“We Didn’t Make Any Money Off The Movie” | Sean Tuohy Responds To Legal Filings By Former NFL Star Michael Oher Who Claims Tuohys Lied About Adopting Him For Money
Twenty-four hours after it was learned former NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher filed a lawsuit against the Tuohy family for lying about adopting him in high school and profiting off his story, Sean Tuohy responded by saying the allegations are insulting and upsetting.
“I will say it’s upsetting that people would think I would want to make money off any of my children,” Sean Tuohy said.
Sean Tuohy is defending his family from what he calls "insulting" allegations.https://t.co/TEM4ykOp2v
Oher’s story became legend as a result of the 2009 movie “The Blind Side” where Oher, played by actor Quinton Aaron, was adopted by the Tuohy family Sean and his wife Leigh Anne, played by Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock.
All of the “good will”, fame, and apparent riches generated by that film are a lie, according to Oher.
In his filing he alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him and “falsely advised” him to sign a document in 2004 that made them his conservators — giving them the legal power to complete business deals in his name — after he turned 18 years old.
He accuses the Tuohys of having “enriched themselves” and profited from the “lie” by taking their life story to the big screen.
“It’s upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children,” Sean Tuohy continued. “But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16.”
Sean Tuohy claims the family never made money off the movie but then clarified his statement.
Did The Tuohys Make Money Off The Movie?
“We didn’t make any money off the movie,” said Tuohy. “‘The Blind Side’ book author Michael Lewis gave us half of his share. Everybody in the family got an equal share, including Michael. It was about $14,000, each. We were never offered money; we never asked for money.”
There seems to be some contradiction there and Sean Tuohy and Michael Lewis’ relationship is not scrutinized enough. The two were classmates back in high school.
Whether the Tuohys directly received money as a result of the movie seems like it’s layered. But what is undeniable, the family became celebrities as a result of the movie, and used that to their advantage, financial or otherwise.
As for the Tuohys serving as conservators and not adoptive parents, Sean offers an explanation.
“They said the only way Michael could go to Ole Miss was if he was actually part of the family,” Sean Tuohy said. “I sat Michael down and told him, ‘If you’re planning to go to Ole Miss — or even considering Ole Miss — we think you have to be part of the family. This would do that, legally.’ We contacted lawyers who had told us that we couldn’t adopt over the age of 18; the only thing we could do was to have a conservatorship.”
Sean Tuohy is an Ole Miss alumnus and has been an active booster of the university’s athletics.
“Free Kevin Brown” | Orioles Announcer Kevin Brown Opens Up On Odd Suspension Upon Return To The Booth
Baltimore Orioles play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown returned to the airwaves over the weekend after being suspended for his comments made on July 23rd.
Now, before you go thinking it was something racial or out of line, it wasn’t. All Brown, who’s become one of the better announcers in the sport did was speak the truth, and somehow it got him suspended from the air.
If the reports are true and Kevin Brown really got suspended for providing the Orioles’ past record, everybody involved in the decision to punish him is unfit for their current gigs. If this is true, MLB should intervene. Would be beyond outrageous. pic.twitter.com/wtehHoMplm
On that fateful July day, Brown did nothing more than make reference to the team’s lack of success versus the Tampa Bay Rays in the past, while also saying the team has fared much better against them this season.
Brown, also noted that this season alone the team has won as many games versus the Rays that they had in the previous three seasons combined. He also showed a quick graphic detailing the lack of success in those years versus 2023.
And for that he was suspended. Odd you say?
Brown Takes High Road In Return
In his return to the airwaves on Friday night, a relaxed Brown was pretty complimentary of the team and its leadership. In fact, he posted this via social media ….
“Recent media reports have mischaracterized my relationship with my adopted hometown Orioles. The fact is that I have a wonderful relationship with the organization, and our ownership and front office has fully supported me since 2019 when I first came aboard.
“I ask that everyone disregard the distracting noise of the past days,” he continued. “I have worked closely with O’s VP Greg Bader for the past four years, and John Angelos and I have a solid dialogue based on mutual respect. We’re all good here in Birdland!”
While the Orioles quickly disputed that Brown had been suspended, that’s what it looked like.
Last Tuesday night fans at once again raucous Camden Yards chanted in unison ….
“Free Kevin Brown.”
Orioles Have Second-Best Record In MLB
In what many thought was a fluke to start to the season, has careened into an AL-best 73-45 record, only trailing the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves by two games.
It’s been a mixture of young rising talent, and the play of veterans like Cedric Mullins that have propelled the Orioles into a real contender in a year most figured was more a rebuilding one.
Not only that the team also has the No. 1 ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 in shortstop/second baseman Jackson Holliday who’s tearing it up at Double-A with the Bowie Baysox.
With Brown back in the saddle and on the call, expect Birldland to be lit come September and October.
Fellow Athletes Remember Beloved NFL RB Alex Collins Who Dies After Motorcycle Crash In Florida
Former Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks RB Alex Collins, 28, died last Sunday as a result of a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. Emergency response crews arrived at the location but Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.
The NFL family mourns the loss of Alex Collins and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, teammates and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/rHqGL6bAmd
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit, Collins was riding a 2004 Suzuki GSX-600K in Lauderdale Lakes on West Oakland Park Boulevard when a woman driving a Chevrolet Suburban made a turn, crossing over the lane Collins was traveling in, causing him to hit the rear passenger side of the SUV.
The woman driving the SUV remained at the scene and is cooperating with the police who say the investigation is still ongoing.
“Alex was cherished by his family and friends as well as supporters from all around the world,” Collins’ family said in a statement Monday night. “All who truly know him can attest to his drive, determination, and larger-than-life personality.”
High School And College Standout
Collins was a standout athlete at South Plantation High School in Fort Lauderdale, where he lettered in football, basketball, lacrosse and track.
He was named Broward County Player of the Year as a junior after rushing for 1,786 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Collins attended The University of Arkansas where he became first true freshman in SEC history to rush for 300 yards in his first three games. He finished the season with 1,026 rushing yards on 190 carries with four touchdowns and was named 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year.
He rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the following two seasons and became only the third player in SEC history to rush for 1,000 plus yards in three seasons, joining Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden.
Collins finished his junior season with a career-high 1,577 yards, and a school-record 20 rushing touchdowns and was named second team All-SEC. He is second on the Razorback career rushing yards list (3,703), behind only Darren McFadden (4,590).
He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Collins played in Seattle for a season, then was signed by the Baltimore Ravens and played there for three seasons before returning to Seattle for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“Alex was a joy to be around and someone whose light shined brightly,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “I’ll always remember him for being a great teammate who had an uplifting spirit that impacted everyone he encountered. He was also a smart player who ran with unlimited determination, and he contributed to a lot of our success during his time in Baltimore.”
His death was felt by many former teammates and people within the NFL community. Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III, shared thoughts on this “special man.”
Alex Collins was so special man. Amazing teammate and a guy everyone was down to kick it with. This man invited me and wifey out one time in Baltimore and I will never forget it. We show up to the spot and AC is no where to be found. We are looking around for him for 20 min and… pic.twitter.com/zNLjxk5vRh
Collins signed on with the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League earlier this year before suffering an injury.
“He’s Been A Dynamic Ball Carrier For A Long Time” | Jets Sign Running Back Dalvin Cook To One-Year Deal
On Monday the New York Jets continued to add to their talented roster. This time they added the four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings in early June after spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with them.
Cook brings experience and dynamic playmaking at the running back position, and he’ll be teamed with Breece Hall, the Jets’ also-dynamic 2022 draft pick who was on a tear last season until a torn ACL sidelined him and the team’s potentially-dynamic offense as well.
Cook, has been on a team tour looking for the right fit, and prior to visiting the Jets last month, told reporters the probability he’d sign was “pretty high.”
While nothing materialized in full then, the two sides stayed in contact and agreed to a one-year, $8.6M deal late Monday.
Smart Move By The Jets With Hall Coming Off Injury
The Jets believe the aforementioned Hall is their future at the position, but with him coming off the ACL injury, signing a player like Cook was a really a no-brainer.
In fact, head coach Robert Saleh said, “Obviously, you don’t want to say no to a great player…He’s been a dynamic ball carrier for a long time.”
Since 2019, Cook (111 YPG) is second in scrimmage yards behind Derrick Henry (126).
The move is also part of the Jets “all-in-now” mantra. With four-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center, the team feels it can make a real run this season. Cook only adds to that belief In Florham Park, New York.
With a dominant defense that led the team to a 7-3 record at one point despite some shoddy QB play last season, this new-look Jets roster has the potential to be among the league’s best. Now we’ll see how it all comes together this season.
Cook And Hall Can Change Games On Any Play
With Rodgers’ ability to keep defenses honest throwing the football, there should be plenty of running lanes for the Cook/Hall duo to their thing. With both possessing major home run speed, either can flip the game on any given play.
The Jets also have manpower at receiver or tight end. Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson leads the receivers room, along with Alan Lazard and Randall Cobb, plus tight end C.J. Uzomah.
Cook is coming off four consecutive 1000-yard rushing seasons, and should allow Hall to pace himself in his return to the field.
Cook and Rodgers now go from NFC North rivals to backfield mates.
“Absolutely, I Think We’re Close To A Championship Team” | Lakers Coach Darvin Ham Believes Team Is Primed To Contend For Record 18th NBA Title, Is He Right?
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a 2022-23 season where they seemed to hit their stride when it mattered most.
After beginning the season 2-10 before turning things around to make the play-in tournament as the seventh seed. Once in they knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, before being swept by the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
That run showed now second-year head coach Darvin Ham a lot.
For one, it showed that the team isn’t far from possibly advancing to the NBA Finals and playing for what would be their NBA record 18th championship as a franchise. But it also shined a bright light on some
of the deficiencies that ailed the team all season. Mainly athletic wings and timely shooting, Ham believes they’ve addressed those areas this offseason, and they’re ready to compete for another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Team Keeps Pieces, Adds New Needed Pieces
During free agency the team locked up guard Austin Reaves and re-signed midseason acquisitions Rui Hachimura and Jared Vanderbilt, three key cogs to their late season run.
While speaking with ESPN at the Basketball Without Borders Camp in South Africa, Ham was pretty confident in his team coming into the 2023-24 season.
“Absolutely, I think we’re close to a championship team. We have leadership like LeBron James and Anthony Davis; some of the talent we were able to bring back in Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell,” Ham said.
“Then you think about the guys we added in Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes. I think the sky is the limit for what we will be able to do.
“I think we have a lot of depth, a lot of guys that have skill, size and athleticism, so I look forward to it all coming together,” Ham concluded.
While all that sounds good, and Ham should he excited for all the new pieces added to his core from last season, the Lakers will only go as far as Anthony Davis’ body takes them.
Period and point blank, without a healthy AD the Lakers aren’t going anywhere.
AD Recently Signed Massive Extension
Ham has been a part of a championship team as a player (2004 Pistons) and as the lead assistant with the (2021 Bucks).
And even he knows AD is the key to another championship run, and that’s why the Lakers showed good faith in signing the talented but oft-injured Davis to a three-year, $186 million extension last week.
Ham is right the Lakers have the ingredients to compete for a championship, but chemistry and defining roles with the new guys will go a long way in determining just how far this unit can go.
Blindsided! Retired NFL Lineman Michael Oher Says Family Lied About Adopting Him To Make Money From “The Blind Side”
The world may have become privy to what would be one of the biggest fraud stories in American sports folklore. Michael Oher, the inspiration for the 2009 movie “The Blind Side,” reveals some shocking details about the story that made him and his adoptive parents feel-good film famous; that they are not his adoptive parents.
That lie, according to Oher, made them millions of dollars.
On Monday, Oher filed a petition to a Tennessee court alleging that a crucial component of the story that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy adopted him was a lie conceived by the family as a get-rich scheme. According to reports, the 14-page petition, filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, probate court, alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy did a bait-and-switch.
After taking Oher into their home as a high school student, they never adopted him. Conversely, less than three months after Oher’s 18th birthday in 2004, the couple misled him into signing a document that made them his conservators. The agreement granted them the legal power to make business deals in his name.
Michael Oher, who was the subject of ‘THE BLIND SIDE,’ has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was never adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, but was instead tricked into a conservatorship that gave them control over his money and businesses.
“The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,” the legal filing says.
“Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”
The Oscar-winning film starring Sandra Bullock earned more than $300 million, and Oher now wants to constrict the Tuohys and their two children from profiting further from his story. The movie reportedly paid the Tuohys and their two birth children $225,000 each, in addition to 2.5% of the film’s “defined net proceeds,” according to the legal filing.
He is petitioning the court to end the conservatorship and wants an injunction barring them from using his name and likeness.
Additionally, Oher wants a full accounting of earnings the Tuohys made using his name, a portion of those profits, and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
My bad Sandra Bullock you are trending now but the facts are Michael Oher is shedding light on how his faked adopted family and Hollywood used him to create a “White Savior” story to make millions for them and ZERO for him. pic.twitter.com/3aB8msXoY9
“Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or which they exercise control,” the petition says.
“All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher.”
In their 2010 book, “In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving,” the Tuohys stated that from the movie, they received a flat fee for the story and did not see any of the movie’s enormous profits, but “we divided it five ways,” meaning the parents, their two children, and Oher.
lotta ppl should ask themselves why they found the tuohys story more impressive than michael oher's in the first place. just think of how many people were glad to cut them checks without once thinking about oher.
In his 2011 memoir, “I Beat the Odds,” Oher explained that he signed the conservatorship papers as a rising high school senior because the Tuohys told him there was no difference between adoption and conservatorship.
Had the Tuohys adopted Oher, his legal family member status would have allowed him the power to handle his finances. However, the conservatorship relinquished that authority to the Tuohys, even though he was a legal adult and had no known disabilities.
Oher is looking to set the record straight again on his life story, which is still unfolding.
Lions’ RB David Montgomery And Girlfriend’s Dog Escapes Yard, Viciously Attacks Neighbor’s Dog
According to reports Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery and girlfriend Tatum Causey’s dog was involved in a biting incident with a smaller dog days after their move to Michigan this summer, according to reports.
Lions David Montgomery and his girlfriend Causey are in some hot-water.
The two share a pitbull named Lola which was not trained well enough to mingle with other dogs.
Montgomery says that the pitbull escaped his yard. The pitbull ended up attacking another dog and breaking… pic.twitter.com/O7DnqHXye6
Police documents say that Montgomery and Causey’s dog escaped the yard and attacked the neighbor’s smaller dog.
In video obtained by TMZ, Causey is seen explaining that she went inside her house asking if the dog was inside as she didn’t see her in the backyard.
“I go inside, literally opened the door and I said, ‘Anybody see Lola?'” she told an officer at the scene. “So, I’m looking in the backyard for her — she normally stays right in the backyard — but when I walk out, I see my brother carrying her.”
Another man, part of a group with Causey is also seen on the video saying Causey’s dog was in the yard playing with children, when asked by the police officer if the dog was being violent or aggressive.
Pit Bull Stereotypes
Montgomery and Causey’s dog, Lola, is a pitbull mix. Of course that breed conjures up all sorts of misinformed opinions and negative stereotypes. Most, if not all, proven to be untrue according to the ASPCA.
The neighbor’s claim as a result of the attack, their pup was diagnosed by the vet with two leg fractures. They also claimed it required stitches.
Causey was charged with misdemeanor harboring a vicious dog over the incident, though records show she pleaded not guilty to the count at a hearing in late June. The records show she’s due for another hearing on the incident in September.
As for Lola, it is unclear what happened to her. In a post on Causey’s Instagram from July, there was a carousel of pictures with Lola and an emotional caption that suggested Lola is no longer alive.
“So many quiet days just filled with your unconditional love. You are and always will be the best. My soul dog, I love you forever and ever my Lola Bear,” Causey posted on Instagram in July.
It is unclear if Lola is dead and if so, what led to her death. Was she put down because of the bite? Was she ill?
Montgomery and Causey have not said anything publicly about the situation.
‘Daryl Morey Is A Liar’ | James Harden Publicly Calls Out 76ers’ President In Hopes To Speed Up Trade Out Of Philadelphia
James Harden, 10-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA, has called out Philadelphia 76ers’ president Daryl Morey. Harden publicly called Morey a “liar” and said he will never be a part of an organization that Morey is a part of.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden told the crowd in attendance at an Adidas marketing event in China. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2
When Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn in 2022 he left a max extension on the table that the Nets offered him. The plan was for Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to re-up. Irving’s reluctance to take the COVID-19 vaccine and unreliability as a teammate caused Harden to demand a trade and reunite with his former Houston boss, Morey.
It is widely believed around the league that when Morey became president in Philadelphia, Harden was always whom he coveted. The pair had tremendous success in Houston and were a game away from the NBA Finals.
When Harden was dealt to the 76ers it was also widely assumed that Morey would take care of Harden on his next negotiation.
What’s that saying about a bird in the hand?
Harden took less money from the 76ers on a two-year deal with an opt out clause in year two, presumably so he could negotiate a max deal to stay in Philly with Joel Embiid.
This Business Is Cold
But it seems Morey has welshed on the supposed agreement and now Harden’s mad.
Morey is a pragmatist and has always valued data and numbers over personal feelings and relationships. The 76ers are already into the luxury tax and a redo of Harden’s deal (he’s looking for the max) would put them in cap hell.
Morey was never going to do that.
The market this summer was already limited given the new parameters of the collective bargaining agreement. If Harden opted out and became a free agent, no contending team could afford to sign him long term. He would’ve had to take a shorter deal on way less money. He had no choice but to opt in for the guaranteed $35.6 million this season.
Despite the loss of a half step or so, Harden is still elite. He ranked in the 96th percentile in EPM at +5.1 and 97th percentile in EW at 11.6.
Using the value of $3.75 million for a win for the 2022-23 season, Harden is a $43.5 million player. That’s the number he’s likely looking at on a three-year deal. But Morey clearly doesn’t think he’s worth that much.
Here we are in what sets up to be one of the more interesting standoffs in league history. Morey is known to be quite comfortable with awkward and uncomfortable situations, and Harden has sulked his way out of two franchises already. Who is going to blink first?
“It’s A Time For Seriousness And A Time For Play” | Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders Details How He And Dad Deion Sanders Handle Father-Coach Dynamic
With the 2023 college football season set to begin in three weeks, all eyes are on Boulder, Colorado, where the Colorado Buffaloes look to turn things around under the direction of Deion Sanders.
While, Coach Prime will certainly garner the bulk of the attention, his star QB will also be in the spotlight. Shedeur Sanders is Deion’s youngest son and the maestro that will be leading the Buffs offense.
Shedeur, who’s looking to solidify his NFL draft standing in 2025 with two good seasons in Boulder, recently discussed how the father-coach dynamic plays out for him and Coach Prime. Speaking at the CU Buffs media say on Friday, the former four-star recruit broke the relationship down into its finest terms and let us know how they both stay grounded.
Shedeur Calls The Dynamic Because Of The History
For most of Shedeur’s time playing the game, Coach Prime has been his coach in some form or fashion. So in many ways it makes their relationship at the Power Five level pretty easy.
“He’s been my coach my whole life, so it’s pretty normal,” the QB said. “It’s a time for seriousness and a time for play. So it’s just something that we both know. It’s hard to explain it to you.”
While most wouldn’t understand, whatever Shedeur and Coach Prime are doing works for them, and that’s all that matters. But it doesn’t change the fact that both will be under the gun come this season. Eyes all around the country will be glued to see how they translate from FCS (Jackson State) to FBS (Colorado).
Another thing is how Coach Prime made him the starter from the moment he got the job didn’t sit well with a lot of folks who are just waiting for the first sign of struggle and/or failure.
Not Living Together Helps Their Dynamic
Since they’re together so often, Shedeur says it helps to be apart as far as their current living situation goes.
“We don’t live together,” he continued. “We go to dinner sometimes, but when I leave the facility, it’s my time just to chill and be on my own time because I’m with him all day every day.”
In two seasons as the starting quarterback at Jackson State, Shedeur passed for 6,963 yards, 70 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. He compiled a 23-3 record, winning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
The Original Tee Golf Classic: Preserving and Building a Legacy, Donating $150,000
By Addie Parker
For centuries, golf has had the reputation of excluding Black people from its rich history. From designing and developing courses with Black labor and then prohibiting us from their grounds to going as far as having a “whites only” clause in the PGA Tour’s by-laws — the game was never structured to be inclusive.
Nevertheless, pioneers in our culture made strides in the game of golf forever altering its history. One man, Dr. George F. Grant, gave golf one of its most powerful tools — the golf tee.
Grant was an inventor, a dentist, as well as the first African-American professor at Harvard University. Though he loved his work as a dentist and as an educator, golf was his true passion.
In December of 1899, Dr. Grant received a U.S. patent No. 638,920, the world’s first patent for a golf tee — a wooden spike with a flexible rubber peg for the ball. After Grant’s death in 1910, no one knew of his invention and for decades his contribution went unrecognized and ignored. In 1991, 92 years after his first patent, the United States Golf Association (USGA) finally recognized Grant and his contribution and named him the original inventor of the golf tee.
Portrait of Dr. George F. Grant by Ainsley Burrows.
But the celebration of Dr. Grant’s legacy doesn’t end with the USGA’s recognition. Eight years later, Wendell J. Haskins an entrepreneur and activist, founded Orginal Tee with the vision to pay homage to African-American pioneers in the sport of golf. With Haskins’ experience as an entertainment industry executive, he cultivated a way for sports and entertainment to be at the forefront of a lifestyle brand, all signified by the company’s cornerstone event: The Original Tee Golf Classic.
The Original Tee Golf Classic
Situated in the mountains of Hamburg, New Jersey, Wild Turkey Crystal Springs Golf Resort serves as the setting of the annual Original Tee Golf Classic — celebrating its 24th-year anniversary. Golfers and lovers of the game gathered last Sunday for a day of fun, fellowship, and philanthropy with Haskins and this year’s honoree Gary Sheffield at the helm of the event.
The Original Tee Golf Classic is a diverse group of golf enthusiasts, business executives, celebrities, and influencers who come together for a competitive golf tournament, professional instruction, nine-hole youth competition, and spectator activities.
The OTGC is a premier celebrity/amateur tournament created to celebrate the African-American golf enthusiast and pay homage to pioneers in the game of golf. Its vision is to bring together a culturally diverse mix of urban professionals to an exciting tournament reflecting their lifestyle preferences. This event draws golf enthusiasts from across the country, representing leaders in business, finance, entertainment, sports, and technology.
Wendell Haskins (left) sitting with MLB Legend and 2023 Original Tee Golf Classic True Original Award recipient Gary Sheffield (right).
MLB Legend Gary Sheffield and his connection to OTGC
Known around the world of baseball for his fierce competitive nature and winning attitude, Gary Sheffield is an MLB legend. He had an illustrious career as a player for teams like the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Detroit Tigers. He is the first and only player in MLB history to record 100 RBI in a season for five different teams and is one of the rare members of the 500 home run club.
Legends are only as great as the things they do off the field — and with Sheffield he has been a huge advocate for youth development in golf since his days on the diamond.
“In addition to being a world-class athlete, Sheffield is an avid champion of golf and advocate for youth in sports. It gives me great pleasure to honor Gary as our 2023 Original Tee Golf Classic True Original Award recipient,” says Haskins.
Media personality Roland Martin (left) and MLB legend Gary Sheffield (right).
Inspiring the Next Generation
Between the DJ booth, the celebrity guests, and the bold outfits on full display — there are plenty of things to capture your attention. Yet above all the noise, there’s one voice in particular that you simply can’t miss at the OTGC.
Gavin “Flo” Parker is a PGA member and teaching professional based out of Richmond, Virginia. He’s coined himself the “CEO of junior golf,” and his uncanny energy and theatrics make it nearly impossible to look away from him.
This was Parker’s second year as the head of the Nike Youth Experience, a portion of the day dedicated to junior golf and exposing the youth participants to something out of the ordinary realm of the game of golf. With the help of Nike and Discover Golf, Parker has elevated the youth experience that can only be summed up with one word — outstanding.
Parker has grown his social media presence on Instagram and TikTok and was also joined by influencers Tristan Jass and Roger Steele. Jass became known for his love of basketball trick shots while building up a community of over 4 million subscribers on YouTube.
Roger Steele has seen incredible success in the golf influencer space in recent years. He has partnerships with brands like Nike and Callaway and was a host for CBS Sports during this year’s men’s PGA Championship. Steele has made strides within golf to build out more diversity in the game by coining the hashtag “make golf cool”.
The presence of influencers at an event like OTGC showcases just how broad the community of Original Tee is. The power of influencers and social media is vast — their target audiences are getting exposure to all the amazing things this brand is committed to doing — and when that is broadcast in an organic way people will feel the authenticity and want to be a part of it.
Allowing HBCUs to thrive once more
From youth development to the classrooms of our historically Black colleges, Haskins and Original Tee have made HBCUs a priority. Haskins is a proud graduate of Hampton University and understands the importance of elevation and inclusion by creating this tournament which benefits golf programs for children of color by bringing youth to the table to learn and master the game of golf. “We look forward to presenting our Inaugural HBCU Elite Invitational to allow aspiring HBCU athletes to compete for a purse.”
Preserving the Legacy
There’s more to this story than the pageantry. The incredible track record of celebrity guests and sponsors should clue you in on what this event means to the culture — and OTGC’s efforts have not gone unrecognized.
The former Associate Dean of Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine, Wanda Mock, joined the festivities and gifted Haskins with a specialized hat embroidered with Grant’s name and patent information for the work he has done to amplify George Grant’s legacy and the outstanding artwork of Dr. Grant by Ainsley Burrows.
Ainsley Burrows, a New York City-based artist, was inspired when Haskins told him about Dr. Grant and Renee Powell and did a series of paintings of each of them. In the spirit of patronage and supporting Black art, these paintings were sold at the private sponsors’ dinner following the tournament.
Wanda Mock, former Associate Dean of Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine (left) presented an embroidered hat to Wendell J. Haskins (right), the founder of Original Tee for his hard work preserving the legacy of Dr. George F. Grant.
LPGA icon Renee Powell, a past True Original honoree, and her family have been longtime friends of Haskins and Original Tee. Haskins has been focused on securing the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the LPGA Hall of Famer and her family. Powell’s father Bill established and designed Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, the first golf course to allow African-American golfers.
This year’s OTGC was sold out, and Haskins will be presenting a contribution of $150,000 to support Renee Powell’s Clearview Legacy Foundation for education, preservation, and research raised within his group of influential friends and friends of the OTGC.
LPGA icon Renee Powell, a past True Original honoree, and her family have been long-time friends of Original Tee. Powell’s father Bill established and designed the first golf course to allow African-American golfers.
The Original Tee Golf Classic has fostered a community — a family — of people with the intent to preserve a legacy. Not their own individual legacies, but a legacy of a collective. A legacy that is greater than all of us and will remain as strong as the wood that made up Dr. Grant’s original tee.
“Him And Darius Garland Retired Me” | Former NBA Player Jeff Teague Says DeAaron Fox And Darius Garland Made Him Call It A Career
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague enjoyed a really solid 14-year career. That included an All-Star selection with the Atlanta Hawks in 2015 and an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Throughout his career Teague was widely considered one of the quickest guards in the league, and he used that speed to get into the paint consistently. In fact, for about three or four seasons he was right around the top of the league in points in the paint, which is never easy for a guard.
In the twilight of Teague’s career the once dynamic guard says he knew it was time to go when he faced off against rising stars DeAaron Fox and Darius Garland. During a recent episode of his “Club 520 Podcast,” Teague had a recollection of how it all came to an end for him.
Teague Says Both Made Him Contemplate Retirement
We all know the one word athletes hate to hear or think of is retirement. But, Teague mentioned after facing both Fox and Garland if forced him to rethink some things.
“I’ve got a story about Fox. He retired me. Him and Darius Garland retired me. Shout out to DG. They retired me. Fox made me wanna go to the bench,” Teague said. “I was Iike, yeah, I’m ready to come off the bench. Man, he was running so fast one game, swear to God. He just kept running at me. I’m like, n—a, you think I’m sweet?”
Teague isn’t the only one that Fox and Garland have been doing things like that too, both have become stars, and are leading the revived Cavaliers and Kings franchises.
Garland And Fox Coming Off Big Years
With both Garland and Fox coming off seasons where they led their respective franchises to top four seeds in the postseason, it was probably smart for Teague to get out when he did. Both have now been All-Stars, with Garland getting the nod in 2022 and Fox in 2023, and Fox was also named third team All-NBA as well. He led the league in clutch scoring and became a real star on the playoff stage.
Now comes the point in their careers where they’ll need to continue to add to their repertoire and become an even tougher cover for opposing teams nightly.
Jets WR Garrett Wilson Perfectly Trolls Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton With Sideline Antics And Apparel During Team’s Preseason Game
The New York Jets and Denver Broncos have had quite an eventful couple of weeks. The two sides have traded barbs at each other. It all began with first-year Broncos head coach and Super Bowl-winning coach with the Saints Sean Payton taking unnecessary shots at former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett about his leadership or lack thereof. Payton was also quick to defend his QB Russell Wilson by saying he was far from the only one that deserved blame in the failed 13-game experiment in 2022.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly responded in defense of Hackett, who’s the team’s new offensive coordinator, and Rodgers’ good friend since their Green Bay Packers days. Rodgers told Payton “to keep his coach’s name out of his mouth.” Payton did attempt to walk back his comments, but the damage had already been done.
Jets Wilson Trolls Payton During Preseason Opener
When Payton arrived in Denver he inherited a 5-11 team that wasn’t very good last year and hasn’t made the playoffs since their Super Bowl win in 2015. In an attempt to change the culture Payton laid out some rules for games in the preseason and regular season.
No uniforms off after you’re done playing
No sunglasses
No Gilligan hats (or bucket hats)
No interviews during the game
During this weekend’s 27-0 preseason win over the Panthers, Jets second-year wide receiver and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson made sure to do everything that Payton said he didn’t want his Broncos doing. It was a definitely a troll job by Wilson in defense of his new offensive coordinator.
While Wilson was inactive in the game the former Ohio State star still made his presence felt with his jab at Payton, who’s become an enemy of sorts in and around Florham Park, New York.
Wilson Has Established Himself As The Team’s No.1 Receiver
Upon being taken with the tenth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Wilson quickly established himself as the team’s top target. The speedy Wilson hauled in 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns with some of the worst quarterback play in the league.
Now with four-time MVP winner Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Wilson should see those numbers increase pretty drastically.
The Jets feel Rodgers was the missing piece to a real Super Bowl run. These two teams will match up in Week 5 this season.
“This Is A Song Y’all Gonna Be Singing At The End Of This Year” | NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal Seemingly Picks Warriors To Hoist Larry O’Brien Trophy Again During Bay Area DJ Set
Shaquille O’Neal is a man of many talents. Not only is he widely considered the most dominant big man to ever lace them up in the modern era, the four-time NBA champion is also one of the most savvy and successful businessmen around. But O’Neal isn’t all work and no fun. The 2000 NBA MVP loves to have a good time when he isn’t on the set of “Inside The NBA” on TNT or tending to business meetings. He also deejays in his spare time.
And, let’s just say the once dominant big man is pretty good at it. This past weekend O’Neal was one of the featured deejays for Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. While hyping up the frenzied crowd, O’Neal made a pretty bold prediction about the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24.
O’Neal Says Dubs Will Win It All Next Season
With the crowd all lathered up and excited, O‘Neal proceeded to play a song the city resonates with pretty well, having won four championships since 2015.
“This is a song y’all gonna be singing at the end of this year,” O’Neal said to the crowd as Queen’s “We Are The Champions” blasted over the speakers at the festival.
O’Neal was joined by Warriors do-it-all wing Gary Payton II, a key member of the team’s surprising 2022 run to the title. Payton returned to the Dubs at last year’s trade deadline after signing with the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency after winning that elusive title.
Why Is O’Neal High On The Warriors?
O’Neal has always said as long as the Warriors have their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, along with Steve Kerr stalking the sidelines, they have a shot to win it. In mid-June during an episode of his “The Big Podcast,” he chose the Dubs as his favorite team and he even said they play better when no one believes they can do it.
While, he hasn’t shed much light on the Chris Paul acquisition, which sent rising player Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards, one would have to believe that he’s taking that into account when he makes the statement he made over the weekend.
The Cavinder Twins Reveal Why They Walked Away From Basketball But Not From Fame | Prove To Haters There’s Levels To NIL
The twin collegiate basketball guards known as the Cavinder Twins didn’t need basketball to become famous, but it did help. The former Fresno State standouts turned the overlooked University of Miami women’s basketball team into stars and took the Hurricanes to the Elite Eight last season, something the program had never accomplished. Then, when they had a fifth year of eligibility due to COVID-19, they declined it.
The move shocked many, as the 2022-2023 season birthed heightened focus on the collegiate women’s game, especially after the intense rivalry between LSU champion Angel Reese and Iowa Hawkeyes sharpshooter Caitlin Clark.
However, the twins stepped away from the game to continue growing their influencer businesses and work their NIL deals, making them an example of what it looks like for the NIL generation when they fall out of love with the sport that made them young, rich, and famous.
Twin Talk
“We got in a fight, if you really want to know the tea, and I was like ‘Hanna, I’m going back,’ and she was like, ‘I’m not going back, I’m not doing it anymore,'” Haley Cavinder said on the rebooted “Twin Talk” podcast. “We made it to the Elite Eight, that was Hanna and I’s goal. Hanna didn’t want to play, so she made me quit basketball.”
The twins have millions of followers on social media and are massive TikTok stars. However, while balancing training, playing games, NIL commitments, and more, the balance of the world’s opinions and expectations of them versus self-care eroded their love for a return to the hardwood.
“As a college athlete you miss so much of your family, your life,” Haley continued. “We wanted to just play four years, and we’ve always dreamed of starting our businesses and starting a company and take this route — so it was like, OK, whatever people gotta say, whatever they gotta say, do what you want to do.
“The deciding factor, I went on so many ‘hot girl walks’ and I was like, somebody make this decision for me because it’s giving me so much anxiety.”
Haley was a gem for the Hurricanes, averaging just over 12 points, five rebounds, and just over two assists in her senior season. Her sister, Hanna, performed drastically differently, averaging under four points per game in only 16 minutes of play. Still, the two have raked in over $2 million in NIL deals and are among the top NIL earners in the collegiate landscape.
Hanna Cavinder added that “the burnout” from juggling all the athletic elements affected her and that she wasn’t into basketball “100 percent” anymore.
“I’m not gonna do something that I’m not going to 100 percent of my all to. If I chose to go back that wouldn’t be right, I wouldn’t be fully satisfied at who I am.”
The hate they received for Haley performing better than Hanna or opposing teams being mean on Twitter was another factor for their basketball exodus.
“Everyone’s going to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, you should’ve taken your fifth year,’ but when we were playing basketball, you were hating on us,” Hanna continued.
The Battle of Athletes vs. Sex Symbols
Many of their critics believe they have set an unrealistic standard of what the NIL spectrum can provide post-college since their beautiful and blond aesthetic has been marketed more than their game play. Are they the new normal of what a woman athlete can expect from the NIL era? Probably not, but they understand their “privilege” and blame the world for their good fortune.
“Obviously, everyone brings something different to the table. I think that all women should be empowered in a male-dominant world, especially minorities,” Haley Cavinder told The Free Press.
“I mean, obviously, yes, this is a touchy subject, but I think that we are privileged, in a way,” Hanna Cavinder said. “Obviously, we don’t deal with the same things that other women deal with or other people deal with, and that’s just how our world is, and it’s awful.”
With Angel Reese and LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne making Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue “awful” might be an inaccurate attempt at self-deprecation via societal beauty standards. The reality is that some who don’t have the zeal for sports past college will take their popularity and newfound corporate partnerships into other realms of influence that don’t involve sports, which is OK.
“I Respectfully Wore The No. 3 To Represent The Love And Respect That I Have For This Man” | D-Wade Pays Homage To AI In HOF Speech
On his night, the crowning achievement of his basketball career, Dwyane Wade paid homage to one of his heroes: Allen Iverson. The Philadelphia 76ers legend and fellow Hall of Famer presented Wade for enshrinement and the mutual respect and love was evident.
“I respectfully wore the No. 3 throughout my college and NBA career to represent the love and respect that I have for this man,” said Wade.
Iverson meant so much to young hoopers all over the world. He was as Wade said in his speech “the culture.” From the arm sleeve, to the cornrows, tattoos, scintillating play, and yes the defiance; Iverson influenced an entire generation of hoopers.
“Our heroes are not always perfect. Instead, they a possess a relatability that makes them touchable and real. When anyone speaks about Allen Iverson, that’s exactly what they say,” said Wade. “You brought hope to those who grew up with limited resources. You showed us that success and greatness are attainable even in the face of adversity. Your struggles made your accomplishments that much more remarkable. A.I., you are a living, breathing reminder that redemption and growth are possible.”
Somebody pass the Kleenex. It’s a bit dusty in here…
Wade’s speech was as good as it gets for a Hall of Fame induction. He touched on it all. The journey to basketball immortality doesn’t happen alone.
A Deserving Honoree
It begins with inspiration from a legend. Your own dedication and commitment to the craft through immense sacrifice. Not only the athlete’s sacrifice, but sacrifice of those around them as well. The ability to see the vision, even though you know it is a statistical improbability.
Making the NBA is hard enough and from there, less than 4 percent of NBA players make it to the Hall of Fame.
Wade’s on-court accomplishments put him among the best. Three-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, 13-time All-Star, All-Star MVP, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defense, scoring champion, Olympic Bronze and Gold medals as a member of Team USA Basketball, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The man they call “Flash” is somewhere in the top-5 shooting guards in NBA history. You can debate where some other time. The first-ballot Hall of Fame honor is well deserved.
Wade was joined in the 2023 class by: Pau Gasol, Becky Hammon, Dirk Nowtizki, Tony Parker, and Gregg Popovich.
Alabama High School Basketball Star Caleb White Dies Mysteriously
Alabama high school senior basketball star Caleb White died unexpectedly on Thursday. Officials said the 17-year-old senior at Pinson Valley High School in Birmingham was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital, shocking the school.
High school basketball star, Caleb White has passed away after collapsing on the court.
Caleb’s mother, Charlette Varnadoe White, released a statement.
“Caleb was loved by so many,” she continued. “Not only was Caleb a great athlete, he was a great kid. We have received an outpouring of support from the community, his high school and AAU coaches, the Administrative staff at Pinson Valley, the colleges that have recruited or shown interest in him even his barber! We are processing this tragedy as best we can.”
" I forever remember him on and off the court always smiling.." Fellow Pinson Valley High School senior Richele Crawford remembering her classmate Caleb White as mesmerizing to watch on the basketball court.@abc3340https://t.co/x820j00P8Mpic.twitter.com/6RQWPAJaXP
According to reports, first responders were called to the school to perform lifesaving efforts that were “immediately started,” per a statement from Pinson Valley High School Principal Michael Turner. The students’ families were notified of the incident in a letter from Turner.
The Jefferson County Board of Education Public Information Officer John Huddleston said medical officials used an AED or automatic external defibrillator on White but to no avail.
On Facebook, White’s grandfather, George Varnadoe Jr., also announced the news.
“Our whole family was really looking forward to his upcoming senior season and afterwards, playing for a D-1 school and then perhaps the NBA,” Varnadoe Jr. wrote in the post. “But……it wasn’t meant to be.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Caleb White, Coach Barber, the teammates, and the students of Pinson Valley High School. RIP Caleb White 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/KCZAZESDHf
White averaged 20.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game last season and was selected to first-team all-state as a junior. White, a point guard, was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the entire state of Alabama and No. 43 in the country, per ESPN.
“Heartbroken..No words can be gathered to provide comfort to a family and community experiencing the loss of young life,” Pinson Mayor Joe Cochran said in a social media post.
“Please lift Caleb’s family and friends along with the entire PVHS community in prayer for the hours, weeks, months and years ahead. I was honored to know Caleb personally and loved the spirit he carried. Life is fleeting, enjoy every day as the treasure it is, I know Caleb did.”
White’s friends shared an outpouring of grief on social media.
“He was a phenomenal player,” Richele Crawford, a fellow Pinson Valley High School senior, told Birmingham ABC affiliate WBMA. “It was mesmerizing to watch him. He was fun to watch all the time.”
Last season, White helped lead Pinson Valley to win its first 28 games before falling to eventual state champion Buckhorn in the Class 6A Northwest Regional Final. White played 78 games across three seasons with Pinson Valley.
“That’s Tremendously Tough When You’re Looking At A Body Of Just Dead Eyes” | Deion Sanders Says Most Colorado Players Didn’t Love Football When He Took Over Colorado Program
Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has received a lot of blowback for how he overhauled the roster in Boulder upon his arrival. In spite of it, Coach Prime has been unfazed as he’s reportedly got 70 new players wearing the “Black and Gold.”
The Buffaloes have won just 10 games in a season once in the last 21 years, and with Sanders looking to change the trajectory of the program, he hit the transfer portal hard.
During Friday’s Colorado media day, Sanders spoke in detail as to why he felt the need to overhaul the roster. Sanders, mentioned that a lot of that stemmed from many of the previous players in his opinion not loving the game of football.
Sanders Says It Wasn’t Easy Changing Culture Upon Arrival
“It was tremendously tough, because you had some young men that just didn’t want to play the game. They didn’t love football. It’s hard for me to be effective if you don’t love it, if you don’t like it, if you don’t want to live it. That’s tough,” Sanders said when asked whether it was difficult implementing his program when he first took over.
“That’s tremendously tough when you’re looking at a body of just dead eyes,” Sanders contended. “That’s tough on any coach, not just me. I’m pretty sure a multitude of coaches have experienced that until they could clean house and get the roster they want. It was tremendously challenging day by day. I’m happy with what I see every morning now. I really am.”
When a new coach arrives at a program, thanks to a bit of a loophole in the rules they have the right to cut players. It’s at their discretion who they choose to keep and who they decide doesn’t fit what they’re looking to install.
The school must still honor their scholarships, but they’re no longer a member of the program. So, in most cases the players transfer to another school. It’s very rare a player sticks around after being cut, and especially if they’re still looking to suit up and take the field.
As for Sanders he’s comfortable in what he’s done, and now we fans we’ll see what it looks like come Sept. 2 at TCU.
“Assume Anything He Says Has Not Been Agreed On” | Elon Musk And Mark Zuckerberg Have Already Started Fighting Over Who Will Promote Their Cage Match
The beef between Tesla and “X” CEO Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is heating up as plans to fight are starting to manifest. However, the biggest problem now is the details as Musk laid out an elaborate international promotion to boost their respective charities. At the same time, Zuckerberg wants the fight shepherded by a prominent promoter.
“The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC),” Musk posted. “Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and the Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.”
It sounded epic until Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian culture minister, said the fight would not be held in Rome.
The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC).
Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.
I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.
“I had a long and friendly phone conversation with Elon Musk,” Sangiuliano told The Guardian. “We talked about the common passion for the history of ancient Rome. We are discussing how to organise a great charity and historical evocation event, in full respect of the sites. It will not be held in Rome.”
Even sans the historical backdrop of the Roman Colosseum, Musk’s vision and international alliances for the fight are already making it legendary. But it takes two to tango in the cage, and Mark Zuckerberg has his own ideas on where to do combat.
“I love this sport and I’ve been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me,” Zuckerberg posted on the Threads platform. “If he ever agrees on an actual date, you’ll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on.
“Not holding my breath for Elon, but I’ll share details on my next fight when I’m ready,” Zuckerberg continued. “When I compete, I want to do it in a way that puts a spotlight on the elite athletes at the top of the game. You do that by working with professional orgs like the UFC or ONE to pull this off well and create a great card.”
The Dana White Effect
There might be a happy medium. UFC President Dana White recently revealed that he has talked with government officials in Italy about making the fight happen.
“I actually did have a meeting with the Minister of Culture’s team in Italy to actually hold that fight in the Colosseum if it would happen,” White said on the “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” podcast. “We’re talking.”
If Musk allows Dana White to orchestrate the event under the UFC banner then an epic matchup of billionaire tech savants might ensue. Until then, the world waits for the most prominent social media battle ever.
Vanessa Bryant, Nike to Honor Kobe By Releasing Kobe Halo 8
Kobe Bryant’s legacy will forever live in the world’s collective hearts and now on the world’s feet. His widow, Vanessa Bryant, ensured that after she and Nike recently teamed up to drop a Kobe shoe under her specific design.
Nike will release Kobe’s signature shoe line on Aug. 23, the late Lakers legend’s birthday. The Black Mamba would’ve turned 45, and to honor that date, Nike figured it would be ceremonious to release this shoe.
They are called the Kobe 8 ‘Halo,’ as announced via Vanessa Bryant on Instagram on Wednesday.
“Kobe 8 Halo 8.23.23 This will be one of many Kobe 8 Halo styles coming soon,” Vanessa wrote as her caption on the Instagram post.
Nike and Vanessa Bryant also announced back in March 2022 that they would be continuing Kobe’s signature shoe line, which would come with many new products that include products dedicated to Vanessa and Kobe’s daughter Gianna Bryant, who also passed away alongside her father in a devastating helicopter crash.
Nike’s announcement of the launching of the signature shoe contained a caption stating that the release “marks the continuation of a storied legacy embodying the timeliness of an icon never forgotten.”
The Kobe 8 Halo, also known as the Protro 8, boasts “a herringbone traction pattern, Nike’s swoosh embroidery and the Mamba logo on the tongue will be available on Bryant’s birthday via the SNKRS app.” according to The New York Post. The price range will start from $80 (kid Sizes) to $180 (men’s sizes) and will also be available on Nike’s app on August 23rd.
But that’s not all for the Halo shoe. Nike and Vanessa also announced that the Kobe Halo shoe would be a recurring series that would release a Halo product annually to honor Kobe.
In a press release Thursday, Nike announced that the Halo series “will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date.”
After Kobe died in 2020, his deal with Nike expired in 2021. While many wondered what would come of the signature shoe brand, they could relaunch the line the following year, which resulted in Vanessa Bryant returning to the Halo series, a play on the Kobe shoe released under his brand name in 2012.
There is no doubt that this shoe will sell fast, considering how influential Kobe Bryant was to not only the game of basketball but to the world of sports as a whole. He has plenty of fans who will jump at the opportunity to acquire and wear a piece of his legacy.
“What We Just Witnessed Is Remarkable” | Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Returns To Bills Lineup Seven Months After Suffering Cardiac Arrest
Saturday night at Highmark Stadium wasn’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill preseason football game. The night was made memorable because Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to the lineup just seven months after suffering cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 25-year-old played 24 snaps, making three tackles, but also looking just as active as he did prior to that near-tragic night.
For Hamlin just being alive is a blessing, but the former Pittsburgh Panthers star was intent on making his way to the gridiron. And, if Saturday’s return was my indication, the slithery ballhawk is here to stay. Of course, Hamlin’s offered a wide range of emotions for himself, players, coaches and fans, who all witnessed him fighting for his life on the turf of Paul Brown Stadium just about 225 days ago.
Hamlin Speaks Modestly About Return
In an effort to downplay how big the moment was for himself, Hamlin spoke pretty candidly about his return.
“It was fun, it was super fun, it was a great experience, just another milestone and a step up to just getting back to myself as far as the football space,” Hamlin said after the game. “Just chopping this tree down as much as I can, one step at a time.”
Hamlin sounds like someone who’s just happy to have the opportunity to do something again, when it was almost taken away from him.
Bills Coach Had Much Stronger Views On Hamlin’s Return
While, Hamlin kept it pretty basic when describing how he felt in making his return to the field, Bills head coach Sean McDermott came with some real juice when he talked about it.
“What we just witnessed to me is remarkable,” McDermott said. “It really is. It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage and, obviously, everyone that helped him get to this point. I know there’s a football game going on out there today, but I mean, truly remarkable display of courage and strength and faith.
“Had a chance to communicate with Damar a bit last night, and he assured me he was ready to go and was going to trust in his preparation and God, and I think that shows a lot about who he is.”
Hamlin’s road to recovery began in April when he was cleared to resume football activities. That was followed by his full participation in team drills during June minicamp. And since training camp began a little over two weeks ago he’s been a full participant.
Barring any setback he’ll be ready to go come the team’s season opener on Sept. 11 at the New York Jets on “Monday Night Football.”
