Things didn’t go as planned for the Los Angeles Clippers during the restart in Orlando. After pulling off one of the biggest free agency coups in recent memory to land both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, they were the heavy favorites to come out of the West this season.
Instead, they once again failed to make the conference finals, despite boasting one of the deepest rosters (on paper, at least) in the league. Under Doc Rivers, the Clippers were never able to get out of the second round, making his departure earlier this month pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Rivers’ top assistant Tyronn Lue is now stepping in to fill that vacancy on a long-term contract, armed with the unmitigated support of bombastic owner Steve Ballmer. Here’s what Ballmer had to say about his new head coach during Lue’s introductory Zoom conference.
“We had to get the best of the best, and the best of the best is Ty Lue,” Ballmer said.
Ballmer, of course, is famous for his unbridled enthusiasm, so he can be forgiven for exaggerating a bit in order to boost Lue’s confidence. There’s certainly no questioning his pedigree or his experience managing superstars and their egos. After taking over for David Blatt in Cleveland, Lue was able to help keep LeBron, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love on the same page for the Cavs’ 2016 title run.
But Lue’s experience without LeBron on his roster has certainly become a talking point. As a head coach, Lue is just 1-18 without LeBron and was dismissed after starting the 2018-2019 season 0-6 with the Cavs (albeit, few have fared well in Cleveland without LeBron in the wine and gold). Now, he faces the challenge of managing another enigmatic superstar in Kawhi Leonard, an under-performing sidekick in Paul George, and a roster that never quite coalesced last season.
Lue will get the chance to prove his mettle once again as a head coach in the NBA, even if the proclamations from his team’s owner are a little over-exaggerated.
It’s official: the NWSL’s newest expansion team will be sticking with the name Angel City Football Club. The Los Angeles-based franchise was first announced by the league in July, with a star-studded ownership group that includes Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman and the club’s president, Julie Uhrman. Serena Williams, her husband and co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, and their three-year-old daughter, also are investors in the group.
On Wednesday, the team was formally recognized by the league and announced even more investors, with tennis legend Billie Jean King, WNBA champion Candace Parker — and her 11-year-old daughter, Lailaa — and U.S. Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn and her fiancé, NHL star P.K. Subban, joining the group, among others. Mia Hamm and 13 other former USWNT players representing the region are also investors in the club.
The team also announced some new front office hires for their community relations and soccer operations divisions in addition to underscoring their focus on community-driven efforts in Southern California. In the coming months, an official crest design and stadium to play in will be at the top of the to-do list for the new club.
“We could not be more pleased to have reached this exciting milestone of officially joining the league and introducing the world to Angel City Football Club,” said Julie Uhrman, ACFC Founder and President, in a team statement. “I am also thrilled to announce some additional founding investors who have already been contributing meaningfully to the Angel City Family. This group, aligned in our passion and purpose, is committed to delivering for Los Angeles and our fans on and off the pitch.”
Angel City FC joins the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream as the few professional women’s sports teams that have majority-women ownership groups. As reported by Lindsay Gibbs of Power Plays, the Storm’s three co-owners are former Olympic rower Ginny Gilder and former Microsoft executives Dawn Trudeau and Lisa Brummel, who celebrated Seattle’s fourth WNBA championship earlier this month. The Dream — the only other all-woman ownership group in the WNBA — is owned by Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler, currently involved in a contentious Georgia Senate race, has created controversy this year for her conservative views and attacks on her own players for their social justice initiatives.
Founded in 2012, the NWSL is the longest-running professional women’s soccer league in U.S. history. Following their first-ever Challenge Cup this summer, the first successful attempt at bringing professional sports back amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWSL received a jolt in fan interest in expanding the number of teams from its nine active ones. In October 2019, the league announced the formation of Racing Louisville FC, which will compete in the 2021 season. Angel City FC will begin play in 2022.
“On behalf of the NWSL and our member clubs, we are thrilled to officially welcome Angel City Football Club, and this exciting and committed ownership group, to the league,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird in the release. “The soccer community in Southern California is filled with passionate fans of the game and I can’t wait to see them rally around their own team and help us continue to grow the NWSL.”
2 Chainz originally planned to released his sixth album, So Help Me God, in last month but sample clearances stopped the “No Lie” rapper from doing so. He stopped by Complex to share an update on the upcoming album as well as his plans for future projects.
After revealing that the album will now arrive on October 30, the rapper was asked about rumors about Kanye West’s involvement on the production side.
“Actually, he wanted to do the whole project, but I’m dealing with trying to get out of my contract with Def Jam,” 2 Chainz responded. “He’s still going to produce an album for me, and we’re still going back and forth, but it’s just the time of me wanting to put it out and be done, because he has a thousand things going on in his place.” Still, 2 Chainz revealed that Kanye does have “something to do with this project,” but declined to share any details. However, he did say, “let it be known that it’s going to happen, whether it’s this next project or the one after. It’s a whole Tity Boi and Kanye West project, produced by Kanye. Let’s just say that.”
Elsewhere in the interview, 2 Chainz revealed that his album Collegrove 2, with Lil Wayne, will touch down soon, saying fans should stay tuned for its release “if not the end of this year, definitely the top of next year.”
Remember when we had a president we didn’t hear about every day? Even as his former vice president, Joe Biden, has formally sought his old gig, former commander-in-chief Barack Obama has stayed relatively (though certainly not entirely) quiet. Perhaps he didn’t want to steal Biden’s thunder. Or perhaps he just wanted to carry on being someone who’s not constantly everywhere. But on Wednesday he made an exception.
The 44th president was in Philadelphia for a drive-in rally, not only to support his two-time running mate but to deliver a fierce rebuke to his successor. And though he’s been reluctant to attack Trump in the past, this time he pulled no punches, characterizing him as “incapable of taking the job seriously.” And that only scratches the surface of what Obama had to say about him.
“I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my polices, but I did hope for the sake of the country, that he might show some interest in taking the job seriously,” Obama told the crowd. “But it hasn’t happened. He hasn’t showed any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends.” He even chastised Trump for ruining the great economy he’d left him, saying, “just like everything else he inherited, he messed it up.”
Obama reserved particular ire for Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in over 220,000 American deaths, with no end in sight. He referenced an interview in which, when asked what he would do differently, Trump said “not much.”
“Really? Not much?” Obama said. “Nothing you can think of that could have helped some people keep their loved ones alive?”
Obama’s appearance came soon after it was reported that Trump had a secret Chinese bank account, and the he paid more in taxes there than he did back home. Obama bristled at the double-standard, that the man who followed him gets away with things he never would have had he done them — which he wouldn’t have.
“Listen, can you imagine if I had had a secret Chinese bank account when I was running for reelection?” Obama asked the crowd. “You think Fox News might have been a little concerned about that? They would have called me Beijing Barry.”
But perhaps Obama’s most convincing argument for why one shouldn’t vote for Trump was this: Biden is, compared to Trump, and no insult intended, pretty boring. “It just won’t be so exhausting,” Obama said, adding that voters are “not going to have to think about the crazy things … and that is worth a lot.”
You can watch Obama’s full speech in the video above.
Along with its slate of Emmy-nominated TV series, Netflix continues to churn out high-quality feature-length content as of late. The streaming platform has been building a deep well when it comes to film, filling it with everything from period dramas and millennial romcoms to quirky biopics, sci-fi love stories, and enthralling deep-dive documentaries. Plus, more Breaking Bad. In other words, if you thought TV was the only thing the binge-heavy subscription service had to offer, think again.
We’ve sifted through a slew of titles to pick the cream of the crop when it comes to Netflix’s original lineup so make sure you have some space in your queue. These films deserve to be there. You can find the more recent picks up top.
Aaron Sorkin’s star-studded courtroom drama is finally here, and besides carrying some serious Oscar buzz, it’s also delivering a handful of ridiculously good performances from its impressive cast. That cast includes everyone from Succession’s Jeremy Strong to Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne, and Watchmen breakout Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The film follows the true story of a group of anti-Vietnam war protesters charged with conspiracy counts and inciting riots during a demonstration at the 1968 Democratic Convention. We heard that Strong asked Sorkin to tear-gas him for this thing so, yeah, it should be an intense watch.
This time-hopping drama set in the backwoods of West Virginia is basically an excuse for director Antonio Campos to assemble his own Avengers-style squad of Hollywood A-listers. Seriously, everyone’s in this movie: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, Eliza Scanlen, Sebastian Stan, Mia Wasikowska, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Haley Bennett, that kid who played Dudley in the Harry Potter franchise. The whole gang’s living in shacks and picking up hitchhikers, only to murder them later and speaking in tongues and falling victim to generational trauma. It’s a heavy watch, and there’s not really a happy ending, but boy does Pattinson deliver a batsh*t crazy turn as a perverted preacher.
Charlie Kaufman’s latest film is based on a book of the same name and stars Chernobyl’s Jessie Buckley as a young woman meeting her boyfriend’s parents for the first time, which normally would be a happy event except she’s secretly been planning to break up the with the guy. That guy is Jesse Plemons, who seems to be in everything these days, and along with Toni Collette and David Thewlis who play his parents, they make for hellish dinner mates. There’s a sinister vibe permeating everything about this straightforward plot, so if you think you know how this ends, let us be the first to tell you: you don’t have a clue.
Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams take on the planet’s most-watched singing competition with this campy comedy about an Icelandic duo named Fire Saga, who are set on achieving glory on the world’s biggest stage. Ferrell and McAdams play Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir, artists chosen to represent their nation in the Eurovision Song Contest, a real competition that features musicians from all over the world, who are often performing in wild get-ups. Dan Stevens almost steals the show while Pierce Brosnan and Demi Lovato make appearances. We’re calling it now: “Volcano Man” is going to be a bop for the ages.
Noah Baumbach’s star-studded divorce drama is pure Oscar bait, but in the best way. The film takes a look at messy breakups with Scarlett Johansson playing an actress and mother named Nicole, who is intent on separating from her stage director husband Charlie (Adam Driver). Laura Dern and Ray Liotta play their hard-hitting lawyers, who don’t help in diffusing the tension and resentment building between the pair when Nicole moves herself and their son across the country. It’s an intimate look at the emotional wreckage of a divorce and the struggle to put a family back together again, and it’s carried by some brilliant performances by Driver and Johansson.
Any Spike Lee joint is worth a watch, but this genre-bending thriller about a group of black Vietnam War vets returning to the battlefield decades later feels especially timely. That’s because Lee manages to shed light on a little-known part of our shared history: the way our country treated Black soldiers returning from the war, but he also raises the stakes with a subplot that includes a buried treasure hunt and a heartwrenching mission to retrieve the remains of a fallen comrade. The cast, which includes Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman, is brilliant, the story is gripping, and you’ll probably be seeing more talk of it come awards season, so go ahead and watch it now.
If you want to get a sense of the sheer volume of quality movies Netflix has been delivering recently, this sports drama is the perfect case study. It’s a film directed by an Oscar-winning filmmaker (Steven Soderbergh), written by another Oscar-winner (Moonlight’s Tarell Alvin McCraney), and starring a cast that includes Andre Holland, Zazie Beetz, and Zachary Quinto, and it’s one of the more underrated flicks on the streaming site. Well, no more. This movie — which follows a sports agent (Holland) as he tries to pull off a daring plan during an NBA lockout — has finally jumped onto everyone’s radar. At least, everyone who checks out this list.
Timothee Chalamet is everywhere right now so really, are you that surprised he’s playing a boyish, rebellious King Henry V in this big-budget Shakespeare adaptation from Joel Edgerton? Chalamet and his bowl-cut bring Hal to life, the wayward prince forced to assume the throne after his father’s death. Hal has to grow up quickly to lead his men into battle against a bloodthirsty French foe (Robert Pattinson having too much fun with his overdramatic accent) and preserve England’s reign. It’s all medieval warfare and political intrigue and it’s held up by Chalamet who stands out — even amongst a stellar supporting cast.
Martin Scorsese delivers another cinematic triumph, this time for Netflix and with the help of some familiar faces. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino team up (again) for this crime drama based on actual events. De Niro plays Frank Sheeran a World War II vet who finds work as a hitman for the mob. Pacino plays notorious Teamster Jimmy Hoffa, a man who frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law and the criminals he worked with. The film charts the pair’s partnership over the years while injecting some historical milestones for context. It’s heavy and impressively cast and everything you’d expect a Scorsese passion-project to be.
Oscar-winning writer/director Alfonso Cuaron delivers what may be his most personal film to date. The stunningly-shot black-and-white film is an ode to Cuaron’s childhood and a love letter to the women who raised him. Following the journey of a domestic worker in Mexico City named Cleo, the movie interweaves tales of personal tragedy and triumph amidst a backdrop of political upheaval and unrest.
Netflix spent much of 2017 trying to establish itself as an alternative to movie theaters as a place to find quality new films. The results were mostly strong, and none stronger than Mudbound, Dee Rees’ story of two families — one white and one black — sharing the same Mississippi land in the years before and after World War II. Rees combines stunning images, compelling storytelling, and the work of a fine cast (that includes Jason Mitchell, Carey Mulligan, Garett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, and Mary J. Blige) to unspool a complex tale about the forces the connect black and white Americans and the slow-to-die injustices that keep them apart.
It’s hard not to like a guy as talented and charismatic as Idris Elba but the actor plays a morally-corrupt psychopath to perfection in Beasts of No Nation. As the Commandant, Elba recruits young boys to his rebel army fighting the government of Ghana by forcing them to undergo a brutal initiation process. Agu, a young boy who saw his father and older brother murdered at the hands of the government, is captured and indoctrinated into the Commandant’s army, suffering through terrible torture, both physical and psychological, before he eventually escapes.
Bong Joon-Ho’s send-up of corporate farming and environmental abuses isn’t subtle. Tilda Swinton goes all-out as the CEO of an evil corporation, only to be outdone by Jake Gyllenhaal’s broad turn as an unstable TV host. But its tale of an endearing, genetically modified “super pig” and the girl who loves him is effective and contains both some terrific action set pieces and the most affecting child/strange beast relationship this side of E.T.
The basic gist of this follow-up to Vince Gilligan’s beloved TV show is that it picks up right after the events of the series finale, with Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) on the run and looking a bit worse for wear. He seeks shelter with Skinny Pete and Badger, long enough for a shower and a shave, before heading off to confront the people who destroyed his life. To give anything more away would be to spoil the excellent work that Gilligan and Paul put into this thing.
The Coen brothers are back with a slick new Western romp, one that serves as an ode to all of the tropes present in Hollywood’s best Wild West adaptations. Split into six parts, each story is loosely connected although thematically and tonally different. Tim Blake Nelson stars as the titular hero, a sharpshooting songster who takes part in the film’s opening musical portion. From there, we get stories of outlaws getting their due, prospectors mining for gold, ghostly hauntings, and wagon trails. Forget trying to follow the thread and simply enjoy the ride with this one.
Paul Rudd is at his most charming and charismatic here. He plays a newly trained caregiver to a distant teenager with muscular dystrophy named Trevor. After some ice breaking, the two set out on a trip to see some of the most boring roadside attractions middle America has to offer. If you’re feeling down, this one will pick you up.
Plus… it’s Paul Rudd. That dude is always a ray of sunshine.
Noah Baumbach’s star-studded divorce drama takes a look at messy breakups with Scarlett Johansson playing an actress and mother named Nicole, who is intent on separating from her stage director husband Charlie (Adam Driver). Laura Dern and Ray Liotta play their hard-hitting lawyers, who don’t help in diffusing the tension and resentment building between the pair when Nicole moves herself and their son across the country. It’s an intimate look at the emotional wreckage of a divorce and the struggle to put a family back together again, and it’s carried by some brilliant performances by Driver and Johansson.
Netflix’s original flick is being hailed as the best teen rom-com of the decade and for good reason. The story stars Lana Condor as Lara Jean Covey, a junior in high school who tends to write her crushes love letters but never actually send them. After those same letters are anonymously sent, she’s forced to do damage control by carrying on a fake relationship with one of her former love interests. It’s a sweet, oddly empowering twist on the classic rom-com trope, and you won’t be able to scroll through Twitter without coming across a Peter Kavinsky stan account, thanks to this one.
Ali Wong and Randall Park star in the latest rom-com from Netflix. This time around, the plot follows two childhood sweethearts who’ve spent the last 15 years apart and try to reconnect when one moves back home. Wong plays a successful chef opening a new restaurant in San Francisco while Park plays her former best friend still living at home and working for his dad. Both have some growing up to do, but the film eschews classic romcom tropes for bits that are funnier and more poignant than your average lighthearted fare.
Sandra Bullock’s apocalyptic sci-fi saga has spawned more than just a ridiculous internet challenge, it’s also renewed our love for monster-driven thrillers. Sure, we never actually see the otherworldly beings that cause people to commit suicide if they open their eyes, but the danger they pose and the fear they instill is still viscerally real. Bullock plays a mother trying to protect her two young children and survive amidst a group of strangers with their own agendas and issues. The supporting cast in this one — Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, and Tom Hollander — are fantastic, which distracts from some of the more questionable story choices.
Anyone who caught Jessica Williams during her tenure on The Daily Show knows that she’s destined for greatness. Despite being so young, she had a confidence, a voice, and a commanding presence that you just can’t fake. The Incredible Jessica James is her first starring vehicle since her time as a correspondent, and it is a true testament to where she’s headed. In a clever look at the life of a struggling playwright who is getting over a breakup, The Incredible Jessica James allows Williams to unleash her fire in the most charming way possible, and she and Chris O’Dowd have an easy chemistry that makes you root for them to make it despite not having a thing in common. Having just come out last year, The Incredible Jessica James is still one of the best comedy movies Netflix has delivered.
Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti star in this dramedy about a middle-aged couple trying desperately to have a baby. Hahn plays Rachel, Giamatti her husband, Richard. The two undergo all kind of in vitro treatments in order to get pregnant but quickly realize the process is draining on their marriage and their intimacy as a couple. When their 25-year-old niece comes to stay with them, they’re forced to re-think the idea of having children of their own and dig into what’s really fueling their desire for offspring. Hahn is brilliant as usual, but she finally gets the starring vehicle she deserves, and Giamatti is her capable screen partner. What’s really refreshing about this film, though, is its refusal to treat a subject that’s been overdramatized so much on screen with kid gloves, instead giving us a funny, heartbreaking look at infertility that feels much more real than any sappy tearjerker.
Eddie Murphy stages a bit of a comeback in this biopic about famed comedian, actor, showman Rudy Ray Moore, better known as Dolemite to fans of his raunchy comedy albums, stand-up tours, and blaxploitation films. Murphy plays Moore at the beginning of his career when he was just a record store clerk looking to break out in the business. He’s joined by a cast that includes Keegan-Michael Key, Ron Cephas Jones, Tituss Burgess, and others, but it’s Murphy who shines here, giving possibly the best performance of his career as a man who will stop at nothing to pursue his dream.
Last week, Verzuz announced that the show would soon return for its second season, following a strong first season filled with thrilling battles between some of the most popular names in hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and other genres. While it remains to be seen who will be invited for the next season, Busta Rhymes has been eyeing a spot on the show against T.I. However, the latter isn’t so willing to commit to a duel.
T.I. responds to Busta Rhymes and said he won’t do a #Verzuz battle with him because of a “generational gap” pic.twitter.com/t6cheJAcPp
In a recent interview with Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes called out T.I. to battle him, saying, “I’m begging you to step in the ring with me. I’mma bust your ass.” T.I. subsequently took to Instagram Live to decline the challenge. “I didn’t know that we were reaching back through generations,” T.I. said on the livestream. “That’s a huge generational gap there isn’t it? And I have a huge amount of respect for you, exponential amount of respect for you, I can’t — you dig what I’m saying?” He also added, “I can’t call out Rakim… I f*ck with you bro, I f*ck with you, you know what I’m saying? It ain’t no disrespect at all. Y’all wouldn’t put Brandy up against Dion Warwick. You can’t put Brandy against Dion Warwick.”
While the battle between T.I. and Busta Rhymes may be a no-go, the former may shift his attention back to 50 Cent, who he originally asked to battle him on Verzuz.
On Halloween night, Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) and Gervonta Davis (23-0-0, 22 KOs) will meet in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Showtime PPV (9 p.m. ET) in a winner-take-all bout between the WBA Super World Super Feather champ and the WBA World Light champ. The fight will take place at Santa Cruz’s typical 130-pound weight, and he has a reach advantage on the shorter Davis, but he’s still going up against a compact and powerful lightweight who, even if five pounds lighter than he usually is, poses a major threat.
For the 32-year-old veteran Santa Cruz, fighting an up-and-coming superstar in Tank Davis is an opportunity to assert himself as one of the best fighters in the world. The Mexican star fights out of California now and has spent the better part of 2020 getting ready for this fight — first in anticipation of a May date and now preparing for this Halloween showdown. Uproxx caught up with Santa Cruz last week to talk about that off-and-on training, how he plans to neutralize Davis’ power and take him to the late rounds, and what a win in this fight would mean for his legacy as a fighter.
How has camp been and how are you feeling a couple weeks out from the fight?
Well, camp has been great. I’ve been sparring a lot with different sparring partners. My dad’s been in the gym telling me what to do, practicing some shots that we want to try in the fight, and I feel great. I feel strong, I feel ready, I’m in great conditioning, and I’m just ready to and excited to go out there and give a great fight for the fans.
11 months will be the longest layoff between fights in your career. What was that time off like and how did you deal with that and handle training prior to a full camp while waiting for this fight date to be finalized?
Yeah, you know, it’s been hard. This is my longest layoff, 11 months, but I’ve been in the gym. I was in the gym training, then I stopped for a little bit, and got back to training because we were trying to get ready for this fight in May. So we were training before, and then they told us we weren’t going to fight so I stopped training a little bit before going back. So I was on and off, but I’ve been training almost the whole year, on and off, so I’ve been ready. We’ve been practicing in the gym because we knew the fight was going to get done. We were just waiting to see when with all the virus and everything. But we were ready, and we were prepared.
I know you said in the presser you’ve been sparring with bigger guys to get ready for this fight. What are you learning in those sessions about how you want to approach Tank?
I can’t get too confident in there. I gotta be really smart and not try to brawl with him because I know he’s a big puncher and the punches are harder cause they’re bigger guys. So I gotta be smart and not stay in there, moving a lot and trying not to get hit.
You’re an active guy, but how do you balance being aggressive and wanting to be active while, like you say, not allowing him inside and making it a brawl where he’s going to want it to be?
Yeah, it’s hard cause I’m used to going forward and brawling with fighters and entertaining the fans, cause that’s what the fans love – for fighters to brawl and stay in the middle of the ring and go back and forth. But I’ve gotta be smart in this fight. I’ve got to go out there and use my distance and keep him outside with the jabs and the rights and stuff, but we’re going to go in there and see how he feels. If he’s too strong, we’re going to box him from the outside, and if we feel his punches are not hurting us then we’re going to make it a brawl and entertain the fans. I’m going out there to give the fans a great fight, and that’s what I want.
You’ve fought guys with various styles throughout your career. What can you draw from those experiences to adapt, like you say, in the ring during a fight to what they’re doing?
For every fighter I faced, they have different styles, and I could adapt to each because in the gym when I’m training, my dad will have me brawl and to move. He knows I can box really good and everything, but I always try to go out there and give an action fight. Stay in there with the fighters, but once we’re in the ring we adjust to anything and we’re going to adjust to Tank Davis and we’re gonna give a great fight and be smart and get to the win.
You’ve also said you want to draw him into the later rounds because he has the ability to finish fights early. You have a lot of experience going into those championship rounds of fights. What can you take from those experiences about what you want to do in this fight once you take it hopefully to the later rounds?
I think in the early rounds I have to be cautious, smart, let him get tired and gas out. Throw all his big punches, make him miss and miss, and you just try to win by making him miss and land my shots by boxing and counter-punching him really good. Then, as he’s getting tired in later rounds, start putting pressure and breaking him down and hopefully start to get him tired and for him to quit.
How do you balance when preparing to fight someone bigger that you’re feeling as strong as possible but also doing the work to make sure that your agility and speed is an advantage to you compared to someone who wants to be more inside and a little tighter?
We just have to work on conditioning, and that’s what we’ve been doing. We have a great conditioning program, and we’ve been bringing in sparring partners who are bigger, and I just use my speed to do my combinations and then get out of there right away to not get hit. And when I see the big shots just take steps back and then move in with counter-punches. I think that’s the key to beating him.
It’s a unique opportunity to fight for belts in two weight classes at once and to do it against one of the sport’s rising stars. What would a win in this fight mean for you and your legacy as a fighter?
I think it would mean the world to me. This is the biggest fight of my career, of my life, and I just want to go out there and give a great fight and get this win. I know if I get this win beating one of the best out there, a superstar, it’s going to put me, I think, in the top 10 pound-for-pound stats, and that’s what I want. I want to continue to make history and win a title in a fifth division and, you know, to continue to make more history, and when I retire I want to be remembered as one of the best out there. And what better opponent than Gervonta Davis to do that.
You’ve said not a lot of guys don’t want to fight a guy like Tank. Is this something where you want this to be the start of trying to unify belts and you always hunting for big opponents and the best possible fight?
Yes, of course that’s what I’m trying to do. At times they’ve said I don’t want to fight big names, I don’t want to fight dangerous fighters. With this fight I’m going to show them that I am, that I’m ready to fight the best, and I do want to fight the best, give them a great fight and continue to do that and unify and fight the champions.
The sequel to 2006’s Borat doesn’t hit Amazon Prime until Friday, but one of its most shocking scenes became headline news on Wednesday. That’s when reviews came out, most of them singling out one scene in particular: where Rudy Giuliani, currently the personal attorney to the sitting president of the United States, gets into a questionable roundelay with our hero’s underage daughter in a hotel room. It wasn’t the news the frequently embattled former NYC mayor needs less than two weeks shy of his boss’ election, and he didn’t exactly make it better when he issued his formal response.
On Wednesday night Giuliani went on WABC radio to attempt to put out the fire, and only succeeded in fanning the flames. He started by playing the victim, complaining that the press “attacks me over everything possible.” And then Sacha Baron Cohen — or “Borat,” as he called him — came in. “Now the idiot Borat is going after me with a totally sensationalized, false account of a ridiculous movie I guess that he has done.”
Before he tried to explain the, shall we say, highly questionable act that happens in the film, Giuliani tried to connect it to…Joe Biden. “Now let me tell you why I know this is a hit job that happens because…it is not an accident that it happens when I turn in all this evidence on their prince and darling Joe Biden who is one of the biggest crooks of the last 30 years,” Giuliani said.
He then claimed what happened in the hotel room, with actress Maria Bakalova, could have “added, doctored, manipulated,” saying that he “remained clothed the entire time,” only partially disrobing when he went to take off his microphone equipment. (He also claimed he and Bakalova “prayed together.”) It was then that Baron Cohen, as Borat, ran in, with cape, prompting Giuliani to have his people call the police. Baron Cohen then fled the scene.
“This is a hit job,” Giuliani claimed. In the film, Baron Cohen-as-Borat not only interrupts them with Rudy’s pants down, but also yells, “She’s 15! She’s too old for you!” It must be noted that there’s no indication that GIuliani knew that the character is 15 years old.
You can listen to Giuliani’s full statement below. Meanwhile, you can watch Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan when it drops on Amazon Prime on Friday, October 23.
For her new EP Projections, Tomberlin teamed up with longtime tourmate Alex G to try and expand her sound and take on a more experimental edge. After catching our attention with the delightful 2018 LP At Weddings, this new project features some additional instrumental flourishes that infuse the EP’s somber and introspective tracks with an added energy and depth. Though it only features five tracks, Projections is a very exciting taste of what can be expected from Tomberlin as she looks toward her sophomore full-length.
To celebrate the new album, Tomberlin talked Joanna Newsom, Hocus Pocus, and her undying love for Arcade Fire in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Searching. Patient. Internal. Wonder.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
As work that brings respite to the listener in some capacity.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
I can’t pin down just one place. There are special moments everywhere. Portland, LA, and Chicago have always been extremely kind to me though.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Hard to say just one person, but maybe Joanna Newsom. She doesn’t give a fuck about a chorus, her work and craftsmanship are uniquely hers, and she only tours when she wants to.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
My mom’s cooking will always be the best meals of my life.
What album do you know every word to?
The Suburbs by Arcade Fire.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
Hm maybe Sufjan on the Carrie And Lowell tour at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis or my first concert (aside from Christian concerts) Arcade Fire and The National for my 16th birthday at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis. I was so happy i couldn’t stop smiling. We thought we had standing tickets in front of the stage (my mom and older sister came with) but we had shitty nose bleed seats. There were a lot of empty seats so i snuck down closer towards the stage and ended up randomly sitting by Will Butler’s in-laws. They were very kind and asked if it was my first show. They ended up getting some of the band’s signatures for me. One of the happiest days of my teen life. Two of my favorite bands playing a show together as my birthday present was kind of the best bday gift ever.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
I’d generally say something comfortable, but that is my motivation in getting dressed everyday and I’ve just carried that over to what I perform in. Last year was my first full year of touring so I’d like to have something or something(s) I just wear for shows. I don’t need people seeing me in my jeans and t-shirts which is my everyday wardrobe. It is a layer of protection, but it doesn’t feel like that as much when you show up to perform in what you wear everyday and a bunch of strangers are ~perceiving you~. I should get a show outfit probably. Or not. Whomst to say. I’m not too stressed about it.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
Last year it was probably “Light Brang” by Little Wings or “Bad Mind” by Erin Rae
What’s the last thing you Googled?
A list of the songs Tori Amos has covered.
What album makes for the perfect gift?
Joni Mitchell’s Blue cause everyone needs that record. Even if they don’t know it yet. If not- a mix cd.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
Idk. Lots of stranger’s homes which i’m grateful for, but it can be funny and weird and also great. Or the weird little budget hotels in Europe that are like the size of a nice bathroom but somehow has 3 beds.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
I don’t have any tattoos currently.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
The Bee Gees.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I’m sorry I can’t share it, the answer is too nice to even type.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Don’t evaporate yourself for other people to exist. There is space for you.
What’s the last show you went to?
Frances Quinlan of Hop Along’s solo show with the harpist Mary Lattimore opening. I think lockdown happened the day after and their tour was cut short, but it was a beautiful show with palpable cosmic energy. I love Frances’ songs so much.
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
Hocus Pocus.
What would you cook if Obama were coming to your house for dinner?
Spicy tomato fennel pasta and salad. Kind of like a Hot Ones challenge situation so I could ask about the Libya drone strikes that should never have happened and why the f*ck didn’t he endorse Bernie for president. We could smoke a spliff afterwards.
Projections is out now on Saddle Creek. Listen here.
If you missed out on Nike and Supreme’s big Air Max Plus collection that dropped last week, we’d like to note that a refresh on all three pairs will land tomorrow on Nike SNKRS. Move fast if you didn’t get a chance to cop them last week. Would the Air Max Plus collection have made it on this week’s SNX DLX if it hadn’t dropped last week? Honestly, probably not — because this week brings yet another jam-packed week of releases.
Other dope sneakers we didn’t have room for: the Feng Chen Converse, Jaden’s latest New Balance Vision Racer Surplus, and a 1017 ALYX 9SM AF-1 High top. All worth checking up on if you don’t find anything on this week’s top five that speaks to you (but, you will). On the apparel end, we have new collections from KITH, Chinatown Market, and Aimé Leon Dore, all of which are fire and speak to three markedly different aesthetics in the ever-expanding world of streetwear.
Let’s get into it.
Adidas Yeezy BOOST 350 V2 Natural
Adidas
Sometimes we look at new Yeezy colorways and think: we haven’t seen this one yet? It’s hard to believe that the Yeezy BOOST 350 V2 hasn’t received an off-white colorway and yet this week brings the “Natural” iteration, which sports an off-white Primeknit upper over a yellowed translucent BOOST midsole. We’ll take it! Sure it isn’t the most exciting Yeezy to drop this year, but it’s a sold design, albeit a bit safe. But safety makes staples!
The Adidas Yeezy BOOST 350 V2 Natural is set to drop on October 24th for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair at the Adidas online store or through YEEZY Supply.
Adidas
Nike ISPA Road Warrior Clear Jade
Nike
The Nike ISPA Road Warrior Clear Jade is all over the place. This Frankensteinian piece of footwear combines elements of Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly, BB NXT, and Shox with traditional Japanese split-toe cage construction for a sneaker designed to adapt to any performance-based environment, whether you’re playing streetball, running, training, or hitting the trails. It’s a sneaker for people who want something new that doesn’t look like any other piece of footwear out there.
The ISPA Road Warrior Clear Jade is set to drop on October 23rd for a retail price of $500. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Salehe Bembury New Balance 2002R
New Balance
Expect to see the name “Salehe Bembury” in conversations surrounding footwear a lot more in the next year. You’ve probably already come across Bembury without knowing it, the designer cut his teeth at Cole Haan and Yeezy Brand before landing a job at Versace but this collaboration with New Balance 2002R marks his first-ever branded sneaker release. And it’s fire.
Featuring a season-appropriate colorway inspired by Arizona’s Antelope Canyon, the 2002R sports distressed suede detailing with breathable mesh paneling and Salehe Bembury branding over the lace cage. It’s the type of sneaker that will call attention to your feet, so if you scoop up a pair be prepared to be eyeballed.
The Sales Bembusy New Balance 2002R is set to drop on October 23rd for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair through the New Balance online store or select New Balance retailers.
Leave it to Palace to give us a sneaker that virtually nobody asked for and still manage to make it look dope. The concept for the Leather Pump was simple — take Reebok’s Classic leather silhouette, inarguably their best design, and deck it out with Reebok’s own Pump technology. The result managed to be not only more dope than the Reebok Pump, but easily the coolest iteration of the Reebok Classic in years.
The Palace x Reebok Classic Leather Pumps are set to drop on October 23rd for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at the Palace webstore.
Comme des Garçons Nike Air Force 1 Mid
Comme des garcons
Easily the biggest release of the week, Comme des Garçons is dropping a new all-white or all-black Nike Air Force 1 Mid this week, so if you’re looking to buy your favorite sneaker writer an early Christmas present, make it this one. Please.
Comme des Garçons could’ve easily had a hit on their hand if they went with an Air Force 1 Low, or hell, even a high-top, but we appreciate the label’s left-turn by going for the mid-cut. Is it going to alienate some people? Yes, but those people don’t have style, so we doubt CDG is sweating it.
TheComme des Garçons Nike Air Force 1 Mids are set to drop on October 23rd for a retail price of $270. Pick up a pair at the Dover Street Market.
Comme des garcons
Chinatown Market Grateful Dead/ Thinking/ Modern Art Capsule
Chinatown Market, like Teddy Fresh and a few other small LA-based streetwear labels, has been holding strong through the pandemic — dropping some of their greatest work on a monthly basis. This week brings two capsule collections including this “Thinking” t-shirt. The shirt sports a simple cartoon-graphic of a large-headed man… thinking, with the Chinatown label printed over his head. It’s silly, it’s fun, and it’s strangely addictive to look at, just like almost everything out of Chinatown Market.
Other notable pieces from CTM include the Grateful Dead “Carnival” capsule, and the icon-heavy Modern History collection. Shop the looks at the Chinatown Market website.
KITH BMW Collaboration
KITH
I have to be honest, I’m not sure if I love this collaboration because my first car was a beat-up BMW 1989 E30 M3 that was sadly totaled and replaced with a way less cool car not worth mentioning, or because it’s genuinely dope. I’m going to say it’s because the fits are fire, though I imagine if you never owned a Beamer (even a used one) it might feel a little weird to rock an apparel collection that borrows so much imagery from the company.
If you don’ have that hang-up or have a car to connect your looks to, you’ll find a collection of dope winter staples with that easy-to-love Ronnie Fieg twist. Highlights include suede bombers, wool varsity jackets, caps, a kimono blazer and tracksuit.
The KITH BMW Collaboration is set to drop on October 23rd. Shop the looks at the KITH webstore.
KITHKITH
Aimé Leon Dore Fall/Winter 2020 Collection 2
The always classy Aimé Leon Dore returns this week with the second collection from Fall/Winter 2020. If you were a fan of the first drop (we were), you’re going to find a lot more to love here. The drop consists of season-focused staples like puffer jackets, overshirts, jackets, and sweaters, all done up in Aimé Leon Dore’s colorful-yet-clean aesthetic.
The real draw here is the massive attention to detail of every piece in this collection. It’s not just about the way the clothes look, the designers at Aimé Leon Dore go deep, focusing on the way a pant-leg falls over the tongue of your kicks, or the way a full outfit comes together — which explains why the collection if full of so many complementary pieces. That makes us want to buy them all, which is smart on the part of the Queens-based label.
The Aimé Leon Dore Fall/Winter 2020 collection number 2 is set to drop on October 23rd at the Aimé Leon Dore webstore.
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