Toto Wolff Takes a Sigh of Relief as Mercedes Repeats Improved Performance Thrice in a Row

With no podiums after the first eight races, Mercedes is having the worst F1 season since its inception. The Monaco GP was no different as both drivers struggled to take the fight to McLaren and Ferrari. Despite that, Toto Wolff has found a silver lining that might give the team hopes of making inroads to climb up.

Mercedes’ troubles began with the advent of the ground-effect regulations in 2022. Since then, they have failed to land on the podium in every Monaco GP. However, they have introduced upgrades in each iteration. While the gap to the top spot still remains big, the latest upgrades have reduced it significantly.

That is why Toto Wolff is hopeful going forward in the championship. The Mercedes boss was quoted by Auto Motor und Sport as saying, “We are moving in the right direction.”

Despite finishing fifth and seventh in Monaco, team boss Toto Wolff breathed a sigh of relief: “We are moving in the right direction.”#AMuS

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) May 30, 2024

The Monaco street circuit is full of twists and turns with several slow-speed corners. Moreover, the straights aren’t as long as most other circuits.

That requires the teams to make tweaks in order to get more downforce in corners. Mercedes did just that with their rear wing. Apart from that, they introduced a couple of non-track-specific upgrades that included the floor and the front wing.

Unfortunately, Mercedes was unable to produce two upgraded front wings to fix on both cars. As a result, they had to take the difficult decision of choosing between the two drivers.

Thankfully, Lewis Hamilton made their job easy by suggesting that they choose George Russell. The 26-year-old made the most of the opportunity by qualifying and finishing the race ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton gives up in qualifying fight against George Russell

Mercedes began the Monaco GP weekend on a strong note. While Lewis Hamilton topped the timings chart in FP1, George Russell came in third behind Oscar Piastri. Hamilton continued the good run in FP2 by coming in second behind Charles Leclerc by less than two-tenths of a second.

He then fell back by just another place in FP3 but looked solid for qualifying. That was when the tables turned as he qualified a disappointing P7.

Russell, meanwhile, landed P5. Reacting to the sudden drop in performance post-session, Hamilton let his perplexity know about the continued failure to carry good performances to qualifying.

Speaking after qualifying, as quoted by Mirror, he said, “I don’t understand… I automatically know I’m going to lose two-tenths going into qualifying. That’s definitely frustrating and something I don’t really have an answer for at the moment. I’m not driving any different and the laps were really great.”

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“Teaches Me”: Aaron Rodgers Gets High Praise From New York Teammate

Aaron Rodgers has been lauded by his teammates for being a positive presence in the locker room and on the field. Despite what mainstream media might tell you, the quarterback has the reigns of his team under control. Jets Center Joe Tippeman becomes the latest teammate to lavishe praise on the legendary QB.

In a press interaction after the training sessions, Tippeman stated that working with A-Rod has been incredible. Joe asserted that Aaron has been hands-on with his suggestions and has been repeatedly teaching him things, he failed to grasp the first time around. He said,

“Aaron, he is a great presence in the huddle. Outside of the huddle, he’s just like always making recommendations. He doesn’t just tell me, he teaches me something that I didn’t understand. He’s gonna run it back and explain it to me as to how he sees it. That’s something that has really helped me.”

 

“He doesn’t just tell me, he teaches me.”

Joe Tippmann talks about Aaron Rodgers’ presence in the huddle and how Rodgers has helped him: pic.twitter.com/XtSnHvMeOu

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 29, 2024

Tippeman hasn’t been alone in this evaluation of Aaron Rodgers. The Jets star DT Quinnen Williams was also impressed by Aaron’s work on the field. As per New York Jets, Williams stated that it has been amazing to see how much effort the 4-time MVP puts into football.

He believes seeing someone with 20 years of experience and intelligence, put in this much labor has a positive effect on everyone around him. He makes everyone around him better. Rodgers has been one of the most controversial and polarising figures outside of the field. Yet, he switches off that side of him when he is on the field. He gives his best in every play and practice and always shows up.

If he manages to remain fit and injury-free in 2024, the chance of the Jets making a deeper run in the playoffs is a real possibility, with many predicting the AFC Title game as an achievable target.

A-Rod has been making progress on the field and is full of belief that he is capable of doing anything despite still recovering from a gruesome injury.

Rodgers’s Comments on Recovery

Aaron Rodgers spoke about his recovery process and feels optimistic about his and the Jet’s chances if he manages to keep himself sharp and fit for an extended period. As per the New York Jets’ recent presser, A-Rod said that he still loves football and doesn’t want to bow out like a slacker.

He feels he is still capable of playing at the highest level and is working hard to get back to the pre-injury shape. He is feeling good both physically and mentally and he is feeling good to be just out there, moving around comfortably. Rodgers stated that he is still capable of running at top speed and believes he can do anything.

The Green Gang have been busy creating a perfect environment for their star QB. They have made considerable additions to their Offensive Line and have acquired enough talent for Rodgers to display his talents. They have added Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and Mike Williams, and drafted OT Olu Fashanu and another WR in Malachi Corley.

Green Gang already has Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Allen Lazard. They have also taken two more RBs- Braelon Allen and Isiah Davis, making sure that Aaron doesn’t have to use his legs to make plays. They want him to just stay in the pocket like Brady and make plays. However, the success of the season will depend on keeping those old guard injury-free.

The Jets will play 6 Prime-time games in the upcoming season. Rodgers’s fitness and the strength of their squad will be tested as they open the season against the Super Bowl runner-ups- the San Francisco 49ers.

 

 

 

 

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“Ant-Man Smelled That Right Away”: Skip Bayless Highlights Luka Doncic and Mavericks’ Mistake in Game 4

After suffering three losses on a trot, the Timberwolves defeated the Mavs to avoid a WCF sweep by a hair’s breadth. The Mavs’ duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic shot 33% from the floor and Anthony Edwards and Co. took full advantage of the slump. On ‘UNDISPUTED’, Skip Bayless relayed that the Mavericks didn’t showcase similar energy as the previous games, which left the door ajar for the desperate Wolves.

While previewing the Game 4 battle, Bayless had predicted that the Mavs would be ‘desperate’ to close out the Wolves to earn an elongated rest before the Finals and make sure their Centre Dereck Lively II and Luka Doncic are healthy for the championship round.

However, against his expectations, they were flat-footed. The 72-year-old noticed that Doncic wasn’t exerting much effort on the defensive end. Thus, Edwards sniffed a golden chance and capitalized upon it to take the series back to his home floor.

“Luka, especially on the defensive end, was just resting on every possession. He was playing no defence. Kyrie played a little but Luka played, and Ant-Man smelled that right away,” Skip Bayless told Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce.

I thought Dallas would play desperate to get this thing over with. Ant-Man hurt them with his energy and aggression. https://t.co/V8jBTWeSrs

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 29, 2024

The FS1 analyst also gave props to Karl-Anthony Towns for complimenting Edwards’ top-notch efforts. After shooting 3 of 22 from the three-point line in the previous three tussles, he knocked four out of five treys and was a force in the paint. Like Bayless, his co-host Paul Pierce also hailed the Wolves duo for finally outplaying the Mavs’ electric backcourt combo.

KAT-ANT finally outduel Kai-Doncic 

Before the game, Pierce had pointed out that the duo of Edward and Towns needed to outperform Doncic and Irving to get close to a victory. In Game 4 while Kai and his backcourt mate combined for 44 points, the Wolves duo accounted for 55 points.

Since the Mavs were without Dereck Lively II, both KAT and Ant-Man had an easier time generating their offense. Thus, The Truth appreciated the Wolves’ stars for finally doing better than the Mavs’ high-scoring guard combo. 

Despite this magnificent performance, Pierce predicted that Doncic would rise to the occasion and close the book on the Wolves in Game 5. While the 2008 champion is right about the Mavs’ overwhelming advantage in the series, they’d rue to miss out on a series sweep.

Doncic can aggravate his injury as the series has expanded. Had the Mavs sealed the deal in Game 4, he’d have enjoyed an extended recovery time. While the Celtics will be fresher than them in the Finals and potentially get Kristaps Porzingis back for the championship round, first, the Mavs need to close out the Wolves who would be much more confident after the win.

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“Hoping Michael Jordan Don’t Fry Any of Us”: UNC Forward Recalls the Fear He Felt Upon Meeting MJ

The University of North Carolina is steeped in basketball history. Winning six NCAA titles, the Tar Heels remain, to this date, one of the top college basketball programmes worldwide. Moreover, the great Michael Jordan is an alumnus of the college. Thus, playing for the UNC brand comes with its own set of challenges and expectations. Recently, the North Carolina star Armando Bacot confessed to feeling pressure to play for the college.

The 24-year-old forward has been leading the Tar-Heels since he joined the team in 2019. Appearing on the Captain Jack Podcast, the UNC alumnus talked about his experience playing for the Tar Heels. He recalled meeting Jordan in the dressing room after a game,

“Michael Jordan pulling up was one of the craziest experiences. He came into the locker room. We won the game, but we were struggling at that point. We were all just sitting in the locker room, scared as hell, hoping Michael Jordan don’t fry any of us.”

The 6’11” forward recalled being extremely fearful of Jordan during his visit to the Tar Heels locker room. Despite Armando Bacot’s deep reverence for Jordan, when asked about his pick for the greatest player of all time, the 24-year-old sided with LeBron James. This has raised some questions considering he played for Jordan’s alma mater.

Michael Jordan is a Tar Heels legend

Michael Jordan became a household name even before he entered the league due to his three-year tenure at the University of North Carolina. During his stint with the team, Jordan led the team to the 1982 NCAA Championship as a freshman, even burying the game-winning shot for the UNC side.

Aside from the maiden championship, Jordan was also named to the NCAA All-American First Team in his sophomore (1983) and junior (1984) seasons.

While he was undoubtedly athletically gifted, Jordan’s game was far from perfect, when he was a freshman. A majority of his improvement actually came after joining the Tar-Heels, as Coach Dean Smith and his system brought out the best in him. In an interview, coach even said,

“What Michael really did was improve considerably between his freshman and sophomore years. He grew a couple inches. He matured physically. And he just became a sensational player.”

Another Tar Heels legend, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, echoed a similar opinion with his former coach. In Smith’s opinion, what segregated Jordan from the pack was his work ethic. He recognized that over the years, Jordan transformed his weaknesses into his strengths, and by the time his sophomore season rolled into the picture, Jordan was a complete player, an athlete without flaws.

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“French Open is the Toughest Slam to Win!”: When Pete Sampras Opened Up About His Clay Failures in 2000

Pete Sampras dominated tennis mainly in the 90s decade and was considered the greatest player in the men’s sport by many commentators and fans. However, the only major blot in his career was the American never winning the French Open title. In the year 2000, Sampras candidly spoke about how difficult it is for any player to win the Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

With 2 Australian Opens, 7 Wimbledons, and 5 US Open titles, Sampras was exceptional on hard and grass courts. In comparison, his greatest rival Andre Agassi had only won 8 Grand Slams, but did breach the fortress in Paris in 1999. This gives Agassi the distinction of being the only American in 31 years to win the French Open men’s singles title and being considered in the same breath as Sampras.

Pete Sampras had a lot to say about his dismal performances at the French Open after initially dismissing all sorts of suggestions and questions from sharp journalists about his lack of consistency on clay. Sampras was quoted as saying in a media interaction before the start of the 2000 French Open (via ESPN) –

“The French Open is the toughest slam to win. There are so many great clay-court players. There are 30 guys who can win the French Open. There are so many dangerous floaters who can knock off the seeds.”

However, stating his then-current condition, Sampras was confident about winning since he felt he was doing fine on the surface. Interestingly, he enjoyed not being considered as the favorite to win.

“I’ll be tough to beat. Someone will have to play well to beat me. I’m looking forward to the challenge of not being a favorite,” Sampras added.

Unfortunately, for the American legend and his fans, Pete Sampras could not back up his words. Sampras lost to the man who went on to make it to the Wimbledon 2003 final as well, Mark Philippoussis of Australia, 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-8 in the first round.

Although Sampras never won the title, there was one time when he reached very close to winning it. He looked very threatening that year.

Pete Sampras Came Awfully Close to Winning the French Open in 1996

In 1996, Pete Sampras reached the semifinals of the French Open. On the back of his Wimbledon and US Open wins from the 1995 season, Sampras looked in great touch in the clay court Grand Slam. He beat compatriot and 2-time French Open champion, Jim Courier 6-7 (4-7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. It was a great comeback after losing two sets on the trot.

However, his great run was over in the semifinals against Yevgeniy Kafelinikov of Russia. Sampras lost in straight sets, 6-7 (4-7), 0-6, 2-6 rather meekly. At the time, that was considered a big upset.

Kafelinikov went on to win the Grand Slam though, defeating Germany’s Michael Stich in the final too.

Coming back to Pete Sampras, he is not the only player considered as a legend who never won the French Open men’s singles title. Roger Federer’s idol, Stefan Edberg is on this list as well.

Owing to this, German star Boris Becker made a comment recently that grabbed many headlines. As a huge compliment to Rafael Nadal, Becker said that if players like Edberg and Sampras couldn’t win the French Open in their careers, winning it 14 times is an impossible feat that might never be broken.

Becker told CNN, “You win it five times, that’s a lot. You win it 10 times, it’s impossible. Nadal’s won it 14 times. I don’t know any other record in any other sport that equals that.”

He continued, “[Bjorn] Borg won it six times, which at the time was unheard [of], but [Pete] Sampras never won it, [Stefan] Edberg never won it, Becker never won it. So there’s no shame in not winning the French Open.”

Becker didn’t even hesitate to put himself among the category of his peers who never won the French Open.

While Americans have not been the favorites to win the French Open ever, this time presents a great opportunity for 5 US players – Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Taylor Fritz, to break the monotony.

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“Something Missing in Karl-Anthony Towns and Gobert”: Skip Bayless Blames Wolves’ Twin Towers for 0–3 Hole

After the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the defending champions in the Conference Semifinals, no one thought that they’d get swept in the Western Conference Finals. Yet, the Wolves are on the brink of getting blown out 4-0 by the Dallas Mavericks. A lot of things have gone wrong for the franchise in the last three games of the series. On the recent episode of UNDISPUTED, Skip Bayless mainly focused on one of the biggest problems for the Wolves, the showing of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Bayless mostly held KAT and Gobert’s poor showing responsible for the disappointing outcome of the first three games. Reiterating his stance on the Mavs having the two best players on the floor, the FS1 host stated that the two 7-foot giants lack the level of mental toughness that is needed in high-pressure situations like the playoffs.

He said, “I don’t love Karl-Anthony Towns and I never have. There’s always something missing in both of them until Anthony came along.” As per the media veteran, the two Wolves stars have always lacked the clutch gene and their flaws are getting exposed once again at the highest stage.

Bayless believes that the rise of Anthony Edwards took the focus away from this problem in the initial stages of the season. The 72-year-old credited the Wolves’ success so far to Ant-Man. He then added, “Somebody has to do something to counteract the 2 best closers in the backcourt.”

I don’t love Karl-Anthony Towns and I never have. There’s something missing in him and Gobert. https://t.co/BjWdenvgPH

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 27, 2024

The Wolves were arguably the best defensive team in the league before the WCF kicked off. Despite having the four-time Defensive Player of the Year by their side, they’re slowly spiraling down to oblivion.

Towns’ poor 0-for-8 shooting has received a lot of flak from NBA analysts, with people like Charles Barkley pleading him to take his game to the paint. KAT will have a decided size advantage in the post if he decides to follow Sir Charles’ advice.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s head coach is also on the hot seat.

Draymond Green slams Chris Finch for poor team rotation

Draymond Green has become a regular feature with the Inside the NBA crew in this postseason. In his assessment of the Wolves’ performance after Game 3, the Warriors star said that coach Chris Finch is focused on the wrong things, which has led to their miserable condition. He said, “At some point, Chris Finch has got to make an adjustment.”

Draymond: “At some point, Chris Finch has got to make an adjustment … We can’t worry about KAT or Rudy Gobert’s feelings. They need Naz Reid out there and they need Kyle Anderson out there.” pic.twitter.com/YEXkJb7vtQ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 27, 2024

The 34-year-old isn’t pleased with Finch’s team rotation in the series. He said that despite consistent duds, he has a place for Gobert and KAT, while talented players like Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson are still waiting for a proper chance. He said, “We can’t worry about KAT or Rudy Gobert’s feelings. They need Naz Reid out there and they need Kyle Anderson out there.”

Charles Barkley also echoed these sentiments on the show. Sir Charles once again torched KAT for averaging 15.6 points in the last five games with an FG% of 35. KAT has also made 32 three-point attempts with a 12.5% efficiency, which Barkley thought was unacceptable.

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“Better Chance of Wrestling an Alligator”: LeBron James’ Former Teammate Refutes Rumors Rising Post Rich Paul’s Statement

LeBron James‘ future in LA has been a topic of discussion for the last few months. While nothing official was conveyed from his camp, a recent slip-up from his agent, Rich Paul, has sent the internet into a frenzy. On a recent episode of Get Up, LBJ’s ex-teammate Udonis Haslem tried to end the rumors with his claims.

Featuring on the TNT Alt-Cast, the King’s agent accidentally revealed his current standing by saying, “LeBron is a free agent.” Interestingly, LeBron has a $51.4 million player option with the Lakers which is still pending. Paul tried to justify his statement by stating,

“I don’t know what he’s gonna do. We’re gonna do what we do every year. We’re gonna evaluate the situation and we’re gonna make the best decision.”

While Paul established that no concrete decision has yet been taken on this, fans seem convinced about LeBron’s departure from the Lakers. However, UD is unwilling to accept it just yet. He said,

“You got a better chance wrestling an alligator than getting Bron out of LA.”

The reasoning behind Haslem’s assumption is that LeBron is so well established in LA with his businesses and everything else, that he has very little scope for relocating at this point in his career.

"You got a better chance wrestling an alligator than getting Bron out of L.A. … He ain't going nowhere."

@ThisIsUD pic.twitter.com/ESihMpvVqK

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 27, 2024

Haslem also believes that by choosing to stay in LA, he can extend his career because he is already an established player in the Lakers camp. So, whether the goof-up from Rich Paul was really a mistake or a calculated move, only time will tell.

Until then, the Lakers fans have nothing to fear about. They are just some cryptic comments from the 39-year-old which neither confirm nor deny his future in the city. As usual, the King himself is quiet on the matter.

LeBron James has maintained silence on his future in the NBA

The sentimental value attached to LeBron’s decision is because of the uncertainty around his retirement. While the media has been desperate to get an answer out of him, LBJ chose to be silent on most occasions. After Game 5 against the Nuggets, when asked if it was his last one in purple and gold, he simply said, “I’m not going to answer that.”

After some days, he posted a long message on X to cut down on the rumors, “I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again. I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends!”

I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again. I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends! When I know after speaking with the fam, my counsel as

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 1, 2024

LeBron and the Lakers fans can seek comfort for now. If it’s not positive news, it’s not negative either. Back-to-back playoff exits in the hands of the same opponent have widened various holes in the team and the franchise needs to plug those in the coming off-season.

If LeBron decides to hang on to the franchise, the front office must surround him with effective pieces to bolster the offense and defense. Who knows the King might be able to add one more ring to his cabinet.

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Titans WR1 DeAndre Hopkins Sends a Warning to Calvin Ridley & Tyler Boyd

The Tennessee Titans saw a major uplift this off-season, especially in the receiver room. However, starting wideout DeAndre Hopkins isn’t too worried, so much so that in a recent presser after this week’s OTA, he made his intentions clear about his place on the roster. He is no stranger to the wealth of experience both Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd bring, but he plans to ‘outperform’ and ‘outdo’ them every step of the way.

After a disappointing 6-11 season that left them at the bottom of the AFC South, the Titans have made some praiseworthy moves during free agency. They snagged former Jaguar Calvin Ridley and slot receiver Tyler Boyd, both seasoned players with over five years of experience at the pro level.

However, DeAndre Hopkins, who is entering his second season with the team, sees these additions as motivation to compete even harder. He claimed that he draws inspiration from his favorite basketball player, Kobe Bryant, who is known to have a similar mindset, and believes that this level of competition will only benefit the team in the long run.

“I am always competing,” Hopkins said, as per TennesseTitans.com. “Any time we get anyone who is a No.1 receiver, my mindset is to go out and outcompete them, outdo them. I’ve always had that mindset, Kobe Bryant being my favorite athlete of all time. Any time I get a chance to compete against anyone, I am trying to outcompete them, trying to outdo them. And that’s only going to make the team better.”

Hopkins started 16 games last season and concluded it with his return to a 1,000-yard season after two long years. Ridley, on the other hand, also reached a 1,000-yard season and tallied one more passing touchdown than veteran Hopkins.

Ridley accomplished this after sitting out the entire 2022 season and having a not-so-busy 2021 season. Safe to say, the receiver room looks quite healthy, but there are other considerations to take into account.

How Are the Tennessee Titans Looking This Season?

Going into the 2024 season, the Titans welcome new head coach Brian Callahan, who will reunite with WR Tyler Boyd. The duo spent 5 years together in Cincinnati. Given their history, it can be said with certainty that Boyd will look for his place on the roster.

The franchise also added Nick Holz as their offensive coordinator, who spent the 2023 season as the Jaguars’ passing game coordinator. He knows Ridley very well.

The camaraderie and the competition in the receiver room will undoubtedly be epic, which didn’t impress anyone last season. But the receiver room will have to support inexperienced QB Will Levis. He started his debut season in 2023 as a third-string quarterback. After assuming the reins later, he ended the year with a 3-6 record and only eight touchdowns under his belt.

The receiver trio will have to guide Levis this season, which won’t come easy. The additions of the new head coach, offensive coordinator, and wide receiver coach, Tyke Tolbert, could also turn out to be tricky.

Nevertheless, the Titans did bolster their secondary this offseason, especially in the draft. Moreover, their stellar cornerback room has received praise from acclaimed analysts.

Therefore, if the Titans manage to overcome their offensive struggles, there’s a chance they’ll win it all. But taking everything into account, it’s highly likely that it may take the entire 2024 season for them to regain their stride.

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Lewis Hamilton Reveals Why George Russell Had an Upper Hand Over Him in Qualifying

Mercedes driver George Russell had the legs on his seven-time world champion teammate, Lewis Hamilton, throughout the Qualifying session for the Monaco GP as he was the faster of the two during all three sessions. After failing to outqualify his teammate for the seventh time this season, Hamilton revealed why he was lacking the pace on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton revealed, “The team have worked really hard back at the factory to bring an upgrade to the last two races and also an upgrade this weekend but we only have one, which George has.” Hamilton then added that he had anticipated that it would be a difficult task to out-qualify Russell, owing to the lack of upgrades on his W15.

In addition to an older-spec W15, Hamilton was left baffled once again by the inconsistency of the Mercedes car. Speaking about the car’s handling from the Free Practice sessions into Qualifying, he said, “That’s definitely frustrating and something I don’t have an answer for.”

Merci Monaco pic.twitter.com/0Mq0iuJzzK

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 28, 2023

Unpredictability and an inability to drive through the issues of the car have defined Lewis Hamilton’s season so far. On the contrary, his teammate seems to have coped better with the often frustrating Mercedes package.

Going into the Grand Prix on Sunday, Russell has out-qualified Hamilton 7-1 this season and also is the leading Mercedes driver in the driver’s championship. Naturally, Russell is highly optimistic about his chances on the streets of the Principality on Sunday.

George Russell predicts Mercedes turnaround at Monaco despite Lewis Hamilton’s complaints

The mood seems to be divisive within the Mercedes camp. On the one hand, Lewis Hamilton has been left frustrated by how difficult the car has been to drive. However, Russell, on the other hand, is predicting a turnaround for the Silver Arrows, starting with Sunday’s race.

After qualifying in fifth for the Grand Prix, Russell gave his feedback about the team’s upgrades. Crash.net quoted the #63 driver as saying, “We are making huge progress at the moment. We’ve brought new bits to the car this weekend and it’s been great. I am hoping it is a turning point. Monaco has never been a strength for our car.”

“I really enjoyed driving today”

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell react to Mercedes’ new upgrades and their Friday in Monaco pic.twitter.com/i3TG7PilDa

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 26, 2023

Hamilton may not have the upgrades on his car yet but he may be getting them at the next round of the F1 championship. The general norm within the paddock is to alternate the race weekends when they bring a major upgrade package to their car. Hence, the 2024 Canadian GP seems like the race for Hamilton to reap the benefit of a reworked W15.

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Skip Bayless Gives Up Hope on the Dallas Cowboys as He Predicts a Pathetic Season Ahead

The Dallas Cowboys fanbase has long waited for a successful playoff run, but in the past three decades, their hopes have been dashed. Considering the laxity, the fan sentiment for America’s Team recently faced a major blow as one of their most ardent supporters, Skip Bayless, expressed his disenchantment with the team’s prospects in 2024. He went as far as to predict that Jerry Jones’ team won’t even have a winning season.

Skip Bayless is going against the Cowboys, a team he has long held close to his heart, due to the lack of progress in recent years and the Cowboys’ tardiness in free agency and the NFL draft. Reflecting on the upcoming season, Bayless did not hold back his disappointment.

 “I cannot tell a lie. I wish I could, but I cannot tell a lie. I can’t fake it. At this point, I’m sorry. I just have to be honest because I’ve seen enough; I have suffered enough. No more Cowboys stars in my eyes,” Bayless said. “No more; just wait until next year. No more: Super Bowl, here they come. No more; in Jerry I trust. The Dallas Cowboys aren’t making next year’s playoffs.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Skip Bayless Show (@skipbaylessshow)

Bayless boldly predicted that the Dallas Cowboys would not make next year’s playoffs, forecasting a disappointing 8-9 record. His somber outlook didn’t end there, as he further degraded the figures.

He suggested that the team could even lose to teams like the Atlanta Falcons on the road and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home, bringing his prediction down to a bleak 6-11 record. This drastic downgrade caught many fans off guard, especially those who still held onto some hope for a turnaround.

Fans React to Skip Bayless’ Disillusioned Take on Dallas Cowboys

In the aftermath of Skip Bayless’s surprising shift from ardent supporter to disillusioned critic of the Dallas Cowboys, fans have reacted with a mix of emotions, ranging from disappointment to defiance. The sportscaster’s candid remarks have struck a chord within the fanbase, and the mounting frustration is as clear as the sky. See for yourselves:

Fans React to Skip Bayless' Review of Dallas Cowboys in the upcoming season pic.twitter.com/G1O58KgMMu

— AnushreeGuptaOfficial (@Anushree_Gupta_) May 25, 2024

This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have notably refrained from making substantial acquisitions or re-signing key players, opting instead to rely on internal development. They were thought to depend on the draft class to add to the roster, but nothing has been able to please the fans.

The absence of significant moves has raised doubts about the team’s readiness to contend for a Super Bowl title, especially in contrast to the ambitious statements made by the organization over and over.

In the midst of uncertainty, one thing remains clear: the passion and fervor of Cowboys fans persist, and spirited discussions like these are nothing new in the league. Therefore, as the team prepares to embark on another season, they might be able to promise a thrill.

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“Planets Have Aligned”: Skip Bayless Believes Celtics Have ‘Cakewalk’ to 1st Championship in 16 Years

The Boston Celtics gave one of their best performances in the playoffs taking Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the ECF. Even though Tyrese Haliburton’s exit due to a hamstring injury made matters worse for the away team, the Celtics already had a good lead in the game. And Skip Bayless is already convinced that the Celts have secured a path to the 18th championship for the franchise after taking a 2-0 lead.

On ‘UNDISPUTED’, Bayless highlighted how the Celtics are going to “cakewalk” to their first championship since 2008 when they won it with his co-host Paul Pierce. Considering their string of good luck, he believes the horoscope is in their favor to win it all,

“It feels meant to be. Everything has lined up, the planets are aligned for you to cakewalk since you guys[Paul Pierce and Co.] won it in 2008.”

The 72-year-old lauded Jaylen Brown, who had 40 points for being in “attack mode” throughout the game. As the “biggest Jrue Holiday fan”, the analyst also complimented the 2022 champion’s “All-NBA type of performance”. He termed Holiday’s 15 points (6 of 7 FGs) and 10 assists as “sensational” and relayed that the two-way guard is in “Finals” mode.

.@RealSkipBayless says the Celtics will cakewalk to their 1st championship since 2008:

"It feels meant to be. Everything has lined up for them." pic.twitter.com/fc5cxLKeZA

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 24, 2024

After posting a sub-par 14-14 record in the previous tilts, the Celtics now have a three-game win streak at home. As per Bayless, injuries to Cavs’ star duo Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen in the second round contributed significantly to their improved fortunes in TD Garden.

The tide seems to have once again turned in the Celtics’ favor. Not just the NBA finals, but Jayson Tatum and Co. have set up a stage for them to achieve a sweep in the ECF.

The Celtics are in a terrific position to enter the NBA Finals

Akin to co-host Skip Bayless, Keyshawn Johnson also believes that the Celtics are bound for the championship round. After Haliburton’s hamstring injury, he claimed that the series is a “wrap“. He alluded that a sweep will enable them to rest their key component Kristpas Porzingis for the series as they already have enough firepower to take down the Pacers.

The former NFL superstar lauded the Celts’ scoring balance in Game 2, indicating they are in full flow. If they continue to play like this, the squad can earn a 10-day rest before the NBA Finals. This will make way for Porzingis to be available for the title round and their chances of lifting a championship will be further bolstered. 

"Celtics getting ready to sweep the Pacers. It's a wrap."@keyshawn reacts to Boston going up 2-0 pic.twitter.com/wsDOgTX82x

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 24, 2024

Thus, the voices believing in the Celtics’ chances to lift the NBA title have grown exponentially during the ECF series. The team has reinforced their claim as the title contenders despite playing some uninspiring ball on numerous occasions.

The injuries to the opposition’s key players have surely helped their case but the team’s depth could have pulled through even if their opponents were at full strength. 

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Valtteri Bottas Fined $1084 While Lance Stroll Was Hit with $108 Penalty for the Same Crime at the Monaco GP

The 2024 Monaco GP has only completed one practice session and Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll have already found themselves in trouble. Both drivers exceeded the speed limit in the pit lane which the stewards took note of. While the Finn will have to pay 1000 Euros ($1084) for the infringement, Stroll will shell out 100 Euros ($108).

Every F1 circuit has a speed limit that each driver has to adhere to. While most pit lanes require drivers to stay below 80 kph (49.7 mph), Monaco has stipulated the limit to 60 kph (37.2 mph). The severity of punishment, in this case, a fine, depends on how much the driver infringed the speed limit.

Lance Stroll is fined €100 for speeding in the pit lane
byu/ICumCoffee informula1

In the note published by the FIA stewards, Lance Stroll exceeded the limit by 0.2 kph (0.12 mph). Valtteri Bottas, on the other hand, breached the speed barrier by 14.6 kph (9 mph). The vast difference in their speed is the reason why the duo picked a different fine for the same infringement.

1,000 euro fine for Valtteri Bottas who was caught speeding in the pitlane pic.twitter.com/hnYxOkzx5A

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) May 24, 2024

Stroll is currently 11th in the standings with the same number of points to his name. The Canadian driver has been severely underperforming since the start of the season. In comparison, his teammate Fernando Alonso is ninth in the standings with triple the points Stroll has scored.

Valtteri Bottas, on the other hand, has yet to score a point and shares the bottom spot with four other drivers. Those include his Sauber teammate Zhou Guanyu.

Incidentally, this is not the first time Lance Stroll has picked a fine for speeding in the pit lane this season. During the Miami GP, Stroll was caught over the limit in the first practice session at 83.5 kph (2.17 mph). The infringement cost him 400 Euros ($433) back then.

Top 3 offenders of 2024 (so far)

Formula 1 has only completed seven races so far. However, there is a list of infringements that have cost the teams dearly. Most drivers have an arrangement that stipulates the teams to pay for their violations. The season started with a clean record as no driver or team picked an offense. Since then, things haven’t gone as smoothly.

Currently, Lando Norris tops the list with a whopping 50,000 Euro ($54,215) fine. The Briton picked the fine for crossing the track in an unsafe manner after crashing out at the Miami GP Sprint. Half of that amount was suspended by the ruling body.

MULTA de 50000€ y reprimenda para Lando Norris por cruzar la pista andando en la sprint.#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/hOy5Bt1Zg5

— Fórmula Directa (@FormulaDirecta) May 4, 2024

Mercedes comes second on the list with a combined infringement that adds up to 20,000 Euro ($21,686). 15,000 Euro ($16,264) of that amount came from Lewis Hamilton’s impeding offense on Logan Sargeant during free practice in Saudi Arabia. The rest was a result of George Russell’s unsafe release during the Japanese GP qualifying.

Alpine lands third on the list, owing to Pierre Gasly’s unsafe incident during the pit stop at the Chinese GP. The French team paid 10,000 Euros ($10,834) for the incident that left one of the mechanics injured.

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Italy’s Famous Chef Who Has Served Sebastian Vettel in the Past Ready to Greet Lewis Hamilton With Open Arms

After announcing his Ferrari move early this year, Lewis Hamilton made his first visit to Italy last weekend. While the Briton is still a Mercedes driver and will only join the Maranello-based outfit in 2025, Italy’s famous chef, who has served the likes of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel in the past, already has plans to greet the 39-year-old.

For the longest of times, it has been a ritual for Ferrari drivers to visit the Ristorante Montana in Fiorana. Ferrari’s current drivers – Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – also visited the restaurant recently and clicked pictures with Italy’s famous chef, Mamma Rossella.

Cool photos through years from “Ristorante Montana” located just across Fiorano test track
byu/stojaquemagnifique informula1

The most recent F1 personality to visit the Ristorante Montana was four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. Soon after the German former driver led tributes for Ayrton Senna in Imola, he made sure to make a stop at this restaurant.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ristorante Montana (@ristorantemontana)

Since most Ferrari drivers have visited this restaurant, Lewis Hamilton will also most likely visit it when he moves to Maranello next year. However, since the Briton is vegan, the restaurant may have to put in additional efforts to welcome him.

Lewis Hamilton has been a vegan since 2017

After realizing the benefits of being vegan, Lewis Hamilton shifted to this diet in 2017. The 39-year-old decided to move to this diet despite doctors advising him otherwise. Doctors were worried that moving to such a diet would mean that Hamilton’s protein intake would reduce and that the Briton may struggle to meet the demands of F1.

However, Hamilton has been on such a diet for the past seven years and has proven that F1 drivers can achieve the highest of successes despite being vegan. In order to get his protein intake, Hamilton consumes lentils, vegetables, and nuts.

During his other meals, Hamilton often has avocado and vegetable-based salads to get the rest of his nutrients. Other than this, he also enjoys having various smoothies and plant-based curries.

Hamilton once also credited his change in diet for being in the best shape he has ever been. He also believes he is able to recover much faster now, and all this has contributed to his continued success in F1.

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F1 Fans Left Astounded as Max Verstappen’s ‘Mediocre’ Padel Skills Gets Exposed

With three consecutive world championships, Max Verstappen has registered his name among the legends of F1. If the run continues with the ground effect regulations until 2025, the Dutchman will add another two to the tally. The success on the track, however, does not necessarily translate in other sports. Certainly not in Padel, a non-racing activity Verstappen has taken a keen liking to.

Along with Max Verstappen, many other drivers have taken a liking to Padel. When not embroiled in an on-track rivalry, they get along for a game or two on the court. During one such incident recently, the reigning F1 champion teamed up with McLaren’s Lando Norris. In a snippet released by Sky Sports, the Dutchman tumbled to the ground and missed a sitter while playing.

Disappointed in his partner’s lack of skills, Norris couldn’t help but let out a frustrated “OH, MAX!” A similar sentiment ran among his own fans who playfully mocked Verstappen on X (formerly Twitter).

Popular F1 fan account @SCUDERIAFEMBOY couldn’t believe Sky uploaded the video with the reigning F1 champion having a couple of epic fails.

i cant believe they aired max being mid at padel like this. omfg pic.twitter.com/7zhjInePlq

— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) May 23, 2024

Another had a good laugh watching their favorite driver take a hilarious tumble on the court.

AHAHWHSHSHAHAHHAAH I CAN’T BREATHE

— ° (@_OhHunnie_) May 23, 2024

Surprisingly, Verstappen was the one who proposed a Padel date with Lando Norris. Following the end of the recent race in Imola, Verstappen interviewed Norris briefly while walking in the paddock. Before finishing the interview, he asked the Briton if he’d like to join him for a game of Padel. Norris not only agreed but also proposed to be the one to book the court.

Max Verstappen knows how bad he is at Padel

Max Verstappen recently appeared on Team Redline live stream, the group he won the virtual 24 Hours of Nurburgring with during the Emilia Romagna GP weekend. While there, they asked him how his Padel outing with Lando Norris went.

Apprehensive in revealing the embarrassment the duo had to face, Verstappen simply answered, “We lost… We played together.”

When further probed, the Dutchman opened up on his Padel skills. Despite thoroughly enjoying the sport, he admitted to often losing. He said, “If I’m honest, I just lose.”

Incidentally, Padel has picked up among the younger generation of F1 drivers. It’s the same group that was famously named as the Twitch Quartet for their live streams during the COVID-induced lockdown break.

Apart from Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, George Russell and Charles Leclerc also participate whenever they can. For a change, they recently had Fernando Alonso as well.

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Driving Sebastian Vettel’s Title-Winning Car, Liam Lawson Lost to Moto GP Star Dani Pedrosa

Red Bull has a rich legacy in motorsport, not just Formula 1. Last year, the energy drinks conglomerate decided to pit their racing machines across three disciplines of motorsport against each other. It was time to test their World Rally Championship, MotoGP, and Formula 1 prowess.

In the end, over a three-race battle, it was really a fight between Liam Lawson and Dani Pedrosa. Lawson, who made his F1 debut last year as a cameo for the AlphaTauri team (now V-CARB) was strapped into Sebastian Vettel’s 2012 title-winning RB8. Three-time champion, Pedrosa was mounted on the Red Bull KTM RC16.

Throughout three drag races, the MotoGP bike of Pedrosa had the legs over its competition. The 1000cc beast left the V8-powered RB8 of Lawson in the dust, particularly as it got off the line. In the end, Pedrosa was dubbed the Ultimate Race Winner by Red Bull on their YouTube channel.

Lawson has quickly become a very popular face in the motorsport world. After Daniel Ricciardo injured his wrist during a freak accident at the 2023 Dutch GP, Lawson was drafted into the team as a temporary replacement. His performances in the handful of races he entered impressed the F1 paddock and the wider motor racing world.

He really signaled his intent to challenge for a full-time spot on the grid at the 2023 Singapore GP. Not only did he out-qualify and knock Max Verstappen out of Q2, but the young Kiwi driver then went on to secure his first-ever points in F1 at the Grand Prix.

Has Liam Lawson made a case for Red Bull to sign him for 2025?

His cameo last year has left many team insiders impressed. While speaking to The SportsRush in an exclusive interview, his performance engineer, Pyry Salmela praised his performance at the 2023 Qatar GP.  He said, “Liam actually did actually surprisingly well compared to what I heard from some, some others. You can really see that there’s like a good mindset.”

His performances against his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda were also stellar. He outscored the young Japanese driver and beat him in a race head-to-head (4-1). However, Tsunoda did suffer one DNF and one DNS during that time. Given how Tsunoda has been performing this year, Lawson’s performances against him are a feather in the cap for the New Zealander.

F1TV’s prediction for the 2025 F1 Grid:

Red Bull Racing: Verstappen – Ricciardo
VCARB: Lawson – Tsunoda

Other Teams
Mercedes: Russell – Alonso
Ferrari: Leclerc – Hamilton
McLaren: Norris – Piastri
AMR: Sainz – Stroll
Alpine: Gasly – Ocon
Williams: Antonelli – Albon
Sauber:… pic.twitter.com/pWSgDb3HVe

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) March 14, 2024

Naturally, Lawson expects to be considered by the team. But he is prepared to take his talent elsewhere if Red Bull don’t promote him soon. RacingNews365 quoted him saying that while his dream is to drive for Red Bull, his career ambition is to be in F1. If it’s not with the Bulls, he doesn’t mind trying his luck elsewhere.

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Michael Schumacher and His Family Set to Receive $216,800 in Damages After AI Generated Interview

German publication Die Aktuelle grabbed the spotlight in April 2023 as they claimed to have interviewed Michael Schumacher. The hype instantly turned into anger as the former F1 champion’s family rubbished the claims. As the Schumacher family decided to take legal action, the publication issued an apology and clarified the responses from the seven-time champion in the interview were AI-generated.

As days passed, the Schumacher family initiated legal proceedings against the publication. The latest coming from Germany suggests the Munich Labor Court has directed Die Aktuelle to pay the family 200,000 Euros ($216,800).

| Michael Schumacher and his family have received 200,000€ in compensation after a magazine published an AI-generated interview with him.

The German magazine ‘Die Aktuelle’ promoted it as “the first interview” and “world sensation”.#F1 pic.twitter.com/xFuJOkYxqk

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) May 22, 2024

Die Aktuelle is one of the magazines run by the Funke media group. After the publication of the article in the magazine, Funke’s managing director issued an apology. Expressing regret over the issue, Bianca Pohlmann dubbed the article tasteless and misleading. Funke later sacked the editor responsible for the article.

Pohlmann said, “This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It does not in any way correspond to the standards of journalism that we — and our readers — expect from a publisher like Funke.”

Die Aktuelle used Michael Schumacher’s picture on the front page of the issue. To further grab attention, they used the words “Michael Schumacher, the first interview!” and “world sensation!” Just to make sure they did not face any consequences, they added a little disclaimer that read, “it sounds deceptively real.”

The family remains secretive over Michael Schumacher’s condition

Michael Schumacher met with a serious accident while skiing in December 2013. The resultant injury to his brain dealt a severe blow to the chances of his survival.

Thankfully, after a long stint in the Intensive Care Unit, the seven-time F1 champion got out of the hospital. However, the injuries had a lasting effect as reports suggest he isn’t the same Michael Schumacher anymore.

Meanwhile, the family remains secretive about his health. In a Netflix documentary on his life, Michael’s wife, Corinna, explained the reason behind the decision. She revealed how Michael was protective of his family all through his life. Now, it was their turn to take care of him and protect him.

Corinna Schumacher appreciation post

Michael had often described her as his guardian angel and that definitely stands true to this day. She has been a pillar of strength to her family through the many highs and many lows and I admire her so much for that. pic.twitter.com/fVp3CmiS9b

— ً (@ilyschumi) May 7, 2024

The only credible source for any updates on Michael’s health has been his former Ferrari boss Jean Todt. Todt wasn’t just the Ferrari team principal but also one of the best friends Michael ever had.

Being one of the closest to him and the family, Todt often visits them. In one of his interviews after one such visit, the Frenchman admitted to watching Grands Prix with Michael. However, he confessed the German legend wasn’t the same Michael Schumacher he once knew.

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Charles Leclerc Finds an Overtaking Spot in Monaco but It Might Never Be Possible to Pull in Real Life

Owing to its narrow track and shorter straights, the Monaco GP is among the worst F1 circuits to pull off an overtake. However, local hero Charles Leclerc has found a spot where he can pull one off at. Sadly, neither he nor any other driver can perform the move in that corner. That is because he discovered the overtaking spot while running on the track in the opposite direction.

As the recent tradition goes, Ferrari uploaded a video of Leclerc doing a run on the upcoming Grand Prix track. Once again, he had Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz to guide him through the circuit.

This time around, the duo made it a little more challenging for the Monegasque by reversing the circuit. While taking the run, Leclerc couldn’t help but pick the Portier and the Mirabeau Bas as the possible overtaking turns.

The two turns are among the slowest parts of the Monaco street circuit. Right before the drivers make their way to them, comes the hairpin that is the slowest turn among all F1 circuits.

While many find it to be a dangerous spot to try an overtake, Adrian Newey recently showed how it is not entirely impossible. The exit-bound Red Bull aerodynamicist did that while participating in the 2024 Monaco GP Historique.

Despite its historic significance and rich legacy, the Monaco street circuit is among the most disliked among the fans. With next to no overtaking opportunities, the race often results in being a dull affair. As F1 cars have become bigger and heavier with time, the track has proven to be narrower than ever.

Charles Leclerc has a good chance of winning the Monaco GP

The lack of overtaking opportunities might make the race a dull affair but it makes qualifying all the more exciting. That is because the starting positions often turn out to be the finishing positions with the race leader more often than not bagging the win.

Charles Leclerc, therefore, holds a golden chance of registering a win at his home Grand Prix. His pace over a single lap has often left Max Verstappen behind. Moreover, Ferrari’s recent upgrades might come in handy in Monaco, which may give the local boy a shot at pole position on Saturday.

Waiting patiently for #MonacoGP week to begin pic.twitter.com/5xIcgrzbLG

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 22, 2024

The Dutchman, however, will give it his all to stave off the threat from the Leclerc. Another threat is McLaren as its recent form suggests a significant uptick in performance.

All three teams are featuring extensive upgrade packages and have next to nothing to separate them. Hopefully, that will make the dull Monaco GP race one to watch out for the fans.

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Paul George Gets Candid About How Karl-Anthony Towns Inadvertently Arose His Body Issues Ahead of Cover Shoot

Since 2009, ESPN’s ‘The Body Issue’ has done a tremendous job of bringing body positivity among athletes. These nude/semi-nude cover shoots have boosted the confidence of various athletes, however, not even the most chiseled athletes are keen on baring it all. Paul George belongs with those who shied away from doing such a photoshoot. During a recent sit-down with Cameron Brink on ‘Podcast P with Paul George’, the 34-year-old revealed that he “regretted” not posing for the cover when the chance arrived in 2014.

“It is something I regret, that’s one of those things that I look back on and be like, ‘Damn I could have been a part of that’ when you look at the names that did do it,” PG confessed on his podcast.

He recalled how Karl-Anthony Towns took the chance head-on and prepared religiously for the 2018 ESPN Body Issue photoshoot. While admiring KAT’s “dedication”, George confessed that he was afraid to insert such an application just for a photo shoot,

“I just saw his dedication to it. He was eating healthy, he was eating clean, he was working out hard. I was like, ‘Damn, if I had to do that, I gotta get on that level’ So I was just kinda shunned away from it from his experience.”

This discussion was triggered when Brink touched upon her first solo feature on the 250th edition of ‘SLAM’ magazine. When PG-13 asked Brink about other magazine photoshoot opportunities, she revealed modeling for Kim Kardashian’s clothing brand SKIMS and termed meeting the latter an “out-of-the-body” experience. While recalling his missed photoshoot experiences, Paul George segued into the Body Issue section about Karl Anthony-Towns.

How did Karl-Anthony Towns prepare for the 2018 ESPN Body Issue?

After the publication of the 2018 ESPN Body Issue, Karl-Anthony Towns described the factors that led him to a nude photoshoot. The 7-foot NBA athlete remarked that his legs are “longer compared to the torso” making him a “lanky fellow”.

The Timberwolves big man recalled how he used to be “chubbier” in his younger days and people critiqued that he’d never make it to the pros with that body. After a growth spurt in high school, he got serious about basketball and made it a mission to hit the pros in the future. 

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

KAT emphasized how nutrition helped shape his pro-hoops journey. When he joined the Dominican National Basketball Team at a young age, his seniors always asked him to take care of what he was eating. Thus, he had a “water only, no sugar, no carbs, vegetables, chicken” diet. Apart from emphasizing the role of nutrition, the Timberwolves All-Star admitted his love for the “NBA grind”.

Hence, unlike the Clippers forward, the “lanky fellow” didn’t back away from showing his body to the world and prepared extensively for it. He remains one of the primary examples of the positive impact of ESPN’s body positivity movement. 

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Fred Vasseur Gets Honest About Sacking “The Architect” of Ferrari’s “Recovery” Carlos Sainz for Lewis Hamilton

Ever since Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, effectively sacking Carlos Sainz, there has been a persistent debate on whether they made the right call. Questions were asked about Ferrari’s decision because the Spaniard has been the only driver to win races for the Italian team in the past two seasons. Despite being fed up with being repeatedly asked such questions, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur provided an honest answer about why his side chose to replace Sainz with Hamilton.

According to The New York Times, Vasseur said, “I have huge respect for Carlos. I’m perfectly aware of the job he did last year. He was the architect of our recovery after the summer break. He brought us the win in Singapore and the podium in Monza.”

However, the Frenchman reasoned signing Hamilton was a “no-brainer for tons of reasons.” He added, “I had to take a decision, and the decision was harsh”.

Previously, the Ferrari boss has stormed out of interviews and snapped at reporters too for persisting with this narrative. While Sainz has undoubtedly done an incredible job for Ferrari, Vasseur believes that Hamilton’s onboarding is a move for the long-term future.

Sainz has been nip and tuck with his teammate Charles Leclerc on all fronts. While many consider Leclerc to have more raw pace and talent, the Spaniard has not languished behind the Monegasque too often.

In fact, since the summer break of 2023, Sainz’s two race wins in Singapore (2023) and Australia (2024) showcased how he can beat Leclerc on merit. When it comes to the signing of Hamilton, Vassuer believes that the Briton coming to Ferrari will help Leclerc up his game on the track.

Naturally, for the Monegasque, going against a seven-time champion would be a fantastic learning experience. Apparently, even Sainz agrees with this notion, as he wishes the best for Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz understands Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton

Carlos Sainz would have had all the reasons to express his anger about Ferrari sacking him. However, the #55 driver has the maturity to understand why the Prancing Horse made such a decision. He even mentioned he doesn’t have any “hard feelings” toward Lewis Hamilton.

Sainz also understood why the seven-time champion decided to jump ship to the Italian outfit. According to Si.com, Sainz commented,

“I think Ferrari’s a great team and at some point towards the second half of your career – or at the end, I don’t know where he’s (Lewis Hamilton) at right now, he only knows – but for sure it’s a team you would like to be part of, so I fully understand that.”

As things stand, the driver market situation is not in Sainz’s favor. The 29-year-old wishes to receive an offer from a top team and deservedly so, given his performance in the past 18 months. However, with Red Bull and Mercedes having a stronger interest in other drivers for 2025, Sainz may have to compromise and take a step back down the grid.

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Topsy-Turvy 2024 F1 Driver Market Could See Mick Schumacher Return and Esteban Ocon to Leave

Numerous ‘Whats’ and ‘Ifs’ are looming over the 2024 driver market, as 10 drivers will be out of contract at the end of the 2024 season. Interestingly, the complexity of this situation could even lead to Mick Schumacher returning to the track with Alpine and Esteban Ocon joining Haas.

Two years ago, Schumacher lost his Haas seat, and since then, he has been trying to make a comeback. The German signed as a reserve driver with Mercedes last year. In addition to that, he also took up the opportunity to compete in WEC with Alpine in 2024.

The 25-year-old received a lot of praise from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for his role with the team. Reportedly, Wolff even advertised Schumacher’s capability to Williams’ boss, James Vowles, by showing him the telemetry data. And now, the young German is also earning significant recognition from Alpine boss Bruno Famin.

This, combined with the fact that the Enstone-based team does not have a confirmed lineup for the next season, could see Schumacher return to the grid with Alpine. When asked, Famin did not rule out any such possibility, saying(as quoted by Formu1a.Uno), “He’s one of the possibilities for sure. Like many, like many. Mick is doing an incredible job in endurance. “

POV : you are Mick Schumacher https://t.co/doxz9UZd0B pic.twitter.com/aOQhbjlXuW

— ahmed baokbah (@ahmed_baokbah) May 20, 2024

Alpine is struggling tremendously in the 2024 season, scoring just one point after seven rounds of racing. Frustrated by the team’s continued turmoil, whether Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will continue with the team is a major question. Amidst this, both French drivers have been linked, though sporadically, to other teams.

Esteban Ocon might replace Kevin Magnussen at Haas

After only 7 races in the 2024 season, Kevin Magnussen is only 2 points away from a race ban. On top of that, Haas’ team principal, Ayao Komatsu, is not very impressed by him.

At the start of the season, Oliver Bearman’s presence threatened Magnussen. That pacified slightly when Nico Hulkenberg signed with Sauber for the next season.

While Komatsu agreed with this, he stated that the team needs someone “who can be a reference,” and Haas’ boss is not convinced that Magnussen can deliver that.

A report by Motorsport.com has revealed that Ocon is a favorite in the Haas garage for replacing the Dane. The French driver is rumored to be looking to step out of the French team after spending five seasons with them.

Furthermore, Gasly’s future is still uncertain. He might stay another season with Alpine and possibly have Zhou Guanyu, a former member of the Alpine Academy, as his teammate, suggests Motorsport.

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New England Patriots Injury Update: Jerod Mayo Reveals Current Status of Roster Development

The New England Patriots are heading into the 2024 campaign on the back of a major rebuild. The team won’t likely make the kind of impression that fans would want, especially with new head coach Jerod Mayo in charge and a QB room full of unfamiliar players. However, there appear to be more impending problems, particularly a few injury updates that aren’t alarming just yet but could become problematic down the stretch.

After the rookie minicamp, the franchise will soon organize team activities (OTAs) on May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4, and June 6-7 before the mandatory minicamp starts on June 11. However, according to Zach Cox’s report on X, Jerod Mayo has recently stated in a presser that the club will be without Kendrick Bourne and Cole Strange during the OTAs.

Bourne is still rehabilitating from an ACL injury and won’t participate in all the spring practices. As for Strange, the situation is being continuously monitored. While he took part in the meetings, it will take some time before he can practice again.

Some injury updates from Mayo this morning:

-Kendrick Bourne won’t practice this spring as he works his way back from a torn ACL

-Referred to Cole Strange as “month to month.” Said Strange has been around and in meetings, but sounds like it’ll be a while before he gets back on… https://t.co/hLbGyeSBaT

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) May 20, 2024

Additionally, Matthew Judon won’t attend the 20-21 May OTAs, although he has been visiting and spending time in the training facility. According to PatsPulpit, all these OTAs are optional except for the June 11th-13th minicamp. During these OTAs, the coaches will conduct drills, and both offensive and defensive players will practice and line up across from each other.

It’s also worth mentioning that while Jacoby Brissett is expected to assume the reins, the Patriots’ newly drafted Drake Maye is making it difficult for the coaches to ignore his enthusiasm.

Jerod Mayo Shares Latest on Drake Maye

Carlos Pats Talk on X, formerly known as Twitter, highlighted coach Mayo’s comments on Drake Maye, which are nothing short of positive. The former Tar Heels QB has been putting in a lot of work, and it is already showing. He is making headway, both on and off the field. So much so that Mayo revealed that he often finds the 21-year-old in the QB room, watching films, all by himself.

“Drake did a great job, not only progressing on the field but also off the field,” Mayo said. “You can already tell he’s gonna put in that extra work. I walk by the quarterback meeting room; he’s just in there by himself watching film. Those are things that you wanna see.”

Jerod Mayo says #Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye is putting in extra work to get better.

“Drake did a great job, not only progressing on the field, but also off the field. You can already tell he’s gonna put in that extra work. I walk by the quarterback meeting room — he’s just in… pic.twitter.com/0AUyXqe15M

— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) May 20, 2024

While the Patriots are not rushing the process and are allowing their 21-year-old star QB to learn and develop, he still might get a few games under his belt in his rookie season, especially considering how he has already begun winning over fans.

Considering the tough schedule, the Patriots are not expected to win many games during this rebuilding phase, but this period is crucial for both the team’s development and the growth of its players.

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