rico en mi Corazón” (“I have Puerto Rico in my heart”).
The Young Lords found their true purpose when as the vanguard of a people’s struggle against oppression, they initially fought against the displacement of Puerto Ricans from Lincoln Park in Chicago.
“Young Lords are basically the Puerto Rican version of Black Panthers,” Melo said. “It’s the version of the Black Panther depending on who you actually ask. … So I started digging deeper into what is a Young Lord. Oh, he look fly. So you start going now I can use the internet. Now I start pulling up pictures and researching and like wow that’s where I get it from.”
Melo is correct.
The Young Lords also created a 10-point program modeled after the Black Panthers’ 10-point program. And later, The New York office created its own 13-point program:
We want self-determination for Puerto Ricans—Liberation on the island and inside the United States.
We want self-determination for all Latinos.
We want liberation for all third world people.
We are revolutionary nationalists and oppose racism.
We want community control of our institutions and land.
We want true education of our creole culture.
We oppose capitalists and alliances with traitors.
We oppose the amerikkkan military.
We want freedom for all political prisoners.
We want equality for women. Machismo must be revolutionary … not oppressive.
We fight anti-Communism with international unity.
We believe armed self-defense and armed struggle are the only means to liberation.
We want a socialist society.
In fact, Melo says he knew he was Puerto Rican, but he didn’t have a deeper understanding of his Puerto Rican heritage and how impactful his father turned out to be on his life until he entered high school.
“It wasn’t until high school when I went to Puerto Rico and they wanted me to play on the Junior National Team, representing Puerto Rico,” Melo said “I knew I was Puerto Rican, I didn’t know the ties. I knew my dad was Puerto Rican, but I didn’t know how deep it goes.”
Carmelo gives tremendous insight into how some young men feel when they don’t have a father. You tuck the feeling of a void in your life deep down within until something inevitably reminds you of the parental guidance and presence you were missing.
Being asked to join the Puerto Rican Junior National Team was a transformative moment in Melo’s life.
“Honestly, that was a moment of like, I have to go figure this out. I gotta start asking questions because now this void of not having a dad is like, damn, I’m about to make it to the NBA, I wish he was here.”
The research was necessary for Melo because questions about himself that he might not have been able to answer in the past became clearer to him. His dad was fly, and Melo has always been one of the NBA’s best dressed players.
His pops was 6-foot-6, so we definitely know where he got his height from. His father was a Puerto Rican, who hung out with Black guys, so inevitably Melo’s mom is Black. And his dad was killing inmates in an upstate New York prison back in the ’80s, dropping buckets galore.
The 6-foot-7 Melo has taken that gene and made an amazing life for himself and his family with it. He won a national title at Syracuse as a freshman and stormed the NBA in 2003, competing with LeBron James for Rookie of the Year honors.
After 19 seasons, he’s a certified Top 75 player in NBA history and one of the greatest pure scorers to ever lace ’em up.
Let’s not discount Melo’s mom, Mary Anthony, who did an incredible job of guiding his career and being a rock as Melo turned to uncles and cousins, who were not the best examples, to provide him with a father figure.
In addition to working several jobs to get Melo through private school, his mother Mary played full court hoops during her last two years in high school and ran track. Within Melo’s accolade-filled sports career lies a social consciousness that also comes from his dad.
Social activism certainly runs in Melo’s veins, as he’s always been vocal and present in times when race and issues of systemic oppression became national issues, and therefore a Black NBA player issue.
It all makes sense, and Wade is a perfect person to conduct the interview.
Wade and Carmelo’s friendship is well-chronicled, as they are part of LeBron’s NBA circle of friends, along with Chris Paul, more infamously known as The “Banana Boat Crew”
Wade sits down with pioneers in sports, fashion, music, and business for an intimate conversation about their origins, and the reasons they keep pushing to innovate. Melo gave us some great insight into his personal life and his journey from boy to man.
The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII in exciting fashion. Led by all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes, K.C. overcame a 10-0 deficit to prevail on an overtime TD pass from Mahomes to wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
The win gives Mahomes three Super Bowl wins and three Super Bowl MVPs, putting him in exclusive company among the top 1 percent to ever do it.
With the win, Mahomes, who’s only 28, puts himself at the top of the All-Time Black QB perch. The maestro of the Chiefs attack has also solidified himself as one of the all-time greats in just his sixth year as a starter.
1. Patrick Mahomes — Chiefs
Mahomes has now led the Chiefs to six straight AFC Championship games, four Super Bowls and three Lombardi trophies. His legacy is cemented and now he is drawing comparisons to the great Tom Brady.
Last year it was Philly Blunts.
This year it was all about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, but they couldn’t have lived out their fairytale ending without Patrick Mahomes.
Prior to Pat Mahomes’ meteoric rise, Warren Moon was recognized as the greatest Black signal-caller. Known for his wonderful spiral, Moon played 22 seasons, 16 in the NFL and six in the CFL, winning five Grey Cups, which is the equivalent to the NFL’s Super Bowl. The Pro Football Hall of Famer passed for over 49,000 yards, 313 total touchdowns and a 60 percent completion percentage. He could also throw the deep ball with the best to ever do it.
The former Washington Huskies star was before his time.
Before Andy Reid had Patrick Mahomes, he had Donovan McNabb, and the former Syracuse star was dynamic. Booed when he was drafted in 1999, all McNabb did was go out and lead the Eagles to a ton of success, including one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC Championship Games. In his career, he passed for 37,000 yards and 234 total touchdowns. He also rushed for another 3,459 yards and 29 touchdowns.
For some reason McNabb doesn’t move the meter much as pertains to Hall of Fame consideration, and he should.
The late, great Steve “Air McNair” was arguably the toughest QB to ever play the position and should be inducted in Canton’s Hall of Fame one day. He and running back Eddie George embodied the physical nature of the late ’90s and early 2000s Titans teams. McNair, the former SWAC star by way of Alcorn State University, led the Titans to within 1 yard of a Super Bowl win, and without him the Titans/Oilers franchise still wouldn’t have had a team represent the AFC in a Super Bowl.
In his career, McNair passed for 31,000 yards and 174 touchdowns. He also rushed for another 3,500 yards and another 37 touchdowns. He was named MVP in 2003.
Despite his two brutal years in Denver, Wilson had 10 successful seasons in Seattle, which saw him win a Super Bowl, make two Super Sunday appearances and lead the Seahawks to eight playoff appearances, before he was traded to the Broncos.
His legacy is already cemented as the QB who made Seattle Super Bowl champs and relevant.
For his career, Wilson has passed for over almost 47,000 yards and 334 TDs against just 106 interceptions. Just like Mahomes, Wilson is still writing his story, and if his drama-filled 2023 season is any indication (26 TD, 8 INT and 66.4 completion %) Wilson will be a great fit for a team one veteran QB away from competing.
Honorable Mention
2015 NFL MVP, NFL All-Time leader in rushing touchdowns for QBs with 75
Two-time first-team All-Pro, 1989 Comeback Player of the Year
First Black QB to win a Super Bowl
In the midst of Sunday’s epic Super Bowl win, things got a little heated on the Kansas City Chiefs sidelines. Early in the second quarter with the Chiefs on the 49ers 9-yard line star running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled.
The football was recovered by the Niners, and while the action was crazy on the field, it was even wilder on K.C.’s sidelines.
That’s where All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce bumped head coach Andy Reid for not having him on the field during the play.
Kelce was mad that his replacement Noah Gray was in the game and missed the block. He was telling Reid to leave him in the game, and in his loss of composure he almost barreled his coach over, while yelling aggressively in the face of the 65-year-old Reid, the league’s oldest sideline stalker.
In the wake of his actions, Kelce was called out immediately by fans from all over the world. Even his older brother Jason, the All-Pro center for the Philadelphia Eagles took exception to his actions during the most recent episode of their “New Heights” podcast. Jason said his brother “crossed the line,” and that him yelling in Reid’s face “too is over the top.”
Travis agreed saying it was a “cheap shot.” He also talked about what he would’ve done if he’d been in Reid’s shoes.
“I deserve it. If he would’ve cold-cocked me in the face right there. I would have just ate it. I would have been like: Let’s f—ing go.”
Does the incident warrant a suspension when you consider what Travis did?
Of course it does, and it should begin with Week 1 of the 2024 season.
That seems feasible for his actions, and while it was in the heat of the moment, players can’t be doing things like that to coaches and vice versa.
Following Sunday’s incident, Kelce says Reid immediately came up to him and didn’t have anything negative to say to him. The future Hall of Fame coach instead chalked it up to Kelce’s passion for winning, igniting a fire under Kelce to go finish the job.
Kelce, who’s only played for Reid in his NFL career, finished with nine catches for 93 yards in helping K.C. secure another Lombardi Trophy.
Known for his sideline outburst during his illustrious 23-year NFL career, Tom Brady came to Kelce’s defense during his hit “Let’s Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray” podcast.
“There’s always little family issues and of course I don’t mind seeing it, ’cause I was a part of a lot of those things. Emotions are so high. You are definitely not centered and balanced. You’re not in a meditative state at that point. You are fully determined to go out there and to win. So, I think a lot of the things that’s said during the games, people should just let them fly off their back.”
To hear Brady say this isn’t all that surprising, but even he never put his hands on a coach during his many sideline altercations and disagreements with coaches.
Michael Irvin wasn’t as forgiving.
Winning may cure all, but things like this mustn’t be swept under the rug.
With the culmination of their 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Niners are definitely in their feelings a bit about the loss. But not only are the players in their feelings, but the tough loss seems to be effecting some of the players’ loved ones.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s girlfriend, Rochelle Searight, took it upon herself to inexplicably hint at a possible divorce between the Aiyuk and the Niners.
In a TikTok video on Monday, Searight seemingly talked out of turn on Aiyuk’s future with the team.
“This might have been the last day we touched foot on Levi’s Stadium …. because we might not he out here next season,” Searight said in the video as she picked Aiyuk up following Sunday’s heartbreaking overtime loss.
Aiyuk himself shared an odd message to his Instagram account saying …
“Don’t forget what got you there.”
Is Aiyuk Himself Hinting At A Departure From San Fran?
No one but Aiyuk knows if he was piggybacking his girlfriend’s comments, but the talented pass-catcher is heading into the fifth-year option of his deal. Meaning the team can either let him play out next season on that or sign him to a long-term extension. In wake of their second Super Bowl loss in five seasons, getting Aiyuk signed to a long-term extension should be a top priority.
The first-time All-Pro had the best season of his NFL career with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. His 17.9 yards per reception was good enough for second in the league behind Pittsburgh Steelers star George Pickens and his 18.1 YPC average.
Aiyuk’s friend and former teammate at Sierra College (JUCO), Draysean Hudson, even chimed in by seemingly calling out the Niners game plan in the Super Bowl on his Instagram account.
“This is the exact same reason we leaving San Francisco,” Hudson wrote. “Thank you 49ers for drafting my brother Wes are forever grateful. BA to Vegas.”
Hudson wasn’t done as he finished with this….
“Why does your All Pro have 1300 yard receiver have 3 catches in the Super Bowl.”
Folks close to Aiyuk speaking on his future in San Fran really isn’t a good look, especially with him still under contract for at least one more season.
Niners And Aiyuk Will Work Towards Extension
It’s highly unlikely the Niners will look to trade Aiyuk who’s become one of the better route runners in the league. While Aiyuk doesn’t get the notoriety that teammate and fellow wideout Deebo Samuel does, he’s the Niners’ best and most dependable wideout, meaning they’d be wise to get a deal done.
This is nothing new for how the Niners handle new deals for their players. They did the same thing with Samuel, who signed a new deal prior to the 2022-23 season, which would’ve been his fourth and and final season under contract.
With eight players already raking in at least $15 million per season, and Aiyuk at just over $14 million per season, it puts the Niners at $211 million of the expected $240 million cap space for 2024.
In order to give Aiyuk a quality extension and keep the rest of the roster intact they’ll need to allocate some funds.
But, keeping Aiyuk is worth some restructuring of other deals, and until then his girlfriend and friend need to keep quiet.
Floyd Mayweather is the most successful boxer-businessman ever and as such that comes with real bills. If the term paid the cost to be the boss was a person, Floyd Mayweather’s diminutive silhouette would be one of the leading examples and he recently showed what being “Money” is really like.
Mayweather took to Instagram to show his 30 million followers what he had to do to stay compliant with Uncle Sam during tax season, and it’s a knockout amount at over 18 million dollars. Mayweather posted the check to the Department of the Treasury on his IG to compliment a humble brag about his phenomenal Super Bowl seats.
“Just before I paid that light million and change for that little Super Bowl stuff, I had to pay the IRS aka Uncle Sam $18,047,181,” the champ posted to his Instagram last Friday. “This is what I owed in taxes while I’m retired so just imagine what I was paying when I was activated.”
In an earlier post, the Las Vegas resident posted a wire transfer of $850,000 he sent to secure his suite for Super Bowl LVIII, which he said all in cost him $1,131,000.00.
“I don’t kiss a**, and I never have to beg for nothing, especially not to get a Super Bowl suite. I don’t mind accepting invites at times, but one things for sure…The person that’s paying does all the saying. Therefore I get My Own seats and suites so I can do what I want and invite who I want! I’m blessed to be taking 34 people to experience the 1st Super Bowl in Las Vegas!”
Most people will never see 18 million dollars in their lifetime, let alone give that to the government for tax season. However, in retirement, Mayweather has made more than most active boxers in part due to his reinvention of the exhibition and his multiple verticals that leverage the last name he and his paternal group made famous.
Last year, Mayweather “fought” twice, facing British fighter and TV star Aaron Chalmers in London in February 2023 and John Gotti III in June 2023. Mayweather reportedly earned up to 40 million dollars for his bout against Chalmers at the enormous 02 Arena. He is also reported to have made $25 million for his fight against John Gotti’s grandson, as during both fights, he had multiple revenue streams other than his purse under his Mayweather Promotions.
Mayweather still holds the top four financially successful pay-per-view boxing events in history, with his better-late-than-never lackluster mega-fight against Manny Pacquaio drawing 4.6 million PPV buys. His fight against crossover MMA star Conor McGregor came in second, his fight against Canelo Alvarez came in third, and his legendary grudge match against Oscar de la Hoya was fourth.
His old rival, the “Golden Boy,” had an opinion of Mayweather’s apparent financial transparency, and he called the check he delivered to the IRS “not real.”
“Not to be an a** but where are the routing/tracking numbers to that check? Sorry but that’s not real haha,” De La Hoya posted to Twitter.
In this life, two things are certain: death and taxes. In the case of Mayweather, you have to add two more: some beefs never die, as in the vibrantly hateful relationship he has with Oscar De La Hoya, and that in the world of “Money,” he’s going to show you how to win while losing during tax season.
A former professional wrestler during the World Wrestling Federation golden era of the 1980s known as Billy Jack Haynes has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing his 85-year-old wife.
The Portland Police Bureau in Oregon identified William Albert Haynes Jr. 70, as the suspect in the murder of Janette Becraft this past weekend.
Mr. Haynes was taken into custody and treated at a local hospital “for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide,” said Portland police, who planned to book Haynes upon his release from the hospital.
On the morning of Thursday Feb. 8, just before 10 a.m., the police responded to reports of a shooting at the couple’s home in Portland, Oregon.
Officers made contact with Mr. Haynes, who was inside the home and was uncooperative, they said. Cops called in the Special Emergency Reaction Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team to get Haynes into custody.
The incident turned into a two-hour long standoff with police asking neighbors to lock doors and shelter in place. Sgt. Kevin Allen, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said there were no updates Monday evening and declined to elaborate on Mr. Haynes’s medical condition.
According to an interview with Fox 12 Oregon, a neighbor, Brelynn Matthieu, said was friends with the couple and she had recently been staying with Ms. Becraft, who had dementia, while Mr. Haynes recovered in the hospital from a rib injury he sustained during a fall.
Knowing that his wife had dementia and was on her way to 90 years old, you have to at least question if there was any malice involved in this shooting. Could this be something that the couple agreed upon? The police will investigate, and those answers will follow. Also knowing the amount of brain and body damage wrestlers of the ’80s and ’90s endured, it would be of no shock to anyone if Haynes was suffering from CTE. Such violent and erratic behavior are symptoms of the debilitating disease.
While Haynes hasn’t been in the public eye as a wrestler, he has still been a voice for wrestling and appeared on different shows and podcasts and is very much a part of the early explosion of WWE wrestling.
Wrestling fans flooded social media with reaction to this tragic turn of events and many shared fond memories of their encounters with the wrestler.
Billy Jack Haynes has been known within the industry for his temper, his energy, his jokes and his outlandish behavior and conspiracy theories relating to the wrestling world over the years.
One theory that stands out eerily in light of this recent murder is his theory surrounding the death of Nancy Argentino, who was allegedly killed by wrestler Jimmy “Supafly” Snuka.
Snuka was accused of murdering his girlfriend in 1983 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, but wasn’t arrested or charged until 30 years later, and in 2017 the murder charges were officially dropped.
Billy Jack has said that Argentino was pregnant with Hulk Hogan’s baby when Snuka allegedly killed her. And that’s why Billy didn’t get his desired job as a booker in the WWF, because he would have possibly exposed it as Hogan rose up the ladder.
Nothing can be confirmed, but his creative mind and focus on showmanship and shock value was an asset back in his early wrestling career.
In his most high-profile matches, Billy Jack Haynes faced Randy “Macho Man” Savage and in 1987 went against Hercules Hernandez in WrestleMania III.
He feuded with titans of the industry and tasted his fair share of success and popularity.
Haynes didn’t rise to superstar heights in the WWE for various reasons. Within the construct and checks and balances of the company he was a rabble-rouser of sorts in a company that we now know all too well is accused of violating the rights of their employees as common practice.
He was a plaintiff in a federal class-action lawsuit filed against the WWE in 2016. The suit claimed that the organization had mistreated its wrestlers by denying and concealing medical research about the traumatic brain injuries they suffered.
The suit further claimed that the WWE had “disavowed, concealed and prevented” medical care for such injuries.
Police have no time frame on how long Haynes will be in the hospital.
Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter is coming off his first season in Boulder after playing one season at Jackson State. The dynamic Hunter, who was the 2022 No. 1 overall high school recruit, has shined on both sides of the football under the tutelage of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Off the field the projected top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL draft has been under the radar. That is until recently, when Hunter — who’s prepping for the 2024 college football season — got engaged to longtime girlfriend Leanna Lenee.
Hunter even upped the ante by presenting her with a $100K ring. Hunter and Lenee have been an item since he starred at Collins Hill High School in Georgia, where he became the nation’s top-ranked recruit.
While most college athletes aren’t thinking about settling down or getting engaged, Hunter is the outlier. Coach Prime has always said Hunter is a homebody who’s going to make someone a great husband. Based on this latest move that proclamation seems to be coming to fruition.
While interviewing at radio row during Super Bowl week, Coach Prime told reporters this about Hunter’s engagement.
“He ain’t going out, he ain’t doin nothin. He ain’t smoking, drinking. He’s going to put on a onesie to play that game. That’s all he gonna do.”
Travis Hunter’s $2.3M NIL Bag Is Deep
As for the ring and the $100K bill that came with it, Hunter can afford that in his sleep. The dynamic playmaker currently has the third-highest NIL value in college football at $2.3 million trailing only teammate Shedeur Sanders ($4.7M) and Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning who sits at ($2.7M) in NIL valuation. For Hunter that dollar amount is minuscule compared to the NFL money he’s expected to receive as a top-five or ten pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
As he enters the 2024 college football season, Hunter will likely play both ways again. While he excelled at it early last season, he also struggled a bit at times. That’s just the natural progression that comes with age and experience. In all, he was very good handling the dual responsibilities, finishing with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense. On defense he had 23 tackles, three interceptions and five passes defensed.
At the next level he’ll play cornerback and likely won’t see time on the offensive side of the football. Coach Prime knows this, and because of that he’ll very likely have him play less on offense in 2024 and focus on continuing to perfect his technique at his future position.
Being engaged and very mature for his age will only help Hunter in the pre-draft interview process, as franchises love to see grounded players ready to come in and make a difference without the extra added distractions.
Hunter’s draft stock is already rock-solid, so this life change will only help matters, and he’ll just need to avoid serious injury in 2024. The NFL team that drafts Hunter will be getting an instant game-changer and someone that won’t be afraid of the moment.
He was built for this. And how he has a life partner to share it with.
With the 2023-24 NFL season now in the books, the focus will now turn to the NFL combine, NFL draft and free agency.
One of the bigger names that could find himself on the move is current Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson.
After arriving in Denver in 2022, Wilson has fallen out of favor under head coach Sean Payton in the “Mile High City.” The former Seattle Seahawks legend was benched the final two weeks of the regular season for refusing to remove the guaranteed $37 million injury settlement for 2024.
With his future in Denver very much in doubt, there have rumblings that Wilson will definitely be wearing another team’s uniform in 2024. One of the teams he’s been linked to is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who despite head coach Mike Tomlin leading the team to a record 17 non-losing seasons during his tenure and a playoff berth this past season, hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
The Steelers may have made the playoffs in 2023, but it wasn’t because of their anemic offense which saw quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph all take turns under center. The offense struggled mightily all season finishing 25th in total offense and 29th in passing offense.
Adding Wilson to their offense would be an upgrade, because despite the exaggerated rumors of his demise he finished the 2023 season with nearly 3,100 yards passing, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. That’s double the touchdown (13) output that the trio of Pickett, Trubisky and Rudolph combined for and one less interception (9).
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has linked Wilson along with Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields and Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the Steelers.
During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter said, “Pittsburgh’s gonna go out and get some type of quarterback.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced at season’s end that 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett will still be slated as the 2024 starter, but he’ll definitely have some stiff competition.
What competition can be stiffer than someone of Wilson’s pedigree?
Prior to the team hiring former Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith as the team’s new offensive coordinator, Wilson’s name was constantly being linked to the Steelers, with CBS Sports‘ Cody Benjamin even offering up information of a “three-year, $90 million” deal to bring Wilson to banks of Three Rivers.
While that may still be the case, Smith has history with the aforementioned Tannehill from his time in Tennessee. As for Fields, Tomlin hasn’t been shy about his affirmation for the talented Bears signal-caller.
Smith’s offense is heavy on the running game and play-action passing, which is Wilson’s strength. So that’s a plus for Wilson.
Stability has always been a big thing in Pittsburgh, and that’s why the Steelers have had just three coaches since 1969. But team owner and president Art Rooney II has grown tired of the lack of playoff success. In his end of season interview, Rooney II showed support for Tomlin, but he also said, “We’ve had enough of this. It’s time to get some wins, it’s time to take these next steps.”
He followed that up last week with this in an interview with KDKA TV:
“As we sit here in February, we’re not closing the door on anything.”
Signing Wilson would give the Steelers’ offense a serious jolt and likely help end the team’s seven-year playoff win drought.
Shortly after putting his potential beef with comedian Mo’Nique to bed in a gentleman-like fashion, Shaq got a bit too cringy for some people’s tastes when the 51-year-old NBA Hall of Famer and business mogul took to Instagram on Monday (February 12), posting a picture of himself with Taylor Swift, Bronx rapper Ice Spice, her brother and others at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
The caption had social media buzzing as Shaq appeared to shoot his shot at the 24-year-old rising rap star.
“And @icespice is so dam fine thanks @taylorswift,” he wrote in the caption.
Ice Spice hasn’t responded, but ‘Breakfast Club’ radio co-host Jess Hilarious wasn’t too amused on Tuesday morning’s show.
“Shaq is 51, Ice Spice is 24,” Jess said. “Shaq’s oldest son Sharif is also 24. I just feel like…all right Shaq relaxes sometimes. If we’re gonna tell Shannon Sharpe to chill. We gotta tell Shaq to chill.”
Charlamagne: “I agree, it’s just a little strange. You were in the league for about as long as Ice Spice was alive.”
Jess: “Yeah and then, what do you mean thanks Taylor Swift…? Is he insinuating that he wants Taylor to put him on with Ice Spice or what?…Oh my God. Either way, Ice Spice looked like his granddaughter in front of him.”
Charlamagne: “For real…Literally that could be your granddaughter Shaq. That’s how you have to look at these things. You got to think about that.”
(starts at 4:42 mark)
Add Shaq to the list of successful men shooting their shots at the newest rap sensation Ice Spice, whose celebrity has been raised another notch by her appearance in Swift’s Super Bowl suite. She’s recently been linked to 27-year-old rap star Playboi Carti, but says she’s single in all recent interviews.
There are not too many people in the sports and entertainment industry who would take personal shots at Shaquille O’Neal, the guy who walks into toy stores and grocery stores and just starts buying people things out of the kindness of his heart.
If anyone was going to say something sideways about the big fella it would be the current Queens of Comedy, Mo’Nique and “Breakfast Club” host Jess Hilarious.
Mo’Nique’s appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” left no stone unturned, and if you thought the Katt Williams interview was revealing, then Mo followed that show with another full clip.
Shaq happened to catch one of the strays after he appeared with Adam Lefkoe in an episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq” and said he’s never opened up to a woman. Basically, saying he can’t trust them not throw his deepest secrets back in his face when things go bad. It leaves him a position of vulnerability that he doesn’t want to be in again.
When Shaquille O’Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson’s divorce was finalized in 2011, the three houses he gave her totaled $33 million. That doesn’t include any child support, or the financial support Shaq has continued to offer.
Shaq hasn’t been in as serious a relationship as that since and Mo’Nique went for the jugular.
“How do you take advice from a man who has no woman?” Mo’Nique said. “And I love Shaq. But how do you take advice from my brother that has no one?
If you have that person in your life and you say ‘listen, I’m going through’… who else you talk to at nighttime in your pillow talk? Who are you sharing your life with Shaq? Do you tell another man about your situation, and does he make you feel better?”
The words were harsh, but Shaq took it in stride and his retort was respectable, as the two have had a longstanding relationship. He did address the key points.
“The answer is my beautiful sister, and I love you too, Mo’Nique. First of all, let me address this, we can have respectful arguments without getting personal. And I would never get personal with Miss Mo’Nique.”
Shaq did straight out refute one of her points: “She used the word pillow-talk. I don’t pillow-talk,” the former Lakers star said.
She divulged Shaq’s relationship status without his consent. In response to “Shaq doesn’t have a woman.”
Diesel said: “Who do I open up to? Nobody. “My remedy to success is I have sayings… Before I start getting all sad, I said, ‘Shut the f**k up, man up and figure it out.’
“I was raised by a drill sergeant and I’m glad he raised me the way he raised me… If I have problems, I have to define if they’re real problems, most of the time they’re not,” he said.
Shaq Caught Up In Comedy Wars and Shooting Shots At Women Half His Age
The comedy wars continue, and anybody can get it. Shaq usually knows what to say and when to say it, but the past few weeks have been a bit hairy. Shaq’s taste for fine women and his willingness to share, always has the social media moshpit sniffing for a scandal, because he simply doesn’t involve himself in any.
Back in June, screenshots of Shaq sending messages to Ariana Josephine Cossie, also known as the “Home Depot girl,” were shared by her but fans took it as O’Neal attempting to slide into her DMs.
“Shaq just uplifting people, that’s what the diesel do, baby I uplift people google me,” he wrote in response to DJ Akademiks.
These are all reminders to Shaq that he’s moving into another realm as his net worth soars and he continues to become larger than life in new sectors of society, he has to be careful how he uplifts the women that are half his age and how social media will perceive his honesty.
The GOAT debate is always subjective, and in most football fans’ opinion Tom Brady carries that title with his seven Super Bowl wins, while being the all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), passing touchdowns (649), most wins (286), including 35 playoff wins.
In those 10 Super Bowl appearances, he created some of the iconic moments in NFL history.
With Brady now a talking head in the booth and Patrick Mahomes winning his third Super Bowl in just his sixth season as starter, it’s time to revisit the GOAT debate.
At 28, Mahomes has 28,424 passing yards, 219 passing touchdowns and an 89-25 record, including 15-3 in the playoffs. He trails only Brady and Montana (16) in playoff wins.
If you don’t want to call Mahomes the GOAT, which is something he himself isn’t doing, you must consider from a talent standpoint that he’s the arguably the best we’ve ever seen play the position.
Talent
He’s got a way to go to reach any of Brady’s historical numbers, but putting it into context, Mahomes is a more talented than Brady ever was.
He’s a better pure passer of the football, a much better runner and he’s far more athletic.
Mental Game
Where Brady use to have a huge advantage was in the mental part of playing the position, but in the last two seasons minus the dynamic Tyreek Hill, Mahomes has tightened up in that area. Becoming a more cerebral signal-caller capable of leading teams like the last two to Super Bowl wins despite not having the more talented team on the field. That’s what Brady made a living doing in his illustrious career, and now Mahomes is doing just that himself.
With Sunday’s epic overtime win in Super Bowl LVIII, Mahomes, aka “Mr. Ketchup On Errthang,” became the first quarterback to win two MVPs and three SB MVPs before the age of 30.
He’s done it by masterfully balancing using both his arm and his legs, proving why his talent is second to none. He joins Magic Johnson as the only player in the four North American professional sports to win three championship MVPs before the age of 29.
He’s also the first NFL player to win three Super Sunday MVPs in a five-year span, setting him apart from any of former greats.
His third Super Bowl win puts him in rare, air trailing only the aforementioned Brady (seven), Joe Montana (four) and Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw (four) for Super Sunday wins.
In his jubilant postgame presser, the three-time Super Bowl champion and MVP addressed the elephant in the room, and he himself downplayed where he stands in that discussion, and how his two playoff losses to Brady will always play a factor in the debate.
“Yeah I hear it.”
“To me it’s always gonna be tough because Brady beat me in the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “That’s one thing I’ll always have over my head.”
“It gives me something to strive for every single day, just chasing greatness,” Mahomes said. “Whenever I’m tired and I don’t want to work, I know that I have to do it in order to be in moments like this.”
While Mahomes isn’t saying there isn’t a chance, longevity will definitely play a role in any hopes of catching Brady, who played 23 NFL seasons. Mahomes isn’t even a third of the way into Brady’s unreal 23 seasons, so there’s a real shot it could happen, especially with the blazing hot start that he’s had.
