With the USC Trojans suffering two consecutive defeats, and pretty much ending hopes of a College Football Playoff berth, the noise surrounding star quarterback Caleb Williams has gotten louder by the day. Following last week’s heartbreaking 34-32 loss, FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho tweeted that he believes Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft should shut it down and not risk injury the rest of the season.
Acho’s tweet caused up a firestorm of reactions, mostly being against the idea of the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner leaving his teammates with not much left to play for this season. With varying opinions on what he should do being given daily, Caleb himself didn’t respond to it until the middle of this week. And when he did the former five-star recruit let it be known that he’s no quitter.
During his Wednesday media session, Williams touched a bevy of things, one being the noise about what he should do going forward this season.
“You keep going. You keep fighting. you stay out here. Extra time. Be with your guys because you never know when the opportunity will come. When the opportunity comes, you want to be able to seize that opportunity. You know, we’re going to keep doing, keep fighting and trying to reach our goals.”
Sounds like Williams is all in finishing what he’s started, and not bailing on his USC teammates despite the two losses probably costing them any hopes at a CFP berth and Williams becoming just the second repeat Heisman Trophy winner ever, joining former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin who won it in 1974 and 1975.
For two seasons at USC Williams has been dynamic. In 2022 he put up video game-like passing numbers, 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and he also rushed for 382 yards and ten more touchdowns. This season he’s been great as well with 2,227 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Williams has also rushed for seven scores this season.
But despite that exceptional play, Williams hasn’t had much help from his defense, which statistically has been one of the worst in college football the past two seasons. In many ways the Trojans have wasted a generational talent, because they failed to address their defensive issues.
But, Williams seems content to finish the season with his teammates who’ve become more like brothers because of how much time players spend together.
WFAN host Shaun Morash ripped New York Jets QB Zach Wilson for going on vacation with his girlfriend to Oregon during the team’s bye week. Morash believes the young signal caller needs to be more focused on football. This is classic sports talk radio stuff, but does Morash have a point?
“Zach Wilson, in what is about to be the biggest stretch of his career, decided it was as good time to take his girlfriend to Utah to apple and pumpkin pick and go to a haunted house,” Morash said.
The Jets have a legitimate defense and at 3-3 can make a move toward the postseason if Wilson can not lose games and play better.
The 24-year-old former No. 2 overall pick out of BYU in 2021 has been underwhelming so far in his early career. If not for an injury to Aaron Rodgers in the first game of the season, we likely wouldn’t be seeing Wilson play unless it was garbage time.
“The Jets stink after byes,” Morash continued. “Zach Wilson’s season, last year, derailed after a bye. I believe 52 guys could have gone and visited families; the quarterback, the leader, needs to be at or around that facility all week last week, and Zach Wilson has not done enough to get his a** on a plane and go to Utah for a week.”
Is Wilson Out Of Line?
Professional athletes are allowed to have a life outside of their sport. Sports talk radio hosts and fans like to poke and push at that notion and rail on players who are seen doing everyday life events when the team recently lost or is in the midst of a losing streak.
But players don’t see it the same way fans and radio hosts do. This is their job, and they can’t let it consume their minds 24/7. Only the rare psycho athletes do that. And while they may be winners, that obsession is hard to turn off when their playing days end.
The reality is Wilson hasn’t been good and the optics look bad. But maybe he is in his playbook while he’s in Utah on vacation. Maybe he’s having video sessions with his coach to dissect things. You can be away from your “office” and still work.
Whether Wilson is ultimately a success or not is up to him. He’s either going to start playing better incrementally and through intense preparation, study, and work he might live up to being drafted that high. Or he won’t.
Maybe the Jets drafted too high a player who’s not that good and is a career backup. That’s not his fault. That’s on the Jets.
The Colorado Buffaloes are preparing to face the No. 23-ranked UCLA Bruins this weekend. The game will take place at the legendary Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
It’s the Bruins’ 2023 homecoming, and with the Rose Bowl capable of holding nearly 90,000 fans, the team usually cuts off its attendance at just over 67,000.
In fact, the only time the legendary facility is filled to its nearly 90K capacity is for the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day every year.
That won’t change with Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders coming into town for Saturday evening’s tilt. But the crowd will be more than the original 67,066 fans originally expected.
Those tickets sold out, and there had to be over 3,000 more seats added, bringing the total number of fans for the game to nearly 71,000. That’s nothing more than the Coach Prime effect that’s been sweeping the college football scene this season.
LA Times reporter Ben Bolch posted this on X — formerly known as Twitter — earlier this week.
“USC is now removing the two outside tarps at each end for Saturday’s game against Colorado at the Rose Bowl, putting capacity at 70,865. That’s more than 3,000 above the previous figure released last week.”
Buffs Making History Weekly
Not only are the Buffaloes packing Folsom Field, their home field among the scenic Rocky Mountains, but they’re also selling out road games as well.
With Saturday’s sellout, the Buffaloes have now had one in each of their eight games this season.
That’s a program record, and not to be outdone, this will be their fifth game this season on a national network (ABC), also a program record.
That’s got everything to do with Deion Sanders, who took over a 1-11 program, and in year one has them two wins from being bowl eligible. That has caught the eye of Saturday’s opposing coach, Chip Kelly.
Bruins Coach Praises Coach Prime
Coming off Colorado’s heartbreaking 46-43 double-overtime loss to Stanford on Oct. 13, in which it led 29-0 at halftime, Bruins head coach Chip Kelly was still singing the program’s praises in his Monday media session.
“They were 1-11 last year, and they’ve won four games this year,” Kelly said. “It’s working, Deion has done a great job there. He’s great. He’s done an unbelievable job. He’s great for college football. The attention and buzz he’s brought to this game is great. I also admire him. He’s a little bit old school in terms of his approach in how he does things. It’s really impressive what he’s doing.”
Kelly’s assessment of Sanders and the program are a far cry from what opposing coaches were saying about him and his team earlier this season. Kelly has nothing but respect and admiration for Sanders and his team.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is keeping his foot on the gas for media analysts who have smoke for his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, himself, or his Miami Dolphins. That goes especially for “First Take” lead host Stephen A. Smith, who has been perceived as critical of Tua in the MVP conversation and recently told Hill to “watch his mouth.”
“For Stephen A. Smith to go out of his way and say that Tua isn’t worthy of being the MVP, it’s crazy to me,” Hill said on his podcast. “I’m sick of people bashing my QB for no reason. He’s been doing a hell of a job this year and people need to stop giving him crap. A lot of people don’t understand what my dog went through just to get here, especially last year.”
Smith clapped back, calling Hill a “no name dude” doing interviews with sports stars. Smith also defended his limited football knowledge while adding he keeps former NFL players like Shannon Sharpe, Ryan Clark and more on his show to educate him. However, he sent a direct shot at Hill during the rant.
“Watch his mouth,” Smith said on “First Take.” “I’m a reporter, bro. To accuse me of not watching the games, Tyreek Hill, please watch your mouth. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hill couldn’t resist responding and let Smith know that he is here to stay defending himself as a “new media” personality that is living what Smith can only talk about.
“I think there will never be a situation for me to watch my mouth, whenever I’m talking about the game I grew up playing,” Hill said on his podcast. “I don’t know what’s up with these analysts thinking they’ve got the credentials to talk about the sport that we live every day. I have to sit in meetings literally 60 hours a week to learn about the plan and the detail of everything so I can go out there and perform.”
Hill ended the conversation by saying he was available anytime to be interviewed by Smith, whom he labeled at the end “baby boy,” which is an endearing slang term but could be taken as a slight, given the context of the conversation.
For the first time in five years, two of the players that defined an NBA generation, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, faced off against each other. Both men showed why they are who they are, as Bron’s Los Angeles Lakers defeated KD’s Phoenix Suns 100-95. Both men played heavy minutes because their teams needed them, but is it wise to play them in such fashion so early in the season?
Bron played the entire fourth quarter and racked up 21 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. He played defense down the stretch and scored on consecutive possessions and was responsible for the Lakers come-from-behind victory. He played 35 minutes, when there was talk from the team that they would monitor his minutes to ensure the 38-year-old makes it through the regular season as healthy as possible.
“He asked me if I could go the [whole] quarter, and I looked at the time and the score and what was going on in the game, and it was an easy answer for myself,” James said. “I know how much work I’ve put in to be able to play quarters or whatever the case may be. And I understand that we definitely have a system put in place, but tonight called for me to go outside the box.”
Maybe it did, as the Lakers outscored the Suns 28-11 in the fourth. But as the Suns were without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, it shouldn’t have required Bron to do this in game two of the regular season.
Despite the Suns being shorthanded, the Lakers were outscored by the Suns whenever Bron was off the floor, and that was due to the Suns’ lone superstar.
KD played 39 minutes and was sublime. He shook off a slow start and erupted in the second half. He finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds. Like the Lakers when Bron wasn’t on the court, the Suns were outscored when the seven-foot sniper sat. He was a team high +18.
But 39 minutes is too many. Suns coach Frank Vogel, with the lead slipping away while KD was on the bench, brought him back into the game earlier than he usually would in the final quarter.
The game was big, as much as it can be this early in the season, so no doubt both men pushed to play. That’s what players of their caliber do.
But they more than anyone know, the regular season is a six-month grind. Their teams have championship aspirations this season and being as healthy as possible in April is the most important thing. If these two are not ready come April or suffer some kind of injury, their teams are dead on arrival.
But commissioner Adam Silver wants his stars to play in big national TV games, health be damned. Bron and KD did their parts on Thursday night. We’ll see the impact as the season progresses.
Former No. 2 overall pick and NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III saw his career derailed due to injuries and immaturity, among other things.
Having not played since the COVID-19 2020 season, Griffin has now turned to television after signing a multi-year contract with ESPN in 2021. Griffin hasn’t completely given up on strapping on the helmet and shoulder pads one more time, but that likely won’t happen again.
The Heisman Trophy winner has also turned to the podcast world with his own “RG3 and The Ones.”
On a recent episode, Griffin reminisced a bit on his time in Baltimore (2018-2020), spending the first season as the third-string QB behind Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and rookie backup Lamar Jackson. Following the 2018 season, which also happened to be the team’s first playoff appearance in four seasons, Baltimore traded Flacco to the Denver Broncos. This was done to turn the reins over to Jackson, also a Heisman winner.
Per Griffin, all wasn’t copacetic during that 2018 season. In fact, he said things were “awkward.”
Flacco Didn’t Mentor Heir Apparent, Griffin Did
Knowing Jackson was drafted to be his replacement, Griffin says Flacco refused to help the young QB in his development early in his rookie season.
“For me, as a quarterback in the room with Joe and Lamar, it was awkward. Let’s just call it what it was,” Griffin said. “Joe was a Super Bowl- winning quarterback for the Ravens, went on one of the most unbelievable postseason runs we’ve ever seen at the quarterback position to go win the Super Bowl. And Joe did it in a contract year.”
“So, they drafted Lamar. They brought me in to be in that room, at first, with Joe,” Griffin continued. “And then they drafted Lamar, and, really, kept me there to help be a mentor for Lamar Jackson.”
Griffin also mentioned that Flacco wasn’t in the business of leading verbally, but in his estimation more “by example.” The 2012 No. 2 overall pick did say when Flacco was injured and Jackson was thrust into action late that season, that there was more of a willingness by Flacco to be more hands on with Jackson.
Griffin’s Proudest Moment As A Pro?
Towards the end of the segment, Griffin told his listeners that he takes pride in being a vital part in Jackson’s unanimous MVP season of 2019.
“One of my greatest accomplishments as an NFL player wasn’t us (Washington) winning the division in 2012, or being Rookie of the Year, or being a Pro Bowl QB,” he said. “One of my biggest accomplishments was, in 2019, when Lamar Jackson won an MVP. And I got to be part of that.”
That season Griffin was Jackson’s backup, and he helped in Jackson’s development immensely as the dynamic dual-threat led the league with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,206 which is an NFL record for QBs as well.
Kelly Stafford, wife of L.A. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, was not a fan of Blueface’s behavior in his suite at SoFi Stadium last Sunday. In video that has since gone viral, Blueface proposed to his girlfriend Jaidyn Alexis and then proceeded to celebrate in his suite with strippers and stacks of cash.
“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.”
Not really sure what’s got her so upset. It seems that based on her comments, she has a tough time being in environments that she can’t control to her specifications. She mentions crowd noise.
Kelly has been with Matt since their days at University of Georgia. She’s been to her share of football games, and she’s still bothered by crowd noise?
As for Blueface, that’s not maybe what others would do. But as far as I know, once you pay for the suite you can do what you want once it’s not illegal. Nobody from SoFi put a stop to the activity inside the suite, so it just seems like she’d prefer something else.
“But what I am so mad about is this is supposed to be a family experience coming to a football game. There were children in the suites next to them,” she continued. “You know what I’m saying, but if you have that kind of stuff happening at games, adults are not going to bring their kids.”
An NFL game is a “family experience”? According to whom?
Between the excessive drinking, foul language and fights. What kind of family experience is that?
It seems that semi nude women is really what her issue is. But you can’t moralize people’s behavior. No matter how much she would like that to be the case.
Blueface, a native of LA and former star high school quarterback at a high school in the San Fernando Valley area, responded and expressed how deeply he didn’t care what Mrs. Stafford thinks on his X account.
According to the MILF Music CEO, the Stafford’s are just visiting his hometown to work.
It was loss after loss for Kelly Stafford that day as her husband’s Rams lost to the Steelers that day, dropping to 3-4. The Rams will be in Dallas on Sunday to take on the Cowboys and Matthew Stafford will need all of his focus to have a chance at winning that game.
The new high-profile relationship between Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift has taken NFL games and social media by storm. It’s even pit a spotlight on Kelce’s former girlfriend Kayla Nicole, whom the future Hall of Famer had a five-year on-again, off-again relationship that culminated in the two parting ways in the fall of 2022.
Now, with Kelce and Swift making headlines at every turn, Nicole’s name and what she’s doing has been in the spotlight.
Things really picked up when the social media influencer reportedly unfollowed both Patrick and Brittany Mahomes. That drew attention, because Nicole is reportedly very close with the reigning NFL and Super Bowl MVP and his wife. During a recent interview with People, Nicole addressed why she did unfollow them, among other things that have occurred since this budding relationship has taken shape.
Nicole Says She Felt She Owed A Public Explanation For A Public Action
When asked why she did actually unfollows her friends, Nicole didn’t deny it, but instead explained said she believed it “was important to publicly address this because I did publicly unfollow people.”
“The reality is I know these people in real life. And so, in real life, I’ve communicated to these people why I’ve had to publicly make the decisions that I made,” she told the outlet.
She then mentioned how despite no longer being an item with Kelce, she still has what she described as an “ongoing relationship” with the couple. In the same breath Nicole also said that Brittany “knows that I love for her.”
“That’s a lot of history and friendship there, that doesn’t change overnight,” she said. “But, publicly, because things are happening so quickly and so publicly, I have to protect myself. That’s really all that is. The love is still there.”
Nicole also unfollowed Jackson Mahomes, the younger brother of Patrick, as well.
Kelce Playing Better With Swift In Attendance?
Is Swift a good luck charm for Kelce? Maybe so.
This season with the 12-time Grammy Award winner in attendance, Kelce is averaging nearly 100 yards per game. When she isn’t seen screaming and cheering from the Kelces’ personal suite alongside his mom and Brittany, the former Cincinnati Bearcats star is not even averaging 50 yards per game.
During Wednesday’s episode of the brothers’ hit podcast, “The Heights,” Jason, the older brother and star center for the Eagles, says it’s been a “good” thing with Swift in the stands. And, from the looks of things, it may continue for the foreseeable future, meaning Nicole may wanna keep unfollowing Patrick and Brittany.
Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown didn’t want to talk about his team’s win over the Utah Jazz in the season opener. Instead the reigning coach of the year used his postgame press conference to address another mass shooting, this one in Maine, and appeal to our shared humanity to do something to stop these horrific incidents from happening.
“First thing, I’d like to say. I don’t know everything that’s going on,” Brown said. “I’m not that smart, but I know we as a country got to do something.”
According to reports, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, just before 7 p.m. local time, a man now identified as Robert Card began shooting at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine. The attack continued at Schemengees Bar and Grille, also in Lewiston and four miles away from Sapretime. In total, 18 people were killed and another 13 were injured.
Police have issued warrants and a manhunt is underway for the U.S. Army Reservist.
Schools, doctor’s offices and grocery stores within a 50-mile radius of Lewiston have closed and people are staying behind locked doors. The suspect is armed and dangerous, according to police, and should not be approached.
Unfortunately incidents like this have become all too familiar in our country, and as much as Brown is right to appeal to our shared humanity, what will ultimately happen?
In 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, was the site of a brutal mass shooting in which 28 people, including the shooter, were killed. If we as a society couldn’t pass common sense gun laws after little children were killed, when would we ever be able to?
“And it’s sad, and it’s sad that we sit here and watch this happen time after time after time after time and nobody does anything about it,” Brown continued. “And until we decide to do something about it, the powers that be, this is going to keep happening. And our kids aren’t going to be able to enjoy what the United States is about because we don’t know how to fix a problem that’s right in front of us. Sad. I feel for the families.”
We do know how to fix this problem. The issue is the powers that be have decided that gun control is something political, more fuel for the never-ending fire that is the American culture war.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, we’ve had 35,296 gun related deaths so far this year, and 566 mass shootings. The most of any developed nation by far. This is who we are as a society.
At this point all any reasonable, decent human can feel is sadness for the families affected and disdain for our elected officials and their collective failure to do what is right.
The Kings’ next game will be their home opener on Oct. 27 against the Golden State Warriors.
It’s always hilarious when celebrities and wealthy people meet each other and are star-struck.
Rapper GloRilla met her idol, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, and she absolutely lost all composure.
But, to be fair, who wouldn’t?
Memphis rapper GloRilla has been going viral for her excitement and her reaction to meeting the only coach in NFL history to start his career with 16 straight non-losing seasons.
She started smiling broadly, and if you didn’t know better you’d think Michael Jackson and Tupac came back to life in that moment, because the rising star tried to maintain a bit of composure but failed miserably to do so — in a good way — before Tomlin entered the room to greet her.
Her priceless reaction included her running up to Tomlin, before giving him a hug and embracing him. Their dialogue was wholesome and heartwarming, even for a gritty Memphis rapper and one of the toughest coaches in the NFL.
“Oh, what’s up, young lady?!” said to GloRilla. “How you doing? I didn’t even know you knew who I was. I wanna take a picture with her!”
GloRilla replied by saying “Yes! I know who you is,” to which Tomlin responded “And I know who you are! Congratulations on your success!”
Tomlin was even a bit taken aback by GloRilla’s reaction to being in his presence, asking her “Why are you acting like that?”
After greeting each other Mike Tomlin and GloRilla took a few pictures together that eventually spread all over social media, along with some photos of her in the Steelers locker room with her own custom-made “GloRilla” Steelers jersey, and another photo of the rapper posing in front of the Steelers’ Lombardi Trophy case that she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
There were also some throwback pictures of Big Glo in a Troy Polamalu jersey. From the looks of that, she’s a real longtime fan and has great taste in talent as well.
Meanwhile, GloRilla’s timing is impeccable, and the cross promotion can’t get any better, as both Big Glo and Tomlin’s Steelers are on a run of good fortune right now. In a very short time, Glorilla has gone from gritty Memphis rapper to Grammy-nominated artist.
The Steelers are currently 4-2 and tied for second place in the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns, one game behind the Baltimore Ravens.
They are clearly in the thick of it with elite company in the stacked AFC conference. They’ve defeated some of their elite AFC North counterparts, like Cleveland and Baltimore. Pittsburgh has been able to remain competitive even with an underwhelming offense, thanks in part to boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL, as the Steelers tend to do every year.
This is also a testament to the outstanding coaching by Tomlin, who probably has some of the best job security in the NFL right now. He’s also on pace to have another season without a losing record, a standard he’s maintained since he began coaching 16 years ago.
The “F.N.F(Let’s Go!)” rapper, GloRilla, might have a great business opportunity to become the next musical face of the Steelers franchise. The Steelers anthem “Black And Yellow” by Pittsburgh-based rapper Wiz Khalifa also bought in collabs with rap icon Snoop Dogg reppin’ black and yellow as an ode to the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with other Pittsburgh sports teams.
She also may have a unique opportunity to team up with one of the veterans of the music industry to honor the Steelers. This could also serve as a huge morale boost for Pittsburgh players and fans alike amidst a season with the potential to see them in the playoffs.
Bishop Sycamore will forever go down in sports infamy for presenting itself as a legal high school and high school football team and finessing its way into a 2021 nationally televised game against one of the top high school football teams in the nation.
According to Life Christian Academy football coach David Fitzgerald, they have Bishop Sycamore listed on their schedule and actually will be playing them.
Fitzgerald does believe that Bishop Sycamore is on the path to redemption and that they’re seriously trying to legitimately rebuild their organization the right way.
Richmond Times Dispatch quoted Fitzgerald as saying “Bishop Sycamore, they’re in a rebuilding process, and they basically have worked with a very reputable company that matches high school football games up,”
So in a way he is extending them a lifeline, but Life Christian Academy, which sits at 1-7 in the VISAA Division I could use a pick-me-up game (easy target) as well to get their program back on track.
Fitzgerald, who just joined Life Christian Academy as their head coach, is trying to schedule more games with local opponents in order to meet eligibility requirements to make the playoffs as well.
“They’re looking to rebound and possibly enter into a league we play in. We needed to fill a game, and we were presented with the opportunity. We spoke with their coaching staff and felt comfortable that they were legitimately moving forward in the right direction.
“We’re a Christian school, we believe in second chances, and we wanted to make this happen.
Life Christian and Bishop Sycamore Have Common Traits
Life Christian is the program from Virginia that made the trek to Pennsylvania to start the football season by getting smoked 87-0 by Imhotep Charter in York Suburban’s “Rose Bowl Classic.”
The loss was so bad that social media started comparing the school to Bishop Sycamore and questioning the program’s validity. Sycamore lost to IMG Academy 58-0 in that infamous and unforgettable game.
Bishop Sycamore, led by head coach Roy Johnson, was accused of forming a fraudulent team and a fake school in order to play against other high school teams. Some of the players were not even qualified to play for the team, which explains why no one had ever even heard of the team before their game.
They also played two football games in the span of three days, something no football player should ever endure in such a dangerous sport. But within those three days, they dropped both games, including the 58-0 thrashing to IMG Academy from Florida.
According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, Fitzgerald couldn’t disclose who is matchmaking their football games, but did say that his football team, the Life Christian Academy Eagles, play in the East Coast Power Prep league. They also noted that Bishop Sycamore is also hoping to join that same football league.
The original date was set for Nov. 10, but ultimately the programs decided on Nov. 9 and are awaiting confirmation to play the game.
Despite being plagued by foul trouble San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama had 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 23 minutes in his regular-season debut.
But he was outdone by Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II, who scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a Mavericks win. Which rookie will be more impactful this season?
“Amazing man, I told him,” said Luka Doncic of Lively II’s performance. “He played amazing for the first game. I don’t remember seeing a rookie that played that amazing for their first game. I remember my first game, I was nervous. He didn’t seem nervous. He played f****** amazing.”
Lively II is a bouncy athlete and was one of the top high school players in the class of 2022. He spent one year at Duke, where he earned All ACC-Freshman and All-ACC Defensive honors. The Mavericks potentially have a young rim-running, rebound grabbing, rim-protecting phenom on their hands.
Does that mean he’ll be better than Wemby?
Let’s not get carried away. There’s a reason that Wemby has been called the best prospect the league has seen since LeBron James. The 19-year-old Frenchman’s fourth quarter spurt is exactly why.
He had nine points in a three-minute span in the final frame when the Spurs pulled ahead. Wemby scored on an alley-oop, pull-up three off the dribble, leaked out for a fast break dunk, and a midrange jumper off a pindown action.
The tools he possesses are incredible. But it will take time before he becomes a winning basketball player. Mainly because his team is young and they are all trying to figure it out.
“We’re all figuring each other out,” Spurs’ guard Devin Vassell said. “We’re all figuring out Wemby. He’s figuring us out. We just got to figure out how to play as a team and make sure that the game is easy for him and he doesn’t have to do as much as he has to do on iso situations and just getting him easy lobs, easy looks to get him going. He demands so much attention. If they are double-teaming him, we have to be able to cut and make certain plays out of that.”
Lively II plays with a top-5 player and MVP candidate in Doncic, a perennial All-Star in Kyrie Irving, and a group of established NBA players. His job is to rebound, protect the paint, rim run and catch lobs. There’s less on his plate, and he’s on a better team.
If Lively primarily shares the floor with Doncic, he’s going to be a plus impact player because the Mavericks are always a plus team with Doncic on the floor.
Those factors suggest Lively II has the potential to be a more impactful player this year than Wemby. It doesn’t mean he’s a better player, he’s just better in a more defined role on a better team.
Soccer star David Beckham recently dropped a four-part documentary on Netflix entitled “Beckham,” where revelations were made about his alleged affair with his then-assistant, Rebecca Loos.
She recently spoke out to Daily Mail about the affair and other trysts she witnessed Beckham have, saying that in the new documentary she felt Beckham was painting himself as “the victim.”
Beckham is married to Victoria Beckham, an entertainer and influencer. In the documentary, the Beckhams are candid in discussing the challenges that affected their marriage after Rebecca Loos’ claims.
“There were some horrible stories that were difficult to, deal with,” Beckham said in the documentary. “It was the first time that me and Victoria had been put under that kind of pressure in our marriage.” Victoria added, “It was the hardest period, because it felt like the world was against us.”
Loos assailed Beckham’s characterization this week, telling the Daily Mail, “Yes, the stories were horrible, but they’re true.”
The alleged affair received the media’s attention first when David Beckham signed to play for the soccer club Real Madrid in the summer of 2003. In September of that year, Beckham was seen out with a brunette in Madrid, later identified as Rebecca Loos, who was then his assistant while in Madrid.
By 2004, Loos claimed in a story she sold to a tabloid that she and Beckham had a full-on affair. She also revealed that she had been fired as his assistant. The night she was spotted with Beckham in Madrid was the first night they had slept together, Loos claims.
“I think the chemistry between David, and I was so strong, and people were not happy because I was being very unprofessional and he’s a married man,” she said, adding: “We dropped off the other two people in the car and started kissing quite passionately all the way back to the hotel. It was like magnets, pretty amazing.”
Loos also described times when Victoria Beckham was looking for her husband while he was sleeping with other women. She would have to tell his bodyguards, who would be watching the door, so that the soccer star knew to get in touch with his wife.
Beckham has always denied the allegations.
“During the past few months I have become accustomed to reading more and more ludicrous stories about my private life,” he said to The Guardian at that time. “The simple truth is that I am very happily married and have a wonderful wife and two very special kids. There is nothing any third party can do to change this.”
Loos said in her recent interview that she is not concerned about potential litigation from the Beckhams because she has a unique brand of proof.
“There is something I know about him, an intimate part of his body that I think only women who’ve been in bed with him would know,” Loos continued. “So I think if they did want to take me to court, I could easily stand up and say, ‘Well …”
As we reach nearly the halfway point of the 2023 NFL season, offenses haven’t had as much success as expected in the preseason. Even with the constants, each week this list varies, and that’s no different heading into Week 8.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jags have been coming on. After beginning the season 1-2, the Duval County residents have run off four wins in a row, including their Week 7 road win over the New Orleans Saints in which the aforementioned Lawrence completed nearly 67 percent of his passes for over 200 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Christian Kirk was the star pass-catcher with six receptions for 90 yards and that lone touchdown from Lawrence.
The team also rushed for 126 yards, with two rushing scores from running back Travis Etienne. With this defense playing well, all that’s needed is for the offense to play it’s to potential.
Baltimore Ravens
In Sunday’s 38-6 win over the Detroit Lions, the Ravens offense could do no wrong in tallying 503 total yards. QB Lamar Jackson had a near perfect QB rating going 21 of 27 for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Baltimore also rushed for 146 yards and two scores (one by Jackson) as they continue to get more and more comfortable in first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s diverse but effective scheme.
This version of the Ravens offense, along with their stingy and downright nasty defense, can make a serious run in January.
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark spoke highly of their performance Sunday.
“If Lamar Jackson plays this way, he’s absolutely an MVP candidate … but more importantly, the Baltimore Ravens are a Super Bowl favorite,” Clark said.
Kansas City Chiefs
Prior to Sunday’s offensive outburst in a 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chiefs offense sputtered more often than it didn’t. Reigning league and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes had his best game of the season, passing 32 of 42 for over 420 yards and four touchdowns. K.C.’s offense seemed to gain some momentum.
With a steadily rising defense in tow, this was exactly the performance head coach Andy Reid wanted to see out of his unit that had pretty much underwhelmed this season.
Philadelphia Eagles
In the matchup dubbed Jalen Hurts versus former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa, it was Hurts who was the better QB. The former Alabama star who lost his job to Tagovailoa to begin the 2018 season tallied 300 total yards of offense and three total touchdowns.
Hurts was his usual efficient self, and the rest of the Eagles offense joined the party, mainly star wide receiver A.J. Brown with ten receptions for 137 yards and one touchdown. The offense is still trying to find its footing and become that consistent juggernaut it was in 2022, and Sunday’s outing was a step in the right direction.
Minnesota Vikings
On Monday night the Vikes surprised everyone with their 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. QB Kirk Cousins passed for 378 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie wideout Jordan Addison had his coming-out party with seven receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
The most impressive stat of the night has to be the Vikes offensive line not allowing a sack against that vaunted Niners pass rush in 45 pass attempts. Despite missing all-world wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Minnesota rallied together and played its most complete game of the season.
WNBA Finals MVP A’ja Wilson, during her postgame presser after her Las Vegas Aces won the title, said that R&B superstar Usher better be at the team’s victory parade. Usher currently has a Las Vegas residency, so it makes sense that she would ask. Usher didn’t make the parade, but he congratulated A’ja and the team and invited her to a show. A’ja apparently told the Aces group chat they were going to see Usher, but teammate Sydney Colson said she saw the video where Usher made the invite, and let’s just say it’s unclear.
The Aces are living their best lives. They won their second consecutive WNBA title last week, becoming the first WNBA team to win back-to-back titles in 21 years. The ladies were understandably hyped, so it made sense that A’ja would make a public request of Usher. You can’t tell any of those women anything right now. They’re on top of the world.
A’ja and Sydney are close and like to have a good time joking and going after each other.
“A’ja hit us in the group chat talkin bout WE are invited to go see Usher, but now that I’m seeing the video…SHE was invited. Which is cool, that’s fine! But why lie to ur teammates?” Colson posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Lolololololololol syd scores 2 points in game 4 and think she can get usher tickets awww,” replied Wilson on X.
Obviously the two teammates are having some fun poking each other. Earlier this season a video of the two on the bench dancing to “Time Today” by Moneybagg Yo went viral. Not only because they were having fun, but because it was during a game and when head coach Becky Hammon starts walking down the sideline towards them, they stop and pretend they’re focused on the game. As soon as Hammon heads back in the other direction, they continue rapping and dancing.
It was classic. We can all relate to having a little fun when we should be a little more serious or focused and immediately stopping the fun when an authority figure is nearby, and then going right back to it when they leave.
As for seeing Usher, we’ll have to stay monitored to social media to find out.
The eight-time Grammy Award winner’s “My Way The Las Vegas Residency” has dates through Dec. 2.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a sports radio legend and shock jock. He host “Mad Dog Sports Radio” weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. He also stars on the “High Heat” on MLB Network from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays as well.
Earlier this week, Russo, who’s known for his unique takes and lots of yelling, told his listeners he’d retire from the radio world if the Arizona Diamondbacks came back to beat the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National League pennant and advance to the franchise’s second World Series and first since 2001.
Fast forward to Wednesday after the Diamondbacks pulled off the upset, and now Russo is backpedaling and changing his tune. He isn’t retiring after saying loud and clear that there was absolutely no way the Diamondbacks could pull off winning four out of five games after trailing the series 2-0.
“Write it down: if they win the next two games, and win this series in seven games, I will retire on the spot.”
Not only did they do it, they did it in Citizens Bank Park in Philly. Now Russo isn’t gonna make good on his promise. He reportedly will do something else instead.
Russo Tells Howard Stern He Ain’t Retiring
When Wednesday morning came around a shocked Russo told Stern he wasn’t going through with retirement after losing the bet. Stern, who’s also made his living on talk radio like Russo, told him he needed to do something else since he lost the bet. That he just couldn’t renege on his promise.
Stern said, “You gotta do something so outrageous they forget about the fact that you said you were gonna retire over a baseball game.”
“How ’bout this, You come on my show, I’ll come into Manhattan for this, we put you in a bikini and you walk down the street with a sign that says, I’m a d—e.’ If you do that … it will make all the media and everyone say, ‘Wow, this guy was standup, he took it, obviously he couldn’t retire, but he was humiliated,” Stern said.
A willing and seemingly eager Russo quickly responded, “The deal is done.”
Russo Guest Spots On ESPN’s First Take Every Wednesday
Ever since Stephen A. Smith moved on from Max Kellerman as his co-host on the network’s top-rated morning debate show, Mad Dog has been a Wednesday morning staple.
This is where he and the aforementioned Smith engage in back-and-forth shouting matches while debating sports.
With this week now in the books, you can bet Smith won’t miss the opportunity to bring it up during Russo’s guest spot next Wednesday. And if he truly goes through with it, Stern won’t hesitate to broadcast it either.
Prior to the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat’s narrow (103-102) season-opening win over the Detroit Pistons, team president Pat Riley told reporters that the team needed someone else to step up average around 25 points per game to help star Jimmy Butler. Riley mentioned versatile do-it-all big man Bam Adebayo, who’s one of the better two-way bigs in the league.
The eight-time NBA champion as a coach or executive also alluded to dynamic scoring threat Tyler Herro, who prior to breaking his hand in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs last season was the team’s third-leading scorer. Riley knows that in order to have any shot at winning the franchise’s fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy they’re gonna need both to be good and one to be great.
Riley Wants Bam Or Herro To Step Up
During his Monday media session, Riley was asked a bevy of questions, one being who he thought needed to step up offensively for the team. That was asked because of the team’s failed pursuit of All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who was traded to the rival Milwaukee Bucks. If the Heat could’ve added Lillard he would’ve likely become the team’s leading scorer with the aforementioned Butler right behind him.
Butler will once again be the lead dog, and Riley believes one of the two other aforementioned Heat stars need to get it done.
“I don’t know who it’s going to be, Bam or Tyler, somebody is going to be a 25-point-a-game scorer and we need that.” Riley said. “Somebody else is going to be in the 20s or 19 or 21. But we need Butler, Adebayo and Herro to play at a level together as much as they can for us to have a great regular season and a great playoff run.”
“They’re all capable. I’ve seen some signs of Bam and Tyler in the preseason that I really like.”
Trio Combined For 57 Points In Win Over Pistons
In Wednesday’s win Adebayo scored 22 (team-high) and Herro went for 16, right behind Butler’s 19. Only getting 57 points from their dynamic trio won’t cut it against the better teams in the East, like the aforementioned Bucks and Boston Celtics.
Riley knows this, and we’re pretty sure head coach Erik Spoelstra does as well. It was just game 1, and things like rotations and personnel groupings are still being figured out, so it’s really no surprise for the low output from the trio. Last season they all averaged at least 20 points during the regular season, combining for 65 points in total. It sounds like Riley believes that number needs to be up around 70-75 nightly this season.
Can they do it?
Probably, but the key will be how well Herro plays with more responsibility and being at the center of trade talks surrounding Lillard, although Riley vehemently denies he ever was being shopped.
Professional bodybuilder and Miss Olympia champion in 2017 Sheryl Grant will be competing for the 2023 title at the age of 61 and hopes she can inspire people that anyone can reach their goals.
“On this journey to Ms. Olympia at 60+, my goal is to reach 50 million people around the globe, letting them know that age is just a number and that they can achieve their goals at any age!” she wrote on Instagram.
In a world filled with so much negativity and toxicity, it’s refreshing to see someone do something with the goal of inspiring others.
Grant has been posting her workout videos and tips to her success on TikTok and has built a community of people looking to improve their fitness. Her official FIT for Life community helps individuals transform their bodies and minds.
“Starting the journey to Ms. Olympia for the second time is difficult, but it has opened my eyes in ways I never thought imaginable,” Grant wrote in a separate post.
There are six female divisions at the Olympia — Bikini, Figure, Fitness, Wellness, Women’s Physique, and Women’s Bodybuilding.
In a video posted on TikTok Grant said a strong core is her secret to more effective workouts.
The core is the central part of the human body. It includes your pelvis, lower back, hips and stomach muscles. Core exercises train the muscles in your core to work together.
Anyone that has trained for a sport or participated in any athletic activity has heard the word core. If you’ve ever had an injury as a result of your sport or activity and done physical therapy to recover, core was likely discussed. Grant’s right, it’s the key to ensuring you’re using your muscles properly and that the body is in sync.
“My secret to more effective workouts is a STRONG CORE!” Grant said. “A strong core allows me to do more exercises and maintain the form to maximize each movement’s effectiveness.”
Grant’s core workout includes: Russian twists with a medicine ball, 90 degree twisted leg lifts, reverse crunches, and regular crunches.
The Miss Olympia 2023 competition will take place on Nov. 3 in Orlando, Florida.
Apparently, the breakup between fitness model Kayla Nicole and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has really affected the 29-year-old, who’s been sincere about the healing she had to do since the split and the ensuing 24-7 media firestorm that his new relationship with pop star Taylor Swift has created.
The two first started dating in 2017 and officially called it quits in May 2022. Now, with Kelce and Swift becoming a daily talking point in popular culture, Nicole has revealed her treatment by online trolls and the way she’s healed.
“Buckle the f**k up, sweetie,” Nicole said to People. “You thought the worst had already come, but buckle up and take all of the tools right now and put them in your bag because you’re going to need them.”
Nicole released a video on social media that went viral of her reading a letter to Black women. Through personal revelations, she revealed how “unprotected” she felt as people attacked her online and dealt a blow to her confidence based on the breakup and Kelce’s new higher-profile relationship.
“Just full transparency, I went through this major breakup, major life change, and I had lost a substantial amount of weight within a very short amount of time,” Nicole continued to People. “I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating. I was really abusing melatonin to sleep at night.”
However, even though she “was still working out” after the breakup, she couldn’t accept the positive feedback from her social media followers due to the anxiety and depression she was feeling.
“I’m posting content, and people are like, ‘You look so good. Tell us your tricks. You look amazing.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m miserable. I’m miserable. I’m depressed,’ ” Nicole continued. “My abs were amazing, I had a six-pack. And it was like, ‘I had never felt so bad in my life.’ “
“So, I started going to therapy and quickly realized, okay, it’s one thing to be physically fit, but it’s another thing to be mentally fit. You could be in the best shape of your life, but mentally, if you are not a healthy person, it’s not going to feel good.”
Kayla Nicole is a test case of what it is like to date a white male star while Black. Although her situation is unique based on the fans’ response to Taylor Swift, her vulnerability adds context to the spotlight that comes with a high-profile relationship.
Week 7 in the NFL once again spotlighted some quality rookies playing vital roles for their respective teams. The most impressive rookie is an under-drafted offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns.
Jones was thrust into the starting lineup when former All-Pro Jack Conklin was lost to a torn ACL for the season in Week 1.
Jones, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Ohio State has been outstanding. The 6-foot-8 and 375-pound tackle has held his own against the likes of edge rushers Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt.
In fact this season Jones has been lights out at tackle. In 237 pass-blocking snaps, he’s allowed one sack and one QB hit. Not bad for a guy many overlooked in the draft who looks like a franchise tackle.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski raved about Jones, who played great in Sunday’s win at the Colts. It was a homecoming for Jones, an Indianapolis native.
“The hometown kid had some really good moments today,” Stefanski said following his team’s controversial 39-38 win.
On “Monday Night Football” Addison showed the world the dominance that earned him the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner. The speedy former USC and Pittsburgh star was the difference in the Vikings’ huge 22-17 upset over the Niners.
With quarterback Kirk Cousins passing for 378 yards and two touchdowns, Addison was busy all day as he tallied seven receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns. It was a coming-out party of sorts for Addison, who despite six touchdown receptions, has been inconsistent. Vikings need him to play well with Justin Jefferson out 4-6 weeks.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell can’t stop praising his prized rookie.
“Jordan’s been everything that I hoped for from the moment I put on the tape from his time in college, but he’s been more than that,” O’Connell said.
In the Seahawks’ 20-10 win over the division rival Arizona Cardinals, it was the Hawks’ defense that stood out. Led by a ferocious and inspired pass rush that tallied four sacks and a secondary led by Witherspoon, Seattle allowed a paltry 249 yards.
Spoon bottled up Cardinals receivers all game and even had four tackles and three passes defensed, which is a league-high in a single game for any rookie this season.
Despite his team being blown out from the jump in Baltimore, losing 38-6, Gibbs displayed the things that made him a first-round pick. The speedy and elusive dual-threat running back tallied 126 total yards on 20 touches. Gibbs’ execution favored New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara, a player he’s long been compared to. The Lions have themselves a budding star in Gibbs, if he can stay healthy.
Thrust into action with starter Justin Fields injured, Bagent, the Division II product from Shepherd, was good in the team’s 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Bagent’s numbers weren’t gaudy, as he went 21-for-29 for 162 yards and one touchdown, but it was his decisiveness and control of the offense that stood out.
Was it good enough to cause a QB controversy?
Probably not, as of yet, but if Fields is out a little longer and Bagent continues to play well and the team wins, you never know.
