As Americans debate if, when, and how most professional sports should return during the COVID-19 pandemic, pro wrestling never left. WWE has oscillated between live and pre-taped broadcasts, but was declared an “essential business” in Florida before they ever had to shut down completely. All Elite Wrestling temporarily lost their home venue in Florida, taped several shows elsewhere, and went on hiatus, then returned to Florida and resumed live broadcasts from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

AEW has since been testing its wrestlers and other staff for the coronavirus before shows, and on a call with the media today, Cody talked about how the testing process works and what would happen if there was a COVID-19 case within the organization.

Responding to VultureHound, Cody said he gets his temperature checked first in the parking lot outside of Daily’s Place, then again before he can enter the office. When asked about AEW’s plan if someone at a show tests positive for COVID-19, Cody gave more details about the testing protocols. “You have scheduled-out blocks for testing,” he said, and the medical staff “are the very first individuals to be tested.”

Cody also said that “there is no cross-pollination” between the different blocks of people being tested, and that the tests aren’t done at Daily’s Place. If there’s a positive result in one of these tests, “you would then get the nose swab test to confirm the positive, or perhaps it was a false positive, but you would not be in proximity to any of the talent, to any of the crew.” The crew and talent also have “their testing measures done elsewhere” in two separate locations, and different doctors test the different testing blocks.

All these precautions mean that, in Cody’s words, “we have it set so it would not shut down the production” if there was a positive test result. He compared AEW’s protocols to those of the UFC, which recently pulled a fight from UFC 249 after a fighter (who was staying in the same hotel as AEW talent) tested positive for COVID-19 but still held the UFC 249 event. (To contrast with other pandemic-era sports, the Korean Baseball Organization plans to shut down for at least three weeks if a player tests positive.) Cody said that AEW has been “incredibly fortunate,” with no positive coronavirus test results so far.

Cody also said that AEW plans to remain at Daily’s Place as other states begin to lift restrictions on sports, telling the Miami Herald “it’s the safest decision to stay here” for the time being. When sports begin to have fans in attendance again, Cody could see Daily’s Place hosting AEW’s first event with a live audience.

Harlem rapper Sheck Wes has reportedly had a run-in with the law. The rapper was allegedly pulled over with several passengers during a routine traffic stop and eventually arrested when officers found a loaded gun and cannabis on his person, which is illegal in New York.

According to a report from TMZ, police had pulled Wes’ car over early Wednesday morning in Harlem. Officers had become suspicious of the excessive tint on his 2019 Lamborghini SUV’s windows. Police opted to search the car upon sniffing out the odor of cannabis. The report states that the search concluded with officers discovering a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol which Wes had placed in a bag by the car’s passenger side.

Along with Wes, all three of his passengers were booked for two felonies, one count of criminal possession of a loaded firearm and another count of criminal possession of a firearm. They also received a misdemeanor for possession of cannabis, which has not been legalized in New York state. Furthermore, Wes was cited for driving without a license, according to the report.

The news of Wes’ arrest is the latest we’ve heard from the rapper this year. Previously, Wes was trolled by a video producer who claimed the rapper had not paid him for his work on a video for the Mudboy track “Gmail.”

Following the popularity of The Last Dance, ESPN already has its sights set on another monster docuseries. It was announced on Thursday afternoon that Tom Brady will be at the center of a nine-part documentary titled Man in the Arena, which is set to drop sometime in 2021.

ESPN dropped a trailer in anticipation of the series, which will be produced by Gotham Chopra’s Religion of Sports and Brady’s 199 Productions. While information is sparse on what it will cover, the trailer appears to indicate that it’ll include Brady’s collegiate and NFL career, and in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Brady indicated this will chronicle “the key moments and challenges that were seemingly insurmountable, but through hard work and perseverance, became career-defining triumphs, in both victory and defeat.”

“Nine Super Bowl appearances over the course of 20 years is an achievement on an unmatched level,” ESPN Executive Vice President of Content Connor Schell said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Tom Brady as he reflects on each of those nine, season-long journeys and the pivotal moments that defined them.”Gotham Chopra is a highly skilled filmmaker who I am confident will bring to life this story of an icon in a new and revealing way.”

There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about this one, namely that while Brady and Jordan were both excellent athletes, the public perception of the two could not be more different — Jordan was beloved, while Brady was never particularly popular, outside of perhaps his first Super Bowl run or two. Jordan was also a much larger cultural phenomenon than Brady, and of course, The Last Dance happened more than two decades after Jordan’s final season, while Brady is still in the league.

El-P revealed recently that his score for Capone would be released soon, and now he has previewed a pair of tracks: “Mama’s Hurt” and “This Is Al That’s Left.” On both songs, there are hints of Run The Jewels-style production, but presented in a more ambient and cinematic way.

El-P told Rolling Stone of the tracks:

“‘Mama’s Hurt’ is from one of my favorite scenes in the film. Al wanders through a violent dream of his past and it all comes to a bloody peak. This is one of the most surreal and ultimately sinister-sounding pieces in Capone. I also wanted to share ‘This Is Al That’s Left (End Credits)’ because it contains elements from all of the major musical themes we created for the film woven into one more traditional instrumental form. It ends the film so it really had to be a definitive feeling emotionally for what Capone was about.”

He also said in a statement about working on the score, “I grew up on film scores and they’ve always been a huge influence on me and I’ve been hoping to get the time and chance to do another, so I was thrilled to do Capone. Huge thanks to Josh Trank and Tom Hardy for bringing me in and of course to Wilder Zoby who was my right-hand man through the whole score. I loved helping create and getting lost in this twisted little trip into Al’s mind. Much of the music on this score is directly from the movie and some of it is stuff that was created for the film but didn’t survive the final cut. I’m excited to present it to the world in this form.”

El-P recently reflected on how well the film is doing (along with the upcoming Run The Jewels album), tweeting, “wanna take a moment to acknowledge the fact that right now the film i scored is #1 on itunes and the album i’m about to drop is #1 on itunes preorders and that’s not a brag as much as an apology for providing irrefutable evidence that we’ve wandered in to the wrong dimension.”

Additionally, he recently revealed that he was gearing up to score a Star Wars movie about Boba Fett before it was canceled, writing, “so by now you know @joshuatrank was hired to do the boba fett movie but it didn’t end up happening. a little unknown fun fact is that josh asked me to score it. so for about 2 months i thought i was getting ready to score a star wars movie. of course my initial, internal reaction was OH GOD THIS IS TERRIFYING. my external reaction was simply ‘yes i’ll do it’.”

Listen to “Mama’s Hurt” and “That Is Al That’s Left” here.

Capone (Original Motion Picture Score) is out 5/29 via Milan Records. Pre-order it here.

Public restrictions are loosening, retail spaces are opening up, and we’re venturing outside once again (albeit, cautiously). We’ve had one hell of a spring and now it’s almost over, which means it’s time to start shedding some layers and busting out the early summer looks. Temperatures are heating up across the country and the outdoors are calling to us. While our summer will likely consist of micro road trips and socially distanced picnics over the typical festival runs and beach and poolside parties, it doesn’t mean we can’t look good while being responsible.

Plus, it’ll be fun to put a look together after spending so many days in the same exact outfit. And nothing brings out the color of your favorite face mask like a fresh pair of Jordans or a nice Chunky Dunky Nike SB. So let’s dive into the week’s best streetwear drops in the sneaker and apparel scene.

End. x Adidas ZX 9000 Kiln

Oozing with heavy spring vibes, this exclusive colorway of the performance-based ZX 9000 comes exclusively through END. and manages to refresh the 90s style to the point of becoming something new. This doesn’t look like your typical retro 90s runner, thanks to its unique clay accents and rich colorway. Now we just have to figure out what inspired END. to link this design so closely to pottery. It’s straight up a weird mood.

The END. Adidas ZX 9000 Kiln is set to drop on May 23rd for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair exclusively through END.

Nike Killshot OG SP

A 1-to-1 remake of the original Nike Killshot, this low-profile tennis shoe features a mesh upper with exposed foam detailing, soft suede accents, leather overlays, and a retro foam tongue. The Killshot OG is considerably more elegant and refined than the more popular Killshot 2, which sits on a contrasting gum sole. The OG is easily Nike’s best retro release of the year so far, another score for Sneakersnstuff, who snagged the exclusive.

The Nike Killshot OG SP pack is set to drop on May 22nd for a retail price of $90. Pick up a pair exclusively through Sneakersnstuff.

Ben & Jerry’s Nike SB Dunk Low Chunky Dunk

I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings on this one. It’s got all the right ingredients — Ben & Jerry’s (delicious), Nike SB Dunk Low (also delicious), expert use of cow print, and interesting implementation of the B&J and SB branding — but something just isn’t sitting right. Is it the melting swoosh, the tie-dye collar, the fact that the sneaker is called the Chunky Dunky?

I can’t put my finger on it, but this baby makes the list because it’s honestly one of the best brand collaborations I’ve ever seen, despite being the meeting of two brands that absolutely have nothing to do with one another. My favorite detail is the way the leather upper works in the iconic Ben & Jerry’s logo. On the flip side, I could’ve done without the gimmicky swoosh detailing. While I’m torn on this one, I can’t seem to stop thinking about it — so it makes the list.

The Ben & Jerry’s Nike SB Chunky Dunky is set to drop on May 26th for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair exclusively through Nike SNKRS.

Palace x Adidas PUIG Collection

Adidas has linked up with Palace for a triple-colorway collection of Lucas Puig’s newest signature silhouette. The PUIG features a rich tonal leather upper with contrasting gold Tri-Ferg Palace branding and drops in your choice of either black, white, and pink. The design, a meeting of minds between Adidas, the British label Palace, and French skater Lucas Puig is distinctly European, and that uniqueness is giving Nike SB a run for their money in our book.

The Palace Adidas PUIG collection is set to drop on May 22nd for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair exclusively through Palace.

Air Jordan 4 Metallic Purple

Haven’t had enough of The Last Dance yet? Over the last couple of months, Nike has routinely dropped ultra tasteful colorways of some of their best early Jordan silhouettes and this week is no different. The Air Jordan 4 in Metallic Purple features a crisp all-white leather upper with deep highlights on the lace-cage accents, tongue, and branding. It’s simple and striking, like the best Jordans.

The Air Jordan 4 in Metallic Purple is out now for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Levi’s GOLF WANG Polka Dot

Straight up — the Levi’s GOLF WANG Polka Dot 501 jeans are absolutely insane. Not in a good way. But the matching Polka Dot Trucker Jacket? It’s a must-own. Made in celebration of Levi’s annual 501 Day, Tyler the Creator really lets his personality shine through by infusing his playful style and love of color into two of Levi’s staple pieces. If you are digging on the pants, they’re a little bit different from the traditional cut of the 501 jean, as Tyler opted for the 1993 iteration, which features a higher waist and a boxier style.

The GOLF WANG Polka Dot Levi’s collection is out now and is shoppable at the Levi’s and GOLF WANG webstores.

Supreme x The North Face Spring Collection

I’m getting heavy post-apocalyptic vibes from Supreme and The North Face’s latest Spring outerwear drop. The set includes a jacket, vest, and zip-belt pants that turn into shorts constructed from adventure-ready water-resistant nylon in either black, pink camo, or camel. Rounding out the collection is a heavy-duty tote and a camper’s cap with a removable sun shield. The amount of pockets across this collection is insane — does a single jacket need seven pockets on the front? Discuss — but at least you’ll be able to take whatever you need with you on your next adventure.

The Supreme x The North Face Spring 2020 collection is set to drop on May 21st online and will be the first Supreme release since the pandemic started that is available in-stores, landing on the 23rd.

Awake NY Spring/Summer 2020 Collection

This week, Awake NY dropped their full Spring and Summer 2020 collection which consists of mostly light outerwear and loud graphic tees that capture Awake’s skate aesthetic. Highlights include the grandpa-esque mohair cardigan, chenille patch jacket, and a Nelson Mandella portrait t-shirt. For the new collection, Awake collaborated with fine artist Sam Friedman on a silk shirt and a 5-panel cap which expertly implements Friedman’s vibrant art.

The Awake NY Spring/Summer 2020 Collection is out now and is available via the Awake NY webstore.

EDITOR’S PICK: Puma Sky Modern Trevor Project

It’s not often that I feel like Dane leaves something on the cutting room floor, but he passed on these and I just can’t. Not only is the orange-on-white creamsicle thing striking for the court or stepping out, but this shoe is also part of Puma’s effort to raise awareness for the mental health crisis faced by LGBTQ youth.

Literally 100% of sales go to The Trevor Project (up to $36,000), which has been providing free counseling to LGBTQ teens for decades now. The word “SKY” is stitched in rainbow on the heel and “Trevor” is stylized where the PUMA usually goes — two simple, clean design touches that play well with the orange Puma wave and stability strap.

The Sky Modern drops for $180 on Wednesday, May 27th on Puma’s website. Check a Puma x Trevor Project PSA below.

In a now-deleted tweet, President Trump engaged in one of his favorite pastimes on Wednesday—accusing another elected official of committing a crime on Twitter.

This time, the object of his accusation was Michigan’s “rogue” Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson. The crime? Trump accused her of “illegally and without authorization” sending absentee ballots to 7.7 million people in her state. He threatened to withhold funding to Michigan saying, “If they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!” (Ahem, is “voter fraud” a proper noun, sir?)

Benson responded to Trump’s tweet in the best way possible—she fired back with facts and a reminder of her name.

---

“Hi!” she wrote, with a wave emoji. “I also have a name, it’s Jocelyn Benson. And we sent applications, not ballots. Just like my GOP colleagues in Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska and West Virginia.”

Jocelyn Benson/Twitter

The president was roundly called out for being so inaccurate. Trump partially corrected his previous tweet two-and-a-half hours later, only adding the word “applications,” but but still falsely claiming the mail-in voting broke the law.

The president seems hell bent on making people believe that mail-in voting is “ripe for fraud” and that making it easier for people to vote by mail is somehow beneficial for Democrats. Let’s not forget he voted by mail in Florida in March. Or that Washington and Oregon, who have had all-mail-in voting for years, both have Republican Secretaries of State overseeing their elections. Voter fraud, despite claims to the contrary, is a statistically insignificant occurrence—and a bipartisan one at that.

Benson, again, responded with the facts. And again, she reminded him that she has a name.

“Hi again,” she wrote. “Still wrong. Every Michigan registered voter has a right to vote by mail. I have the authority & responsibility to make sure that they know how to exercise this right – just like my GOP colleagues are doing in GA, IA, NE and WV. Also, again, my name is Jocelyn Benson.”

Benson insisting that President Trump call her by her name may seem like a small thing, but it’s not. In fact, it might be the most powerful part about her responses. The president has a habit of not referring to women he doesn’t like by name, instead making up childish nicknames for them or simply omitting their name altogether. It’s a power play of sorts—one that Benson expertly diffuses in her tweets to him.

As political historian Heather Cox Richardson pointed out on Facebook:

“From Moby Dick’s famous beginning ‘Call me Ishmael’ to the fear in the Harry Potter books of calling the evil Voldemort by name, invoking someone’s name makes them a power to be reckoned with. In this case, a woman doing her job, insisting on reality that interrupts Trump’s narrative, repeatedly demands that he use her name.

It’s a powerful moment. At a time when senators and government officials appear to have ceded their power to Trump, it is ordinary Americans like Jocelyn Benson, ordinary women like Jocelyn Benson, who are standing up to him. ‘Hi!’ she wrote. ‘I also have a name.’

Indeed she does. That’s exactly what the president is afraid of.”

Strong, smart and self-respecting women who don’t peddle “alternative facts” are Trump’s kryptonite. He doesn’t know what to do with them, other than attack them with false claims and nicknames. In the space of two tweets, Jocelyn Benson managed to not only correct the president’s falsehoods, but also show that she’s not going to let him play that game. It’s ridiculously unfortunate that government officials have to battle lies from the president on Twitter, but since that’s how he’s chosen to communicate, that’s where it has to happen.

Of course, Benson’s office also issued official statements on the matter, because despite appearances, governance is not actually done over Twitter. The Department of State wrote:

“President Donald Trump’s statement is false. The Bureau of Elections is mailing absent voter applications, not ballots. Applications are mailed nearly every election cycle by both major parties and countless advocacy and nonpartisan organizations. Just like them, we have full authority to mail applications to ensure voters know they have the right to vote safely by mail.”

We need to see women standing calmly and confidently in the storm, providing factual, low-key fierce rebuttals to the blatantly false accusations that keep flying from the president’s fingertips.

---

View Entire Post ›

No-regret finds.

---

View Entire Post ›

You know you’re bored!

---

View Entire Post ›

“Let this be clear, I’m not not a feminist.”

---

View Entire Post ›