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Shaq Sides With Giannis Antetokounmpo In Pacers Game Ball Dispute

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Shaq has told TMZ that he has sided with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the debate over who should get the game ball from the Bucks recent game with the Pacers. “I think by the letter of the law, if you’re playing at home, you should get the ball in both circumstances. But, you know I think Giannis had the right to be upset. [Speaking as Giannis] ‘Hey, We’re in Milwaukee, I just made history, I want the ball.’ And you know, he went after the ball,” Shaq explained.

Tensions flared between Giannis and members of the Indiana Pacers after the Pacers seemingly took the game ball from Giannis’ record-breaking night. A scuffle ensued in the corridor outside the visitors’ locker room as Giannis confronted Tyrese Haliburton amongst others. This led to two versions of events. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said the team took the ball to mark Oscar Tshiebwe’s first career points. Meanwhile, Giannis said he went looking for the ball to mark Damian Lillard moving into fifth place on the career three-pointers list. However, both Giannis and Carlisle agreed that the confrontation was “unfortunate”.

Shaq Speaks On Draymond Green Suspension

In the same interview with TMZ, Shaq also touched on Draymond Green’s recent “indefinite suspension”. Shaq has the outlet that he believes the appropriate suspension for Draymond Green after his ejection against the Suns is just two games. “I don’t think Draymond said, ‘Hey, I’m going to punch this guy just ’cause he’s pulling my jersey,’” Shaq said. Green is currently one game into an indefinite suspension. Per the NBA’s statement on the decision, the suspension “takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” Furthermore, “He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play,” the league added. Green received his 18th career ejection, and third of the season, for striking the Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić in the face with a spinning backhand early in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game.

Many people have said that the punishment for Green was too harsh. “This fool is my favorite basketball player, WTF Is wrong wit him. that was a mistake, I will apologize for him. come on it’s a physical game,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram. However, the league has held firm in keeping Green sidelined for the time being.

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Ja Morant Reflects On 25-Game Suspension

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Ja Morant has reflected on his 25-game suspension for brandishing a firearm on livestreams on multiple occasions earlier this year. Amid some wider comments, Morant said there had been some “horrible days”. However, Morant accepted that simply returning to the Grizzlies wasn’t going to be enough for a lot of people. “I can’t, you know, make nobody believe me outside of my actions. So me answering this question with just words probably won’t mean nothing to nobody,” Morant told reporters on Friday.

Morant is expected to return next Tuesday against the Pelicans. However, Morant returns to a Grizzlies team in dire straits. Last year’s Western Conference second seed is 6-17 and on a three-game losing streak. Their last win was against the even more hapless Detroit Pistons on December 6. Whether Morant can help engineer a turnaround remains to be seen.

Ja Morant Testifies To Self-Defense In Assault Case

Ja Morant speaks on his return which he can make on Tuesday, Dec. 19 pic.twitter.com/rKpy08Md9e

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2023

However, Morant’s gun-flashing suspension is not the only legal trouble that Morant is in. Morant is facing a lawsuit over assaulting a 17-year-old boy at his home last year. While testifying in court earlier this week, Morant did not deny hitting the boy. However, Morant argued that he hit him in “self-defense” after the boy threw a basketball at his face. Despite this, the prosecution is pushing hard to punish Morant. “We’re in this court. We’re not on a basketball court. In this court, we’re all equal. Nobody’s above the law.” an attorney for the prosecution said during opening arguments. This remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.

Morant’s fall from grace has also been pinned on his father, Tee. “Tee has been a major driving force in all of this. He never made the NBA, but this was his chance to live like he’s an NBA superstar. That’s been a problem from the beginning,” an anonymous source told ESPN while discussing what had driven Morant into such a compromising position.

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Chargers Fire Brandon Staley After Two And A Half Seasons

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Los Angeles Chargers have fired Brandon Staley before the end of his third season. The firing comes after the Chargers were blown out 63-21 on Thursday Night Football. However, the team played without starting quarterback Justin Herbert, who was out with a fractured finger. The team also fired GM Tom Telesco. Staley becomes the second Chargers head coach to be fired midseason. The first was Kevin Gillbride, who was fired in 1998.

“These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly — especially when you consider the number of people they impact. We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need new vision. Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they’ve earned more,” team owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. Herbert, who is still viewed as the franchise’s future, will now play under his third head coach since being drafted.

Brandon Staley Fails To Capitalize On Golden Opportunity

we have parted ways with Head Coach Brandon Staley and General Manager Tom Telesco

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 15, 2023

Brandon Staley was brought in by Spanos ahead of the 2021 season, coming in to mentor then-second-year quarterback Justin Herbert. However, despite being a defensive-minded head coach, the Chargers were never able to find any sort of defensive consistency. They finished 9-8 in Staley’s first season and only improved to 10-7 in the next season. Furthermore, Staley’s tenure has been defined by major defensive failings. In the 2022 playoffs, the Chargers raced out to a 27-0 lead against the Jags, only to lose 30-31.

Staley finishes his first head coaching gig with a 24-24 regular-season record. Staley has been coaching at the NFL level since 2017 but cut his teeth with scrappy college programs. It’s unclear what is next for the man once hailed as the next young great head coach. The Chargers, now 5-9, are yet to announce their interim head coach. Their next game sees them host the Bills on December 23 as part of a pre-Christmas Saturday tripleheader.

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Jake Paul Gets Vivek Ramaswamy Ringside Tickets To Andre August Fight

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Jake Paul has provided GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ringside tickets to his Florida boxing match against Andre August on Saturday. Per TMZ, Ramaswamy will watch the fight ringside, grab a quick face-to-face with Paul before jetting off to Iowa for six campaign events on Sunday. Despite saying he is open to meeting with any candidate interested in meeting him, Paul appears to have formed a special bond with Ramaswamy.

The pair linked up on TikTok back in September. The pair danced together as text appeared on-screen explaining how Ramaswamy was making an effort to “reach out to the younger generations.” It was quite an ironic post, given that Ramaswamy doesn’t believe that people under the age of 25 should be allowed to vote. The billionaire has not made much of an impact on the polls. However, he has received a substantial amount of attention for a handful of his policies. As mentioned, Ramaswamy believes that, aside from a military exemption, the voting age should be 25. Furthermore, Ramaswamy believes voters must have to pass a civics test to vote. This is despite Ramaswamy himself not knowing when the Constitution was written. Additionally, Ramaswamy is a hardliner on immigration, despite the fact that his own father is not a US citizen.

How Is Vivek Ramaswamy Doing In The GOP Primary?

Jake Paul has invited his good friend and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to sit ringside for his fight against boxer Andre August. pic.twitter.com/zBmsedYzUc

— Calay News (@calaycorpnews) December 15, 2023

According to polling data from FiveThirtyEight, Ramaswamy is currently a distant fourth in the GOP primary. While he was third at some points during the summer, he has been overtaken by Nikki Haley. At the time of writing, Ramaswamy is averaging 4.5% of the vote in the latest polls. That’s less than half of Haley (11.2%) in third place. Furthermore, Ramaswamy is only doing marginally better in Iowa, the first test of the primary calendar. However, his 5.7% of the Iowa vote is still only going for third and is almost three times lower than Haley’s (15.9%).

Ramaswamy’s most recent appearance was a town hall forum in Iowa broadcast on CNN. In an effort to appeal to far-right voters, Ramaswamy made several false claims about the January 6 insurrection, including about the role of police and the purported presence of undercover federal agents. He also provided misleading answers about wage growth versus inflation and the role of the Federal Reserve. Ramaswamy, whose estimated net worth is around $1 billion, had tried to frame himself as a champion of the people. However, it’s starting to become clear that it’s simply not resonating with voters.

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Shaq Says Draymond Green Should Only Be Suspended Two Games

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Shaq has told TMZ that he believes the appropriate suspension for Draymond Green after his ejection against the Suns is just two games. “I don’t think Draymond said, ‘Hey, I’m going to punch this guy just ’cause he’s pulling my jersey,’” Shaq said. Green is currently one game into an indefinite suspension. Per the NBA’s statement on the decision, the suspension “takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” Furthermore, “He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play,” the league added. Green received his 18th career ejection, and third of the season, for striking the Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić in the face with a spinning backhand early in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game.

Steve Kerr Speaks On Draymond Green Suspension

Meanwhile, Steve Kerr, Green’s head coach, has also spoken on the suspension. “The one who choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf, the one who punched Jordan last year — that’s the guy who needs to change. This is not just about an outburst on the court. It’s about his life. It’s about someone who I believe in, someone I have known for decades, who I love for his loyalty. There is a lot of this that has to happen with people who are experts in this field. My role in this is to support Draymond as best I can. We want to give him the space, time and assistance he needs to make a significant change. We’re not qualified to offer some of the things he needs,” Kerr said.

However, some believe that the Warriors are no longer in a position to help Green. Sources who spoke to ESPN this week said the Warriors had “lost their leverage” with Green after failing to adequately punish him for punching Jordan Poole last season. Stephen A. Smith said on First Take that “no one would blame” the Warriors if they sought to trade Green.

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Steve Kerr Addresses Draymond Green Suspension

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Steve Kerr addressed the indefinite suspension of Draymond Green after the Warriors dropped their third consecutive game on Thursday night. “The one who choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf, the one who punched Jordan last year — that’s the guy who needs to change. This is not just about an outburst on the court. It’s about his life. It’s about someone who I believe in, someone I have known for decades, who I love for his loyalty. There is a lot of this that has to happen with people who are experts in this field. My role in this is to support Draymond as best I can. We want to give him the space, time and assistance he needs to make a significant change. We’re not qualified to offer some of the things he needs,” Kerr said.

Rudy Gobert Feels “Empathy” For Draymond Green

“The one who choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail, the one who punched Jordan last year, that’s the guy who needs to change.”

Steve Kerr on why Draymond Green’s suspension makes sense

(via @NBCSWarriors) pic.twitter.com/VsXJPb9ECd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2023

However. Kerr wasn’t the only person to address Green’s suspension Thursday night. “I have empathy for him. You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy,” Rudy Gobert told ESPN.

However, Gobert, who was placed in a chokehold by Green during an altercation last month, believed the indefinite suspension was necessary. “I’m not sure what that really means, so it’s hard to tell. I mean, you don’t want someone to get badly hurt. You’ve got to fix that. That’s it,” Gobert said. Furthermore, the Warriors lost their first game of Green’s latest suspension, falling 121-113 to the Clippers.

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Rudy Gobert Feels “Empathy” For Draymond Green Following Suspension

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Rudy Gobert has extended an olive branch to Draymond Green after the Warriors veteran was indefinitely suspended by the NBA. “I have empathy for him. You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy,” Gobert told ESPN Thursday night.

Why Was Draymond Green Suspended?

Rudy Gobert on Draymond Green:

“I have empathy for him. You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy.”

(via @espn_macmahon) pic.twitter.com/CWmYRY8xP2

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 15, 2023

Draymond Green was “suspended indefinitely” by the NBA after being ejected against the Suns earlier this week. Per the NBA’s statement on the decision, the suspension “takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” Furthermore, “He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play,” the league added. Green received his 18th career ejection, and third of the season, for striking the Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić in the face with a spinning backhand early in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game.

While Green did apologize for the incident, the NBA has chosen to come down hard on the veteran. The Warriors will meet with Green and his agent, Rich Paul, to devise a rehabilitative program to help Green return to the court. Furthermore, a source told ESPN that the Warriors had “lost their leverage for disciplining” Green after not adequately punishing him after he punched Jordan Poole last season. However, sources also told the outlet that Green is open to getting “whatever help he needs” to “overcome the challenges he is facing.”

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Dwight Howard Seeks Dismissal Of Stephen Harper Lawsuit

December 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Dwight Howard has filed a motion seeking a pre-trial dismissal of the lawsuit brought against him by Stephen Harper. Howard’s motion calls Harper’s alleged assault “consensual”. Additionally, the motion also states that the lawsuit is “frivolous” and born of “unrequited love” on the part of Harper. Furthermore, Howard and his legal team accused Harper’s attorneys of submitting doctored text messages as evidence. This came after Harper’s team filed previously unseen text messages to the court.

“In short, the totality of the text messages between Mr. Howard and Mr. Harper make it abundantly clear that Mr. Harper’s claims are frivolous, that he was a willing participant in the events of July 19, 2021, and the early morning hours of July 20, 2021, and that the touching of his person had been invited by him. More importantly, the explicit messages not only show consent but also that Mr. Harper was initiating some of the sexual contact. Mr. Harper not only invited the initial experience, but tried to initiate a second encounter because the first was so enjoyable,” Howard’s motion read in part. The court has yet to rule on the motion.

What Is Dwight Howard Accused Of Doing?

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 model Stephen Harper.

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Are Naomi Osaka & Cordae Still Together?

December 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In a new interview with InStyle magazine, tennis star Naomi Osaka goes in-depth about motherhood, offering some insight into parenting and the adjustments she’s made since the birth of her daughter Shai with rapper Cordae. The interview comes about two months after breakup rumors emerged online in the wake of what some interpreted as some suggestive posts. InStyle‘s interview focuses mainly on the changes to Naomi’s life and only mentions Cordae three times, so fans looking for more info might still have some questions.

Are Naomi Osaka & Cordae Still Together?

According to E! the rumors of the couple’s breakup first surfaced in October, after Osaka deleted or archived every photo featuring Cordae on Instagram and apparently unfollowed him to boot. Instagram Story updates like “I just want someone that will watch the sunset with me” were interpreted by some fans as subtle admissions of a split, just a few months removed from Shai’s birth. At around the same time, Cordae released his single “Make Up Your Mind” with a music video depicting a complicated relationship.

Whatever their dating status at the very least, it sounds like they’re still on good terms, if not technically together (although InStyle‘s story still describes Cordae as Osaka’s boyfriend in the intro). All Naomi tells InStyle about Cordae is that they’ve “built a really good foundation” for co-parenting, adding, “I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai.” So, until either comes out and just says it, there’s still no real answer, but it’s good to hear that their baby has a loving home, either way.

Louisville Lie About Player Transferring, Blown Out At Home As He Watches From The Stands

December 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Louisville has been caught in a lie after announcing that a player was entering the transfer portal. The lie was exposed after the player in question to say he had done no such thing. The Cardinals put out an official statement announcing that JUCO transfer Koron Davis had declared for the transfer portal. However, Davis then took to social media to dispute the claim, saying he enjoyed “being a Cardinal”. A day later, Louisville released a second statement, this time saying that Davis had been formally dismissed from the team.

However, things only got worse for the Cardinals as they were soundly beaten 75-63 by a 3-7 Arkansas State team later that day. As the Cardinals fell to 4-6, social media users were quick to spot that Davis was in the sparse crowd, cheering on his now-former teammates. After the game, second-year head coach Kenny Payne declined to address the situation. “It’s emotional for me because he’s a good kid. It’s one of those circumstances where we’ve already addressed it,” Payne said. Some believe that the transfer announcement was a poor-conceived attempt to protect Davis. The team made the original announcement instead of outright announcing he had been cut from the team.

Flau’jae Johnson Opens For Rod Wave

Koron Davis, the player UL said requested to transfer and who later himself said that never happened, is sitting in the crowd for tonight’s Louisville game

What an embarrassing day for the program all the way around pic.twitter.com/NLIjtfeCMQ

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 14, 2023

In more positive college basketball news, LSU sophomore Flau’jae Johnson took some time away from Baton Rouge to perform at a Rod Wave concert in Atlanta. Johnson performed a few of the tracks she has released in recent years, including her best-known hit, “Big 4”. Previously, Johnson has performed at a LeBron James party as well as LSU’s national championship celebration back in April.

However, her music has also proven controversial at times. On May 9, LSU guard and rapper Flau’jae Johnson dropped a remix of Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor”. In putting her own style on the track, Johnson included the lyric “In this 911, blowing smoke like them towers.” The song quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons, with right-wing outlets such as Fox and Outkick very angry at Johnson for “mocking” 9/11. However, Johnson later issued an apology. “I just want to come on here and let ya’ll know by no means would I ever intentionally try to disrespect or offend anyone. My whole goal in music is to push positivity and spread love. So, in no way shape or form would I ever intentionally try to disrespect or offend anyone,” Johnson wrote on Instagram.

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