Category: Worldwide

Ted Cruz is a Republican senator from Texas who could absolutely be characterized as a high-volume poster on Twitter. Sometimes he finds success in his attempts to call out liberals or dunk on sports websites, but among many he’s perhaps best known for getting dunked on himself.

Perhaps the most infamous example of this is when he blamed a “staffing issue” when someone liked a pornographic video through his account. The list of times Cruz gets ratio’d for posts is pretty long, but it’s rare that a criticism backfires as spectacularly as it did over Labor Day weekend when The Princess Bride was put between his Tweeting crosshairs. Cruz criticized The Princess Bride and got mocked in response by several people associated with the film, which Cruz called a “perfect movie” he didn’t want ruined by “Hollywood politics.”

Cruz was apparently upset that the movie’s cast would reunite as part of a Democratic fundraiser, irking the Republican enough that he had to tweet about it. CNN has more details on the event that made Cruz so upset in the first place.

Donors to the Wisconsin Democrats will receive invitations to a livestream on September 13 at 7 pm ET for a script read of William Goldman’s 1987 cult classic. The star-studded cast, including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal and director Rob Reiner have agreed to join the virtual table read. A cast Q&A will be moderated by Patton Oswalt after the performance.

“Anything you donate will be used to ensure that Trump loses Wisconsin, and thereby the White House,” the donation page says.

That tweet saw some considerable traction on Saturday, to the point that a number of people involved with the movie quote tweeted it and got personal. Starting with screenwriter Ed Solomon, who made it clear that his now-deceased friend William Goldman, who wrote The Princess Bride, was not a fan of Cruz, anyway.

Considering the other films that Goldman wrote, like the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for All The President’s Men, it seems strange that Cruz didn’t know the politics of many people involved with The Princess Bride. Even the movie’s star couldn’t help but dunk on Cruz.

Cruz has used quotes from the 1987 movie in the past, but it’s not the first time he’s received criticism from actors involved with the film. Mandy Patinkin criticized him in 2015 over comments he made about ISIS and, according to CNN, Reiner once listed Cruz among “the fans I don’t need.”

It’s a tough break for anyone to have one of your favorite movies tarnished by the knowledge that several people involved in its creation don’t like you. But for Ted Cruz, it’s just another weekend online.

NLE Choppa has skyrocketed his fame over the last year and while he seemed to have the right formula to success, the Memphis native is looking to change his approach to music for the foreseeable future. Taking to Twitter, where he has been extremely active in the past weeks, NLE Choppa announced he would no longer rap about violence in his music.

“Ion Rap Bout Violence Nomo. If You Hear It From Me It’s A Old Song,” he said in a tweet. “I Wanna Spread Positivity And Wake People Up. I’ll Still Drop Them For Y’all Tho But Just Know I’m On To Better I’m Tryna grow I Got More To Talk about Now.”

Living up to his promise, NLE Choppa posted a TikTok video to Twitter that previewed an untitled song that found him attempting to be more positive with his music. The song presents the “Shotta Flow” rapper in a lighter mood as he lays off bars that focus on his energy with the universe.

The announcement from NLE Choppa comes after the rapper shared his debut album Top Shotta earlier this year. The album boasted features from Roddy Ricch, Mulatto, Lil Baby, and more. The Memphis native was also selected to be a part of XXL 2020 Freshman Class.

NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Denver Nuggets bounced back from getting dominated in Game 1 by the Clippers to turn the tables and lead wire-to-wire in a Game 2 victory to even the series at 1-1. They started out making just about everything on offense, hitting 70 percent of their first quarter shots to take a 44-25 lead and played some tremendous defense the rest of the way to hold on for a win (which isn’t exactly a hallmark of this Nuggets team).

Jamal Murray led Denver with 27 points, but Nikola Jokic was sensational on Saturday night with 26 points and 18 rebounds, serving as a catalyst early for their hot start. Jokic isn’t always as aggressive or assertive as many would like him to be given his immense talents, but when the Denver offense is working right, his patience is an tremendous asset for a team that needs that steady hand. That was the case on Saturday, as he surveyed the excellent L.A. defense and made the right decisions over and over.

After the game, he was asked about that patience and why he plays so under control, and his response was a spectacularly matter of fact answer.

Jokic’s lack of quick twitch athleticism is well known and it’s part of what makes him so unique as an NBA star. In a league full of some of the world’s greatest athletes, he is capable of dominating while moving at what appears to be half speed, playing at a rhythm that’s all his own. Understanding those limitations is part of what makes him so great, as he knows who he is and what he is good at, never deviating or trying things he can’t do. The result is a truly 1-of-1 style that sees him score and facilitate with ease as even in a game where everyone moves so quickly, he seems to see it all slowed down to his tempo.

Earlier this weekend, pictures emerged in a report from TMZ that appeared to show Rihanna with injuries to her face. The report revealed that Rihanna suffered these injuries as a result of an electric scooter accident in Los Angeles. Confirming this report with People, a rep for Rihanna said her facial injuries were indeed a result of her scooter accident.

“Rihanna is completely fine now but flipped over on an electric scooter last week and bruised her forehead and face,” her rep said in the statement. “Luckily there were no major injuries and she is healing quickly.”

The scooter incident arrives after director Peter Berg revealed that a new documentary on Rihanna would arrive next summer. “The Rihanna doc is something I’ve been working on with her for almost four years now,” he said in an interview with Collider. “Amazon’s gonna release it summer next year, sometime hopefully around the Fourth of July. It’s been a really epic journey, the past four years with her.”

In other news, fans are still impatiently waiting for Rihanna’s forthcoming ninth album. From her everyday fans to Ariana Grande herself, Rihanna’s ninth album is one of the most sought after albums in the music industry today. While Rihanna has done a good job keeping the major details to herself, she singer has given fans tidbits of information here and there, confirming that she is “aggressively” working on it and that when it releases “it’s going to be worth it.”

(via People)

Donald Trump’s war with the media has officially extended to what was once his favorite outlet: Fox News. Under fire for a series of reports about Trump’s statements about fallen soldiers, he has spent the weekend denying reports that he disparaged veterans on several occasions and even attacked Fox News for confirming at least aspects of a story in The Atlantic that sparked the news cycle.

The president on Friday called for Fox News to fire Jennifer Griffin, a Fox News reporter who confirmed aspects of a damaging report about comments Trump made about American soldiers, reportedly calling them “suckers” and “losers” in an incident where a trip to a French cemetary where American troops were buried was abruptly canceled earlier in his presidency.

The incident began with Thursday’s story by The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, which detailed Trump’s canceled trip to Aisne-Marne Cemetery outside Paris. Officially the White House said weather scuttled travel to the cemetery, but Goldberg’s report said Trump didn’t want to mess up his hair in the rain and also disparaged military members who died while serving, calling them “suckers” and “losers.” The report also detailed Trump’s resistance to lowering flags to half mast when John McCain died.

Trump tweeted at length to deny that report and disparage Goldberg on Friday, but other outlets worked to confirm aspects of the report and detail other instances where Trump had disparaged veterans. That includes Fox News, who saw Griffin report and confirm aspects of Goldberg’s piece.

Griffin’s lengthy Twitter thread and an appearance on air instantly went viral. And while the network’s other programs questioned the legitimacy of the reporting, Griffin made Fox one of several outlets that also confirmed reports Trump was working so hard to deny. Trump continued to issue various denials about the reports, and on Friday demanded that Fox fire Griffin for her report.

CNN has a more thorough rundown of how Fox News has covered the reporting and, in some cases, failed to amplify Griffin’s report while casting doubt on the legitimacy of other outlets’ coverage of the incident. The important context to all this is that Trump desperately wants veterans to cast votes for him this fall, and he’s largely run on a campaign where he has strengthened the military and increased funding. But his words, at least according to multiple sources from multiple networks, have him fighting a very different battle in the weeks leading up to the November election.

It’s the weekend that movie studios, theater chains, and moviegoers have seemingly been waiting months to happen: The much anticipated release of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki. The anticipation has been far more about the substance of the movie — reviews have been lukewarm but positive (74 percent on Rotten Tomatoes) — and far more about whether American moviegoers would return to theaters in the midst of a pandemic. How well or poorly Tenet does may determine whether studios continue to roll out new products (Wonder Woman 2, Black Widow, and No Time to Die, among others) or if the studios will go back into hibernation until the pandemic ends.

So, how did Tenet do? The film scored $20 million for the four-day Labor Day weekend, which is solid, considering the context in which it has been released. There is a pandemic going on; theaters are not yet opened in the two largest markets, Los Angeles and New York City, in addition to a number of other large markets, like Miami, and theaters are socially distanced. Moviegoers are really just starting to dip their toes in, so a $20 million result, while not impressive, at least met expectations, and remember Tenet will have theaters more or less to itself for the next month. Given the scant number of titles in release this year, it could theoretically remain in theaters until Thanksgiving or beyond. I expect it will have plenty of legs.

Nolan’s Tenet is also playing well overseas, where the threat of the pandemic has subsided in many parts of the world. Tenet did $30.5 million in China over its first weekend, and since its release last weekend, it has already put up over $100 million internationally. In China, Tenet is pacing Dunkirk, so it is clear that the box office is still viable overseas, especially considering that the Chinese historical war drama film, The Eight Hundred, has scored roughly $350 million in mainland China over the last couple of weeks. That’s huge, especially considering that China is operating socially-distanced theaters. It can be done, although the model may mean far fewer titles so that blockbusters like Tenet or Wonder Woman can occupy multiple screenings for weeks at a time (Tenet, for instance, is the only blockbuster title being released before Wonder Woman in October).

Worldwide, the $200 million film has earned $146.2 million after two weekends. While I don’t think the domestic take is cause enough for studios to rush out their huge blockbusters, I do think it financially justifies the release of a few blockbusters from now until the end of the pandemic (the public health question is another matter, entirely). If the film can earn $100 million by October stateside, and another $300 million overseas, I think it’s worth it to release Wonder Woman 2 in October.

While Mulan was released stateside to Disney+ subscribers for $30, it’s still rolling out internationally. It opened in only 5 markets this weekend ahead of next weekend’s release in Russia and China, but it did a decent $5.9 million in Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East.

Tenet’s entrance has also put a huge dent in last weekend’s release, New Mutants. The good news is, it’s drop was consistent with the second-weekend drop of other X-Men movies. The bad news is, that drop is precipitous, and New Mutants started with only a $7 million weekend. After earning $2.8, it’s looking at big decline in its second weekend, earning now $12 million after 10 days despite adding more theaters in its second weekend. New Mutants might be ushered from theaters very soon, although it may stick around for a few weeks because there’s nothing else playing besides Tenet. Even if Mutants vacates theaters, however, that does not necessarily mean that it will be available on streaming outlets anytime soon. 20th Century licensed the streaming rights to HBO, so it will appear on rival HBO Max before it can be streamed on Disney-owned Hulu. In the meantime, New Mutants isn’t doing much better internationally. It added $4.2 million overseas to bring its worldwide total to $20 million.

Meanwhile, in third place, Unhinged continues to do well in drive-in theaters, adding $1.6 million this weekend to bring its total to $11 million. On Friday, 29 of the top 30 grossing theaters around the country for Unhinged were drive-in theaters, including four of the top six in Los Angeles. Drive-in theaters, I’m sure, would have loved to take advantage of Tenet in places where theaters aren’t open, like Los Angeles, but Warner Brothers put in a very strange restriction, saying that drive-in theaters could not screen Tenet in cities where the movie was not also playing in theaters.

Bill & Ted Face the Music earned another $610,000, and after Labor Day receipts are fully accounted for, it should tap out at around $2.26 million after 11 days on a $25 million budget. Remember, however, that the Bill and Ted sequel is also running concurrently on PVOD, where it’s been the top film for the last two weekends.

The Personal History of David Copperfield added 190 theaters weekend, but it didn’t help. It still fell 25 percent off its weak opening weekend, and has now earned only $1.1 million after adding $360,000.

Source: Exhibitor Relations, Box Office Mojo

This weekend saw the release of NBA 2K21, a rare in-season release for 2K Sports’ ever-popular basketball title. The game coming out while the playoffs are still plugging along makes for some interesting dilemmas, including there likely being some ratings updates that come out much sooner than is typical — unrelated to that is the shooting hotfix that went live on Sunday, mere days after release.

As always, players will petition for better ratings and the magic of modern gaming is that they can update when players play better (or worse) in real time and adjust their stats. Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James top the overall ratings for this year’s game at 97 overalls each, followed by a pair of 96’s in James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, with 14 total players earning a 90 or above.

For now, to start the game, here are the ratings for every player on every team.

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid: 91
Ben Simmons: 87
Tobias Harris: 84
Josh Richardson: 80
Al Horford: 80
Alec Burks: 77
Matisse Thybulle: 75
Shake Milton: 75
Furkan Korkmaz: 75
Glen Robinson III: 75
Kyle O’Quinn: 74
Raul Neto: 73
Mike Scott: 72
Ryan Broekhoff: 72
Norvel Pelle: 71
Zhaire Smith: 70
Marial Shayok: 67

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 97
Khris Middleton: 86
Eric Bledsoe: 83
Brook Lopez: 82
Donte DiVincenzo: 77
George Hill: 77
Ersan Ilyasova: 76
Wesley Matthews: 75
Marvin Williams: 74
Pat Connaughton: 7
Robin Lopez: 73
Kyle Korver: 73
Sterling Brown: 71
D.J. Wilson: 70
Thanasis Antetokounmpo: 70
Cameron Reynolds: 69
Frank Mason III: 69

Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine: 85
Lauri Markkanen: 80
Wendell Carter Jr.: 79
Otto Porter: 78
Coby White: 77
Tomas Satoransky: 76
Kris Dunn: 76
Thaddeus Young: 76
Denzel Valentine: 76
Chandler Hutchison: 75
Daniel Gafford: 75
Shaquille Harrison: 73
Luke Kornet: 73
Cristiano Felicio: 72
Ryan Arcidiacono: 70
Max Strus: 68
Adam Mokoka: 68

Cleveland Cavaliers

Andre Drummond: 85
Kevin Love: 82
Collin Sexton: 80
Tristan Thompson: 79
Larry Nance Jr.: 79
Cedi Osman: 75
Kevin Porter Jr.: 75
Darius Garland: 74
Jordan Bell: 74
Ante Zizic: 73
Dante Exum: 73
Dyla Windler: 71
Matthew Dellavedova: 70
Alfonzo McKinnie: 70
Dean Wade: 70
Matt Mooney: 68

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum: 89
Kemba Walker: 86
Jaylen Brown: 84
Gordon Hayward: 83
Marcus Smart: 80
Daniel Theis: 79
Enes Kanter: 76
Robert Williams: 74
Brad Wanamaker: 73
Vincent Poirier: 73
Javonte Green: 72
Grant Williams: 71
Semi Ojeleye: 71
Romeo Langford: 70
Carsen Edwards: 70
Tacko Fall: 70
Tremont Waters: 69

L.A. Clippers

Kawhi Leonard: 96
Paul George: 90
Montrezl Harrell: 82
Lou Williams: 81
Marcus Morris Sr.: 79
Patrick Beverley: 78
Ivica Zubac: 78
Reggie Jackson: 76
Landry Shamet: 74
Patrick Patterson: 74
JaMychal Green: 72
Joakim Noah: 72
Mfiondu Kabengele: 72
Terance Mann: 71
Rodney McGruder: 71
Johnathan Motley: 71
Amir Coffey: 68

Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant: 85
Jaren Jackson Jr.: 83
Jonas Valanciunas: 81
Brandon Clarke: 80
Dillon Brooks: 77
Justise Winslow: 77
Tyus Jones: 76
De’Anthony Melton: 75
Kyle Anderson: 75
Gorgui Dieng: 74
Josh Jackson: 73
Grayson Allen: 72
John Konchar: 72
Anthony Tolliver: 71
Jontay Porter: 71
Marko Guduric: 69
Yuta Watanabe: 68

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young: 88
John Collins: 85
Clint Capela: 82
Jeff Teague: 78
Kevin Huerter: 75
De’Andre Hunger: 75
Damian Jones: 74
Skal Labissiere: 74
Bruno Fernando: 73
Cam Reddish: 73
DeAndre Bembry: 73
Dewayne Dedmon: 72
Treveon Graham: 71
Brandon Goodwin: 71
Charlie Brown Jr.: 70

Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler: 89
Bam Adebayo: 86
Goran Dragic: 79
Duncan Robinson: 78
Tyler Herro: 78
Jae Crowder: 77
Andre Iguodala: 76
Kelly Olynyk: 76
Kendrick Nunn: 76
Derrick Jones Jr.: 75
Meyers Leonard: 75
Chris Silva: 73
Solomon Hill: 71
KZ Okpala: 71
Udonis Haslem: 70
Kyle Alexander: 68
Gabe Vincent: 67

Charlotte Hornets

Terry Rozier III: 79
Devonte’ Graham: 79
Cody Zeller: 78
Miles Bridges: 77
P.J. Washington: 77
Bismack Biyombo: 76
Willy Hernangomez: 75
Malik Monk: 75
Nicolas Batum: 73
Cody Martin: 72
Dwayne Bacon: 70
Jalen McDaniels: 70
Caleb Martin: 69
Ray Spalding: 69
Kobi Simmons: 66

Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell: 88
Rudy Gobert: 87
Bojan Bogdanovic: 81
Mike Conley: 79
Joe Ingles: 78
Jordan Clarkson: 78
Tony Bradley: 75
Royce O’Neale” 74
Emmanuel Mudiay: 74
Georges Niang: 73
Ed Davis: 72
Juwan Morgan: 70
Rayjon Tucker: 69
Nigel Williams-Goss: 69
Miye Oni: 68
Justin Wright-Foreman: 67
Jarrell Brantley: 67

Sacramento Kings

De’Aaron Fox: 85
Marvin Bagley III: 81
Buddy Hield: 81
Bogdan Bogdanovic: 79
Harrison Barnes: 78
Nemanja Bjelica: 78
Richaun Holmes: 78
Jabari Parker: 77
Alex Len: 76
Harry Giles III: 75
Kent Bazemore: 74
Corey Joseph: 73
Corey Brewer: 73
Yogi Ferrell: 71
Justin James: 71
Daquan Jeffries: 70
Kyle Guy: 69

New York Knicks

Mitchell Robinson: 81
Julius Randle: 80
Elfrid Payton: 77
Taj Gibson: 77
Bobby Portis: 77
R.J. Barrett: 75
Frank Ntilikina: 73
Moe Harkless: 72
Kevin Knox: 72
Reggie Bullock: 72
Wayne Ellington: 72
Damyean Dotson: 72
Dennis Smith Jr.: 72
Ignas Brazdeikis: 70
Theo Pinson: 69
Kenny Wooten: 69
Jared Harper: 67

L.A. Lakers

LeBron James: 97
Anthony Davis: 95
JaVale McGee: 78
Dwight Howard: 78
Danny Green: 76
Kyle Kuzma: 76
Rajon Rondo: 76
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 75
Markieff Morris: 75
Avery Bradley: 74
Alex Caruso: 74
J.R. Smith: 74
Quinn Cook: 73
Dion Waiters: 73
Jared Dudley: 72
Talen Horton-Tucker: 72
Devontae Cacok: 69

Orlando Magic

Nikola Vucevic: 86
Jonathan Isaac: 82
Evan Fournier: 80
Aaron Gordon: 80
Terrence Ross: 78
Markelle Fultz: 77
D.J. Augustin: 76
Mo Bamba: 76
Michael Carter-Williams: 76
Al-Farouq Aminu: 75
James Ennis: 75
Wesley Iwundu: 72
Khem Birch: 72
Gary Clark: 72
Melvin Frazier Jr.: 70
Vic Law: 69
B.J. Johnson: 68

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic: 94
Kristaps Porzingis: 87
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 78
Seth Curry: 78
Willie Cauley-Stein: 77
Jalen Brunson: 77
Dorian Finney-Smith: 76
Dwight Powell: 76
Maxi Kleber: 76
Trey Burke: 76
Delon Wright: 75
J.J. Barea: 75
Boban Marjanovic: 75
Justin Jackson: 72
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: 72
Courtney Lee: 71
Josh Reaves: 67
Antonius Cleveland: 67

Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant: 95
Kyrie Irving: 90
Spencer Dinwiddie: 83
Caris LeVert: 83
Jarrett Allen: 81
DeAndre Jordan: 80
Joe Harris: 77
Jamal Crawford: 75
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot: 74
Garrett Temple: 74
Taurean Prince: 73
Nicolas Claxton: 72
Chris Chiozza: 72
Rodions Kurucs: 71
Dzanan Musa: 71
Justin Anderson: 71
Donta Hall: 70
Lance Thomas: 69
Jeremiah Martin: 67

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic: 90
Jamal Murray: 85
Michael Porter Jr.: 81
Will Barton: 79
Paul Millsap: 79
Jerami Grant: 77
Monte Morris: 77
Mason Plumlee: 77
Gary Harris: 76
Torrey Craig: 74
Noah Vonleh: 75
P.J. Dozier: 72
Troy Daniels: 71
Keita Bates-Diop: 71
Bol Bol: 71
Vlatko Cancar: 70
Tyler Cook: 68

Indiana Pacers

T.J. Warren: 85
Domantas Sabonis: 85
Malcolm Brogdon: 83
Victor Oladipo: 82
Myles Turner: 79
Jeremy Lamb: 77
Aaron Holiday: 76
Doug McDermott: 76
Justin Holiday: 75
T.J. McConnell: 75
Goga Bitadze: 73
JaKarr Sampson: 73
Edmond Sumner: 71
T.J. Leaf: 71
Alize Johnson: 70
Naz Mitrou-Long: 68
Brian Bowen II: 68

New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Ingram: 86
Zion Williamson: 86
Jrue Holiday: 83
J.J. Redick: 78
Lonzo Ball: 77
Derrick Favors: 77
Jaxson Hayes: 76
Jahlil Okafor: 76
Josh Hart: 25
Nicolo Melli: 75
E’Twaun Moore: 73
Darius Miller: 72
Frank Jackson: 71
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 71
Kenrich Williams: 71
Sindarius Thornwell: 71
Zylan Cheatham: 67
Josh Gray: 67

Detroit Pistons

Blake Griffin: 83
Derrick Rose: 81
Christian Wood: 80
Luke Kennard: 78
John Henson: 75
Langston Galloway: 75
Bruce Brown: 74
Jordan McRae: 74
Svi Mykhailiuk: 73
Thon Maker: 73
Tony Snell: 72
Sekou Doumbouya: 72
Brandon Knight: 70
Justin Patton: 69
Jordan Bone: 69
Khyri Thomas: 68
Louis King: 68

Toronto Raptors

Pascal Siakam: 88
Kyle Lowry: 87
Fred VanVleet: 85
Serge Ibaka: 80
OG Anunoby: 79
Marc Gasol: 77
Norman Powell: 77
Chris Boucher: 77
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: 76
Terence Davis: 76
Matt Thomas: 74
Patrick McCaw: 73
Stanley Johnson: 71
Malcolm Miller: 69
Dewan Hernandez: 68
Paul Watson: 67
Oshae Brissett: 67

Houston Rockets

James Harden: 96
Russell Westbrook: 88
Robert Covington: 79
Eric Gordon: 78
Danuel House: 76
P.J. Tucker: 76
Jeff Green: 76
Austin Rivers: 75
Ben McLemore: 74
DeMarre Carroll: 73
David Nwaba: 73
Chris Clemons: 73
Tyson Chandler: 72
Thabo Sefolosha: 72
Bruno Caboclo: 72
Luc Mbah a Moute: 72
William Howard: 68
Michael Frazier: 68

San Antonio Spurs

DeMar DeRozan: 86
LaMarcus Aldridge: 84
Dejounte Murray: 80
Derrick White: 79
Rudy Gay: 79
Patty Mills: 77
Jakob Poeltl: 76
Keldon Johnson: 76
Trey Lyles: 75
Bryn Forbes: 74
Lonnie Walker IV: 73
Chimezie Metu: 73
Tyler Zeller: 72
Luka Samanic: 72
Marco Belinelli: 71
Quinndary Weatherspoon: 68
Drew Eubanks: 68

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker: 87
Deandre Ayton: 84
Kelly Oubre Jr.: 81
Ricky Rubio: 79
Aron Baynes: 78
Mikal Bridges: 77
Cam Johnson: 76
Dario Saric: 76
Frank Kaminsky III: 75
Cam Payne: 74
Jevon Carter: 73
Cheick Diallo: 73
Ty Jerome: 71
Elie Okobo: 71
Jalen Lecque: 68
Tariq Owens: 68

OKC Thunder

Chris Paul: 88
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 84
Dnilo Gallinari: 83
Steven Adams: 82
Dennis Schroder: 80
Nerlens Noel: 76
Luguentz Dort: 74
Mike Muscala: 73
Darius Bazley: 73
Andre Roberson: 72
Terrance Ferguson: 71
Abdel Nader: 71
Hamidou Diallo: 70
Deonte Burton: 70
Isaiah Roby: 70
Kevin Hervey: 69
Devon Hall: 67

Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns: 90
D’Angelo Russell:84
Malik Beasley: 77
James Johnson: 76
Josh Okogie: 74
Juancho Hernangomez: 74
Jarrett Culver: 74
Omari Spellman: 74
Jordan McLaughlin: 74
Jake Layman: 73
Evan Turner: 7
Naz Reid: 72
Jaylen Nowell: 71
Jacob Evans III: 71
Jarred Vanderbilt: 70
Kelan Martin: 69

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard: 94
C.J. McCollum: 84
Jusuf Nurkic: 84
Hassan Whiteside: 83
Carmelo Anthony: 78
Gary Trent Jr.: 77
Rodney Hood: 76
Zach Collins: 75
Trevor Ariza: 74
Mario Hezonja: 73
Nassir Little: 72
Anfernee Simons: 72
Wenyen Gabriel: 70
Caleb Swanigan: 69
Jaylen Adams: 69
Jayle Hoard: 69
Moses Brown: 67

Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry: 95
Klay Thompson: 89
Andrew Wiggins: 82
Draymond Green: 79
Eric Paschall: 79
Marquese Chriss; 76
Kevon Looney: 74
Damion Lee: 74
Jordan Poole: 72
Alen Smailagic: 71
Ky Bowman: 71
Juan Toscano: 69
Mychal Mulder: 68

Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal: 88
John Wall: 83
Rui Hachimura: 79
Thomas Bryant: 79
Davis Bertans: 79
Troy Brown Jr.: 78
Moritz Wagner: 76
Ish Smith: 76
Shabazz Napier: 76
Ian Mahinmi: 74
Jerome Robinson: 73
Isaac Bonga: 72
Gary Payton II: 72
Anzejs Pasecniks: 72
Jerian Grant: 71
Admiral Schofield: 71
Garrison Mathews: 71
Johnathan Williams: 70
Jarrod Uthoff: 67

Fantasy football returns in force once the NFL season gets back underway, which means another season of someone in your league using a reference from The Office in their team name. And as it turns out, a huge number of people involved with The Office loved fantasy football. To the point that it impacted the show actually getting made.

As detailed in a very fun story by Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Eisenberg, the fantasy football league made up some on-camera talent as well as some writers and others off screen. And it was incredibly competitive, to the point that people doing research on the set’s working computers would interrupt filming.

It was even problematic that the computers had Internet access on the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company set. Actors whose desks were in the background of a scene risked a scolding if the camera panned in their direction and caught them perusing NFL news or setting their lineup.

“So many times during football season the directors would say, ‘Guys, you’ve got to turn your screens off,’ ” actor Stephen Saux, a stand-in for eight years on The Office, told Yahoo Sports. “They would get a little upset about fantasy football sometimes. They’d be like, ‘We’re trying to make a TV show here.’ ”

The show’s own fantasy football league includes some big names involved like John Krasinski, but others that were off camera as well. The story details the team names players would pick for one reason or another, and also how they used to draft: by passing a notepad around the set and the show’s actual offices and waiting for people to get some time to make a pick. Things are much more streamlined now, of course, but it was as old school as it gets when the league got started.

One fun note about the very competitive league: Ed Helms only lasted a season. And he basically got kicked out because he just wasn’t as into it as everyone else.

“He would have an injured quarterback as his starter for weeks,” Bertolina recalled. “We were like, ‘What are you doing? It’s deteriorating the league! You’ve got to get into it!’ He didn’t care the way the rest of us did.”

The story is full of fun details, including the present day difficulties of holding a draft with the league’s remaining members now that the show is done and other members are off doing other things. There’s a very fun anecdote about one of the league’s most notable members going AWOL on the draft for a very exotic reason. But it’s very fun to think that while the show was being made about a fictional office, a very real office activity was actively taking place on set, too.

[via Yahoo Sports]

It’s been seven years since Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and sixteen years since the original Anchorman, but the Anchorman movies are still perhaps the most talked about movies in the careers of several of their participants, including Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd. Recently, in fact, Paul Rudd was interviewed by The Ringer in a segment called, “10 Questions With Kyle Brandt.”

In the Q&A, Paul Rudd ends up revealing the scenes that made him laugh the hardest in both Anchorman and Anchoman 2. In the former, Paul Rudd says that he “really laughs when Ferrell says, ‘Milk was a bad choice,’ because I remember when he did it, and it was so surprising,” he says. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd were standing next to him during the scene, and he was just “making things up, and he takes a swig of milk and says, ‘Milk is a bad choice,’ and I just remember looking at Steve Carell, and he and I were looking at each other and trying not to laugh and ruin the take. It was the funniest thing I’d ever heard.”

On Anchorman 2, however, Paul Rudd and Steve Carell tried to keep it together in another scene so not to ruin the take, but even Will Ferrell broke. It was the scene when Ron Burgundy says that he’s blind, living in a lighthouse, and therefore cannot masturbate. “That was the scene on Anchorman 2 where we were laughing so hard we couldn’t even make it through … Will is just a genius. He’s stars making up things and he says he can’t pleasure himself to the memories of Mrs. Buttersworths, the bottle of syrup. And then when he finally figured out [how to masturbate], it was about the amount.”

Someone has isolated the blooper, in fact, and put it on YouTube, so you can watch Paul Rudd completely lose it when Ferrell starts comparing ejaculate to Pompeii.

Paul Rudd can next be seen in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was delayed until March 2021, while Ferrell can currently be seen in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga on Netflix.

Just because you aren’t willing to pay the equivalent of a car payment for a bottle of booze, that doesn’t mean you need to settle for low-level whiskey. The whiskey world (and specifically the bourbon market) is ripe with affordable deals. Sure, you might want to enjoy a glass of the likes of Pappy, Weller, and Blanton’s, but you should also be able to sip on a glass from a bottle of bourbon that costs less than $20.

Since this month is National Bourbon Heritage Month, we figured that the time was right to highlight our favorite bottom shelf (or closer to the bottom than the top) bourbons to enjoy this and every other month of the year.

Jim Beam White Label

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory)
Price: $18.99

The Story:

There’s a reason Jim Beam White Label is the #1 selling bourbon in the world. It’s cheap, easy to drink, and the same every time you crack open a bottle. This high rye mash bill bourbon is distilled at low temperatures and matures in new, charred American oak barrels for four years before finding its way into the iconic white-labeled bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a chance you’ve never nosed Jim Beam before drinking it. Well, we’re here to tell you that you should. If you do, you’ll be met with subtle rich vanilla, charred oak, and sweet corn. The first sip brings forward more toasted wood, leather, butterscotch, and sweet cream. The finish is sweet, long, and ends in a peppery flourish.

Bottom Line:

You might buy this bottle for mixing, but you shouldn’t sleep on it as a bargain sipper. It’s mellow enough to be enjoyed with a few ice cubes.

Old Grand-Dad

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory)
Price: $20

The Story:

You might have sipped on a glass of Basil Hayden’s in the past. This premium bourbon from Jim Beam has a strong connection with the much cheaper Old Grand-Dad. That’s because the man who adorns the bottle is none other than Basil Hayden himself. Old Grand-Dad is one of Jim Beam’s “Olds” expressions along with Old Tub, and Old Overholt.

Tasting Notes:

The first sniff brings forth peppery spice from the high-rye content as well as cinnamon and sweet vanilla. From the first sip, you’re met with dried fruits, toasted oak, rich caramel, and hazelnuts. The finish is long, warming, and ends in a mix of spice and subtle smoke.

Bottom Line:

This is definitely a bargain bourbon. But, it might be a little too spicy for some novice drinkers. It’s best mixed into an old fashioned or Manhattan.

Heaven Hill Green Label

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY
Price: $12.99

The Story:

The biggest knock against Heaven Hill Green Label is the fact that it’s only available in Kentucky. While you can find random bottles in other states, this Bluegrass State-exclusive is as mysterious as it is drinkable. If you’re one of the people who have even tried this 6-year-old bourbon, consider yourself lucky. But, if you can find it, you’re in for a bargain at under $15.

Tasting Notes:

You might not want to nose this super cheap bourbon. But, if you do, you’ll be greeted with sweet vanilla, rich oak, and the musty, nostalgic smell of a barrelhouse. The first sip brings forth caramelized sugar, cinnamon, corn sweetness, and a hint of maple syrup. The finish is long, bursting with warmth, and full of charred oak and butterscotch flavors.

Bottom Line:

Use this bottle for mixing. Sure, you can sip on it, but that’s not really what it’s for. Mix it into a Mint Julep, put your feet up, and just enjoy the evening.

Evan Williams Black Label

ABV: 43%
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY
Price: $16.99

The Story:

Legend says that Evan Williams opened the first distillery in Kentucky in 1783. This bargain bourbon bears his name in remembrance of the man who changed the alcohol world on the banks of the Ohio River. While it’s inexpensive, it’s not noticeable in the flavor. Due to the whiskey spending longer than necessary in the barrels, it has a mellowness that far surpasses its price tag.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of herbal, sweet vanilla, and salted caramel aromas. The first sip brings forth a symphony of butterscotch, cooking spices, pecans, licorice, and dried orange peels. The finish is medium in length and long in heat with a subtly spicy finish.

Bottom Line:

Even though this whiskey is cheap, it’s smooth enough to fit the bill as a sipper on a chilly fall evening. Toss in a single ice cube and enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Very Old Barton

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Barton Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Price: $12.99

The Story:

Likely the best bargain in the bourbon world, Very Old Barton’s name is as confusing as its price tag. While it has “very old” in the title, it’s not very old at all having been aged for between four and six years at the Barton Distillery and comes in 80, 86, 90, and 100 proof. Even with all of the other bourbons Barton’s produces, you definitely shouldn’t sleep on its highly rated, much cheaper relative.

Tasting Notes:

This high corn content is noticeable from the first nosing. You’ll be met with fresh corn, sweet cream, and charred oak. The first sip yields an immediate vanilla sweetness that moves into a rich chocolate, spicy cinnamon, and dried fruits. The finish is long, sweet, and warm with a subtle hint of pepper at the very end.

Bottom Line:

Get a bottle of old Barton’s and make it a mainstay on your home bar. You definitely won’t regret stocking a bottle for mixing or sipping. It works well for both.

Four Roses Yellow Label

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, KY (Kirin Brewing)
Price: $19.99

The Story:

Four Roses is well known for its Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Small Batch Select. But, while these are great bottles, none of them is a bargain like Four Roses Yellow Label. For under $20, you can get a bottle of bourbon made up of whiskeys aged between 4 and 12 years. How this high-quality, award-winning, supremely mellow, highly sippable bourbon remains so affordable we’ll never know.

Tasting Notes:

From the first nose, you know that you’ve opened a special bottle. You’re immediately met with aromas of rich honey, cinnamon, and toasted oak. The first sip brings up cinnamon apple, brown sugar, and caramel along with creamy butterscotch. The finish is long, warming, and ends in a pleasing hint of spice.

Bottom Line:

Four Roses Yellow Label is another great bottle to stock your bar. That’s because it’s a dual-threat. It’s perfect for slow sipping and shines in your favorite whiskey cocktail.