WNBA star Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty during her trial in Moscow. Reuters says she entered her plea today while saying she “didn’t want to break the law.” The guilty plea aids as a pre-condition for consideration of a negotiated release and possible prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S.
The Phoenix Mercury star has remained in custody for over 120 days. Griner was accused of having under a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage when she was arrested at the airport in Moscow back in February.
The Kremlin has been blamed of using Griner as a political pawn while the State Department has said the American basketball center was “wrongfully detained.”
According to CNBC, Griner’s lawyer, Alexander Boikov, told reporters outside the courtroom that the basketball star admitted that the vape canisters were hers, but said she brought them into Russia unintentionally.
Ginger, 31, was playing for the Russian Premier League when she was arrested. The former Baylor Bear won the 2012 National Championship and she won the WNBA title in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist faces charges that could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Despite rumors circulating about Kyrie possibly going to the Lakers, on Monday, it was announced that he would be returning for the Nets’ 2022-2023 season after opting in for his $37 million player option.
NBA insider Shams Charania made the announcement on Twitter.
“Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is opting into his $37 million player option for the 2022-23 season, @TheAthletic@Stadium has learned. Irving is bypassing on multiple opt-in and trade scenarios to fulfill his four-year commitment to the Nets and Kevin Durant,” Shams tweeted.
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is opting into his $37 million player option for the 2022-23 season, @TheAthletic@Stadium has learned. Irving is bypassing on multiple opt-in and trade scenarios to fulfill his four-year commitment to the Nets and Kevin Durant.
“Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow,” Irving said, per Charania. “I’ve made my decision to opt-in. See you in the fall.”
This comes after the Nets did not want to sign Kyrie to a long-term contract due to him missing over half of the 2021-2022 season over his unwillingness to get vaccinated and “unpredictable injury history.” The Nets front office apparently was going to offer the 7-time all-star a 5-year, $250 million contract.
Just last week Charania stated that Kyrie was most likely going to opt in for his player option, and explore a trade after.
Skip Bayless had taken to Twitter to take a dig at the Lakers for drafting former Michigan State guard, Max Christie, who is not the best 3-point shooter.
“Lakers acquire a 2nd-round pick, take Michigan State’s Max Christie, who shot only 32% from 3 last season,” Bayless tweeted. “Perfect! He’ll fit right in with LeBron and Westbrick.”
Lakers acquire a 2nd-round pick, take Michigan State’s Max Christie, who shot only 32% from 3 last season. Perfect! He’ll fit right in with LeBron and Westbrick.
Westbrook, who has apparently had enough of the Skip Bayless slander, responded to the sports analyst on Twitter, telling him not to say anything he wouldnt say in person.
“Yoooo… watch your mouth. Don’t say anything here you wouldn’t say to my face.”
Yoooo… watch your mouth. Don’t say anything here you wouldn’t say to my face. https://t.co/0u8nFXYLY8
Bayless has not responded to Westbrook yet. He might bring it up on the next episode of Undisputed. However, this is not the frist time Bayless has been called out for calling Westbrook out of his name. Westbrook’s wife, Nina Westbrook, called out Bayless on Twitter a few months ago for referring to her husband as “Westbrick.”
“You’ve got to stop calling people out of their name,” Nina Westbrook said in reponse to a tweet from Bayless.
“You are very disrespectful and a bully. This is why so many young people think it’s okay to exhibit this type of behavior. Social media has become such heinous place because of people like you. My name is Westbrook,” she added.
“I’m tired you you @RealSkipBayless calling my husband out of his name. It is extremely childish. That is my name as well, and many other peoples name. You’re disrespectful, and I’m extremely offended by your behavior. You should apologize.”
You’ve got to stop calling people out of their name. You are very disrespectful and a bully. This is why so many young people think it’s okay to exhibit this type of behavior. Social media has become such heinous place because of people like you. My name is Westbrook.
I’m tired you you @RealSkipBayless calling my husband out of his name. It is extremely childish. That is my name as well, and many other peoples name. You’re disrespectful, and I’m extremely offended by your behavior. You should apologize.
O.J. Simpson has been able to stay out of headlines since his release from Lovelock Correctional Facility in 2017. However, that may soon be ending as he is being sued again for the 1995 murders of Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Fred Goldman, the father of Ron Goldman, is applying for a renewal of his 1997 judgment against O.J. Simpson for the death of his son.
In the 1997 civil case against Simpson, the ex-NFL running back was ordered to pay the families of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman $33.5 million. To this day, that amount has largely not been paid.
In 2015, Fred stated that O.J. still owed him $57 million, accounting for interest. Over the last 7 years, however, that amount has nearly doubled to $97 million.
In 2017, Goldman filed court documents that would have allocated money that Simpson made from interviews, appearances, etc to the $70 million he owed them at the time.
Fred Goldman says the staggering sum that O.J. Simpson owes him has now ballooned to a whopping $96 MILLION, TMZ Sports has learned. https://t.co/kl3D71G0AP
YouTube star-turned-undefeated Pro Boxer Jake Paul(5-0-4 KO) will return to the ring on August 6 to take on the Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s younger brother, Tommy Fury (8-0-4 KO), in Madison Square Garden. Originally scheduled for last December, however, Fury was forced to withdraw due to injury, leaving Paul to fight a rematch bout against Tyron Woodley instead, and earned a knockout victory in the eighth round.
Okay people he grew a set over night. It’s official, Im taking this little Fury’s head off.
Amanda Serrano and I dual main-event at the Mecca of boxing.
A rivalry between Paul and Fury erupted in early 2021 with the two boxers exchanging words across social media. The upcoming fight marks Jake Paul’s third fight in a six-fight deal with Showtime Boxing. Paul-Fury will be co-presented by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to say yes to another potential matchup against Tommy after he pulled out of our matchup last year,” Paul said via press release on Thursday. “But ultimately, knocking out a Fury was too appealing to pass up.”
Tommy Fury will be the first “actual” boxer to face Jake Paul after accumulating a buzzing undefeated resume with two MMA fighters (Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren), a Basketball player (Nate Robinson), and a fellow YouTuber star (AnEsonGib). “The Paul brothers’ boxing charade is about to come to an end once and for all,” Fury said. “I am a boxer. My opponent plays boxing. Jake Paul has been dressed up to look like a boxer against retirees from other sports. On August 6, I will show the world that he does not belong in the ring.”
Now a promoter, Paul signed his first boxer, WBC and WBO featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, last December. Serrano will co-headling the August lineup with Paul as she will fight Argentina’s Brenda Carabajal.
An official press conference for the upcoming boxing match will be held this Wednesday. Paul vs. Fury will be available on Showtime Pay-Per-View. Tickets go on-sale Wednesday, July 29.
Rick Ross has been looking for the chance to own a part of a sports team for a minute. He has gone on social media asking the Miami Dolphins to let him become a minority owner in the franchise, and with the news of Michael Rubin selling his 10% stake in the Philadelphia 76’ers, Ross is looking for his chance to add “minority owner” to his resumé.
Rubin had taken to social media to announce that he was selling his 10% stake in the franchise to in order to expand the Fanatics brand into the sports gambling industry. This would eventually create a conflict of interest as an owner.
The ownership group is headed by Joshua Harris and David Blitzer. The two also bought a piece of the New Jersey Devils hockey team for $320 million in 2013.
Rubin purchased his 10% stake in the 76’ers back in 2011 for about $290 million. Since then, the franchise has grown and is most likely worth more. Despite what the internet might say Ross’s net worth is, we’re sure he’ll find a way to buy into the NBA franchise if he’s really serious about it.
It seems Kyrie’s time with the Brooklyn Nets is coming to an end as the superstar is looking to head to another team in the offseason. In a new report from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are reportedly “the most significant threat” to acquire Kyrie if he decides to leave the Nets.
REPORT: The Los Angeles Lakers are considered “the most significant threat” to land Kyrie Irving if he leaves the Nets.
According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers can’t afford to pay Kyrie a max contract, but he’ll get to play with his former teammate LeBron James. Doing this, Kyrie would have to take a significant pay cut.
With the way the Lakers roster is already set up, Irving would be taking a $30 million pay cut to play with the team. He has a player option worth $36 million for the 2022-23 season and in order to join the Lakers, Irving would have to turn that down and sign a $6 million taxpayer exemption with the Lakers.
“Now, the Lakers are considered the most significant threat right now for Kyrie Irving, but that would essentially entail him taking $30 million less than he can opt into in Brooklyn,” Woj reported. “There’s a $6 million taxpayer exemption he can sign with the Lakers.”
While it seems unlikely that Kyrie will take that significant of a pay cut, the Nets point guard has reportedly been in contact with LeBron as of recent, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. However, if Kyrie does agree to opt-in, he could be a part of a trade that could include Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook going to the Nets.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has settled 20 out of the 24 civil lawsuits against him. Southeast Texas attorney Tony Buzbee released a statement saying Watson settled all but four of the sexual misconduct suits. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential.
Attorney Buzbee announced the agreements on Tuesday, while praising every woman who sued Watson. He plans to represent the four women, including Watson’s first accuser, Ashley Solis at trial who did not settle. Buzbee filed the lawsuits against Watson last year when he was with the Houston Texans.
The women who sued accused Watson of exposing himself and touching them inappropriately during massage appointments, along with harassment allegations. Earlier this year, two Southeast Texas grand juries no-billed and decided not to indict Watson after a police investigation of the claims.
Meantime, the troubles for the QB may not be over. An NFL spokesman said the settlements with 26-year-old Watson “has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process.” The NFL could suspend him if it finds he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
NBA great Shaquille O’Neal is returning to his hometown of Natick, New Jersey to help improve the community. O’Neal unveiled two projects last week, including a new basketball and multi-use court.
The four-time NBA champ held a 3-point shooting contest, offering up laptops to local students who made a shot. O’Neal shared “I played here in the morning and until late at night. When those street lights went on, I ran my butt home.” He continued motivating the Brick City kids and told them to “follow their dreams.”
Shaq also showed off a 33-story affordable apartment tower, where the basketball superstar will be living in its penthouse, called “Shaq Tower 2.” The $80 million building will be the largest mixed income complex in New Jersey. Governor Murphy said the new apartment complex is a win-win for Newark. Twenty percent of the units will be affordable. The historic development project will also offer 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.
It has been seven years since the last time iconic MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (12-2-0) stepped into the octagon. When asked about a possible return to MMA during the Kurt Angle Show last Sunday (June 12), Rousey revealed there’s only one fight she’d be interested in returning to competition for — Gina Carano.
“There’s only one person … there’s only one person I would come back for,” Rousey told Kurt Angle. “I mean, I’ve said it a million times. It’s not like it’s something new. (I’d come back) for Gina, man – Gina Carano. She’s the reason why I got into fighting. She’s the reason why I knew it was a possibility. I will always be forever grateful. If she ever was like, ‘Ronda, I want to fight you tomorrow at 205 pounds’ – like, whatever the hell she’d want. I’m not saying she’s 205 pounds; she’s very svelte.”
Rousey continued: “If she wanted to come into my backyard and do the ‘Rocky’ thing, you know, ‘Ding-ding,’ and we just do it in the backyard, I don’t care. I will fight Gina wherever she wants. And if she doesn’t want to, forever, I will leave that offer there. It’s a respect thing, not like a, ‘F*ck you, I’m coming to get you.’ It’s just like, ‘Hey, if you ever want to pull that card out, it’s there.’ I love her. Thank you, Gina, for everything you’ve done.”
Gina Carano, 40, retired from MMA in 2009 after her first loss against current Bellator MMA champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg in August 2009. Transitioning to acting shortly after defeat, Carano is recognized as the pioneer of women’s MMA.
Rousey has had no interest in returning to MMA for a “final” bout since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. In her prime, Rousey was the face of the women’s UFC division. A reigning champion from 2013 to 2015, she headlined five UFC events with her first against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in February 2013.
In 2019, Carano shared with ESPN that a potential “super fight” with Rousey was presented to her — a fight Rousey always wanted — with a million-dollar offer to fight a then-undefeated Rousey; however, didn’t materialize because of Dana White — according to Carano.
Carano told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani: “When Ronda Rousey became popular, I remember they (Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta) had finally called for a meeting, and I walked in this restaurant, and they looked like these two big muscly guys at the table in like the middle of Hollywood. I remember thinking, ‘What took you guys so long? I’ve been … what took you so long?’ So they were like, ‘OK, we’d love to offer you a million dollars. We’d love to have that fight.’ And I was like, ‘Well, that sounds great, but I’m going to need you to do me a favor, then, because I’ve been acting, I’m not active in any gym. So it’s going to take me, you know, you’re going to have to give me some time to build a team or join a team.”
It’s no secret that the idea of Rousey versus Carano would easily be one of the biggest fights in MMA history and draw record-breaking Pay-Per-Views buy. Unfortunately in combat sports, super fights often fall through due to a variety of reasons, ranging from money to politics to proper preparation.
“And it’s not an easy thing, as I’m sure all the fighters know,” Carano continued. “You have to find a team or build one that’s going to be into what you’re doing, and if you haven’t actively been a part of anything, you can walk in as Gina Carano or whoever, but you’re still going to have to find the people who are really going to be there for you, and that takes time. So I told them, ‘You got to be able to just sit on this for about six months, Dana. You can’t say anything and let me get situated with that, because that sounds great and I’d love to do it.’ So it was a nice dinner, and we all left positive. I left stoked, and I was like, ‘OK, well this makes sense. This is my moment to come and be back in there.”
Fans of the two icons have created dream fight simulations that showcased possible outcomes in support of the UFC’s UFC 2 video game. You may watch the full women’s bantamweight dream bout above via EA Sports.
Since the UFC, Rousey has become a WWE Superstar and the current Smackdown Women’s Champion, alongside a flourishing acting career with roles in blockbuster film franchises Fast and Furious and Expandables.
Gina Carano has established herself as an action star with high-profile roles in blockbuster franchises like Fast and Furious also, Marvel’s Deadpool and Star Wars.
