Since former head coach Luke Walton was fired, the Sacramento Kings are 2-3 under interim coach Alvin Gentry. They strung together back-to-back wins over playoff contenders last week, but have suffered a pair of blowout losses in their last two contests and now sit at 8-14, three games back of a play-in spot.
Tuesday’s defeat, a 117-92 rout at the hands of the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers, was rather ugly. After entering halftime with a 59-50 lead, the Kings were outscored 67-33 in the second half. Following the game, Gentry opened his presser by issuing an apology to fans.
Kings interim head caoch Alvin Gentry, disgusted with the way his team performed in the second half, apologizes to Sacramento fans after the game. pic.twitter.com/tkV6az8biF
“I guess the very first thing I should do as a coach is apologize to the fans here. They don’t deserve what they got tonight,” Gentry said. “The second half was a disaster and it was an embarrassment. As the coach of this team, I want to apologize to every King fan out there because you do not deserve this. You deserve much, much better and we’ll find guys that will give you better.”
Since opening the year 5-5, the Kings have lost nine of their last 12 games. They’ll have a chance to start righting the ship Wednesday night when they face the Los Angeles Clippers for a duel inside Staples Center.
Director Peter Jackson’s new 468-minute Beatles documentary “Get Back” is a landmark achievement. It’s an in-depth, warts-and-all glimpse into the creative process of four of the most important musicians and cultural figures of the past 100 years.
The crazy thing is that’s not even an overstatement. Watching the Beatles pull tunes from the ether and then work them into some of the most enduring songs in the history of popular music is revelatory.
Like when Paul McCartney strums his way into writing “Get Back.”
Spent the weekend with #getback and loved the tedium of creativity, the riffs, the improvisations but most of all this magical moment when Paul McCartney wills the song into being. A miracle on film.pic.twitter.com/uoafI0ISla
Some have criticized the film for being too long, questioning the number of times one must hear “I’ve Got a Feeling,” but they’ve completely missed the point. “Get Back” is entertaining, but it’s not entertainment. It’s a Rosetta Stone for anyone who wants to decode the process of the masters. It’s an instruction manual for taking notes, rhythm and words and breathing life into them so they move bodies, hearts and minds.
Jackson’s brilliance is that he gets out of the way and presents the narrative as a race against the clock. The Beatles have a short period of time to write, record and, possibly, perform an album. Can they make it or will simmering resentments prevent them from reaching their goal?
Watch a clip of @TheBeatlesu2019 rooftop performance of u201cGet Backu201d from Peter Jacksonu2019s Original Docuseries #TheBeatlesGetBack. Experience the three-part event on @DisneyPlus starting this Thursday. @johnlennon @PaulMcCartney @GeorgeHarrison @ringostarrmusicpic.twitter.com/JK3LortFP0
Jackson also does the film a major service by keeping the opinions of others out. Lesser directors might have been tempted to interview other musicians to get their opinions on the historic footage.
Most importantly, the movie doesn’t have one minute of Dave Grohl explaining how the Beatles influenced Nirvana or Foo Fighters. Grohl is the undisputed king of the League of Extraordinary Rock ‘n’ Roll Know-it-Alls who lives to share his opinion on other musical artists in documentaries and on award shows.
Over the years, Grohl has fallen into self-parody for the number of times he’s claimed that an artist he’s discussing in a documentary or handing an award to has influenced either Nirvana or Foo Fighters.
Another way to ruin a rock ‘n’ roll documentary is by having an appearance by one of the other members of the League of Extraordinary Rock ‘n’ Roll Know-it-Alls such as Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Lars Ulrich, Questlove or John Legend.
These folks can always be counted on to give a self-important speech about an artist or band and find a way to make it about themselves.
Noel Gallagher of Oasis could also be a part of this group, but he’s usually pretty funny and self-deprecating in interviews so he gets a pass.
Appearances by the League of Extraordinary Rock ‘n’ Roll Know-it-Alls at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame are especially egregious because, at one point, they were all renegades, now they give speeches at an establishment for the anti-establishment.
Jesse Hawken, the host of the Junk Filter podcast, had some fun at the expense of these blowhardy rock stars with a thread that showed just how bad it could have gone if Jackson let modern musicians comment on the Beatles’ greatness.
“Get Back” was okay, I really wish they had interviewed some of today’s top artists for the film. Would have liked to see Dave Grohl say that there wouldn’t have been Nirvana or the Foo Fighters without the Beatles, to put the band in historical context
“When ‘Come Together’ starts and you just hear that guitar go ‘shunk shunk doo-doo-DOO, doo’, you just know man, this is The Beatles right here” pic.twitter.com/18994jHIvK
“Helter Skelter, man, that’s like the original punk song. Would we have punk rock without The Beatles? I dunno man, I can’t answer that question. I don’t WANT to answer that question” pic.twitter.com/uuC5ABkPa9
“The first time I ever heard em, I must have been about 15, and ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ comes on the radio and I pulled over to a payphone and called my girlfriend, didn’t even wait for her to pick up, I was like ‘have you ever heard of this band The Beatles?'” pic.twitter.com/BVMxQmjTQz
“I guess enough time’s past I can admit it, right? The Beatles were a huge influence on Oasis. Huge. Those mellotrons on ‘Morning Glory’? We nicked that from the Lads” pic.twitter.com/k47cexMHf7
“We played a little rooftop concert of our own, ya know. Got into a little trouble with the law ourselves. I guess you could say it was kind of our tribute to the Lads” pic.twitter.com/tyXDKNpP4d
“I remember thinking to myself, Pharrell, don’t screw this up, you’re performing one of Paul McCartney’s songs…in FRONT OF Paul McCartney!” pic.twitter.com/E4wanr1F05
With only three weeks to go before it blows the roof of theaters (and homes, thanks to HBO Max), The Matrix Resurrections has dropped a trippy new teaser that goes extremely heavy on the déjà vu by referencing the films from the original Matrix Trilogy. Right off the bat, Keanu Reeves‘ Neo is confronted by a black cat, which Matrix fans will remember from the first movie along with the explanation of what it feels like to experience déjà vu inside The Matrix: “It happens when they change something.” And, man, does this new teaser lean into that line.
In an interesting creative choice, the teaser flashes back not just to the original films, but also their behind the scenes footage, as shots from the trilogy dissolve into new shots from Resurrections, which in true Matrix-style, raises all kinds of questions about what the heck is happening. Not only that, but the teaser also shows Laurence Fishburne‘s Morpheus, which is notable because Fishburne is reportedly not in the film and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has stepped into the role of a new, younger Morpheus. Or is he? Because after this teaser, literally anything is possible as Resurrections makes it clear that, once again, audiences will have their perception of reality challenged.
Judging by the reactions, people are ready to do this thing:
Giving the gift of beer is a good way to tell the beer fan in your life that you care about them. That being said, you want to give a beer that goes beyond the average sixer you can grab in any grocery store or even liquor store. The beer needs to be special. Flavorful, eye-catching, or, ideally, both.
That narrows down the selection considerably. But with seemingly endless options out there, it can still be daunting finding that perfect gift beer. Unless, of course, you have our team to help out (lucky you!).
Below, we’ve compiled a list of ten beers that make perfect stocking stuffers this time of year. The throughline here is that each of these beers comes in a big bottle (mostly champagne bottles) and they’re all unique. It might take a little extra effort to find some of these picks but that’s kind of the point of a great gift — effort. The brews themselves range from American craft one-of-a-kind bottles to bucket list beers from Europe.
This Belgian-Style ale from San Diego is the jewel in the crown of the brewery. The Belgian ale yeast and caramel malts are brewed into a beer that spends a year aging in American and French red wine barrels before it’s blended and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
The beer draws you in with hints of sugar plums and spicy tea-soaked dates that lead to a light note of sticky toffee pudding with a hint of brandy butter cut with rich vanilla. Those notes are present on the palate as hints of pear and apple cores mingle with raisins, more plums, and plenty of wintry spice with a caramel malty base and touch of bitter chocolate on the backend.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those beers that’s perfect for sharing but also a great bottle to open up and enjoy on your own. It’s wonderfully nuanced while still feeling like something that’s approachable. It looks cool and tastes great — i.e. the perfect gift beer.
The beer is a blend of well-aged lambics that are married and then bottled and cellared for additional fermentation and aging. It’s kind of a masterclass in what great beer can be when you take your time making it, making it a great gift for anyone looking to expand their beer knowledge and palate.
Tasting Notes:
The beer greets you with a slight, earthy funk next to mild grassiness, orchard ripe apples, and a hint of citrus tartness. The palate leans into the dry grass and tart fruits with a real sour underbelly next to a slight funk. The sourness, tartness, sweet fruits, and grass balance each other out while a dry nature takes you towards a Champagne-esque final note.
Bottom Line:
This was an “ah-ha” beer for me. I liked sours and lambic perfectly well before this beer. I loved them after I drank this. So, if you know someone who’s into the sour and funky end of things, this is your play for a great gift this year.
Brasserie Dupont is one of the most heralded Belgian breweries, full stop. Their Saison Dupont is beloved by beer aficionados the world over. This expression is a special holiday release that used to only go to family and friends of the brewery. It leaked out to the public and became so popular that it got a wide release and is now considered one of the best holiday beers there is.
Tasting Notes:
The beer is richly aromatic from the moment it nears your nose with hints of clove, green banana, black pepper, and lemon curd. The malts are bold, sweet, and creamy as the grassy tart nature of the lemon mingles with a distant spiciness and fruitiness. The sip ends dry while still feeling full-bodied and very silky.
Bottom Line:
This is the ultimate beer for celebrations and gift-giving. It’s also a great sharing beer and can be treated like champagne when poured out (it’s really that good). Prechill this one before you give it as a gift so everyone can enjoy it right away.
Cantillon masterfully blends the best lambics in the world and this is a highwater mark for the Trappist brewery. The beer in this bottle is a blend of 18 to 20-month-old lambics that have been steeped with Bergeron apricots. And they don’t just drop some apricot into the mix — every liter of beer is loaded with 300 grams (nearly a pound) of the fruit for the long rest in the barrel.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is all about the old library leather next to hints of barnyard straw, pear orchards, and a very distinct vibe of apricot compote. That apricot nature drives the taste as rich malts, more dry straw, a touch of apple cider vinegar, and maybe even a little peach pit dance through your senses. The finish is sweet, malty, and just the right amount of funky to keep you going back for more.
Bottom Line:
A bottle of Cantillon (any one of them) will always wow a beer nerd as a gift. That’s just a fact. This is a personal favorite and very accessible for the brand’s wild line of funky beers.
This is a one-off beer brewed back in 2012. The Belgian-style ale is a collab between California’s Sierra Nevada and the famed Russian River Brewing. The brew is re-fermented in the bottle as it ages thanks to the addition of Brettanomyces Bruxellensis yeast, hence the name “Brux.”
Tasting Notes:
This is like walking through a fruit orchard on a sunny day with just a hint of sour yogurt sneaking on the backside of the nose with sweet woods and candied orange blossoms lurking in there too. The taste has a green vinous edge that leads back to that fruit orchard with tons of pear and apple with wood, stems, cores, and flowers all making an appearance. The sour nature is tied to the yeast and adds a nice layer of depth to the fruits and florals with an acidic white wine vibe.
Bottom Line:
This is a very unique beer that’s aged really well over the last nine years. It’s also a great gift in that it can be savored right now or it can go back in a cellar to age a little more.
While this beer is a “limited edition,” it is produced every year and dropped for the winter season. This classic beer from up in Juneau, Alaska, embraces the iconic “rauchbier” from Germany’s premier beer-brewing city, Bamberg. The alder smoked malts used in the initial fermentation are what give this beer its distinct smokiness. The rest is pure Alaskan water and Pacific Northwest hops.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a subtle campfire smoke up top with a nod to a fatty smoked salmon or bacon (depending on the age of the brew). The bitterness is mild with an echo of hops lingering far in the background. There’s a hint of molasses sweetness in the smoky malts that has touches of a smoked gouda with an ashen edge.
Bottom Line:
These are always stellar when they drop and make for the perfect gift for any beer lover looking for something completely different yet deeply traditional. Moreover, these age amazingly well. So, if you get, say, a six-pack, your giftee can age them and then pull a bottle every year for the next five years. That’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Nothing says winter more than a .75l bottle of N’ice Choufee in the fridge. The beer kicks ten percent ABVs worth of winter spice into every single bottle with a deep Belgian tradition of craftsmanship and flavor.
Tasting Notes:
This dark Belgian winter sipper has a mild hop bitterness with hints of fresh thyme, wheat spice, and curaçao. The spiciness really shines with notes of cloves, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg. There’s a slight dried plum fattiness with a sweet edge to cut through all those spices. A mild acidic — almost tart — edge brings about a dry, rich finish.
Bottom Line:
This might well be the perfect winter beer. The big bottle is made for sharing (trust us, this beer will catch up with you fast if you drink it too quickly). In the end, this is just a great Belgian beer that speaks to the season and any beer lover’s desire to drink amazing beer.
This yearly release from Samuel Adams is for hardcore beer fans. The beer is a long-aged ale. This year’s release included Michigan-grown Balaton cherries in the barrel for the aging process along with the first use of Sauternes French wine casks for aging as well (which is popular in the world single malt Scotch whisky aging). All those barrels were then blended into this year’s very limited release.
Tasting Notes:
This tastes more like a brandy than a beer. The nose comes through as a bright cherry counterpointed by dark plums, prunes, and dates with holiday spices pinging in the background. The taste sweetens with woody maple syrup over pecan waffles with plenty of vanilla in the batter. The dark cherries and fruits really drive the end of the sip towards a long finish that ends on a honey note with another whisper of cherry and maple syrup.
Bottom Line:
This is a big swing. There are a lot of beer aficionados out there that don’t even like this incredibly high ABV brew. It’s an acquired taste but you can’t acquire that taste until you try it a few times. At the very least, it’s also a great investment bottle worth putting in a cellar for a rainy day.
The final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones had a reported $90 million budget, or $15 million per episode. That’s a lot of money for a TV show. But spending $15 million on a series finale isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? $30 million on a series premiere.
In his new book, Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers, author James Andrew Miller spoke to former WarnerMedia entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt about what went wrong with the abandoned Thrones prequel starring Naomi Watts, Naomi Ackie, and Miranda Richardson. HBO decided not to movie forward with the series, which would have been set during the “Age of Heroes,” because, well, it wasn’t working and it was too dang expensive. That’s not what you want from a TV show.
“They had spent over $30 million on a Game of Thrones prequel pilot that was in production when I got there,” Greenblatt said (via Insider). “And when I saw a cut of it in a few months after I arrived, I said to [HBO head Casey Bloys], ‘This just doesn’t work and I don’t think it delivers on the promise of the original series.’ And he didn’t disagree, which actually was a relief.” He added, “So we unfortunately decided to pull the plug on it. There was enormous pressure to get it right and I don’t think that would have worked.”
That pilot was a bust, but HBO hasn’t given up on Game of Thrones: there’s a Targaryen-focused prequel coming out next year, and the Dunk and Egg show found its head writer in Patriot creator Steve Conrad.
Younger artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Bad Bunny dominated Spotify’s streaming numbers this year, but there are still many listeners on the platform who have a taste for some more nostalgia-inducing artists. For their Spotify Wrapped series, the streaming giant shared a list of the most-played throwback songs and albums from at least 20 years ago. It shows that those who use Spotify still love music from artists like Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, and The Beatles.
Presumably thanks to their viral TikTok moment in 2020, Fleetwood Mac have both the top-streamed throwback song and album of 2021. Their song “Dreams” is at No. 1 on Spotify’s roundup, as well as their 1977 album Rumours. Behind Fleetwood Mac’s album is Nirvana’s Nevermind, which also had a moment this year thanks to the baby on the cover (who’s now 30 years old) suing the band. At No. 3 on Spotify’s throwback albums list is Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. Guns ‘N Roses’ Appetite For Destruction came in at No. 4 and, finally, The Beatles’ self-titled album is No. 5 on the most-streamed list.
Fleetwood Mac may have been in the news recently thanks to TikTok and rumors about a reunion tour, but one band who appeared on the list is still more than active. Coldplay‘s “Yellow” was featured on the top-streamed throwback songs at No. 3 on the list right behind Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Behind Coldplay is Nirvana’s hit song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and No. 5 on most-streamed throwback songs list is The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.”
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The much maligned Ted Cruz sure has a strange way of coping with serious issues. One of the most telling indications of this went down long ago, when Ted clerked for the Supreme Court and kept expressing his relish for the death penalty. He spent his downtime during this period (courtesy of a 2016 New York Times profile) making a menace of himself on the basketball court. Surprisingly, his co-workers didn’t enjoy him shouting “my bad!” as he “elbowed wildly” during games. (He sure has a way with elbows, as Heidi Cruz can attest.)
Well, Ted can’t ever forget a score, which was also his vibe after Jimmy Kimmel trashed Ted as a “scumbag” (for painting Dr. Fauci into a villain, so as to better “scare old people”). As such, Ted responded strangely to Kimmel accusing him and “dogsh*t Tucker Carlson making up lies” to secure more far-right votes. Ted decided to completely ignore the substance of Kimmel’s rant, and instead, he bragged about that time they played basketball together.
“The (sadly now always unfunny) @JimmyKimmelLive taking shots at me again last night,” Ted tweeted. “You know what was funny? Me kicking his ass at hoops.” As if that wasn’t strange enough, Ted added, “BasketballBasketballBasketball” to drive his point (whatever the mystery point might be?) home.
The (sadly now always unfunny) @JimmyKimmelLive taking shots at me again last night.
You know what was funny? Me kicking his ass at hoops.
As one Twitter user noted in response, “Jimmy Kimmel makes an impassioned defense of science and you respond with basketball clips.” That sums things up quite well.
Jimmy Kimmel makes an impassioned defense of science and you respond with basketball clips.
Following the NBA’s investigation into potential tampering, both the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls will forfeit their next available second-round pick, the league announced in a release on Wednesday morning. The NBA determined each franchise “violated league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions.”
Shortly after free agency began in August, Miami and Chicago swiftly negotiated sign-and-trades that brought Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball to their respective organizations.
Ball reportedly signed an offer sheet with Chicago immediately once free agency opened at 6 p.m. EST, while Lowry and the Heat were linked even before free agency commenced. On Aug. 1, roughly 20 hours ahead of free agency, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted, “Once discussions are permitted to begin with the opening of NBA free agency on Monday, the Miami Heat are positioning themselves to become frontrunners to land Toronto’s Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade agreement.”
Of course, neither of these “punishments” are severe by any means and are unlikely to dissuade future teams from tampering with imminent free agents. If the NBA wishes to actually address this perceived problem, it would issue sterner penalties, though tampering, in the grand scheme, feels like a non-issue and something that doesn’t warrant heightened focus on repercussions.
The arrival of Ball and Lowry in their new Eastern Conference digs has helped each squad snag a top-three seed through the season’s quarter poll. Chicago is 14-8 and the No. 2 seed, half a game up on the 13-8, third-seeded Heat.
The New York Knicks made the quick trip (traffic permitting) into Brooklyn on Tuesday evening to take on the Nets. While they put forth a valiant effort, the Knicks were unable to pick up the win, as the Nets defended their home court at the Barclays Center, 112-110.
New York standout Julius Randle stuffed the stat sheet in the loss, going for 24 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 40 minutes of work. Of those 24 points, Randle only scored two of them at the free throw line, the latest in a bit of a trend this season. The 2021 NBA All-Star is shooting 3.8 free throws per 36 minutes, his lowest mark in five years, and has a free throw rate of .297, the lowest of his career.
Randle explained why this is happening after the game, and it has nothing to do with the NBA’s recent rule changes related to fouls. Randle claimed that he’s been told by officials that his ability to overpower defenders means he does not get calls.
Julius Randle said he got this explanation from a referee tonight for missed calls on fouls and it “pisses [him] off even more”
“They said because certain contact doesn’t affect me, like it affects other players because I’m stronger, they miss the calls” pic.twitter.com/uwgqHP0pBQ
“Gotta ask them, I don’t know what they’re watching or what they’re seeing, but you gotta ask them,” Randle said when asked why he doesn’t get more foul calls. “But, like you said, as aggressive as I play, attacking the paint, I can’t be penalized for just being stronger than people. And that’s the answer that I got today.
“They said because certain contact doesn’t affect me like it affects other players, because I’m stronger, they miss the calls,” Randle said when asked to clarify, before expressing his disappointment that he is officiated this way.
Whether you know Jason Sudeikis best from his days on Saturday Night Live or as the star and co-creator of the critically acclaimed Ted Lasso, you’re undoubtedly aware of his mad dancing skills. And it turns out that that fancy footwork is what got him hired as a performer on SNL in the first place.
In “SNL Stories From the Show,” Sudeikis shared that while he originally auditioned as a performer on the series—at the urging of Jeff Richmond, Tina Fey’s husband—he was offered a role as a writer, which led him to believe he had blown it. “I was confused, because I had just figured out how to write for myself,” Sudeikis recalled. “I had imposter syndrome.”
Sudeikis lucked out in his early days as a writer, getting two sketches on the air in his first two weeks as a writer—one of them being then first-time host Justin Timberlake’s Punk’d parody. In his third week, Sudeikis got to write a piece (with Robert Smigel) for his uncle, Cheers star George Wendt. “And then I went like 10 weeks with jacksh*t. But I loved the rewrite table.”
While Sudeikis felt honored to be a part of the SNL experience, it prevented him from performing and also forced him to live apart from his wife at the time, which he relayed to Lorne Michaels. The conversation took place on a Friday night in April 2005, just ahead of a season 30 episode that was hosted by Tom Brady with Beck as the musical guest.
Sudeikis recalled that Beck “for some reason had a hype man next to him, just dancing buck wild—going crazy,” which gave him an idea. Sudeikis and several of his fellow writers had written a Behind the Music parody of “The Super Bowl Shuffle” with Brady playing Jim McMahon. “The premise was that they did ‘The Super Bowl Shuffle,’ it was a huge success, and they tried to do another one, and then [McMahon] went solo. And when he went solo, I would just dance behind him.”
You can probably see where this is going.
Sudeikis decided that he would do his version of going buck wild behind Brady’s McMahon, “which was doing all these ‘90s hip-hop dances I knew how to do from being one of the few white kids on a predominantly Black basketball team in my high school basketball days.”
Because Brady’s hype man was such a prominent role, there was a discussion about having a cast member take it on. Smartly, everyone realized that no one else would get the laughs that Sudeikis did with his dancing. Which is what ultimately led Michaels to offer him a role as a performer, and became one of Sudeikis’ signature moves.
“So that’s how I ended up in the cast. That same frigging dancing that people love from ‘What Up With That’ is the same frigging dancing I did as a 16-year-old kid trying to make my teammates laugh.”
You can watch the full video above.
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