Kid Cudi has never been one to shy away from discussing mental health. Back in 2018 the rapper sat down with Jada Pinkett Smith on her Red Table Talk Facebook series to discuss their respective bouts with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Since then Cudi has remained open about his struggles, as he did on his 2020 album, Man On The Moon III: The Chosen. Now he’s discussing it on social media.
In an Instagram post that was captioned, “God has better days waitin for me. I just know it.” Cudi dove into his mental health. “Sadness eats away at me sometimes,” the text in the post reads. “How do I deal? A lot of u hit me and ask how I get through. Truthfully, idk. Some days are great, others not so great. I just try to believe God has something better for me.” He concluded, “I try to have faith in the light. Please, believe.”
When Marvel announced their huge mini-series team up with Disney+ back in 2018, a lot of folks wondered just how much these series would impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe at large. After all, while nearly each one of the announced shows featured some of the MCU’s biggest players, it wasn’t the first time a streaming service picked up a few of Marvel’s mightiest and gave them their own show. In the case of Netflix, the impact of shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and more had on the 23 films comprising the current MCU was minimal if non-existent, even if they were canonically set in the same universe. However, at just over two series into the 13 series collaboration, it looks like we have a pretty solid answer with these shows, and that answer is massively.
For starters, throughout WandaVisions‘ entire run, we got a pretty good indication that Wanda’s actions would have lasting consequences on the MCU. By the end of her journey, we watch as she’s forced to accept and reconcile with her past and pain and it became apparent how the show would directly tie into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, in the first episode of Loki, this connection is strengthened in two big and pretty exciting ways.
1. It establishes that a “variant” of 2015’s Secret Wars has already taken place.
For many Marvel fans, the Secret Wars arc of 2015 is a modern-day classic, and for good reason. The nine-issue series essentially destroyed and recreated the Marvel Universe by — and this is a very simple explanation of a very complicated series — colliding several universes into one another, destroying some while combining others. What was left was a wildly different Marvel universe, and all of this sounds incredibly similar to what Miss Minutes talks about in her Time Variance Authority introduction video towards the beginning of Loki‘s first episode. In the video, Miss Minutes describes how long ago “countless unique timelines battled each other for supremacy,” resulting in one, sacred timeline the TVA has sworn to protect. However, just because this event has already occurred once in the MCU doesn’t mean we should be so quick to assume it won’t happen again. In fact, it looks more and more likely a new secret war is coming for the following reason.
2. Loki brings the multiverses closer together than ever before through its explanation of Nexusevents.
If you watched WandaVision, you might remember a strange “commercial” playing during the show advertising the medication Nexus. In the commercial, the narrator describes the product, stating:
“Feeling depressed? Like the world goes on without you? Do you just want to be left alone? Ask your doctor about Nexus. A unique antidepressant that works to anchor you back to your reality. Or the reality of your choice.”
Based on this commercial and the description of Nexus events (also provided by Miss Minutes), we now understand they are playing a pivotal role in what is happening in the MCU and will most likely continue to, based on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s nearing release dates. So, what is a Nexus event? According to Miss Minutes, Nexus events are points where two timelines meet and subsequently diverge, and both Wanda and Loki don’t show too much respect for them. However, unlike Loki, it would appear what Wanda did was — much like the Avenger’s time heist in Avengers: Endgame — meant to happen, as the TVA didn’t interfere with her work. Regardless, it looks like these events are going to keep occurring, and with Loki now sent on a journey dashing between them and potentially interacting with one of more variants of himself while doing so, it looks like universes are colliding sooner rather than later.
Miranda Cosgrove is back as Carly Shay, the web show creator of the Nickelodeon teen show iCarly, which is now, in its Paramount+ iteration, about twentysomethings. But it’s arguably not what the actress is most known for. Much like today’s young-uns mostly know Robert Redford from a much-used gif hailing from 1972’s Jeremiah Johnson, so is Cosgrove most frequently seen as a favorite meme taken from her Drake & Josh days.
On that show, which predated iCarly by a few years, Cosgrove played Megan, the younger sister to the title stars, played by Drake Bell and Josh Peck. One image from that has kept the show alive: the tween Cosgrove sitting in front of an old school desktop, holding a can of Coke, and smirking. It can usually be found lurking about Twitter, with the word “Interesting…” wirtten underneath.
Well, Cosgrove appears to be quite well aware that her much younger self lives on in meme form. Wouldn’t you know she recreated the internet-iconic moment in the opening sequence to the iCarly reboot.
The iCarly revival finds most of the cast back, with the notable exception of Jeanette McCurdy, who played Sam Puckett, one of our hero’s co-hosts. It’s not out of some bad blood or anything. McCurdy is simply, and let’s hope happily, retired.
Welcome to SNX DLX! This week we have another roundup packed with notable drops as we head into the summer season. Before we get to all of the good stuff, I just want to take some time to roast my favorite fast-food burger chain In-N-Out for making these horrendous slip-on shoes modeled after the chain’s drink cup.
I love In-N-Out, they make some seriously great cheeseburgers and shakes, but these… definitely not it — even though some dads in Tommy Bahama shirts will probably make the things a smash.
In-N-Out
How much did this project cost In-n-Out? Why didn’t they just use that money to add bacon to the menu!?
Okay, that felt good. Now let’s get into this week’s best sneaker drops. We’ve got a lot to get through.
Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN Bright Cyan
Adidas
Our weekly sneaker roundup runs on Wednesdays (that’s without fail!) but sneakers release every day of the week, so inevitably a big release will sometimes fall through the cracks. This week that release is the Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN Bright Cyan which dropped Monday and has, as you might’ve imagined, sold out. It’s a Yeezy after all, one that happens to perfectly match Ye’s recently announced “Round Jacket” with Gap.
Coincidence? There is no such thing.
Luckily we have the aftermarket to lean on, which means you’re probably paying above retail price but the days of greatly inflated Yeezys are thankfully behind us, so it’s not going to kill your bank account. Featuring a lightweight polyester upper with bungee laces and a calming cyan colorway, the 700 MNVN also sports reflecting detailing a sculpted PU midsole, BOOST cushioning, and a 700 graphic across the lateral side, all atop a herringbone-tread outsole.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN Bright Cyan is out now for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair at aftermarket sites like StockX.
AdidasAdidas
Nike Dunk Low Free 99
StockX
Nike’s current months-long streak of bringing dope low-top Dunk colorways to the masses on a weekly basis continues with this week’s Free.99. Featuring a multi-colored upper of pastel yellow, green and blue panels over a black leather base, this Dunk features a white midsole with a gum outsole and a deep chocolate wrap around Swoosh.
This is an all-around solid Dunk colorway, not much else to say here!
The Nike Dunk Low Free.99 is out now for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair at aftermarket sites like StockX.
Air Max 95 SE Apricot Agate/Crimson Tint
Nike Japan
Dropping exclusively via Nike Japan, this WMNS sized Air Max 95 features a mixed denim and mesh upper made from 20% recycled content, and sports embroidered leaf details on the tongue, a mini Swoosh at the heel, a transparent Air unit, and a gradient colorway of coral to off-white atop a dark gum outsole.
It’s a solid summertime colorway and subtly recalls the Air Max 97 thanks to its layered design.
The Air Max 95 SE Apricot Agate/ Crimson Tint is out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via Nike Japan.
Nike Japan
Sacai x Nike Blazer Low Magma Orange/Classic Green
GOAT
Fans of the Nike Blazer will either love or hate Chitose Abe’s radical deconstructed take on the sneaker. Put us firmly in the “love” camp. Featuring a chopped-up upper with exposed foam lining, Sacai’s stacked tongues, double wrap-around swooshes, and dropping in two loud colorways over a white base, the Sacai Blazer is equal parts classic and brand new.
The Magma Orange features orange and yellow paneling and laces, while the Classic Green adds bursts of blue on the second tongue, over a gray base with green and white paneling and laces.
The Sacai Nike Blazer Low Magma Orange and Classic Green are set to drop on June 10th for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair at GOAT.
GOATGOAT
Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Enflame Amber
Yeezy
If you missed out on the 700 MNVN and you don’t want to pay above retail price, don’t even fret because this week also brings the release of the 700 Enflame Amber and it’s in every way better than the MNVN. The 700 MNVN is marred by its flat design, which makes it more lightweight, the OG 700, although a bit heavier, has more intricate paneling work and has a more iconic silhouette.
Featuring a mix of beige, amber, and tan with hints of maroon, and black accents, and a splash of cyan above the toe box, the Enflame shows us that Yeezy Brand didn’t come to play in 2021. If you haven’t been paying attention, they’ve been dropping fire all year, surpassed only by the Almighty Air Jordan.
The Yeezy Boost 700 Enflame Amber is set to drop on June 11th for a retail price of $240. Pick up a pair at Yeezy Supply or via the Adidas Confirmed app.
YeezyYeezy
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion Red
Nike
If you’re rocking Jordans while walking down the street or when entering a room, you’re probably already wearing the most noticeable sneakers within eyeshot, but if you’ve ever wanted to ensure all attention is paid to your sneakers, the Light Fusion Red AJ-1s are definitely for you. Featuring a white leather upper with Light Fusion Red overlays over laser orange accents on the collar and swoosh, this high-top Jordan screams “summer.”
The Light Fusion Red is such a light shade of red, it almost dips into hot pink territory. Completing the look is gradient printed Nike Air branding on the tongue, which resembles a big stick popsicle.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion is set to drop on June 12th for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair at GOAT or Flight Club.
Nike
Skepta x Nike Air Max Tailwind V Blood Chrome
Nike
“Scary” is not a word I use often, if ever, to describe a pair of sneakers but that word feels like an apt description of London grime rapper Skepta’s latest with Nike, the Air Max Tailwind V Bloody Chrome. The Bloody Chrome manages to look twice as sinister as Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes (without the use of actual human blood) with its sleek chrome accents and iridescent red glow.
The sneakers sleek design owes its look to, get this, a pair of butterfly wings. That’s right, Skepta made a butterfly wing-inspired sneaker that I just described as “scary,” because he’s Skepta.
The Skepta x Nike Air Max Tailwind V Blood Chrome is set to drop on June 12th for a retail price of 180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Puma x Rhuigi Suede
Puma
Rhude’s Rhuigi Villaseñor is no stranger to classic iconography, the young designer has a knack for picking up on what is great about classic design, and being able to subtly update it through a modern lens and his take on Puma’s simple suede sneaker is further proof of that skill.
Released under his own name rather than via his Rhude label, the Rhuigi features a suede upper with distressed detailing, an animal print heel, and fat tonal laces with green and brown accents over an off-white base.
The Puma x Rhuigi Suede is set to drop on June 12th for a retail price of $80. Pick up a pair via the Puma webstore.
Puma
X-Girl x Dr. Martens Collection
Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens has been linking up with smaller brands all throughout 2021, and as a follow-up to last month’s CLOT collab, the British footwear brand is back with a new take on the Jadon Max boots and Strap Sandals courtesy of Kim Gordon’s X-Girl.
The Jadon Max features a black canvas upper with leopard print lining and an ultra chunky platform sole with contrasting yellow stitching. The sandals feature a purple footbed on a black velvet upper dual branding and a silver dog tag. Altogether the collection is pretty 90’s punk rock, as to be expected from both brands.
The X-Girl x Dr. Martens collection is set to drop on June 12th for an unannounced retail price. Shop the collection at the Dr. Martens webstore.
Dr. MartensX-Girl
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
The Weeknd’s is still winning awards for and setting new records with his 2020 album, After Hours. From nearly sweeping at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards to leaving with an armful of trophies at this year’s Juno Awards, the singer has been a force to reckon with. If that weren’t all, the singer’s continued presence on the Billboard singles chart has also been extremely noteworthy.
“Blinding Lights” recently became the longest-charting solo song in Billboard Hot 100 history after registering its 78th week, passing the previous record-holder, Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” to take the crown. Now the song sits behind Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” and Awolnation’s “Sail” to claim the overall record. The former leads the way with 87 weeks spent on the singles chart while the latter trails behind with 79 weeks.
The After Hours highlight and the album itself controversially failed to land any recognition at this year’s Grammys, but other award shows have honored the record. The track won Top Hot 100 Song, Top Radio Song, and Top R&B Song at last month’s Billboard Music Awards, which also saw him win Top Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist. Elsewhere in 2021, “Blinding Lights” won Song Of The Year, Titanium Song Of The Year, and TikTok Bop Of The Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards as well as Single Of The Year at the Juno Awards.
Jordan Clarkson has found a home in Salt Lake City, as the former Lakers and Cavs guard has finally found a team in Utah that fully embrace what he brings as a scorer off the bench and is thriving for the top-seeded Jazz. Clarkson signed a new deal with the Jazz last offseason and rewarded them with a career-year in 2020-21, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors as their instant offense off the bench.
Clarkson is also a Filipino-American, playing for the Philippines national team at the 2018 Asian Games, and as he sets roots down in Utah he’s working to help out his Filipino community in Salt Lake. As has become a far too common occurrence over the last year, a food truck in Salt Lake City was recently vandalized with racist anti-Asian slurs, which led to Clarkson stepping up to help the Yum Yum Food Truck get a new paint job and get detailed after being the victims of an anti-Asian attack.
It hurt me deeply to see that Salt Lake’s @yumyumasian food truck was recently vandalized – I know the pain that hateful language and racism causes. With help from @identitygraphix we’ll be able to restore the truck and hopefully lift Ben and his family’s spirit!! #StopAsianHatepic.twitter.com/HLfzX7AaEc
The food truck owners offered their appreciation for Clarkson, who called for an end to AAPI hate and stood in solidarity with the Filipino community in Utah. Clarkson also said he is looking forward to visiting the food truck to get a plate soon.
It’s great work from Clarkson to help out in this way, but that it’s needed in the first place is an unfortunate reminder of how prevalent racism against Asian-Americans is at this moment.
Jalen Suggs is preparing for one of the biggest nights of his life this July when he will find out where he’ll be beginning his NBA career after a stellar season at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to the national title game and cementing his place in NCAA Tournament history along the way with his buzzer-beater in the national semifinal.
On Wednesday, Suggs took some time out of his day to surprise one of his longtime friends and teammates back in Minnesota, Chet Holmgren, with the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, hopping on a Zoom call with Holmgren to present him with the award. It was a cool moment for two kids that first started playing basketball together in third grade and are now on the path to the NBA, with Holmgren following Suggs path to Gonzaga and, almost assuredly, the 2022 NBA Draft after that.
Suggs knows a thing or two about the award, as he was both the Gatorade Minnesota Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Football Player of the Year before choosing to dive into hoops for good, and after he presented Holmgren with the national award he spoke with us via Zoom. We talked about what it meant to be able to share that moment with his friend, the growth he’s seen from Chet on and off the court over the years, his own growth as a player and a leader, NBA Draft prep, and just how difficult it was for him to give up football to focus on hoops.
What was this like for you and being able to surprise somebody that you grew up with with with this honor and this award and sharing that moment with him?
It was special, just because I’ve been with him for every step of the journey and his process. So now to be able to give him the Gatorade National Boys Player of the Year Award, it’s just a true testament to the person he is. Not only the basketball player, because we know he’s amazing out there, but the student that he is, the person that he is, and what he does for his community of Minneapolis to now give back in all those things. And to receive this prestigious award, I was honored to be a part of that presentation.
You mentioned you’ve seen him every step of the way and his personal growth. What have you seen from Chet the person and how he’s grown into the young man that he is today?
Just his mental game. I got to see him sprout from my height when we were about five-something to seven feet, where he just kept going — I stopped and was kind of stuck saying he just kept going. But to see the mental side of it, you know, how much he’s grown as a leader, as a person, how he’s growing up into a grown mature young man. It’s funny because we got to go through and experience it all together, and I’m right ahead of him and everything that I’m experiencing, he gets to see it and learn from it, and then act accordingly in his own way. So it’s been a pleasure, you know, and I loved having him as a part of my process and then being a part of his.
An on the court, what impresses you the most about the way he’s gone on this journey to become the best player in the country and win this Gatorade Player of the Year award?
I mean, you see everything he does and how he scores the ball. Just how he moves, how he dribbles, he’s a force defensively, but his work ethic is second to none. Honestly, I haven’t seen many people who work as hard as him. He’s always in the gym, always working on his game. That’s all he wants to do, man, is to go to the gym, get shots up, go work out, go lift. He’s really dedicated himself to becoming better every day and it’s showing off, you know, where he’s the No. 1 player in the country and getting these awards. So I couldn’t be more proud of him.
He’s about to go to Gonzaga and go through the kind of the year that you just had there. What have you told them about what it’s going to be like playing for Mark Few and the work that he’s going to be able to put in there?
We talked throughout the year and I’ve gotten to share some of my experiences there, how that went for me, and things that I saw and learned. But really just I’ve told him, Go enjoy it and go take every day as it is. Control what you can control, because you’re never going to get this time back ever. So take everything for what it is, enjoy and learn from the good, learn from the bad, and take the good in and appreciate it. And then just go do it and go take over. I always tell him to go and impose his will on the court, and then off the court, he’s really adopted that mindset too in being the best person and really one of the better people out there. So I can’t wait for him to go and tackle this second part of his basketball phase.
For you, what would you say, from when you arrived at Gonzaga to now as you’re going into this NBA draft process, has been the biggest point of growth for you on the court and where you feel like you really developed your game as you get ready to go to the next level?
I say one of the pieces on the court that I’ve really developed and gotten better at that I wanted to get better at was just controlling the game. I’m always playing at my own pace, and that’s one thing that Coach Few would tell me every day. Be in control of the pace, don’t let anybody speed you up, slow you down. However you want to play, make sure that you can do that comfortably. And that’s one thing now throughout the year I learned and picked up on and have gotten a lot better at. Then, I mean, of course just the mental side of becoming a smarter basketball player, seeing different reads different looks. And then just becoming stronger [mentally]. Taking the bad for what it is and learning from it, and then moving on to the next. Because, again, it’s not always going to be pretty and it’s always going to be good. You got to take the bad for what it is.
As you’ve gone into your pre-draft process and training what have been your focuses and what if teams told you that they’re looking to see out to you as you come into the league?
My focus is just becoming better every day. Whether that’s on my handle, my jump shot, pick-and-roll reads, getting stronger, watching film, watching games, and becoming smarter. Really just trying to grow as a basketball player and in every aspect become better so that when I get there, I’m ready for anything that I have to face.
You were the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year in both football and basketball and I wanted to ask about how you went about making your decision to focus on basketball going into college and now into the pros. What were the things that you weighed about your own future, picking between two sports that you obviously loved and played growing up?
Winning those two awards for both football and basketball, it was great. It meant the world to me. Seeing all the hard work that I put in, not only for basketball but then for football, and being acknowledged for that, it was great. But the process of getting down to one and choosing a sport, or whether it’s going to be both, it was so hard. It was long. It was tough, honestly, because, once I got to the end and I kind of knew that I was going to go to Gonzaga, I knew that was a place I wanted to be. But it had no football team. It hurt, cause that’s something I love to do and something I’ve always done, and that I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do anymore. Not right now, and you never know what the future holds, but going to the NBA now that’s my job, and don’t you don’t mess around about business.
So it was tough, you know, it was emotional. I cried about it a little bit, took a lot of long, long nights thinking about it. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made to go to Gonzaga, and I wouldn’t change anything about it. There’s always going to be the “what if” game I can play. But, you know, that’s what it’s there for. For the what if and, you know things to always think about and joke and laugh about.
And you don’t get chased by 300-pound men that are trying to hit you anymore, so that’s a positive at least.
When it comes to the summer beer hierarchy, it’s pretty tough to top the wheat beer in terms of style and flavor (though, honestly, pilsners are pretty impeccable this time of year, too). This top-fermented, wheat-filled brew is well-suited to hot weather and slow summer sipping. This is especially true for the most well-known varieties: Germany’s hefeweizen and Belgium’s witbier. Depending on your taste, the tart and super refreshing Berliner Weisse, salty gose, and funky, tangy, and floral lambics and gueuze all also make great choices.
Since we’re always on the lookout for fresh seasonal brews, we reach out to the professionals behind the bar for some help. We asked a handful of our favorite bartenders to tell us their choices for the best wheat beers for summer 2021.
As soon as early summer hits, I’m reaching for a refreshing, fruity wheat beer. I especially love the Golden Road Mango Cart.
Tasting Notes:
This beer is so refreshing and fruity without being overly sweet yet still holds onto a bright mango flavor. For me, this is the perfect beer after a full day of summertime adventure.
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Sierra Nevada
Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Privé in New York City
Port City Optimal Wit from Alexandria, Virginia is a refreshing Belgian-style wit. Brewed with Spanish orange peel and coriander, this beer is a great choice for sitting out on the patio in shorts and letting summer pass you by.
For early summer drinking, I will definitely choose Ocean Lab American Wheat. It’s made with 100 percent local orange peel and coriander seeds added into the tanks during brewing.
Tasting Notes:
The beer is accentuated by floral and citrus notes. It’s refreshing, crisp, and a perfect contender for a day at the beach.
Allagash White
Allagash
Evan Charest, bartender and director of operations for Mercantile Hospitality in Los Angeles
I grew up in southern Maine. So when I hear wheat beer, I only think of Allagash. Allagash White is the epitome of early summer drinking. Winters are not great in Maine and Allagash White is the official primer of better weather to come.
Tasting Notes:
The brew has classic flavors of coriander, citrus, and spice. It’s well-balanced and refreshing, especially at 5.2 percent.
Plank Heller Weizenbock is brewed in the traditional Bavarian wheated style.
Tasting Notes:
The brew pops with delightful bready malt, honey, caramel, melon, banana, orange-apricot, and clove notes. It’s not too heavy like a winter wheat beer yet not too light either.
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
Weihenstephaner
Joseph Fredrickson, bartender at Society Lounge in Cleveland
I have always and will always love the Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier. Considered by many as the staple of its style — while, sadly, less distributed than others in its category — it is exactly what I want from a wheat beer.
Tasting Notes:
It’s crisp and refreshing with depth and interesting notes of cardamom, clove, banana, and honey.
This 4.6 percent unfiltered wheat ale is perfectly named. The Colorado brew is an unfiltered wheat beer that’s built to highlight the citrus notes of the hops while staying light.
Tasting Notes:
Take a sip of this easy-drinking wheat beer and you’ll be greeted with hints of orange peel, yeast, and a nice, refreshing, crisp finish.
One of the best choices for early summer sipping is a Berliner Weisse. One of the best examples of the Americanized version is Creature Comforts Athena. In keeping with the Berliner style, the beer is cut with lactobacillus to add that creamy sourness. It’s also kept at a very sessionable 4.6 percent ABV, making this the perfect summer crusher.
Tasting Notes:
The beer has notes of citrus zest, tart apple, and sparkling white wine.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
On Wednesday, Chet Holmgren was named the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, joining a long list of tremendous players to be given that honor like Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, LeBron James, and many more. The award comes with plenty of prestige and plenty of expectation for the future, but Holmgren is more than ready to welcome that on.
The Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, MN) star has been in the spotlight for years and is set to head off to Gonzaga for a year before likely heading to the 2022 NBA Draft as a high lottery selection. The 7-footer is very much a modern big man with the ability to stretch the floor as a shooter and the length and quickness to score and defend at the rim. To surprise Holmgren with the award was his longtime friend and teammate, Jalen Suggs, who is on his own path to NBA stardom as a top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after his own season in Spokane.
We got to talk with Holmgren over Zoom about being named the Player of the Year, his relationship with Suggs and how that’s helped guide him, where he’s grown on and off the court, and how he’s already working to use his platform to impact the community, starting with Gatorade doing some charity work on his behalf in Minneapolis.
What does it mean to you to be given this award and to be named the Gatorade National Boys Player of the Year, and to have a friend like Jalen be able to surprise you with that announcement?
Yeah, so two things. It’s definitely a great honor for me to win this award, not only because … it’s not just something that kind of boosts my name or my resume or anything like that. Gatorade’s actually partnering with me and doing some charity work on my behalf to help a youth sports organization that’s close to home. I’ve seen a lot of people that youth sports has helped and to be able to give back and hopefully help the next generation, it’s definitely very special.
And I was definitely surprised when Jalen hopped on the Zoom call to award me … or not award me but, you know, kind of hand the award to me virtually or however you would do that. But yeah, it was a pleasant surprise. It’s really cool to have a childhood friend and teammate, somebody that I’ve known for so long, present me with the award.
You talked with with one of my colleagues a few months back and you mentioned some of the people you look up to off the court are guys like LeBron and KD and others that do that work in the community. When did you start thinking about your platform, as you kind of grew as somebody who’s getting national attention and somebody who’s going to have opportunities and doors open up, and how you could use that to help your community?
Yeah, once I realized how many people I could reach — not only with my voice but with my social media platforms, etc. — once I realized that I could reach out and get a message out to people, I thought it was very important to voice what I feel strongly about, what I believe in. Hopefully do that and, you know, create a positive change while doing that.
I talked with with Jalen a few minutes ago, what is it like having somebody like him who is a year ahead of you and is going through all these processes that you’re going to go through, whether it’s making a decision on college and now currently going through the draft process, that you can lean on and talk to about things? Not a lot of people have experience in being a five-star and being a top-flight player and you have somebody so close to you, that you can actually have those conversations with who has experience?
I mean, I think you almost just answered your question [laughs]. It was definitely very helpful. Because like you said, you know, he’s a year ahead of me. Everything I’m seeing now, he saw it last year and it’s very helpful to be able to go to him for advice and kind of understanding on, you know, what I’m about to go through and he’s been very helpful.
You’re going to Gonzaga where he just spent a year. What are the things he told you about playing there and playing for Mark Few?
Yeah, you know, everything. He answered every question I had and with knowing him for so long, I could trust pretty much anything he said. He had nothing bad to say, he had nothing but praise for them. It’s been a great partnership for them and he told me it’d be the same for me this next year coming up, and it’d be a great fit and a great opportunity for me.
I asked him this about you, so I’ll ask you the same about him. What have you seen in his game over the years that he’s grown and developed to get to this point where he’s about to be a top-5, top-10 pick in the NBA Draft?
That’s pretty hard to say cause, I mean, he’s been so good at almost everything for so long. So it’s hard to pick one thing, but he’s definitely great at creating for his teammates. He’s been doing that for a long time, drawing attention and getting downhill and finding open teammates when the defense collapses. But on top of that his leadership and his hustle, lot of people this year are we talking about how hard he plays and I’ve been seeing that since third grade. He’s definitely one of the highest motors, hardest playing kids I’ve ever played with. And I try to learn from some of the things he does.
And then for you, what are you most proud of in your development over the years to get to this point where you are earning an honor like this as the top player in the country?
Yeah, you know, I’m just proud of myself in the way that I’ve handled it all. It’s a lot coming at me but I think I’ve done a great job of being able to manage it all and stay true to myself in doing it.
Something that Jalen said is he’s always been impressed with your work ethic. How did you learn to embrace the work and the things you have to do between game days to get to the point where you can perform at your best and continue to get better as the competition gets better around you?
Yeah, definitely. I mean, I just say it comes from staying true to myself like I said before. It’s something that I’ve kind of come accustomed to myself and expect of myself, really. And then I’d say it also comes from watching other people and the mistakes they’ve made and trying to learn from other people’s mistakes so I don’t have to learn for myself. I’ve seen other people make mistakes and I don’t want to make them myself and a lot of that comes down to, you know, working hard. A lot of people aren’t willing to put in the work but the work speaks for itself and if you stay true to the work it’ll serve you well.
As you get ready to go to Gonzaga, what’s your focus this offseason in your game and the things that you look at and want to be able to continue to improve headed to the next level?
I want to improve all facets of my game really and continue to work every day. I’m getting better, you know, putting a lot of work in this past 12 months now on my body, lifting almost every day and started a nutrition plan and all that. And on top of that, continue to work on my skills. You know, it’s scoring at all three levels, and learning the game, becoming a student of the game, watching a lot of basketball and trying to learn as much as I can.
How did that aspect the part about continuing to learn the game factor into your decision to go to Gonzaga and play for a coach like Mark Few for you who has been coaching for so long and has had so many successful players come through on that program on their way to the NBA?
Just go in and be willing to not only put in the work, but be willing to listen and learn. Like you said, he’s been at it for so long and he’s got a lot of successful players, so you know who am I to come in and try and tell him I’m right [laughs]. I’m coming in with all the willingness and all the want to try and pick his brain and pick everybody’s brain on the staff and learn as much as I can in however long time I’m gonna be there for.
On Wednesday, the MCU spinoff Loki began its six-episode run on Disney+, and critics were pretty much unanimous about one thing: Tom Hiddleston’s titular trickster god and Owen Wilson’s multidimensional bureaucrat make a killer team. Hiddleston’s gonzo energy, many agree, mixes well with Wilson’s laidback mien, while the latter is surprisingly adept at making its convoluted premise and dense expository dialogue go down smoothly. But we should have known they’d make a delightful pair. After all, it’s not their first rodeo together.
Yes, Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson’s dynamic in #Loki is the standout early element. But let us not forget the chemistry these two had together in Midnight Paris in limited screen time. That laid the groundwork for this new pairing. pic.twitter.com/FjVAUYpYWg
Amidst the social media clamor for Loki came this: Some people pointed out that they first teamed up, albeit briefly, 10 years back, in Woody Allen’s hit time travel rom-com Midnight in Paris. That film found Wilson’s sadsack screenwriter, vacationing in the City of Lights, with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams), learning he can magically saunter back to the 1920s, allowing him to hang with all the iconic artists and American ex-pats who’d made it their home. Those include Corey Stoll’s Ernest Hemingway, Kathy Bates’ Gertrude Stein, and Adrien Brody’s Salvador Dalí.
And then there was F. Scott Fitzgerald, played by no less than Tom Hiddleston. (Alison Pill played his also famous wife, Zelda.) Midnight in Paris was released in America in late May of 2011, mere weeks after the first Thor opened that year’s summer movie season. Granted, Hiddleston, as the author of The Great Gatsby, had far shorter locks than he did as Loki, as well as different accents. So who knows how many realized it was the same guy. (Also, how many people who saw Thor also saw Midnight in Paris? Probably not a huge Venn Diagram crossover there.)
So there you go: Gil Pender (Wilson’s Midnight in Paris character name, as if you didn’t know) and F. Scott Fitzgerald are back in action!
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