Month: March 2021

Prince was a legendary musician who happened to be very good at basketball, and basically every mention of this now involves Dave Chappelle thanks to Charlie Murphy. So it’s no surprise that a video that circulated of Prince playing basketball made the legendary sketch comedy segment trend once again on Thursday.

Basically, any sight of Prince playing basketball evoked memories of one of the most famous sketches from Chappelle’s Show, in which Charlie Murphy retells a story about Eddie Murphy’s crew playing pickup hoops against Prince after a night at the club. You can watch this sketch below, in case you have not seen it yet.

On Thursday, another clip of Prince with a basketball started circulating on Twitter. The clip came during a concert, with the musician spinning a basketball on his finger and shooting a jumper.

The clip was shared all over Twitter, with plenty of people quote-tweeting it and claiming it’s proof that Charlie Murphy’s story was true.

Though many reminisced about the sketch, for some it was the first time they saw it or even knew Prince had a basketball history. Which is why some other photos of Prince in uniform also made the rounds on Thursday as well.

The video was enough to get “Charlie Murphy” to trend on Twitter, and give a new group of people online more chances to say “game, blouses.”

TNT’s Tuesday night NBA studio show has become arguably their better basketball discussion show, if for no other reason than the presence of Candace Parker and Dwyane Wade talking hoops, along with Shaq and host Adam Lefkoe.

Parker and Shaq have become occasional adversaries on the set because of some very differing opinions on the modern game, both in the NBA and, as we learned on Thursday, in the WNBA. After giving Shaq a lesson in modern pick-and-roll defense a couple weeks back, the two once again had some tense moments this week when Shaq suggested the WNBA lower the rim to 9 feet to allow for more dunks, a suggestion that had Candace taken aback.

Naturally this moment sparked lots of conversation on social media over the last couple days, with many (but not all) in the WNBA community siding with Parker. Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was on the show that night prior to this conversation, but didn’t have a chance to offer her own rebuttal until Thursday, when she joined Trill Withers on the NBA Alumni’s Legends Live podcast and she didn’t hold back on Shaq or his suggestion.

Coop made a ton of great points about how the game is ever-evolving and how in the future the WNBA almost assuredly will have women who are dunking more often, in a similar vein to how the NBA used to feature few high-flyers and more floor-bound skill players — a point Candace made when saying her daughter will be drop-step dunking some day. However, the funniest part is when she talks about how women have never told the NBA what they should be doing, whether that be raising the rim because it’s too easy for 7-footers to dunk or making “the rim closer so Shaq can make a free throw.”

It’s a really good conversation and Coop has seen the growth of the women’s game from the earliest days of the WNBA so her input here is interesting to hear.

Less than two years have passed since Memphis rappers Young Dolph and Key Glock joined forces for their Dum And Dummer project. The effort spawned highlights like “1 Hell Of A Life,” “Water On Water On Water,” and “Everybody Know.” Fast forward to 2021, and the duo is preparing to drop a sequel to the 2019 release. Fresh off announcing Dum And Dummer 2 earlier this month, Dolph and Glock return with their new single, “Sleep With The Roaches.”

The track is a celebratory effort that sees the Memphis natives relishing in the success they’ve attained in their respective careers. In the video, the rappers cozy up with a group of women as they brag about their accomplishments.

Dum And Dummer 2 has yet to be given a release date but Dolph and Glock have previously shared a pair of singles from the upcoming effort. Earlier this month, they dropped “Aspen” and paired it with a chilly video, and prior that, they graced fans with their “Case Closed” track. Dum And Dummer 2 also comes after a fairly big year for the Memphis rappers in 2020. Dolph shared his Rich Slave project which was met with a warm response while Glock delivered two full-length releases to fans last year: Yellow Tape and Son Of A Gun.

Press play on the video above.

Dick and Rick Hoyt were an unforgettable team.

The father and son duo ran their first race together in 1977, after Rick told his dad that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile charity run for a lacrosse player who’d been paralyzed in an accident. Rick has cerebral palsy and is a quadriplegic, so Dick agreed to push him in his wheelchair while he ran. They came in next-to-last, but the experience opened up a whole new world for them.

“Dad, when I’m running, it feels like my disability disappears,” Rick told his dad after that race. From then on, Dick ran as many races with his son as he could.

Over the next four decades, Dick and Rick would participate in over 1,000 races together, including completing the Boston Marathon 32 times. They even completed duathlons and triathlons, with Dick using a bungee attached to a vest he wore to pull Rick in a boat while he swam, and using a two-seater bicycle during the cycling portions of the races.

What Dick helped Rick achieve was extraordinary, especially considering the fact that when he was born, doctors had told Dick and his wife Judy that Rick should be institutionalized since he had little chance of ever living a “normal” life. Instead, Dick and Judy embarked on a mission of inclusion for Rick in school, community, sports, and the workplace. They worked with engineers at Tufts University to get Rick an interactive computer in 1972 so he could communicate with taps of his head. Their tireless efforts eventually led to Rick graduating from Boston University with a degree in Special Education in 1993.

Throughout it all, Dick and Rick would run races together. In 1992, they biked and ran together across the entire U.S.—a full 3,735 miles in 45 days. After some health concerns, Dick was set to retire from marathon running after the Boston Marathon in 2013, but the bombing made it so they couldn’t participate, so they ran it in 2014 instead. In 2015, he served as the Grand Marshall of the race.

Dick Hoyt, this loving father who embodied dedication, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday. He was 80 years old.

The Boston Athletic Association released a statement:

“The B.A.A. is tremendously saddened to learn of the passing of Boston Marathon icon Dick Hoyt. Dick personified what it meant to be a Boston Marathoner, showing determination, passion, and love every Patriots Day for more than three decades. He was not only a fan favorite who inspired thousands, but also a loyal friend and father who took pride in spending quality time with his son Rick while running from Hopkinton to Boston.”

Dick’s other sons, Russ and Rob Hoyt, broke the news to Rick about their father’s death.

“He’s sad, as we all are, but he’s OK,” Russ told the Associated Press. “You could see it in him, it was like someone hit him.”

Rick was once asked what he would give his father if he could give him one thing, and Rick responded, “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”

But Russ Hoyt wants the world to know that Dick’s dedication went beyond running with his disabled son.

“I know it’s a cliche, but I want people to know that I thought my father was a hero, not just because he pushed Rick in the marathon, but because he was a great father to all of us you could talk to about anything,” he said. “He inspired people to look at all their children as equals no matter their disability.”

In addition to his service to his family, Dick Hoyt was a 37-year veteran of the Air National Guard, retiring as Lt. Colonel in 1995.

Rest in peace, Mr. Hoyt. Thank you for serving as a tireless example of dedication and determination for us all.

The 2021 NCAA Tournament began in earnest on Thursday evening with a quadruple-header of First Four games. The first game pitting at-large teams featured the Drake Bulldogs and the Wichita State Shockers and, while the early going was a bit sluggish for Drake, the upstart squad from the Missouri Valley Conference provided the first major highlight of this year’s tournament. Sophomore guard Joseph Yesufu grabbed the ball after a steal and, despite some resistance, the 6’0 guard rose up and dunked to the delight of basketball fans and Turnerplay-by-play man Brian Anderson.

Anderson’s reaction on the call spoke for everyone, as this was quite a play from a relatively diminutive guard. Yesufu has been a key piece for Drake this season, especially in recent days. Incumbent starting point Roman Penn is out for the season due to a foot injury and, in his stead, Yesufu has scored 20 points or more in five of the last seven games.

It is probably accurate to say that Yesufu has never made a play in front of a larger television audience than this one. For good measure, his play was also part of an 11-0 run for Drake to close the first half and, fittingly, it was Yesufu that also capped the spurt with a three-point connection on the final possession of the half.

Yesufu’s play may be surpassed at some point in the next few weeks. However, this was an example of setting the bar high in the competition for “dunk of the tournament” honors, especially when accounting for his size and the defensive attention he drew.

NBA fans are forgiven for not having seen many of the top 2021 NBA Draft prospects. To keep up with these young hoopers this year meant keeping track of which college basketball games were actually going to happen, studying G League Bubble games in the middle of a weekday, or doing the sleuth work of paying for a subscription to watch FIBA games.

Happily, we actually have an NCAA Tournament this year, which is when many get a chance to catch up on the college players they didn’t get eyes on during the regular season. The typical bright lights and high-level matchups that signify March Madness make for some great opportunities to see future NBA players go up against elite competition, and while teams aren’t picking based on a few games in March, it always plays a role in a player’s stock.

Not every game has a player who will be at the top of the draft, but we’re here to help you know which ones to tune into (the full TV schedule is here) if you’re an NBA-only hoops fan or if your team finds itself in the draft lottery for the first time in awhile and you’re out of practice with this stuff (hey, Houstonians).

We are breaking it down by region, starting in the “West” — every game is being played in Indy — where there are a few heavy-hitters.

West Region

Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

Back in November, we broke down Suggs’ game and how he had improved his flow as a floor general and ability to create and make 3s enough to become a top five-type prospect. All that is true, and Suggs has won at a high level all season. He’s exactly the type of electrifying player who could dominate March.

Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga

Smoothness, baby. Kispert has mastered his role and it will translate perfectly to the NBA. The success of players like Duncan Robinson and Joe Harris provides the template for Kispert to make an impact as a pro.

Evan Mobley, F/C, USC

The best player you might not have heard about a ton, Mobley has flown somewhat under the radar (as many Pac-12 prospects do), but is among the more ready-made modern big man prospects to come through college basketball since Anthony Davis. Watch him, as he very well could be headed to whoever picks No. 2 overall.

Chris Duarte, G/F, Oregon

The Ducks have a knack for producing wings like Duarte, from Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks to Troy Brown and Damyean Dotson. That’s a solid track record, and Duarte’s improvement from deep (43 percent this season) means he’ll get a look from NBA execs.

Luka Garza, F/C, Iowa

He may not have the most easily translatable NBA skillset in the tournament, but Garza is among the front-runners for National Player of the Year and has gotten better every year at Iowa.

East Region

Franz Wagner, G, Michigan

The brother of the Wizards’ Mo, this stretch big man (albeit smaller than the elder Wagner) shot 38 percent from deep for the Wolverines and has turned into an excellent turnover-creator on defense, finishing second in the nation in Defensive Box Plus-Minus at 6.4.

Cameron Thomas, G/F, LSU

This one-and-done prospect from Oak Hill is a pure scorer who didn’t tap into many of his other athletic skills in Baton Rouge. The team Will Wade put together around him is strong, but Thomas needs to show other skills to excite NBA scouts.

Scottie Barnes, G/F, Florida State

Say it with me: ‘Nooooles. Cade Cunningham’s high school teammate is a quintessential Leonard Hamilton recruit, at 6’9 with ball skills, a high IQ, and defensive versatility. The best reason to watch him is so you can tell his game apart from the likes of Patrick Williams, Jonathan Isaac and Malik Beasley.

James Bouknight, G, UConn

The NBA success of Beasley, Malik Monk and even someone like Immanuel Quickley should bode well for Bouknight, a smooth tweener guard who can score with anyone. While Bouknight’s three-point efficiency went down as a sophomore, he contributes to winning and can create shots at a high level.

Greg Brown and Kai Jones, F/C, Texas

This region is so stacked with prospects that we have to double up on Longhorns. Shaka Smart’s squad boasts two projected first-round picks, with the sophomore Jones a stretch big man who can also play some defense and Brown a bit smaller but more athletic and unrefined big. Both take a lot of threes and bring strong physical tools and thus should have a clear role in the NBA.

South Region

Jared Butler, G, Baylor

Few players have solidified themselves as draft prospects over this season like Butler, who has always had NBA tools as a long, 6’3 guard with 3-and-D potential but now is a legitimate play-making option in addition to a truly elite shooting prospect after hitting 43 percent of his triples this season.

Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

A fun thing about these Bears is that Butler and Mitchell are so similar, with Mitchell now also coming off an elite three-point shooting season and upping his assists. They are basically two parts of a whole, but unlike the Harrison brothers or other similar duos in the past, they both ought to be high-level NBA role players in the right situation.

Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina

Few NCAA players are as fun as Sharpe. Another former Montverde stud, Sharpe is brilliant. His assist totals don’t tell the whole story, but his incredible turnover creation numbers on defense do. The Heels are largely only as good as they’ve been because of Sharpe’s underrated impact.

Tre Mann, G, Florida

Another player who improved his deep shooting in his second college season, Mann also nearly quadrupled his assist totals from a year ago while maintaining a high steal rate. A good comparison for the way he filled out his game might be Kira Lewis Jr., who became a lottery pick after two years at Alabama.

Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas

The last of the Montverde squad outside of Cunningham, it was a unique college path for Moody, who went to Arkansas, which is not typically a high-profile hoops program. But the Little Rock native helped Eric Musselman take the program a step further in 2021 while flashing what makes him special as a prospect. Moody is a near-lock to go top ten, as there are just not many basketball players alive who are 6-6, elite shooters, efficient all-around shot creators, and versatile defenders.

Midwest Region

Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois

Another player who gets a lot of credit for contributing to winning, Dosunmu doesn’t wow as an athlete but has improved as a shooter and play-maker while filling out his 6’5 frame. Maybe he’s just a backup combo guard, but he’s a leader for the impressive Fighting Illini and keeps getting better.

Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee

Johnson has been in the top ten of mock drafts since before the season, and for good reason. His athleticism and smarts make him an appealing project, and he plays within himself on offense as well, shooting 51 percent on twos this season.

Jaden Springer, G/F, Tennessee

The co-pilot of the Volunteers’ elite young wing rotation, Springer is a bit more refined on offense than Johnson but is similarly athletic and versatile, as is Rick Barnes’ preference in recruits. A hot shooting tournament from Springer could vault him up NBA teams’ draft boards.

Josiah Jordan-James, G/F, Tennessee

This is the guy who was supposed to be the next great Tennessee rep in the NBA but ended up coming back to Knoxville, and the decision paid off. Jordan-James’ three-point shooting fell off a bit, but his free-throw percentage remains pretty strong and he got a lot better from inside the arc. Jordan-James also cut down his turnover rate in a smaller role and upped his turnover creation ability with more talent around him. He could use a nice tourney.

Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

We saved the best for last. If you aren’t tuned into every minute of Cunningham’s run, are you really a hoops fan?

With the Toronto Raptors on the outside looking in of the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, Kyle Lowry’s name has been rumored as a potential trade target for teams that need a backcourt boost. As for whether or not he gets moved before next Thursday’s deadline is a different matter, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the team is going to make sure it does right by him.

On Thursday’s episode of The Woj Pod, Wojnarowski was asked about whether or not Lowry will end up being traded. While he made sure to not sound definitive either way, he did say that the door is open if he wants a move.

“I think he could,” Wojnarowski said. “I still think Toronto’s gonna give him a lot of voice — if he wants to be moved and where he would like to play.”

What does that mean? Well, Wojnarowski expressed that the Raptors understand that trading Lowry just to trade him is not a good idea, and as a result, they’re not going to come to terms on a deal with a team that would make him unhappy.

“The one thing I know with Kyle Lowry and how they’re gonna handle that, how they are handling that, is they’re not gonna send him somewhere that you’d consider an outpost — a lottery team, for the rest of the year, in a place where his Bird Rights, for him, aren’t gonna matter because he probably wouldn’t wanna stay there,” Wojanrowski said. “What he’s done for the Raptors, in helping them win a championship and a player who will be remembered as one of their all-time greats, I know Masai’s not going to send him somewhere he really doesn’t wanna go.”

The Raptors have been dealt a near-impossible hand this season, having to play their games in Tampa and at one point dealing with a major COVID outbreak among their team. They sit 17-23 on the year and have lost their last six games in a row.

Let’s begin by saying there’s no one on the planet who wants COVID-19 to continue ravaging the world. The past year has been one of unspeakable tragedy and it will be years before we realize what effects it had on humanity’s collective physical and mental health.

But as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, some people aren’t so sure they want to return to life as it was before the pandemic. They may keep it to themselves, but the sentiment is definitely out there.

Many started working from home and now love the freedom that comes with having a five-second commute and loathe the idea of returning to a life where they have to waste an hour on “looking good” every morning.

For some, the idea of returning back to their old social habits seems uncomfortable. First, no matter how effective the vaccine is, it’s going to be incredibly disconcerting to be around maskless people in close quarters, like in a bar or at a concert. We’ve all developed natural knee-jerk reactions to people being too close and it’ll be really tough to unlearn what’s been ingrained for a year.

The vast majority of us went from having a healthy relationship with the world around us to living in a constant state of social distancing vigilance over the course of a week. That’s going to be hard to undo.

Many people are secretly relieved they’ve had the perfect excuse to avoid daily social interactions over the past year. They were able to avoid the relatives that get on their nerves or didn’t have to hang out with their significant other’s friends they never really liked in the first place.

How I Really Feel About “Going Back to Normal”

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For others, the lockdown was an eye-opening experience, because they realized they were happier not dealing with some of the toxic people in their lives. Going back to normal social life means having to either re-engage with people who might trigger us or suffer the discomfort that comes with ending the relationship.

Reentering the social world also means having to confront temptations that we were able to avoid for an entire year, whether it’s drugs, sex, smoking, gambling, or ordering an extra dessert while eating out.

“As horrible and tragic as this past year has been, I do believe it was a much-needed reset for so many people,” Kelsey Darragh, a filmmaker who suffers from anxiety and wrote a book about mental health during the pandemic called “Don’t F—ing Panic,” told Today. “We got to just be gentle with ourselves.”

A lot of people are feeling anxious about things returning to “normal” because they now realize they weren’t happy before the pandemic.

Whether you are hesitant for things to go back to normal or ready to rip your front door off its hinges, we should all take these (hopefully!) final few months of COVID-19 to recognize that we’ve all been through a severely traumatizing time. Now’s a great time to take some personal inventory, consider where we were before the pandemic, and where we’re headed.

What have you learned the past year that can help make your post-pandemic life even better than it was before?

“It becomes a very anxiety-producing moment in the life of a survivor when they return to normal,” Deborah Serani, a psychologist, and professor at Adelphi University told Today. “Except now, with the pandemic, we’re all doing that.”

“We are emerging from this together, globally,” Serani said. “It’s OK to be gentle with yourself. It’s OK to feel unsure. It’s OK to feel insecure. It’s OK to say, ‘How do I do this dance? I don’t remember.’ It’s OK to feel anxious and nervous. You’re not alone in that.”

If you’re feeling anxious about life returning to normal, take solace in the idea that you’re not the only one. In fact, everyone has to carry some anxiety about the big changes on the horizon.

Also, remember that you’re not in this alone. COVID-19 has affected everyone. So there will be plenty of people out there that you can throw your arm around tight — for the first time in months — and ask, “Ready to go out?”

Once again, Rand Paul tried to argue with Dr. Anthony Fauci over COVID-19 safety regulations, and once again, Fauci dropped the Kentucky senator into the fryer and cooked him nice and crispy. In yet another tense exchange, Paul kicked things off by attempting to downplay the severity of the pandemic by claiming that people who’ve already been infected by COVID-19 have little to no chance of being infected again, so they don’t need to get vaccinated or bother wearing a mask. He started in a hole right there. However, Paul then made things personal by attacking Fauci for wearing two masks even though he’s been vaccinated.

“What studies do you have that people that have had the vaccine or have had the infection or the vaccine are spreading the infection?” Paul asked. “If we’re not spreading the infection, isn’t that just theater? You’ve had the vaccine and you’re wearing two masks, isn’t that theater?”

Fauci, as always, was having none of it. Via Business Insider:

“No, it’s not — here we go again with the theater. Let’s get down to the facts,” Fauci responded, telling Paul that the studies he cited “look at in-vitro examination of memory immunity” and pointing out that the authors “specifically say, ‘this does not necessarily pertain to the actual protection, it’s in-vitro.”

Fauci said he agreed with Paul that those who have already been infected likely have six months of immunity against the strain of COVID-19 they were initially infected with, but not against emerging variants and mutations of concern, including the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants.

Fauci elaborated by noting cases in South Africa where people who were exposed to the first “wild type strain of COVID-19” were infected later by the new variant. However, Paul refused to listen and continued to demand to know what studies have shown hospitalizations for reinfections while ignoring Fauci’s repeated examples of the variants causing reinfection. Eventually, Paul retreated to his earlier accusation that Fauci is “parading around in two masks for show,” which prompted the infectious disease expert to inform the senator of the facts.

“Let me just state for the record that masks are not theater, they are protective,” Fauci said.

(Via Business Insider)

In early January, Armie Hammer became the subject of a social media firestorm after alleged Instagram DMs (a lot of them) circulated about his sex life and alleged cannibal fantasies. In response, he described the controversy as “bullsh*t” as he dropped out of an action-comedy movie called Shotgun Wedding. While the subject continued to swirl, Hammer’s agents and publicist dropped him. Fast forward a few months, and a woman named Effie (the same woman who initially anonymously posted allegations) has come forward to publicly accuse Hammer of rape.

The Hollywood Reporter reports word from a press conference led by attorney Gloria Allred. Her client stated that she was held captive by Hammer for four hours, during which Effie (who lives in Europe) stated that “I tried to get away but he wouldn’t let me. I thought he was going to kill me.” Here’s more from the press conference:

“On April 24, 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles. During which he repeatedly slapped my head against a wall bruising my face. He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent.”

Effie further alleges that Hammer beat her feet with a riding crop, “so they would hurt” when she walked. She states that after four hours of violence, “[he] left with no concern for my well-being.” She alleges that the experience left her suicidal, and “I tried so hard to justify his actions, even to the point of responding to him in a way that did not reflect my true feelings.”

Variety has published a photo (shared by Allred) that shows Effie and Hammer posing together during an undisclosed time period. As for how Effie met Hammer, Effie explained that she first messaged with him in 2016 on Facebook, and the two had an on-and-off relationship fo four years. THR reports a statement from Hammer’s lawyer (Andrew Brettler), who says that his client denies the allegations against him. Hammer’s attorney states that Effie’s “own correspondence [through July 2020] with Mr. Hammer undermines and refutes her outrageous allegations.” The attorney also claims that Effie sent Hammer “hundreds” of “graphic” texts, to which Brettler says Hammer “responded making it clear that he did not want to maintain that type of relationship with her.”

During the press conference, Allred stated (via Variety) that Effie has provided photos of her “visible injuries” and other evidence of Hammer’s alleged abuse to police. TMZ notes that law enforcement is investigating Effie’s allegations against the actor. Deadline further reports, via LAPD Officer Drake Madison, “We can confirm that Armie Hammier is the named suspect in an alleged sexual assault investigation, initiated on February 3, 2021.” Additionally, Deadline details where the investigation may go from here:

The probe by the LAPD will be submitted to LA County D.A. George Gascón’s “fairly soon,” a law enforcement source said to Deadline, The D.A.’s office and its sex crimes unit would then have to assess the material and recommendations from the LAPD to see if they would proceed with criminal charges. Charges that could land Hammer behind bars for up to eight years if found guilty.

Recently, Vanity Fair reported that Hammer’s estranged wife, Elizabeth Chambers, filed for divorce after he sent her a raunchy text that he intended for another woman.

(Via Hollywood Reporter, Variety, TMZ & Deadline)