Robert Griffin III revealed that a particularly bawdy joke told on an ESPN broadcast last year got him in a great deal of trouble with the network. “We had this game for Oregon State. I’m calling the game, and it’s Oregon State against Stanford. Early in the game, I’m like, ‘Let’s see how much wood these Beavers can take. I had like six other borderline things that I said in that game. I got a call after that game because it was way too much. It was egregious. It wasn’t like ‘Hey, you’re gonna get fired if you keep doing this.’ But it was like, ‘Hey, you probably shouldn’t keep doing this’,” Griffin told Kay Adams of FanDuel.
ESPN has tried to walk the line between entertainment and professionalism for many years. Stephen A. Smith has often blended this line, especially in recent months as his podcast, which is not an ESPN product, has grown more and more bawdy. Similarly, the ManningCast has seen its hosts push the boundary of what ESPN will and will not allow on its platforms.
Of course, there is nothing that can be done about unintentional lewdity. Back in October, Desmond Howard went viral for a misheard chant while covering the Border War rivalry game. As then-#7 Washington and then-#8 Oregon prepared to face off in their first-ever top-ten clash, Howard was working the crowd alongside Harry the Husky, Washington’s mascot. “He got the Big Penix Energy! I said, he got that Big Penix Energy!” Howard chanted in reference to Washington QB and Heisman front-runner Michael Penix Jr.. However, as Penix’s surname is pronounced “Pee-nix”, Howard’s energy chanting definitely made it sound like he was saying “Big Penis Energy” instead.
As for the game itself, it was a true instant classic. The two PNW schools engaged a thrilling shootout that saw Washington survive and stay undefeated as Oregon’s kicker shanked a game-tying field goal as time expired. The Dawg faithful stormed the field to celebrate Washington’s 36-33 win. Penix Jr. had another stellar game, throwing for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Dillon Johnson added another score on the ground along with a 100-yard game. Cooking the secondary all game long, two Washington receivers surpassed 100 yards on the day.
Bill Belichick has confirmed that the balls used for placekicking during Patriots-Chiefs last weekend were underinflated. “We don’t have anything to do with it. Were we aware of it? Yeah, definitely. As I understand it, they were all the same. I don’t know what the explanation is. It was the same for both teams. You’d have to talk to the league about what happened on that. That part of it, they control all that,” Belichick said during his weekly press conference. The news was first reported by MassLive but any parallel to the infamous Deflate-gate scandal were dismissed as the issue affected both teams.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who missed his first field goal of the season in the first half against the Patriots, said he was informed of the deflation at halftime. “[They told me] the balls were a little deflated [and] they just let me know they pumped [them] up,” Butker said. Furthermore, he didn’t blame his miss on the state of the ball. “I think it was technique, one of those misfires that you wish you had back. My second kick of pregame warmup, I had a 38-yarder middle, and it kind of sliced off to the right like that. So it showed up, kind of, in warmup. I made a lot of big kicks with flatter balls, and shoot, even in college, I kicked a lot of flat balls,” Butker added.
The NFL has declined to comment on underinflated kicking footballs in the first half of the Chiefs-Patriots game.
Patriots HC Bill Belichick said this morning they were 2-2.5 PSI underinflated. Officials are responsible for kicking balls. They were fixed at halftime.…
Furthermore, Butker revealed that a kicker can tell the different between balls in various states of inflation. “I didn’t notice anything on that opening kickoff and then second half, once you make that [field goal], you have the kickoff and you can feel the ball. And it was noticeably more pumped up. But again, cold weather is going to make the inflation go down. I’ve even had games where the bladder of the ball might pop or something, and maybe you feel it on kickoff and then you just ask for a different ball. So stuff like that happens and you just roll with it. I’ve made decent kickoffs with balls that maybe aren’t perfect 13 PSI indoor room temperature, but it’s just kind of the nature of the game. Sometimes that stuff happens,” Butker explained.
Despite Butker also calling the process “routine”, the situation has called back memories of Deflate-gate. The Belichick-led Patriots were fined $1M, docked two draft picks, and lost QB Tom Brady for four games after it was determined that they purposefully underinflated balls to gain a competitive advantage in the 2015 AFC Championship Game.
Florida State has announced that it is suing the ACC to challenge the conference’s “grant of rights” and the prohibitive $130M withdrawal fee imposed on members. “I believe this board has been left no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of the ACC grant of rights and its severe withdrawal penalties. None of us like being in this position. However, I believe that we have exhausted all possible remedies within the conference and we must do what we believe is best for Florida State not only in the short term but in the long term,” board chair Peter Collins said in a statement.
The move thrusts the Seminoles, and the ACC, into uncharted waters. The ACC has previously described its grant of rights as “ironclad” and no school has ever challenged it. Upon receiving word of the lawsuit, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips lamented Florida State’s decision. “Florida State’s decision to file action against the Conference is in direct conflict with their longstanding obligations. This is a clear violation of their legal commitments to the other members of the Conference. All ACC members, including Florida State, willingly and knowingly re-signed the current Grant of Rights in 2016, which is wholly enforceable and binding through 2036. Each university has benefited from this agreement, receiving millions of dollars in revenue and neither Florida State nor any other institution, has ever challenged its legitimacy,” Phillips said.
The Seminoles has spent the last year growing increasingly vocal about their discontent with the ACC. Revenue gaps, revenue distribution, and the conference’s overall standing in college athletics have all been raised as issues. However, the tipping point was the school’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff. The Seminoles were left out in favor of Alabama. Furthermore, the primary reason given was that the SEC is a stronger conference than the ACC.
At the state level, Florida has bristled at the exclusion. Governor Ron DeSantis asked the state legislature for $1 million in their new budget. The intention is to use the money to sue the NCAA for excluding Florida State from the College Football Playoff. Furthermore, the state AG Ashley Moody also launched an investigation into the CFP committee. “I’m a lifelong Gator, but I’m also the Florida attorney general, and I know injustice when I see it. My office is launching an investigation to examine if the committee was involved in any anticompetitive conduct,” Moody said in a video filmed on Florida State’s campus.
Lil Wayne has expressed his desire to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans. Going to the Super Bowl and watching the Halftime Show and wishing, when you see the artist, you be like, ‘They could’ve sung the song that I was featured on!”. I’m featured on everybody’s song — you could’ve brought me out! Please do not feel disrespected if you’re an artist from New Orleans. Or an artist tied to me any kind of way in the music [industry], but know that’s my moment and I earned that moment. So no, I’m not bringing no one!” Wayne told Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report.
There has just been one other rapper to headline the Super Bowl Halftime show. That was the Dre-led show in 2022 that featured the creme de la creme of West Coast rap (as well as Eminem). To give an artist like Wayne a solo show (although the did say there would be an exception to his guest rule for Beyonce), would be a major step for the NFL.
Elsewhere in the interview, Wayne also revealed that he had an unreleased track featuring Kevin Durant. The track was at one time considered for inclusion on ColleGrove 2. Instead, Wayne decided to save it for a later project. However, Wayne was caught off-guard after Rooks revealed that she knew about the track. “I just want you to know you messed up. That song was being considered to be on Carter VI and now since you’re saying something, it’s not goin’ on Carter VI,” Wayne joked, directing his response at Durant himself.
Furthermore, Wayne had a lot to say about Durant’s skills as a rapper. “KD’s a jewel. He’s a backpack rapper. I can imagine he probably could call a timeout in a game, and probably ask him to rap and he probably got a verse for you,” Wayne mused. The content of Durant’s song with Wayne is as yet unknown. However, KD does have some experience in the music industry. He has a song with LeBron James and was recently credited as A&R on Drake‘s For All The Dogs.
Jonathan Owens, the husband of Simone Bills, has faced significant backlash for comments he made about their marriage on a recent podcast appearance. Appearing on The Pivot, Owens claimed he didn’t know who Biles was when they first met and that he believes that “men are always the catch in a relationship”. When the couple met on a dating app in March 2020, Owens was a practice squad player for the Texans who had never played an NFL game. Meanwhile, Biles was a five-time Olympic medalist.
Unsurprisingly, people have taken significant issue with Owens’ comments. “Mind you he went undrafted, was waived by two teams, hasn’t won a single championship and is all around a below average player so what in his mind would make him think HE is the catch?!” one of Biles’ fans wrote on X. Following the backlash, Owens reposted an image from his wedding to Biles with the caption “Unbothered Just know we locked in over here .”
Mind you he went undrafted, was waived by two teams, hasn’t won a single championship and is all around a below average player so what in his mind would make him think HE is the catch?! https://t.co/jzel6kjEug
Meanwhile, it’s been a huge year for Simone Biles herself. Biles pushed her international medal tally to 37 earlier this year after an electric appearance at the World Gymnastics Championships in Belgium. Biles finished the event with four golds and a silver out of six events contested. After entering the Championships tied for Olympic & World Championship medals with retired Belarusian gymnast Vitaly Scherbo, Biles finished the event in sole possession of that title. Furthermore, Biles set herself up for a strong showing at next year’s Olympics.
However, Biles’ gold sweep was halted by finishing off the podium in the uneven bars and her silver medal in the vault. Biles fell 0.201 points short of winning gold on her signature equipment of vault. An over-rotation on her signature Yurchenko double pike caused her to fall backward on the landing. Biles bounced back with an excellent Cheng in her final vault. However, 2022 all-around champion Rebeca Andrade was able to keep Biles off the top of her podium with a near-perfect outing.
As the Detroit Pistons lost their 25th game in a row, fans at Little Caesars Arena began an ominous chant. “Sell the team” could be heard ringing out around the 20,300-seat venue as the Pistons fell to a short-handed Jazz team 119-111. The chants were aimed at billionaire Tom Gores, the private equity magnate who has owned the team since 2011.
Furthermore, the Pistons now sit just one loss away from tying the NBA’s losing streak record. The 26-game mark is jointly held by the 10/11 Cavs and 13/14 Sixers. Both teams went on to finish the season with a 19-63 record. However, this season’s Pistons are projected to win just 14 games. “I want to be careful with my words, because this one hurts more than most of them. A team that played last night got [50] points off turnovers and rebounds. It is unbelievably hard to understand how we can get outworked in those categories,” head coach Monty Williams said after the loss to the Jazz.
Throughout the losing streak, fans have also taken aimed at corporate partnership that the Pistons have with Wingstop. For the 2023-24 season, the restaurant had offered “five free boneless wings with every online order for every Pistons win.” However, the offers becomes more and more absurd with every loss. “Wingstop shamefully moving a little further from the scores after every loss ,” Bleacher Report social media programmer Molly Morrison wrote on X earlier in the team’s losing streak. Meanwhile, SB Nation engagement editor Kofie Yeboah said on TikTok that five wings were no longer an adequate deal and the number of wings needed to be raised.
Meanwhile, what little hope remains within the Pistons is quickly fading. “We’re not 2-26 bad — no way are we that bad. I think we can turn this around. We can play a much better brand of basketball. We had a chance to win it down the stretch, and we just weren’t solid enough. This is history no one wants to be a part of,” Cade Cunningham said after the team’s most recent loss. The Pistons are next in action against the Nets on Saturday. Brooklyn has lost their four games and faces the Nuggets on Friday night.
Lil Wayne has revealed that he has an unreleased collab with Kevin Durant that was at one time considered for inclusion on ColleGrove 2. Wayne copped to the track when asked about it by Bleacher Report‘s Taylor Rooks. “I just want you to know you messed up. That song was being considered to be on Carter VI and now since you’re saying something, it’s not goin’ on Carter VI,” Wayne joked, directing his response at Durant himself. However, Wayne went on to say that the track was considered for ColleGrove 2. However, he decided he wanted to save it for another project.
Furthermore, Wayne had a lot to say about Durant’s skills as a rapper. “KD’s a jewel. He’s a backpack rapper. I can imagine he probably could call a timeout in a game, and probably ask him to rap and he probably got a verse for you,” Wayne mused. The content of Durant’s song with Wayne is as yet unknown. However, KD does have some experience in the music industry. He has a song with LeBron James and was recently credited as A&R on Drake’s For All The Dogs.
Meanwhile, Durant is continuing to have a career year at age 35. He is averaging 31 points a game, which would be a career-best if he maintains it. Additionally, his stat line also boasts 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game. However, the Suns are struggling, currently sitting at 14-13 with one win in their last four games. Injuries have played a major part in their struggles. Despite adding Bradley Beal in a blockbuster trade, Phoenix’s big three has not seen much floor time together due to injuries to Beal and Devin Booker.
Elsewhere, Durant recently responded to a story about being flamed by Moritz Wagner. In a clip from Pardon My Take, Wagner explains how he accidentally flamed Durant during his rookie year. After drawing a foul, Wagner fired off a dismissive “You can’t guard me”, only to realize that he had just said it to Durant. “I think it was Durant, Draymond Green, and DeMarcus Cousins on the free throw line boxout talking sh-t to me. I was so shaken,” Wagner explained. After the clip was published, Durant quote tweeted it, adding “I walked away from that game thinking, damn that rookie is an assh-le.”
Podcasts hit their Peak TV era in 2023, and with that glut of good listening came some unwanted consequences. Cutbacks, cancellations, celebrity deals gone wrong — the “too much of a good thing” crowd warned us long ago what happens when a content bubble bursts, and podcasts proved to be no exception. But despite the growing pains, some truly terrific shows were made this year (including the Uproxx produced Indiecast with Steven Hyden and Ian Cohen and People’s Party with Talib Kweli.
This list, with picks from staffers and contributors, includes a few steady favorites, fresh true crime takes, comedy audio hangs, and shows with a focus on debunking medical mysteries. All fascinating, entertaining, and illuminating in their own right. We listened to them during our daily commutes, miles-long runs, work breaks, and more, learning, laughing, and now we’re suggesting them to you (in no particular order) as we wrap up 2023.
iHeartMedia
Who Killed JFK? (with Rob Reiner and Soledad O’Brien)
Something I did not have on my 2023 bingo card was to become utterly enthralled by a podcast exploring the JFK assassination hosted by Meathead from All in the Family (Rob Reiner) and former CNN host Soledad O’Brien, but here we are, life is strange and full of surprises. With all of that said, Who Killed JFK? somewhat shockingly offers some new perspective and insight into one of the 20th century’s (and world history’s) greatest mysteries. Hint: it may have actually been an inside job all along. – Brett Michael Dykes
The best interviews don’t feel like interviews. It’s just a conversation, loose yet interesting because people are comfortable enough to let their guard down and be a little silly as they tell stories about their lives and careers. Conan O’Brien, freed from the limits of a late-night talk show (though he was pretty great as an interviewer in that format too) has become a master of this kind of interview with Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend. Whether the guests are fans, returning favorites like John Mulaney, actual real-life Conan friends like Timothy Olyphant, legends like Harrison Ford, or the sitting President of the United States, the vibe is the same: a breezy hang with the guest, Conan, and co-hosts Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley. — Jason Tabrys
You’ve absolutely seen The Basement Yard on TikTok. This is how I got my introduction to them: These clips of two dudes going back and forth talking about god knows what pop up on my FYP all the time. At some point, I made the decision to actually listen to them, which made me realize these are two of the funniest guys on the planet. The chemistry between Joe Santagato and Frank Alvarez is something that can only come from childhood friends, while their ability to take mundane topics and make them hilarious is something few (if any) can match. — Bill Difilippo
Six Trophies with Jason Concepcion and Shea Serrano
Okay, sure, I’m biased with this podcast pick. But set aside my admiration for both hosts and look at the pedigrees involved; both men are clearly in their wheelhouse and their friendship and working chemistry makes this hangout sports show even more of a gem. This is how hoops talk should be done: by people with unadulterated love for the game and all the awe, curiosity, and humor the insane feats and quirks the modern NBA and its culture-dominating figures deserve. – Aaron Williams
My favorite kind of projects are ones that balance the very serious with the very silly. Think about a show like Succession, where the drama and comedy co-exist to make each hit harder. It’s a tough trick to pull off, sure, because the wrong formula or the wrong process of mixing them can bungle everything, but when it works, hoo boy. That’s probably my favorite thing about Pablo Torre’s new podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out. Where else are you going to find silly extended chats with Action Bronson next to legitimate and humanizing pieces of journalism like the episode where he looked into a state law banning trans athletes from high school sports in the name of competitive fairness and then interviewed the one (1) trans athlete in the entire state it impacted, who wasn’t even all that good at the sport in question? Nowhere, I suspect. It’s a nice reminder that anything can be more than one thing and still do all of them well. And it’s also a really good time. – Brian Grubb
Ding dong, the best pop culture podcast of 2023 is calling. Saturday Night Live breakout Bowen Yang and comedian Matt Rogers have been serving the tea on all things pop culture since 2016 and, despite the podcast market being flooded with imitators, their brand of savvy, sharp-tongued, hysterical commentary is still the best of its kind. That’s mostly thanks to their easy banter – an inimitable byproduct of their years-long IRL friendship – and their in-depth knowledge of all things Real Housewives, but their roster of celebrity guests, unique industry insight, and comedic instincts also elevate the show beyond its format. — Jessica Toomer
There are surely countless film podcasts currently running (I’m not going to verify this, but it just feels true) and even more comedy podcasts (same), but there is only one comedy-film hybrid podcast hosted by two friends that go through the filmography of auteurs (probably?). This podcast is Blank Check With Griffin & David, hosted by actor Griffin Newman and The Atlantic film critic David Sims. The episodes often run long as all hell (sometimes going beyond three hours) but somehow the duo, their beloved scum-bum producer Ben Hosley, and generally fantastic guests (Tatiana Maslany, Zach Cherry, Nia DaCosta) never wear out their welcome while breaking down the work of recently featured directors David Fincher, Park Chan-wook, and Danny Boyle. Weekly episodes focus on a single film and are typically hilarious, empathetic, and deeply insightful. But what always strikes me is how after years of doing this, the podcast still comes from a place of love that increases both the cinematic knowledge and appreciation of the listeners. — Philip Cosores
There are few podcasts that can mix history lessons, humor, and the occasional public health service all in one, but Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine does just that. While the podcast began as a way for Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin (of My Brother My Brother and Me fame) to discuss interesting stories from medical history, in recent years they have also debunked dangerous myths, helped promote proper vaccinations, and more, making them a must-listen. Sydnee is knowledgeable and self-assured, bringing her experience as a physician to help explain everything from leprosy to burping, while Justin jokes and helps represent the audience, who are likely not doctors themselves. The podcast has been going strong for a decade, but it’s never dipped in quality and is still hilarious and educational. — Danielle Ryan
I listen to a lot of film podcasts, too many to recommend just one. So let’s zig over to film-adjacent territory because this is the year I finally listened to a friend’s advice and started listening to Podcast: The Ride. Tied, sometimes loosely, to amusement park rides and attractions (or any sort of themed entity really, it finds Mike Carlson, Jason Sheridan, and Scott Gairdner exploring the obsessions that have stayed with them well into adulthood, be it old TV specials filmed in EPCOT or long-forgotten celebrity-branded restaurants. I’m probably at the low end of theme park appreciation in my house, but their enthusiasm is infectious, their knowledge of this world impressive, and their digressions often as fun as their discussion of the topic at hand. — Keith Phipps
Werner Herzog said, “We have to articulate ourselves, otherwise we would be cows in the field.” Cows in the Field puts that quote to the test, packaging the headiest of concepts into language that any curious filmgoers can understand. Each week, MIT philosopher Justin Khoo and his wife Laura Khoo invite a film critic, friend, or colleague in academia to bring one of their favorite movies for discussion. While the conversation can go in many directions — Justin and Laura are as informed about film as they are about philosophy — the common denominator is their rare blend of intelligence, curiosity, and accessibility. If you ever wanted a film podcast that considered Joe vs. the Volcano in the context of Immanuel Kant’s notion of the sublime, or compared Yoda to Christian philosopher St. Augustine, Cows in the Field is the film podcast you’ve been waiting for. — Noah Gittell
Florida State’s board of trustees will meet for a special meeting tomorrow morning. While no formal topic was announced for the meeting, sources told ESPN that the topic at hand will be the school’s long-term athletic future. This will likely include a discussion to whether challenge the ACC’s “grant of rights”, potentially allowing Florida State to join another athletic conference.
Under the ACC’s “grant of rights”, schools are locked into the conference until the expiration of their media deal with ESPN in 2036. However, Florida State has spent the last year growing increasingly vocal about their discontent. Revenue gaps, revenue distribution, and the conference’s overall standing in college athletics have all been raised as issues. However, the tipping point was Florida State’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff. The Seminoles were left out in favor of Alabama, with the primary reason being that the SEC is a stronger conference than the ACC.
Ron DeSantis Threatens To Sue The NCAA Over Florida State Snub
BREAKING: Florida State has scheduled an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees for Friday morning.
This is the first concrete step needed in any effort to enable the school to take legal action against the ACC to challenge the grant of rights: https://t.co/yMqciYLE3K
Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis asked the Florida state legislature for $1 million in their new budget. The intention is to use the money to sue the NCAA for excluding Florida State from the College Football Playoff. “My first-grader, my fifth-grader, and my preschooler – they are all Noles. They are big-time fans and they do the tomahawk chop and they were not happy. We are going to set aside $1 million and let the chips fall where they may,” DeSantis told the chamber. However, it’s largely a symbolic gesture. The college football season will be decided long before the budget is ratified.
Furthermore, the state AG Ashley Moody also launched an investigation into the CFP committee. “I’m a lifelong Gator, but I’m also the Florida attorney general, and I know injustice when I see it. No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the result. The NCAA, conferences and the College Football Playoff committee are subject to antitrust laws. My office is launching an investigation to examine if the committee was involved in any anticompetitive conduct. As it stands, the committee’s decision reeks of partiality, so we are demanding answers — not only for FSU, but for all schools, teams and fans of college football. In Florida, merit matters. If it’s attention they were looking for, the committee certainly has our attention now,” Moody said in a video filmed at Florida State’s stadium.
Angel Reese was greeted by the first sell-out crowd in the 14-year history of Coppin State’s Physical Education Complex as she made her first return to her hometown of Baltimore since leaving the Maryland Terrapins last year. In front of 4100-eager fans, Reese and LSU dismantled their hosts 80-48. Reese had a game-high 26 points, adding 6 rebounds and 5 steals to her tally as well. “I knew that people were going to come out and support. They love me here, right or wrong, up and down. Baltimore has always had my back,” Reese said after the game. Flau’jae Johnson added 18 for the Tigers.
The win moved LSU to 12-1, their twelfth consecutive win since their season-opening loss to Colorado. However, the Tigers have hardly been tested during the non-conference period. Only Virginia and Virginia Tech have really pushed LSU since the Colorado game. However, that only adds to the hype around the Tigers’ January 25 clash with currently undefeated South Carolina.
Of course, the biggest story surrounding LSU’s early season start was the abrupt absence of Reese from the team for four games around Thanksgiving. Upon her return, Reese explained her absence as a “mental health break” and was self-imposed. “Taking time to yourself is really important. I feel like it’s just something important, resetting, refocusing within the team. I’m just happy to be back. My mental health is the most important before anything and I’m gonna make sure I’m okay before anything because I don’t wanna cause any harm or cancer in the locker room. I want to people realize that I’m not just an athlete. I’m a human, too. I go through things,” Reese said after LSU’s win over Virginia Tech.
Furthermore, Reese claimed that Shaq had FaceTimed her every day during her absence. Reese recently signed onto Reebok as Shaq’s first signing in his president of basketball role. However, Reese’s explanation raised questions with some fans. Firstly, it doesn’t explain why Reese was benched at halftime against Kent State in what Kim Mulkey called a “coach’s decision”. Secondly, one of the few comments Mulkey made about the situation was that it was a “locker room issue”. While things didn’t fully add up, fans were happy to have Reese return to the team.
@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/CujT5oJvnV
Just know we locked in over here 
.”
