Solomon Hill Shoots Down Theory That He Injured LeBron James Purposely

Solomon Hill says he would never intentionally injure a player, after colliding with LeBron James during the Hawks’ 99-94 win over the Lakers, Saturday. Following the game, multiple Lakers claimed that Hill’s steal attempt was not a basketball play and unnecessary. 

“Would never disrespect the game and take a player out purposely… he knows that,” Hill tweeted Saturday night. “That’s all that matters to me. praying for a speedy recovery. #riptothementionstho #moredmsthansaweetie.”

Solomon Hill, LeBron James
Michael Owens / Getty Images

James went down in the second quarter after Hill landed on his ankle during an attempted steal. The four-time MVP was visibly frustrated on his way to the locker room, knocking over a chair on the way.

“We don’t feel like it was one of those basketball-type plays,” Montrezl Harrell told reporters. “He had to go through his leg to get the ball.”

Dennis Schröder added that it was an “unnecessary play.”

LeBron explained his anger on Twitter after the game without putting the blame on Hill: “Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now. Man facepalming. The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left.”

With the loss, the Lakers fall to third in the Western Conference and 28-14 overall. James will be out indefinitely.

[Via]

California To Reopen Theme Parks, But Officials Advise No Screaming On Roller Coasters

Theme parks in California are set to reopen after being closed as a safety measure in response to the coronavirus pandemic; however, patrons are being told they should avoid screaming on roller coasters. The California Attractions and Parks Association has avised that guests wear their face masks on rides and avoid shouting.

“Face covering usage and/or modifications to seat loading patterns will be required on amusement park rides to mitigate the effects of shouting,” CAPA wrote in its Responsible Reopening Plan. “Additionally, on rides, guests generally face in one direction.”

Theme Park, California
Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

The proposal will allow for Disneyland, Universal Studios, Six Flags, and more to open with limited capacity. For now, the only open Disney resort open in the United States is in Orlando, Florida.

Joey Bada$$ recently complained about Disney’s requirements in Flordia after the resort kicked out his autistic cousin who refused to wear a face mask. The rapper says his cousin is a child and doesn’t understand the importance of mask-wearing.

“These guys have completely ruined my family’s trip,” Bada$$ wrote on Instagram, Saturday. “We came out here 30+ for my daughters’ bday and they turned my lil cousin away, can’t even enjoy this experience anymore.”

He also recorded a video confronting the employees who instructed them to leave.

[Via]

Joe Exotic Describes Time Since “Tiger King” Debut As: “A Year Of Hell”

Joe Exotic, of Tiger King fame, says “it has been a year of hell” since the wildly popular Netflix series premiered last March. Speaking through his attorney, John M. Phillips of the Phillips & Hunt firm, he explained to TMZ just how bad things have been for him.

Exotic is particularly frustrated about his ex-employees who are out to “just collect money and talk shit to get on TV.” He also claims that they are using his name “to profit off the hell I am living.”

Regardless, Phillips says Exotic remains confident “the truth will come out … come hell or high water, they will all answer to perjury at some point.”

Exotic has made numerous attempts to be released from prison and even reached out to Kim Kardashian for help receiving a presidential pardon back when Donald Trump was still in office.

Another one of Exotic’s attorneys, Francisco Hernandez, recently told Metro.co.uk that he is worried about the Netflix star’s health: “I’m worried about him. With a blood immune disorder, if he gets COVID right now, it could very well be the death of him. COVID is still going through the prison system and he’s not out of the woods, it could kill him.”

[Via]

Joe Exotic Describes Time Since “Tiger King” Debut As: “A Year Of Hell”

Joe Exotic, of Tiger King fame, says “it has been a year of hell” since the wildly popular Netflix series premiered last March. Speaking through his attorney, John M. Phillips of the Phillips & Hunt firm, he explained to TMZ just how bad things have been for him.

Exotic is particularly frustrated about his ex-employees who are out to “just collect money and talk shit to get on TV.” He also claims that they are using his name “to profit off the hell I am living.”

Regardless, Phillips says Exotic remains confident “the truth will come out … come hell or high water, they will all answer to perjury at some point.”

Exotic has made numerous attempts to be released from prison and even reached out to Kim Kardashian for help receiving a presidential pardon back when Donald Trump was still in office.

Another one of Exotic’s attorneys, Francisco Hernandez, recently told Metro.co.uk that he is worried about the Netflix star’s health: “I’m worried about him. With a blood immune disorder, if he gets COVID right now, it could very well be the death of him. COVID is still going through the prison system and he’s not out of the woods, it could kill him.”

[Via]

Star WR Kenny Golladay Agrees To 4-Year, $72 Million Deal With Giants

The New York Giants have reached a contract agreement with star free agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay. The former Lions wide-out will be paid $72 million over four years. $40 million of the deal is guaranteed.

“It was kind of like a no-brainer and I’m glad it worked out,” Golladay told reporters Saturday.

As for what made the Giants stand out, he remarked: “Just the pieces on offense Those guys actually kind of reached out to me and I liked the vision that coach Joe Judge had and [offensive coordinator] Jason Garrett, as far as the offense, and I was all the way in.”

kenny golladay, giants
Rey Del Rio / Getty Images

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones praised the team’s decision to sign Golladay and said that he was, “interested in the culture we have in the building and the mindset of the team.”

He added: “I think he had heard it from coaches but wanted to hear how we saw it as players and how much we believed in it. I think finding the right fit in that sense was important to him. I can’t wait to get out on the field and get to work with him.”

Golladay was widely considered one of the best available players at his positions and makes for a great signing for a Giants team that released Golden Tate this off-season.

[Via]

Star WR Kenny Golladay Agrees To 4-Year, $72 Million Deal With Giants

The New York Giants have reached a contract agreement with star free agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay. The former Lions wide-out will be paid $72 million over four years. $40 million of the deal is guaranteed.

“It was kind of like a no-brainer and I’m glad it worked out,” Golladay told reporters Saturday.

As for what made the Giants stand out, he remarked: “Just the pieces on offense Those guys actually kind of reached out to me and I liked the vision that coach Joe Judge had and [offensive coordinator] Jason Garrett, as far as the offense, and I was all the way in.”

kenny golladay, giants
Rey Del Rio / Getty Images

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones praised the team’s decision to sign Golladay and said that he was, “interested in the culture we have in the building and the mindset of the team.”

He added: “I think he had heard it from coaches but wanted to hear how we saw it as players and how much we believed in it. I think finding the right fit in that sense was important to him. I can’t wait to get out on the field and get to work with him.”

Golladay was widely considered one of the best available players at his positions and makes for a great signing for a Giants team that released Golden Tate this off-season.

[Via]

Quavo Hits The Studio After Highly Publicized Split With Saweetie

Migos rapper Quavo was in the studio, Saturday, presumably working on new music following the announcement that he and Saweetie officially called it quits this week. The rapper uploaded a picture to Instagram of himself in front of the mic with only an emoji for a caption.

Saweetie first revealed the couple was through by calling out Quavo on Twitter: “I’m single. I’ve endured too much betrayal and hurt behind the scenes for a false narrative to be circulating that degrades my character. Presents don’t band aid scars and the love isn’t real when the intimacy is given to other women.”

She added: I emotionally checked out a long time ago and have walked away with a deep sense of peace and freedom. Excited for this new chapter of elevation.”

Quavo responded by calling Saweetie out for publicizing the situation: “I know you want to make this into a show so I’ll play my part just this one time. I don’t normally put my business out there, especially my personal life. I feel the need to address this so there are no false narratives. I had love for you and disappointed you did all that. You are not the woman I thought you were. I wish you nothing but the best.”

Quavo, Saweetie
Jerritt Clark /Getty Images

It remains to be seen whether Quavo will comment on the situation with the new music he appears to be working on.

Ian Eagle Did His Best Megan Thee Stallion Impression While Texas Southern Played In The NCAA Tournament

For the fifth time in eight years, Texas Southern won the SWAC and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Still, as a lesser-known school, participating in March Madness means that the university gets a spotlight on a national stage, something that is always really cool, even if the Tigers have danced a few times over the years.

This usually means that schools get a few fun “Do You Know?” segments at one point or another when they play. For the HBCU out of Houston that took on Michigan on Saturday afternoon, this included a pair of their most famous alums getting shouts: Former NFL player and current television personality Michael Strahan, and Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Ian Eagle was tasked with reading this, and because he is Ian Eagle, he decided to have a little fun with this. When Megan’s name came up, Eagle joked that she passed along a message to the team and proceeded to do an impression that was less than stellar.

Eagle is a pro, and he’ll do a few silly things whenever he’s calling a game in any sport, but I’ll level with you: I did not anticipate him doing any part of “Body.” Just call him Ian Thee Eagle.

LeBron James Out Indefinitely After Suffering Scary High Ankle Sprain

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after colliding with Solomon Hill during the teams’ 99-94 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Saturday. Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder called out Hill after the game.

“We don’t feel like it was one of those basketball-type plays,” Harrell told reporters. “He had to go through his leg to get the ball.”

Dennis Schröder added that it was an “unnecessary play.”

LeBron James, Injury
Michael Owens / Getty Images

James went down with 10:50 remaining in the second quarter when the Hill attempted to steal the ball from James and landed on his right ankle. The four-time MVP knocked over a chair in frustration while walking to the locker room. 

Losing James is massive for a Lakers team that has finals aspirations. Earlier this week, he remarked that he deserves more than just four MVP awards: “I should have more than four, I believe. But … I don’t sit around thinking about it or crying about it, or whatever the case may be. I just try to come in the next season and be the MVP and be talked about [for] it again. I bet a lot of the greatest that played this game feel like they should have more as well, if you ask any one of those guys.”

James will be out indefinitely with the injury.

[Via]

Oregon Advances After VCU Matchup Ruled No-Contest Due To COVID-19 Protocols

Saturday’s NCCA Tournament matchup between No. 7 seed Oregon and No. 10 seed VCU has been declared a no-contest after VCU failed to pass COVID-19 protocols. Oregon will automatically advance to the second round of the tournament.

Further details regarding VCU’s failure to meet protocol could not be given, according to the NCAA, for privacy concerns. The organization explained the situation in a statement, Saturday afternoon:

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has declared the VCU-Oregon game scheduled for Saturday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum a no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols. This decision was made in consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department. As a result, Oregon will advance to the next round of the tournament. The NCAA and the committee regret that VCU’s student-athletes and coaching staff will not be able to play in a tournament in which they earned the right to participate. Because of privacy issues we cannot provide further details.

Oregon, VCU, No Contest
Ethan Miller / Getty Images

This is the first game to be declared no-contest as a result of COVID-19 during the NCAA tournament. Tuesday night was the deadline for replacement teams to be called in in the event of a team being ruled out for violating protocol.

Oregon will play the winner of the matchup between No. 2 seed Iowa and No. 15 seed Grand Canyon.

[Via]