A judge has refused to dismiss the lawsuit filed against Dwight Howard last year. “My comment, at this time, is that we are glad the court denied Mr. Howard’s motion and look forward to proving our client’s case,” the attorney for Stephen Harper told ESPN. Harper is suing Howard after alleging sexual assault on the part of the former NBA player. However, in a win for Howard, the judge did seal an exhibit of allegedly embarrassing text messages.
Despite this ruling, the case remains in discovery and has no trial scheduled. “Justice will prevail and we fully trust in our justice system and the process. This order is a part of the process. We will engage in discovery and will further prove our case and when the time is right we will let our future pleadings speak for themselves,” one of Howard’s attorneys told ESPN. This remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.
Howard has been accused of sexually assaulting a man at his home. Howard has formally denied sexually assaulting model Stephen Harper. However, he did not deny inviting Harper to his home for a threesome, which allegedly involved a cross-dresser named Kitty. Furthermore, Harper alleges that he was forced to perform sexual acts on Howard and that Howard performed non-consensual acts on him after he objected to participating in the activity.
Furthermore, allegations of Howard’s predatory behavior have been corroborated in the months following the Harper’s lawsuit. “He goes to sex parties and preys on younger men. That is why he originally why he threatened, forced, and tried to intimidate me into signing a NDA,” influencer and author Masin Elije wrote on social media. Additionally, Elije claimed that they had also been harassed by “Kitty” in 2018. It is believed that is the same cross-dresser that Howard used in an attempted threesome with Harper. Harper did not respond to Elije’s claims at the time.
Several anonymous NBA teams have called Jordan Poole’s fully guaranteed four-year $128M contract “one of the worst in the league right now”, according to ESPN‘s Bobby Marks. Poole was meant to become the face of a new-look Wizards team but has not lived up to expectations. Putting up 15.6/2.4/3.7, Poole is a mediocre leader on one of the league’s worst teams. And yet, because Poole’s contract is guaranteed, the Wizards are stuck with him. Furthermore, they will likely owe him a further $2M for playing at least 65 games per season, a necessity because they have no one better to sub in as things stand.
Criticism of Poole has only increased in recent months as he has struggled to make his presence on the league known. Kevin Garnett went as far as to state that Poole “did not belong in the league.” Do you think the criticism of Poole is fair? Or do you think people are too harsh on the 24-year-old? Let us know in the comments.
Earlier this month, home fans booed him for a 0-point game against the Cavs. Poole went 0-5 from the field and 0-4 from three as the Wizards fell 114-106 for their 41st loss of the season. Poole did have 2 rebounds and 5 assists but that was far from enough to silence the frustrated home crowd. Kyle Kuzma and Corey Kispert combined for 51 points as the Wizards kept it close. Meanwhile, the Cavs were led by a 40-point performance from Donovan Mitchell to improve to 33-16.
After being traded to Washington, Poole has had a wild season. There have been flashy alley-oops to himself while down 20. He annoyed his teammates by calling his own shot multiple times in the preseason. However, he also simply epitomizes the mediocrity of a Wizards team that seemingly has no desire to improve. With his current stat line, he is the best player on a bad team but is not the “best player” in the same way that LeBron was the best player on those bad Cavs teams.
During his recently-published Club Shay Shay interview, Johnny Manziel revealed that after being cut by the Browns in 2015, he would lose 40lbs due to his excessive cocaine use. “At that point in time, man. I would look in a mirror and I didn’t see myself any different than when I was in Cleveland. Until I stepped on a scale at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, I didn’t realize I had lost 40 pounds at all,” Manziel told Shannon Sharpe.
Previously, Manziel revealed that he had a plan to kill himself following his departure from the Browns. “I think I was just running from problems. It was probably a $5 million bender. Direct self-sabotage, trying to burn this thing down. I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life. Spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life. Months prior, I went and bought a gun I knew I was going to use. I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me,” Manziel said in an episode of Untold that aired last year.
Johnny Manziel Apologizes Drake For “Letting Him Down”
Meanwhile, Manziel also used the two-hour conversation with Sharpe to offer an apology to Drake. “Who believes in curses like that [The Drake Curse]? That guy’s the most positive energy, great aura. Maybe he picks wrong sometimes in the people, teams or whatever it is or his bets, but that’s life, right? There is no curse. That’s to each his own, you know? If I handle my business in the proper way, I make him proud, right? Our relationship changes; so like there’s a lot of people that I let down and I truly feel like him and LeBron [James] at a point in time were people that I really really let down, you know? At that point in time [2016], I was so selfish that I was dragging everybody that was tied to me through the mud,” Manziel said.
Drake was one of Manziel’s biggest supporters as the Texas A&M QB looked toward the NFL. In fact, Drizzy went as far as to pen the track “Draft Day” in honor of Manziel. However, as we all know, Manziel simply wasn’t cut out for the NFL. After being drafted 22nd overall by the Browns in 2014, Manziel was out of the league after his second season.
Johnny Manziel has apologized to Drake for “letting down” the rapper. “Who believes in curses like that [The Drake Curse]? That guy’s the most positive energy, great aura. Maybe he picks wrong sometimes in the people, teams or whatever it is or his bets, but that’s life, right? There is no curse. That’s to each his own, you know? If I handle my business in the proper way, I make him proud, right? Our relationship changes; so like there’s a lot of people that I let down and I truly feel like him and LeBron [James] at a point in time were people that I really really let down, you know? At that point in time [2016], I was so selfish that I was dragging everybody that was tied to me through the mud,” Manziel told Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay.
Drake was one of Manziel’s biggest supporters as the Texas A&M QB looked toward the NFL. In fact, Drizzy went as far as to pen the track “Draft Day” in honor of Manziel. However, as we all know, Manziel simply wasn’t cut out for the NFL. After being drafted 22nd overall by the Browns, Manziel was out of the league two seasons later, being cut after the 2015 season.
Johnny Manziel Reveals He Nearly Took His Own Life After NFL Exit
Meanwhile, Manziel bared it all in an episode of Netflix’s Untold series that aired last year. “I think I was just running from problems. It was probably a $5 million bender. Direct self-sabotage, trying to burn this thing down. I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life. Spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life. Months prior, I went and bought a gun I knew I was going to use. I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me,” Manziel revealed.
Manziel is in a much better place now. Prior to the release of Untold: Johnny Football, he announced that he was going to return to Texas A&M. His plan was to establish “Johnny Manziel’s Money Bar”, a new sports bar on campus. He was able to get the project up and running before the start of A&M’s football season. The season of Untold also included episodes about the infamous Urban Meyer Florida Gators as well as Jake Paul.
Jaylen Brown has been called out for “disrespecting” his girlfriend after footage appeared online in which he seemingly ignored her as she attempted to traverse an icy sidewalk. “He’s too comfortable.. this happened to me before.. and he dead told me I shouldn’t have worn those heels. I’m telling y’all the bar is in hell ,” one person lamented. “Too busy worried about being seen, you don’t even see your girl… they both need a new man!” added another. “She even reached out to him he still didn’t help her,” noted a third.
However, some people were on hand to defend Brown. “So if he twist an ankle she gonna play for him?” argued one defender. Brown is currently putting up 22/5.5/3.7 for the Celtics as the Eastern Conference runs through Boston. What’s your take on the situation? Let us know in the comments.
However, while Brown may seemingly not care about his girlfriend, he does have some major love for his fellow man. “I want to bring Black Wall Street here, to Boston. I want to attack wealth disparity. There’s analytics that support stimulating the wealth gap could be better for the entire economy. With the biggest financial deal in NBA history, it makes sense to talk about one, your investment in communities but two also, the wealth disparity here that nobody wants to talk about. It’s something that we can all improve on. I think through my platform, through influential partners, through elected leaders and government officials, we can come together and create new jobs, new resources, new businesses, new ideas. That can highlight minorities but also stimulate the wealth gap and economy at the same time,” Brown told reporters after signing a then-record NBA contract last year.
According to the mayoral campaign of Michelle Wu, who won election in 2022, wealth disparity is a major issue in the city. The median net worth of a white family is nearly $250,000. The median net worth of a Black family is $8. Furthermore, a 2022 study shows that 24% of Massachusetts Latinos live in poverty. This is coupled with issues like an exponentially rising cost of living. For example, the average rent for the city of Boston is over $3000. However, with passionate voices like Brown’s, maybe some tangible change can actually come to the city.
Adrian Peterson has disputed reports that he is selling trophies and memorabilia from his storied NFL career due to financial troubles. Peterson said he is bank account was “just fine” in a video posted to social media. Reports had suggested that Peterson was selling items such as his 2007 Rookie of the Year trophy and his 2012 MVP trophy. Further reports suggested that was tied to a court-ordered $8.3M payment for a 2021 loan default. However, Peterson claims that the memorabilia was stolen by a company he contracted to handle it and is threatening to file a lawsuit.
Born in Texas, Adrian Peterson was a standout prospect. He crossed the Red River for college, joining Bob Stoops’ Sooners’ program in Norman. After three stellar seasons, Peterson was taken seventh overall in 2007. Joining the Vikings, Peterson quickly became the prototypical running back of his era. However, his rise wasn’t without controversy. He was accused of child abuse for allegedly beating his young son. However, Peterson continued to play at an exceptionally high level. As mentioned, he captured Rookie of the Year in 2007 and the rare non-QB MVP title in 2012.
However, Peterson quickly found himself on the outside looking in after leaving Minnesota in 2016. He played for the Cardinals and Saints in 2017 before finding some stability with two seasons with the Commanders. After a year with the Lions, Peterson’s career ended with a split season in Tennessee and Seattle. Peterson currently holds the record for most running yards in a single game with 296.
Marshawn Lynch has accepted a plea deal in his Las Vegas DUI case just hours before his trial was set to begin. Lynch’s misdemeanor DUI will be reduced to misdemeanor reckless driving. However, he must complete community service, DUI school, pays a fine, and completes a year of probation. “Mr. Lynch has not been convicted of any offense at this time. He has agreed to complete certain requirements which will result in this case being closed as a reckless driving traffic offense,” Lynch’s lawyers said in a statement.
Lynch was arrested in August 2022 after being found asleep at the wheel of his Shelby GT500. Officers said that Lynch was “uncooperative” and he was arrested on suspicion of DUI amongst other charges. Previously, Lynch’s lawyers had argued that the DUI be charged should be dismissed as his vehicle was parked and stationary at the time of his arrest.
Former NFL star and Frito Lay chipster Marshawn Lynch accepts plea deal in Vegas. His misdemeanor DUI charge reduced to reckless driving, if 37 yr. old attends DUI school, performs 200 hrs. community service, stays out of trouble for year and pays $1,140 fine. pic.twitter.com/WQP3FfWfn1
However, it’s not the only trouble Lynch has found himself in as of late. In January, a Seahawks fan accused Lynch of breaking his phone outside a Seattle bar. Jose Lozano claimed that Lynch damaged his phone after taking issue with Lozano trying to take a photo with him. According to Lozano, who made his claims to TMZ, he approached Lynch for a photo outside Xtadium after being denied a photo inside. This point, Lynch reportedly yelled “Y’all motherf-ckers are weird.” He then knocked Lozano’s phone out of his hand, ending the video of the interaction Lozano had been taking. Lozano then claims that Lynch grabbed his phone and damaged the screen before leaving.
It’s unclear why Lozano had been filming Lynch outside the bar when he claims that he only wanted a picture. It’s possible that Lozano was attempting to antagonize the former Seahawks star by approaching him after being directly told that Lynch didn’t want to take pictures. However, Lozano also TMZ that he doesn’t intend to press charges as he’s a fan of Lynch. Despite this, Lozano did express a wish that Lynch hadn’t “been so rude”. Lynch previously knocked the phone out of the hands of a man at LAX in 2017 after the man tried to take pictures of him.
Floyd Mayweather has opened up about the positive relationship he has with NBA YoungBoy. “Me and NBA YoungBoy speak on a regular, speak on the daily. I’m very happy for his career, proud of him. And eventually, he’s gonna grow like anybody that’s young. When I was young, I visualized and seen things a certain way. But as you get older, you look at things totally different. We talk about investments and just growth. Buying land,” Mayweather told The Pivot Podcast.
Furthermore, it’s not the first time that Mayweather has spoken positively about the father of his grandchild. “I’m proud of him — a very, very talented young kid. One of the biggest artists as far as in music. He’s got a cult-like following. I look at him just like one of my sons. I only want the best for him. I don’t want him to have beef with anyone. These kids beefing nowadays and don’t even know what they beefing for. So much talent. See what happens to these young kids, they dying on the regular — Pop Smoke. Just so many young rappers and young entertainers, period. I feel like NBA YoungBoy went away for a while — I like to say went to college for a little bit — but he’s back and I’m proud of him,” Mayweather told the podcast in 2022.
Floyd Mayweather Receives “Champion Of Israel” Award
Meanwhile, late last year, Mayweather received the “Champion of Israel” Award for his contribution to Israeli relief efforts following an incursion into southern Israel by Hamas on October 7. The award, presented to Mayweather at a ceremony in Miami, was backed by Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service. The ceremony also served as a fundraising, with over $4 million reportedly raised to further Israeli relief efforts. Mayweather received the award from two close friends who have worked with him on his efforts to help Israel.
Mayweather’s primary contribution to the state of Israel was a supply drop made by his private jet. In mid-October, Mayweather’s jet brought 5000 lbs of supplies to Israel, carrying everything from food to flak jackets. Furthermore, Mayweather has been vocally supportive of Israel on social media and participated in several pro-Israel marches in the United States.
JJ Redick always makes for entertaining viewing on First Take, namely because his sound basketball analysis is usually derailed by a shouting match with Stephen A. Smith. February 21 was no different, as the two got into a heated argument about the ignorance of NBA fans and Kevin Durant’s leadership. However, as we like hot sauce with its Scoville in the millions here at HotNewHipHop, what better better way to commemorate this latest chapter of their feud by looking at some of the highlights from their past?
JJ Schools Stephen A. & Mad Dog About Kawhi Leonard
This moment came during the 2023 NBA playoffs. After the Suns dumped the short-handed Clippers, Stephen A. argued that the team needed a hard reset and to jettison the injury-prone Kawhi Leonard and Paul George because they were cooked. This prompted a four-minute rant from JJ, spearheaded by the devastating remark “listening to each of you right now, it’s very obvious you have played zero high-level basketball and you do not understand the requirements of doing that.”
Furthermore, JJ was proven right less than a year later. The Clippers are absolutely balling behind a healthy Kawhi and PG3. At the time of writing, they are 36-17 and third in the Western Conference.
JJ Calls Stephen A. “Irresponsible” For Warriors Hype
Our next moment goes all the way back to November 2021, when Stephen A. was ready to riding a 9-1, Klay Thompson-less Warriors all the way to an NBA championship. The first thing out of JJ’s mouth in response? “It’s irresponsible.” Redick argued that perspective was needed because it was 10 games into the season and the Warriors had played the league’s eighth-easiest schedule. Smith didn’t explode at Redick like in some other examples of their beef but he definitely tried his best to “school the rookie”.
Come the NBA Finals and Stephen A. was proven right. Klay came back from injury smoothly and Golden State beat the Celtics 4-2 in the Finals. The only thing Smith didn’t land was James Wiseman, who would not return during the season and has never lived up to his second-overall pick billing.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 23, 2023
You know a moment is heated when it ends with an on-air apology. This is perhaps the most infamous of their on-air beef. While discussing LeBron’s potential retirement in the 2023 offseason, JJ struck below the belt. After Stephen A. dismissed JJ’s take out of hand, JJ cut him off to throw some body blows. “You didn’t play, Stephen A., you didn’t play. You don’t understand the athletic mentality. Three games at South Dakota Winston-Salem State? Doesn’t count,” JJ remarked.
While Stephen A. brushed off the comments in the moment, this one clearly struck a nerve. Later in the show, Redick apologized, saying that Stephen A. had “got under his skin” but he didn’t mean to take things as he did and fully respected Stephen’s alma mater.
.@stephenasmith and @jj_redick got heated comparing the physicality of today’s NBA to the 80s and 90s
“This nostalgic standard that you’ve set for players to the 80s and 90s, and then comparing us to it all the time like we are a substandard to that, it gets annoying.” pic.twitter.com/S8OCh2Cs8F
This moment technically happened on Get Up! and not First Take but it’s still worth talking about. During the 2022 NBA Finals, Mike Greenburg was complaining that the modern game was softer than the play seen in the 80s and 90s. Stephen A. weighed in to agree, unsurprising given how much he hates the Rest Rule. However, JJ wasn’t having any of it. “This nostalgic standard that you’ve set for players to the 80s and 90s, and then comparing us to it all the time like we are a substandard to that, it gets annoying.”
This is one of the moments where Stephen A. dispensed with his standard “mhm, I’m listening” noises and just started yelling. The clip is nearly unwatchable as three grown men scream at each other, ironically, about grown men screaming (or not screaming) at each other.
Sometimes journalists make mistakes. It happens to everyone. But sometimes those mistakes happen on live TV. During the 2023 finals, Stephen A. made the baffling declaration that Nikola Jokic wasn’t known for his post play. A visibly confused JJ cuts him off to explain that over the last ten years, the most efficient half-court play in the entire NBA is a Jokic post up. Stephen A. proceeds to backpedal so cartoonishly that Bugs Bunny would be proud. Eventually, he manages to stammer out that he simply meant he sees Jokic more like Kevin McHale than Shaq.
As we said, everyone makes mistakes. But what you shouldn’t do around JJ Redick is make basic errors about play efficiency, especially when trying to disparage a player like Jokic.
Dwyane Wade is one of the most legendary shooting guards in the entire history of the NBA. Overall, he is a player who is beloved by Miami Heat fans. After all, he brought three NBA titles to that team, which is nothing to sneeze at. Although some people feel as though the Heat should have won more with LeBron, D-Wade is still a great ambassador for that franchise. When all is said and done, he will likely go down as the team’s most legendary player. Even if he wasn’t necessarily the best.
These days, Wade has been raising his family and having a good time with his wife, Gabrielle Union. However, some people have been exceptionally negative as it pertains to Wade. With Zaya Wade’s transition in mind, some have put the man’s parenting into question. Moreover, whenever he debuts a new fashion look, people try to question his sexuality. It must be extremely frustrating for Wade, but he doesn’t seem to let it get in the way of whatever he wants to do. Case in point: his latest GQ photoshoot.
This shoot was for GQ‘s Denim’s New Age issue which is coming out next month. Overall, Wade can be seen wearing a pair of jeans, black cowboy boots, a white t-shirt, and a neutral hat. It is an inoffensive outfit that led to some pretty offensive comments. “He doing this while Gabby Union at home mowing the lawn,” one person wrote. “Ok lil nas wade,” said another. The implications of the comments were pretty obvious, and it is bizarre to see so many people take something so simple and make it negative. That said, it is good to see Wade ignoring the hate and doing his own thing.
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section below. Is the hate against Dwyane Wade overblown? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite athletes and their coming moves.
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