LeBron James arguably had the most hype of any rookie coming into the NBA, and he not only lived up to expectations, he surpassed them in many ways.
He came into the game young and only got better as he matured, while delivering countless memories and masterpieces, breaking records, and doing things a lot of other basketball players will never even dream of doing.
Some of the same can be said for rapper Lil Wayne.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as Lil Wayne, Tunechi, and Weezy F Baby, compared himself to Bron. More specifically that he is the “LeBron James of rap”.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Lil Wayne not only compared himself to Bron, but gave an intriguing explanation of the similarities between his rap career and LeBron James’ basketball career.
“I would say that I’m like a LeBron,” Wayne said. “I dropped my first solo album when I was 14, and that’s the same album I’m talking about that went platinum. And I’ve been doing this at this pace or higher ever since, just like him.”
Wayne also mentioned Tom Brady and his longevity, producing a career that spanned almost three decades and how people questioned how much longer he could go for.
“You remember Tom Brady, it was every year, even though he was winning the Super Bowl and all that, it still was, ‘Is this the year he’s gonna retire?’ We don’t even say that about LeBron, we don’t want you to retire,” Wayne said.
“That’s how I feel when people ask when Tha Carter VI coming out. Like, “godd-mn it, that’s six of ’em. And they still want it?”
Lil Wayne Feels He’s The Greatest Rapper Of All Time?
While the Basketball GOAT debate is very different from the hip-hop GOAT debate, Wayne threw his hat into the ring when he gave his personal opinion declaring LeBron as the greatest basketball player of all time.
But to compare himself to LeBron might also indicate that he is declaring himself as the greatest rapper of all-time. Jay-Z once called himself the “Mike Jordan of Rap” and many people feel that Wayne took the mantle from Jay and dominated the rap game afterward in the same manner that Bron took the GOAT title from MJ.
When looking at Lil Wayne’s accomplishments, he has certainly made a compelling case to be called the greatest rapper of all-time. Let’s not forget, however, that LL Cool J was the first artist on Def Jam and hit the scene at 16 years old, ushering in an entirely new genre of music. He’s still around and influencing the culture on TV, in movies and with his Rock The Bells Radio on Sirius XM Channel 43 and the concerts that match the concept.
Weezy has won five Grammy Awards, eleven BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards and eight NAACP Image Awards. According to BestSellingAlbums, Wayne has sold over 26 million albums, and well over 200 million records worldwide.
Wayne has some of the most memorable moments and songs in hip-hop history, with songs such as “Lollipop,” “Go DJ,” and “Fireman.”
He has a long and storied career and is usually named among the great solo artists of the genre, just like LeBron, and no matter what happens at this point their legacies are solidified.
The 2023 season for the Kansas City Chiefs has been a whirlwind. Fresh off their second Super Bowl win in four seasons, with Patrick Mahomes the reigning Super Bowl and NFL MVP in tow, it looked like another run to Super Sunday was on the horizon.
That’s been anything but the case with K.C. now at 9-6 and struggling all season on offense which is what they’ve been known for since Mahomes became the starter in 2018.
In Mahomes’ first five seasons under center the Chiefs led the league in points scored, total yards, and total touchdowns.
This season they’re ranked ninth. Not too shabby, but definitely not up to the standards set by Eric Bieniemy who ran the offense during those seasons.
In wake of Monday’s Christmas Day home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders — one which saw K.C. finish the first quarter with -18 total yards — a former team legend is speaking out.
Mahomes has struggled all season to find continuity with his receivers, and that was never more evident than in Monday’s loss.
They lead the league with 39 drops, and half of his career-high 14 interceptions are a direct result of tipped passes that have deflected off of his receivers’ hands, leading to a turnover.
During Wednesday’s “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network, Hall said:
“I think Mahomes needs to fall in love with the mundane. Yes, for five years we’ve been use to the big plays to Tyreek, to [Travis] Kelce, all of that … It’s time to be checkdown Tom Brady.”
During last year’s Super Bowl run, Mahomes really utilized the checkdowns and swing routes to his playmakers instead of always looking for a big play.
This season that option hasn’t been available because his receivers aren’t getting open often, thus causing heightened frustration with Mahomes who’s lashed out at his teammates, referees and anyone else in his path the past few weeks.
Not only did Hall give Mahomes some advice on how to try to jump-start the offense, Hall, who had a combined 12 kick and punt returns for touchdowns in his career, believes Mahomes and Travis Kelce need to change in their body language.
During his appearance on “Good Morning Football” Hall reminded Mahomes that’s he’s got to show leadership even in time of struggle.
“Body language is everything. When you are screaming and yelling at your players, that permeates negatively. When you had what you had in the first five years, that poker face, we know we’re going to win, it’s in the end, that permeates positively. Get back to being positive.”
For 13 weeks this season it seems as if Mahomes did all he could to hold his tongue, but the pressure of the media constantly calling out his guys and the team’s lackluster play seems to have finally gotten to him. If that doesn’t change the Chiefs have no chance at advancing in the playoffs.
After 32 games, including 30 starts, the Russell Wilson era in Denver is over. On Wednesday, the team announced that Wilson is being benched for the remainder of the season.
Denver head coach Sean Payton will turn to backup Jarrett Stidham, who will likely start the final two regular season games. The move is a shock considering Wilson has played better this season, but head coach Sean Payton says the benching is performance-based.
Reports rang out everywhere that Wilson is actually being benched because of his unwillingness to defer the $37 million injury guarantee trigger in his contract that takes effect in March 2024. Per reports, the team asked Wilson to do so following a win over the Chiefs in late October, and it was something Wilson obviously was not willing to do, therefore he’s now benched with a fully guaranteed salary of $39 million in 2024.
Wilson’s time in Denver is over, and the quarterback can begin thinking about where he’ll play next.
Payton Tries To Clean It Up
During his Wednesday media session Payton addressed his decision, and he did all he could to convince everyone that his decision is performance-based.
“Look, I can tell you we’re desperately trying to win,” Payton told reporters. “Sure, in our game today there are economics and all those other things, but the No. 1 push behind this — and it’s a decision I’m making — is to get a spark offensively.”
Kind of hard to believe Payton’s explanation with the Broncos still in the playoff hunt with the division-leading Chiefs struggling mightily.
Plus, Wilson’s numbers are solid with over 3,000 yards passing, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. His 66 percent completion percentage ranks 12th in the league.
So, if it’s about trying to win, Wilson gives the Broncos the best chance, not Stidham. Payton needs to tell the truth and what it is.
Payton has wanted to shape the Broncos roster in his image and liking, and this move makes it seem destined to happen. Moving Wilson will allow Payton to bring in his QB, not one he inherited.
As for Wilson, he’ll have some suitors. Teams like the Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks could all be in the QB market.
Wilson may be moving his wife Ciara and children to one of these cities in 2024. The 35-year-old isn’t what he once was, but he’s still serviceable, and in a league where solid QB play is hard to find he can definitely help a team.
Wilson helped the Broncos out of a 1-5 hole to now 7-8, including a five-game winning streak. That unfortunately has been followed by losing three of their past four games, including last Sunday night’s disappointing home loss to the hapless 4–11 New England Patriots.
Through it all, Wilson has been a model of consistency and class, but not worth the nearly $50 million per season this deal has him earning. Wilson’s final record in Denver stands at 11-19.
Famed boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas doesn’t know if former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, aka “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” was ever great. Is Atlas right, is Tyson’s aura now overrated?
“I don’t know if he was ever great,” Atlas said of Tyson on the “Lex Fridman Podcast.” “I know he was sensational. I know he was the greatest mix of maybe speed and power ever. I know he was one of the greatest punchers from either side of the plate, left or right. There’s been great punchers with just the right hand like Earnie Shavers and Deontay Wilder and Max Baer. I don’t know if there’s ever been anyone who could punch as good as he did on either side with either hand other than Joe Louis and a few others.”
First, anything Atlas says about Tyson has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Atlas worked briefly under legendary boxing trainer Cus D’Amato, Tyson’s first trainer, at the Catskill Boxing Club. In 1982 there was an incident between a then 15-year-old Tyson and an 11-year-old female relative of Atlas’. Atlas put a .38 caliber handgun to Tyson’s ear and told him to never touch his family again, or he would kill him if he did. Atlas was fired from the boxing club.
All that is to say, there is history between these two men.
That being said, Atlas is an astute boxing commentator and aficionado. He has seen a lot in his 40+ years in and around the sport.
The question of “greatness” is semantics. At 20-years-old he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, as well as the only heavyweight to unify them in succession.
He went 37-0 to start his career winning 33 by KO or TKO.
As Atlas noted there has never been a fighter with Tyson’s combination of speed and power and he could hit hard with either hand like very few fighters in history.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been such a combination of speed and power to that pure level that he had, and it was a pure level. I don’t know if there was ever as good a fighter as Tyson was for maybe 1 night he was great. He wasn’t tested, but he might have been ready to be tested that 1 night against Michael Spinks— when he took him apart in 90 seconds. I think I saw a great fighter that night.”
In Atlas’ mind Tyson was great in one fight, the June 1988 bout against Michael Spinks whom he destroyed in :90 seconds.
Tyson was successful in his next two title bouts and then came the legendary February 1990 title bout in Tokyo, Japan against Buster Douglas. Tyson opened as the overwhelming favorite at 1:42 and was knocked out for the first time in his career in the 10th round, losing his heavyweight titles.
Tyson’s personal life leading up to that fight was in disarray and he fell victim to the trappings of fame, celebrity and riches. Things turned darker when he was convicted of rape in 1992 and served time in prison.
He did manage a comeback and won the WBC and WBA titles before losing in consecutive bouts to Evander Holyfield, highlighted by the infamous bite incident.
You could argue Tyson was a excellent fighter that possessed skills like almost nobody else. But his career didn’t live up to the early promise. Had he stayed on the straight and narrow and never got into any kind of trouble would he have retired as the only undefeated heavyweight champion?
Given boxers’ inability to let go maybe not. Maybe he never loses to Douglas and enters the Holyfield fight undefeated and has a proper camp and buildup for the first fight.
There are a lot of what ifs when it comes to Tyson. But he is one of the more legendary sportsmen in history. Was he ever truly tested early in his rise? Maybe. Maybe not.
His personal decisions robbed the sports world and himself of ever truly knowing what a fully focused champ at the peak of his powers would do when tested.
We’re days away from the calendar turning to 2024 and while this current NBA season won’t end until June, 2023 was another big year for the world’s best hoops league. We saw a franchise wining its first ever NBA title and the debut of the In Season Tournament. But what were the biggest stories of calendar year 2023?
Sept. 27, 2023, was a huge day in the NBA. The Bucks acquired seven-time All-NBA and seven-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard. He spent 11 seasons with the franchise that drafted him, the Portland Trail Blazers, and finally forced his way out. Though he did not end up in Miami with the Heat, his preferred destination.
This was a potential franchise changing move by the Bucks, who heard team’s homegrown superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo publicly say he wouldn’t sign an extension unless he was positive the team was serious about competing for a championship now and in the future. We don’t know if this move will result in a title yet, but the Bucks heard Antetokounmpo loud and clear.
We had already seen Wemby play in the G League showcase game against Scoot Henderson’s G League Ignite. We also saw him play in Las Vegas Summer League. But the hype around this generational talent was something we’ve only seen once before, when a teenager from Akron, Ohio, named LeBron James burst onto the scene.
Wemby’s stat line from his first regular season game won’t be in the books as one of his great games. 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. But he flashed signs of what a unique and generational player he can become.
The Pacers finished the inaugural IST with a 6-1 record and were runner-ups to the champion Los Angeles Lakers. But their style of play led by their young maestro Haliburton, introduced them to a national audience of people not immersed in NBA basketball and showed the depth of talent in the league.
Haliburton was incredible during the Pacers’ run, averaging 26 points and 13 assists per game on 52/42/86 shooting splits. He was a +43 during the tournament and was named to the first ever All-Tournament Team for the IST.
The NBA couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. An upstart team in the Pacers and the league’s most storied franchise in the championship game.
From the beginning the players all took the IST seriously and competed hard, no matter what they said about not understanding the rules and what it was. These are the most competitive athletes in the world, you give them a chance at a trophy and money and they are going to do their thing.
The Lakers’ win and the subsequent banner being raised, despite what old heads and people not in the league say, legitimizes this tournament going forward. This will be a part of the league in some version for the foreseeable future.
The Nuggets have been in existence for 56 years and 2023 saw their first NBA title as a franchise. They say you always remember your first. Longtime Nuggets fans and new fans alike rejoiced in June as the team defeated the Miami Heat in five games.
The 2023 title run was one of the more dominant in recent memory. They went 16-4 and never trailed in any series. The closest they were to trailing was in the conference semifinals when they were tied with the Phoenix Suns 2-2 after Game 4.
Nikola Jokic was brilliant and became the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists on the way to earning his Finals MVP.
The University of Minnesota football season ended on Tuesday with a 30-24 win over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. Gophers QB Cole Kramer, a third-stringer all season, made his first career start because the Nos. 1 and 2 QBs, Athan Kaliakmanis and Drew Viotto, hit the transfer portal.
Kramer’s fiancée, Katie Miller, who is having her “Taylor Swift” moment, was all set for the couple to move to Arizona and get married in February but gave Kramer the OK for one more game.
“Absolutely, I knew it would be worth it from the beginning. I feel like I was the one who was a little more spontaneous in telling him absolutely you should go do it,” Miller said. “I had every bit of faith that he would get the job done, so I’d say it was worth it.”
Kramer completed 8-of-16 passes for 26 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 31 yards.
The ESPN broadcast of the game took as many opportunities as possible to show Miller on the screen during the game and comment about the pending nuptials with Kramer. It might have been overkill for some. But human interest stories during a nondescript bowl game will always dominate in the production truck.
As a graduating senior, winning a bowl game in your first career start is a pretty good way to end your football career.
“I just told him thanks for coming back, now get ready for your wedding. We thanked Katie for allowing him to come back, and Katie made it very clear ‘I was the one who told him to come back right away.’ So she made it clear, we know who wears the pants in that family,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck joked. “What an ending to his career. We’re just really thankful for him, he gets to leave a champion.”
Now all Kramer has to do is get married and figure out the rest of his life. No big deal. But the bowl win will be a nice high to ride into adulthood.
Michael Jordan once said “That’s a sign of a good man if he can talk sh–t when it’s even score, or talk sh–t when you behind. When you’re ahead, it’s easy to talk.”
According to the greatest basketball player ever, Micah Parsons is a very good man. Of course, this is with the context that the Cowboys are 0-3 against the San Francisco 49ers since Parsons joined Dallas, and Parsons decides to take a stab at Brock Purdy and the 49ers when they’re getting embarrassed on “Monday Night Football” by the Baltimore Ravens.
Parsons took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice his “intrusive” thoughts about Purdy and Parsons’ perceived reality of him as an MVP-caliber QB.
“Down 21 and there no shots or development throws! Should tell you all you need to know!” Parsons tweeted.
Parsons doesn’t like the 49ers, maybe because they’ve ousted his Cowboys from the playoffs twice since he joined them, or possibly because the Niners destroyed the Boys 42-10 back in Week 5, establishing the Cowboys as a second-tier team compared to the juggernaut 49ers.
One thing is for sure, it felt amazing for Parsons to watch the Ravens demolish the 49ers and embarrass Purdy.
Purdy, who had become a front-runner for MVP after their beating of the Eagles, had arguably the worst game of his professional career. He threw for 255 yards, 0 touchdowns, and four interceptions, with a 42.6 passer rating.
On top of that, the only touchdown thrown for the Niners came from backup Sam Darnold, who threw one after Purdy left with a finger injury in the fourth quarter.
Regardless of what the Ravens did to the 49ers, Parsons has no room to talk trash against a team that has thoroughly dominated his team in every phase since he’s been a Cowboy.
But that’s what makes his trash talk even better.
Parsons is extremely confident in himself and his team, and often compares himself to other players, normally with him tipping the scale toward himself in terms of who is better. He also has MVP aspirations. The last defender who won an MVP award was an all-time great by the name of Lawrence Taylor in 1986, so that’s the standard he holds himself to.
But his willingness to bring the trash talk to teams that are superior to his team shows the level of confidence and pride he has for himself and his team considering the odds are against them.
Parsons is a fan of the game for sure, but his trash talk only paints a bigger target on the back of the Cowboys, who already carry a massive one just for being the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have just dropped two games to AFC East members, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, and are fighting for the No. 1 spot in the NFC East. But as they face a tough stretch of games against the Lions and Commanders, the Eagles have an “easy” last two games to close their season out and maintain the top spot in their division.
There’s a good chance Parsons will continue to talk the talk. But walking the walk? That’s another story.
Undrafted New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is now dealing with the realization that his ride as the team’s starter may be over.
In Monday’s 30-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day, the ineffective DeVito was benched at halftime after going 9 of 16 for 55 yards.
The former Syracuse and Illinois signal-caller has been the talk of the Big Apple since he was thrust into the starting lineup eight weeks ago.
Despite the surprising success that DeVito has enjoyed, on Monday he was hit with the stark reality that his time may be up. But, if anyone has ever capitalized on their 15 minutes of fame it’s DeVito, who became a sort of pop culture figure.
The 25-year-old Livingston, New Jersey, native even filed trademarks for “Tommy Cutlets” and the “Passing Paisano.”
DeVito took the benching in stride and sounded like someone who’s just grateful for the opportunity.
“I understand, it’s a business,” DeVito said. “We weren’t doing great on offense in the first half, I’m not sure what the numbers were, but we weren’t scoring enough points so a change was made. Tried to get a spark and that was it.”
“It’s just a constant reminder that it’s a business. They’re always gonna try and find someone to replace you, whatever it is, but at the same time, it is a business, it’s your job, I respect it, there’s no feelings one way or another. I was hoping Tyrod was gonna go out there and ball and we win the game. It’s nothing more than that.”
In eight starts this season DeVito has gone 3-5, including a three-game winning streak over the Commanders, Patriots and Packers.
In his eight starts he’s passed for 1,087 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed for another 195 yards and one touchdown, including a career-high 71 yards on the ground in a Monday night football win over the Packers.
So, if nothing else being an undrafted player, DeVito has already overachieved.
During Tuesday’s off day, second-year Giants head coach Brian Daboll said no decision has been made on the starter going forward. The reigning NFL Coach of the Year mentioned that he and his staff will discuss it after watching game tape from Monday’s game. That changed Wednesday when he announced that Taylor would start versus the Rams.
Taylor, who became the starter when Daniel Jones was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, subsequently was injured as well, putting DeVito in as QB1. Daboll’s decision to stick with Taylor this week in some ways proves the Giants are tanking.
At 5-10 and currently locked into the No. 5 pick in April’s draft, staying there would net the Giants a difference-maker in the draft. In many ways a player who they can plug and play right away.
Starting Taylor could hurt those chances, but after last week’s performance Daboll has to play the veteran so that it doesn’t look like a complete tank job.
Jones might not even be ready to start the 2024-25 season so trust and believe that Giants fans haven’t seen the last of Tommy Cutlets.
Kobe Bryant was lauded for his outlook on basketball, which transcended sports and entered a realm that can almost be called spirituality. However, there are many sides to a person, and one side that Kobe was notorious for was his intolerance for basketball players he considered average.
Enter Smush Parker, a Brooklyn, New York, guard who made it to the NBA during the Mamba era. The journeyman played with Bryant for two seasons, but no love was gained or lost between them. Parker revealed how Bryant would not allow Parker the opportunity to befriend him, even with their lockers side by side, simply because he didn’t respect his game.
“I shared a story about how I did try to talk to him,” Parker said on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast about a 2007 interview that apparently started the bad blood. “I’m like, ‘I’m the starting point guard with him in the backcourt. Let me just try to talk to him.’
“I said, ‘Did you happen to catch the football game last night?’ And he looked at me, honestly, and said, ‘You can’t talk to me. You need more accolades under your belt before you come talk to me.’ And he was dead serious,” Parker said.
Ouch.
However, Parker had it coming, since, in a 2007 interview after leaving the Lakers, he told an interviewer in New York City that playing with Bryant “Was an overrated experience.”
Bryant is famed for what people call the “Mamba Mentality.” It has spawned reverence from virtually every basketball player or fan. It was Drake’s opus to women coming for the Black Mamba’s riches when he opined, “You wasn’t with me shooting in the gym.”
Bryant himself explained what the term meant before his untimely passing.
“I came up with it during one of our tours,” Bryant reportedly explained during his 2016 Mamba Mentality Tour, which aimed to challenge and inspire the upcoming generation of young athletes. “Because I put the kids through so many drills and clinics and I just thought to myself ‘mamba mentality.’ I actually said it. This is what embodies the brand of what we stand for.”
“To sum up what Mamba mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself,” added Bryant, who did just that during his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. “That is what the mentality is. It’s a constant quest to try to better today than you were yesterday.”
That lofty standard was unachievable for Parker, but Bryant was not the type of player to give a hall pass to mediocrity.
Whether the Mamba mentality should be considered the gold standard for preparation and challenging yourself to be great is an open question, but it was uncompromising for sure, and Smush Parker felt the tail end of a passion that was so deep it had no time for compassion.
“As players who played with him, we have our own conversations and our own stories, and we share the same experiences. But when we get on this right here (microphone),” Parker continued on the podcast. “When we get in front of the cameras, they say something different. Or they don’t speak on it at all. I’ve been the only one.”
The Santo Domingo Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents searched two homes for Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Wander Franco amid allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to Spanish language outlet Listin Diario.
The raids were executed on his family home in Palo Blanco and his residence in Villa Real, but the star player was nowhere to be found. The report also said that messages were left by the authorities with Franco’s wife.
Franco, 22, was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball “until further notice” in August when allegations surfaced that he had relationships with underage girls.
MLB and the Rays both made statements in August at the time of the allegations.
“The administrative leave, effective immediately, is not disciplinary under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” read the MLB statement.
“We support Major League Baseball’s decision to place Wander Franco on Administration Leave,” the Rays said in theirs statement. “The Tampa Bay Rays are dedicated to upholding high standards of integrity both on and off the field. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our fans and supporters as this process unfolds.”
Franco has denied the allegations and spoke on his Instagram Live in August.
“They’re saying I got with a young girl, that I’m running around with a minor out there,” Franco said in Spanish. “How crazy is that, dude? People don’t know what to do with their time. Those people need to get moving. One is here focused, doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody because people are so gossipy.”
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18.
In total, accusations from three different girls are being looked into by authorities in the Dominican Republic. Things do not look good, and if he’s on the run it doesn’t help him in the court of public opinion.
Franco’s U.S. based attorney is Jay Reisinger. But it is unclear who, if anyone, is representing him in the Dominican Republic.
It’s currently the MLB offseason but pitchers and catchers will report to clubs in mid-February 2024 and the rest of the roster shortly thereafter. Unless this situation is miraculously resolved, it is highly unlikely that Franco will be playing ball in 2024.
The Rays signed Franco to an 11-year $182 million contract in November 2021. The deal also has a team option for 2033 that could bring the total value to $223 million.
Ja Morant is a dog on the basketball court.
A pure competitor who is focused on winning, Morant is attempting to turn around a season that saw him miss 25 games for his off-the-court antics and pull the Grizzlies from their current 13th position in the Western Conference. However, with Morant, his ambition will never be clean as it comes with some nontraditional actions.
For instance, en route to topping the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday 116-115 and achieving a 4-0 win streak since Ja Morant’s return, Morant celebrated after a play with a trigger finger motion at the end of the celly. It’s a head-scratching moment, but it is time to come to a finite conclusion about Ja Morant: he is toxic, which makes him great.
Morant earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for Dec. 18 to 24, the NBA announced Tuesday, for averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game in wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks. Memphis won four straight games for the first time this season.
But it is a truism that the old guard and the currently conservative must face, today’s athletic superstar loves NBA Youngboy, griddy dances down the court, and uses gun references to make an ‘in-your-face’ boast after scoring. Morant is an original representative of today’s young energy in its rawest form. Social constructs like decency, civility, and winning in understated fashion have been replaced with boastfulness, confidence mistaken as cockiness and the most ethereal references to eliminating the competition, hence the trigger fingers.
Unfortunately, this is Morant’s David Stern to Allen Iverson moment in the court of public opinion.
During the 2005-2006 NBA season, David Stern made the NBA the first major sports league to have a dress code. However, the reasoning felt thinly veiled. The dress code required athletes to “wear business casual attire” to games and a sports coat with dress shoes on the bench. Stern’s move was a direct answer to players like Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, who made hood chic part of NBA culture.
Dan Patrick reported that Stern’s dress code was in direct response for him hating the way Steve Nash dressed at press conferences but the world has chosen to label it the Iverson Rule.
Although the restrictions on clothing have been eliminated, other cultural constants like weapon mimicry as a celebratory stance are being ushered in just like gang signs were lowkey introduced to the hardwood.
The focus on Morant’s professional decorum for celebrations is a guttural representation of his killer mentality. Maybe he begins to question going hard on the court if he can’t rejoice naturally.
Ja Morant is toxic, from his off-the-court persona to his celebrations when leading the team out of the bottom of the Western Conference. For owners, GMs, and coaches who want to win with Morant, it’s time to let some of his childishness go because to get the best of Morant, he still will do something toxic.
It is what it is.
When former NFL quarterback Cam Newton called quarterbacks Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Jared Goff and Tua Tagovailoa game managers he was called out by many in the media.
Some questioned how Newton, a former NFL MVP (2015) could say that and not be chastised for it. Some actually compared Newton’s career to the guys he called game managers, which isn’t a bad term at all. Especially when you hear what he says it entails, which is doing what the game plan calls for and not hurting your team with mistakes.
He then said there were only three to five game-changers at the QB position in the NFL, and they include Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers, and Josh Allen.
Fair take from someone who’s more than qualified to speak his piece. After weeks of backlash for this take, Newton’s assessment seemed prophetic after the aforementioned Purdy’s four-interception performance on Christmas night in San Francisco 49ers’ 33-19 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Monday night’s outcome even had some talking heads reassessing what the outspoken former QB said.
Fox Sports NFL analyst Bucky Brooks posted this via X formerly known as Twitter.
“Maybe we need to revisit the game manager vs game changer conversation Cam Newton suggested.”
Interesting when you consider how hard folks went at Newton for making a true statement.
At the time of Newton’s comments, all four of the QBs he mentioned were in the thick of the MVP race in some form. Since then, all have seen their chances of winning the award decrease dramatically. That’s even further proof that what Newton said was definitely valid, because their résumés weren’t strong enough to overcome a few games of subpar play, or in Purdy’s case a four-interception night.
If somehow Purdy did still win the award, he’d be just the second QB to win it while having a game like that on his résumé, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, who did it in 2001.
Monday’s loss was a clear indication that the game-changer in the Niners offense is do-it-all running back Christian McCaffrey, who’s an MVP candidate himself, and if we’re splitting hairs here, he should be at the top of the list with whomever is currently there.
Never one to miss an opportunity to say I told you so, following Purdy’s third interception, Newton hit up X, formerly known as Twitter, to post this emoji.
It was the least that Newton — just one of two players to win both a Heisman and NFL MVP— could do.
If the Los Angeles Lakers are your most viable challenger in the West to derail Nikola Jokic (who dropped a 50-piece on Christmas) and the Denver Nuggets’ attempt to secure a second straight NBA championship, then just hand Joker the golden ball today.
How quickly the narrative has changed for LeBron James and the Lakers since winning the Inaugural In-Season Tournament and giving Lakers Nation a glimmer of hope that if this team can get into the playoffs, they would be able to elevate to serious contenders.
We didn’t really buy into it, but enough media talking heads were singing that tune.
Since that tournament, the Lakers are 2-6 and according to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, Bron is getting “tired” of doing all the heavy lifting. ESPN NBA Analyst Tim Legler says it has less to do with James and credits other contenders with doing more to upgrade their teams. He says the Lakers just aren’t deep enough in comparison to other elite squads.
“After LeBron and AD, what’s that next layer (of players),” Legler wondered before comparing LA to the Boston Celtics. “When I look at Boston’s guys after Tatum and Brown…you look at a Derrick White. You look at a Porzingis. You look at Jrue Holiday. They went out and added two players who basically allow them to play any style. … Because of that I think the Celtics are in a different league than the Lakers right now. “
In his postgame presser, LeBron James agreed with Legler and admitted that the team is still trying to figure it out. No better proof of this than AD coming through with 40 points and 13 boards, but still falling well short of carry the team to victory.
“I don’t think we are where we want to be right now to compete with the top teams until we continue to get batter. We are still trying to figure our situation out as far as how we want to attack each game.”
What’s With The Lakers?
What appeared to be a loaded team with two future Hall of Famers and a solid, multi-dynamic supporting cast is now subscribing to a common theme. When old LeBron plays like young LeBron, the Lakers can beat anybody.
When King James wants to take a day off from carrying the offensive load and lets Anthony Davis lead and other guys get some, the result is usually a loss.
According to ESPN, the Lakers are 6-1 in games where LeBron scored more than 30 points. When LeBron isn’t scoring at a 30ppg clip, L.A .is 8-13. On a Christmas Day where LBJ almost messed around and got a triple double (16/9/8), the Lakers were basically run out of the gym by a younger and more athletic Boston Celtics by a score of 126-115.
Celtics superstar Tatum was clearly the best player on the floor with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for a team that is 23-6 and on the rise. Does LeBron have another late comeback in him, or was the IST his last “championship” in the NBA?
When the Baltimore Ravens hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken away from the Georgia Bulldogs, they knew they were getting a guy whose forte was spreading teams out and throwing the football around the yard.
Not to be lost in all the passing, is Monken’s willingness to stick with the running game to stay balanced. That’s the unusual quirk that most don’t use in his Air Raid attack.
Since his arrival after guiding the Bulldogs’ offense in back-to-back CFP national championships, Monken has done his best to make superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson comfortable.
Back in the preseason Jackson raved about how Monken empowered him to be more vocal within the offense, and he even told him to send any plays he liked to run.
This season that seemed to ignite Jackson, who after finishing the past two seasons on the injured list, is now 61-24 as a starter and 20-1 versus the NFC following Monday’s masterpiece in a 33-19 win over the Niners. His only blemish is a 1-3 playoff record that he hopes to change this postseason.
The biggest difference in Monken’s attack versus that of former offensive coordinator Greg Roman is the way he spreads the field and allows more space for Jackson to operate. In Roman’s attack it was about bigger bodies and power running, which clogged up the middle of the field. Under Monken it’s been about pace and space, and Jackson has flourished in his first season in the offense.
Monday’s performance of 252 yards passing, two touchdowns plus another 45 on the ground catapulted Jackson into the forefront of the MVP race. Following the win Jackson was his normal even-keeled self. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner is also displaying a confidence not seen since his 2019 unanimous MVP season.
“We got the dub, I really don’t care about my performance,” Jackson said. “I just want to win, and that’s what happened tonight. On Christmas, that was my gift.”
Jackson is now an astounding 6-0 in his career versus top-5 defenses on the road, with the Ravens averaging 26.5 points per game in those matchups. Jackson made every play on Monday with his arm and his legs as he displayed what an MVP and game-changer looks like.
Regular season accolades are great, but when you’re Lamar Jackson it’s about postseason success, and that’s something he hasn’t had yet. The hope is Monken, who led UGA to two titles, is the perfect complement to Jackson come the postseason. Sitting at 12-3 is nice, but the duo will be measured on their playoff success.
Monken has given Jackson the keys, and LJ8 has performed admirably with over 3,300 yards passing, nearly 800 yards rushing, and 24 touchdowns.
They’ll likely have home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, something they had in 2019 in a loss to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC divisional round.
The Michigan Wolverines are hoping to lock up head coach and alumnus Jim Harbaugh.
As the Wolverines are preparing to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day, university brass has offered Harbaugh a ten-year, $125 million extension with one stipulation.
It revolves around Harbaugh being a hot commodity amongst the NFL coaching search that’s about to take place at season’s end. Harbaugh’s name has been mentioned as the possible new head coach in Washington, Los Angeles (Chargers), Las Vegas, Chicago and others. In an attempt to keep that from a becoming a reality the reigning three-time Big Ten champs are throwing the bag at Harbs.
Will He Sign The Deal?
The move by the Wolverines is calculated and smart, because they could lose the guy who ended the the eight-game losing streak to archrival Ohio State and has now beaten them three consecutive years. Late Saturday Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported this about Harbaugh and the deal:
“Sources say Harbaugh, whose current deal runs through 2026, received an offer from Michigan for a 10-year, $125 million contract extension that would make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. Yet there is a caveat, and it’s NFL-related.
“If he signed the deal — which he has not yet done — Harbaugh would agree not to entertain or accept an NFL job for the 2024 season. The NFL clause would be one season only, but that’s apparently been enough to drag out the process.”
Why Has Harbaugh Been Reluctant To Sign The Deal?
The sign-stealing fiasco is very likely a reason why he hasn’t signed the deal. Having already accepted a three-game suspension to finish the regular season, one has to wonder if Harbs knows that’s not over. If there’s more to it he’d likely want to leave the college game and head back to the NFL, where he had plenty of success previously leading the San Francisco 49ers to three consecutive NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.
The most likely landing spot for Harbaugh would be the Chargers, who have talented quarterback Justin Herbert. But in order for that to happen he’ll have to leave that lucrative deal on the table in Ann Arbor.
But for at least the next week Harbaugh will be trying to figure how to beat Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Lamar Jackson has made a career out of disproving the theories of expert analysts concerning his ability and potential.
On Christmas night, the 2019 NFL MVP was lighting up the San Francisco 49ers to the tune of a 33-19 victory. After the biggest win of the season, Jackson shot back at the long list of experts and prognosticators and analysts who continue to doubt the NFL’s most lethal weapon.
With both teams entering the contest with 11-3 records, the 49ers were the far superior team in the court of public opinion, and Jackson responded with 252 passing yards, 45 rushing yards, two TDs and more highlight reel material.
NFL analyst and talking head Mike Florio was very vocal in discrediting Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens prior to the whipping they dispensed, predicting last week that the Niners would “kick the sh– out of the Ravens” in Santa Clara.
With all of the opinions and talking heads and football shows in rotation, it’s interesting that Florio’s prediction caught the ear of Jackson who does a tremendous job of blocking out the noise.
While walking toward the Ravens’ locker room after the game, LJ8 could be overheard calling out Florio for his egregious prediction.
“Damn, Mike Flores! What was his name? Mike Flores?” said Jackson, seemingly referring to Florio’s comments.
Jackson further addressed Florio’s remarks with reporters after the game.
“You can’t just discredit us. We’re grown men, we’ve got to feed our families…That’s very disrespectful,” said Jackson.
“He needs to just keep doing his job, but don’t come off like that towards us. Because that’s disrespectful, like I said. Because he ain’t putting them pads on. If he were putting them pads on I feel like it’d be different for him. … We’re respectful to our opponents. Our opponents are respectful to us. But a guy who is not even playing against us gonna come out being disrespectful. I guess he wanted a little more views on his little channel. We’re gonna leave it at that.”
This was typical LJ8. The uniqueness of his game and the magnitude of his athletic prowess still has traditional football heads bewildered. He totally outplayed Brock Purdy, considered to be leading Lamar in the MVP race entering that showdown and continues to conquer narratives with a clearly improved passing approach and win games with a style that only he’s mastered.
Jackson was seriously doubted as a rookie, despite being a Heisman winner with generational talent and entering the 2018 NFL draft, various prognosticators questioned his capacity to play pro quarterback and suggested a position change.
Related: Lamar Jackson’s Draft Night Exposes The Character Flaws Of The NFL (theshadowleague.com)
Jackson dropped to the bottom of the first round to John Harbaugh and the Ravens, truly an early Christmas gift for a franchise that was in transition at the position, with Super Bowl QB Joe Flacco aging out. Jackson was the fifth quarterback chosen after guys like Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen.
Fast forward to 2024 and the disrespect is still in the air, but it’s definitely a faint whisper at this point. Rosen is out of the league, Mayfield has become a serviceable QB, but not befitting of his No. 1 overall billing. Darnold is a career backup, Allen is an All-Pro talent, but Jackson is better than all of them.
While Jackson’s performance was classic and the victory was Baltimore’s biggest of the season, it doesn’t answer all of the questions about his ability to execute with precision in the playoffs and lift Baltimore back to the promised land. So, for now, that chip on his shoulder is still serving the franchise well. That blowback about the mega contract he and his mom negotiated is in the rearview mirror as well. It’s clear he’s a bargain in comparison to what other quarterbacks who lack his impact are getting.
The only thing left for Jackson to do is stay mad and motivated and feeling disrespected until every box is checked and his status among the greatest quarterbacks our game has seen is cemented with a championship.
While the NBA celebrated many successes and a positive year in 2023, there were a few off-court incidents that brought unwanted attention to the league and some of its biggest stars.
Normally what a player does in their personal and romantic lives, unless it involves a crime, is uninteresting and none of our business. But when it attracts a lot of negative public attention and can be the source of poor on-court performance, it must be discussed.
Over the summer Williamson held a gender reveal party with his girlfriend. Another woman he was seeing, OnlyFans model Moriah Mills, saw the gender reveal party pictures on the internet and proceeded to put all of Williamson’s business on front street.
Mills talked about his sexual proclivities and how he told her he didn’t want any kids. It got ugly.
She resurfaced after a string of poor play by Williamson in December and talked about his poor diet, his poor off-season workout habits. It’s a mess.
All of this has led to continued concerns about his lack of professionalism and now because of a clause in his contract, the final three years of his five-year, $200 million deal are non-guaranteed.
The truth is, the suspension of Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was for more than playing with guns on social media.
Morant and his friends and associates have been involved in a number of incidents that brought negative attention to him, the Grizzlies and the NBA.
There was the mall incident where Morant and his associates allegedly threatened a mall employee.
There was the pickup game at his Memphis area home last summer where he knocked out a then-teenager. A civil case related to the incident is still pending.
In January of this year following a game against the Indiana Pacers in Memphis, where Morant’s father Tee and Ja’s friend Davonte Pack got into a verbal altercation with Pacers players on the floor during the game, the verbal altercation continued at the loading area at FedEx Forum, where the Pacers team buses were. Someone in Ja’s party allegedly flashed a red laser light on the Pacers’ traveling party. Members of the Pacers group reportedly thought it was attached to a gun and feared for their safety.
In March Morant was seen inside a Denver area strip club intoxicated and waving a gun, and it was captured on IG Live. He was suspended for eight games and went to a counseling program in Florida.
Morant has been back for three games and the Grizzlies are 3-0 and look like the team that was a top seed in the playoffs the last couple seasons.
Hopefully he has grown and this will all be left in the past.
Ex-Houston Rockets’ player Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested in New York City for an alleged attack on on his girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick.
Gondrezick has denied that Porter Jr. attacked her, saying she fell and hit her head after Porter Jr. abruptly woke her up after a night out.
One assault charge was dropped by the Manhattan District Attorney, but he still faces charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
After news of the incident broke Porter Jr. was traded from the Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder and immediately waived.
Bradley Beal may not be a Wizard anymore, but Washington is still in his blood, and as the Washington Wizards prepare to move to Virginia to play, Beal is pleading with the owner to keep the Wizards in D.C.
The Washington Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced plans to move Washington’s basketball team to Virginia with plans also to build a new arena for them to play in as well.
Bradley Beal, the newest star of the Booker-Durant-Beal trio, spoke from the heart about this potential move calling out Leonsis for the possible move to Virginia. Beal has been keeping a year-long diary with Andscape, and this past week he explained his frustrations with the move and the team owner.
“D.C., I’m here with you. I’m with you all. There is no moving to Virginia. What is that, [Wizards owner] Ted [Leonsis]?” Beal wrote. “We love you to death. We understand what you want to do and are trying to do. But you can’t take the team out of D.C. It’s Chocolate City. As a league, we need it. It has to stay in D.C. now.”
Beal spent 11 years in Washington, and he accrued plenty of accolades and memories with them before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the offseason. Beal was one of the few NBA talents who stayed loyal to their team for a while before finally moving on for better chances of winning and competing for a championship.
Earlier in his career he saw some success with John Wall and the Wizards, but as the Wizards lost players and the Eastern Conference got more competitive, they went back into rebuilding mode and it was time for Beal, who hit his 30s this year, to move on to a competitor.
Regardless of how things ended in Washington, where Beal reportedly was caught off guard by the trade, Beal still has nothing but love for his former home of 11 years, and even though the Wizards are looking at the financial gain of moving to Virginia, Beal wants the mayor to figure out a way to keep the Wizards in the District of Columbia.
“It’s Chocolate City. As a league, we need it. It has to stay in D.C. now. The money? Listen, it’s out of my hands and out of my control. I ain’t got nothing to do with that. Hopefully [Washington] mayor [Muriel] Bowser can work something out with you.”
Beal really wants the team to remain in D.C., and relates the potential move to the Commanders moving to Maryland, and how it can create some dismay in the community.
“I hope the team stays. It’s good for the city. It creates a little bit of a problem, just my personal opinion, if it moves to Virginia. It’s probably similar to how people felt when [the Washington Commanders] moved to Maryland. It is a tough thing. We just got to get everybody back to D.C. just rebuild RFK Stadium, rebuild Cap One (Capital One Arena). Keep it in the city. We can make it happen and they can make happen.”
There’s definitely a position for Beal in the Wizards organization, or in the community once he hangs the jersey up, especially considering how hard he’s pushing for the Wizards to remain in D.C.
There were many storylines from Monday’s Christmas Day battle between longtime AFC West rivals the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders (formerly Oakland and Los Angeles).
The biggest storyline that’s emerged from the Raiders’ surprising upset of the Chiefs is how much the defending Super Bowl champions miss former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Another positive storyline for the Raiders is the way the team has responded to interim head coach Antonio Pierce. Defeating a desperate Chiefs team led by Patrick Mahomes is definitely the biggest win of the season for the Raiders. Pierce’s chances of permanently landing the job at one of the NFL’s historic franchises has definitely elevated in these past few weeks.
K.C.’s season-long funk continued, from turnovers to drops and just looking disjointed offensively. That’s something that didn’t happen much with Bieniemy in the role of offensive coordinator.
Despite not being the play-caller, he made guys accountable for their play and actions. Some of it was the Chiefs’ doing, but the Raiders definitely played a role in their demise, and that bodes well for Pierce who’s now 4-3 in his interim role.
Chiefs Are Vulnerable
This is the most beatable the Chiefs have looked in the Mahomes era. This season they’ve lost four home games, including their last three. That’s not something we’re used to seeing from Mahomes, whose two turnovers in seven seconds turned the game in the second quarter.
Following the loss Mahomes sounded like someone who knows if things don’t change their playoff chances are minimal.
“I still believe we can do what we wanna do,” Mahomes said in his postgame interview following Monday’s 20-14 loss.
But he’s also smart enough to know it’s going take some work.
“It’s just how can we correct it as quickly as possible,” he said. “We’re two games left that are guaranteed and then you talk about the playoffs, and so all you can do is move on to the next day, get better then, and try to be better the next time we step on the field.”
That opportunity will come next week in a big matchup against the Bengals, one the Chiefs will need to clinch the AFC West division title, which is something they failed to do on Monday.
On one end of the spectrum, Antonio Pierce is auditioning to have the interim tag removed from his title. Monday’s win was just the latest in the audition, and thus far Pierce seems to be passing with flying colors.
Beating the Chiefs, which is something they had only done once in the Mahomes era should go a long way in helping Pierce’s campaign.
“Hell of a job by those guys, our staff, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. It’s tough,” Pierce told sideline Tracy Wolfson after the game as tears filled his eyes.
“This is what we wanted,” Pierce said. “We said enough is enough. … It was going to take all 60 minutes, and it did. Hell of a job by our offense to finish it.”
With a passing game that couldn’t muster a completion after the first quarter, the Raiders finished things off by using a powerful running game (157 rushing yards), led by second-year back Zamir White, who had 145 of them.
This team has taken on the attitude and personality of Pierce, and that should be enough for Raiders owner Mark Davis to do the right thing and hire him.
As far as the Chiefs are concerned, they are still a work in progress and still in a position to defend their Super Bowl title, despite the challenges this season has brought and the loss of mastermind Eric Bieniemy.
There’s no other way to spin it, former four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is pulling the strings behind the scenes for the New York Jets. Lost opening night to a torn Achilles, the now 40-year-old Rodgers, who’s made headlines about the possibility of his returning this season, has also let his feelings about the coaching staff be known often.
During his weekly appearances on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers has continually stated that he wants to see the Jets keep the current staff and run it back in 2024 with him healthy. Rodgers seemingly has the ear of team owner Woody Johnson, and prior to Sunday’s dramatic 30-28 win over the Washington Commanders, Johnson let it be known that he was sticking with the current leadership group of his team.
Saleh And Douglas Can Thank Discount Double Check
Many believed the end was near for third-year head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, who’s in his fifth season. But the injury to Rodgers just a couple of plays into the season wasn’t enough to determine if this group can lead the Jets where they wanna go with their prize addition under center.
Johnson told The New York Post, “My decision is to keep them. I think we’ve had some very positive moves. The culture of the team is a lot better. The defense is better. The offense needs a few pieces.”
“Just to keep the continuity going with Aaron and the team that we’ve got,” Johnson added. “Like I said a year ago, we need a quarterback. We had a quarterback for four plays. Since then we haven’t been able to replace him. If we have a good quarterback, it makes everybody’s job easier. It makes the line better, the receivers better.”
Johnson is saying what we all know, and that is the team dropped the ball when it drafted Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021. Rodgers is 40 and the team awaiting his return next season, shows they have absolutely no belief in Wilson going forward.
With A Healthy Rodgers Jets Are Super Bowl Contenders
Coming into the season the Jets were Super Bowl contenders with Rodgers in the fold. That shouldn’t change much in 2024 if Rodgers can come back fully healthy. They’ll need to upgrade their offensive line and add a few pieces in the receiver room, but their defense when healthy is Super Bowl level, and Rodgers’ ability to help the defense stay fresh by controlling the tempo will be vital.
It will be a prove it year for Saleh and Douglas, whose jobs going forward will bank on the health of Rodgers.
