Category: Worldwide

Travis Scott’s Utopia: Circus Maximus Tour is underway, and set to roll into Phoenix for two dates at the Footprint Center. If you’ve got tickets or are planning to scoop some for resale, you might be interested in parking information for the show — especially if you want to arrive early enough to catch the opening acts (or pull up just in time to watch Travis hit the stage).

According to the Footprint Center’s official website:

There are several parking garages and lots within walking distance of Footprint Center. The venue’s attached five-story, 700-space parking structure provides the most convenient parking available to our suite holders, premium-seat owners, as well as limited space available to the general public. The parking structure is open daily 6 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, in addition to being open for all events held at the Footprint Center.

There’s also a garage on Jefferson Street, just a block east. Footprint’s site has directions to the main garage from North Phoenix/Scottsdale, East Phoenix, Glendale, and East Valley/Tempe. Footprint Center Parking reportedly averages $15 – $20.

Uproxx has more information about Travis Scott’s Utopia: Circus Maximus Tour, including how long it is, available merch, and his setlist (as well as opener Teezo Touchdown’s).

Sofia Coppola has accomplished so much — writing and directing The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, and Marie Antoinette; appearing in all three Godfather films; guest starring as herself on What We Do in the Shadows — that she forgot she was in one of the biggest movies of all-time.

The director was speaking with Rolling Stone about her new film, the Priscilla Presley biopic Priscilla, when her role as one of Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace came up. “I forgot about that,” she replied. Keira Knightley can relate.

Coppola also revealed that she was considered to direct the final Twilight movie, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. “We had one meeting, and it never went anywhere. I thought the whole imprinting-werewolf thing was weird. The baby. Too weird!” she said. Poor Renesmee, poor poor hideous Renesmee. Coppola continued, “But part of the earlier Twilight could be done in an interesting way. I thought it’d be fun to do a teen-vampire romance, but the last one gets really far out.” That’s why it’s the best Twilight movie (mostly for one insane scene), but it would have been an odd fit for Coppola.

Priscilla, which stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as Priscilla and Elvis, opens in theaters on October 27th.

(Via Rolling Stone)

The Los Angeles Clippers will begin their season without too much of the spotlight for the first time in the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era. After four years of hype and disappointment, it seems the general NBA viewing public (and the league’s media rights-holders) has made the collective decision to believe it when we see it with this Clippers team.

It’s hard to blame anyone for that, as they have made one Western Conference Finals in those four years with Kawhi and PG, and weren’t at full strength by the time they got there. Given we have literally never seen them end a year with both Leonard and George on the floor, it’s almost impossible to project that to happen. On the other hand, it’s also hard to blame anyone for wanting to buy in on this team given the talent assembled. They have questions at point guard behind Russell Westbrook and center behind Ivica Zubac, but all that wing talent is hard to ignore. When healthy last year, both Leonard and George looked like the best versions of themselves, and Leonard’s performances in Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs were unbelievable. However, those moments of brilliance have unfortunately been fleeting in L.A., and with player options to be decided on this summer from both stars, how this season goes figures to be critically important for the Clippers future.

Biggest Question: Will We Finally Get Close To A Full Season Of Kawhi Leonard And Paul George?

We have avoided the health question with most teams, because any injury to a top star at the wrong time will end a team’s chance of winning a title. However, in L.A. we’re entering our fifth year of the Kawhi and PG era and have never seen the two play more than 108 combined games. The good news is, the two are entering the season at full strength (with the understanding that full strength has a different meaning with two stars with their injury histories) and there is once again a bit of optimism that maybe this can be the year they can get to the postseason and have both available for a full playoff run.

That really is where everything starts for this team. That said, they also have to get to the playoffs, which isn’t a simple proposition now with the Play-In Tournament. Last year, they earned the 5-seed out West with Kawhi Leonard looking better than he ever has since arriving in L.A., but had his postseason cut short by another knee injury in the first round. Paul George was similarly sensational in his 56 appearances, but likewise missed the postseason with an ill-timed knee sprain at the end of the year. When those two are on the floor together, the Clippers play like a contender in the West. When they aren’t, the Clippers are a competitive but ultimately overmatched team. It really is about that simple. Before this experiment ends, it’d be nice to get one year where we see what they could do at full strength in the playoffs, but that’s a long way off.

X-Factor: Terance Mann

The Clippers have refused to include Mann in James Harden trade talks to this point, which is apparently one of the larger sticking points in negotiations. They’ve also elevated Mann into the starting lineup alongside Westbrook, George, Leonard, and Zubac, showcasing the faith they have in their fifth-year wing. There have been flashes of it all clicking for Mann in the past, but to this point the consistent impact on a game-to-game basis hasn’t been there. However, you can also point to an inconsistent role (a rather constant issue for the non-stars on this Clippers team) as a reason for Mann’s relative inconsistency.

If he’s given a long leash in this starting spot and given the time to establish himself in this new role, we should learn an awful lot about what he can be as a player. A year ago he averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 51.9/38.9/78.0 shooting splits in 23 minutes per game, but should see his minutes load increase this season. He should get plenty of open looks from three given the attention paid to his co-stars, but that also brings pressure to be a solid (and willing) floor-spacing option. His versatility on defense likewise makes a lot of sense with this starting unit, which has a ton of length and could wreak havoc on teams without multiple strong ball-handling options.

Mann has always seemed like the Clippers best bet at having a young player pop on a roster otherwise filled with veterans, and it seems like this year they are finally going to take the governor off and give him the larger role many have wanted him to have. How long that lasts is likely dependent on how effective that starting group is early in the season, but it’s at least an opportunity for Mann to put his full abilities on display.

With Invincible Season 2 just a little over a week away, more details about the show’s impressive voice cast are spilling out. This time around, we have the goods on who Better Call Saul champ Rhea Seehorn will be playing as well as the always great Scoot McNairy.

The second season will pick up after the catastrophic events of the Season 1 finale, which saw Mark/Invincible’s father Omni-Man reveal his true intentions to conquer Earth. More brutally, he revealed his contempt for human life as Omni-Man proceeded to viciously pummel Mark for not joining him, leaving hundreds if not thousands dead in the aftermath.

Now, Mark is on his own and left to wonder when his father will return to take over the Earth. As if that’s not enough on his plate, he’s now the world’s protector and will have to contend with an ever-expanding list of allies and threats. As for where Seehorn and McNairy fall on that list, we got you covered.

Andressa

In a surprising casting move considering this storyline happens much later in the comics, Rhea Seehorn will be voicing the character of Andressa, who is from a bug-like species known as the Thraxans. We won’t spoil anything for you, but she is responsible for a major bombshell in Mark’s life. If you want to avoid spoilers, be careful clicking out there.

King Lizard

As for Scoot McNairy, he’ll be voicing King Lizard, the head of the Lizard League, which is basically a group of lizard-themed super-villains. While they may seem like more fodder for Mark to punch, they do rack up some superhero deaths in the comics, so they’re not as goofy as they seem.

Invincible Season 2 slams into Amazon Prime Video on November 3.

The truly odd circus surrounding Vladimir Putin has included persistent rumors about his health, which previously made a Kremlin spokesperson laugh out loud. And since the Kremlin finds the subject amusing, that mood (might have) paved the way for the rapid spread of reports that Putin had a nasty little fall (with digestive aftereffects) down some stairs. This chatter has been accompanied by allegations that Putin’s inner circle was maneuvering to find a successor, which also had to do with growing Russian unease regarding Putin’s ongoing Ukraine invasion.

All of this talk died down a bit until this week when news outlets (beginning in England) began to circulate reports that Putin had experienced cardiac arrest and was found passed out on Sunday night in his bedroom. However, the Kremlin was quick to make light of this report as well with Reuters reporting that a Kremlin spokesperson “laughed off” this latest claim along with chatter of a Putin body double:

“Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake… This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. This evokes nothing but a smile.”

Only time will tell? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could make another demand for proof of life, although Putin is regularly seen in recorded addresses, so who knows whether the Kremlin would trot him around in public. As for the body double allegations, those could be explained away as Putin overdoing his Botox addiction, but I suspect that claim would not go over well with the Russian president.

(Via Reuters & Sky News)

BTS’ Jimin treated fans to a special new documentary titled Jimin’s Production Diary. Currently available on Weverse, he takes viewers through the process of making his debut solo album, Face.

The film jumps between Jimin working at his record label, Hybe’s studio, as well as the apartment of the producer Pdogg — who frequently works with BTS.

In an early trailer for it, it starts with Jimin asking (translated to English), “Should I start by explaining why I made this album?” before cutting to a clip of him recording his song, “Face-Off.” He is seen doing a take, as he decides to try it again.

“It’s good to show such pathetic nature,” he says while pacing around a living room. “I was also pathetic, too.”

In the same room, he breaks down the meaning behind his song, “Alone.”

“I look at other people and they are working hard,” Jimin points out, as it cuts to him struggling with the songwriting process. “It has so much… emotional labor.”

Throughout the documentary, he goes on to focus on each of the album’s tracks. So far, Jimin is the third member of the group to have a film tied to their solo album, following J-Hope and Suga.

Check out the trailer for Jimin’s Production Diary above, and find the full documentary available to stream here.

The Phoenix Suns almost completely overhauled their roster this summer, with just five players remaining from last year’s playoff squad. After making the huge deadline move to bring in Kevin Durant last February, the Suns continued their aggressive pursuit of stars by trading for Bradley Beal, who even found himself surprised Phoenix was able to make a deal for him work.

The biggest concern for the Suns trio of stars is health, as both Beal and Durant have struggled to stay on the floor in recent years. Durant has not played in more than 55 games in the last four years, while Beal — who once went back-to-back with 82 game seasons — hasn’t played in more than 60 in the last four years. Managing their health while also getting enough out of them in the regular season to secure the best possible seed will be one of Frank Vogel’s most difficult tasks, and heading into Tuesday night’s season-opener against the Warriors, the Suns are already dealing with some injury issues.

According to Shams Charania, Beal is “unlikely” to play in the opener due to a lingering back issue that the Suns want to be cautious with.

In addition to Beal’s back, the Suns also have Devin Booker listed as “questionable” with a toe injury that will likely make him a game-time decision in San Francisco.

Beal told reporters on Monday he tweaked it last week but is doing better, noting he has been able to go through two practices. The Suns, understandably, are wanting it to get more time to rest to avoid it becoming a long-term issue, but that means we’ll have to wait for the regular season debut of Phoenix’s new Big 3 in action. Beyond that, already having to manage something as finicky as a back injury is not the ideal start to the season for the Suns, but hopefully once Beal is back on the court he won’t have any further tweaks.

Lil Uzi Vert is currently on the road sharing their long-awaited album, Pink Tape, with supporters around the country. Although the “Just Wanna Rock” rapper is having a blast touring, Uzi’s latest onstage confession revealed that they are planning to step away from music sooner than fans would like. Yesterday (October 23), during the Pink Tape Tour stop in Chicago, Illinois, Uzi announced his retirement plans to the sold-out crowd. So, here’s why Uzi is retiring from rap.

“I came to this conclusion not too long ago,” Uzi said in a video captured by a concertgoer. “I was gonna wait ’til later to say it, but, you know, I’m dropping Luv Is Rage 3. And Luv Is Rage 3 will be my last album.”

After the crowd began to moan in disapproval, they interjected, “Relax. It’s okay.”

Uzi continued, “After Luv Is Rage 3, I guess I will go on another tour. But after that, I wanna try to live a normal life.” The crowd erupted in applause to support the entertainer’s desire for normalcy.

Uzi began making music in 2010 and found commercial success five years later at the age of 20. Since then, they haven’t been able to space the limelight. So, Uzi’s wish to renounce their fame makes sense. Uzi didn’t reveal when this fade from glory will begin.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The James Harden trade drama is ongoing in Philly, and as a result, all eyes are on what the future will hold for Joel Embiid. While the reigning NBA MVP has stressed that he loves Philadelphia and apparently made clear he is fine seeing out whatever the Sixers’ plan is as it tries to figure out life after Harden, he’s made abundantly clear that he wants to win a championship, and there are teams on the lookout in the event that he hits the open market.

Perhaps no team has been more closely linked to an Embiid deal than the New York Knicks, which have tried to position themselves to pounce when the right superstar is available. And in a new piece by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, we learned what the Knicks would want to put together if Embiid — whose ex-agent, Leon Rose, runs the Knicks — was indeed available.

The Knicks are willing to offer a package that includes three key players, with Julius Randle, R.J. Barrett, Evan Fournier and Mitchell Robinson all available in exchange for Embiid, according to sources. A trio from that group would be paired with two or three first-round picks.

If there is an open market for Embiid and other teams get to send the Sixers offers to acquire him, it wouldn’t be a shock if that’s not enough for a player of his caliber. That, of course, assumes we even get to a point where Embiid — who is under contract through 2026-27 (with that final year being a player option) — is even available.

Going back-to-back is very hard. Last season, the Golden State Warriors reminded us of this fact. After everything clicked in the 2021-22 season en route to the fourth championship won by their current core, the Warriors just weren’t quite themselves last season. The team went 44-38, secured the 6-seed in the Western Conference, and got bounced in the conference semifinals.

Despite that, Golden State will always be viewed as a team that has to be taken extremely seriously in the West. While the Denver Nuggets are the defending champions, the Warriors have earned the respect of the rest of the league, and still are led by one of the 3-5 best players on the planet in Steph Curry. When he plays and he’s healthy, good things happen, and ahead of the 2023-24 season, the expectations (and hopes) are as high as ever for the Dubs.

Biggest Question: How Does Chris Paul Fit In?

The Jordan Poole era coming to an end probably wasn’t a surprise — his gigantic salary was a potential handcuff on the team in terms of limiting what they could do going forward, he saw a drop-off in his efficiency after signing his new deal, and of course, there was the much-discussed incident in the preseason where he got into it with Draymond Green, which ended in Green punching him. The much bigger surprise was what the Warriors got back for Poole and a future pick: Chris Paul.

Over the course of his career, Paul has seemed to take pride in battling against Curry, Green, Klay Thompson, and the rest of the Warriors. Imagine going back to, like, 2016 and telling yourself that Chris Paul would end up on the Golden State Warriors. It just doesn’t sound right! And yet, it’s not hard to see how he can really help Golden State, particularly in the minutes when Curry is on the bench — like most teams that build their offense around an elite player, the Warriors have struggled over the years when Curry rests. Paul, in theory, can give Golden State a near-ideal option to run things when Curry is off the floor, and it’s not hard to see how having him out there with Curry would make it easy for the Warriors to unlock Curry’s ability to move off the ball.

There is absolutely a path where this works, where Paul gives the team the ball-handler and floor general to deputize Curry, where his otherworldly hoops IQ fits in perfectly, where he buys into a role (either as a full-time starter or a spot starter who is primarily a sixth man) that just fits into the Warriors ecosystem. There is, also, a path where it doesn’t, where Paul just never quite gels with a team that has been an adversary of his for years, where the slow, meticulous style that he has mastered is a cumbersome fit in Steve Kerr’s wonderfully fluid side. Could they turn his contract and a bunch of other stuff into a star by the trade deadline? Who knows! This can go in a lot of different ways, which is part of what makes it so fun.

X-Factor: Jonathan Kuminga And Moses Moody

At a certain point, one of these guys has to break out and completely earn the trust of Kerr … right? The pair combined to play 222 total minutes during the team’s 13 playoff games — Moody got 161 of them, and did get a bit of run in both series. Kuminga didn’t play in three games, Moody didn’t play in one. When the chips are down, Kerr is always going to rely on Curry, Thompson, Green, Looney and Andrew Wiggins. Gary Payton II has steadily earned Kerr’s trust when he’s healthy, and maybe we’ll see Paul get to that point. The youngest guy in that group is Looney, who will turn 28 in February.

Moody being able to step in and provide some shooting and wing defense would be a very nice boost. Kuminga, who was a pretty consistent bench option in the regular season, was apparently frustrated with his postseason usage. His athleticism and age (he just turned 21) are things the Warriors could really use with an older core, and would likewise provide a very nice boost if he’s able to remain in the team’s rotation. They both present skillsets this team could use, and if either (or both) can take a leap into Kerr’s circle of trust, that could be huge for the Warriors chances.