Things are getting tense at ESPN right now, as First Take‘s Shannon Sharpe and College Gameday‘s Kirk Herbstreit are trading shots. The issue was actually started by his colleague and co-host, Stephen A. Smith. It all circulates around Ohio State University’s head football coach Ryan Day, who some feel is on the hot seat despite a 66-10 record. Smith is one of them mostly due to the fact that Day has lost his last four meetings to their arch nemesis in Michigan. Additionally, the program’s playoff success has been middling to some degree under Day.
Stephen A. feels that he should be fired, especially if he doesn’t win the national championship this year. Now, let’s fast forward to this past Saturday. With the game in hand for OSU against visiting Tennessee, Herbstreit takes the time to discuss the noise surrounding Ryan Day and his future. It’s worth noting that Kirk played quarterback for the Buckeyes back in the late 80s to early 90s, so he has a good pulse on the fan base and the program. Overall, he feels that coach Day has done a marvelous job. However, his comments didn’t stop there.
Shannon Sharpe on Kirk Herbstreit’s criticism of First Take: “If we’re going to be on the same team, if we’re gonna work for the same network, don’t do that. Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform that I’m on again talking about ‘I wonder what they’re… pic.twitter.com/4IPLUU5rYy
“First Take tried to fire him [Ryan Day]. Let’s see what they talk about on Monday.” Now, let’s jump to today, as the morning sports debate show is now back on air. Stephen A. addressed Kirk’s critique first, and did so with a bit more grace and understanding. However, he made sure to make his point about Ryan Day very clear. “I say this in fun to both of them [Chris Fowler and Kirk] Stop. Stop it… ‘First Take gotta get him fired.’ That is not true. I did! Not First Take. That was me, Stephen A. Don’t misquote me. What I said was, ‘this man Ryan Day, if he doesn’t get a national championship, he should go. Even with a 66-10 record.’ I didn’t stutter one bit, I ain’t stuttering now.”
As for Shannon, well, he was restrained, but not as playful. “I’m gonna be a good teammate. I’m gonna let it slide. Everybody’s at ESPN. Because had you not taken the route you’ve taken, I would’ve lit their a**es up. If we’re going to be on the same team, if we’re gonna work for the same network, don’t do that. Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform that I’m on again talking about ‘I wonder what they’re going to say as negativity,’ I promise you, ESPN ain’t got enough bosses to keep me off y’all for what I’m going to say… don’t play with me.” Oof.
It has not been the best year for Drake, as he found himself on the wrong end of 2024’s biggest rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, whose final salvo in the duel, “Not Like Us”, lived at the top of the charts for most of the summer. Beyond that, Drake’s beloved Toronto Raptors have fallen back towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference, as they look to rebuild around Scottie Barnes but seem like they may have to battle through some lean years before they can get back in the contending conversation.
A 7-22 start to the season for Toronto has made them (and Drake) a bit of an easy target, and the latest to get some shots in at Drake’s expense were the Houston Rockets broadcast team. After the Rockets held on late for a 114-110 win over the Raptors on Sunday night, many fans raised an eyebrow when Houston’s play-by-play man said the Rockets were “victorious tonight against the Guangdong Dragons.”
That line was pulled from Drake’s response to Fred VanVleet’s farewell to Toronto two summers ago, when Drake wished VanVleet luck on the “Guangdong Dragons”, likening the Rockets to a Chinese Basketball Association team — but getting the name wrong, as they are the Guangdong Southern Tigers.
Houston’s announcers did not forget about this and waited more than a year to drop this line after a win over Toronto, although I think it would’ve hit much harder had they said “the Guangdong Tigers are victorious over the Raptors” rather than trying to flip the name onto Toronto. In any case, there’s still a week left in 2024 for anyone trying to get a lick in on Drake, as it seems to still be open season.
Travis Hunter has deleted his Instagram page as rumors continue to surface about his fiancee, Leanna Lenee. The latest drama revolves around a video circulating on social media, which allegedly shows her dancing and twerking with another man at a party. Other critics have targeted a video of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders seemingly asking Lenee to stand up in support of Hunter at his Heisman trophy presentation.
The projected top-5 NFL draft pick has already spoken out in defense of his fiancee while streaming live on Twitch. After describing the criticism as “draining,” he added: “Why would I break up with my girl because the Internet want me to break up my girl? … Just leave me alone.”
Dec 14, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter poses for a photo after winning the Heisman Trophy award during the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
When DJ Akademiks shared Hunter’s latest social media move, fans spoke out in support in the comments section, although many were still critical of Lenee. “Hate that he seems like a super nice kid who’s about to learn stuff the hard way,” one user wrote. Another added: “Its SAD how evil this world is he such a good kid that deserves support if his girl is who she is its GOD only can judge her she have the right to change if its her pass but know it’s bullying and evil yall perfect? Travis dont deserve this treatment sad world.”
Travis Hunter Deactivates Instagram
Fans haven’t been the only ones to criticize Hunter’s relationship with Lenee. Former NFL stars Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, and Nate Burleson as well as Bow Wow and more celebrities have discussed the drama in recent days. Check out the status of Travis Hunter’s Instagram page below.
Deion Sanders, better known as Coach Prime, and his ex-wife, Pilar Sanders, have a well-known rocky relationship. For weeks now, viral footage of Coach Prime seemingly avoiding the mother of his children before a game has circulated social media. Coach Prime explained what really happened as a guest on The Pacman Jones Show following the host joking about the viral clip. With Coach Prime running into the joke, Pacman asked, “Knees doing well? Legs, ankle, feet, look like they doing pretty good.” “They already,” replied Prime before realizing where the question was headed. Pacman continued with the observation: “The way you ran away from the middle of that field when you seen the other person…”
“Shut up,” Coach Prime replied before explaining what happened during the encounter with his ex-wife using football terminology. “So, you know what I was thinking. First of all, I’m a Punt Returner. You a Punt Returner. We see the field. So, we see what’s about to happen. So, you make an assessment. I’m sitting up there thinking about I gotta go give my team a pregame speech. So, that’s what I was thinking. Alright you [Pilar Sanders] come out here. Let me go get my team ready. That’s what I was thinking. Let me go get my team to give my pregame speech. I’m out.”
Coach Prime would commend Pacman Jones on the question’s setup. The two shared a laugh at Sanders’s expense. Deion and Pilar Sanders were married from 1999 to 2015. They have three children together: son Shilo Sanders, 24, Shedeur Sanders, 22, and daughter Shelomi, 20. Pilar Sanders was Deion Sanders’s second wife. Other videos have shown Deion Sanders and Pilar avoid each other at all costs.
Deion Sanders and family will be playing in their first bowl game next week as the Colorado Buffaloes (#23) headline the Alamo Bowl against BYU (#17). The bowl game follows Deion Sanders producing Colorado’s first Heisman Trophy winner in Travis Hunter.
Back in August, Megan Thee Stallion got fans talking when she hopped on TikTok to take part in a couple’s challenge. She was joined by none other than NBA star Torrey Craig, expectedly leading to rumors that the two of them were an item. Just a few days later, they were spotted out and about in New York City. For most fans, this was enough to confirm the rumored relationship, though neither Meg nor Craig have addressed it.
It’s been a while since supporters have heard anything about the femcee and the athlete, but over the weekend, it looks like they could have reunited. On Saturday (December 21), Megan was spotted at the United Center, sitting courtside for the Chicago Bulls game against the Boston Celtics. For obvious reasons, fans were glad to see her. The Bulls’ mascot, Benny the Bull, even gave her a special greeting.
Most fans are glad to see Meg living her best life. Unfortunately, however, her rumored relationship with Craig has also earned her a great deal of hate online. Supporters are coming to her defense in the Hollywood Unlocked comments section on Instagram, defending her right to be happy with whoever she chooses. “I love how she be smiling and people get so upset at her joy and happiness ,” one commenter writes. “Yes she deserves all the happiness,” another says. Meg’s latest appearance comes shortly after she teased the third act of her self-titled album, Megan.
It also comes days after she filed for a restraining order against Tory Lanez, who shot her in 2020. In her filing, she accuses him of “psychological warfare,” according to TMZ. She also alleges that his actions have made her depressed and made her grow estranged from loved ones. Meg even accuses him of paying blogger Milagro Gramz to spread misinformation about her online.
Pro Soccer star Trinity Rodman dismisses her father, NBA Legend Dennis Rodman’s since-deleted apology post. The 22-year-old professional soccer player spoke candidly about their strained relationship during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. She reflected on a surprising moment in 2021 when her father showed up at one of her matches, a rare gesture of support that left her shocked and emotional on the field. Trinity described it as a “Joke,” adding: “Wiping my hands with it and I’m done. Thank you.”
In a now-deleted response to Trinity’s claims, Dennis Rodman said: In the post’s caption: “Sorry I wasn’t the dad you wanted me to be, but I still tried and will never stop trying,” he wrote. “Even when you’re told not to answer my calls, I’ll keep trying. I’m always here, and I always tell you how proud I am—whether through your voice or voicemail.” He concluded with a heartfelt wish: “I’ve always wanted my kids to call me or visit. Hopefully, one day that will happen.”
Trinity and DJ are Rodman’s children with his ex-wife, Michelle Moyer. He also has an older daughter, Alexis, from his first marriage to Annie Bakes. At one point, she said, her family lived out of an SUV while he remained distant. “Before the divorce, my dad actually helped financially,” she recalled. “He gave my mom money so we could live somewhat comfortably. But when the divorce happened, it was like, ‘F*** you guys.’ We barely had enough to pay rent.”
Trinity’s revelations shed light on a fractured family dynamic that has played out both privately and publicly. Despite her father’s attempts to reconnect, she appears resolute in distancing herself from the pain of their shared history. Dennis Rodman has not responded to Trinity’s response to his since-deleted post. Trinity claimed that Rodman is struggling with alcoholism and more. In his prime, the basketball icon lived a wild party lifestyle that included a legendary Las Vegas incident that included Michael Jordan flying there to bring him back to practice with the Chicago Bulls.
This past year was absolutely massive for the sports world, and some of the best athletes of 2024 came from an array of disciplines. Overall, the NBA and the NFL reigned supreme, at least from an American perspective. However, sports like hockey, and Formula 1 saw huge surges in viewership. Baseball was also a huge story this year, thanks to the Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ultimately, dynasties were born, and other dynasties grew strong. Although some may have been disappointed with the outcomes of championship games, you cannot deny that numerous athletes put on spectacular performances. So without further ado, here are our top 10 best athletes of 2024.
To begin our list, we have none other than Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic who, in tandem with Kyrie Irving, led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals this past year. Overall, Doncic proved himself as one of the best players in the entire National Basketball Association. Although his team came up short in the end, Doncic has pretty much ascended as the most likely heir to the face of the NBA throne. When LeBron James eventually retires, players like Doncic will ensure that this league remains in good hands. It is only a matter of time before Doncic hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy.
9. Lionel Messi
Subsequently, we have Lionel Messi who should forever be a mainstay on these kinds of lists. Although his year was relatively quiet compared to 2022 when he won the World Cup, Messi has remained the GOAT of soccer. His past season with Inter Miami led to even more legacy building and when you compare his current play to Cristiano Ronaldo’s, it becomes clear who the better player is and has always been. What more can you say? Messi is the greatest soccer player on the planet and when all is said and done, he will have a very strong case as the best to ever step on the pitch.
8. Max Verstappen
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates his fourth World Drivers’ Championship with his crew in pit lane during the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
While some of you out there may not consider Formula 1 a sport, such a take would be coming from a place of ignorance. These drivers are athletes through and through, and the best of the best over the last four seasons has been Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver picked up where Lewis Hamilton left off. After Hamilton won four championships in a row, Verstappen has matched that, even though his competition is considerably weaker. This season was one of his most difficult as the Red Bull car slowed down in the middle of the season. However, Verstappen outperformed his equipment and gave some impeccable drives that ultimately saved his championship campaign.
7. LeBron James
You cannot mention the best athletes of 2024 without also giving some love to none other than LeBron James. LeBron is set to turn 40 years old at the end of December, and somehow, he has been able to fend off father time. Admittedly, the start of this season has been a bit of a rocky one for LeBron. His age is finally catching up to him, but at this point, who cares? LeBron has given us over 20 years of high-level basketball and in 2024, he continued to grow his records. Moreover, he gave us more myth-building that will last generations. Not to mention, he got his son Bronny drafted into the NBA and even got to share the floor with him. If that is not special, we don’t know what is.
6. Lamar Jackson
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 8: Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens poses for a portrait after winning MVP at the 13th Annual NFL Honors on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
Next up on our list, we have the NFL MVP himself, Lamar Jackson. Once again, Jackson had another exceptional regular season. Although his Baltimore Ravens came up short against the Kansas City Chiefs, this was the furthest Lamar had ever gone in the playoffs, and it seems like he is on the cusp of greatness. In the 2024 regular season, Jackson has continued his MVP-level play, and the Ravens look like a team that could definitely make it to the Super Bowl. Regardless of whether or not they win it all, Jackson is a top-three quarterback in the NFL, and his accomplishments throughout 2024 speak for themselves.
A best athlete of 2024 list would be completely out to lunch without an entry for Connor McDavid. Sure, hockey is not very popular compared to basketball and football. However, one of the best players in their respective sport would be Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers captain led his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they eventually lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. That said, the series itself was a special one as McDavid was able to lead his team back from an 0-3 deficit. He was on a tear at one point in the Finals, and he showed the world that he could be the best player in the biggest moments. Had he won the Cup, he would be higher than fifth on this list.
4. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals this past year in five games against the Dallas Mavericks. It was an easy series for the Celtics, and while Jaylen Brown won Finals MVP, there is no doubt that Jayson Tatum was sensational, especially in the close-out games. Throughout the season, Tatum was making an argument for himself as the best player in the NBA. Upon winning the championship, Tatum has continued to play at a high level and has been dominant to start the 2024-25 season. The Celtics are already the championship favorites, and if Tatum wins a Finals MVP, then he may just become the true face of the league, whether the haters want that or not.
3. Caitlin Clark
No athlete on this list has been more polarizing than Caitlin Clark. However, Clark has certainly earned her place at number three as she has completely transformed the WNBA since being drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever. For many, Clark’s ascension to fame began in the NCAA Championship Game against LSU where she went toe-to-toe with Angel Reese. This past year, Clark got her revenge in the Elite Eight against LSU. Many predicted that she would come into the WNBA and immediately become one of the league’s best players. While it took her until after the Olympics to get her footing, Clark catapulted to a Top 5 player and won Rookie of the Year. Additionally, every single game she played in had a sold-out crowd, and the TV ratings for Fever games were competing with some NBA match-ups. Regardless of results, no athlete had a larger impact on their league than CC.
2. Patrick Mahomes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs off the field after the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
What more can you say about Patrick Mahomes? Overall, he is already one of the best quarterbacks to ever do it. In just seven seasons, he has managed to win three Super Bowls including two back-to-back championships. Moreover, the Chiefs looked primed and ready for a three-peat. There isn’t much else to say about Mahomes at this point. The only person he is chasing down right now is Tom Brady, and that is certainly going to take a while. However, in terms of pure talent and creativity, Mahomes might be the best quarterback we have ever seen. Teams fear him, and opposing fans absolutely despise him. But at this point, you just have to sit back and appreciate greatness.
1. Shohei Ohtani
Our number-one athlete for 2024 is none other than Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani was able to win his first World Series, and based on the team’s upcoming roster moves, he may just win another. Having said that, 2024 was truly the best year of Ohtani’s career. Due to surgery, he decided not to pitch. Instead, he focused on hitting, and it worked out well for him. His home run/stolen bases record was truly impressive, and there was no doubt that his production was fueling the Dodgers to new heights. He elevated his teammates, and come playoff time, Ohtani showed that he’s also fantastic in the clutch. No athlete was as captivating as Ohtani. He will be the face of Major League Baseball for years to come.
Bobbi Althoff is a new relationship! That’s what TMZ Sports is reporting after the online content creator shared a lovey-dovey Instagram Story recently. In the most likely purposely blurry video, the 27-year-old podcast host is seen laying multiple kisses on her mystery man’s lips. It quickly went viral because fans were jumping to serious conclusions on who the new boo is. People immediately surmised that it was NFL cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. The reason for the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Tennessee Titan, and current Arizona Cardinal being linked to her is due to another past clip.
Back in the summer of this year, Bobbi and Bunting were out in downtown Nashville at the Barstool sports bar. The interviewer did have a little too much to drink that night and Bunting was there to carry her into a likely Uber or Lyft. It’s unclear if they were out by themselves or not. So, with that in mind, we can see why fans are assuming things have been progressing in their relationship. But SMB is dispelling the dating rumors, writing on X, “That’s not me.”
Bobbi Althoff also kind of put any potential romance with him to bed earlier this year anyways too. After that night out, she posted to her IG Story to thank her “friend” Bunting for being there. “Last night was scary but thankful for having good friends in my life like @seanmurphybunting looking out for me.” TMZ Sports says that another NFL athlete was getting linked. Cedric Ogbuehi, an offensive lineman, is his name, but he also shut down his ties to Althoff.
So, for now, her new man is anonymous. This is her first relationship since parting ways with her ex-husband Cory back in February. That all happened amid rampant and destructive rumors that Althoff was sleeping around with her interviewees. Even though things came to a close, she spoke very highly of him. “As sad as I am right now, I am so thankful for the time I got to be his wife. Our girls are so lucky to have him as a father & I am so lucky to be able to coparent with such an incredible father and person,” she said earlier this year.
Basketball players have been appearing in music videos for a pretty long time now. Earlier this year, we looked at some notable examples of this, which included some older examples (Shaq appearing in the video for “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!”) and some newer ones (DeMar DeRozan’s highly-publicized cameo in the video for “Not Like Us”).
Fortunately for us, that was only the tip of the iceberg, as there are plenty of other examples of times when musicians reached out to NBA players and asked them to pop up in the video for one of their songs. And today, we wanted to dive into a few more of these, starting with one of the more surprising cameos we can remember…
Kawhi Leonard: “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug
Kawhi Leonard has managed to turn being a boring and laid-back guy into his brand. For how brilliant he is at his best on the basketball court, Leonard is known for being soft-spoken and keeping himself out of the spotlight. All of this is to say that when Kawhi showed up in “Way 2 Sexy” dressed in all white and joined Drake, Future, and Young Thug in essentially lampooning boy band music videos, well, I can safely say I did not see that coming.
Magic Johnson: “Remember The Time” by Michael Jackson
The legendary video for “Remember The Time” is all built around Jackson performing for Egyptian royalty, played in here by Eddie Murphy and Iman. But off to the side, Johnson is the herald who presents performers to Murphy and Iman. Shockingly, it seemed like Magic had a terrific time with the project, and earlier this year, he called getting to be in the video “one of the greatest thrills in my life.”
LeBron James: “Forever” by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem
Of course LeBron was going to be in this video in some capacity, as it was made for the 2008 documentary More than a Game, which followed around his high school team at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. He hops onto PokerStars before the track starts, and while we don’t see him in the video again, we get plenty of clips and photos from before he made it to the NBA. However, a few months after the song came out, we did get a famous clip of LeBron rapping along to Eminem’s verse in the waning moments of a Cavs-Lakers game.
Stephen Curry: “Lil Fish, Big Pond” by Tobe Nwigwe
Curry joined Nwigwe in the video for his 2023 release, which was part of the soundtrack for the Apple TV+ release, Stephen Curry: Underrated. In the video, the pair are fishing on a boat, and Curry lip syncs along to the first verse before viewers see that Nwigwe is also on the boat. A little later, the pair sit alongside one another in a stadium.
Metta Sandiford-Artest: “Nas Is Like” by Nas
If you blink, you’ll miss when the two Queens legends link up in the music video for the first track off of “I Am…” It shows Nas throughout Queensbridge, which both he and the former Ron Artest called home as they were growing up. While this is an extremely short cameo, Sandiford-Artest arrives, shows Nas some love, and then looks into the camera at the 1:24 mark.
Grant Hill: “Rockstar” by Nickelback
I’ll be honest with you: I am unsure why Grant Hill appeared in the music video for “Rockstar,” and funny enough, if you take his word for it, Grant Hill wasn’t 100 percent sure why, either. Anyway, the video famously has a ton of celebrities in it, and at one point, Hill shows up and is in the middle of signing a basketball in a gym while he lip syncs the line “sign a couple autographs so I can eat…” before the camera cuts to someone else. He then shows up later and lip syncs “with the movie stars.”
It’s safe to say that Travis Hunter’s weekend has been spoiled a little, to say the least. The potential first overall NFL draft pick is currently having to defend his fiancée thanks to some viral videos. After being announced as the Heisman Trophy winner, he went up to go embrace his biggest supporters. His head coach, Deion Sanders, as well as supposed family joined Leanna Lenee, his future spouse. However, she wasn’t quick to stand up. In fact, Coach Prime actually had to nudge her to get up and hug him.
To her credit, she did give a pretty good explanation as to why that happened. You can find that video below. Then, the other clip that got folks attention was from a fan meet and greet of sorts. Shortly taking a picture with a female fan, Lenee said, “What do you want me to do… I just sit here then.” This could be looked at a multitude of ways. She could genuinely be asking a question; it could have been a reaction to it being another female, or it was an instance of her being inconsiderate. Of course, the internet is going to assume the worst there.
Because of all of this hate, Lenee revealed that she had been drinking and crying over the last couple of days. You can tell it’s been getting to her based on the TikTok of her explaining the Heisman situation. Hunter has also since asked those commenting on everything to buzz off. Of course, he’s not going to take any crap from people outside of their relationship, and it’s more than earned the right to respond the way he did. But as you also know, the internet is a cruel and ruthless place. No amount of explaining will really silence the staunch doubters, and it’s evident thanks to another video circling. A clip of Lenee sharing some of the nice things Travis has done for him in the past is getting people to react strongly.
In it, she reveals that she loves to party. However, the Colorado Buffalo doesn’t partake and also doesn’t drink. So, in Lenee’s words, she says, “I’m Hispanic, so I have tequila like in my veins. So I drink — I don’t drink a lot, but I drink — and I used to party and stuff. He would literally drive me, sit outside for hours while I’m inside partying, and then take us home.” She was very appreciative of those acts, adding, “He never tried to be like, ‘Oh, just because I don’t drink, you can’t drink, or you can’t hang out with your friends.’” Expectedly, people are spinning this in the most negative light possible, assuming she was up to no good while he sat and waited. You can see the reactions in the IG post above.
