football

Travis Rudolph Found Not Guilty In Murder Trial

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Travis Rudolph, who appeared in seven NFL games in 2017 was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2021. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder after a shooting at a residence in Lake Park, Florida. According to investigators, a group of individuals visited Rudolph to confront him about domestic violence allegations. In response, Rudolph allegedly opened fire on the group with an AR-15-style pistol. One person was killed and another was injured.

While Rudolph did not deny that he had opened fire on the group, his lawyers attempted to have the charges thrown out under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. However, the motion was denied and Rudolph was arraigned to face trial. During the trial, texts from Rudolph’s ex-girlfriend showed that she had asked her brother and his friends to “shoot up” Rudolph’s house.

Jury Finds Rudolph Not Guilty

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 26: New York Giants wide receiver Travis Rudolph (19) runs after the catch during the second quarter of the National Football League preseason game between the New York Giants and the New York Jets on August 26, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

On June 7, after a two-week trial, a jury found Travis Rudolph not guilty on all charges. Emotions were tense in the courtroom before the jury delivered their verdict. The family of Sebastian Jean Jacques, the man who died during the incident, declined to speak with the media. Meanwhile, Rudolph’s sister said “It means freedom. It means truth. God has set us free, and they have the truth now. The world has seen everything, and now it’s up to the jury to make the decision.”

During the trial, Rudolph testified that four men, Keishaun Jones, Tyler Robinson, Chris Lowe, and Sebastian Jean-Jacques, came over to his house on April 7, 2021 to physically hurt or kill him. Jones and Robinson had both received the text messages from Rudolph’s ex-girlfriend, who allegedly sought revenge for Rudolph’s alleged infidelity. Jones was the brother of the ex-girlfriend. As the decision was read, Rudolph was embraced by his family, finally free after over two years of dealing with this complex legal case. The jury returned a verdict after just two hours of deliberation. During the past two years, Rudolph had spent time in both jail and under house arrest. One of the first things to happen after the verdict was the removal of an ankle monitor.

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Josh Allen Is The “Madden 24” Cover Athlete

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We’re at the halfway mark between the Super Bowl and the subsequent NFL season. That means it’s time for everyone’s favorite offseason activity – six weeks of outrageous hype about the new Madden game. Now for those who might be unaware, there are a few stages of the Madden hype cycle.

Firstly, EA makes a big deal about the cover athlete for the new game. This is a double-edged sword due to the whole “Madden Curse” (player appears on the cover of Madden and then proceeds to suck the following season). After that comes EA making a big deal about player ratings and everyone getting really mad about those. Finally, the game comes out and everyone gets mad about that. We are currently in stage one.

Josh Allen And Bills Fans Grace The Cover Of Madden 24

EA revealed the two covers for Madden 24 on June 7. The single-athlete cover features Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Meanwhile, the alternate cover features an image of Allen surrounded by Bills staff and fans. It’s the first time a Bills player has been featured since the cover format began in 2000. Revealing the covers on Twitter, Allen said it was a “childhood dream come true.” Allen is the ninth quarterback to be featured as the Madden cover athlete. Aside from the Madden 23 John Madden memorial cover, quarterbacks have been the cover athlete every year since 2020.

But now the Bills are burdened with a very important task – they absolutely have to win the Super Bowl this year. This is because the Bills are the most successful meme in the NFL. They aren’t a meme in the same way the Browns and Jets are. However, the Bills are that one team that always seems like they are a contender and yet they are, watching prom night from the bleachers. The Madden Curse has been dormant for a couple of years and if the Bills ever want to be taken seriously ever again, they absolutely have to win the Super Bowl this year. What do you think about Allen as the Madden cover athlete? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Marshawn Lynch Is A Queer Ally In High School Sex Comedy “Bottoms”

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Bottoms is one of the most hotly-anticipated films of 2023. A reunion of director Emma Seligman and actress Rachel Sennott (who first teamed up for the 2020’s Shiva Baby), the film is a re-invention of the teen sex comedy genre. The genre which gave us films like American Pie, Van Wilder, Superbad, and Porky’s has stagnated in recent years. However, Seligman is determined to reinvent the genre with an infusion of queerness, feminism, and letting high school girls be horny weirdos.

Sennott and Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth, The Bear) play PJ and Josie, two queer high school seniors who start a self-defense club for women after being accused of hitting the school’s star quarterback with their car. In actuality, PJ and Josie are hoping that the club will allow them to get close to their crushes, who are currently members of the cheer squad. After premiering at Sundance earlier this year, the film finally has its first trailer. Furthermore, stepping into a surprise supporting role is former NFL star, Marshawn Lynch.

“Bottoms” Give Us Queer Weirdos And Ally Marshawn Lynch

As mentioned, Bottoms follows PJ and Josie’s journey to try and get some girl-on-girl action with their cheerleader crushes. Finding themselves at the very bottom of the social ladder, an unfortunate encounter with Jeff, the school’s star quarterback, leads them to mitigate disaster with the foundation of a self-defense club.

The club quickly becomes, as many have dubbed the film as a whole, “gay fight club” and quickly begins to mutate beyond the original vision that PJ and Josie had. The trailer features all-girl hit squads, plenty of violence, and Marshawn Lynch. Lynch plays Mr. G, a teacher at the school and the club sponsor for the gay fight club. While a little unclear from the trailer, Lynch appears to be part-ally, part-enabler for both the club and the plan of the protagonists. However, he is sure to be a great addition to the cast, given his natural comedic talent. For real, Lynch is a hilarious actor and is sure to add an additional little spark to Bottoms. Prepare yourself for some messy high schoolers and queer chaos when Bottoms drops on August 25.

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Damar Hamlin Works Out In Full Gear: Watch

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Damar Hamlin went through an extremely traumatic experience last season. During a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamlin took a shot to the chest. This happened at a very specific time in his heart’s rhythm and caused him to stop breathing. Overall, it was a very bad injury that could have resulted in his death. However, there was someone on staff who was able to save his life with CPR. Subsequently, he went to the hospital and made a recovery that a lot of people weren’t sure he would make.

Since that time, Damar Hamlin has been trying to get cleared to play. After all, when you go through an injury like that, there is no guarantee you will ever play again. Luckily, Hamlin was able to get confirmation from a doctor. Since that time, he has been getting into shape and has also been present at Bills OTAs. However, he had yet to actually put on all of his gear during a practice session. Well, that all changed today as Hamlin was out on the field with a helmet and all of his pads.

Read More: Damar Hamlin Calls Trainer Who Performed CPR His “Savior”

Damar Hamlin Making Progress

The OTA today was open to the public, and journalists got to see Hamlin participate. Overall, he looked pretty good and was very clearly excited to be out and about with his teammates. His recovery is truly impressive and should serve as an inspiration to many. For a while, it looked like he would never make it here, but he did. If you are a Bills fan, you could not be any more excited about this. Ultimately, he has the potential to give this team a huge boost both physically and mentally.

Overall, the Buffalo Bills are a team that is destined for a run to the Super Bowl. Although the AFC remains stacked, with the right moves, the Bills could get over the hump. If they can do it this year with Damar Hamlin, it will be the ultimate story. Stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Read More: Damar Hamlin Visits Capitol Hill

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Deion Sanders’ Colorado To Leave Pac-12 After TV Deal Finalized

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There has been a lot of attention on the University of Colorado’s football team in recent months. It all began when NFL legend Deion Sanders joined the Buffaloes as head coach after three stellar seasons at Jackson State. After going 1-11 in 2022, there was no way but up for the Buffaloes.

Over 70 players have left the program, with nearly 40 joining via the transfer portal. This has led to some criticism of Sanders’ behavior from other members of the NCAA coaching world. However, the hype has never been higher for the Colorado program. Perhaps as a result of this, discussions as to whether Colorado is going to leave the ever-ailing Pac-12 have begun to circulate. Now, it appears that those rumors are gaining even more credibility.

Colorado To Transfer To Big 12 After Pac-12 TV Deal

The Pac-12 is currently at the tail-end of negotiations on a new television deal. This comes at a monumental time for the Pac-12, as USC and UCLA prepare to leave for the Big 10 next year. Furthermore, the status of the deal is uncertain, as talks recently broke down with ESPN. However, it appears that the deal is going to lead to more exits from the embattled conference. “BREAKING: Nothing becomes official until the #Pac12 gets their TV deal finalized, but now multiple sources tell us tonight that the #Buffs and #BearDown will move to the #Big12. No word on the #Utes and #SunDevils, but Yormark may just take two and save some spots for #ACC teams,” NCAA insider Greg Swaim tweeted on June 4.

If Swaim’s information is correct, that means both Colorado and Arizona will be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12. Latest reports suggest that the Pac-12 will be adding San Diego State and potentially SMU to mitigate the loss of the two LA schools. However, the loss of Colorado and Arizona is a major blow to the conference. Despite this, it could be the death knell of the Pac-12. Oregon and Washington have both reportedly spoken with the Big 10. Meanwhile, Utah and Arizona State could both look to both away as well in the near future. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Fat Joe & Eli Manning Do The “Lean Back” Dance

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Fat Joe was able to get former New York Giants Super Bowl winners Shaun O’Hara and Eli Manning to do his “lean back” dance in a new video posted on Instagram. “History’s made,” Joe exclaimed after the group finished the move inside a sneaker shop.

Joe released “Lean Back” in 2004. It was featured on the tracklist to Terror Squad’s second and final album, True Story. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Read More: Fat Joe’s “Lean Back” Was Allegedly Inspired By Writer Who Taught Him The Dance

Shaun O’Hara & Eli Manning

22 November 2009: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) and center Shaun O’Hara (60) react after a touchdown during the second half in the Giants 34-31 win over the Falcons in overtime at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Speaking with HipHopDX at last year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, Joe explained that he conceived of the dance while he recorded it. “The same time that I recorded it,” he said. “At the time, Jamaican music was really, really killing ’em. And I said, ‘I need something to rockaway, lean back.’ So when I made it, I made the dance for it. The same time.” He added: “We knew off rip, that thing was outta here. Every now and then you make a song that’s like, ‘Oh no, this is gone. This is outta here.’ Yeah that was it.” Check out Joe performing the dance with Manning and O’Hara below.

Fat Joe With Eli Manning

Joe made waves on Instagram, earlier this week as well, after advising aspiring rappers to get a part-time job. “If your man said he raps and he don’t have a deal. There’s a problem with that,” he said in a video post. “It’s called plan A, get a job. Plan B, hope you make it. This has never changed. Some guys be like, ‘I gotta get a regular job?’ Bro, you gotta get a job! If you got kids and you got this girl that got an apartment and y’all sexin’ it up every day, you got to pay some bills.”

Read More: Fat Joe Provides Advice To Aspiring Rappers: “You Gotta Get A Job!”

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Denver Broncos Unveil Motto Sadder Than “Let’s Ride”

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Remember last year when the Denver Broncos unveiled “Let’s Ride” as the team motto and everyone hated it? Furthermore, remember how footage of Russell Wilson doing a bunch of “Let’s Ride” takes got out and it made the phrase seem even worse? Additionally, remember how the Broncos went with “Let’s Ride” as the team motto and then went 5-12?

Last year was just an overall weird year for the Broncos. They traded for Wilson, who suddenly forget how to play football. Aside from “Let’s Ride”, Wilson also got heat for his bizarre Subway ad promoting his “Dangerwich” sandwich. In fact, things got so bad for the Broncos that at one point in the season, Patrick Star, yes from Spongebob, was roasting Wilson live on air. Anyway, all of this is important because the Broncos clearly haven’t learned their lesson.

Broncos Debut “UNCOMMON” Team Motto

On June 1, the Broncos unofficially announced their new team motto. It was spotted on a shirt worn by offensive guard Ben Powers, the front of which simply read “UNCOMMON”. “It means winning football in the National Football League is ‘uncommon.’ It’s hard to do. It’s why there’s not a lot of winners. There’s only one Super Bowl champ,” Powers explained when asked about the shirt. Sure, we get it, it’s a reverse psychology, never give up mentality. The only problem is that it sucks as a logo.

Firstly, winning is not “uncommon”. In fact, 98.4% of NFL games end with someone winning the game. Furthermore, 17 of the league’s 32 teams have an all-time winning record. Additionally “there’s only one Super Bowl champ” is simply because that’s how single-elimination tournaments work. However, it’s also worth noting that 20 of the league’s 32 teams have won at least one Super Bowl. So no, winning is not “uncommon” in the NFL. It is, however, uncommon for the contemporary Broncos. The Broncos last achieved a winning record in 2016, the year after they won the Super Bowl. That is primarily because the Broncos have never found a true successor to Peyton Manning at quarterback. But sure, “UNCOMMON” is going to sound great and not at all cringe being yelled at Empower Field this season.

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ChiefsAholic Added To Kansas City Most Wanted List

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ChiefsAholic has been a regular sight at Arrowhead Stadium for many years. Dressed in a full-body wolf costume, a Chiefs tank top, and a snapback, he has become a team staple. However, he has undergone a very public fall from grace in recent months.

The first chapter in this saga occurred in December 2022, when ChiefsAholic’s absence from a Chiefs road game in Houston was noted. After a little internet sleuthing, armchair detectives discovered that ChiefsAholic, real name Xaviar Badudar, had been arrested on the way to the game. Why? Well, turns out he was a suspect in a bank robbery in Oklahoma. Subsequently, he was released on a $20,000 bail. Furthermore, he was given an ankle monitor and scheduled for arraignment in March 2023.

ChiefsAholic Added To Most Wanted List

DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 11: A costumed Kansas City Chiefs fans shows the night night gesture in the fourth quarter during a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on December 11, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In a wild update to the story, it turns out that Badudar skipped out on his court date, left town, and removed his ankle monitor. After showing up in the Chargers’ viral schedule release, Badudar is having some much more serious attention. According to a report from Fox4, Badudar has been added to a local Most Wanted list in Kansas City. Furthermore, the article from the Fox affiliate notes that “There is an active arrest warrant for Babudar. If found, he will be arrested and held on a $1 million bond.” Despite committing his crimes in Oklahoma, the Fox4 articles notes that, “Crime Stoppers says even though Babudar is wanted in the Tulsa area, his last known address is in Overland Park, Kansas, and he knows people in the metro.”

Badudar is currently listed at number five on the list, which is maintained by the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission. According to the list, Badudar is wanted for “Tulsa County, Ok., Failure to Appear in Court Warrant for Bank Robbery.” This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here on HotNewHipHop.

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Odell Beckham Jr. Posts Tribute To Ms Jacky OH!

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Jacklyn Smith, better known as Ms Jacky OH!, passed away on Wednesday. Smith was best known for her time on Wild ‘N Out, the hip-hop improv comedy show hosted by Nick Cannon. Furthermore, she was the partner of DC Young Fly and was the mother of the internet personality’s three children.

Much speculation has arisen about Smith’s death. “Getting ready for my mommy makeover with Dr. Zach!! Stay tuned to my … i do a lot. but being a mommy is my favorite,” Smith reportedly wrote on social media prior to her death. In the wake of her death, the BET Network shared a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacklyn Smith, known to the world as Jacky Oh, a talented Wild N’ Out family member whose impact will be forever treasured and missed. Jacky Oh was a loving friend and beloved colleague of the Wild N’ Out cast throughout five seasons. More importantly, she was a tremendous mother to three beautiful children. The BET Media Group extends our sincere condolences to the Smith family, DC Young Fly, B Simone, Nick Cannon, and all friends who loved and cared for Jacky Oh during this difficult time.”

OBJ, Keenan Allen Share Tributes

“Everyday is a gift. Tomorrow is never promised. Rest Easy Angel. We love You. 🕊,” Beckham Jr. wrote on Twitter on June 1. “Don’t take this life for granted, we’re here for the blink of an eye. Y’all plz love on your loved ones while they’re still here. 🕊,” the Ravens wide receiver added in a second tweet. Beckham Jr. knew Smith through Lauren Wood, the mother of his son. Wood and Smith vacationed in Belize together while Smith attended Beckham Jr. and Wood’s baby shower.

However, Beckham Jr. was not the only NFL star to pay tribute to Smith. “Damn man! Truly an angel. Jacky introduced me to the wife I have today. Praying for your babies and DC! It’s all perfect timing even though we don’t understand. God is in,” Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen wrote on Instagram. Follow all the latest entertainment news here at HotNewHipHop.

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College Coach With $6M Salary Complains About NIL

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NIL has become the bogeyman of the NCAA. The legislation, passed in 2020, finally allowed collegiate athletes to be compensated in terms of brand deals and media appearances. That was a major step away from the era where the authorities that oversaw college sports adamantly defended the free labor of collegiate athletes.

However, not everyone is a fan of the program. Many coaches argue that NIL has forever changed recruiting. According to these detractors, players will go where the money is, putting smaller schools at a recruiting disadvantage. Granted, NIL has made some players at some schools very wealthy. Despite this, it’s a weak argument to try and defend not paying players given how much revenue they generate for the school. Additionally, one college football coach is receiving a lot of mockery for his particularly exaggerated take on NIL.

Eli Drinkwitz Makes Weird NIL Statement

Eli Drinkwitz has been the head coach for the Missouri Tigers since 2020. The Tigers recruited Drinkwitz after his spectacular 12-1 2019 season leading Appalachian State. Since arriving at Missouri, he has gone 17-19, including 0-2 in bowl games. According to a tweet from Sports Illustrated reporter Ross Dellenger, Drinkwitz is not a fan of NIL. Drinkwitz reportedly said that college athletes make more through NIL than his pediatrician brother-in-law does. This is bad, Drinkwitz argued, because “he saves lives.”

It’s a fine if tired sentiment. People have been pointing out how athletes make more than doctors, firefighters, etc. for years. However, there’s just one little detail that undermines Drinkwitz’s position. When Drinkwitz was hired by Missouri in 2020, his salary was $4 million. In 2023, his salary is $6 million. Furthermore, by the end of his contract in 2027, his salary will be $7 million. It’s a little hard to make the argument that NIL is bad when you yourself are making millions of dollars more than a medical professional. For what it’s worth, the median US salary for a pediatrician in the United States is around $218,000. While the NIL debate will surely continue in college sports, it’s safe to say that the millionaire coaches (especially the ones who make millions to produce losing records) should probably sit this one out.

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