A report from TMZ Sports has confirmed that the 2001 NBA Slam Dunk champ was put behind bars in Oklahoma yesterday (November 13).
Desmond Mason was detained and placed i nOklahoma County Detention Center on a charge of contempt of court, but was released almost 10 hours later on a $50K bond.
Court documents show that Mason did not appear in the court for divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Andrea Mason, therefore, he was held in contempt.
The former Seattle Supersonics player was drafter in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. The very next year Mason out performed Dave Leggete, Baron Davis and a host of other NBA stars to take home the Slam Dunk Champion title. In 2003, Mason was the runner-up against Jason Richardson in the popular NBA dunk fest.
Remember back in 2019, when LeBron James made history by recording triple-doubles in three consecutive games, a feat never accomplished by a player his age. He was 34 years old. Seems like ages ago.
James, now 39, did it again. Although his stat lines were less eye-popping this time around, his performance was still extraordinary. Against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, he recorded a 21-point triple-double, followed by a 19-point triple-double against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. After a few days of rest, James came back with a vengeance on Wednesday, posting 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in a 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
What is going on with Father Time? He must be out on vacation and let’s keep him there because we don’t ever want LeBron to retire, ha!
Get this, with that game, James not only secured his third consecutive triple-double but also broke his own record, becoming the oldest player to achieve the feat by more than five years. At 39 years and 319 days old, he surpassed his previous record from 2019 when he was 34 years and 310 days old. Before James, the record was held by Jason Kidd, who set it at 34 years and 291 days. Interestingly, Kidd was on the Lakers’ coaching staff when James first set the record in 2019.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised James’ mastery of the game, saying, “He’s mastered the game.” See at least somebody truly understands what LeBron is giving us night in and night out.
Redick, who is in his first year as head coach, also deserves some credit for James’ recent run of form. After a loss to the Grizzlies on November 6, Redick made the decision to bench former starting point guard D’Angelo Russell in favor of Cam Reddish. Since then, James has been handling the point guard duties for the Lakers, a role he last took on during the 2019-20 season.
This change has allowed James to fully embrace his playmaking abilities, a role he has excelled in throughout his career. The Lakers, understanding the importance of preserving James’ aging body, have long sought additional ball handlers to ease his workload.
The results have been evident in his recent performances. With the ball in his hands and versatile players around him, James continues to thrive. While his triple-doubles may not be sustainable in the long run, his ability to lead the team and create opportunities for his teammates is undeniable.
The Lakers, now 7-4 on the season, have yet to lose during this stretch, and if James can maintain even a fraction of this level of play, the team’s prospects moving forward look bright.
Maybe he’ll give us one more triple double in a row for good measure to put the feat really out of reach for anyone who might try to out do him in say, twenty years.
Yesterday (November 13) at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) came face to face at the final press conference before their historic bout.
All fighters on the main and preliminary cards participated in the press conference, including undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), who will face off in the most-anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Additional fighters showcased included Mario Barrios, Abel Ramos, Neeraj Goyat, Whindersson Nunes, Shadasia Green, Melinda Watpool, Lucas Bahdi, Armando Casamonica, Shu Shu Carrington Jr., and Dana Coolwell.
Hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, the fighters had plenty to say at the press conference about their upcoming matchups.
Netflix and MVP’s fight week events conclude with the Paul vs. Tyson Public Weigh-In on Thursday, November 14, which will begin at 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT. The event will stream on MVP’s YouTube channel, Netflix’s YouTube channel, MVP’s Instagram, and Netflix’s Tudum.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The co-main event features undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) vs. unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history.
Paul vs. Tyson will be available to stream live globally on all Netflix plans, at no additional cost to subscribers. The broadcast will feature live commentary in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and German.
After well over a decade and four championships, Draymond Green, like many of his Golden State Warriors teammates, considered the possibility of starting fresh with a new team. Hey, Klay Thompson did it and it seems to be working out for him, so far.
However, unlike Thompson, Green ultimately chose to stay with the only NBA franchise he has ever known. As a first-time free agent in June 2023, Green flirted with the idea of joining the Memphis Grizzlies, who offered him a more lucrative contract than Golden State. Yet, it was advice from his close friend and longtime rival, LeBron James, that played a significant role in his decision to remain with the Warriors.
Draymond on Memphis. Can you imagine?
Get this, on a recent episode of The Warner House podcast with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, Green opened up about how James influenced his decision to stay in the Bay Area. “The number one piece of advice that he gave me, and there’s millions of them,” Green said of James, “but the one that stands out to me the most, more than anything, was when I came to an inflection point of do I leave the Warriors or do I [sign with the Grizzlies]?”
At the time, Green was doing what rich people do, hanging out in Paris during Fashion Week. While everyone was showing off their Louis, Versace and Gucci fits, he was engaged in deep phone conversations about his future.
Draymond was speaking with Rich Paul, his agent, and Warriors executives like Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob, while LeBron was right there by his side. “He’s sitting at the table, I gotta answer the phone for Rich [Paul], talking to Mike Dunleavy, talking to Joe Lacob, and he’s right there taking it all in,” Green recalled.
With a lot on the line, he was faced with a significant decision: Memphis had offered him a three-year, $105 million contract, whereas the Warriors extended a four-year, $100 million deal. The financial difference was considerable, and Memphis also offered the advantage of no state taxes. So, Green turned to LeBron for guidance, asking, “What would you do?”
James, who has a deep understanding of the game, as the arguable GOAT that he is, gave his candid advice. “It’s hard to pass up the money,” Green recalled James saying, but the Lakers star emphasized the value of what Green had built with the Warriors. “He keeps going back to everything Golden State means to me, everything that I’ve done there,” Green said. “And ultimately, his advice was more so like, ‘You’ve just done something so special there, you have a chance to continue there and keep doing it? Why not? You can go to Memphis and do great things and you can possibly be the missing piece to them doing something special, but is it as special as y’all have done? Would that be as special as y’all have done?’”
Green found this perspective particularly meaningful, especially considering the history between him, LeBron, and the Warriors. “That’s also someone that, in what’s special that we’ve done, a lot of it he was on the wrong side of,” Green explained. “And to give that perspective in those moments, regardless of what side you were on during it, that meant a lot to me.”
LeBron’s wisdom and advice resonated with Green not just because of their friendship, but also because of the unique perspective James offered. Having lost to Golden State in several high-stakes playoff series—including in the NBA Finals—LeBron’s understanding of what the Warriors had accomplished made his counsel all the more impactful. Green reflected, “As someone who had a thing in the palm of his hand, left it and then went back to get it, that’s a different insight.”
When you think about it, joining the Grizzlies would have kept Green in the competitive Western Conference, LeBron knew the right move for his friend. See, that’s what friends are for – keeping it a buck.
His advice ultimately helped Green see that the bond and legacy he had with the Warriors was something truly special, and that remaining in Golden State would offer him the chance to continue building on that success.
In the end, Green chose to remain with the Warriors, keeping the core trio of him, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson intact for the foreseeable future—much to the benefit of the Warriors and perhaps to the chagrin of their rivals, including LeBron.
Yesterday (November 12) at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) showcased their skills at Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions’ Open Workouts.
All fighters on the main and preliminary cards participated in the open workout, including undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), who will face off in the most-anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Additional fighters showcased included Mario Barrios, Abel Ramos, Neeraj Goyat, Whindersson Nunes, Shadasia Green, Lucas Bahdi, and Shu Shu Carrington Jr.
They were joined by co-hosts Amir Tyson, former MMA champion Tyron Woodley, and famed YouTube boxing commentator Wade Plemons. Fans and media gathered in large numbers to witness the event, which gave a preview of the action to come.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The co-main event features undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) vs. unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history.
For the past week, the talk of New York has been that the Mets have been “super aggressive” in their attempt to land former New York Yankee and MLB’s top free agent Juan Soto in a Mets uniform by Opening Day 2025. It has been confirmed that Mets owner Steve Cohen has offered up almost $200 million to free agents and contract finalizations, creating the conditions to give Soto and his agent Scott Boras what he wants in order to bring him to Citi Field.
The question is how far will Cohen and Stearns go to get Soto? Rumor is that NL MVP finalist Francisco Lindor flew to Los Angeles on Sunday, just a few days after it was reported that Cohen, Soto and Boras are scheduled to have a meeting in L.A. about the 2025 season and beyond with the Mets.
See what Lindor has to say about the reason for his trip to L.A. and if he plans to meet with Cohen, Soto and Boras HERE
Lindor said that he wishes “nothing but the best” for the Yankees slugger and added, “I hope he makes the best decision for himself and his family.”
Lindor maybe the key in Soto’s final decision, being that he is being courted by several other organizations including the Dodgers, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Giants while even the Bombers have stated they’d love to have #22 baxck again next season.
It has been estimated that Soto’s final contract could range from $600-700 million over the next 12 to 14 years.
With the highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul scheduled for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Gametime, the leading app for last-minute tickets, has released updated ticket prices.
Currently, the lowest-priced tickets are available for $71, including taxes and fees, a significant decrease from $91 last week and $132 a month ago. When the fight was first announced, tickets were priced at $420. For those seeking a closer view, ringside seats are available for $1,475, down from $2,094 last week and a staggering $40,000 earlier this year.
The ticket price reductions come as anticipation builds for the event, which promises to be a major spectacle. Fans still have a chance to secure tickets for what is sure to be one of the year’s most talked-about fights.
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the three bout preliminary card of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor 2 mega-event on Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse and the WBO’s #1 contender Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs) vs. the WBO’s #2 contender Melinda “The Whip” Watpool (7-0, 2 KO) in a 10 round women’s championship fight contested at 168 lbs for the vacant WBO super middleweight world title. Joining Green and Watpool on the preliminary card, top-ranked IBF and WBA contender Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) will take on Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) in a 10 round lightweight battle of two of boxing’s undefeated contenders as each puts their undefeated record on the line early in their career. Also on the preliminary card will be an 8 round featherweight fight between two standout prospects, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Jr. (13-0, 8 KOs) and Australian action fighter Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will air live globally on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT and is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can purchase tickets now at seatgeek.com.
Making her second world title fight appearance in the headlining bout of the Paul vs. Tyson preliminary card will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs). Green, the former standout college basketball star and Team USA boxing silver medalist, joined MVP in January 2023 after a trailblazing start to her professional career. Shortly after, Green defeated the former unified world champion Elin Cederroos with a vicious sixth-round TKO, marking the first and only time Cederroos was ever stopped in her career. Green’s bout against Olivia Curry in August 2023 led to a resounding unanimous decision victory as part of the Paul-Diaz undercard. Green rose to #1 ranking in the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF ahead of her women’s championship fight against former undisputed and now-WBC super middleweight champion Franchon-Crews Dezurn for the WBC world and WBA Interim titles. The bout resulted in a disappointing decision loss for Green, who returned to the ring in July 2024 to prove her status as a title contender, earning a unanimous decision win over Canada’s Natasha Spence. Following her win, the Patterson, NJ native Green is once again the WBO’s #1 contender at super middleweight.
Facing Green for the WBO super middleweight title will be Canada’s Melinda ‘The Whip’ Watpool (7-0, 2 KO). Ranked the WBO’s #2 super middleweight contender and WBA’s #1 middleweight contender, Watpool most recently had a decisive win over Natasha Spence to claim the WBA International Middleweight Championship in September 2024, and now will step up to face Green for the WBO super middleweight title. Watpool, the former five-time Canadian amateur champion from Pefferlaw, Ontario, has taken the professional ranks by storm since she turned professional in late 2022, racking up seven consecutive wins and now positioning herself for her WBO world title challenge against Shadasia Green.
Canadian boxer Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) comes to the ring by way of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The 30-year-old top contender has gone undefeated since making his professional debut in mid-2019, winning his first 11 fights by knockout. Bahdi had unanimous decision wins against Diego Fabian Eligio and Diego Andrade Chavez in 2022 before resuming his knockout streak. In May 2023, Bahdi defeated Jesus Amparan to claim the IBF North American Lightweight title. Bahdi is a top-ranked lightweight by both the IBF and WBA and most recently, proved himself among the best title contenders in the lightweight division when he scored a knockout of the year contender win over H2O Sylve on the main card of Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024.
Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will take the ring against Bahdi in a 10-round lightweight bout. The talented 24-year-old prospect made a name for himself in his first major PPV appearance on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry main card in July 2024, in a rematch against Tony Aguilar. The pair’s first meeting resulted in a well-fought split decision draw, contested during MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 5 in February 2024. In the rematch, Marksman impressed with grit, power, and endurance, taking home a majority decision win. He now enters the most difficult test yet of his young career, aiming to prove himself against one of the best lightweight contenders of the world in Bahdi.
The preliminary card will also feature a bout between two top-ranked featherweight talents, the undefeated Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Jr. (13-0, 8 KOs) vs. Australia’s Dana Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). The 27-year-old standout prospect Carrington comes to the ring from Brownsville, NY, home of Mike Tyson. Carrington is a three-year pro who has emerged as the featherweight division’s fastest-rising contender, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC and WBO. He entered the professional ranks following a storied amateur career that included a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials gold medal. He began his 2024 campaign with February’s highlight-reel knockout of Bernard Torres, which was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10. Four months later, he dominated Brayan De Gracia en route to an eighth-round stoppage. Carrington now comes into this high-profile fight coming off the stiffest test of his young career, his September 27 majority decision win over Sulaiman Segawa.
Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs) is a 25-year-old Australian Indigenous boxer, known for his resilience and remarkable journey from adversity to success. A proud Aboriginal man from the Mununjali tribe in Queensland, Coolwell overcame an early life marked by hardship, struggling with direction and purpose amidst family struggles. He discovered boxing at age 14 at Hinterland Boxing Club, where he met Steve Pitt, his coach, mentor, and father figure. Using his natural speed, athleticism, and hard work, Coolwell progressed throughout Australia’s boxing ranks under Pitt’s guidance, most recently securing the IBO Intercontinental featherweight title in a unanimous decision win over Fernando Tagpuno Jr. The talented young prospect is undefeated at featherweight and aims to become the next Indigenous Australian world champion and Australia’s next great boxing story, following names like Anothy Mundine, Daniel Geale, and Lionel Rose.
“From start to finish, Paul vs. Tyson will deliver an exciting night of boxing to fans at AT&T Stadium and across the globe on Friday, November 15, beginning with an action-packed preliminary card,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Less than a year after her first title shot, MVP’s own Shadasia Green has fought her way back and is ready to claim the WBO world championship, but first she has to get through Melinda Watpool, who has her eyes on the prize. We are proud to continue our commitment to showcasing women’s boxing by featuring another title bout on this incredible card. Corey Marksman first caught our eye on Most Valuable Prospects, and after his standout performance on Paul vs. Perry, we’re thrilled to have him return to face Lucas Bahdi, who delivered a knockout-of-the-year contender on the same card. With the thrilling addition of Shu Shu Carrington and Dana Coolwell, a proud Aboriginal fighter from the Mununjali tribe, this card truly embodies the diversity and world-class talent that defines MVP.”
The Paul vs. Tyson main event will feature the 8-round heavyweight battle between international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs). In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will put all her super lightweight belts on the line against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in a 10 round women’s championship fight, the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Also on the main card will be the 12-round men’s championship fight for the WBC welterweight title between reigning champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) vs. Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) and a 6-round super middleweight fight between India’s number one boxer and MVP’s first international signee Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs) vs. Brazil’s multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes (2-2-1, 1 KO combined boxing record).
Here we go again with for the second annual Emirates NBA Cup, previously known as the In-Season Tournament. The new-ish edition to the NBA format is set to kick off tomorrow, November 12, with an exciting doubleheader on TNT. The tournament begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the New York Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers. A highlight of the game will be the season debut of Joel Embiid, who is making his long-awaited return to the court.
Dialing in the second game of the evening will feature the Golden State Warriors taking on the Dallas Mavericks at 10 p.m. ET. This matchup will mark the return of Klay Thompson to the Bay Area, as he faces his former team after leaving the Warriors to join the Mavericks in free agency.
Get this, the Emirates NBA Cup will see all 30 NBA teams split into six groups of five, with three groups from the Western Conference and three from the Eastern Conference. Each team will play the other teams in its group once.
Here’s how it will shape up. The six group winners, along with one wild card team from each conference, will advance to the knockout stage. From there, all games will be single-elimination, with the quarterfinals held at home venues. The tournament will conclude in Las Vegas with the semifinals and championship game, scheduled for December 14 and 17, respectively.
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup champions last season, finishing the tournament undefeated with a perfect 7-0 record. LeBron James, who led the team to victory, was named the first-ever In-Season Tournament MVP. Reflecting on the achievement, James said, “We’re the first champions of the in-season tournament, and nobody can ever top that. It’s great to do it with a historical franchise and just a great cast of funny, engaged, competitive men over here.”
Police in the Dominican Republic have arrested disgraced Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco today (November 11) after an altercation that involved firearms being drawn.
A report from ESPN confirmed that authorities in the DR were questioning the 23-year-old baseball player and an unnamed woman in the parking lot of an apartment complex about a altercation the day prior “in which guns were drawn”. Meregirdo Espinosa, A DR police spokesperson, said one of the guns presumably belonged to Franco, who was allegedly fighting with another man over the woman’s attention.
MLB placed Franco on indefinite administrative leave in August 2023 following an arrest connected to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. According to his bail agreement, Franco is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but is free to travel within the country as he awaits trial in December. Franco faces up to 20 years in prison for charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking.
Franco, who signed an 11-year, $182m contract extension with the Rays in November 2021, was just 70 games into his major league career and selected for the All-Star Game when he was arrested for the sexual abuse allegations. He boasted a .282 BA with 30 HRs, 130 RBIs and 40 swiped bags in 265 games in just two seasons. He was placed on Major League baseball’s restricted list back in July. He is also under an MLB investigation under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy until the case is resolved.
The Memphis Grizzlies took down the Los Angeles Lakers 131-114 at the FedExForum on Wednesday night, in a game that saw LeBron James and Ja Morant back on the court together for the first time in a while. While fans were thrilled to see the two stars face off, some extra drama added to the excitement.
ICYMI, during the game, Morant and James exchanged “too small” gestures after scoring against each other. Morant started it off after scoring in the paint against Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, bending down and holding his hand just above the floor—holding the taunt longer than usual for added emphasis.
James responded on the next possession, banking a shot off the glass while guarded by Morant. He mimicked Morant’s gesture, lowering his hand to the floor but with a quicker motion.
That part.
On the following play, Morant answered with another shot over James and went right up to bump him, earning himself a technical foul in the process.
It went there.
This was Morant’s first matchup against the Lakers in a while, but he still harbors some lingering tension from their intense postseason rivalry a couple of years back. “I don’t like them,” Morant admitted. “They knocked me out of the playoffs. And then last year, they came here and popped it on our home floor while I was in street clothes. I wasn’t tonight.”
Tension for real. Is it playoffs already?
Lakers coach JJ Redick chose not to comment on the interaction, cutting his media availability short.
To be honest, coach has more important things to worry about. Like winning.
