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The Five Best NBA Draft Prospects In The 2022 NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region

When the bracket was revealed in advance of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, many analytical observers pointed to the relatively soft nature of the Midwest Region, at least beyond the top two seeds in Kansas and Auburn. However, that is not the case from the standpoint of the 2022 NBA Draft, and many professional observers will be taking their deepest look yet at the upcoming class. The Midwest Region is full of intriguing prospects, including at least one top-five guy, and that makes for appetizing basketball consumption in the coming days and weeks.

As part of DIME’s pre-tournament look at the best prospects in the class, we’ll roll through the top five players in the Midwest, headlined by Auburn’s Jabari Smith.

Jabari Smith – F, Auburn

Smith is a fantastic prospect. The 6’10 forward is an unbelievable shooter, burying 43 percent of three-pointers on big volume, and no one can block Smith’s shot at his size. Comparisons to Kevin Durant are too aggressive (for anyone), but Smith does have the potential to be a thoroughly dynamic scorer. He doesn’t have a ton of juice as a ball-handler, and Smith is just a solid defender rather than a spectacular one, but he’s a top-four guy to be sure and some see him as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

Keegan Murray – F, Iowa

Iowa zoomed through the Big Ten Tournament, and Murray is the team’s centerpiece. The 6’8 forward is averaging 23.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on high-end efficiency (56 percent from the field and 41 percent from three), and Murray is doing it against elite competition. Some of the questions about his early-season breakout have already been answered, and he could conceivably climb into the top five or six of June’s Draft with a big tournament. He’s been that good.

Johnny Davis – G, Wisconsin

Unfortunately, Davis has been a little bit banged-up down the stretch, missing some time and suffering a bit on the floor when he plays through injury. In zooming out, though, Davis has been a fantastic player this season, and he is on track for a top-10 selection. Davis has been the sun, moon, and stars for an otherwise limited Wisconsin offense, and he is capable of putting the Badgers on his back. Even if he doesn’t, Davis has the tools to be a quality scorer in the NBA and the mentality to shift into a lesser role, with plus defense, if he needs to.

Ochai Agbaji – G/F, Kansas

In some ways, Agbaji is a conventional choice in that he averaged 20 points per game for a No. 1 seed. At the next level, he may not be a primary option, but Agbaji is making 40 percent of his three-pointers this season and he’s a willing defender. He is more of a 2 in terms of size, but Agbaji’s 3-and-D projection is undeniable and he has more juice with the ball in his hands than a typical player with that label.

Tari Eason – F, LSU

Eason and Auburn’s Walker Kessler are neck-and-neck for No. 5 here but, in an effort to diversify the viewing guide, Eason gets the nod. LSU is a giant question mark after firing their head coach on the eve of the tournament, but Eason should be able to shine as a defensive monster. He’s 6’8 with athleticism and length, and Eason profiles as a switchable piece at the next level. The big change has been his offense and, even with some growth needed on that end of the floor, Eason could sneak into the late lottery with a big month.

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Russia Has Announced That It Is Sanctioning Joe Biden And Members Of His Administration, Which Will Surely Cause Them To Lose Sleep At Night

In a very weird flex, Russia has announced its intention to impose sanctions on President Joe Biden and select members of his administration.

The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement (today) blacklisting a number of key officials within the White House including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The “stop list” also includes names who have no official ties to Biden’s current administration — people like his son, Hunter Biden, and, weirdly enough, Hillary Clinton.

This latest stunt sounds like a poor attempt at retaliation on Vladimir Putin’s part. While the U.S. has already begun restricting its imports and exports to the country, with U.S. companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s halting operations until the war with Ukraine ends, Putin seems to think that hitting back with a public “you can’t sit with us” list is going to convince world leaders that standing up to his regime is a bad idea. And it might be, if you’re one of the people on this list who, for some odd reason, was planning a vacation to Moscow in the coming months. For everyone else, these sanctions are basically garbage.

Sadly, Putin ally Donald Trump (among other Kremlin-supporting Republicans) was left off the list, which seems like something he’ll take offense to since, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the people included are considered “prominent US figures.”

Someone please go to the woods and let Hillary know that the tantrum-throwing Putin has cancelled her.

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Lil Durk Splits Time Between His Family And Touring In The Jet-Setting ‘Barbarian’ Video

Lil Durk’s new album 7220 is out and running up its streaming numbers. The ever-busy Chicago rapper supported the project prior to its release with videos for “Ahhh Ha” and “Golden Child,” and now he continues the rollout with his video for “Barbarian.” The video is a documentary-style glimpse at Durk’s tour life as he hops from city to city performing in sold-out arenas, raps to the camera while sitting on the tarmac in front of a private jet, and takes his kids on shopping sprees.

7220 is Durk’s first solo release since 2020’s The Voice, but in the meantime, his profile leaped considerably behind collaborations with Drake (“Laugh Now Cry Later“) and Lil Baby (Voice Of The Heroes) — so much so that he boasted that his label, Alamo Records (a Sony subsidiary), gave him a 40 million dollar deal. Although he didn’t reveal any details of the contract, DJBooth’s Brian Zisook noted that he could have licensed several albums over a set period of time, with the publishing rights to return in full after that period.

In the meantime, Durk is set to begin his 7220 tour in April, setting out from Phoenix on April 8 through May 2, when he returns to his hometown for closing night.

Watch the “Barbarian” video above.

7220 is out now via Alamo and Only The Family. Get it here.

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Fake Heiress Anna Delvey (Of ‘Inventing Anna’) Is Out Of ICE Custody, But Not In A Good Way (For Her) At All

Fake heiress Anna Delvey/Sorokin/whatever-her-name-really-is recently revealed that she enjoyed Julia Garner’s take on her f*cked-up accent in Inventing Anna, but things aren’t going well at all for Delvey at this moment. After spending about four years in prison (including at Rikers Island) for fleecing some of New York’s deepest high-society pockets, Delvey emerged into a New York ICE detention center because she had overstayed her visa. She subsequently contracted Covid-19 and felt the sickest that she’d been “in years” from the virus.

Now, things have grown worse for Anna Delvey. The New York Post reported that officials (on Monday night) plopped her onto a plane bound for Frankfurt, Germany. She’d appealed the deportation, but here’s what’s happening now:

Sorokin, 31, is said to be furious about the deportation, according to one close source, as she had put in an appeal to remain in the US. The appeal was meant to be heard on April 19.

She has been at the Orange County Correctional Facility in Goshen, NY, since March 25 for allegedly overstaying her visa.

This situation’s not exactly turning her fate around, so that Anna Delvey can claim to be waiting on wire transfers here in the U.S. She’ll have to pull those stunts elsewhere, although it’s likely that people around the globe are wise to her game, given that Inventing Anna has been sitting in Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for weeks. The New York Post got ahold of Neffatari Davis (“Neff” in the series, portrayed by Alexis Floyd), who relayed that Anna “has a good heart, but she has a dark, twisted mind.” Well, that’s one way to put it.

(Via NY Post)

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The Complicated Documentary ‘Look At Me: XXXTENTACION’ Will Arrive This Summer On Hulu

It’s no secret that the death of XXXTentacion was a complicated tragedy. It left social media in a state of moral quandary, reckoning with the inherent devastation of a young person dying too soon while also knowing that he committed a great deal of harm against women. This is why the news, via The Fader, that the documentary Look At Me: XXXTENTACION is coming this summer might not thrill everyone; it is opening that can of worms once again. It was originally announced in 2019 and it’s premiering today at SXSW in Austin, but it won’t be available to stream on Hulu until June 10.

The documentary was produced by FADER Films, and directed by Sabaah Folayan who directed 2017’s Whose Streets? about the Ferguson Uprising. Folayan claims that this XXXTentacion documentary will not ignore the complexity of the rapper’s death and will address those issues head-on. “I decided to tell this story because while violence is inexcusable, it is not unintelligible,” Folayan said in a press release. “It has interpersonal roots and generational pathways for both abusers and survivors. I am hopeful that with care from the collective, cycles of violence can be interrupted. Movements like #MeToo have spotlighted the need for improvement in the way masculinity is performed in society. But when, where, and how can this positive change take place? There is no certain solution but what is clear is that the criminal justice and deportation systems are doing more harm than good.”

Look At Me: XXXTENTACION streams 6/10 on Hulu.

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Four single moms ‘burn the rulebook of life’ and buy a home together

Our choices in life should only be limited by our imaginations. However, far too many of us limit our options because of what others may think or how we’ve been raised.

Four women in Washington, D.C., completely reimagined their concepts of family, friendship and child-rearing and have created an urban commune where they’re free to pursue happiness in a way most people never consider.

Holly Harper and Herrin Hopper always joked that one day they’d live together on a commune in Vermont. But after they both got divorced, they began to take their old joke seriously.

“Holly and I said, ‘Why not do this?'” Harper recalled in an interview with Today. “Within a weekend we found this house.”

The two friends found two other single women, Jen and Leandra, and they purchased a four-unit home. The arrangement allows the four women to save money but it also has countless advantages for all four families. “We’ve unlocked the power of sharing, and our baseline expenses decreased, allowing us to experience abundance,” Harper wrote in Insider.


“This living arrangement is a kid’s paradise, complete with a giant trampoline, a parkour line, a garden, a gym, a big-screen TV, and a craft studio,” Harper wrote. “Our kids—who can use the buddy system for a walk to get gelato, and who have playmates during the quarantine and homeschool months—are thriving.”

The children, ages 9 to 14, relate to each other like cousins and their new living arrangement provides them with new perspectives on life that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. It gives them a great opportunity to learn more about dating, bullying, divorce, family, sexual orientation, creativity, death and finding joy.

They also have no shortage of playmates and things to do. The home is equipped with a 15-foot trampoline, parkour slackline, hammocks, sleds and an inflatable pool in the summer. Living at the home they’ve dubbed “The Siren House” is a lot like a permanent summer camp.

It has also taught the four mothers how to share. The women share expenses, cars, food, babysitting duties, dog-walking and hugs with each other. Harper says that their living arrangement saves her $30,000 a year.

“We don’t know whose socks are whose … socks everywhere,” Harper said. “iPads, dishes, cups. There’s a lot of exchanging that occurs. Usually not planned.”

To keep everything in order they have routine “homeowners meetings” where they discuss repairs and yard work. The meetings often happen over a bottle of Champagne.

“There is almost a spiritual safety net every day here,” Harper said. “I could be my worst self, I could be my best self, and they see me for who I am, and it’s OK.”

For Harper, the home isn’t a utopia, but the arrangement gives the four families the greatest chance to find happiness. “The goal of life is not to reach some plane of happiness but to create an environment where we are safe to pursue happiness in every moment,” Harper wrote.

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The 5 Best NBA Draft Prospects In The 2022 NCAA Tournament’s South Region

Diehard NBA Draft observers keep an eye on college basketball year-round and, in particular, during the season. For some, however, the NCAA Tournament presents a unique opportunity for evaluation, bringing a glimpse at the next generation of professional basketball talent on the biggest stage. The 2022 NCAA Tournament is no different, with highly interesting draft prospects in all four regions and the talent divided across several programs.

As part of DIME’s preview of the festivities, we’ll highlight the top five prospects in each region and, in the South Region, the headliner is projected lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin out of Arizona. Let’s take a look.

Bennedict Mathurin – G/F, Arizona

Arizona is loaded and a deserving No. 1 seed. Mathurin is the centerpiece of the attack, even with the overall balance of the Wildcats. He is also the best prospect the region by a solid margin, and it will be a surprise if he slips outside the lottery. At the moment, his defense is more theoretical than anything, but Mathurin has come a long way as a playmaker and he profiles as a plus shooter at the NBA level.

EJ Liddell – F, Ohio State

Liddell has been fantastic all season for Ohio State. He’s a bit of a throwback prospect as a natural power forward that is strong and physical, but his three-point shooting (38 percent) has come along and Liddell is “the guy” for the Buckeyes. Can he overcome some limitations and make the lottery as a junior? We’ll see, but he’s a first-round talent for sure.

Malaki Branham – G/F, Ohio State

It’s been a late rise for Branham, who certainly takes a back seat to Liddell from a college perspective. Ultimately, Branham may have higher NBA upside with his athleticism and shot creation equity at 6’6. He is making 43 percent of three-pointers and has on-ball skills that should translate. There’s a chance he doesn’t declare, but a good tournament would make it to where he almost has to.

Kennedy Chandler – G, Tennessee

When Chandler has it going, he’s electric. The 6’1 freshman guard is one of the fastest players in the class, and he feels the game well. Chandler has a very good handle and can get to his spots, even with a very slim frame at this stage. He is making 36 percent of threes, which could be a swing skill, but Chandler is bizarrely shooting only 61.7 percent at the line. That’s something to monitor, but he’s the offensive engine of a top-three seed and should have opportunities to shine.

Christian Koloko – C, Arizona

Koloko isn’t a lock for the first round by any means, and he is a long way from the prospect status of someone like Mathurin. However, Koloko’s rim protection has been outstanding this season and he’s shooting 63 percent from the field as a 7-footer. Traditional bigs can be devalued in some ways, but Koloko might anchor a Final Four defense and be able to showcase his talents.

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‘1883’ Star Sam Elliott Has Apparently Added ‘Yellowstone’ To The List Of Things He Doesn’t Like

Sam Elliott kicked off a sizable wave of controversy earlier in the month after he called Power of the Dog a “piece of sh*t” and took issue with its “allusions of homosexuality,” which recently culminated in director Jane Campion calling him a “B-I-T-C-H” at the DGA Awards. Well, now, Elliott is back with another hot take on a Western production that he doesn’t care for despite being a part of its expanding television universe.

In the interview that keeps on giving, Elliott reportedly slammed Yellowstone during the same WTF with Marc Maron episode where he went off on Power of the Dog and said of the New Zealand-born Campion, “What the f*ck does this woman from down there know about the American West?” Turns out, Elliott also don’t care for Taylor Sheridan‘s take on the American West either. Via Decider:

“I’m not a Yellowstone fan. I don’t watch Yellowstone,” Elliott said. “I love [star Kevin] Costner. There’s a lot of good people on the cast, a few of them I’ve worked with before — nothing against any of them — but it’s just too much like f*cking Dallas or something for me.”

Elliott’s criticism of Yellowstone is interesting because his experience filming the prequel series, 1883, is apparently what spurred him to go after Power of the Dog in the first place. Elliott shot the prequel in Texas where he said he saw “real” ranchers and families who worked the land, and they were nothing like what he saw in the Benedict Cumberbatch film that rubbed him the wrong way.

So, basically, what we’re getting from all of this is Sam Elliott doesn’t like a lot of things. A cold sarsaparilla? Probably. Kevin Costner fighting to save a Montana ranch? Get that soap opera nonsense outta here.

(Via Decider)

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All The Best New Pop Music From This Week

It’s automatically a great week in pop when a random collaboration between Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa drops at midnight on a Thursday just in time for the weekend. It helps when Mothica unleashes another eccentric song that blends pop and nu-metal with “Sensitive,” and Chloe Moriondo releases a new single, “Sammy,” with the announcement of a forthcoming EP out next month.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa — “Sweetest Pie”

Let’s cut to the chase with this song, which dominated the conversation of pop last week despite being released at the last possible moment. Provocative music video aside, the track is as infectious and seductive as Doja Cat and SZA’s “Kiss Me More,” and will probably also serve as a perfect summer anthem.

Corook — “Idk God”

Corinne Savage, the face behind the project Corook, often performed “Idk God” on tour before releasing it this week and would notice the connection it created between her and her fans. Through admitting that there are many questions she can’t know the answers to (“I don’t know why / Dogs only live a fraction of your life / And the basement gets scarier at night”), she becomes vulnerable and trustworthy, conjuring up an atmosphere of comfort.

Lexi Jayde — “Hate To Be You”

19-year-old Lexi Jayde is well-versed in makes songs about the intensity of youth, especially when it comes to teenage relationships. “Hate To Be You,” which reacts to being cheated on, proves that Jayde is wise beyond her years with her empowering, unbothered attitude and her awareness of her own value: “I’d hate to be / So f*cking stupid / So selfish so clueless / To have me and lose it.”

Chloe Moriondo — “Sammy”

Any music video that features a dog in a tutu is one that deserves attention. Chloe Moriondo has generously shared with the world a wholesome love song for her dog Sammy, and it’s packed with cute lines: “All bark and no bite / Make up when we fight / When you’re with me you’ll be all right / I’m with you your whole dog life.”

Orville Peck — “Kalahari Down”

Shoegaze cowboy Orville Peck released the second chapter of his album Bronco this week, and shed his shogaze skin to embrace his country roots. “Kalahari Down” is a journey through the Wild West following a character who’s not only lost physically but also mentally: “What do I know? A buncha sorrow / Promises of a desperado.” As usual, it contains Peck’s weird but intriguing mix of humor and sadness: “Yippee ki yi yay / I’m always down.”

Rachel Chinouriri — “All I Ever Asked”

Despite having frustrated, conflicted lyrics like, “Just a little more time, was it really that hard to do? / It was all I ever asked of you,” this track by singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri is catchy because of its coolness. It chirps and flows in a nonchalant manner, adorned with a swaying beat that sounds perfect underneath Chinouriri’s soaring soprano.

Mothica — “Sensitive”

Mothica, who often dons intricate makeup, dyed hair, clunky jewelry, lots of tattoos, and a detached facial expression, is open about her fears on this metallic new single “Sensitive,” admitting: “I’m scared of heights, strangers at night / And socially I’m terrified.” She moves confidently in the music video; her vocals are certain and spellbinding. So when she reveals her sensitivity, it’s a reminder to not judge a book by its cover.

Finneas — “Flume”

While releasing songs with Billie Eilish for a fake Disney boyband, Finneas has also been unveiling Spotify singles. “Flume” follows “Medieval,” and it’s a cover of the Bon Iver track off his 2007 classic For Emma, Forever Ago. Finneas’ rendition is emotional as his voice vibrates with a haunted feeling; it’s stripped down with only his vocals and piano, but the empty space is necessary and powerful.

Ravenna Golden — “Big Knife”

Ravenna Golden showed up to the fistfight with a big knife, and she’s waving it around in this horror movie-esque music video. The song explodes with autotune and synths; it’s unsurprisingly produced by Dylan Brady from 100 Gecs and Umru who’s produced music for Charli XCX and Dorian Electra. In the age of post-Internet maximalist pop and emo rap like 100 Gecs and Bladee, Golden shows promise.

Ethel Cain — “Everytime”

Speaking of emo rap, Ethel Cain, who collaborated with Soundcloud kings Lil Aaron and Wicca Phase Springs Eternal on her debut EP last year, has returned with a Spotify Single, her first material so far this year. Fittingly, it’s a Britney Spears cover, but Cain renders it unrecognizable and imbues it with her signature eerie, slow-motion sound, making it her own.

Charli XCX is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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Party Boy Gary King From ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Gives Us His Guide To Doing Ibiza The Right Way

Spring is only a couple of weeks away, the weather is warming up, the open road is calling, and we have one question for you: what’s on the itinerary? If the answer is “nothing,” well, it’s time to start planning.

Every year, spring and summer come faster than you expect, and before you know it, the people in your social media circle will be humble bragging about their destination festival VIP wristbands while you scramble around for anything not already sold out. Next thing you know, you’re wearing a sweater and stressing out about Christmas. It’s a vicious cycle!

In the spirit of the spring break party season, we’ve hit up the perfect person to usher you into your very own unforgettable unhinged weekend: Below Deck Sailing Yachts resident party boy, Gary King. If you haven’t been watching Bravo’s Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which returned for a third season a few weeks back, you’ve been missing out on all sorts of Menorca-based sea drama — much of which wouldn’t exist without our guy Gary.

To kick off the party season, we reached out to Gary for a guide to his all-time favorite place to let loose: the Spanish island of Ibiza. Not only did Gary provide us with some of his favorite club destinations and his personal guide to doing Ibiza the right way, he also shared a story that Sailing Yacht fans could only describe as “Peak Gary.”

For the best Ibiza party experience, describe the ideal game plan, from morning until night.

Enjoy The Day, Prepare For The Night

This all depends on if you’ve gone to Ibiza to see some of your favorite DJs or if you’re just going with the flow, but ideally, start the day off with a healthy and nutritious meal. Then head to a beach club, ideally get a cabana or a big sunbed, soak up some sun, swim in the warm sea, and enjoy a few cocktails while listening to some banging tunes in the background.

Once sunset has gone by, definitely get a shower and change of attire and head out to one of the many clubs Ibiza has to offer. They close around 6 am so depending on how you feel after that and who you know, there are always after parties happening around.

What is the best club to listen to music and dance in Ibiza? If one is too hard to pick, please list a few of your favorites and what makes each special.

All of the clubs have such good sound systems and decor that it’s hard to choose. The ones I’d recommend, just to name a few, are:

Space

Amnesia

Blue Marlin

Ushuaia

What is your favorite bar in Ibiza and what’s the go-to drink order?

Lio

For the experience, I’d say Lio. get a table there (not cheap), and enjoy the cabaret shows with a bottle of Grey Goose. [Editor’s Note: Come on, Gary, “bottle of Grey Goose” is playing pretty fast and loose with the concept of “a drink order.”]

Favorite place to grab a late-night bite?

Kebab

It’s gotta be the nearest €5 kebab.

Where is the best place to grab breakfast in the morning after partying?

Haha, well I’m not usually up for breakfast or just completely miss it, but the Spanish aren’t the biggest culture for breakfast so I usually just make my own.

If you’re looking for a lazy day in Ibiza, what’s the game plan?

Go for a walk

Maybe a walk around the old town or a day on one of the many beaches Ibiza has to offer.

Where is the best place to take in the natural surroundings of Ibiza, any good hiking trails, nature walks, etc?

Es Vedrà

I’d say the west coast of Ibiza with its beautiful mountains and cliffs. There’s an island just off the south west coast called Es Vedrà, it makes for beautiful sunsets. The old town is also amazing to walk around, take a walk around the 2500-year-old city

What about Ibiza is less appreciated/ talked about?

The Surf

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A post shared by Gary King (@king_gk)

How good the surf can get in the winter! Not much happens on the island from November till April. Funny enough, the Mediterranean makes for some good surf during those winter months.

What is your favorite thing to do in Ibiza?

…Party

It would be to go and party. I base myself out of Mallorca which is an island just north of Ibiza and after a long summer season, it’s good to go with a bunch of friends and have a good party.

What is one thing in Ibiza everyone needs to experience?

A Trip To Formentera

A day or two trips to the island just south of Ibiza called Formentera. It is like the Mediterranean’s hidden gem. It has some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen and the white sand beaches are breathtaking. The island is quite small so I’d suggest renting a moped for a few days there.

What’s a memory of partying in Ibiza that stays with you?

A couple of years back I was on a boat in Ibiza, we were anchored in Cala Jondal on the south coast of the island. A good friend of mine, Welsh Kate, was also on the island. I ended up going to see her as she had just dropped off charter. We were pre-drinking on her boat before heading out to, I believe it was, Space, and partied till around 6 in the morning.

Kate got a taxi home and I ended up going to the bay where the boat was anchored. I didn’t have a ride back to the boat so I thought I’d steal the tender that was just tied to a rock in the beach. Little did I know that when I went to start the engine by pulling the cord the engine backfired and made a massive bang sound, all of a sudden three guys were on the beach screaming at me in Spanish. I had now drifted offshore a bit towards the channel markers and in my nonexistent Spanish all I was saying is I’ll bring it back “lo vuelvo, lo vuelvo” they seemed less than impressed and started taking items out their pockets to come after me.

By now I was shitting myself. I’ve stolen these guys’ tender and started drifting further into the darkness. A random dingy came past, I asked for help and he screamed at me in Spanish and pointed his torch to the guys on the beach. I realized my options were stay here and get fucked up in this tender that won’t start or bail. I was against the channel lines and quickly pulled myself further and further away from shore until I was at the end. All this going on whilst the other guys are almost in the other dingy headed my way. I jumped out of the dingy, went underwater, and swam away for what felt like over a hundred feet.

Coming up in a completely different location had fooled them. I was near a small sailing boat and held on to their anchor chain before making my way to their dingy hanging off the stern. I immediately jumped in so I could hide under the pontoons. Little did I know there was rainwater in the dingy and it was freezing. Now I’ve just been partying in Ibiza for over 12 hours, stolen and ditched some people’s tender and I’m hiding in a puddle of cold water in a 4 ft dingy. I had the lights of the torch from the other dingy come over me and see it hit both pontoons. I thought they had found me, but my sideways downward dog was small enough to be under the pontoons, I swear If it wasn’t so cold I think I would have poo’d in my pants.

I heard the 2 engines go into the distance and I was like ‘alas, I’m away.’ As cold as I was I had to get into the warmer Mediterranean waters, so in I jumped and all around me was this bright phosphorescence. Now, I know I was still a bit drunk, but I had never seen anything like this. I was tripping out. I had swam about 100meters/300ft from where I ditched the boat to my dingy hanging off the back. Completely exhausted I climbed up, pulled myself towards the boat, jumped up and kissed the deck, and thanked the lord I made it.

I took off my clothes. Lost my shoes in the swim as it was too hard and just crashed out. The next day I didn’t even surface as I was scared to go outside, but being young and not realizing these Spanish guys might just think I’d have drowned. Now in my come down, I was paranoid about coast guard and police looking for a missing person. I’m thinking ‘Gary what have you done?’

In the end, there was no news of a missing person, guess the Spanish lads were like, ‘well f@#k him!’ It was the biggest roller coaster of feelings I’ve ever had in one night, even to this day.

Catch all the crew antics on Below Deck Sailing Yacht every Monday evening on Bravo.