Month: July 2022

Bol Bol’s come a long way since being a 5-star recruit and one of the most promising young players in high school basketball. Bol suffered a foot injury several games into his collegiate career at Oregon, saw himself fall into the second round of the NBA Draft, and never really got the chance to play consistently as a member of the Denver Nuggets.

As a free agent, Bol was given the opportunity to get a fresh start somewhere else in the league, and on Friday afternoon, we learned that he’s going to do that as a member of the Orlando Magic. According to Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel, Bol will return to the team that acquired him ahead of the trade deadline on a 2-year contract. He’ll be part of a team that saw one member of its frontcourt leave in free agency already, as Robin Lopez is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team was, however, able to hold onto another free agent in its big man rotation in Mo Bamba.

Bol has struggled to carve out a role with the Nuggets during his three years in Denver, and last season, he underwent foot surgery appeared in only 14 games, the fewest of his young career. In 53 career games, Bol has averaged 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.2 minutes per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three.

Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” has been perhaps the least expected music success story of the year, as the 1985 single has been topping the charts ever since it popped up in the new season of Stranger Things. In fact, it is currently spending a third week at No. 1 on the UK charts, which has prompted a new post from Bush on her website.

Aside from celebrating the latest accolade, Bush also notes she’s seen the final two episodes of the current Stranger Things season and expresses how happy she is that she got to be a part of it. Her post reads:

“Whoooo Hoooo everybody! I just can’t believe it – No. 1 for the third week. We’re all so excited! In fact it’s all starting to feel a bit surreal.

I’ve just watched the last two episodes of Stranger Things and they’re just through the roof. No spoilers here, I promise. I’d only seen the scenes that directly involved the use of the track and so I didn’t know how the story would evolve or build. I was so delighted that the Duffer Brothers wanted to use RUTH for Max’s totem but now having seen the whole of this last series, I feel deeply honoured that the song was chosen to become a part of their roller coaster journey. I can’t imagine the amount of hard work that’s gone into making something on this scale. I am in awe. They’ve made something really spectacular.

I want to let you know about the amount of unofficial merchandise that’s out there. I haven’t seen it myself but I keep getting reports that there’s a huge amount: T-shirts, etc – some of which is very poor quality, some of which is pretty good and could be mistaken for being official. The only official merchandise is the already existing material that’s available through the official websites.

We hope you understand that we want to honour the energy that’s being generated by the audiences right now. An energy that feels very special, unique and quite frankly, bloody moving.

Thanks very much everyone,
Kate.”

In a recent interview, Bush said, “It’s just extraordinary. I mean, it’s such a great series, I thought that the track would get some attention, but I never imagined that it would be anything like this. It’s so exciting. It’s quite shocking really, isn’t it? The whole world’s gone mad [laughs]

In Chris Pratt‘s new Amazon series, The Terminal List, his character Jack Reece (not to be confused with Jack Ryan or Jack Reacher, who also made the leap from best-selling novels to streaming shows) is attacked while getting an MRI, resulting in a brutal fight scene where Pratt has to ward off his attacker while wearing nothing but his underwear.

While attending The Terminal List premiere, Pratt opened up about filming the action scene in his skivvies, which fortunately, he had a lot of experience with due to some good ol’ sibling rivalry. “I used to fight my brother a lot in my underwear,” Pratt said. “Oftentimes, we’d run around in our underwear fighting each other.”

After joking about his childhood underwear brawls, Pratt got (briefly) serious while talking about the choreography for the scene. Via Variety:

“… I just remember saying, ‘This is a man fighting for his life. I want it to be dirty. So I’m gonna punch him in the balls. I’m gonna rip out their eyes. I’m gonna do everything you wouldn’t do in a sanctioned boxing match, right? It’s not a clean fight. It’s raw, visceral and vulnerable.”

Then he added with a smile, “And you get to see me in my underwear, which is kinda cool.”

While Pratt was fully prepared for the underwear fight, showrunner David DiGilio admitted that the scene was almost a little too revealing. “We did have to use some visual effects to cover up a few more pieces at various points in the fight scene,” he said with a laugh.

All eight episodes of The Terminal List are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

(Via Variety)

One major question hangs over everything in the aftermath of Kevin Durant‘s trade request: Why, exactly, does Durant want to leave the Brooklyn Nets? Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN went onto Get Up! on Friday morning and gave a little bit of insight, and unsurprisingly, it’s a bit complex.

According to Wojnarowski, a few things went into this. There’s the “acrimonious” contract talks that Kyrie Irving had with the franchise about an extension and, eventually, a sign-and-trade that did not go anywhere, something that was likewise cited by Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated. But there was another thing that made Durant take stock of how things were going in Brooklyn: The fact that his old team, the Golden State Warriors, was able to win an NBA championship this past year.

“I think what happened here in the last few months, the combination of the acrimonious talks with Kyrie Irving and the Nets about his future, their unwillingness to commit long-term to him, his inability to find a long-term deal and a sign-and-trade in the marketplace,” Wojnarowski said at the 2:53 mark of the above video. “And the Warriors winning a championship played a factor in this. I think it exasperated Kevin Durant’s frustration, I think that’s the narrative that surrounded him that he dealt with in the aftermath of him leaving Golden State, and then going on to win a title without him, contrasting with what has gone on in Brooklyn in these last three years and how James Harden comes, James Harden goes.

“Remember, James Harden was traded, they traded for him, because they thought he gave them an ability to keep Kevin Durant long-term because they didn’t know that they could count on Kyrie Irving, and he came and left in the interim,” he continued. “And in the end, I think for Kevin Durant, essentially, I’m told what he described to ownership yesterday when he asked for the trade was that he needed a change of scenery. And so, he’s headed for that, I think certainly Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, have both very likely — almost assuredly — played their last games in Brooklyn.”

It is worth mentioning that Durant has not spoke publicly since the trade request, so there we have not heard from him on why he wants to try something new.

Like so many others, Seth Meyers isn’t very optimistic that the January 6th hearings are going to do much to change the minds of Donald Trump’s greatest admirers and champions. As the Late Night host said on Thursday:

“We’ve been through a seven-year-long onslaught of Trump scandals, including two impeachments, a violent coup, and a sex scandal in which he paid hush money during a presidential campaign to cover up an affair with a porn star and lied about it up until the point where the actual check he personally wrote to make the payment surfaced with his signature on it.”

So it hardly seems likely that Trump die-hards—who are still standing behind the former president and probably aren’t even watching the hearings—are going to turn their backs on him now. But what Meyers finds even more shocking is that none of the people who have propped Trump up along the way and helped to foment the insurrection at the Capitol have not yet been thrown in the clink for the part they played in the deadly riots of January 6th.

Meyers replayed the part of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony, in which she claimed that former White House counsel Pat Cipollone—on the morning of January 6th—asked her to make sure that no one in the Trump administration went to the Capitol and lamented, in her words, “something to the effect of… ‘We’re going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement [to the Capitol] happen.’” When asked by Liz Cheney if any specific crimes were mentioned, Hutchinson replied that in the days leading up to the 6th, they had talked about “obstruction of justice or defrauding the electoral count.” Meyers could barely believe what he was hearing:

“It’s truly mind-boggling to me that none of these guys are in jail yet when they themselves were expecting to end up in jail. Merrick Garland’s still poring over transcripts looking for a smoking gun. Meanwhile, on January 6th, Trump aides were all on Pinterest searching for ‘ways to accessorize your orange jumpsuit.’”

Meyers went on to state that Cipollone’s alleged comment “was not just a one-time freakout on January 6th, as Hutchinson made clear in that clip… Think about it: they even named the specific laws they were breaking. They literally laid out a blueprint for prosecutors to arrest them. I mean, how much easier could you make it? This is like if, on every page, Waldo was holding up a giant sign that said, ‘I’M RIGHT HERE YOU IDIOT.’”

Yet here we are with Trump and his many law-breaking cronies roaming free (at least for now) and making excuse after excuse for why they did nothing wrong.

You can watch the full clip above.

Doja Cat has had a massively successful last few years, racking up victories and nominations across a variety of prominent award shows, putting on stellar live sets, and regularly being called upon by stars of today and yesteryear to add her versatile spice to their records. Today (July 1), she has earned a whopping 22 new RIAA certifications, which has helped put her in rare air: She now has 14 total Platinum singles, which is tied with Nicki Minaj for the second-most ever for a female rapper. The Planet Her and Queen artists now only stand behind Cardi B within these specific rankings, with the Invasion Of Privacy artist holding firm at 17 Platinum singles.

The RIAA has certified the 26-year-old’s singles “Juicy,” “Need To Know,” “Ain’t Sh*t,” “Streets,” “Rules,” “Get Into It (Yuh),” “Woman,” “Cyber Sex,” “Candy,” “You Right” featuring The Weeknd,” “Like That” featuring Gucci Mane, “Tia Tamera” featuring Rico Nasty as Platinum, with “Say So” and “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA now five-times and four-times Platinum, respectively. Additionally, “Freak,” “Bottom B*tch,” “So High,” “Mooo!,” and “I Don’t Do Drugs” featuring Ariana Grande are officially Gold-certified. Lastly, Doja Cat’s 2019 LP Hot Pink and 2021 LP Planet Her are officially Platinum, with 2018’s Amala reaching Gold status.

Though the multi-talent unfortunately has to miss some major upcoming shows due to tonsil surgery, surely some good news like this will comfort her in the recovery process before she is back to doing what she does best. It may just be a matter of time before she reaches No. 1.

Check out the full list of Doja Cat’s RIAA certifications here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

We love Florida here at Uproxx — as a travel destination, if not as a state of mind. From the pristine beaches of Fort Myers to the party scene in Miami, the Sunshine State offers a year-round tropical oasis. That’s why super model and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie Olivia Ponton, a proud resident of Naples, Florida, keeps returning to her home city.

“I feel the most myself at any beach. Eating an acaí bowl on the beach and playing sand volleyball seems like my perfect day,” says Ponton.

To get the inside scoop on all things Naples, we asked Ponton to share her ultimate guide to the quintessential seaside city. Read on for where to stay, play, eat, and explore in Naples, Florida.

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WHY NAPLES, FLORIDA?

I love how calm it is, it’s truly a vacation retreat. Growing up I didn’t even know what ocean conservation was because our beaches were so beautiful and clean. When the red tide happened, it caused me to learn more about keeping our beaches clean! I think Naples is a must-visit destination. I love to wake up on the beach, put on my bikini, go to the beach all day, order smoothies, go home to shower and go get sushi for dinner. That is my perfect day.

What’s one thing that every first-time visitor should see or do in Naples?

Jet skiing, because the water normally isn’t too choppy. It’s so much fun to do with your friends. Boat days are unbeatable. You can rent boats and jet skis, take a charter out, or go for a sunset cruise. Most hotels will have access to these services! Any activity on the water in Naples will not disappoint, with warm water and very frequent dolphin sightings.

Where to find the best shopping

Either near 5th Ave, 3rd Street South, or Waterside Shops. All three are distinct shopping experiences. 5th Ave has many local shops with cute local restaurants, offering the perfect setting for an evening dinner with shopping. 3rd Street South (near 5th Ave) is similar in that it’s home to many local shops as well! 3rd STreet South is the perfect spot for brunch and shopping (make sure to get lunch at Jane’s Cafe). Waterside Shops is an outdoor mall that houses upscale shopping, with designer brands and luxury products, perfect for weekend shopping.

Where can nature lovers explore in Naples?

Go to Greenway Park. It’s a beautiful boardwalk near Naples High School that stretches for miles (about four or five to be more specific) and is shaded in some areas. This trail leads all the way to Baker Park, which is a large park along the water and a great place for all interests. There’s a dog park, event space, kids water playground and regular playground, and a grass area for relaxing and activities. It’s fun to walk with friends or just do a nice workout by yourself.

The most underrated restaurant that everyone needs to try

For a quick smoothie to take to the beach, Tropical Smoothie hands down. They don’t have any locations in NYC or LA. So every time I go home I NEED to have it!

For a more upscale dining experience, I would recommend Bar Tulia. It’s a locally-owned, upscale Italian restaurant with locations in both Mercato and 5th Avenue, two of the most popular places for nightlife in Naples. The vibe is rustic with its open layout and buzzing crowd, a fun exciting place to be on a Friday or Saturday night!

Another favorite is The Bevy, a local spot right off of 3rd Ave South. With an array of different dishes, an outdoor setting, and beautiful decor, this restaurant is sure to give you a great taste of Naples.

For a sunset dinner, the Turtle Club is a locally owned restaurant where you are able to dine right on the beach creating the perfect atmosphere.

Best beach spot to spend a Saturday in the sun?

Downtown, there are small beaches near the Pier, but a few streets down from that the beaches are ALWAYS quiet and those are normally the best ones to go to. They offer a bit more privacy, with space for public parking and easy beach access.

Additionally, there is also Clam Pass Beach, which offers public parking and a tram service to take guests on a tree-lined boardwalk to the beach (you can also walk the boardwalk if you would like)! At this beach, there is a restaurant that serves drinks and Greek food and has ample places to relax.

Coolest hotel or place to stay in Naples?

The Naples Grande is my favorite place to stay, 10/10 best resort to stay at. With activities for all age groups, The Naples Grande is a great place for families. With two pools — one adult pool and one children’s pool — a water slide, and multiple restaurants, it’s a great place to relax and unwind. There is also a golf cart service that takes you to the beach only five minutes away. Guests are also able to enjoy a full-service spa, which has an array of treatment options.

Best time of year to visit?

Any time is amazing, I would go in April or May because that’s when the weather starts getting really, really nice. Also, the normal summer tourists haven’t started to visit yet around that time of year. But any time of year is amazing in Naples. Even during the holidays, the decorations on 5th Ave make it magical. You can’t go wrong visiting Naples.

Bill Maher is reportedly in talks to make his first Fox News appearance following a back and forth with Donald Trump. The Real Time host revealed that he’s in negotiations to appear on Tucker Carlson‘s show, and it never would have happened if Trump hadn’t falsely accused Maher of being booked on the network.

While stopping by the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Maher walked Mandel through an indirect exchange he had with Trump after the former president started regularly whining about the comedian during his rallies. After hearing one of Trump’s “comedy chunks” where he claims Maher has appeared on Fox News, the HBO host set the record straight that he’s never been on the network, but he’s about to be. Via Mediaite:

“He just made that up. I know — it’s so unlike Donald Trump to just make something up,” he said. “So I wanted it out there that no, I’m not f*cking booked on Fox News, but I wanna be, I’ve tried to be. And now because of that and because I tweeted about it now I am booked on Fox News. Now we are negotiating and I’m gonna do Tucker Carlson.”

According to Maher, he was asked to appear on Carlson’s show once before, but the talks fell through after he learned that the discussion would be limited to pre-approved topics.

“I said, absolutely right away,” Maher told Mandel. “And then they came back and said, ‘Yeah, but just let’s just talk about the things we agree about.’ I’m like, no. What sort of stupid way is that to have an interview? No, we’ll talk about everything.”

Apparently, this time around talks are going more smoothly, and if the booking goes through, it will mark Maher’s first appearance on Fox News, all thanks to Trump making stuff up.

(Via Mediaite)

Malcolm Brogdon is heading to Boston. According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Indiana Pacers are sending their veteran guard to the defending Eastern Conference champions in a move that gives the Celtics some major backcourt reinforcements on the heels of their NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Wojnarowski reports that the cost of doing business is not particularly high for Boston, as the team has tossed together a collection of players headlined by Daniel Theis and former first-round pick Aaron Nesmith. In addition, the Pacers will receive a 2023 first-round selection.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report brings word that the Pacers had an eye on Grant Williams, but Boston was able to make the deal happen without parting ways with him.

As Wojnarowski noted, one of the things Boston prioritized on the heels of their playoff run was getting a “true playmaking point guard.” While Marcus Smart did an admirable job running things for the Celtics, the team was hurt by their inability to limit turnovers against the Warriors, and Brogdon is among the most ball-secure point guards in the NBA.

Brogdon, a former Rookie of the Year, averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Pacers last season while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and, in an outlier compared to his career average, 31.2 percent from three. He started all 36 games in which he appeared.

The Republican-heavy Supreme Court gave people a doozy of a session wind-down, starting late last week when they officially overruled Roe v. Wade, thereby pushing women back to the Dirty Dancing era without remorse. The highest court in the land also ignored the Texas school shooting by slapping down gun restrictions, and expanded Oklahoma’s jurisdiction and power over Native American tribes, and essentially disarmed the EPA‘s ability to fight climate change.

In other words, no one can blame Americans for needing a few drinks over the Fourth of July, but maybe this news out of Minnesota will help? As Ryan Faircloth (of Star Tribune) noted on Twitter, the Minnesota Senate legalized edibles as of Friday. The catch here, though, is that members of the state’s GOP apparently didn’t read (or grasp) the entire bill, and then they wanted to undo the vote.

Yes, really. Here’s details on that hot mess from Star Tribune), which notes that Democrats stood firm on refusing a rollback:

Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, who chairs the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee, said he didn’t realize the new law would legalize edibles containing delta-9 THC before it passed. He thought the law would only regulate delta-8 THC products.

“I thought we were doing a technical fix, and it winded up having a broader impact than I expected,” Abeler said, adding that the Legislature should consider rolling the new law back.

Cue the poetry and other amused commentary from social media:

Enjoy that holiday weekend, everyone. Minnesotans sure have a reason to party.

(Via Star Tribune)