Tommy Paul Does an American Tennis First as Crypto Giant Arkham Intelligence Sponsors Him at US Open

The US Open 2024 already boasts a plethora of high-profile brands – Chase, J.P. Morgan, American Express, Emirates Airlines, and many others – as part of their sponsorship team. It has also been a great opportunity for multiple other brands to gain visibility by adding ATP and WTA stars to their list of ambassadors. Arkham Intelligence has used this strategy as Tommy Paul is seen endorsing the crypto giant this year.

With their latest partnership with Paul, Arkham Intelligence is moving a step towards unifying sports and cryptocurrency. The American tennis star has been seen donning the company’s logo on the right sleeve of his kit in the previous matches of the Grand Slam. However, Arkham Intelligence came out with the news of the partnership only on Friday.

Arkham X Tommy Paul at the US Open

We’re partnering with @TommyPaul1 – one of the world’s top-ranked tennis players & an Olympic Bronze Medallist – at the US Open.

Spot Arkham on his sleeve during the tournament.

Best of luck Tommy! pic.twitter.com/uXcLyAFuPH

— Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) August 29, 2024

The 27-year-old New Jersey native also put up an Instagram Story, announcing the breaking news.

“I’m joining forces with @arkhamintel at The Open. Powerful serves and powerful insights,” Paul wrote.

The cryptocurrency company was founded in 2020. They have around 663,000 followers on X and 11,900 followers on Instagram as of August 30.

After four years of being in the market, they have finally decided to expand their marketing opportunities. A few weeks earlier, the blockchain intelligence platform sponsored the Turkish soccer club, Galatasaray.

The addition of Paul to the Arkham family is set to up his net worth beyond the estimated $5 million mark. The American star is helped by his deals with the likes of New Balance, Yonex, Celsius Energy Drink and Motorola.

Paul’s social media game is right up there amongst the best on the ATP Tour. He might only have just over 300k followers on Instagram. But committing to this deal with Arkham is a first for American tennis and that is something which will make Paul a trailblazer going ahead.

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It Was a ‘Little Surprising’ to See the Chiefs Cut Kadarius Toney: Patrick Mahomes Sr.

After being removed from the playoff and Super Bowl roster, it seemed inevitable that Kadarius Toney would be cut by the Chiefs. However, despite the apparent outcome, Patrick Mahomes Sr. was caught off guard. And his surprise stemmed from the question: why keep him in preseason camp only to cut him days before the regular season?

During his appearance on the ‘2 Gems and a Mic Sports Podcast,’ Mahomes Sr. expressed his confusion over the decision to cut Toney, noting that he could have been utilized as a punt returner, if not as a wide receiver.

Given the new kickoff rules and Toney’s versatility, the former MLB player argued that keeping the wide receiver would have been a smart move for the Chiefs. He argued:

“With the new kickoff rules and stuff like that, I thought he could have been an asset there being he could catch the ball before he had to run… [He is] pretty good once he has the balls in his hands, so you know it was a little surprising.”

In an ideal world, Mahomes Sr.’s logic makes sense. But unfortunately, a key prerequisite for Toney’s retention was missing—a strong performance in the preseason. According to Chiefs GM Brett Veach, Toney’s lack of physical preparation was another major reason for his exclusion from the 53-man roster.

“I’m certainly sure that there would be things that he would do different, in regards to just some of the offseason stuff and taking care of the body.”

A few minutes after expressing his surprise at Toney’s ouster, Mahomes Sr. considered the deep WR depth on the Chiefs’ roster this year, which explained why the team decided to overhaul their receiver group.

Like Toney, Justyn Ross is another victim of the Chiefs’ loaded WR roster

With the KC Chiefs announcing JuJu Smith-Schuster’s arrival a few days ago, it was evident that Toney and Justyn Ross’s stint at the Chiefs was over.

And with Xavier Worthy, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and Rashee Rice already present, the wide receiver room was fully stacked. Thus, Mahomes Sr. didn’t find it surprising that Justyn Ross, who had been with the team for two years, was let go.

However, the former MLB pitcher did express a dash of sadness at his exclusion, considering he thought that things were finally aligning for Justyn.

“The Chiefs wide receiver room is really loaded this year… Several guys that could have made that team didn’t make the team, like say Justyn Ross who seems to always shine in the preseason and you know seemed like it was finally clicking for him,” Mahomes Sr. continued.

Entering the 2024 season, the depth at the WR position was a major concern for the Chiefs. Things worsened when Rashee Rice was involved in a car accident (pending charges).

However, as of today, the defending champions have turned things around with the addition of two quality veterans and a highly-rated rookie. With this major gap addressed, the Chiefs are clearly and visibly prepared for a three-peat.

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Nick Wright Slams Any Hopes for Aaron Rodgers’ Comeback Year With the Jets

Aaron Rodgers has started turning heads at Jets’ practice, showing no signs of the Achilles injury that sidelined him last season. And the Green Gang is understandably excited to see their star quarterback in action, hoping he can lead a team that hasn’t won it all in a very long time. However, Nick Wright isn’t buying into the hype at all.

On an episode of the NFL Daily podcast with Gregg Rosenthal, Wright poked holes in the idea of the Jets being division favorites in 2024. He questioned why people are so optimistic about Rodgers’ return, pointing out that he wasn’t even in good form in his last season with the Packers, the same team that is now doing fine with Jordan Love at the helm.

He further added:

“So, that guy is all of a sudden going to be the connective tissue and a very good quarterback? Everyone who doesn’t believe in the Jets says ‘Well, Injuries could kill him,’ obviously that’s true. I think even healthy, they have average quarterback play this year.”

Wright then referenced Rodgers’ last significant game against the Lions to drive his point home, where the four-time NFL MVP struggled against a team he had historically dominated.

The analyst also highlighted a broader challenge for the Jets: head coach Robert Saleh would need to double his career division wins in a season to clinch the AFC East title. For Wright, these factors make predictions of the Jets’ divisional success seem far-fetched.

The Fox Sports analyst makes some solid points about the high hopes fans are placing on Rodgers. And it’s not like the QB is making headlines solely about football.

Pat McAfee teases A-Rod’s comeback to ESPN show following ban

Rodgers might be making his way back to the airwaves, but it’s not on the football field. Pat McAfee recently dropped a hint that the Jets QB could be returning for his weekly Tuesday spots on his popular sports talk show.

“There’s a good chance you probably see Aaron on Tuesdays again,” McAfee teased during ESPN’s media day.

This potential comeback follows a rocky period earlier this year when Rodgers was barred from the show after taking some jabs at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The controversy led to McAfee announcing a pause on Rodgers’ appearances for the “foreseeable future.”

Last season, with Rodgers not getting any action on the football field, his Tuesday segments on McAfee’s show became a hot topic, generating plenty of buzz. But now, the landscape has shifted. Rodgers is back in action, and the Jets have their sights set on a Super Bowl run.

This new dynamic raises some interesting questions. Will Jets fans welcome Rodgers’ candid commentary, or would they prefer he keeps his focus squarely on the field? As the season approaches, it’ll be worth watching how this plays out.

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David Coulthard Once Flipped Michael Schumacher Off and Called Him a “W*nker” in the Middle of a Race

David Coulthard recently opened up about one of the most intense and challenging weekends of his F1 career. This moment came at the 2000 French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, where he said some harsh words to Michael Schumacher during the race as he overtook him for the lead of the race.

Speaking on the Talking Bull podcast, Coulthard recalled how it wasn’t just his victory that was memorable. There was a lot of chaos that unfolded before and during the race as he faced significant issues right from Saturday’s qualifying session.

Coulthard’s McLaren gave up on him due to a technical issue as the qualifying began. Thus, he had to drive the spare car, which also broke down later. He then had to drive his teammate Mika Hakkinen’s car, meanwhile, the team fixed his car for Hakkinen to jump in.

Despite this car swap drama, the British driver managed to qualify second behind Schumacher, while his teammate qualified fourth. Now, the start of the race saw Schumacher cut across Coulthard, forcing him to lift off the throttle.

The former McLaren man said, “And then at the race start Michael cut across me and I had to lift, which allowed Rubens [Barrichello] to overtake me. I then had to fight to overtake Rubens, and then I had to catch Michael and fight to overtake him, give him the bird, tell him he’s a w*nker, and then continue on and win the Grand Prix.”

A French gesture from Coulthard against Schumacher at the 2000 French Grand Prix.

Coulthard started the race alongside Michael Schumacher, who lined up on pole. At lights out Barrichello starting on third passed Coulthard entering the first corner. Michael Schumacher retained… pic.twitter.com/c81U0hwcad

— Formula One History (@F1History1950) March 28, 2024

However, the 2000 season ultimately went in Schumacher’s favor as he had the last laugh by winning the world championship that year. As for his tussle with Coulthard, it wasn’t the first time the duo had an intense on-track incident.

When Schumacher and Coulthard collided at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1998 Belgian GP is famous for Schumacher’s angry charge at Coulthard in the pits after they collided in the middle stage of the race at Spa-Francorchamps, which started in treacherously wet conditions.

Coulthard had a spin at the start triggering a massive crash involving 12 of the 22 cars, which went down as one of the most chaotic starts in F1 history. After the race was restarted, Coulthard also collided with Alex Wurz, but Schumacher seemed set for an easy win.

However, things took a dramatic turn on lap 24 when Schumacher approached to lap Coulthard and the McLaren driver pulled off the racing line. But due to the heavy spray from the wet track, Schumacher couldn’t see clearly and ended up crashing into the back of Coulthard’s McLaren, breaking off the front right wheel, front wing, and nose of his Ferrari.

ITV discussing the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix and the confrontation between Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard for the coverage of the 2005 Belgian Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/H6OFDnAFgA

— f1 clips (@f1clipshow) June 13, 2024

Both drivers had to retire from the race and then their intense confrontation in the pits unfolded. The German furiously stormed towards Coulthard’s garage while removing his helmet and balaclava. Team members had to intervene to prevent a physical brawl between the two as Coulthard was also standing his ground with his helmet and gear still on.

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Joe Saward Claims Kimi Antonelli Will Be Announced by Mercedes During the Italian Grand Prix

After months of deliberation, Mercedes seems to have found their replacement for Lewis Hamilton. It’s no secret and all reports point toward Kimi Antonelli. Toto Wolff’s pursuit of Max Verstappen failed and he had to turn his attention to the team’s long-term future, which lies with Antonelli in the car. Now, reputed British F1 journalist, Joe Saward reported in his column that the announcement will be made this weekend.

“I am of the opinion that this weekend Mercedes will confirm Andrea Kimi Antonelli to be the replacement for Lewis Hamilton next year and I think that is a brilliant choice.”, he wrote.

Saward added, “Kimi is special and I am sure that despite being only 18, he will be a terrific addition to F1 in 2025. If I am wrong about the announcement I will happily take metaphorical custard pies, but I’m pretty certain about the timing.”

Passing the baton?

Lewis Hamilton has reiterated his support for Kimi Antonelli to replace him at @MercedesAMGF1 next season. pic.twitter.com/w3tc2B5ca3

— Autosport (@autosport) August 29, 2024

It’s no coincidence the announcement is set to happen during the Italian GP, the youngster’s home turf. Currently, the passionate Italian fans only have a team to support in F1 and no driver from their land. However, Antonelli’s inclusion on the grid in 2025 will change that. Before him, Antonio Giovinazzi was the Italian flag bearer in the sport.

However, the last driver from Italy to win a Grand Prix was Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006. Moreover, the last Italian world champion was Alberto Ascari who won the coveted F1 title way back in 1953.

Antonelli will shoulder a lot of expectations, especially entering F1 being so highly rated. On the other hand, the announcement will be made at Ferrari’s home, who share history with the young driver.

How Ferrari had the first right on Antonelli but let him go

Almost a decade ago, Wolff lost out on Verstappen, who is now the reigning world champion. However, the Mercedes boss has learned from his mistakes and now investing in Antonelli even if he’s just 18.

Although, Ferrari made the same mistake as the Mercedes CEO did years ago and let the young Italian go. Helmut Marko revealed that when he was asked if he saw Antonelli’s potential early on.

On the Inside Line F1 podcast, he said, “No, he was driving for Donnie Cart. Donnie Cart, in the past, had a co-operation with Ferrari… And Ferrari obviously didn’t take Antonelli. Even so, they had the first choice. And it was then Mercedes who signed him up.”

Ferrari did not feel the need to invest in the young Italian’s career at the time. Mercedes saw potential and now they’re pinning a lot of their future hopes on him.

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Max Verstappen Launches Donations Appeal for Life-Saving Project Run by Princess Charlene of Monaco

Max Verstappen has come out in an appeal for donations for a noble cause. The 26-year-old took to his official Instagram account to spread awareness about a recent campaign that relates to water safety for children through the means of education.

Donations have been opened for the Crossing Water Bike Challenge : Calvi – Monaco. The race is organized by the Fondation Princesse Charlene de Monaco run by Princess Charlene. The sums that have been collected through these donations will be used in the many programs of the foundation.

Verstappen came onto his Instagram account to share a story, linking the post that gives fans details about how and why they should make the donations. He wrote, “Please have a look into their mission to save lives by promoting water safety for kids through education.”

@Max33Verstappen lends his voice to the noble cause for donating to the Fondation Princesse Charlene de Monaco.

Link for donations: https://t.co/T6xQkfwCkG pic.twitter.com/WWL4eHTvN6

— Anirban Aly Mandal (@AnirbanF1) August 28, 2024

The Water Safety project run by Princess Charlene’s foundation aims to educate and spread awareness amongst kids and adults about the risks of their aquatic environments. It also undertakes to teach children life-saving techniques.

As per WHO, 7% of injury-related deaths are due to drowning. Almost 236,000 people die from drowning each year and it is the third most common cause of death. As Monaco is a country with a coastline, perhaps Princess Charlene feels strongly about the issue of aquatic safety. Thus, she is pushing for this race and awareness project via her foundation.

Meanwhile, Verstappen has carved a niche out for himself as one of the most successful F1 drivers. With his success also comes a great platform — and the Dutchman has used it on many occasions to support humanitarian causes, just like this one.

Verstappen had auctioned signed memorabilia for a flood-affected Brazil

Earlier this year, the country of Brazil was hit by devastating floods. The damages accounted for showed that more than 580,000 people had been displaced and civilian life was completely destroyed.

BRAZIL FLOODS: DEATH TOLL CLIMBS

President Lula met with Governor Leite in Rio Grande do Sul as floods wreaked havoc across the region.

The storms have resulted in 21 missing individuals and nearly 10,000 displaced across 150 cities.

Infrastructure suffers from bridge… pic.twitter.com/DJZ3JxzCEy

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 2, 2024

Verstappen’s girlfriend and Brazilian model, Kelly Piquet had launched an initiative to raise money for the calamity-stricken nation. Verstappen gave away a signed Red Bull Racing shirt for auctioning and its proceeds went towards the country’s restitution.

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WATCH: Travis Kelce Doubles Down on His Viral Patrick Mahomes Impression

Travis and Jason Kelce are back with a new season and episode of the New Heights podcast after signing a lucrative $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery. And what better way to kickstart this new journey than with Hollywood funnyman Adam Sandler on the show? However, during the banter session, the conversation took a turn when Travis once again showcased his uncanny impression of Patrick Mahomes.

While initially discussing Happy Gilmore 2, Sandler’s upcoming movie, Travis revealed that he had finally mastered the art of swinging a golf club like Gilmore (played by Sandler) in the first film. Subsequently, when the actor asked Travis about his golfing prowess, the three-time Super Bowl winner boasted that he could hit the ball 320 yards, which is surprisingly impressive.

The conversation then took a humorous turn when they showed a short clip of Travis driving the ball efficiently, albeit with a long walk-up, just like Gilmore in the movie. Kelce, who was golfing with Mahomes when he made that shot, revealed that Mahomes was actually offering his expert commentary in the background as the shot was made.

Impersonating Mahomes, the Chiefs’ tight end couldn’t help but mock his quarterback’s raspy voice and his tendency to provide commentary, saying in a Mahomes voice, “You can hear Pat Mahomes in the background telling you where it went.”

 

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Notably, Adam Sandler is bringing a sequel to the cult classic golf comedy Happy Gilmore. This time, he managed to rope in Travis for a small cameo. On the show, Sandler revealed that he had originally planned to cast the tight end as his son, but due to undisclosed reasons, both parties settled on a cameo instead.

That being said, the clip from New Heights quickly attracted a lot of attention, with fans noting that Travis’s impression had them rolling with laughter.

Fans love Travis’s Mahomes impression

Mahomes was once again the subject of Travis’s impersonation, and most fans didn’t miss the humor, noting that it’s funny every time he does it.

Along similar lines, several others congratulated the Kelce brothers on the new podcast deal, while others expressed excitement about Travis’s cameo in Happy Gilmore 2. See for yourself:

pic.twitter.com/hkJIrq5WOd

— Josh McCaffrey (@JoshMcCaff911) August 28, 2024

pic.twitter.com/QvwYJZGlBW

— Josh McCaffrey (@JoshMcCaff911) August 28, 2024

pic.twitter.com/UijnCH19c8

— Josh McCaffrey (@JoshMcCaff911) August 28, 2024

It wasn’t surprising to hear Mahomes in the background during their golf outing, as the duo frequently spends time together on the green. In June last year, while facing off against Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in The Match, Travis and Mahomes pulled off an upset with a 3-and-1 win at Wynn Golf Club in Vegas.

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Stephen Curry Blew Ego Nwodim Out The Water In Golf On The Set Of ‘Mr Throwback’

Stephen Curry has added another feather to his cap with his performance in the new Peacock show Mr. Throwback. Fans on social media are lauding his performance in it, his first full-time gig as an actor. He is seemingly dedicating every summer to show off how good he is at any hobby he picks up. This year, it was acting, while last summer it was golf.

His co-star Ego Nwodim could keep up with him in front of the camera, but she was no match on the golf course. During a recent conversation on LiveKellyandMark, she talked about what it was like to get overshadowed by Curry’s golfing talent. The actress tried her hand at the sport for the first time on set and had some beginner’s luck going her way.

However, when it ran out, the four-time NBA champion put on a show with the clubs in his hands. Explaining what transpired, Nwodim said,

“I warned everybody, I was like, I’m gonna be really bad at this, guys. Sports and I, we just don’t go well together. And I turned out to be pretty good…Soon as everybody started being like, ‘Oh, wow, you are good’…I started being bad at it and then Stephen came to the set and blew everyone out of the water. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.”

Hosts Kelly and Mark weren’t surprised that Curry was dominant on the course. The Warriors superstar’s exploits as a golfer are well-known. He is often seen golfing during the offseason and also won the American Century Championship in 2023.

However, the unsuspecting Nwodim was blown away by the four-time NBA champion’s golfing proficiency and praised his innate ability to master anything he puts his mind to.

Stephen Curry’s new show has a brilliant concept

The Warriors icon’s new show is a mockumentary starring him and actor Adam Pally, who plays a fictional character named Danny Grossman. In the dark comedy, the 42-year-old actor’s character is a former basketball prodigy going through a midlife crisis and turns to Curry, his backup in sixth grade who goes on to become one of the greatest players ever, for help.

During an interview with WGN News, the show’s producer Matthew Libman revealed that the 36-year-old did not need any convincing to do the show. On the contrary, the Warriors superstar was excited to hop on board. He said,

“[Curry] loved it. He had a blast. Actually he came to us looking for something to do. My co-writer David Caspe, who I also grew up with in Chicago and Adam [Pally] knew each other through Steph’s wife [Ayesha]’s game show [About Last Night]. He came to them and said, ‘Do you have an idea?’ and they came to us and we kind of brainstormed and every step of the way he kept saying yes and we could not believe it.”

Curry was seemingly drawn to the idea of playing himself onscreen and showcasing a bit more of his personality as well as his acting chops. His passion shone through and fans loved the show. It currently has an 83% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting viewers are enjoying the show.

It’s not quite as satisfying as winning a championship or an Olympic gold medal, but the positive reviews are undoubtedly gratifying for the two-time MVP.

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WNBA Star Lexie Hull’s Mother ‘Shakes Her Head’ at Daughter’s Viral Shove

The Indiana Fever registered their third win in four games since the WNBA’s resumption after the Olympics break with an 84-79 victory over the Atlanta Dream. While Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark were the show’s stars, teammate Lexie Hull stole it with a hilarious moment involving Rhyne Howard that even the Fever guard’s mother couldn’t justify.

During a play, Howard was trying to stave off from turning the ball over and tip-toed dangerously close to the sideline. While she managed to control her balance and keep possession, Hull came in and gently shoved her out of bounds. The guard’s teammates, who were pointing aggressively to the Dream star’s foot suggesting she stepped out of bounds, giggled at her uncompromising shove. Hull’s mother Jaime also called her out on X, writing,

“Oh my gosh… Really [Lexie Hull]?!? I asked her why she pushed her and all she text back was “idk” [face with tears of joy emoji]. Sure didn’t make her friend Rhyne very happy.  SMH at my kid on that one!”

Oh my gosh… Really @lexiehulll ?!? I asked her why she pushed her and all she text back was “idk ”. Sure didn’t make her friend Rhyne very happy. SMH at my kid on that one! https://t.co/g4whHN2f2L

— Jaime Hull (@hull_jaime) August 27, 2024

Fortunately, Hull wasn’t penalized for it as Howard did step over the line. It was her biggest play of the night in what was an underwhelming performance. She finished the game with two points, four rebounds, and two assists.

It was the opposite of her stellar display against Seattle Storm last week. The guard dropped a career-high 22 points off the bench in a 92-75 win for the Fever. Her mother was over the moon about her performance, writing,

“Help, she proved me right.  She has always had it in her. She’s not always going to have games like this, but she will never not give !! It’s just who she is!”

Welp, she proved me right. She has always had it in her. She’s not always going to have games like this, but she will never not give !! It’s just who she is!!! #proudmom @lexiehulll @IndianaFever @StanfordWBB https://t.co/KTkX5nE5Ts

— Jaime Hull (@hull_jaime) August 19, 2024

The playoffs are approaching and the Fever are all but assured to have a place in it. Hull’s role in the team as a dependable player off the bench is critical to her team’s odds of winning games and venturing deep into the playoffs. She’d look to put her dismal showing against the Dream in the rearview mirror, focus on her upcoming games, and regain her form ahead of the postseason.

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JJ McCarthy and Football World Drools Over Sam Hartman’s New Ralph Lauren Campaign

Earlier this year, Commanders rookie Sam Hartman took the NFL world by storm when his Sicilian bob haircut went viral at the Combine. Since then, he has become the biggest heartthrob among NFL fans. While fans were disappointed that they wouldn’t see much of Hartman on screen due to his position on the depth chart at Washington, the rookie QB has made up for it with stunning portraits for Ralph Lauren, leaving even JJ McCarthy in awe.

Last week, iconic fashion label Ralph Lauren launched its much-anticipated New York-inspired collection, titled Ralph’s New York. The designs were eagerly awaited as the prestigious label finally made style statements drawing from its home in New York.

 

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A post shared by Ralph Lauren (@ralphlauren)

However, what caught NFL fans by surprise in this seemingly distant fashion world was Sam Hartman‘s appearance in the announcement video for the latest New York collection. As soon as the video went live, screenshots of Hartman’s cameo as a model quickly spread across the internet, with fans praising his looks.

Four days later, the Washington rookie posted a series of pictures of himself wearing the latest Ralph Lauren collection, stoking the flames even further. Notably, Hartman’s viral haircut, along with his well-trimmed beard, was shot and edited to pay homage to New York in the ’80s.

Not so surprisingly, fans were stunned by Hartman’s snaps in the new collection, initially complimenting his modeling skills. Even Vikings QB JJ McCarthy was in awe, commenting “Woah” on Hartman’s post.

And amongst the barrage of netizens urging the QB to quit the NFL and get into modeling, a few fans with funny bones pleaded with the rookie to stop posting photos because their wives are on the app. See for yourselves:

Sam Hartman with the fire pic.twitter.com/Kz43uSCEQx

— Burner Boy (@MiraRoadKCChief) August 26, 2024

Hartman has arguably become the undisputed heartthrob of the NFL. However, the Commanders’ playmaker soon disappointed fans after recent photos showed him parting with the key appeal of his look.

Hartman breaks netizens’ hearts with a baffling hairstyle change

If it weren’t for Hartman’s viral hairstyle, the QB might only be known to NFL fans as the backup QB for the Washington Commanders. Still, the rookie made a baffling decision last week by cutting his luscious locks shorter.

Fans were clearly distraught by Sam’s actions and criticized the rookie for his decision. From likening his short hair look to that of a drug dealer to “RIP hair” being spammed online, the new look didn’t quite make sense to fans.

While it’s understandable why netizens are upset with Hartman, it’s also worth remembering that he is an NFL player. Although it’s unlikely he’ll get a chance to shine this season with Jayden Daniels as the starter, this adds even more pressure on Hartman to work hard on the field and earn more playing time.

In simple terms, he should let the noise remain noise and focus more on the field than on people’s opinions about his looks. Given the tough journey ahead, he’ll need everything he’s got to make a name for himself.

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Red Bull Is Lost in Their Development Path, Claims Marc Priestley

Red Bull is on one of their worst losing streaks in the past four seasons. After dominating in 2023 to win all but one race and starting the 2024 season on a similar note, the Austrian outfit is desperately struggling with their car. Former McLaren mechanic, Marc Priestley feels that the defending champions are a bit “lost” in terms of their car development path.

The Milton Keynes outfit has not been able to win in the last five races with McLaren and Mercedes convincingly beating them on merit. At the Dutch GP, the Woking team worsened their situation, as Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen by a staggering margin of 22.8 seconds.

Verstappen was once again struggling with the car’s understeer issues and overall balance just like Hungary. Red Bull‘s big upgrade package from the Budapest weekend did not deliver performance as they expected.

And Priestley believes that now Red Bull is desperately “searching around for answers” to mitigate the issues of the RB20. Speaking in his Dutch GP debrief video on YouTube, he said, “If we look at Red Bull, they split their two cars across the two different configurations of floor and aero setup and part of the reason for that is because they are lost”.

“They don’t really know or understand exactly where their performance has gone”, Priestley added.

The 47-year-old contrasted the Austrian team’s situation with that of McLaren — who have been excelling with their in-season upgrades and improved their car’s pace a lot relative to the start of the season.

At the Dutch GP weekend too, McLaren had a significant upgrade package which helped Norris to win by such a big margin. The team boss, Andrea Stella has revealed that they will be bringing more upgrades in the latter part of the season to further bolster the MCL38 for their championship challenge.

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Paddock Insider Reckons Mick Schumacher Could Return to the Track Soon Enough

With growing speculation about Logan Sargeant’s future with Williams in 2024, former McLaren mechanic, Marc Priestley believes that Mick Schumacher will be drafted in mid-season to replace the American driver. Priestley explained that Schumacher will be the preferred option over other candidates which also include Red Bull junior, Liam Lawson.

After Sargeant’s mighty shunt during FP3 at the 2024 Dutch GP, it seems that team principal, James Vowles has run out of patience. The #2 driver’s crash was the second expensive repair bill he’s put up for Williams. Sargeant had previously crashed during the Japanese GP weekend causing extensive damage to his FW46.

Currently, the names of Schumacher and Lawson are being billed as the front-runners to take Sargeant’s place — which could be as soon as the Italian GP next week. Priestley, who is well-versed with the dynamics of the F1 paddock, explained on his YouTube channel, “I suspect that it is going to be Mick Schumacher coming in until the end of the season.” 

The Briton went on to say that for Schumacher, it would be the perfect chance to audition for a full-time seat in the near future. The German driver has been out of the sport since 2022 after Haas sacked him.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff hopes Mick Schumacher gets a chance to race for Williams in 2024

Would you replace the struggling Logan Sargeant with Schumacher? pic.twitter.com/7qRBYQVs03

— Autosport (@autosport) August 26, 2024

Lawson is a Red Bull junior — who might also be in the midst of a mid-season change at the Milton-Keynes-based outfit if Sergio Perez’s performances don’t match up. Hence, Williams will not be ready to consider a driver they might have to give up anyway when he is called back by his parent team, as per Priestley.

Red Bull are ready to consider loaning Lawson to Williams

Red Bull are not averse to the idea of loaning Lawson out to the iconic British team. Team advisor, Helmut Marko recently said that the team will not stand in the way of such a move if it gives Lawson the experience he needs. Perez seems to have the backing of the Bulls at least till the end of the season and hence, a mid-season switch at Red Bull is highly unlikely.

NEW: PF1 understands that Williams are in negotiations with Red Bull to sign Liam Lawson on loan for the rest of the season.

But a potential catch could open the door for Mick Schumacher to return instead.

@ThomasMaherOnF1https://t.co/wHDb40V00U pic.twitter.com/ZGqsD7nZEV

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) August 26, 2024

Kimi Antonelli is also being suggested as a driver who could be drafted into Williams for the remaining nine races this season. However, Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff has dismissed those ideas as he has plans for the Italian prodigy.

Antonelli will continue with the testing program laid out for him before a potential step up to F1 next year with the Silver Arrows.

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3 Incredible Milestones Achieved by Lando Norris With the Dutch GP Win

F1’s return after the summer break could not have gone better for McLaren’s Lando Norris. The #4 driver, who took pole position for the 2024 Dutch GP, stormed to a comprehensive win against Max Verstappen on the latter’s home ground.

Norris won the race at Circuit Zandvoort in dominant fashion, beating Verstappen by a whopping margin of 22.9 seconds. Not only was it the Briton’s second Grand Prix win, but it also earned him three incredible milestones — one of which puts him alongside the late three-time world champion, Niki Lauda.

Norris became the first non-Red Bull driver to win the Dutch GP since Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 for the first time since the 1985 season. Verstappen won all the previous three editions of the Dutch GP.

LANDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Let’s go Lando, Lando is okay
Let’s go Lando, he is here to stay
Let’s go Lando, he is one of us
He’s racing like a lion pic.twitter.com/DUAMlewFP0

— McLaren Shadow (@McLarenShadow) August 25, 2024

The McLaren driver also bucked the trend of pole-sitters not winning a race since the 2024 Canadian GP. The last driver to have won from pole position before Norris at the Dutch GP was Charles Leclerc at the Monaco GP.

Norris’ Dutch GP win also puts him in some elite company when it comes to McLaren drivers. The Briton’s triumph was the first time in 39 years that a McLaren driver has won the Dutch Grand Prix.

The last McLaren driver to win the Dutch GP was Niki Lauda in 1985. Lauda, who started the race in tenth place, went on to register one of the most iconic drives of his career. Meanwhile, his teammate, Alain Prost finished just two-tenths behind him. And a young Ayrton Senna — in just his second season of F1 — driving for the famed Lotus team completed the podium.

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Damon Hill Highlights the Biggest Challenge Lewis Hamilton Might Have to Face at Ferrari

After completing 12 years with Mercedes and winning six of his seven world championships there, Lewis Hamilton will head to Ferrari. By the time he dons the red overalls for the first time, the Briton will turn 40. That might not be the ideal situation for him as he goes through a massive cultural shift, as per Damon Hill, who feels the change of environment could prove to be the biggest challenge for Hamilton.

Speaking with talkSPORT, the 1996 F1 world champion said, “Learning the whole new environment is a big one. I don’t know how his Italian is but I don’t think he necessarily has to speak Italian. English is usually the first language in these teams when it comes to race tactics, and so forth, talking to drivers.”

“But I think he’ll love it. It’s going to be great for the sport. I think it’ll be stimulating for him.”, Hill said.

Despite not bagging a championship since 2008 (coincidentally the year Hamilton bagged his first), Ferrari remains a team with arguably the most passionate fans in F1. A majority of those fans, famously called Tifosi, come from Italy. The heritage of the Maranello-based outfit gives it the status of almost a national team.

Red Bull: Alonso – Sainz
Mercedes: Verstappen – Russell
Ferrari: Hamilton – Leclerc

I’d pay to see that pic.twitter.com/2dJR3spdj5

— Mahir (@ScrewderiaF1) March 4, 2024

While that will further boost Hamilton‘s ever-growing fanbase, it could also prove to be a challenge to deal with. The Tifosi hold the reputation of backing its team and the drivers with utmost dedication. However, their scathing criticism after a disappointing race weekend is equally passionate. That is one of the cultural shifts that Hamilton will have to get used to.

But these are the sort of challenges he looks forward to. Having been in the sport since 2007, the Briton knows what awaits him. Moreover, his childhood love for Ferrari will help him overcome such challenges.

Hamilton’s biggest ally at Ferrari

Had it not been for Frederic Vasseur, Hamilton perhaps would have never thought about moving away from Mercedes. The Ferrari team principal is a long-time friend of Hamilton, having been his team boss in F3 and F2. The duo continued to share a cordial relationship despite being on different teams in F1, often spending time together after a race.

Charles Leclerc, who’ll be his biggest competitor by being his teammate, is keen on welcoming Hamilton as well. Not only on the race track, Leclerc is excited to share the space with the seven-time champion over music and fashion, which happen to be their common areas of interest.

Needless to say, Hamilton and Leclerc will get along well. That, of course, comes with the precursor of how Ferrari performs on the track. If the car is good enough to compete for wins and championships, the Ferrari duo might fiercely compete against each other too.

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Zak Brown Reveals What Red Bull Can Do to Beat McLaren to the Title: “It’s Going to Be a Hard Fight”

McLaren was able to cut down Red Bull’s lead in the constructor’s championship to just 42 points before the summer break, and they did so quite quickly. However, McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown is expecting the fight for the constructors’ title to go down to the wire despite there being plenty of races (10) left in the season.

Brown believes that there is not much difference between the performance levels of the MCL38 and the RB20, which is why he thinks that the championship will be decided by the efforts of the drivers. During a recent conversation on the ‘F1: Chequered Flag’ podcast, he noted how Sergio Perez will play a crucial role in deciding whether Red Bull will be able to defend their constructors’ title or not. The 52-year-old stated,

“I think it’s going to be tough… There’s not much between the cars. I think it’s going to come down to how Sergio Perez performs. If he can perform in a way that he’s capable of performing, it’s gonna be a hard fight. If he continues to perform as he’s performed this year, I think we have a pretty good chance because we have two drivers that are constantly performing at the front.”

Brown also looked back at the start of the 2022 season when there was not much of a performance gap between the Mexican and his teammate Max Verstappen, which is what makes him think that the 34-year-old has the potential to come back to form at any time.

However, McLaren too hasn’t been entirely error-free and they surely will need to sort out their issues if they want to win the championship.

Brown promises to not keep making the same mistakes

The American was also reminded of how Lando Norris had made some small but critical mistakes throughout the season, especially at the start of the races, that have cost the team the opportunity to win multiple races. But when asked if he was concerned about those mistakes, Brown said that he was not as he still believes that the team has a lot to learn.

“I am not concerned. I think you’re right, we have made a variety of errors, which to me are learning experiences,” Brown noted. “It’s one thing to have fast cars, fast pit stops, fast racing drivers, but you got to execute everywhere.”

Dear McLaren fans,

Our CEO, Zak Brown, talks performance-led culture, Lando and Oscar’s first wins, and our aims for the final 10 races.

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) August 22, 2024

He believes that the team got to the front of the grid much quicker than they had anticipated and that’s why there are still a lot of things to learn for the team as well as the drivers. But Brown remains confident that they won’t make the same mistakes twice.

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“It’s Up to Me”: Daniel Ricciardo Prepares to Take Matters Into His Hands in Duel With Liam Lawson

Daniel Ricciardo has insisted he plans to remain part of the Red Bull family for the upcoming seasons despite an up-and-down year so far in 2024. He mentioned that it’s on him to prove himself to the team despite Red Bull shifting its focus on their young reserve driver, Liam Lawson.

“I have every opportunity in front of me, and that’s the beauty. It’s up to me, and I know there is always pressure and there is the Red Bull system, but I know if I do the job then I will have a seat. I’ll have somewhere to race,” Ricciardo noted speaking on Media Day ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Lawson himself was eying a full-time seat for the 2024 season but Red Bull decided to stick with the pair of Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda at VCARB. However, recent remarks from Lawson suggest that he might look for opportunities elsewhere if he can’t get a drive with any of the two Red Bull teams.

This has led Helmut Marko to say that they will give him a seat in 2025, albeit it’s not clear in which of the two outfits.

Helmut Marko regarding Liam Lawson:

“Next year he’ll be sitting in one of our cars.”

[https://t.co/WVHq0iSJd3] pic.twitter.com/RwKsDMce2x

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) August 22, 2024

Interestingly, Ricciardo himself believes that Lawson is an exceptional talent and deserves a place on the F1 grid as soon as possible. However, if the Kiwi driver is to join the grid in 2025 in a Red Bull outfit, it might very well come at the expense of Ricciardo’s future.

Lawson’s 2023 substitute performances could hurt Ricciardo

After his horrible McLaren exit at the end of 2022, the Honey Badger got a fortunate chance to return to the Red Bull family and got a seat at AlphaTauri (now VCARB) mid-season in 2023.

However, a broken arm during the Dutch GP weekend forced the Aussie to temporarily step away from the team giving Lawson a stand-in opportunity for five races. And the New Zealander grabbed it with both hands leaving everyone in the paddock mighty impressed.

Speaking about his injury in Zandvoort last year, Ricciardo mentioned that he is still not 100% recovered. “From a functionability, the hand is still probably not where I thought it would be, but that doesn’t affect me in the car. It’s probably some bits of training I need to change a bit,” the 35-year-old said.

The Honey Badger just wants to do as good a job as possible so that he can get back to his former team as Verstappen’s teammate.

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“Not Nepotism”: Fans React to Travis Kelce’s Potential Lead Role in Action-Comedy ‘Loose Cannons’

Travis Kelce is gradually establishing his presence in Hollywood alongside his NFL career. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is reportedly in talks to star in the action-comedy film Loose Cannons, produced by Lionsgate and directed by Chad Stahelski, the mind behind the John Wick series.

Once Variety Magazine shared the development on X (formerly Twitter), NFL fans and Chiefs Kingdom went wild, with one fan predicting how 33-year-old Kelce might join the growing trend of NFL stars venturing into comedy roles after their football careers are over.

Long history of NFL greats going into comedic movie roles post NFL career

— Michael Hunter (@michaelhunterAU) August 21, 2024

Another fan was confident that Kelce’s comedic timing makes him a perfect fit for the role, which was pretty evident during his Saturday Night Live hosting stint.

This was followed by a comment from a third fan about how Kelce is a natural fit for Hollywood.

He’ll be perfect; has great comedic timing

— Chicago_Valerie (@valerie2588) August 21, 2024

He is a natural, he is hard working, coachable, and kind to everyone.
Producers and directors love him.

— Isa (@InQB1WeTrust) August 21, 2024

However, not everyone was fully on board with this news.

One raised concerns about Kelce packing his off-season schedule and how it might affect his relationship with his partner, Taylor Swift, mentioning:

I’m surprised he’s adding more to an off-season schedule when Tay’s winding down her tour given how hard it’s been to be together. , charities, pod, new biz investments, restaurant, etc. Starting a Hollywood career at 35 seems at odds with starting a family. Best of luck Trav.

— Mattie Gilroy (@Mattie0506) August 21, 2024

A different fan outright boycotted the film, while a fifth fan expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceived as favoritism, believing that Travis’s role was a result of his relationship with Taylor.

Not NEPOTISM!!!!!

— LovedByYou (@LovedByYou14) August 21, 2024

Despite the discussions, the idea that Kelce’s involvement in Hollywood projects is solely due to his connection with Swift remains speculative and unconfirmed.

While it’s plausible that their relationship has boosted his visibility and opened up opportunities, it needs to be loud and clear that Kelce has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with successful reality TV Shows and a world-famous podcast.

Thus, the nepotism claim in this scenario seems far-fetched. While nepotism can indeed influence careers through family connections, Kelce’s link to Swift is romantic, not familial.

That said, while Kelce balances his NFL career with Hollywood projects, his entertainment career looks equally promising.

He co-hosts the “New Heights” podcast with his brother and Eagles veteran, Jason Kelce, and is set to host the show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? Additionally, he has been cast in the upcoming FX series Grotesquerie by Ryan Murphy.

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Apart From Jay-Z’s Songs, Michael Jordan Has No Love For Rap, Reveals Rapper

Rap music and the NBA have been tied together for generations. Several rappers grew up with dreams of playing basketball and a slew of NBA players have gone back to make hip-hop music to fulfill their dreams. Music is also a great motivator for athletes as it helps them get in the zone before games. Despite basketball and rap music being culturally intertwined, Michael Jordan was never a fan of the genre.

According to N.O.R.E., the six-time NBA champion hated rap music and even said it out loud in a room full of rappers. In an interview with Rap Radar in 2016, the Queens artist revealed that Jordan disliked all rap music except one artist. He said,

“Jordan is a hater of hip-hop. He only likes Hov [Jay-Z], that’s it. I’ve seen him shut Redman down. I’ve seen him shut Redman at a Def Jam Christmas party. We were all sitting there, waiting to speak to Michael Jordan and a n***a said, ‘Yo, Redman and Method Man is here’. He said, ‘F**k rap.'”

Despite growing up as a Knicks fan, Noreaga said he admired the Bulls icon for his greatness. However, he was heartbroken when the five-time NBA MVP cussed out the art form he lived for. The only redeeming factor in this scenario for Noreaga was that Jordan liked Jay-Z, and even greeted him during a Mariah Carey party.

Redman and Method Man are two of the most revered rappers. However, Jordan did not care about their stature as he disliked their genre. Days later, during a conversation with AllHipHopTV Noreaga clarified that he was unsure if it was Redman or Method Man who wanted to meet Jordan, but added that it was one of the two legends.

The Drink Champs host acknowledged that he didn’t read much into Jordan’s sentiments about rap music. But as someone who looked up to the six-time Finals MVP, hearing him trash the genre was a hard pill to swallow.

In Netflix’s The Last Dance documentary series, Jordan gave an insight into his musical taste. In one scene, he’s seen jamming to music on a walkman. When asked what artist he was listening to, he responded it was R&B singer Kenny Lattimore’s new record. He revealed that the artist was his close friend and the song he was listening to hadn’t even been released.

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Fans’ Thumping Approval Takes Laura Winter’s Viral Speech Into F1’s Special Highlights List

F1 presenter Laura Winter is one of the most well-known personalities in the paddock, owing to her exceptional work covering the sport. Earlier this year, the 35-year-old made headlines when she spoke up for all the women in the paddock – and wider motor racing world.

Winter gave her speech during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. Her speech was delivered just after the very first F1 Academy race weekend – in a country where women were not even allowed to drive until 2018.

Winter’s words were a worthy reminder of the need for equality and a more inclusive workspace for women – not only in the paddock but also in the wider world. And it came in the backdrop of the Christian Horner “inappropriate behavior” fiasco, something that only made her thoughts more profound.

International Women’s Day is difficult for me – five years ago on this day I was attacked & escaped an abusive relationship. I feel a huge duty and pressure to do something & so I was incredibly grateful and moved to be able to say these words on air.

Thank you for watching pic.twitter.com/qPoDS4ZIpj

— Laura Winter (@lauracwinter) March 8, 2024

Fans all across the globe were able to relive the moment as Formula 1 chose to include her clip as one of the most memorable moments of the 2024 season so far. F1 took to its official YouTube channel to share Winter’s speech whilst showcasing the huge amount of support she had received for it from the fans.

One fan had commented, “Brave as a lion and an inspiration to many people, including me.” The entire F1 community was full of praise for Winter who had managed to deliver a very important message in the most impactful way possible. “Laura is a class act, and this was very well articulated,” said another fan on Reddit.

Winter concluded her message with an important reminder. She said, “To the women and girls in motorsport. To the growing and huge numbers of female fans in this sport. Here is a very good reminder for all of us: We are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”

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Oliver Bearman Reflects on How Charles Leclerc Helped Him Before His Debut Race in F1

Oliver Bearman had to jump into the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz on a very short notice in Saudi Arabia earlier this year. The British prodigy was going to face a challenging race at a street track like Jeddah with very little preparation. However, Bearman revealed that Charles Leclerc and Frederic Vasseur sat him down to get him up to speed before the race got underway.

Speaking on the High-Performance podcast, Bearman stated how Leclerc was “super helpful” and understood the difficult position he was in. He stated, “The thing that he helped me was before the race we sat down with him and also Fred [Vasseur].”

“He was helping a little bit because I hadn’t done any long runs, I hadn’t done more than like two pushes in a row before doing the race. He gave me bit of insight about the tire behavior and stuff that hadn’t experienced yet and its a little detail but its super helpful.”

While it was his debut Grand Prix, Bearman was unfazed. Once a few laps went by, he was lapping closer to Leclerc’s pace, which was quite the achievement for the young Briton. Eventually, he did exceptionally well to finish P7

His excellent performance solidified his chances to earn the Haas seat for 2025 — which finally materialized in July 2024. Even Leclerc had vouched for Bearman to get a full-time seat after his promising debut in Jeddah.

Besides the Monegasque, even Sainz was doing his part to help the Ferrari prodigy from the garage. Bearman revealed that the Spaniard was telling the engineers to not overload him with information during the race.

Although, now that the 19-year-old has passed the pressure test of his debut, he would want to properly gear up for his rookie season in 2025. Bearman feels that he still has to bridge the gap in terms of the physical demands of F1.

Bearman is aiming to work on his physical fitness for F1

The pressure on the neck and abdomen while driving an F1 car is considerably higher than in junior categories like F3 and F2. Bearman would have got a teaser of the same during his debut in Jeddah. That is why, he is quite certain that he needs to train very hard to achieve F1-level of fitness.

The 19-year-old said, “Even the legs moving around, you know, you have to be really strong with the core (and) with the back.” Bearman has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy for a while now. So, he has done testing mileage with the team and isn’t alien to the exertion of driving an F1 car for several hours.

However, driving it every other weekend with a hectic schedule for over 24 rounds is something that needs sustainable fitness. The 2025 pre-season training would be crucial for Bearman to level up his fitness and gear up for his first grueling full season in F1.

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Tua Tagovailoa Breaks Silence on What Went Wrong With Former Dolphins HC Brian Flores

Tua Tagovailoa evolved into a different type of quarterback following Brian Flores’ exit in 2022. From his passing ratings to his confidence, Tua made significant strides under Mike McDaniel. Beyond the system change, many had cited the strained relationship between Flores and Tua as a reason for the QB’s poor stats at the time. After years of speculations, we now finally have a confirmation that the rumors were indeed true.

In his appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show”, Tua finally opened up about his troubled relationship with former HC Flores. According to the QB, his biggest gripe with Flores was the barrage of negativity that the HC directed toward him.

Tua also reminisced about how he was subjected to constant demotivating remarks and frequent questioning of his place on the team by Flores. He noted that, as a rookie, these comments were too negative coming from the head coach, which ultimately led to the breakdown of their relationship.

“To put it in simplest terms; If you woke up every morning and I told you, ‘You suck at what you did — you don’t belong doing what you do — you shouldn’t be here. This guy should be here; you haven’t earned this right.’”

In contrast, Tua revealed that HC Mike McDaniel has been a breath of fresh air and motivation. The Dolphins star noted that a part of his success in Mike’s regime goes to the immense positivity and affirmation that he imparts.

That said, the QB’s revelations have already sparked a heated debate among Dolphins fans. While some resonate with him on a personal level, others have taken to social media, urging their star player to develop a thicker skin.

Netizens divided over Flores following Tagovailoa’s revelations

The internet can be a harsh place, especially for celebrities or athletes earning millions per year. Netizens often judge these public figures very harshly, and Tua was no exception. Despite allegedly facing immense negativity and demoralizing comments from Flores, the Dolphins QB received no special treatment from online critics.

From urging Tua to develop a thicker skin to labeling him as ‘soft’ for speaking out, a significant portion of fans ridiculed Tagovailoa’s issues with Flores. Some netizens also sided with Flores, arguing that Tua did not perform well enough at the time to warrant better treatment.

Flores ain’t wrong about tua tho

— phillymaxey (@maxeyphilly0) August 19, 2024

Get thicker skin

— Motown23 (@lMotown23l) August 19, 2024

On the other side of the spectrum were Dolphins fans who went into overdrive defending Tua from the criticism. They urged fellow netizens to consider the issue from a human perspective.

A few Dolphins faithful also reminded others that Tua was no stranger to tough love, having played under Nick Saban. So, they argued that Flores must have done something exceptionally serious to affect Tua so profoundly.

I mean Tua was coached by Nick Saban. Flores probably said some foul shit to mess with his head.

— Cauliflower_Ears (@max_gaines12) August 19, 2024

I know everyone is saying “oh Tua just toughen up”, but on a human level I get what he’s saying.

If someone tells you are worthless everyday, you might start believing it, if you don’t have the right mindset.

— Creative Monster (@CreatveMonster) August 19, 2024

That said, fans and Tua should now let bygones be bygones. Flores is now far from the Dolphins setup and seems to be enjoying his time at Minnesota.

For now, the QB should have his sights set on the Super Bowl, having recently signed a 4-year, $212 million contract.

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Michael Cooper Claims He Would Cut Jayson Tatum Just to Justify His Hatred For the Celtics

The Lakers and Celtics’ rivalry ranks among the biggest in sports. The two franchises have battled 12 times in the NBA Finals, which is six more than the second-most common matchup in the championship series. The feud between the two teams hasn’t been as heated today as it was until the 1980s. However, icons like Michael Cooper still deeply hate the other side.

On an episode of Showtime with Coop, the Lakers legend showcased his disdain for the Celtics when he answered a ‘start, bench, cut’ question involving Jayson Tatum, Scottie Pippen, and James Worthy. He made it clear that he was basing his choices on his hatred for his team’s arch-nemesis. He said,

“I’m starting Scottie Pippen and I’m benching Worthy and I’m cutting Tatum… I’m hating on the Celtics. No, Tatum is a hell of a player, I’ve got to give him that. You know, that’s a tough three. All of them are good players.”

Cooper made it clear that he doesn’t rate Pippen and Worthy above Tatum but his contempt for the Celtics left him with no choice but to cut the forward. His dislike of the franchise is justified considering he was right in the thick of things when the beef between the two was at its peak.

The Lakers and Celtics have been rivals since the beginning

The rivalry between the two teams started during the late 1950s when Bill Russell and the Celtics ran the league. They won eight straight titles and beat the Lakers five times in the Finals during that run. The beef went cold for a while until it was reignited in the 1980s with the arrival of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

The guard led the Lakers to their first title in 1980, and Bird responded by helping the Celtics win it in 1981. From 1980 to 1989, LA or Boston played in every NBA Finals, and even faced each other thrice. Cooper, who played for the Lakers from 1978 to 1990 won five championships in the 1980s, while Bird and the Celtics won three. Their head-to-head duels in the Finals finished 2-1 in LA’s favor.

Every series between the two teams was heated, which caused animosity among the players. Some, like Cooper, have never let it go. Judging from his answer about Tatum, it seems he’ll harbor disdain for the Celtics as long as he lives.

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Olympic Silver Medalist Guerschon Yabusele Nearing a Deal With 76ers, Per Shams Charania

French forward Guerschon Yabusele impressed fans, analysts, and players alike during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The highlight of his incredible run at the tournament was a vicious dunk on LeBron James, which left the veteran forward on the floor. While he had to settle for a silver medal, his stock skyrocketed and has reportedly earned him an NBA contract.

Per league insider Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers are closing in on a deal to sign the 6-foot-8 forward. On his X handle, he posted,

“After starring in the Paris Olympics, France F Guerschon Yabusele is nearing a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, per league sources.”

After starring in the Paris Olympics, France F Guerschon Yabusele is nearing a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, per league sources.

Story developing at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/oIRqRM9zPc

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2024

The deal is subject to the parties negotiating a slightly complicated $2.5 million buyout. Per Charania,

“To resolve his buyout with Real Madrid, the 76ers would pay a maximum of $850,000, per league rules. The rest of the amount, roughly $1.6 million, would be resolved by Yabusele and Real Madrid.”

Yabusele has been plying his trade in Spain with Real Madrid since 2021, providing them with quality production as a starter. While the Frenchman and the two teams continue to discuss the way forward, it is seemingly only a matter of time before the forward marks his return to the NBA.

Guerschon Yabusele’s dream of returning to the NBA is close to fruition

The Celtics selected Yabusele with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, he spent time in China and the G-League before joining the team in 2017. The forward’s conditioning issues meant he wasn’t part of their rotation in their rookie season.

Despite some improvements, he never enjoyed a big role with the perennial championship contenders. He appeared in 74 games in two seasons, tallying just 7.1 minutes per game. The Celtics waived him in 2019 after two disappointing seasons.

He spent two years with ASVEL in his home country before signing with Real Madrid, where quickly established himself as one of their key players. He was exceptional from beyond the arc, shooting over 40% in each of his three seasons with the Spanish side. His heroics for France in the Olympics, where he averaged 14 points per game, earned him MVP shouts.

The 76ers lack a true power forward and have seemingly zeroed in on Yabusele to play that role. The Frenchman has been open about his dream of returning to the NBA and will now get an opportunity to be a key contributor in a team expected to compete for the title.

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Todd Bowles Hints at No Love Lost With Randy Gregory Over Missing Action and Getting Cut

Randy Gregory was a coveted veteran presence that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had hoped to add to their locker room. However, the former Cowboys linebacker will not be taking his talents to Tampa. The club released him yesterday, and Head Coach Todd Bowles has spoken out about the whole ordeal.

On Sunday, Bowles told ESPN that he was not given any clarification or reasoning for Gregory’s absence. However, he doesn’t feel the Bucs missed out, remarking, “You can’t miss what you don’t have.”

#Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he never got a reason why Randy Gregory never reported but said, “you can’t miss what you didn’t have.”

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 18, 2024

After signing a $1.36 million deal with the Buccaneers this off-season, Gregory went off the radar and did not show up to any of the mandatory minicamps, training camp, or pre-season games.

Two months ago, Bowles made it clear that it was an unexcused absence and even though they were taking it “day-by-day”, his absence would be “taken care of.” And true to his word, Gregory will not be on the Bucs roster for 2024. He will even have to give his signing bonus back to the franchise.

With the strict fines in place under the CBA, he had already been fined a million dollars for missing action. Thus, there was no coming back from this eventual release. The Bucs can now move forward with their next steps, and Gregory can do the same.

Once a top prospect for the league, the linebacker had a difficult stint in the NFL. After being drafted by the Cowboys in 2015, he played only 72 games over nine years. Off the field, substance abuse issues troubled his career, leading to four suspensions.

But now he’s on record saying he’s getting treatment for his issues. So, hopefully, he turns over a new leaf and sorts himself out for another shot at playing or even coaching.

NFL fans predict Gregory’s next move after Tampa exit

Although it looks unlikely that he will come back to play, that didn’t stop social media from trying to figure out where he could be going next. And maybe half of them are joking, but it still makes for some very interesting scenarios with the veteran linebacker.

One user on X said this might be Jerry Jones’ sign to bring him back, while another one wanted him to go to the Ravens and help out their defense.

And even though these sound plausible, Gregory opting out of a Todd Bowles’ led defense lends one to believe he will not be coming back. In any case, here’s what social media said about Randy Gregory’s next move:

New ravens edge

— •RvW (@ravenwizardd) August 18, 2024

@dldavis88 Bet Jerry brings back his pet project

— Dennistrainum (@dennistrainum) August 18, 2024

He’s a brown

— BrownsMuse (@CleBrownsMuse) August 18, 2024

One fan believes Coach Bowles knows something he’s not letting on:

TODD BOWLES is surely hiding something

— MAXI~MILLIANO (@sexy_donn_donn) August 18, 2024

Even though Gregory never made it to Tampa, his signing proves he still physically has what it takes. If the linebacker is able to overcome the mental hurdles in front of him, maybe he can get a shot with a team in the future and prove himself. He has had moments of brilliance on the field, but they have been too few and far between.

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