As sports gambling has become legalized in the majority of states, sports leagues, players, and media outlets have begun enjoying the financial benefits of sportsbook sponsorships.
However, it is still against league rules for NFL players to bet on NFL games at any time, or to bet on any sports from a team facility or on a team road trip. While a fairly simple rule, it is one that not everyone has been able to follow (or, at least, was not totally aware of when they broke it). Last year, Calvin Ridley sat out the season after betting on NFL games while he was out injured with the Falcons. This summer, a new crop of players has been found to have placed bets in violation of league rules, and this week a “handful” of players will be hit with the same season-long suspension, including Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A handful of NFL players, including Colts’ cornerback and kick returner Isaiah Rodgers, are expected to receive season-long suspensions this week for allegedly gambling, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/7hPaqJOQlN
Earlier this summer when the probe into Rodgers and other players was opened, the corner released a statement acknowledging his mistake and taking full responsibility for violating the league’s rules.
Statement from Colts’ CB Isaiah Rodgers regarding the NFL’s ongoing gambling investigation into his actions: pic.twitter.com/1sNFIoAwIa
Gambling controversies are not something leagues take lightly, as there is a heightened concern when it comes to anything that could damage the perceived integrity of the games. To this point, none of the bets found by players have been against their own team, which is of course when throwing a game comes into play, but the NFL set its rules to ensure players aren’t having gambling apps open in team facilities because it could raise suspicion of what else they could be doing.
What players are learning rapidly is that the sportsbooks themselves have very detailed information logs about when and where bets are placed, because they too need to maintain the public’s faith that the games happening are indeed on the up and up. While there are plenty who point to the league taking sportsbooks money only to punish players for using those products as hypocrisy, the rules are fairly cut and dry and are also understandable. That these bets are flagged is an indication that the system works pretty much as intended, and players will have to quickly learn that there’s not really a way to sneakily get around it.
Travis Scott’s next album, Utopia, seems like it’s on the way. Just yesterday, billboards popped up in Los Angeles that not only seemed tied to the rapper but also teased a July 21st release date. (Whether that’s for the full project or just a first single is TBD.)
Here are some other possible hints about Scott’s Utopia album.
Fans had first suspected that Scott revealed the name of the album all the way back in 2020, when he ended a note in a social media post with the phrase, “See you in Utopia.” (The emphasis on the capital U led to this speculation.)
However, after the Astroworld Festival tragedy in 2021, Scott was pretty quiet about any new updates until recently. Last year, he hinted at Utopia again during a Nike ad campaign.
For 2023, he’s been more active in teasing it now. In mid-May, he played a special showcase where he teased a collaboration with Bad Bunny — according to a fan on social media who shared part of the song playing. It’s unclear still if this will make the album yet or not.
— TRAVIS SCOTT FAN PAGE (@RodeoTheAlbum) May 29, 2023
Around that same time, Scott gave the Houston Astros the first apparent public preview of Utopia in full, during his appearance at their stadium.
“I had to come down and play Utopia for the boys in the locker room,” he told reporter Mark Berman. “I had to get them right for the game. Finished and mastered, Mark. You know how we do, Mark. from the clubhouse to the stu.”
After Zack Snyder devotees successfully lobbied HBO Max for a Justice League redo, fandoms certainly have felt emboldened to ask for the same (and more). Such was the case when Netflix — which has infamously resurrected series like Lucifer and Manifest — decided to cancel Warrior Nun after two seasons. The show was a pleasant enough endeavor, and I appreciated that the first season was not only more than warrior-ing and nunn-ing but included a more complex-than-usual spin on the coming-of-age theme.
The show generated an enthused fandom, although it apparently wasn’t a big enough hit for Netflix, which has been tightening its wallet in recent years. This can break viewers’ hearts, which I understand because I’m that person who couldn’t resist bugging Darren Star about the cliffhanger ending of Models Inc. while the poor guy only expected to discuss Emily In Paris.
Still, those Warrior Nun fans were even more devoted, also tweeting at critics who reviewed the first season but not the show’s second outing. They also, for some reason, asked Kelly Clarkson to help save the adaptation of Ben Dunn’s manga-style Warrior Nun Areala comic.
Now, something has happened, although the details aren’t crystal clear. Warrior Nun creator Simon Barry teased good news on Twitter, where he revealed that “because of your combined voices, passion and amazing efforts,” Warrior Nun “will return,” although he didn’t say where it’s happening.
Today I’m happy to officially report that because of your combined voices, passion and amazing efforts – #WarriorNun will return and is going to be more EPIC than you could imagine. More details to come! SOON! Thank-you!! #SaveWarriorNun#WarriorNunSavedpic.twitter.com/yuTbRR2L3q
— Simon Barry – legacy blue check (@SimonDavisBarry) June 28, 2023
So, is this happening on Netflix or another streaming service? Barry did not elaborate, but nonetheless, the fandom is pumped. Congrats to them.
— jules gay mess era (@cardinalissilva) June 28, 2023
A HUGE shoutout to the fan artists, fanfic writers, fan video editors, music artists, event organizers, & the cast & crew. These people kept everyone connected to #WarriorNun while we all kept fighting in our own ways! WE SAVED WARRIOR NUN #WarriorNunSavedpic.twitter.com/RgbKDKkiSm
Every time I gather myself and stop with the teary eyes, these posts come along and I’m a goner again! #WarriorNunSaved WE SAVED WARRIOR NUN https://t.co/CFxvE80nsc
When it comes to tequila-based cocktails, sometimes it feels like the margarita gets all the love. And while we enjoy tequila, lime juice, and triple as much as anyone, we have another fresh, summery tequila cocktail that we might love even more. We’re talking, of course, about the paloma.
When made using a bare-bones recipe, it’s one of the easiest, freshest, most thirst-quenching cocktails there is. Here’s how Uproxx’s Zach Johnston laid it out when we named it our “Offcial Cocktail of Summer 2019”:
Two-ounces blanco Tequila
Six-ounces grapefruit soda (Squirt, Fresca, or Jarritos Toronja)
Ice
Salt
Lime wedges
Highball glass (or a red cup, you do you)
Take your highball and fill it with ice. Add in the tequila, sprinkle in a good pinch of salt, squeeze in half a lime’s juice and drop in the wedge, top with grapefruit soda. Done.
The basic recipe is tequila, lime (or lime juice), and grapefruit soda. But like its cousin the marg, the paloma is a highly adaptable cocktail. To find some of these, we asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us about their takes on the classic. Keep scrolling to see their recipes, then start mixing for a perfect summer highball!
1 oz. Mezcal (Robitschek uses Los 7 Misterios Doba Yej)
.75 oz. jasmine-infused agave syrup
.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
1.5 oz, cantaloupe juice
5 oz. club soda
Preparation:
Combine all of the ingredients except the club soda in a tin, add ice, and shake vigorously. Add .5 ounces of club soda into the tin and pour the cocktail into a highball with ice and a salt rim.
This was inspired by a trip to Spain for last year’s 50 best bars. I had a delicious dish salad with cantaloupe and jamon iberico that was surprisingly fresh and delicious. When I got back home I started playing with mezcal and cantaloupe, creating the paloma. – Leo Robitschek vice president of food and beverage at Sydell Group
Add all ingredients to a shaker tin and shake. Serve on ice in a rocks glass, top with grated pink peppercorn and charred rosemary.
As a sort of riff on a Spicy Paloma, the El Cantinero has the classic balance of sweet and sour, agave and acidity accented with grapefruit cordial, infused with star anise and white peppercorn. We also incorporate Aperol to round out the bittersweet citrus notes and add the ghost pepper tincture to give it a degree of spice to the discretion of the individual guest. – Keith Larry, beverage director at Little Rascal Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York
Fresh grapefruit and sliced jalapeno (for garnish)
Preparation:
Mix the first five ingredients in a cocktail mixer and stir. Add lime juice to a small plate. Dip the rim of the glass into the juice, then onto another plate with Tajin to create a salt rim. Pour the cocktail into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with fresh grapefruit and a slice of jalapeno.
We took the classic paloma and made it spicy, using mezcal tequila. We use Guel Mezcal, which is infused with serrano peppers, which have an earthy, grassy taste that complement the smokiness of the mezcal. Using freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice with a touch of agave gives the cocktail a freshness that meshes well with the serrano-infused tequila. The touch of Fever Tree grapefruit soda gives it a little sparkle. – Nancy Wood, beverage director at Los Charros Cantina in Branford, Connecticut
Build in a mixing tin: tequila, PAMA, agave, and lime juice. Add ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice. Top with grapefruit soda.
After trying several different flavor combos, it hit us. Why not use a tequila-based liqueur which is PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur? The next step was to find the right Grapefruit soda. We tried several different options and landed on Q because of its tartness and its ability to balance out the sweetness of the PAMA perfectly as well as its ability to hold its carbonation while mixing. The result was tequila-forward, slightly sweet, bubbly pomegranate, with a tart grapefruit finish. – Jose Gill, senior bar manager at American Social Bar & Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Shake then strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Top off London essence grapefruit soda. Garnish with fresh grapefruit slice inside the glass
The Palomino is a spin on your classic Paloma. It has all the same components as the original, just an elevated version. This cocktail uses Maestro Dobel Diamante tequila, one of the smoothest Cristalino tequilas in the world. We chose to use Maestro Dobel Diamante tequila because the blend of Extra Añejo, Añejo, and Reposado results in a great mix of caramel, maple flavor, and nutty vanilla notes. Mixed with one of my favorite mezcals; Del Maguey Vida Puebla to add a hint of smokiness then fresh guava pure to give it a sweet yet sour taste. The fruity aromatics, a hint of green herbs, poblano peppers, and savory notes of roasted agave really balance out the drink. Finally you top it off with London essence grapefruit rosemary soda to create the perfect summer delight. – Donny Largotta, beverage director, Gansevoort Meatpacking
Add all the ingredients to an ice-filled glass with Maldon salt on the rim. Stir it all together. Top with a Fresca floater.
We chose these ingredients for their great balance, a white tequila with personality and consistent flavor, Aperol Liqueur, provides a slightly bitter touch, combined with the freshness of grapefruit and lemon juices Creates a very refreshing finish, ideal for a drink with Tequila, but not the traditional Margarita. – Oscar Aranda, beverage director at ACRE Resort in San José del Cabo, Mexico
Shake and double strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a grapefruit wheel.
One of my favorite cocktails on earth is the Palomaesque. It was created by former colleague and incredible bartender, Scott Baird. Interesting and complex while still extremely refreshing and delicious, I love it. The hint of smoke from the mezcal adds depth, while the fortified wine binds it all together. The small pinch of salt gives it viscosity and balances the crisp citrus. – Michael Carlisi, beverage director at Barrio in San Francisco
Shake all the ingredients and strain into glass, add ice. Garnish with ½ moon grapefruit, lime wheel
This summer, Percheron debuted a brand new Mediterranean menu, so we wanted to offer refreshing cocktails that complemented the bites. Using za’atar brings in those umami savory notes which work with the grapefruit to create a bittersweet and tangy flavor for this effervescent cocktail. – Cat Flynn, director of food and beverage at Crossroads Hotel
Add three sage leaves ripped in half to your shaker. Next add the simple syrup, ginger juice, lime juice, St. Germain, and Arak. Top with ice. Shake well. Double-strain your shaken cocktail over fresh ice. Garnish with half of an orange wheel.
Zesty and refreshing, this drink is a unique twist on a classic paloma. It’s made with fresh ginger juice, and to add a Middle Eastern flare, Elite Arak infused with raisins, plus grapefruit juice, sage for an herbal element, and St. Germain. – Tom Aviv, MasterChef Israel winner and restaurateur
Add all the ingredients to a shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice-filled glass and top with a splash of grapefruit soda.
Enjoy a twist on a classic Paloma with Joia Beach’s Yuzu Paloma. Made with Amaras Reposado Mezcal, pamplemousse, grapefruit soda, and yuzu, this Paloma will satisfy your cravings and get your taste buds tingling. – Martin Gutierrez, bar manager at Joia Beach in Miami
There’s really no pithy, clever way to break this news so we’re just going to say it: Tim Burton is dating Monica Bellucci.
Yes, that Tim Burton. The Tim Burton responsible for Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and a slew of other iconic films on which suburban coth kids have built their personalities. And yes, that Monica Bellucci. The Monica Bellucci who played both a Bond girl and a bride of Dracula, the Italian actress and model repeatedly dubbed one of the most beautiful women in the world. Apparently, rumors have been swirling regarding the pair’s secret romance for some time. In 2021, Bellucci presented Burton with a lifetime achievement award at the Lumière Film Festival in France. Months later, the two would be snapped kissing outside a Paris hotel and touring Madrid in matching outfits — all black, of course.
But it’s only now, thanks to an Elle France profile, that Bellucci is confirming their relationship. In discussing her role in Burton’s upcoming Beetlejuice sequel, the actress had this to say about the prolific director:
“What I can say … I’m glad I met the man, first of all,” she began. “It’s one of those encounters that rarely happens in life … I know the man, I love him, and now I’m going to meet the director, another adventure begins.”
Bellucci also shared what she loves about her new beau’s artistic sensibilities saying, “I love this dream world where the monsters are kind, like we can turn our darker aspects into something bright, forgiving. Tim Burton’s films talk about that a lot.”
So, yeah. We’re not sure what this news adds to your day other than pure shock value and maybe the hopeful notion that being weird and sensitive and a bit of a genius is actually all it takes to get the girl? Good for you, Tim.
The collection — or at least, the first part of it, judging from that “1.0” in the tweet above — includes a sweatshirt, pants, and two t-shirts emblazoned with the now iconic image of Beyoncé astride a glistening horse from the cover of the album. The sweatpants simply feature the name of the tour down the side, but they sure do look cozy (they might just get more utility as workout gear than the last Ivy Park drop). I fully expect to see this drop sell out sooner rather than later, so get it while the gettin’ is good. Both t-shirts are $40, the sweatshirt is $80, and the pants are $75, so now may be the time to factor those prices into your budget for the tour.
James Blake is gearing up for the release of his sixth studio album. Today (June 28), Blake announced Playing In The Robots will arrive this September.
Ahead of the album, Blake has shared its lead single, “Big Hammer.” The song is primarily an instrumental track, comprised of hypnotic tech sounds. In the accompanying action-packed video, Blake and a crew of accomplices are seen driving into buildings and embarking on heists.
In addition to the new album, Blake will also be going on tour beginning in the fall.
You can see the video for “Big Hammer” above and the Playing Robots Into Heaven cover art and tracklist below, as well as the tour dates.
Thibaut Grevet
1. “Asking To Break”
2. “Loading”
3. “Tell Me”
4. “Fall Back”
5. “He’s Been Wonderful”
6. “Big Hammer”
7. “I Want You To Know”
8. “Night Sky”
9. “Fire The Editor”
10. “If You Can Hear Me”
11. “Playing Robots Into Heaven”
09/18 — Milan, Italy @ Fabrique
09/21 — Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National Club
09/22 — Paris, France @ L’Olympia
09/24 — Berlin, Germany @ UFO im Velodrom
09/26 — Tilburg, Netherlands @ 013
09/28 — London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
10/03 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca Cola Roxy
10/05 — Queens, NY @ Knockdown Center
10/09 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
10/10 — Montreal, QC, Canada @ L’Olympia
10/12 — Toronto, ON, Canada @ Rebel
10/14 — Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/16 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic Theater
10/19 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Playing Robots Into Heaven is out 9/8 via Republic. Find more information here.
Of the two, Metro’s Version is — unsurprisingly — superior, despite having all the same tracks and only two new songs. Its success highlights the importance of sequencing on a project, an art that goes overlooked by fans all too often. Business Is Business presents a unique opportunity to explore how sequencing changes the tenor and direction of an album because while “deluxe editions” of albums have proliferated in the streaming era, rarely have they experimented with song order the way Metro does here.
For instance, on Metro’s Version, the late-album standout “Jonesboro” is repurposed as the intro; while it gets lost in the shuffle amid the original 15 tracks, popping up around the time that most albums tend to start dragging, on the deluxe edition, it sets the mood for the whole project. Although the vibey, melodic track “Parade On Cleveland” with Drake is probably one that fans were itching to get to upon the album’s release, “Jonesboro” more accurately predicts the… well… businesslike tone of the project.
Business Is Business is a much more somber effort than Thug’s prior releases So Much Fun and Punk, owing at least partially to his present circumstances as a guest of the Fulton County Jail. It also makes sinister tracks like the 21 Savage-featuring “Want Me Dead” and “Hoodie” featuring BSlime and Lil Gotit a bit uncomfortable to listen to, considering it was Thug’s lyrics about sliding on enemies that initially tied him to the Fulton County D.A’s racketeering case against gang/label YSL.
Likewise, the celebratory overtones of “Oh You Went” with Drake and “Hellcat Kenny” with Lil Uzi Vert are undermined by the looming threat of a prison sentence reaching football numbers hanging over Thugger’s head. And, of course, there’s another elephant in the room. Although incarceration isn’t the same as death, the album’s compilation of old verses and guest appearances makes it feel almost cobbled together the way some notable posthumous releases have been and raises the question of how much of this was what Thug actually wanted versus how much of it was just feasible over the past few months.
Similar projects recorded or released by incarcerated rappers like Drakeo The Ruler and 03 Greedo attempted to answer these questions with incomplete results, and Business Is Business rarely does better at doing so. Thug’s vocal and lyrical dynamism helps, as does his well-established chemistry with Metro as a producer and the team of beatmakers employed on the project. But you can’t help but wonder as you listen whether he’d have made changes to the beat selection or to his partners’ verses if he had true access to the process of putting things together.
The lack of Gunna and Lil Keed’s voices on the album only twists the knife. While Gunna was able to process his feelings about the past year on his own new album, he was only free to record it by potentially betraying his longtime mentor, benefactor, and friend. Meanwhile, even if Thug truly believed that Gunna isn’t a “snitch,” they’re barred from associating by the courts anyway, breaking up what has been a lucrative and creatively fruitful musical partnership, if not a criminal one.
Metro does a superb job of tying the disparate elements of the album together enough to sound like a cohesive project on the original but truly works wonders on the resequenced version bearing his name. If his efforts weren’t undermined by the above concerns, Business Is Business might have been a triumph in the same order as his and Thug’s last handful of releases. As it stands, the project is a testament to the value of sequencing and an emblem of what the music world might lose if Young Thug loses his case.
Business Is Business is out now on Young Stoner Life Record / 300 Entertainment.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Despite coming into this offseason already above the tax line, the Miami Heat are among the most talked about teams as free agency approaches. That is in part due to them patiently waiting for Damian Lillard to potentially come available on the trade market, but also because they will see a pair of key contributors to their Finals run last year hit the market.
Gabe Vincent and Max Strus are in line for big paydays this summer after strong performances in the playoffs, and it seems unlikely that both will be back in Miami next season. Strus is the most likely to leave, as he figures to have lots of interest from the numerous teams looking to upgrade their wing depth with more shooting, as Jake Fischer of Yahoo indicates Indiana, Orlando, Detroit, and Cleveland all figure to pursue Strus at the full mid-level or above.
Vincent returning is very much in the cards, depending on how the point guard market elsewhere shakes out, but in terms of external roster upgrades for Miami, Fischer noted a somewhat surprising potential Heat target he’s heard rumblings about: Christian Wood.
Wood is coming off of a year in Dallas where he posted strong offensive production — 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 51.5/37.6/77.2 shooting splits — but he was not trusted at all by Jason Kidd on the defensive end, which limited him to 25.9 minutes per game. As such, Wood doesn’t exactly fit the mold as a “Heat Culture” guy, but his offensive skillset is tantalizing for a team that could use more scoring punch from their frontcourt and severely lacks depth behind Bam Adebayo. It would be quite the bet by the Heat that their program can get the most out of Wood and keep him engaged on both ends, but if his value is so low that he’d be available at the kind of number Miami can afford this summer, it might be a high-upside flyer for a Heat team without many real options to upgrade their roster on the free agent market.
There’s a lot to love about the trailer for Bird Box Barcelona, including the concept itself — shifting away from the rote sequel (a highly unnecessary one in the case of Bird Box) in favor of an anthology. Given enough compelling stories, the Bird Box universe could extend indefinitely to different corners of the world to see how everyone was affected by the unknown creatures making us sit in flaming cars and jump off tall buildings.
Plus, it stars Georgina Campbell, who absolutely crushed it in Barbarian and Mario Casas, whose a Spanish talent that’s no stranger to the surreal apocalypse after co-starring in Alex de la Iglesia’s Las brujas de Zugarramurdi.
Spinning off from Bird Box, Barcelona also takes full advantage of the opportunity to show us the very beginning of the end of the world. Casas plays a father trying to bring his daughter to safety, teaming up with a small group of survivors.
The trailer is a fantastic showcase of the inventive horrifying scenarios and the unsettling vibe directors David and Alex Pastor have built as they trash the postcard beauty of Barcelona to handhold us down into hell.
Bird Box Barcelona hits Netflix July 14th, which is more than enough time to read the Josh Malerman novel and order some new blood pressure medication.
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