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“Luck Is for Weak People”: Denny Hamlin Insider Rules Out “Black Cat C**p” Factor in NASCAR Disaster


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After a pretty decent season in which many had him on their final 4 predictions list, Denny Hamlin failed to make the transfer in Martinsville. Hamlin, who has been a final 4 frequent in the last few seasons, failed to cross the final hurdle this time around just as he did last year.

But while last year it was a sensational move from Ross Chastain that sealed his fate, this time around, his fate was in his own hands. And despite a good race overall, the result simply wasn’t enough.

Having said that, Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gabehart was of the belief that their chances of entering Phoenix weren’t extinguished in Martinsville, but last week in Miami’s sea breeze. The crew chief also clarified the role of bad luck in the race at Homestead that more or less left them in the place they on Sunday.

Denny Hamlin’s crew chief rules out the role of bad luck in the Homestead disaster

Denny Hamlin ran a solid race in Miami last Sunday until something in his racecar broke and he hit the wall which ended his race. And while many thought what happened in Homestead was bad luck, Gabehart dismissed that explanation.

“It’s not luck. You make your own luck,” the crew chief said post Martinsville. “The things that happened last week, you guys are never going to know the details about them but I do. Ultimately, there’s not luck in that.”

“Luck is for weak people the way I truly view it.”

Gabhart explained that this is the view he views things, that are things in his control and things out of his control. “I can’t control this X-factor black cat c**p. I can control being good enough to be upfront and lead all the laps of every race and win every race and I can control not having a power steering failure last week and when I say ‘I’, I mean the team.”

Crew chief of Denny Hamlin claims they ‘lost’ their Phoenix seat in Miami

Gabehart also claimed in his interview that they should’ve been through to Phoenix if not for what happened last week. “If it’s not for fumbling last week and making a team mistake that takes us out. That’s where we lost, that’s where we didn’t get to Phoenix,” he said.

“It forces everybody to dig deep and find a little more and come to Martinsville. Would we have turned in this performance if our back wasn’t against the wall? That’s the human element, you’ll never know.”

The crew chief emphasized again that their failure in Miami put them in a “virtual must-win” situation this week, one in which they came up just barely short, extending his driver Denny Hamlin’s wait for a NASCAR Cup title a little bit more.

The post “Luck Is for Weak People”: Denny Hamlin Insider Rules Out “Black Cat C**p” Factor in NASCAR Disaster appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Christian Horner Responds to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘Not Enough Support’ to Sergio Perez Dig at Red Bull: “He Was Questioning the Validity”


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Lewis Hamilton recently called out Red Bull publicly for not providing the best support to Sergio Perez. Although the Briton did not name anyone, he believes that one individual from the team has often provided the Mexican a cold shoulder. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has now responded to Hamilton’s claims by reminding the Mercedes driver of some remarks the 38-year-old made earlier in the season.

It’s very nice that Lewis has so much care and attention [for Checo] when he was questioning the validity of Max [Verstappen’s] team-mates only a few weeks ago,” explained Horner (as quoted by express.co.uk). The British team principal then added that there are always rumors floating around in the paddock when “there’s little to write about“.

After stating the same, the 49-year-old once again made it clear that Perez has an outstanding relationship with the team and with teammate Verstappen. Horner then concluded how Red Bull are doing everything they can to help Perez seal second place in the championship.

Christian Horner once again reveals Sergio Perez’s seat is not in danger

Despite all the rumors suggesting that Sergio Perez can lose his Red Bull seat if he fails to secure second in the championship, Christian Horner has refuted all such speculations. When asked about the same, the 49-year-old replied (as quoted by racefans.net), “There’s no pre-mandate like that“.

Even though Horner has once again provided Perez with reassurances that he has Red Bull’s support, things could change if someone like Daniel Ricciardo impresses the team even more. The Australian returned to the F1 grid with AlphaTauri earlier this year and is one of the favorites to grab that second Red Bull seat sometime in the future.

However, if Perez manages to hang on to second in the championship, he could receive another lifeline. The Mexican was aided even further last weekend at the United States Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the race due to a technical infringement.

As a result of the same, Perez extended his lead over third-placed Hamilton to 39 points, with four races remaining in the 2023 season. Moreover, with Perez all set to compete in his home race in Mexico this weekend, he could have an added incentive to increase his lead even further in second place.

The post Christian Horner Responds to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘Not Enough Support’ to Sergio Perez Dig at Red Bull: “He Was Questioning the Validity” appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Yuki Tsunoda “Forced” to Dig His Own Grave and Help Daniel Ricciardo With Highlight of the Season


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Daniel Ricciardo has had a dream start to his Mexico City Grand Prix weekend as he outqualified Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The Australian clocked in the fourth-fastest time and was almost half a tenth quicker than the Mexican. However, a certain part of the credit must go to Yuki Tsunoda, who helped Ricciardo put on such a performance. The Japanese driver has now joked about how AlphaTauri “forced” him to help the 34-year-old.

When an interviewer told Tsunoda that he is “a real team player,” the 23-year-old hilariously replied, “Well, I got forced to do it. So…I’m kidding“. Since Tsunoda is all set to start the Mexico City GP from the back of the grid, he helped Ricciardo during qualifying by providing the Honey Badger with a fantastic tow.

The duo also rehearsed the same during the practice sessions and executed the tow perfectly when it mattered most. The slipstream helped Ricciardo ease his way into Q3 as he registered the second-fastest time.

However, considering that Tsunoda did not make it to Q3 and Ricciardo yet managed to set the fourth-fastest time, the Australian perhaps did not need the tow after all. The 34-year-old’s raw pace is a worrying sign for Perez, who finds himself under increasing pressure at Red Bull.

Daniel Ricciardo provides himself a major boost to secure the Red Bull seat

Daniel Ricciardo made his ambitions abundantly clear when he returned to the F1 grid in Hungary earlier this year. The Australian stated that he is looking to get back in line to have a shot at getting that second Red Bull seat in 2025.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also believes that Ricciardo went to AlphaTauri this season as the 34-year-old believes (as quoted by formula1.com) that this is the “best route” to put himself back in contention for the second seat at the Milton Keynes outfit. Red Bull have confirmed Sergio Perez for 2024 but are yet to make a decision about their driver line-up in 2025.

Therefore, Ricciardo’s performance so far in Mexico will do him a world of good in creating a positive impression among the Red Bull bosses. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that it is not just the Honey Badger that is keen to secure that second seat at the Milton Keynes outfit.

Yuki Tsunoda also has the same ambition and is aware that the slower” one between him and Ricciardo will not make it to Red Bull in 2025. Therefore, even though Tsunoda did help Ricciardo during the Mexico City GP qualifying, both drivers will be desperate to beat each other whenever they have the opportunity to do so to ensure that they have the best case to secure that second Red Bull seat.

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Max Verstappen Would Accept Lewis Hamilton Like Win Drought but Only on One Bearable Trade-off


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Lewis Hamilton is currently on a winless streak as he has not registered a victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In stark contrast, Max Verstappen is currently in the form of his life, with 30 wins since the start of the 2022 season. Despite becoming accustomed to winning, the Dutchman is ready to sacrifice his outstanding run on one condition.

When asked about the same in a recent interview, the three-time champion replied (as quoted by dailyrecord.co.uk), “In that case, I don’t win a race for a whole year and PSV win the Champions League.” The 26-year-old is a huge fan of the Dutch soccer club and follows their matches regularly.

Moreover, Verstappen has often also posed in PSV jerseys and made his loyalties clear by declining all offers of merchandise from arch-rivals Ajax. The Red Bull driver is so loyal to his club that he once even questioned Hamilton’s loyalty. Although Hamilton is an Arsenal fan, there was a time when he was considering buying a minority stake in rivals Chelsea.

Max Verstappen questions Lewis Hamilton over his loyalty because of Arsenal bid

Lewis Hamilton was once part of a consortium led by Sir Martin Broughton to bid for the ownership of Chelsea after then-owner Roman Abramovich came under immense pressure to sell the club. While the consortium were unable to emerge as the successful bidders, Hamilton’s loyalty was undoubtedly questioned.

As soon as Max Verstappen became aware of Hamilton’s interest in purchasing a minority stake in Chelsea, he questioned the Briton’s loyalties. As quoted by goal.com, the Dutchman said, “I am a PSV fan and I would never buy Ajax.”

Verstappen then questioned Hamilton directly by adding, “I thought he (Hamilton) was an Arsenal fan, no? If you are an Arsenal fan going for Chelsea, that is quite interesting“. Arsenal and Chelsea are rivals in the Premier League as both clubs are from London and have often fought each other hard for the title over the years.

The post Max Verstappen Would Accept Lewis Hamilton Like Win Drought but Only on One Bearable Trade-off appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Had to Learn by Losing”: LeBron James’ Agent Rich Paul Drops Life Lesson, 6 Days After Revealing Gambling Story with Tom Brady


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Rich Paul is currently one of the hottest agents in the NBA, especially after facilitating $600,000,000 worth of deals just this summer. However, getting to this stage was very difficult for the super agent. During his recent interview with Shannon Sharpe, Paul revealed his tough life growing up in the neighborhood of Glenville, Cleveland, which greatly moulded his character and raised him to be the man he is today. Owing to the same, Paul had the opportunity to sit at the same table as some of the GOATs of the sports world, like Tom Brady and Michael Jordan.

Paul recently appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, where he spoke about his growth and exposure as an agent. Speaking to the former Undisputed analyst, Paul revealed some exciting details about his life, which give us greater insight into his growth as one of the biggest agents in the sports marketing industry.

Rich Paul revealed his tough upbringing that moulded his character

Growing up in Glenville, Cleveland, Rich Paul had learned some great lessons in life through the hard way of losing. The neighborhood around Glenville was quite challenging for Paul, which immensely shaped his character before coming into the league as an agent.

One of Paul’s most interesting lessons in life came after learning gambling from his father. However, this wasn’t from a gambling perspective. As per Paul’s dad, gambling was a tool that was meant to help him get by and survive in the long run.

 

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RP turned this gambling lesson into his career, taking risks with huge stakes being the agent of some of the top players. Hanging out with gamblers, especially men over the age of 45, had given him tremendous insight and perspective into life. As the super agent puts it himself, he learned his lessons from losing. However, Paul was critical of players unwilling to risk losing. That’s the reason why he isn’t willing to play dice with them.

“The characters within the gambling house, the teachings within the gambling house, see, we had to learn by losing. That’s how we learned by losing. These kids today they want to skip every step in the process and it don’t work.” 

Rich Paul, however, knows the people who he can trust to share a table with while gambling. Just six days back, the star agent recalled how he had played cards with the legendary Michael Jordan and the NFL Goat Tom Brady back in 2002. Speaking on the Old Man and the Three podcast, Paul recalled how he first started bonding with these sporting legends by playing spades when they started hanging out.

Rich Paul is currently best known as a longtime associate and agent of the Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James. Together, the duo achieved significant success in the NBA.

Rich Paul’s father taught him how to gamble to survive

Rich Paul’s father knew the best ways to help his children survive their tough neighborhood and life in general. As a child, Paul had learned gambling from his dad, who was teaching this from a survival perspective. Speaking about the same, Paul said:

“He said to us, ‘These are the tools, that will allow you to get from here to here. If you get laid off on this job, to get to the next job, you going to need some time, to get by, here are some things that you can do, to get by.’ I turned it into my job because I got infatuated with it.” 

Starting as an agent for LeBron James wasn’t easy for Paul either. Representing a magnanimous player like LBJ proved detrimental for Paul to some extent. However, the super agent had learned to be competitive, which gave him a significant edge over other agents. This is what drove him towards success, amassing a wide portfolio of NBA stars under his banner.

The post “Had to Learn by Losing”: LeBron James’ Agent Rich Paul Drops Life Lesson, 6 Days After Revealing Gambling Story with Tom Brady appeared first on The SportsRush.



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5 Years After $180,000,000 Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC Legend Believes Islam Makhachev Can Surpass This Feat


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The UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi witnessed a spectacular rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski, which ended up with a brutal knockout. Post Makhachev’s victory, many top lightweights showed their interest in taking on the Dagestani. But amid all of this, a former two-division UFC champion thought otherwise. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier recently shared his thoughts on having a Conor McGregor vs. Islam Makhachev fight on an episode of ESPN MMA DC & RC show. He was of the opinion that this fight has the potential to become the biggest UFC money fight.

As per the records, the current biggest UFC money fight is Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor, which took place five years ago in 2018 at UFC 229. It fetched around 2,400,000 PPV buys and made $180 million, which stands as the biggest ever money fight in the history of the UFC.

During the interview, Cormier laid out his reasons why the Dagestani fighter should defend his lightweight championship against McGregor next. He said:

“I think Islam should fight Conor McGregor next. It’s built-in. It’s the biggest money fight the UFC can make, and why not? You have Islam Makhachev – who looks to be a guy that’s gonna be a dominant champion. In order to have that dominant champion go to the next level of superstardom, you need a foil. You need a guy that can elevate him. The guy that can elevate him to that level is Conor McGregor.” 

The shared rivalry between ‘The Eagle’ and McGregor would help create significant hype for the potential fight. Also, Nurmagomedov training Makhachev will surely be a push in the lead-up if the fight happens. Given all this, Cormier thinks Makhachev vs. McGregor will mint huge money.

Islam Makhachev has shown significant results when it comes to his fight records. He even tied with his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov on title defenses (3) in the UFC. And with this pace, he might even surpass Nurmagomedov’s legacy.

Will Islam Makhachev surpass Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy?

‘The Eagle’ has a legacy that not many have matched in the UFC. After his retirement, Nurmagomedov’s close friend Makhachev has proved himself quite a few times in the lightweight division and is ready to go the extra mile to cement his name as the greatest.

After his UFC 294 victory, the Dagestani expressed that he is ready to fight any fighter, be it Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje. Moreover, he is willing to take challenges outside of his 155lbs weight class, something which Nurmagomedov didn’t do during his time in his UFC run.

While expressing his interest in fighting for the welterweight title, Makhachev recently responded to a call-out made by Colby Covington on Twitter. Thus, it is evident that if the opportunity arrives, Makhachev is ready for the move.

Makhachev has already established himself as one of the greatest UFC lightweights of all time. A welterweight championship in his cabinet, however, will ensure his place in the UFC’s Hall of Fame.

The post 5 Years After $180,000,000 Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC Legend Believes Islam Makhachev Can Surpass This Feat appeared first on The SportsRush.



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After Losing 8 Points, Fred Vasseur Warns His Team for Not Making Same Mistake


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After a couple of weekends of brilliance, Ferrari witnessed some of the most horrendous events at the USGP involving Charles Leclerc. With the goal of challenging Mercedes, Ferrari set the pace for the weekend by winning pole on Friday. Following that, the team saw Leclerc finish second in qualifying in Saturday’s Sprint, only to earn a disappointing P3. However, the team arrived on Sunday to challenge Verstappen, but that did not materialize, and it turned out to be the worst night possible for Leclerc. He started his race with a car that couldn’t keep up with the best until he was disqualified owing to SF23’s unlawful plank measurement.

And now, after such a poor performance, which cost the team 8 crucial points, Ferrari’s team principal revealed that the team does not want to repeat the same Austin mistakes at the upcoming race in Mexico, according to Formulapassion.com.

Leclerc completed the race initially in P6, after starting from the pole, only to lose all eight essential points. Aside from that, Leclerc’s worst night became worse as Ferrari chose a poor starting strategy. During the race, the team adopted a single pit stop strategy, making it difficult for Leclerc to maintain his P6 position against the advancing George Russell. However, with the poor racing tactics harming the team’s ongoing struggle with Mercedes, Frederic Vasseur has now issued a warning.

The Frenchman used harsh and piercing tones to convey his point to his team. Although before that, he commended Carlos Sainz for his on-track shenanigans. He said that Sainz allowed the team to chip away at points in the race for second place in the constructors’ standings. Later, while discussing not making the same mistake in Mexico, Vasseur commented, ” In Mexico, however, I want to see more concentration from the team because we can no longer afford some of the misjudgments we saw in the United States.”

The USGP was a pivotal race for three teams: Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. However, in the end, it was only Red Bull who got some favorable results, while Ferrari and Mercedes experienced misery—leaving many fans to question what led both of the giants’ teams to violate the technical restrictions.

What were Mercedes and Ferrari’s explanations for their technical breach?

Apart from Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, it was reported that Lewis Hamilton would also lose his P2 position owing to the same cause of over-wearing the plank. Since both teams violated F1’s technical restrictions, which state that the wooden board beneath the car can only be worn by 1mm throughout the race, both the Monegasque and the Mercedes Maestro were forced to give up their hard-earned positions.

Before being disqualified, both the Mercedes and Ferrari executives claimed in a meeting that the “bumps” on the Austin course made it comparatively difficult for their drivers to maneuver their way. Along with that, they made it apparent that because the USGP was a sprint weekend, there was only one practice session of an hour, making it challenging for the team to set up the car before the race.

The expulsions of Mercedes and Ferrari owing to technical breaches in an area where teams are extremely cautious surely adds to the intrigue and makes us wonder how the two top teams messed up in the same race weekend. Nonetheless, with only four races remaining, it will be fascinating to see how both teams make a strong comeback.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. And Wife Give Hot Take in Controversial Debate


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Recently, former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his wife appeared in a video shared on their vodka company High Rock Vodka’s social media page. In the video, Amy Earnhardt read out an interesting question regarding the hotdog, and then the pair engaged in a lighthearted debate regarding the same.

As Amy read out the mail, the question read, “Is a hotdog a sandwich?” Subsequently, Junior responded, “Man!” to which Amy reacted, “That’s a good question.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his wife indulge in a hotdog-themed debate

Soon enough, Junior added, “I think it can be a sandwich, it is a sandwich. Yes especially if you turn it sideways right?… Bread on the top and the bottom. It’s more sandwich-like in that moment. What do you think?”

 

Amy replied, “A hotdog a hotdog to me. I like both but you wouldn’t call up a restaurant and order to go… Gimme that hotdog sandwich.”

“No. But you call it Hoagies that are sandwiches and say I want a Hoagie and people know what you need… Gimme a hoagie sandwich.” In the end, they came to the conclusion that a hotdog could be considered a sandwich.

Where did the word ‘Hotdog’ originate?

There have been several stories regarding the origin of the name. One such instance mentioned by the HotDog org mentioned that some vendors had been selling the dish in 1901 at the New York Polo Grounds during a rather cold April morning. The vendors had been shouting and asking for people to buy the dachshund sausages while they were still red hot.

Thereafter, a cartoonist with the New York Journal drew up a cartoon where he showcased barking dachshund sausages wrapped in rolls. However, after being unable to spell ‘dachshund’ he ended up writing “Hot dogs” instead.

Meanwhile, another story mentioned how there had been repeated mentions of “Hot Dogs” in University magazines dating back to the 1890s. Whichever the origin, the debate continues to remain if it can be considered as a standalone dish or if it is indeed a sandwich with a different name.

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“Say It Again Chuck”: Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Showcase Their ‘Singing Skills’ As TNT Returns


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As the NBA returns with its regular season, TNT’s Inside the NBA is back on TV screens as well with the banter between Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. NBA seasons seem incomplete nowadays without the hilarious shenanigans and goofiness of Chuck and Shaq on NBA on TNT. Be it on Live television or social media, the pair never fails to bring a smile to their fans’ faces.

In the latest edition of the pair goofing around, Shaq and Chuck tried lip-syncing with the classic song Last Stand by Kwabs. The two music aficionados seemed entirely engrossed in lip-syncing the song to perfection. Unfortunately, Chuck could hardly control his laughter, all while Shaq was deeply engrossed in singing his lines with the most intense of emotions.

 

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Chuck almost spoiled Shaq’s verses as the big man was finishing his part. The Diesel nailed his expressions throughout the video and was on point with the beat in his lip-syncing. Undoubtedly, the former NBA superstars enjoyed this fun karaoke escapade, with Shaq posting it on his Instagram page with the caption, “The boys are back. #sayitagainchuck.” Shaq even tagged the ‘NBA on TNT’ page to let the fans know what happens behind the scenes in TNT’s Atlanta studio.

Charles Barkley freaks out over a python being brought to the set

The Inside the NBA show on TNT is incomplete without its hilarious on-screen shenanigans and bizarre scenarios. As the NBA season returned for the year, the show featured another of the crew’s misadventures, which freaked out Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

As the show progressed towards Ernie Johnson’s ‘Neat-o-Stat’ segment, a reptile handler walked in with a giant python. Barkley immediately tried escaping from the scene, which is when Shaq kept encouraging the handler to bring the snake to Chuck. Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson remained seated, though visibly terrified as well. On the other hand, Johnson kept repeatedly asking what kind of snake it was.

After Shaq continuously prodded Barkley, Chuck finally gathered the courage to move closer to the snake. This was just the first day of the several shenanigans that we would witness the entire year from the Inside crew. Surely, fans are eagerly awaiting to see much more from this pair as the season progresses.

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Christian Horner Rubbishes Conflict With Helmut Marko by Blaming Early Championship Win to Be Reason Behind “Others to Wind Up the Situation”


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The Red Bull camp recently was making headlines, but for the wrong reasons, as reports suggested a feud between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Reports alleged that Horner intended to get rid of the Red Bull taskmaster to acquire control of the team. Nonetheless, after reading the gossip himself, the Briton has come up with an explanation for why this theory might have gained traction in the first place. According to Speedcafe, the 49-year-old believes that winning both titles early has given the F1 world more time to spread rumors.

Moreover, Horner refuted the rumors by providing another rationale, which he considers to be the most essential. According to the Briton, he and Helmut Marko had an incredible relationship that began in 1996. Ever since then, both have formed very good connections, and nothing has changed between the Red Bull combo, as per Horner.

Both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have poured their hearts and souls into building the team and bringing it to where it is today. Since taking over from Jaguar, the team has been on an upward track, winning six constructors’ and seven drivers’ championships. However, after winning the championship this year, when the Red Bull team learned about these allegations, they deemed them amusing.

Christian Horner’s reaction to reports about his feud with Helmut Marko

According to speedcafe.com, Red Bull squad Boss has admitted to reading the persistent rumors about his feud with Helmut Marko. Similar to his prior statement that he has no desire to see the Austrian quit the team, the 49-year-old responded yet again, apparently shattering any lingering doubts.

Horner stressed that after hearing the murmurs, he and his team had some fun with the news; however, he also mentioned how a tiny story in Brazil can shake the entire F1 world in Europe.

In his words, Horner said, “It’s amazing these days how a pebble can be dropped in the water in Brazil, and it can end up in a wave by the time it reaches Europe.” Later, while adding further, he said, “It also demonstrates, now that we’ve tied up both championships, that there’s not a lot to be talking about, so it’s very easy for others to wind up the situation.”

Though the Red Bull squad as a whole may have put a stop to the conjecture for the time being, Helmut Marko’s present contract with Red Bull and his reaction to the rumors remained intriguing. In light of this, the question that arises is whether Marko’s vehement denial of the speculations indicated something?

What’s next for Helmut Marko at Red Bull?

Helmut Marko, like Christian Horner, has been a part of the Red Bull journey since the team’s inception in 2005. However, as Red Bull began achieving podiums, wins, and championships, the Red Bull headmaster’s workload grew. Under the Red Bull umbrella, Marko works as both an advisor and the driver program supervisor for Red Bull and its sister team, AlphaTauri, ensuring that both ships function well and putting fear in people when he expects better. Drivers such as Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, and Sergio Perez are testaments to this.

However, since Marko is already 80 years old, there has been much curiosity about when he might retire. With his current contract expiring at the end of 2024, there are speculations that it might be his last. However, according to the Red Bull taskmaster, no one can decide when he will depart. Only Marko can determine when he wants to retire. According to Marko, ” Mr. Horner does not decide when I stop, I do that myself.

Helmut Marko’s work behind the scenes will always be admired. Considering that his presence and influence throughout the squad’s tough times helped build them into a powerful team, losing a man like Marko will be a devastating notion. However, with Marko’s outspoken assertions about staying as long as he wants, fans can breathe a sigh of relief that they will see more of him in the following seasons.

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Report States Formula 1 Asked General Motors to Leave Andretti’s $200,000,000 Bid and Ally With Some Other Entity


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It has been weeks since the FIA finally approved Andretti’s bid to enter F1 in 2025, with FOM’s approval remaining the only hurdle left now. However, that hurdle is proving too tough for Andretti to overcome as F1 hasn’t really been too welcoming towards the American outfit. So much so that, as per a recent report by Associated Press, F1 allegedly asked General Motors, the partners of Andretti, if they would want to tie up with some other teams.

In their long, drawn-out bid to enter F1, Andretti had brought General Motors along with them. The latter tied up with Andretti as their engine and manufacture partner via the Cadillac brand.

With how things look right now, both the FOM as well as the F1 teams aren’t really happy with Andretti trying to join their exclusive club. But they seem to be okay with General Motors joining them.

Things seem to be getting personal between the FOM and Andretti

As per a recent report by the Associated Press, F1 rejecting Andretti’s advances seems to be quite personal now. And F1 going ahead and asking General Motors to partner up with some other teams only backs up that claim.

The report stated, “Andretti can make a case that keeping him out of F1 is indeed personal: Three different people with direct knowledge of the conversations confirmed to AP that F1 asked General Motors if it would partner with someone other than Andretti.”

If this is truly the case, then getting permission to be on the grid might be a long shot for Andretti. And the American team might fail to make their place in F1 even after getting permission from the FIA.

The FIA has been extremely welcoming to Andretti Motors

While the FOM seems to be hostile towards Andretti, the FIA and President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem are quite the opposite. Ben Sulayem has always been vocal about his support for Andretti’s bid to join F1.

After approving their application, Ben Sulayem explained that F1 should accept the expansion of the sport. He said, “The FIA should be asking, begging, OEMs (car manufacturers) to come in. We should not just say no to them,

However, the Liberty Media-owned FOM is an independent body, and the reality is that Andretti still needs validation from them. If things keep going south between the two parties, things could even move on to a legal battle.

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10 Years Before the Nuggets’ Ring Ceremony, Lakers Championship Jewelry and $20,000 Worth Gift Cards Were Stolen by Unsuspecting Culprit


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The Denver Nuggets will receive their NBA Championship rings in a few hours. The first Ring Ceremony in the history of the Colorado franchise will take place at Ball Arena before a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals kicks off the NBA season. As the Nuggets host their first-ever Ring ceremony, they will probably hope that they don’t have to experience what their opponents for the night, the Los Angeles Lakers, went through 10 years ago.

In 2013, the Lakers lost a few of their Championship rings and about $20,000 worth of gift cards and donations from a practice facility in El Segundo. The local police arrested the security guard of the practice facility, Eddie J. Monterroso, later on. The rings from the Lakers’ 2009 and 2010 NBA Championship wins were recovered from Monterroso’s Inglewood home, according to an LA Times report.

Monterroso does not have any prior convictions and worked at the training center for about a year before his arrest…Monterroso admitted to his role in the crime during questioning, and was “very apologetic”,” the report added. The arrested security guard was later charged with felony grand theft and burglary by the LA County District Attorney’s office. He reportedly cashed the gift cards to buy video games.

The Denver Nuggets take on the Los Angeles Lakers to kick off the 2023-24 season

Ball Arena would be packed to witness a promising season opener between the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets and the LeBron James-led Lakers later today. Fans will be able to witness the pre-game festivities before the game begins. The NBA has already released the itinerary of the show.

The Nuggets would be looking to start their title defense strong with a win. On the other hand, the Lakers would be looking to ruin the festivities of the Nuggets’ Ring ceremony by pulling an upset. With LeBron James entering his 21st season in the league, it will definitely be no walk in the park for the LA side against a strong Denver team.

Meanwhile, Nuggets centerpiece Nikola Jokic is facing a massive predicament before the season opener. While the 2023 Finals MVP has the habit of tying his wedding ring in his shoe laces during games, he will find it difficult to do the same for his Championship ring. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the Joker chooses to display his hard-earned piece of silverware.

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Joe Gibbs Racing’s Impressive Record Tops NASCAR Behemoth Hendrick Motorsports


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Hendrick Motorsports is inarguably the most successful team in the history of NASCAR. With legends like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon and potential all-time greats like Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, most statistics are led by the Rick Hendrick team. However, as much as the team has dominated the sport, it is the Joe Gibbs Racing team that is ahead in one regard – consecutive appearances in the final four.

With Christopher Bell’s win at Homestead last weekend, Joe Gibbs’ team ensured that they remain the only team that has atleast one driver making the Final Four since the format was introduced back in 2014.

Joe Gibbs Racing is leading Hendrick Motorsports in final four appearances

The present NASCAR Cup Series format has divided fans and drivers alike since it was introduced back in 2014. With drivers being eliminated at every stage after three races, the format has ensured that no stage is to be taken lightly as even a single bad race can affect chances of reaching the final four. This has made Coach Gibbs’ team’s achievement all the more impressive.

In 2014, when the format played out for the first time, it was Denny Hamlin who made it to the final round, losing out to Kevin Harvick ultimately. The team was lucky next year, as Kyle Busch won the championship even after missing more than 10 races at the start of the season.

2016 saw Busch and Edwards making it, eventually missing out to Jimmie Johnson for his final title. Busch also made it the next two years, being joined by Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin in 2019, when he captured his second title. Hamlin lost to Chase Elliott in 2020, with Kyle Larson triumphing in 2021 at the cost of Hamlin and Truex Jr. at the final race. Last year, Christopher Bell booked his place in the final four after a sensational win at Martinsville, eventually losing out to Team Penske’s Joey Logano at Phoenix.

Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. will look to put Homestead behind them

For the better part of the season, Martin Truex Jr. looked like the best driver on the track, entering the playoffs on the back of winning the regular season championship. But what happened after is just anyone’s guess. Truex has looked out of sorts in every playoff race, with just one top-10 finish in the eight playoff races so far.

As for Hamlin, who started with one win and 3 top-5s in his first five postseason races, things have only been downhill after Roval, with only a win at Martinsville that could guarantee his spot in the final four.

Currently, both drivers are 17 points below the cut-off line for the next round. With William Byron 30 points above the line, it means that in all probability, either one or both of Truex and Hamlin will fail to reach Pheonix, something that could only be termed a massive disappointment given the season they were having.

 

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Who Is Devin Booker Dating? What Is The 3x All-Star’s Relationship Status Following Split With Kendall Jenner?


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Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker has had an eventful few months. One of the best young players in the NBA, Booker was previously in a relationship with none other than media personality Kendall Jenner. Having first met around April 2020, the pair got close quickly and dated until November 2022. While things ended amicably between the two, Jenner’s subsequent boyfriend singer Bad Bunny reportedly took a dig at Booker.

In his song Coco Chanel, the rapper apparently had a diss for the Pheonix Suns superstar, which was not well-received by Kendall herself, according to Cosmopolitan. Regardless, Devin Booker previously showed no hesitation in making his love life accessible to his fans. He was involved in a public relationship with a member of one of the most famous families in the entertainment industry.

At the same time, since their breakup, there seems to have been a stern difference in Booker’s approach. He has appeared determined to ensure privacy and has not revealed too much about his personal life.

 

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Of course, the last few months have been eventful for Booker, who saw Nike release his first-ever signature shoes. Booker’s Book 1 shoes were even worn by rapper Drake at a recent Phoenix concert that the Suns star also attended.

Devin Booker’s relationship status explored since breaking up with Kendall Jenner

The public relationship seems to have resulted in a change for Booker, who has since preferred to keep things low-key about his love life. At the same time, he seems to have moved on from Jenner completely.

Recently, in August 2023, Booker was seen vacationing in Saint Tropaz with a group of French women, according to the NY Post. While it was unclear whether he was dating anyone at the time, the Phoenix Suns superstar appeared to be enjoying himself.

At the same time, speculation suggested that Booker might already have found his next partner. The 26-year-old has recently been linked with Love Island host Maya Jama. Jama had previously been in a relationship with Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons.

 

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Booker has been observed by fans liking and unliking a range of posts from the Love Island host on Instagram, leading to speculation about the two. As things stand, it appears as if Booker is still single, despite the attraction to Maya Jama, according to Marca.

While he has been involved in public relationships in the past, the player has preferred to maintain a low key in the recent past. As of October 2023, the Suns superstar appears to be single.

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“Red, Blue, Yellow…”: Empowered by Crucial Role in $2.5 Billion Brand, Shaquille O’Neal Confesses Receiving 10,000 Pairs of His Preferred Kicks


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Recently named Reebok’s first President of marketing, Shaquille O’Neal spoke at length about his new role, in an interview with GQ. The $2,500,000,000 brand aims to make a range of changes in order to compete with Nike in the NBA, according to Reuters. With Allen Iverson as the Vice President, Shaq is expected to be heavily involved throughout the company’s marketing and production processes and claimed he will also be involved with design.

Regardless, Shaq revealed Reebok’s low-cut Classic sneakers. The 51-year-old was so fond of the shoes that he ended up receiving around 10,000 pairs from the company. Shaq revealed that Reebok had sent him thousands of pairs in a range of colors, revealing that he no longer likes to “do knots.”

Shaquille O’Neal received 10,000 pairs of favorite Reebok sneakers

Speaking to GQ, O’Neal spoke in detail about his relationship with Reebok and what he plans to be involved in. Shaq claimed that there was no one better positioned for the role, and said that he planned to be hands-on with his approach:

“I’m going to be hands-on. I’m not the head designer, but I’ll definitely have my hands in all that. When you win championships, it’s all about teammates. We are trying to re-emerge. We’ll definitely, definitely make some noise.”

O’Neal also talked about his own sneaker preferences, claiming that he no longer liked to do knots. Instead, he wanted shoes that were beautiful,

I got a thousand pairs in my garage. Yes, it is a comfort thing, but I don’t want to do knots anymore. I want to just slip my beautiful toes in some shoes. I definitely like low tops, like the Reebok classics. They sent me 10,000 pairs of those. Red, blue, yellow, orange, green!

Shaq seems to be especially proud of the low-cut Reebok sneakers and revealed that the company had sent him a total of 10,000 pairs. 

Reebok signed Angel Reese within days of making Shaquille O’Neal president of Basketball 

Shaq has wasted no time in making an impact with Reebok. Within days of signing on, the company announced the signing of LSU Tigers’ Angel Reese. Still only 21, Reese is one of the most highly-rated prospects in the WNBA, something Shaq also said:

“There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese.”

It therefore took only a matter of days for Shaq and Allen Iverson to make an impact. Angel Reese is expected to be only the first of several big-name signings that Reebok will make in the coming time.

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Amidst Zion Williamson’s ‘Unguardable’ Hype, Pelicans’ HC Roots for 2nd Star: “Expecting Brandon Ingram to Have a Chip on His Shoulder”


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New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green recently spoke to SiriusXM about 26-year-old star Brandon Ingram. Ingram was part of Team USA which recently played in the FIBA World Cup. However, he had far from a successful tournament as Team USA returned without a medal. However, his coach said that Ingram had a chip on his shoulder due to the way the tournament went. 

The player has apparently been working hard in the aftermath of the FIBA disappointment and is determined to turn things around. The praise for Ingram comes just days after Zion Williamson claimed that he had worked on becoming unguardable in recent months. 

Willie Green believes Brandon Ingram will have a chip on his shoulder

Ingram was initially expected to be one of the stars for Team USA. However, the forward was claimed to not have been used correctly by Steve Kerr, by Willie Green.

Green claimed that while it was good for Ingram to be involved with Team USA, he was disappointed with how things went down. This means that he is determined to turn it around in the upcoming NBA season:

“I am expecting BI to have a chip on his shoulder. It is good he got an opportunity to play FIBA games. He works in the summer but doesn’t necessarily play five on five. I am sure the team is disappointed with how they ended up. Brandon probably could have been used better. But all of that, those are positives that allow you to sit back ad evaluate, and come back to the regular season, and say okay. That is what he has done.”

While Ingram did not have the best World Cup, he has since been working hard and is determined to return to his best form in the NBA. His coach and teammates are well aware of the efforts he has put in, and expect him to return to All-Star form in the coming time.

Zion Williamson has lost weight to become “unguardable”

While Ingram seems determined to return to his best, Zion Williamson has also been working out hard in recent weeks. Williamson played just 29 games last season owing to injury and will be itching to return to the court himself.

The player seems to have lost considerable weight in recent months and claimed that he had worked on becoming unguardable. Even David Griffin has recently claimed that he has never seen Williamson work as hard as he had been on his fitness.

 

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Hence, there is plenty of reason for New Orleans Pelicans fans to be optimistic about. On one hand, Brandon Ingram aims to shut down critics, while on the other, they seem set to see Zion at his very best soon.

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Max Verstappen Reportedly Reveals Helmut Marko Doesn’t Have Him as ‘Safety Net’ Amidst the ‘Conflict’ With Christian Horner Rumors


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The F1 world is brimming with headlines, much of it coming from the Red Bull camp. A reported power struggle at the Austrian team saw a feud between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Moreover, Max Verstappen was also involved in the same as the three-time champion supposedly claimed to follow Marko if he left. However, in a recent Sky Sports F1 podcast, Rachel Brookes revealed that the Dutchman never said that.

Following the death of Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz last October, a power struggle was rumored to have erupted within the Red Bull team. Allegedly, Horner was said to have claimed more control within the team because of the possible sale of Alpha Tauri. However, with Helmut Marko in charge of the team’s junior program, tensions grew more intense.

Things escalated after Marko’s ‘South-American’ jibe at Sergio Perez. Further, Yuki Tsunoda was also cited as a reason, as Horner wanted Yuki Tsunoda out of Alpha Tauri. However, it was Helmut Marko who backed the 23-year-old to preserve the links with Honda. Nevertheless, now all of Red Bull’s personnel have denied the news.

Max Verstappen denies Red Bull exit rumors

According to a recent Auto Bild report, it investigated the problem between Horner and Marko and believed that the Red Bull team head was plotting a revolution. Horner is said to be on good terms with the team’s Thai owners, who own 51% of the shares. Aside from that, the acting team’s European captain, Oliver Mintzlaff, is rumored to be rooting for Horner. Throughout this, Marko had only one supporter, and that was his compatriot, Max Verstappen. According to the same publication, the Dutchman seemed to be the only way to prevent the Red Bull personnel from dismissing Marko.

As per the Bild newspaper, “Verstappen has made it loud and clear in a personal conversation with both the Thai boss and with Mintzlaff that in case Marko has to leave he would also leave.” However, Rachel Brookes revealed on the SkySportsF1 podcast she had a quick chat with Verstappen, and he denied any such statement. She said, “I think we do have a duty to put it to them. Like Max today, I put to him the line about Helmut Marko and that Max had allegedly said if Helmut leaves, I’m leaving. It wasn’t true. He said it was completely made up.”

Later, Rachel also revealed why Verstappen believes the magnanimous duo won’t leave. She said,” It also gave him the opportunity to say neither Helmut nor Christian is leaving the team, which is what he said to me today. And then I said what because you want them there, and he said no because you don’t break up or winning teams.”

Though Max Verstappen has stated that any such news is false, Christian Horner also came forward and asserted that any such speculations of problems with the RB taskmaster are baseless.

Christian Horner dismisses claims of a feud with Helmut Marko

Amid suspicions of animosity with RB headmaster Helmut Marko, Christian Horner has come forward to deny any such allegations. The suspicion emerged from a report in Brazil’s O Globo claiming that Horner desired ownership of Red Bull. However, the team boss has explicitly denied any such reports, underlining the duo’s solid working connection.

Horner stated in a recent interview with the Mirror that he owed his career to Helmut Marko, as the latter was the one who introduced him to sports.

Horner said, “Without Helmut, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am today. Like with the young drivers that he has given an opportunity, he also gave me that opportunity. We’ve always enjoyed a very strong and open relationship.”

At the time of this speculation, the Globo also stated that the Red Bull board of directors would meet to discuss the 80-year-old’s position in the squad. However, Marko denied any such reports of having a meeting this week and confidently said, “When and how I stop, when it is over, I decide and not, for example, Mr. Horner.”

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Dan Orlovsky Opens Eyes by Revealing Why Jason Kelce Gets His MVP Vote


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The Philadelphia Eagles’ hidden gem, Jason Kelce, has been hiding from the public view for quite some time. The NFC list-toppers have been dominating this season, and the 6x Pro Bowler has had an immense contribution, including playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps. Despite often being overlooked, Dan Orlovsky exclaims that the formidable center is a serious NFL MVP contender.

In ESPN’s Get Up!, the former NFL QB turned football analyst, Dan Orlovsky made a compelling case for Jason Kelce leading the MVP discussion for non-quarterbacks. He expressed that the star center has remained one of the biggest weapons for the team’s offensive line.

Dan Orlovsky Votes For Jason Kelce As the MVP

Orlovsky’s choice of Jason as his non-quarterback MVP isn’t arbitrary. In the interview, he expressed how the 6x Pro Bowler has been dominating the line of scrimmage, where the game solely makes and breaks. He also rekindled last year’s NFC title game against the 49ers, where the Eagles left their opponents with a whopping 24 deficit by the end.

The analyst expressed, “My answer is Jason. Because if we want to have a real football conversation, we need to talk about the line of scrimmage. If we want to have a football conversation, it goes to the most valuable football offensive lineman in football. Here’s the reality about Jason Kelce – number one, 145 games straight that he started. That’s an Eagles record. Number two, take your eyes back to San Francisco last year in the NFC title game and the way they dominated at the line of scrimmage. This is the best run football team in football … if we’re talking about ball, real ball, then it’s Jason Kelce.

 

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The NFL analyst further praised Jason’s reliability over the years, noting his recent achievement of securing the franchise record for the most consecutive starts. Notably, he surpassed Jon Runyan’s 144 straight starts in week 6 while facing the Jets. Staying loyal to the franchise for over a decade, Jason has become a favorite among teammates and amassed an applaud-worthy reputation for his consistency throughout the years.

Kelce Is the Backbone Of the Eagles

The star center has had an impressive career of 182 regular-season games for the Eagles, all of which he started. Jason’s remarkable consistency is evident, as his last missed game dates back to 2014 due to a hernia injury. His offensive tackle teammate, Lane Johnson, admiringly referred to him as “tough as a shovel” and commended his ability to avoid missing games, and relying on a backup.

A lot has changed since Jason’s rookie days alongside QB Michael Vick. Whether it’s Nick Foles or Carson Wentz, he has turned them into serious MVP contenders. His unshakable bond with Jalen Hurts is equally applaud-worthy, as the team currently stands as a formidable Super Bowl contender, reminiscent of last year’s success. Jason has returned from almost retiring to a one-year deal with the team, and this year holds great promise for the Eagles.

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