Magic Johnson Explains When He Knew Michael Jordan’s Era Had Started

Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are two legends of the game and over the years, they had some pretty incredible battles. Of course, Magic and Larry Bird came into the league before Jordan, and when MJ was a rookie, Bird and Magic were in the midst of some pretty incredible NBA battles. Eventually, Johnson and Bird took a backseat to MJ who started to win championships and a pretty remarkable rate.

While speaking to Bakari Sellers for The Ringer, Johnson was asked about when he knew it was officially the Jordan Era of basketball. Unsurprisingly, Johnson brought it back to 1991 when Jordan won his first title against the Lakers, in just five games.

“He came up on the right side and he came up with the tongue out,” Johnson recalled. “We all jumped, we thought we had him. And in mid-air he switched it to the left hand. We said ‘you know what…passing of the torch.’ I told him it’s your turn. It’s your time now.”

Johnson also went on to talk about Jordan’s brief retirement and ability to come back and win three more championships. Needless to say, Magic was amazed by what Jordan was able to do, and his six rings will certainly live on forever.

Michael Jordan

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Alex Beresford Likes Tweet That Seemingly Shades Piers Morgan

Earlier this month, Piers Morgan quit Good Morning Britain after an on-air spat with fellow TV personality Alex Beresford. The fight erupted when the two were discussing Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, who said she was left “suicidal” when tensions within the Royal Family rose during her pregnancy. Morgan originally said he didn’t “believe a word she says,” prompting Alex Beresford to call Morgan out for being insensitive and rude. Morgan refused to apologize, walking out of the show in early March and quitting shortly after. 

This week, Alex Beresford returned to GMB as a presenter following Morgan’s abrupt exit, hosting the show alongside Kate Garraway. The episode went on relatively normally, with Kate saying it was “lovely” to have Alex back on the show. It seems as though Alex felt pretty justified about being welcomed back to GMB, liking a Tweet a few hours later from former radio presenter Maya Jama that said, “good things come when you’re not a prick.” 

Despite this Tweet that seemingly shades Piers Morgan, Beresford has insisted that he did not want Morgan to quit the show. “I didn’t want him to quit – but I did want him to listen,” Beresford said. “Piers’ departure sincerely wasn’t the conclusion I was hoping for… He’s given me advice on several occasions and for that I am grateful. I wish him well!”

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Benny Blanco Recalls A Few Awkward Encounters With Drake

Benny Blanco’s produced some of the biggest hits alongside some of the biggest names in music but it appears that he hasn’t completely adjusted to being constantly surrounded by celebrities. During a recent sit-down with Zane Lowe, he recounted a few awkward tales regarding his encounters with Drake which apparently included a brief run-in with the Toronto rapper in the bathroom at the Grammys. “Drake walks into the bathroom and he’s right next to me at the stall and I’m like, ‘What am I…’ … What am I going to say to him?” he said, noting that he ended up dashing out the stall.

Though that encounter took place about a decade ago, the pair ran into each other, once again, at the Grammys shortly after. This time, Benny, who brought his parents, sat next to Drake and Rihanna. He said his mom sat next to Drake while his father was seated next to Rihanna. “Then my mom is sitting there and she starts talking to Drake and she’s like, ‘You know, my son makes music.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, who’s your son?’ And then she was like, ‘Oh Benny Blanco.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, I love him. Yeah. Set us up. We got to…’ And then he literally switched seats with his dad because I think my mom was probably being so annoying that he actually switches,” he said.

The two encounters finally culminated into a moment that he described as “straight out of a Seth Rogen movie.” Blanco and Ed Sheeran were touring the roads of Canada around the time WATTBA came out when they were invited to a party at “some place that Drake owns.” According to Blanco, there were approximately 67 women and six goofy men in the corner before Drake even arrived. 

“We’re on the dance floor, doing the robot and then everyone’s hating on us at the beginning. And then eventually everyone’s like, ‘Okay!’ And we’re dancing with everyone. We start the party. And then Drake comes in, we have a small interaction,” he explained.

Check out a clip from Blanco’s interview with Zane Lowe below. 

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Halle Berry’s Child Support Payments Slashed In Half To $8k Per Month: Report

Halle Berry remains so carefree these days that it’s easy to forget that just years ago she was involved in a messy split with her then-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry. The two share a daughter named Nahla together, and the youngster is the center of the $16,000 in child support payments the famous actress has been paying her ex monthly since 2014. Previously referring to the payments as “extortion,” the 54-year-old beauty can take a sigh of relief based on recent reports that the payments have been cut in half to $8,000 monthly instead. 


John Sciulli/Getty Images for Saks Fifth Avenue

According to the reports, the actress payments have been slashed in half to $8,000 rather than the original six-figure number. Last month, she took to Instagram to discuss the child support payments. The actress shared an image to her page of a quote reading, “Women don’t owe you sh*t,” penning in the caption, “& that’s on mary had a little lamb.” 

The actress further wrote in the comments, “it takes great strength eryday to pay it. And BTW it’s wrong and it’s extortion!” She continued, touching on the legality of legal battles, “I feel if a woman or a man is having to pay support that is way more than the reasonable needs to help SUPPORT the child, I think that is wrong!”

According to The Blast, the new court arrangement lowers the child support payments from $16,000 to $8,000 per month. The Oscar winner will also reportedly pay $85,000 in retroactive support, as well as continuing to front the bill for her daughter’s private school tuition health insurance coverage. 

According to Vanity Fair, the initial child support ruling was based on their 2014 incomes at the time. The actress reportedly, “made roughly $4.7 million in a nine-month period in 2012 compared to the $192,921 Aubry earned from October 2011 to October 2012.”


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How Will Lebron James’ Injury Impact The Lakers?

Every single year, LeBron James should be an MVP candidate. No matter if it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, or the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron-led teams only seem to perform well when he is healthy. If LeBron is out of the lineup, you can forget winning games, and depending on how long the injury lasts for, you can pretty much forget making the playoffs as well. It’s the harsh reality of having LeBron on your team, however, when he is in peak form, you can be sure that your team will probably go all the way to the NBA Finals.

The most recent example of this was back during the 2018-19 season where LeBron spent his first campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite a mediocre supporting cast, LeBron was able to carry the Lakers to fourth place in the Western Conference. On Christmas Day, LeBron went down with a groin injury and it snowballed from there, as the Lakers faltered week in and week out. Eventually, LeBron returned, but it was far too late as the team was out of playoff contention, and for the first time since his days in Cleveland, LeBron would have to miss the postseason. The following year, LeBron was back in shape, and the Lakers went all the way to the NBA Finals and won the championship. This essentially proves just how much LeBron moves the needle, even in his 18th season in the NBA.

Now, let’s flash forward to this season, where the Lakers are the defending champs and arguably have a better roster than they did during their championship run. Just a few weeks ago, the team was sitting in second place in the Western Conference standings and seemed poise for yet another deep playoff showing. LeBron James was playing some incredible basketball and while Anthony Davis had a slow start, he was beginning to pick up some steam. Then, disaster struck. Davis went down with an injury to his calf. Some feared it was his Achilles, although it turned out to be a calf strain. Some thought he would be back after the All-Star break, although now, even his own head coach is unsure of his progress, saying “he’s still a ways away.

Without Davis in the lineup, the Lakers struggled, although LeBron was still putting up solid performances and squeaking out wins whenever he could. Unfortunately, the Lakers faced another setback last Saturday when LeBron sprained his ankle during a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Now, LeBron is expected to miss between four and six weeks, which means the team will now be without his services for what could prove to be the most crucial time of the regular season. Normally, this would be fine considering Davis is on the roster– with him out, however, there is absolutely no one the Lakers can fall back on.

Since LeBron’s injury, the Lakers have lost four-straight games and have fallen to fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Fourth is nothing to panic over, because it would still mean home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason. Of course, the Lakers have 27 games left to play, and LeBron will be out for the majority of them, all while Davis’ status remains up in the air. This puts every single player on the roster in an extremely difficult position. LeBron and AD are both top five players, and now, their teammates will have to somehow compensate for their absence. The Lakers were built around these two guys, and without them on the roster, the Lakers are just ordinary. Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroeder, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are all fine players, but you can’t expect them to carry the roster, whether it be offensively or defensively.

LeBron james

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Just by taking a look at the standings, you can clearly see that the Lakers have a solid cushion when it comes to a playoff spot. They are 28-17 while the ninth-place Memphis Grizzlies are 21-20. This means the Lakers are up by a comfortable margin, albeit, this could evaporate very quickly if the Lakers don’t snap out of this losing streak. If the purple and gold continue to fall flat when it comes to their performances, and AD takes a lot longer to come back, then the Lakers could be in a very uncomfortable position by the time LeBron returns to the roster. If you’re a Lakers fan, you can’t help but have a little anxiety over what happened in 2019, and this current predicament feels eerily similar. The main difference is this roster is better-equipped for this incredibly-difficult situation.

If you’re the Lakers, you can’t get too comfortable. There is always a risk that the teams behind you start to go on winning streaks, and if that happens, then the Lakers could find themselves struggling to stay afloat. No matter what happens, it’s clear that LeBron will forever be the league’s most valuable player.

Dwyane Wade Gives His Thoughts On Victor Oladipo Heat Trade

Thursday’s NBA trade deadline was extremely busy as numerous players throughout the league were dealt to new teams. This was one of the biggest deadlines in the history of the NBA which makes sense when you consider just how many players were begging to be traded from their current situations. One of those players was Victor Oladipo who was sent from the Houston Rockets over to the Miami Heat, which was the team he wanted to be with all along.

Now, Oladipo will join a team that already boasts the talents of guys like Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson. As a little welcome to Miami, Heat legend Dwyane Wade took to Twitter with some words of encouragement for Oladipo, noting that his inclusion on the team is what’s best for the franchise.

“It feels right. Congrts my brotha,” Wade said simply. The Heat have been inconsistent at times this season although, with Oladipo on the roster, it’s clear that the team means business. This is a team that made the NBA Finals last season and if they get hot at the right time, perhaps they could make yet another NBA playoff push.

Let us know what you think about the Heat’s latest trade, in the comments below. Also, be sure to stay tuned for more news from around the NBA.

Victor Oladipo

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Gallant Shines On 8-Track EP “Neptune”

Gallant is one of the best r&b singers out right now and whenever he drops new music, you can be sure that fans are going to find it and gravitate to it. The artist knows how to tell a story and he can also grasp at the emotions that many people face whenever they are in relationships. With that being said, many were excited for his new 8-track EP Neptune which certainly did not disappoint.

With a runtime of just 28 minutes, this is a project that can be digested in a single car ride and if you’re listening to it alongside your significant other, then you will certainly have a great time. Each track is buttery smooth and there are three features to be had here, including ones from Arin Jay, Brandy, and VanJess.

If you’re a Gallant fan this is an absolute must-listen, and you can stream it, below.

Tracklist:

1. Comeback.
2. Chemical Romance.
3. Dynamite. (ft. Brandy)
4. Julie.
5. Third Eye Blind. (ft. Arin Ray)
6. Scars.
7. No More Tries. (ft. VanJess)
8. Relapse.

Price Delivers His Sophomore Project ‘F.O.E.S.’ Featuring Vince Staples, Bas, & More

PRICE began the rollout of his sophomore project F.O.E.S. by sharing the singles “Selfish” featuring Bas and Wyclef Jean, and “Amistad.” On the making of the song, he explained that it was based on a true story from living next door to a racist family that he used to clash with often.

“I decided to take some of the episodes from that time and do what I do best with them; turn them into a song. The song plays on the events of the movie Amistad as we’re now in the present taking over the slave ship as they did in the movie,” he explained

 

He opens the project with the grand anecdotal introduction track “F.R.E.E. On Evans Street,” and follows up with the smooth ode to love, beautiful women, and conviction “Golden.” He spits on the track, “Told my moms I’ll be the greatest ever like an omen,” and it’s hard not to believe the talented rapper as he confidently rhymes over the vibey beat. 

Other highlights from the 12-track project include the bouncy cut “Rank” with Rino Bideaux, the grimy fifth track “Amistad,” and the street anthem “Issue” featuring Vince Staples. His flow on “Bad Dreams” is also another highlight worth mentioning, as he quite literally skates over the beat. Check out the F.O.E.S. tracklist below and give it a listen. Of course, let us know what you think down in the comments!

Tracklist

1. F.R.E.R. on Evans Street

2. Golden

3. Grown Folks Business 

4. Rank feat. Bino Rideaux 

5. Amistad 

6. Issue feat. Vice Staples

7. Medals 

8. Bad Dreams 

9. Score feat. Camper

10. Protected feat. Algee Smith

11. Selfish (feat. BAS, Wyclef Jean) 

12. Said and Done 

Bow Wow Explains Why He Can’t Cancel R. Kelly Or 6ix9ine

Cancel culture has been a hot topic over the past few years; a controversial one, at that. We’ve seen plenty of people, including the former president of the United States, rail against the concept of being ‘canceled’ but in hip-hop and R&B, it’s been a particularly touchy subject. Artists like R. Kelly and Tekashi 6ix9ine, particularly, have been polarizing figures at large which have played a role in how they’ve maintained their relevance.


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Some people don’t appear to be on board with the ideas of canceling artists, especially if the art, itself, is worth consuming. During a recent interview with Fox Soul, the rapper explained that he’s able to separate the art from the artist in regards to artists like R. Kelly and Tekashi 6ix9ine. “How I would view him as an artist, he’s almost like a rockstar,” explained Bow Wow of his fandom of R. Kelly. “When I look at him as the artist, right? What he does in his personal life is what he does in his personal life but when I look at Tekashi 6ix9ine, I look at the artist.”

Shad explained that he doesn’t ‘hop on waves’ in terms of ‘canceling’ individuals in the limelight because he doesn’t know these people personally. “We know the story, we see what it is. That’s what it is. Cool. But, that’s not my business, but, you know, the music is something separate,” he added. “We all don’t agree with what happened to R. Kelly but do I still listen to his music at times? The artist? Yes, I do. It’s great music.”

Check out the clip below.