“I’m Telling You American Players, You’re Going To Lose Jobs” | Doc Rivers With Concerning Outlook On Future Of American Hoops
Former NBA head coach and current ESPN NBA broadcaster Doc Rivers was a recent guest on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” The conversation was geared around early observations in the league this season. When asked about the influx of good European players in the league, Rivers offered some sobering advice for the young American baller.
“These young American players better watch out because the European players are better players coming into the league,” Rivers said. “They’re better prepared coming into the league, and they’re competitors. And a lot of our young guys are not.”
Are European Players Better Coming Into The League?
There is a lot of truth in what Rivers said and we’ve written about it some in the context of French phenom Victor Wembanyama and the future of Team USA Basketball.
But let’s parse out what is factual, anecdotal, and some of the reasons for the increase in talented non-American players.
Basketball is and always has been a global game and is among the most popular sports in the world. It became an official Olympic Sport in 1936 during the Berlin games. When late NBA commissioner Adam Silver sent professional NBA players to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, the game was supercharged worldwide.
Coaches from all over the world have been sharing strategies, training methods and more for decades. As capitalism exploded and as sports became a vehicle for government propaganda in non-capitalist countries, professional basketball became a viable way to earn a lot of money.
The United States still produces the most basketball talent in the world. But the best players are no longer exclusively American as they once were 15-20 years ago.
The NBA season is only a few weeks old and metrics are still a little noisy. But a look at the top-10 and top-20 in BPM (box plus/minus), a box score estimate of the points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a league-average player, translated to an average team. It’s a precursor to the preferred EPM (estimated plus minus), which looks at the points per 100 possessions a player contributes to their team. The latter stat won’t be available for another few weeks.
All that said, BPM so far is telling. Among the top-10 in BPM this season it’s split 50/50. Half the players are American, the other half non-American. In the next 10 (11-20), it’s a 70/30 split. Seven are American, three non-American.
What does that mean?
It means the top-end talent in the league isn’t strictly limited to American players. But there are still more good American players than American players.
Rivers said the European players, and we will assume that’s a catch-all designation for non-American, are better players coming into the league and better prepared.
The Games Is Global And Their Is Talent Everywhere
That might be true in specific circumstances. But it’s not an absolute.
Yes, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was ready to dominate the NBA on day one. He was the best player in Europe as a teenager and dominated EuroLeague and EuroBasket, a league and competition against professional men.
Nikola Jokic was a positive EPM machine from day one, but his conditioning held him back. He solved that problem and is the world’s best player.
But Greek national Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has two MVPs a two Finals MVP and DPOY, wasn’t dominant from day one. He was a net negative his first two seasons in the league and didn’t become an All-Star until year four.
LeBron James was a pretty good team player, day one. So was Chris Paul. Both were EPM positives as rookies.
It’s all case by case and there are plenty of factors that determine the effectiveness of a player, regardless of where they’re from.
But there is something to player development and our AAU structure versus what some European countries do.
On the podcast, Rivers talked about a recent panel he was on where they charted youth basketball. He said on average during the summer, an American kid in the AAU system plays six games per week and has one practice. In Europe, it’s the opposite. There is one game and six practices.
Rivers lamented the experience his son Austin went through as an AAU player; the former Philadelphia 76ers head coach said it drove him nuts how many games his son was playing.
There is something to be said about development within a team environment: practice, three-on-three and five-on-five sets.
Part of the reason some European players come to the league better prepared to help teams win is because of how they’ve been coached in basketball.
In America, the best players have their hands on the ball the majority of the time. In AAU there are seldom, if any, tactical points being made. The best player overwhelms with his talent and gets the score or the stop.
In Europe coaches lean heavily on tactics because the talent isn’t as overwhelming. So there is a knowledge some players have about doing the necessary things to help their team score. Split cut, screening away, back cuts, etc. Ball and man movement are prioritized.
There was a clip of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry (American), from his summer hoops camp that went viral. In the clip Curry is telling his campers that begging for the ball, not getting it and standing around, is the weakest move in basketball. He tells them any other decision is the right one. Emphasizing movement.
He is the king of movement in the NBA — equally as dangerous with or without the basketball.
There are some European players who understand that concept well and know how to do things without the ball to help the team score.
In basketball, you are trading possessions for points. Who can help a team win possessions? Those players are extremely valuable.
“Players are far more talented [today] than we ever were,” Rivers continued. “It’s not even close. But they don’t know how to play. They don’t know how to play team basketball…We got to get back to that. Or I’m telling you American players, you’re going to lose jobs.”
The individual brilliant scorer will always have a place in the NBA, American or non-American. But you’re going to have to be elite, if that is the only thing you can do. When I say elite, we’re talking top-5 scorer in the league and top-5 in isolation points per possession.
Everyone else better have skills that help teams win possessions because whether you’re American or not, if you can’t help a team do that you won’t be able to play in this NBA.
Is Football The New Red Light District Of Sports? From Blueface To OnlyFans Models, The Antics At Games Are Changing
Football has an image issue. For some reason, the sport is evolving and has unofficially invited the clout chase on a very suggestive level.
(Image Credit: Screen shot Danii Banks IG)
OnlyFans model Danii Banks recorded herself flashing her breasts for her 8 million fans on Instagram inside Allegiant Stadium during the Las Vegas Raiders home game on Sunday versus the New York Jets. Banks jumped up and down in the stands and ultimately pulled her Raiders tube top down to welcome the crowd to Sin City sports.
Flash Mob
However, when security caught wind of the spectacle, the model was escorted from the stadium for her antics. Per TMZ, after Banks recorded herself flashing boobs inside Allegiant Stadium, security guards and police officers quickly descended and ended her one-woman show. The NFL or security in Allegiant Stadium must have been on alert as she didn’t post the video of her flashing the crowd until after she exited the arena.
The NFL, the Raiders, and Allegiant Stadium probably didn’t want to end up in the news cycle as their compatriots in Los Angeles did during the Los Angeles Rams game that saw rapper Blueface bring some unexpected indecent exposure.
Back in late October, the Southern California-based rap artist had a private suite on the field at the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams game at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Replete with strippers in tow, Blueface gave the crowd an NSFW showcase of women twerking while the rapper and his soon-to-be fiancée tossed money on them in the open.
Bluefaced
The incident stoked the ire of the wife of Rams QB1 Matthew Stafford, Kelly Stafford, who let the world know her frustrations on her podcast.
“So this is our in-game entertainment. This is our game day experience,” Kelly said on her podcast, “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank.” “And if you guys didn’t see it, it’s strippers in a suite and in the middle of the game. People throwing money at them.
“Here’s my thing. Again, can’t control it. I’m going to therapy, my therapist says, ‘You got to remove yourself from things you can’t control.’ I can’t control the crowd noise. I can’t control that we have strippers at the game.”
With the NFL garnering global attention during the season, it is now fast becoming a platform for entertainers of all kinds to showcase their talents near the gridiron.
Is Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton The New Steve Nash?
Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has given the city and the franchise hope. He’s had an excellent start to the season, the Pacers look like a legitimate playoff team, and he could be headed for his first All-NBA honor. His efficiency shooting and playmaking and the way he sees the bigger picture reminds some of Steve Nash.
Haliburton is averaging 24.7 points and 12.5 assists per game on absurd 52/43/93 shooting splits. He has recorded a double-double in nine of his first 10 games and is coming off a record-setting two-game stint in Philadelphia against the 76ers in which he amassed 32 assists and zero turnovers.
His assist to turnover ratio to start the season is nearly 6:1.
Halburton And The Pacers Have Motor
When you watch the Pacers play they have pace (second in the league) and they play with a sense of joy, and that’s also because of Haliburton. His willingness to pass ahead and have a handle on who needs touches when, and how to keep everyone involved is the hallmark of a great team leader, which historically has been a point guard.
Like Nash’s “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns, Haliburton and Nash control the basketball and the flow of the game. Both players like tempo and a state of constant flow.
Today’s positionless game means that a point guard is not always your best player and/or team leader. In that sense, Haliburton is something of a throwback. But he has the pulse of his team and they trust in him.
“There’s responsibility there — responsibility outside of wins and losses, about keeping the team psyche balanced,” Nash said to The Ringer when discussing Haliburton. “Whether that’s taking responsibility for losses, whether that’s keeping the guys light, loose, or calm. Sometimes it’s showing that there’s a passion to win, that the level is not acceptable right now. That’s kind of a part of it, too. You’re the one who’s gonna have to talk. You’re the one who’s gonna have to talk to the press, and take responsibility in that way as well. You have to make sure the moment’s not too big, or that you recognize the energy’s not high enough, or whatever it is. That’s more intense when you are the face of the franchise.”
The Pacers signed Haliburton to a five-year, $260 million max extension this summer. He is the face of the franchise. They have empowered him to do what he does best and he’s grabbed ahold of it and run. Free agent signee Bruce Brown, sixth man Buddy Hield, talented young athlete Obi Toppin and veteran big man Myles Turner all follow Haliburton’s lead and are happy to do so.
Elite Play Led By A Person Guys Want To Play With
“When someone calls you and recruits you to a team,” Brown says of Haliburton, “it’s a different feeling.”
“I play a style of basketball that people want to play,” said Haliburton. “I think that’s part of the reason why they signed me to the deal they signed me to. I’ve got long-term stability here because they know that I can help bring people here — not only with who I am as a basketball player, but who I am as a person.”
Unlike Nash, Haliburton doesn’t have a player who can score the way prime Amar’e Stoudemire could, so he has to score more. That balance between scoring and facilitating and when to do it is a tightrope all primary ballhandlers who are elite scorers have to walk.
He’s only 23 and this is the beginning of his fourth season in the NBA, but it looks like the sky’s the limit.
The Pacers should have a top-10 offense all season. They still struggle defensively, but Haliburton’s ability to initiate good offense late in games will mitigate that some. They should finish top six in the Eastern Conference, guaranteeing a playoff berth.
They have a lot of development and areas to address, too many to be a serious contender. But you have to crawl before you walk. Win 45-50 regular season games routinely and qualify for the playoffs.
Use that up-tempo style to wreak havoc during the In-Season Tournament. The Pacers are 2-0 in group play, develop a winning culture and mindset. More success will follow.
If Haliburton is the leader and he continues to set that example by continually demanding more of himself, the rest will follow.
‘You’d Be Shocked At How Many Girls Have Granddaddy Issues’ | Cam and Mase Have OJ Simpson Gloating About His Spring Break Conquests
Pro Football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson has been known to make some outlandish comments, and his takes on certain things have been known to be even more odd. Simpson, the 76-year-old former Heisman Trophy-winning running back, is now doing weekly appearances on the “It Is What It Is,” podcast with Harlem emcees Cam’ron and Mase.
The legendary rusher is supposd to bring the weekly sports talk and give his opinion on other topics. Occasionally, Simpson goes off-script and begins to talk about other things that are going on to e his personal life, which he lives pretty much out of the limelight since his release from prison in 2017 and parole in 2021. During his most recent appearance on the show Simpson went off kilter a bit and told a story of his spring break shenanigans.
Granddaddy Issues?
As Cam’ron made reference to how difficult it is to find the 76-year-old former Hertz car rental commercial star, Simpson didn’t hesitate to insinuate that he’s been messing around with some college girls.
“Granddaddy issues,” is what Simpson spewed in response to Cam’ron’s comment.
“You’d be surprised how many girls have father issues and granddaddy issues. You’d be shocked at how many girls have granddaddy issues.”
Simpson then proceeded to give the details of his very creepy hookup with a college girl. And how he had to end the relationship because she had to return to school.
“She was from New Hampshire, it was one that I liked. I did like her, it lasted at least three days … she had to go back to school.
“We were on the beach at Las Olas Blvd, it’s the best street in America as far as clubs, bars and good looking women.”
While Simpson didn’t reveal how old the young lady was, one has to figure she was in the neighborhood of 18-22 years old. So in many ways it could be looked at as Simpson was robbing the cradle, as they say. Either way it’s creepy to hear someone almost 80 brag about being with a person a fourth of his age.
Simpson Seen Looking His Age Recently
Simpson’s detailed excursion must’ve happened a while back, because he was recently seen in Las Vegas moving slowly and walking with a bit of a hunch. At his age that really isn’t too surprising, but when you hear him tell stories like that it makes you think when did this possibly happen.
In retrospect, a good sign is he wasn’t using the cane he employed pretty frequently while locked up for stealing sports memorabilia.
With Simpson a weekly correspondent with Cam’ron and Mase, expect more wild stories and even more strange happenings as pertain to his quiet-but-seemingly-booming personal life.
Did the NCAA Do Howard University Soccer Dirty? Why Does This Story Still Matter Five Decades Later?
Did the NCAA do Howard University Bison men’s soccer dirty back in 1971?
Players from the 1971 national championship-winning soccer team say yes. A new, groundbreaking podcast series will cast a glaring light on one of the most important sports stories the world barely knows.
Sports Explains The World
Journalist and filmmaker Mark W. Wright is not a let-it-go type of guy. When he learned of the story of Howard University’s national championship-winning soccer team whose title was vacated by the NCAA, he wanted to know why. When he pitched the story to ESPN in 2015, he tag-teamed with award-winning documentary filmmaker Kenan K. Holley and produced Redemption Song, a 30 for 30 short that mostly focused on Howard’s 1974 team that “won the trophy back.”
But Redemption Song, Wright said, only scratched the surface. “As great as Redemption Song was, it hardly focused on that ’71 team,” explained Wright, whose 3-episode podcast is part of an ambitious multiplatform series — executive produced by Meadowlark Media and Campside Media — called “Sports Explains the World.”
The story of the 1971 Howard Bison Soccer Team has been lost in history. Mark W. Wright presents a 3-episode podcast, executive produced by Meadowlark Media and Campside Media, called “Sports Explains the World.
“Only three players from that ’71 team even played on the title-winning team in ’74, so there isn’t a strong connection between the two squads,” Wright continued. “They really have their own stories.”
The Shadow League caught up with Wright to get his take on why this story still matters more than five decades later.
TSL: This story is clearly personal to you. Why?
Wright: Well … it’s a story that belongs to Howard University, my alma mater. It’s a story about a game I lived and breathed, growing up in Jamaica. My high school coach played on the 1971 team, and I’ve grown close to many of his former teammates, who I know still have a hollow feeling in their chest that they were branded as cheats. They know in their hearts that they won the championship fair and square.
TSL: We don’t expect you to give away the podcast, but what did the NCAA accuse Howard of?
Wright: Howard got caught in the NCAA’s crosshairs starting in 1970, when the team reached the NCAA semifinals. Their success seemed to come out of the blue, so after Howard won the 1971 championship – going undefeated and beating powerhouse Saint Louis University – an anonymous source hit up the NCAA and claimed that Howard had knowingly used ineligible players.
The champion Bisons stood proud just days after beating Saint Louis University for the title in 1971.
BACK ROW (L to R): Ernest Skinner, Ian Bain, Steve Waldron, Michael Billy-Jones, Olusegun Onadeko, Charlie Pyne, Keith Aqui, Samuel Tetteh, Zewdu Haplemariam, Sandy Daly, Eddie Holder, Amdemichael Selassie, Jamaican politician Michael Manley, Lincoln Phillips, Milton Miles.
FRONT ROW (L to R): Desmond Alfred, Tony Martin, Mori Diane, Ricky Yallery Arthur, Stan Smith, Alvin Henderson, Donnie Simmons.
TSL: Was there any truth to the rumor?
Wright: Well, that’s the debate. Ultimately, the NCAA won — it’s the NCAA after all. After concluding an investigation, they found that the school had violated three rules governing player eligibility, and the team was stripped of its 1971 title, stripped of a third-place finish in the 1970 tournament and banned from postseason play in 1973.
In the process, the NCAA stripped Howard of its ability to grow its program forever.
TSL: And so, this story has sort of vanished?
Wright: It certainly was forgotten for many years. Walk on Howard’s campus even today, and you’d be hard-pressed to see a proper representation of this team. That’s the piece that’s most hurtful, and so I feel it’s important that we tell this story while many of those players are still with us.
TSL: How can we find the podcast?
Mark W. Wright in studio recording the Bison Project. (Photo Credit: Wright Creative)
Wright: “The Bison Project” debuted on WONDERY Plus on Nov. 8, and after roll out weekly — starting with Episode 1 on Nov. 15; Episode 2 on Nov. 22; and Episode 3 on Nov. 29 — on all other podcast platforms.
TSL: What do you personally hope comes from this podcast …?
Wright: I was blessed to interview many of the former players and Howard students who lived the experience and asked them that very question. They told me — almost to a person — that it’s most important that their voices are heard, and that the NCAA doesn’t get the last word, which they’ve had for 52 years now.
Mark W. Wright interviews Ike Darden, who has worked with Howard athletics since 1968. (Photo Credit: Wright Creative)
These legends want their grandkids to know that they’re part of history, and not just history as part of the first national champion in the modern era to have its title taken away.
TSL: You’ve said this isn’t just an HBCU story, or a sports story – but a sports story that America never got a chance to celebrate. Why do you say that?
Wright: People, regardless of race, creed, or religion, want to see fairness win. They don’t generally delight in seeing marginalized people lose. And this tale is really that — a story about a group of young men, most of whom were immigrants from across the Caribbean and Africa who came here to experience the best of what America can give. And, at least in this episode, they got screwed. So, you can understand why the impact of this story goes way beyond sports.
TS: How can we find out more about “The Bison Project”?
Former Howard Bison teammates Alvin Henderson (L) and Desmond Alfred (R). (Photo Credit: Wright Creative)
Wright: Even though all three episodes amount to 102 minutes, the players’ stories alone are so rich it was impossible to tell every story. Our website — www.TheBisonProject.com — is a nice complement to the podcast, with profiles and photos and links to other stories.
Mark W. Wright is Charlotte, NC-based sports journalist and documentary filmmaker who has tracked this story for close to a decade. For more information, visit www.TheBisonProject.com.
Rapper Cam’ron Gets Back Massage From Kisha Chavis | Is Her Husband, Former NBA Player Joe Smith, Now A Kept Man?
Rappers Cam’ron and Mase have hit it pretty big in the podcast world. The two New York emcees have taken their love of sports, combined it with their connection to the entertainment world, to create the “It Is What It Is” podcast.
Known for pushing the envelope, both have no problem saying or doing what they feel. During their most recent episode, Mase got his Dipset rapper friend and Harlem comrade a back massage as a gift.
Joe Smith’s Wife Gives Cam’ron Back Rub
What’s wild is who he got to perform the service while on air. It was none other than Kisha Chavis, the wife of former NBA player and No. 1 overall pick Joe Smith. Chavis and Smith recently made headlines when it was revealed that Smith ostensibly discovered by accident that she had a secret OnlyFans account.
Chavis, who’s been unapologetic about it, recorded the two in a seemingly pretty heated argument about the situation and posted it to her personal TikTok account. Now she’s on here giving back massages to none other than Killa Cam while Mase laughs repeatedly.
Cam Interviews Chavis While Receiving Massage
As Chavis made her way onto the show’s set, a surprised Cam couldn’t help but smile as he prepared to receive his body rub.
He told Mase, “I can do my interview while this goes on.”
Cam then thanked the former Bad Boy emcee for his gift.
“That’s my man’s right there!”
Based on Cam’s reaction to the massage, he thoroughly enjoyed it and even asked Chavis, who mentioned during the argument with Smith that she dabbles in many realms of work, was she indeed a masseuse.
“I’m not trained, I’m just an empath, so right now, I know Cam has some stuff in his shoulders going on like I can hear it,” she said. “I can hear the muscles and the gases in the muscles.”
Following a joke by Mase, Cam just responded with: “She know what she doing.”
Chavis Says She’s Not Worried About More Drama With Smith
Following her and Smith’s falling-out, the former Maryland star reportedly moved out. While Chavis didn’t confirm any of that during her appearance on the show, she did say she’s already in enough trouble, and that she pretty much isn’t worried about getting into more trouble at this point.
Hiding an OnlyFans page and then giving massages to a well-known rapper on his podcast is a sure way to keep things messy in her marriage. But as she told Smith, she’s had to resort back to what pays the bills, and that’s all that matters.
This story is fluid and is sure to have more layers headed our way in the coming weeks.
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson Out For The Season | Where’s Josh Dobbs When They Need Him?
The Cleveland Browns, still reveling a bit in Sunday’s huge 33-31 comeback win over the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, were hit with a major blow on Wednesday morning. That’s when it an MRI revealed that star quarterback Deshaun Watson has a fractured shoulder and would miss the remainder of the season.
One that’s been bothering him and had already forced him to miss three games this season, it will need to be surgically repaired to avoid further structural damage, effectively ending his 2023 season.
The news comes on the heels of what in many ways was a signature win for both Watson as a quarterback and this version of the Browns franchise which re-entered the league in 1999 after a four year hiatus without a team. As the former Clemson standout spoke with the media on Wednesday, he did his best to hold it together, but it was evident he’s taking the news hard….
“It’s very tough,” Watson said. “Hurt about it.”
Watson Shocked But Expected To Be Fully Healthy For Start Of 2024
The news definitely stings a Browns team that when healthy has the look of a real Super Bowl contender, and that starts and ends with Watson, the $230 million acquisition.
“I’m still in disbelief. I’m still trying to process all the information,” Watson told reporters after news about the diagnosis broke. “I felt like we were turning a corner to really making a run and believe we still will with the guys in this locker room. I just wanted to physically be a part of it. … It’s tough to try to wrap everything around my head right now.”
Watson is doing his best to be positive and motivate rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson who’s been named the starter in Watson’s absence.
DTR, the 24-year-old from UCLA, was thrown in against the Ravens in their first matchup, and he didn’t fare too well, throwing three picks after shining all preseason.
The other quarterback, P.J Walker, was even worse with one touchdown and five interceptions in his two starts.
Not the most promising group of backup signal-callers, but with a strong running game and one of the best defenses in the league, this is where the Browns are. It’s almost like they can’t have nice things.
Did Team Trade Veteran Josh Dobbs Prematurely?
With the play of the aforementioned Thompson-Robinson in the preseason, Browns brass decided to make him the primary backup to Watson coming into the season. Walker was signed to be his backup with Watson down. But the team had current Minnesota Vikings starter Josh Dobbs in the fold until late August.
And while you don’t like to do the hypothetical, just imagine how he’s currently playing for the Vikes, and what he could do surrounded by the talented and deep Browns roster.
But that isn’t the Browns’ fate, and they’ll have to make it work with either DTR or Walker.
Glen “Big Baby” Davis Found Guilty Of Defrauding NBA Health Care Fund | He’s Facing 20 Years In Prison
2008 NBA champion Glen “Big Baby” Davis was found guilty of defrauding the NBA’s health care fund on Wednesday. Davis made false claims for medical and dental procedures that never took place. The former Boston Celtics player could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
More than a dozen former NBA players were charged in the multimillion dollar fraud scheme discovered in 2021. They include: Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, Alan Anderson, Will Bynum, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Milton Palacio, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Sebastian Telfair, Charles Watson Jr., Terrence Williams, Antoine Wright and Anthony Wroten.
At Least 18 Former Players Involved
The original indictment accused at least 18 former players of defrauding $4 million from the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, which provides additional coverage to eligible active and retired players.
These players were in essence stealing from their teammates and other players in the league. Making matters worse, the 18 players earned a combined $360 million over their playing careers.
Williams admitted to being the ringleader of the scheme earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Telfair and Miles also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
NBA Players Aren’t Unique When It Comes To Fraud
“While many of the more than 20 defendants convicted in this case were well-known NBA stars, their conduct was otherwise a typical fraudulent scheme designed to defraud the NBA’s health care plan and net the defendants over $5 million in illicit profits,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement Wednesday.
“Today’s conviction exemplifies that despite notoriety or success in sports or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal charges if they engage in fraud.”
NBA players aren’t unique as it relates to fraud as the U.S. Attorney said.
Last year former NFL star Clinton Portis was a ringleader in a similar scheme to defraud a benefits fund for retired NFL veterans.
Other NFL players included: Joe Horn, Tamarick Vanover, Robert McCune, Carlos Rogers, Correll Buckhalter, James Butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett, and the late Reche Caldwell.
The former NFL players filed false reimbursement claims totaling about $2.9 million.
Stealing from the fraternity of fellow players after earning millions is despicable.
UCLA Recruits Accused Of Robbing Colorado Buffaloes Players Jewelry | When Collegiate Success Goes Wrong
When the Colorado Buffaloes returned to the locker room from their loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Oct. 28, they realized someone had stolen jewelry and more from their locker rooms while playing. The culprits have been identified and are prospective high-school recruits for UCLA.
According to Pasadena officials, the suspects are UCLA recruits who attend Beaumont High School in Riverside County. Now the case has been transferred to the juvenile division of the district attorney’s office, per reports from a Pasadena city spokeswoman.
“We are disappointed and disheartened to hear of the alleged involvement of Beaumont High School students in the incident at the UCLA-Colorado football game on October 28,” the Beaumont Unified School District statement read.
“We strive to promote strong character and integrity in our students, and the alleged actions do not represent our core values as a school, District, and community. While the students were not at the UCLA-Colorado football game as part of a school-sponsored event, the District is cooperating fully with Pasadena Police Department’s investigation.”
What Happened?
At least five Colorado players, including Derrick McLendon, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Jordan Dominick, had jewelry, Beats by Dre headphones, and thousands of dollars in physical cash stolen.
Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes QB1 and the son of Deion Sanders is as famous for his in-game play as he is for his drip. Sanders’ brash flashing of his wristwatch in the face of his opponents has helped create unwanted attention toward the collegiate star and his teammate’s material possessions versus their athletic abilities.
Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, was initially concerned about the lack of assistance from the NCAA when the incident first happened.
“I would expect the NCAA to do something about that. This is the Rose Bowl,” Sanders said at the post-game presser after the Buffaloes 28-16 loss.
Sanders Seeks Light Punishment
Now that he knows the alleged offenders are high-school prospects, he wants them punished but not to the detriment of their future athletic careers. On Tuesday, Nov. 14, Sanders reiterated that he believed the suspects were only kids who made a mistake.
“Let’s not crucify and punish these high school kids,” Sanders said. “Whatever the punishment that comes along with it, let it be that. Community service or whatever it is. But let’s not abort the rest of their opportunities, their lives, because of a mistake.
“They’re kids. They made a stupid, dumb, idiotic mistake,” Sanders continued. “Guess what? When I was 17, 18, so did I. So did you. I’m praying for those kids.”
The storyline of the Colorado Buffaloes continues to evolve the dynamics of how the world views collegiate football.
Netflix Rumored To Be Interested In Purchasing NBA In-Season Tournament; That Means It’s Working
The NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament was panned by many. But rumor has it that streaming giant Netflix is considering purchasing the tournament to become the exclusive carrier. That means one thing, folks. The tournament was a good idea and it’s working.
Netflix is in the business of making money and providing maximum value to its shareholders. That drives every decision the company considers and ultimately makes.
Wait, you thought Netflix was in the entertainment business? Think again.
Entertainment is just a means to an end. Profit.
So Far So Good
For Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos to even consider this, he’s already seen the numbers and potential value.
The In-Season Tournament is showing an increase in ratings over the same time slots for regular season games last season.
According to SportsMediaWatch, last Friday’s tournament games were No. 1 in sports viewership. Some 1.93 million viewers tuned in for Lakers vs. Suns, and 1.41 million watched Nets vs. Celtics. Compared to last year’s equivalent doubleheader, Lakers vs. Suns viewership increased 73 percent from Bucks vs. Timberwolves while Nets-Celtics declined 4 percent from Bulls vs. Celtics.
Overall, viewership for the In-Season Tournament is now up 55 percent from the equivalent four windows last year, noting that two of those windows aired opposite the World Series.
Once teams advance to the knockout stage, it will generate even more excitement. Nothing drives sports viewership like single elimination stakes. And the players care.
Games Have More Juice
Tournament games have been more competitive with teams understanding that margin of victory matters.
Last night’s Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors group C game was back and forth and saw the Wolves overcome a 12-point deficit in a victory to remain unbeaten in group play.
Once it was clear the Wolves would win, a defeated team would normally let the final moments play out. But Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr still kept calling plays for his team to score, knowing margin of victory will matter in the end.
The players also have a cash incentive. Now you might be thinking why do multimillionaires care about $500K? If you know anything about insanely rich people, they like to gobble up as much money as they can. It’s a competitive thing. Plus, they’re professional athletes, already in the top 1 percent of human competitors already.
“$500 [thousand] sounds real good to us. It’s going to bring that juice, you know what I mean?” said Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis after his team’s group A huge win over the Memphis Grizzlies. “I heard one of our players, I’m not going to say who, but he was like, ‘Man,’ when we beat Phoenix, ‘That’s one step closer to this $500. I’ve never had that before.’ So it’s like, that’s a little extra motivation.”
The Lakers’ win over the Grizzlies was never in doubt on Tuesday night. But they kept scoring and have a +15 margin of victory in group play.
The first team to win this tournament is going to be historic, and the tournament will continue to tweak, iterate and gain in stature. Sarandos knows this and is likely looking to get in early.
The league’s current broadcast deal expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. The earliest Netflix could grab the In-Season Tournament would be 2025. But it would give the streaming platform time to develop its plan which is sure to include creating a docuseries around the tournament, similar to super successful Netflix produced “Drive to Survive” for F1 racing, “Full Swing” for golf, and “Break Point” for tennis.
There is a large segment of viewers who tune into these programs exclusively to get to know the athletes in these sports. The NBA has some of the more interesting characters in all of sports. If done right this could prove very lucrative for Netflix, and that’s the point.
“Every Time Steph Doesn’t Play, Draymond Doesn’t Want To Play” | Rudy Gobert Doesn’t Back Down To Draymond Green After Chokehold
Tuesday night’s in-season tournament game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors featured three ejections, a chokehold and a torn jersey all within the opening two minutes.
Warriors defensive stalwart Draymond Green ran across the court and put Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert in a rear naked chokehold because Gobert was wrestling Klay Thompson away from Jaden McDaniels. Green, Thompson and McDaniels were all ejected. Following the game Gobert called out Green for “clown behavior.”
“Clown behavior and I’m proud of myself for being the bigger man again and again,” Gobert said to The Athletic following the Wolves win. “And yeah, (he) doesn’t even deserve me putting my hands on him. My team needed me tonight. I did whatever I could to keep my cool and then show that I wasn’t making the situation worse, and I do hope that the league is going to do what needs to be done because that’s just clown behavior.”
What Happened?
If you watch the video closely, McDaniel and Thompson have a hold of each other’s jerseys as they head up the floor. The situation escalates and Gobert comes over from behind to restrain Thompson. There is no malicious intent in anything Gobert does, as the referees explained in their rulings. He was deescalating the situation.
Now if you want to argue he should grab his own player and not Thompson, that’s fine. It’s a weak argument. If you are truly trying to deescalate a situation you grab the closest person to you and restrain them. That’s what Gobert clearly does. He is standing Thompson up.
Green comes from behind with bad intentions. Watch the film. He aggressively goes at Gobert and puts him in a rear naked chokehold. That does the opposite of deescalate. But Gobert holds his arms up showing the officials he’s not escalating and that Green is the clear aggressor.
“He’s grabbing me, he’s grabbing me, he’s grabbing me,” Gobert recalled. “(But) the choke wasn’t good enough…It was a long time, and if he knew how to choke it could have been way worse. He tried to. His intention was to really take me out. And I kept my hands up the whole time just to show the officials that I wasn’t trying to escalate the situation.”
Green And Gobert Have History
Green and Gobert don’t like each other. The two have engaged in several verbal spats over the years. The preeminent defensive players of their generation and of all-time. So there is a natural on-court rivalry and then they escalate into social media beef, like when Gobert was upset about not being an All-Star and cried and Green mocked him on Twitter.
This is what it is, but it’s indicative of where the two men are mentally and emotionally at this point in their careers and potentially where their teams are headed.
Green has always played with an edge and he often crosses over that edge. But he’s been critical to four title teams with the Warriors. When things are going well, the Warriors deal with him being difficult — like the time he blew up at Kevin Durant in the midst of a run to a potential three-peat.
But when things are bad, they can derail — like when he kicked LeBron James in the privates during the NBA Finals and was suspended, contributing to the Warriors 3-1 collapse, or last year when he knocked out then teammate Jordan Poole in practice, effectively neutering his own ability to be the emotional leader the team needed.
In Tuesday night’s game Gobert was the more composed player, recognizing his team needed him to be on the floor.
“I do a lot of work — meditation work, things like that,” Gobert said. “So I was like, ‘It’s a good opportunity for me to show that I can overcome my emotions and then be the bigger man. And my team needs me in the game. So I had to keep my emotions away and really focus on the game.'”
Gobert also said he predicted Green would do something to get himself ejected before the game.
“It’s kind of funny because before the game, I was telling myself that Steph is not playing, so I know Draymond is going to try and get ejected,” Gobert said. “Because every time Steph doesn’t play, (Draymond) doesn’t want to play — it’s his guy Steph. He’ll do anything he can to get ejected.”
The Warriors are like any aging champion, trying desperately to hold on and make another run. When you’re desperate, sometimes emotions can get the better of you.
The Wolves are 2-0 against the Warriors this season and are in the driver’s seat in group C of the Western Conference for the in-season tournament. They don’t have the championship pedigree of the Warriors, so winning the tournament and using it as a catapult into a dominant regular season would go a long way for this team.
At 8-2, the Wolves are just behind the Denver Nuggets at the top of the conference. It’s early, but they look like a team ready to take the next step.
Pro Hockey Player In England Arrested For Death Of Adam Johnson, Who Was Killed By “Freak” Neck Slicing Accident During Game
The accidental death of a hockey player in England now has resulted in an arrest. Police in South Yorkshire, England, arrested an unnamed person in connection with the death of Adam Johnson, a professional hockey player who died last month after the blade of a skate slashed his neck during a game.
The man was charged with suspicion of manslaughter and is still in police custody. He was arrested on Tuesday and released on bail on Wednesday, pending further inquiries.
“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall in a statement.
Who Was Arrested?
So far, police have not revealed the name of the person arrested, which might be for good reason. Johnson, the victim, was white, and the hockey player who accidentally sliced his neck was Black.
31-year-old Matt Petgrave, who plays for the Sheffield Steelers, was the other player involved in the horrible incident.
On October 28th, the 29-year-old Johnson played for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers. Viral video of the incident shows Johnson skating with the puck toward the Steelers’ net. As Petgrave glided toward Johnson, he collided with another Panthers player and was knocked off his feet, with his left skate kicking up and stricking Johnson in the neck as he fell to the ice.
Johnson suffered the injury during the second period of the game.
After both players landed on the ice, Petgrave instantly got to his feet, while Johnson tried to rise slowly and required help off the ice. The game was stopped, and Johnson received emergency treatment on the ice before being transported to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Horrible Tragedy
The post-mortem examination confirmed Johnson died as a result of a fatal neck injury, per reports.
The two played in the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s home arena in central England during an Elite Ice Hockey League Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers. Nottingham and the EIHL described the collision as a “freak accident.”
At the time of the incident, many fans on social media immediately called for Petgrave’s arrest, believing that the play was dirty.
Top 5 NFL Rookies After Week 10 | Seahawks Cornerback Devon Witherspoon Continuing Trend Of Great Defensive Backs In The Pacific Northwest
Ten weeks into the NFL season and here are the top rookies after Week 10.
Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks, CB
When you think Seattle Seahawks you immediately think “Legion of Boom” from the Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas years. With those players all retired now, there’s a new group looking to continue that trend of elite defensive back play in the Pacific Northwest. Witherspoon, the former Illinois standout, has looked the part since training camp, and thus far this season he looks eerily reminiscent of Sherman, a former All-Pro.
Playing alongside another talented corner in Tariq Woolen and safeties Julian Love and Jamal Adams, Witherspoon has flourished. In fact, he’s been so good that many weeks Witherspoon is lined against the opposing team’s best. Spoon is one of 16 players to be targeted at least 50 times this season, and he also has the lowest yards-per-target-attempt at (5.4) in the league. In a Week 4 24-3 win over the New York Giants, Witherspoon became the first rookie since Niners star Nick Bosa to record an interception and two sacks in a game.
“I never thought he wouldn’t play like this,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of his prized rookie after that game. “This is why we took him.”
C.J Stroud, Texans, QB
The dynamic rookie QB of the surprising 5-4 Texans continues to do things weekly that no one could’ve imagined in his rookie season. The latest was out-dueling Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow and beating him in his backyard. Each week the former Ohio State star has risen to the occasion and given his team a chance to win.
Thus far this season he broke the rookie single game passing yards mark with 470 yards and five touchdowns in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Sunday’s 30-27 walk-off win over the Bengals, Stroud led an offensive unit that became the first to have a 350-yard passer, 150-yard rusher and 150-yard receiver since the 1998 Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts did so.
Texans first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans knows he has a good one at QB and told the media so in his postgame interview following Sunday’s win.
“The thing about C.J. is it’s the calm in the chaos,” Ryans said. “He doesn’t waiver. He’s confident that he’s going to make plays, and the moment isn’t too big for him.
Stroud’s 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions after nine weeks speak volumes to that statement.
Jalen Carter, Eagles, DL
Each time Carter steps on the field his impact is felt, and that’s no different than what he did at Georgia. The dominant and very versatile defensive lineman gives the Eagles’ already vaunted pass rush another component because of the push he gives from the interior as a pass rusher. Carter is the highest-graded rookie interior lineman thus far this season, and his grade ranks higher than future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s rookie season of 2014.
Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Dasai calls Carter “a sponge.”
Puka Nacua, Rams, WR
Nacua burst onto the scene with All-Pro and former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp sidelined to begin the season. The former Stanford Cardinal wideout was the team’s primary target the first four weeks of the season, and he ate weekly. The first four weeks of the season he had 39 receptions for 501 yards. Since the return of Kupp, Nacua’s production has dipped a bit, but he’s still got 25 receptions for 326 and two touchdowns.
For the season he’s got 64 receptions for 827 yards. He’s been such a find that he made Van Jefferson expendable, as the Rams moved on from the former second-round pick earlier this season.
Byron Young, Rams, OLB
With the loss of pass rusher Leonard Floyd in free agency, head coach Sean McVay was searching for someone to step in. That’s where Young, the talented rookie from Tennessee, has filled in nicely. The speedy edge rusher has tallied five sacks, the most of any rookie. His 37 pressures also lead all rookies, but it’s his ability to play the run that’s been so surprising. Having forced two fumbles in the past two weeks, Young is starting to show the playmaking ability he often displayed in Knoxville.
‘Man 14 Gotta Get Up Outta There’: Cowboys Cornerback Trevon Diggs Tweeting Shots At QB Josh Allen and Entire Bills Organization During Brother Stefon’s Shocking Loss To Broncos
In the aftermath of the Buffalo Bills’ shocking Monday night loss to the steadily rising Denver Broncos, wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ brother, Trevon, an All-Pro cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, had a lot to say via social media.
Trevon, who’s out for the season after tearing his ACL earlier this season, went directly at the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen in a series of tweets.
The first tweet came on the heels of older brother Stefon being held in check by Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star, who’s recognized as one of the top corners in the league, held Diggs to just three receptions for 34 yards in the loss.
That prompted Trevon to tweet this:
“Man 14 gotta get up outta there.”
Diggs Insinuates That Stefon Made Josh Allen
In defense of his brother, Trevon didn’t stop there. Next, he seemingly took a shot at star quarterback Josh Allen:
“Let’s not forget he didn’t start going off till bro got there.”
In retrospect, Diggs is correct, as Allen’s numbers and accuracy got much better when the team traded for Diggs. Prior to Diggs’ arrival, Allen, the former Wyoming standout had a very pedestrian 56 percent completion percentage. That’s increased to 66 percent since Diggs came over from Minnesota.
Diggs has also benefited from the relationship, with more targets, yards and touchdowns with the Bills. But with Allen struggling mightily and leading the entire NFL with 11 interceptions this season, his play is definitely a cause for concern.
But is it something Trevon should be commenting on, being that he’s a player for another team?
Stefon To Dallas? Or Anywhere
During an eventful offseason in which Stefon’s name seemed to come up in many trade scenarios, the former Maryland Terrapins quelled all the rumors by making it known he loves being in Buffalo. But who can forget his sideline outburst at Allen during last season’s AFC divisional playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals or his outburst on the sideline a couple weeks ago?
Diggs’ big contract will make it difficult to trade him, but with the Bills championship window closing it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the talented but mercurial wideout dealt in the offseason if things continue to go south in Buffalo. Contract aside, there are many teams who’d love to have a top-flight receiver on their roster.
Former Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins after he felt he wasn’t being paid his worth, chimed in on Trevon’s weird take:
“Diggs standing on bidness today I see and I love it.”
Lastly, Diggs probably shouldn’t talk too much. His quarterback, Dak Prescott, who’s playing very well as of late, is a lot like Allen. Both have continually come up small in the biggest moments.
Kevin Durant And Kawhi Leonard | NBA Scoring Great Alex English On The Players That Remind Him Of Himself
Basketball Hall of Famer Alex English is one of the great scorers in the history of the NBA. He was left off the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team and was hurt by the omission, but he still loves the game and has admiration for this generation of stars. Two in particular, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, remind him the most of himself, though he thinks the game is so unique there isn’t a lot of replication.
“The game of basketball is so unique and beautiful that you don’t get people replicating other people’s talents,” English said, per Hoops Hype. “They may come close. Kobe Bryant had a lot of Michael Jordan, but he was still Kobe. He was a totally different player. Maybe the person who has my body’s build would be Kevin Durant. As far as my mid-range game, I would think that Kawhi Leonard knows how to get to that spot and get a nice open jump shot. Other than that, there are so many unique players. That’s the beauty of the game. You get to see something different from everyone whenever they step on the floor.”
https://youtu.be/iEwmpKsIqx0?si=vYTrllaD8q8ZGY01
Best Scorer Of His Era
His peak was during the 1980s with the Denver Nuggets, and amid the exploits of Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, and Larry Bird he’s often forgotten. But nobody scored more in the decade than English. He finished top-10 in MVP voting twice.
English and Vince Carter are the only players with at least 25,000 career points that did not make the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
If you read my work you know that I value scoring, but there are more ways to impact the game than scoring. In those areas English wasn’t as adept at some of the other stars of the era. But the man was a bucket. He was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA and led the league in scoring in 1983.
English’s career scoring average is 21.5 points per game on 50% shooting. He was efficient in an era where that wasn’t prioritized.
English Didn’t Court Adulation
The late NBA scout Marty Blake once told the Dallas Times Herald that English doesn’t get the adulation of stars in his era because he didn’t court it enough.
“The thing that hurts Alex, at least when you try to compare him with the greats, is that he isn’t flamboyant. And his nagging problem is that he doesn’t get much recognition. [But] I’ve been associated with 18 players who made the Hall of Fame, and I think Alex is one of the great ones.”
Still, he was a great player in his era and he is still the Nuggets’ all-time leading scorer with 21,645 points. He’s held the franchise record for 33 years.
Nuggets’ current superstar Nikola Jokic has 12,352 career points through nine seasons. Let’s say he averages 1,800 points per season. He’ll finish this season with 13,952 career points. If he maintains that season total, he will become the franchise leading scorer early in the 2028-29 season. Assuming he wants to play that long.
Wemby Versus Chet Was More Fizzle Than Sizzle, But They Are The Future Of The NBA, So Get Familiar
The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in the first regular season matchup between Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. The game was billed as the future of the NBA, but the individual matchup and the game itself fizzled.
The 7-4 OKC Thunder destroyed the 3-8 Spurs 123-87, and neither player reached double digits in scoring. But make no mistake, these two young men are the future.
In the span of two consecutive drafts (2022 and 2023) two extremely tall and skinny players with guard skills were selected with one of the top two picks.
Very Tall And Very Skilled
A tall player that has range out to three, that can handle and pass and be a rim protector on defense is such a special weapon. The rim is 10 feet above the court. Being tall and supremely skilled is a huge advantage.
Back in 2007 a then-6-foot-10 (now 7-0, though he loves to deny it) Kevin Durant was a skinny rookie beanpole weighing in at 215 pounds. He famously was one of the only NBA draftees who couldn’t bench press 185 pounds. The knock on Durant was he was too skinny and weak and he would get bullied by grown men in the league. All those guard skills were no good for a player that tall.
Many so-called pundits and experts said he had to put on weight and bulk up like LeBron James in order to reach his full potential. But a trainer by the name of Justin Zormelo thought otherwise.
Those same things are being said about Wemby and Chet, and both have talked about adding muscle over time, but neither believes they need to put on weight and bulk up. That will take away their superpower.
“They can think that because they don’t know my work ethic,” Wembanyama said on “Good Morning America” back in June. “I know how I work, how we work, in my surroundings, my environment. I could never have any doubt.”
“It’s not just about being big. There’s so much into the game now,” Holmgren said on the “All The Smoke” podcast in August. “You got to be able to move still and do so many different things. It’s not necessarily about gaining weight. It’s really just trying to work on my body — stronger, more athletic.
“Really, the weight kinda comes with it as you add some muscle and get older, you always add weight. But I don’t want to add the wrong weight, just get some big broad shoulders and now I’m moving slow, can’t move (and) my knees hurt. The focus has been working on my body all around and how it plays into my game.”
Chet And Wemby Are The Future
This is the future of the league. Super skilled seven-footers who can rim protect on one end and lead the break into an off-the-dribble three.
While the two only matched up against each other a couple times on Tuesday night, they’re both very competitive and know they’ll be facing off against each other for years to come.
Their history goes all the way back to 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup where Team USA defeated Team France 83-81.
During this year’s preseason the two also went head-to-head and had moments against each other.
They are rookies and Holmgren is on a much better team that should finish top 6 in the tough Western Conference, whereas the Spurs look headed for the lottery again.
Get ready for this matchup for years to come, and if both players remain healthy and develop to their potential we are in for some epic battles.
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders’ Luxury Car Booted In Latest Bad Luck Storyline Out Of Boulder
Mired in a four-game losing streak and losers of five of their last six games, things have gone south pretty quickly out in Boulder, Colorado.
First-year head coach Deion Sanders is hoping to right the ship this weekend with a must-win trip to Pullman, Washington, to face the Washington State Cougars. In search of a win to keep their bowl eligibility alive, the Buffaloes will need a great game from star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who’s been very good this season.
Shedeur Sanders Gets The Boot
Sanders, the flashy junior signal-caller of the Buffaloes, is known for liking expensive things, and in many ways he’s a carbon copy of his dad from his playing days. Not long ago, Shedeur who has the second-highest NIL valuation of any college athlete behind Bronny James, treated himself to an expensive Rolls-Royce. Per a campus report, that luxury was booted last week for unpaid parking tickets. In a week of storylines, this just adds to the mix.
https://youtu.be/egqruvcoM1s?si=SH0_vsgQlxYotMtx
Wild Few Weeks In Boulder
In the last week in Boulder, the team lost its fourth consecutive game, a walk-off 34-31 loss to the Arizona Wildcats. Following that game, many questioned some of the Buffaloes’ coaching moves that in many ways seemingly thwarted their chance to win. Then there was the decommitment of 2025 four-star receiver Winston Watkins Jr., who implied to media outlets that he was unsure that Coach Prime would be at the school when he was slated to arrive.
Deion Staying Or Leaving?
Watkins’ decision came on the same day that the Texas A&M Aggies gave Jimbo Fisher a whopping $77 million to go away. That immediately brought Sanders’ name into the mix as a possible replacement down in College Station. It also comes on the heels of Deion himself declaring that neither of his sons on the Buffaloes team, Shedeur and Shilo, will be entering the NFL draft until 2025.
It’s been an adventurous few weeks out in Boulder, and things likely won’t slow down, especially if they lose either of their two final games and don’t make a bowl.
Tom Brady Has Some Fun Concerning Shedeur’s Extravagant Purchase
After Shedeur made the $200K purchase, Coach Prime and Shedeur made an appearance on the Tom Brady “Let’s Go,” podcast. There, Brady, who serves as mentor of sorts for Shedeur, has some fun at the young QB’s expense. Following Deion asking Brady if he thought a college kid should have a Rolls-Royce, Brady took another route.
“I think he needs to get his ass in the film room and spend as much time there as possible,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion said. “Less time in the car and more time in the film room.”
When Shedeur attempted to rebut Brady’s comments with you have one too, the three-time NFL MVP hit him with this:
“That was just a rental. Hey, I had a few bucks in my pocket at that point.”
This season Sanders has passed for 3,144 yards, 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
“This Will Be Worse Than What The Hitman Did To Martin” | Podcaster Gillie Da Kid Compares Himself To Allen Iverson, Secures One-on-One With Jamal Crawford
Podcaster, rapper and actor Gillie Da Kid claims that he is a certified hooper and if his past matchups with other celebrities serve as proof, he might not be wrong.
But he hasn’t played any real hoopers (outside of shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, whom he lost to). Gillie will now have his chance to prove that he belongs with the elite crop of basketball players after he got one of the best pure hoopers to accept his one-on-one challenge.
Gillie Da Kid vs NBA Legend Jamal Crawford?
Gillie Da Kid challenged Jamal Crawford to a one-on-one, claiming during his “Million Dollaz Worth Of Game” podcast, which also featured guests Ma$e and Cam’Ron, that he would cook the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
“I bet you Jamal Crawford will not accept this challenge one-on-one,” Gillie said. “I will cook the sh– [out of him]. Let me just say this, Jamal Crawford is gonna get his baskets — that’s what he do. He cook everybody.
“But guess who else going in the oven? Jamal f–king Crawford. He gotta guard me. I’m like Bubba Chuck. I know I’m a motherf–king liability on muthaf–king defense, but I’m such a liability on offense that it don’t even f–kin’ matter.”
Jamal Crawford wanted all the smoke against Gillie and even tweeted his response.
“Aye @gilliedakid, they slipped you something real serious huh? I don’t bother nobody, now you want ‘Jamal Wick Crawford’ to play 1’s with?! This will be worse than what the Hitman did to Martin. It’s on,” Jamal Crawford said on X.
Gillie Da Kid is known for his boastful personality, and his confidence is often mistaken for cockiness. But this time around it looks like he did his best Dak Prescott impersonation, poured honey all over himself, and proceeded to poke the bear.
The bear responded.
Can Gillie Da Kid Beat Jamal Crawford 1-on-1?
Jamal Crawford is not your ordinary former NBA player. He’s widely regarded as one of the best ball handlers, and one of the most versatile offensive players in basketball. He regularly would come off the bench and drop 20 points or more like it was nothing to him, which led him to 3x 6th Man Of The Year awards in his NBA career.
The 43-year-old former guard averaged 14.6 points and 3.4 assists in his career and has tons of highlight videos showcasing his ball-handling skills. Not to mention J Crossover is six-foot-five versus Gillie’s five-foot-nine stature.
Gillie probably couldn’t even beat Crawford’s 13-year-old son JJ.
This matchup isn’t favorable for Gillie at all, but it’s the matchup he wants and the matchup he’s going to get.
The only thing that would make this even better is if they wager money. Then the stakes will really be high and neither side will hold back.
Top Student-Athlete NIL Earners: Which Players Make The Most Bread?
In 2021 the Supreme Court’s decision in NCAA v. Alston paved the way for collegiate athletes to begin receiving compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Since then, the biggest stars in the biggest sports and the athletes with the largest social media influence at the collegiate level have been earning well.
Which athletes earn the most? What sports are most commonly represented? Who is No. 1?
Top 10 In NIL Valuation
According to the media site On3 which tracks NIL deals and monitors college sports, the top 10 NIL earners by valuation are: 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).
On3 uses three factors when determining NIL valuation. Performance, which is exactly what it sounds like. How does an athlete perform on their field of competition. Influence is directly tied to social media follower numbers and engagement. Exposure is connected to what level the athlete is (high school or college) and where they play their sport and the significance of that school’s program.
Given those factors it’s not surprising that the top-10 is dominated by college football athletes. Seven out of 10 play the sport and all seven play for Power 5 schools.
College basketball has two players in the top 10 in LSU’s Angel Reese and USC’s Bronny James. Reese scores high in all three valuation metrics. She is an All-American playing for the defending national champions and she boasts the thir-most social media followers in the top 10.
The Power Of Social Media
Bronny James is a special case. He is the first-born son of the one of the world’s most famous athletes and arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time. He’s been famous since birth and while he hasn’t played a college basketball game for USC yet, but his influence and exposure are unmatched.
Arch Manning is another special case. The Texas freshman QB is part of the Manning family. His grandfather Archie played QB at Ole Miss and in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. His uncles Peyton and Eli are both Super Bowl champion QBs. Arch hasn’t taken a snap yet at Texas, but the family lineage and his elite play in high school has him high on the valuation list.
The other unique athlete in the top-10 is LSU gymnast Olivia ““Livvy” Dunne. Gymnastics is not a revenue-generating sport and Dunne isn’t an All-American or the best performer on her team. But she is the most followed female collegiate athlete on social media. She has over 12 million followers across the various platforms.
Bronny and Livvy are in a class by themselves when it comes to influence. They are the only two in the tens of millions when it comes to social media following. 13.5 and 12.1 million respectively.
Reese, Sanders, and Hunter are the only other athletes with millions of social media followers at 5, 2.4 and 2 million respectively.
Sanders and Hunter both play college football for Colorado and head coach Deion “PrimeTime” Sanders. Coach Prime’s star power has boosted the visibility and exposure of the Colorado program, allowing more eyes on his son Shedeur and two-way star Hunter. Both players also score high in the performance categories.
In terms of brands that are paying money for these young athletes, there are many familiar names like Nike, Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Bose, JanSport, McDonald’s, Outback Steakhouse, and KFC.
The players who have the best balance in terms of performance, influence and exposure are Reese, Hunter, and Sanders.
Bronny and Livvy are outliers in influence and Nix, McCarthy and Rattler rate high on performance and exposure, but low in influence.
It pays to be good, but it really pays to be famous.
Shannon Sharpe Is Willing To Risk It All, After All | Unc Notices OnlyFans Revenue Of Models Like Miss Nasty B and Thinks Joe Smith Should Sit Down and Cash Out With Wifey
Shannon Sharpe wants to risk it all. After saying he wouldn’t get involved with adult film star Miss Nasty B after she posted on ‘X’ that she would let him be on her OnlyFans page, the former NFL player turned broadcaster made an about-face.
Chad Ochocinco has been diligently looking to hook up his friend on their new podcast, “Nightcap With Unc and Ocho.” When Sharpe brought up comedian and actress Yvonne Orji, a Christian, and a 39-year-old virgin waiting for her future husband, Sharpe let it be known that he’d be interested in something different.
“I’m looking for a sinner; send me Miss Nasty B. I don’t wanna nobody walking the straight and narrow. Nah, I want a sinner; that’s what I’m looking for.”
Risk It All Unc!
Ochocinco tried to steer Sharpe into the ways of the Lord by encouraging him to be with Orji and follow his grandmother’s direction of being “raised in the church.”
Unc doubled down.
“Give me Miss Nasty B; I’ll have the Bible right there by my bed. ‘Lord, forgive for what I’m about to do,’ ” he said, laughing. When the topic came back to Orji, Unc had questions that again veered toward his desires.
“Can she work her hips?” Sharpe said when Ochocinco reminded him that Orji is a successful entertainer and they could be on a jet together having Bible study. “I make enough money for the both of us,” Sharpe said, still unimpressed.
Miss Nasty B saw the video and took to social media to show her reactions, which went from shock and awe to acceptance of Sharpe’s admission. For the adult content creator, it was the best news from her content channels, as Ochocinco and Sharpe are raising her visibility.
Going Down The Red Light District
The adult film star entered the “Nightcap” conversations during a past episode where Sharpe weighed in on the issues between former basketball player Joe Smith and his wife, Kisha Chavis, whom he found out has an OnlyFans account.
Because women on platforms like OnlyFans make upwards of $200,000, Sharpe let it be known that if he were Smith, he would go from outrage to his wife’s manager.
“I tell you here what I would do: look down the check, and it says $200,000,” Sharpe said on the “Nightcap” episode. “I don’t know who you have in there, but I am in charge now.”
That co-sign started a chain reaction where Miss B Nasty reached out to Sharpe on ‘X’, saying, “Shannon Sharpe, you can be in my OF videos.”
Since then, Ochocinco has gone so far as to call Sharpe Mister Nasty B. “Nightcap With Unc and Ocho” is undoubtedly becoming a very revealing show about the inner workings of the Shannon Sharpe mind.
