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“Legend” is a label that gets tossed around quite a bit in the world of sports, but USWNT soccer star Julie Ertz has more than earned it. And after more than a decade of playing professionally at the international level, Ertz announced her retirement from the sport, marking the end of an era for the national squad and women’s soccer in the U.S.

Ertz shared the announcement via Twitter, expressing her gratitude to the fans, her teammates, and the coaches who guided her to two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. “I gave everything I had to the sport that I love,” Ertz wrote. “With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.”

The midfielder served as the defensive spine of the USWNT. Her dogged determination to win every ball, her fearlessness in any tackle, and her steadiness — particularly in her role as a leader for the U.S. team in the 2023 World Cup this summer while playing out of position at center back — inspired confidence in fans and, likely, fear in the opposition. Just 241 days after giving birth to her son, Madden, Ertz returned to the international stage, intent on helping the USWNT earn another star Down Under and her command of the squad’s backline (along with her partnership with Naomi Girma) marked a bright spot in the team’s lackluster tournament run.

After the USWNT’s loss to Sweden in the Round of 16, Ertz hinted that the match might be the last time she wore the crest for the women’s team but her recent announcement confirms she’s also stepping down from her role at Angel City FC. Ertz expressed her desire to focus on her family as motivation for the move and, unlike her fellow USWNT teammate Megan Rapinoe, she doesn’t seem to have any plans to play in a final match with the squad on U.S. soil.

With the USWNT in transition, the loss of Ertz symbolizes a gigantic shift — not just in the team’s future lineup but in its style of play and mindset on the field. Few players were as competitive and relentless on the pitch and of those, none were as dependable and consistent in their play. Ertz’s legacy is one of inimitability, as no one will be able to emulate her presence on the pitch or match her influence off it.

Griff got off to a hot start with her debut mixtape, One Foot In Front Of The Other, which hit No. 4 on the UK charts in 2021. While fans wait for her next project, Griff is keeping them fed today (August 31) with a new single, “Vertigo.” The song is a pop slow-burner that tackles emotional turbulence head-on.

In a statement, Griff said of the song, “‘Vertigo’ refers to an emotional state — always feeling upside down. Experiencing love and growing up, it always feels like the world and my emotions are spinning faster than I can keep up with. ‘Vertigo’ is the beginning of a new creative chapter for me, and I’m excited for us all to go on this journey together.”

She also told Dork of the single, “There’s a darkness to ‘Vertigo’ that maybe I haven’t tapped into as much before. It’s still major, but there’s something quite dark and moody about it too. It’s the start of a new season for me, for sure. I’ve been writing a lot and trying to figure out what’s right for me. We’ll start with ‘Vertigo’ and see where we end up. We’re going to be walking through it together, bit by bit.”

In a social media post, Griff offered a peek behind the scenes, sharing some photos and writing, “This photo was taken a few hours before I wrote Vertigo in the English country side. Wish I could show myself in this photo the love and support you’ve already given the song. I can finally say … VERTIGO IS OUT NOW!!!”

Listen to “Vertigo” above and revisit Uproxx’s 2021 cover story with Griff here.

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

On a scale of one to five cowboy hats, how much Timothy Olyphant is too much? This is a trick question. There is never too much. In fact, we actually have too little of the man, which is why bringing back Justified for another round with Justified: City Primeval was the right move. That is until they bring back Santa Clarita Diet. It WILL happen!

While the season of the “limited series” just ended (with an incredible twist), it’s never too early to talk about a potential second season, though that would hinder the “limited” aspect of it, wouldn’t it? Who cares! We need more Timmy!

Showrunner and co-producer of the series Michael Dinner (not the inventor of dinner, I checked) recently told TVLine that the spinoff wasn’t just to add more content to the Justified universe, but it was also because they know how to work together to write some prestige TV. “We did this not to reboot Justified. We did it because we want to reboot the feeling that we had working with each other — whether it was me working with Tim, or [co-showrunner] David [Andron] and myself and the other writers, and what we felt in the writers room.”

So will there be another season? It’s tough to say, but Dinner says it’s not up to him. “It’s up to FX — what they want to do, if they want to tell another chapter [of the story],” Dinner added. “If they don’t, then, you know, it was good to do this, and we feel really good about where we ended.”

It should be noted that the season did end on a classic “one last job” situation, so it might be time for our pal Timmy O to dust off those cowboy boots.

(Via TVLine)

After shows like Atlanta and Dave pulled back the curtain on the music industry, it only makes sense that more shows would follow in their footsteps to depict the highs and lows of the pursuit of stardom from different angles. Issa Rae’s Rap Sh!t addresses the industry’s sexism and double standards through the lens of a rising Miami rap duo, while Netflix’s new show, Neon, returns to Miami to follow an aspiring reggaeton star and his friends as they try to work their way past industry gatekeepers with the help of an insider who isn’t what she seems.

Neon was created by Hip-Hop (And Other Things) author Shea Serrano, who teamed up with Dave writer Max Searle, who is the series’ showrunner. The show’s executive producers also include reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, while Tainy serves as executive music producer with One Six, which is comprised of Tainy, Ivan Rodriguez, Lex Borrero, and Neon16. Here’s a sample of the new music, “Exagero”:

In the trailer, aspiring reggaeton star Santi, portrayed by Tyler Dean Flores (Miguel Wants To Fight), moves to Miami with his best friends/managers Ness and Felix (Emma Ferreira and Jordan Mendoza, respectively) to seek his fortunes after racking up a viral hit. But while he’s earned the respect and appreciation of more established stars (Daddy Yankee among them, naturally), he’ll still need the help of Mia a wannabe A&R, to land a deal and prove he’s not just a one-hit wonder — or even just get a paying gig. Neon premiere on Netflix on October 19. Watch the trailer for Neon above.

If you’re a fan of STARZ’s TV shows, specifically the ones out of 50 Cent’s cinematic universe, then the past few weeks have been great for you. It all started with the announcement that Power Book IV: Force season two with Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora) and company would return on September 1. Then, STARZ announced that Power Book III: Raising Kanan season three would arrive on December 1. Now, STARZ extends its takeover with news about BMF and its official premiere date for season three.

The network announced that BMF would make its return on March 1, 2024, to begin season three. The new episodes will be available weekly on Fridays at midnight ET/PT on the STARZ app. They will also be available on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT in both the US and Canada. Here is a bit of a synopsis that explains what to expect for BMF season three.

Season three of BMF resumes the storyline inspired by brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (Demetrius Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory(Da’Vinchi), who established one of the most infamous crime families in the country known as, Black Mafia Family. We kick off Season Three in the early ’90s when the Flenory Family has reinvented themselves. Meech has moved to Atlanta on a mission to build up the BMF empire in the south that he and Terry created in Detroit. The series continues to humanize the choices of the brothers’ business and their pursuits of the American Dream.

Along with news of the season three premiere date came an official teaser trailer that previews the upcoming seasons of Power Book IV: Force, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and BMF. You can watch that in the video above.

‘BMF’ season three debuts on STARZ on March 1, 2024. Seasons one and two are available now to stream on the STARZ app.

Sending kids off to college is a milestone filled with conflicting feelings, both for the kids and the parents. There’s excitement, pride and anticipation, plus nostalgia, loss and yearning all rolled into one pivotal life moment.

Perhaps one of the best tools to help cope with the heavier, more challenging emotions bound to arise is having a sense of humor. And some parents have it in spades.

Mom and content creator Jill Wagner had asked her son Hakin what he would like for his dorm room at Maryville University.

Hakin’s answer? Posters. Plain and simple. And it’s that lack of specificity that would land Hakin in a hilarious prank concocted by Mom and Dad.

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In a clip shared to Wagner’s TikTok, we see Hakin shaking his head with disbelief as he walks in to see a giant cardboard cutout of his mom.

“Honey, I know you’re gonna miss me so much; I got a life-size picture of me for your dorm. That way, if any girls try to come in your room, they can see me,” Wagner says through a giggle.

Hakin, also laughing, says the line every parent of a teen has heard, “That is so embarrassing!” before telling his father to put it where nobody can see it.

Instead of a cardboard cutout, dad decided to go a little more old school—a photo of himself pointing to a laundry hamper, made into a poster, stuck right above the laundry hamper in Hakin’s room. Meta.

In her caption, Wagner wrote, “Dad and I are always with you 😂”

Enjoy the wholesome hijinks below:

@jillwagner81 @Hakin Wagner Dad and i are always with you😂 #maryville #moveinday #college ♬ original sound – Jill

Close to 500,000 people have watched the clip, with several chiming in to share that they would be incorporating the idea for their own kids. More embarrassment to come, it seems!

The college transition is sure to be one of heightened emotions. You can follow all the recommended guidelines for make it a little smoother—plan the move-in day accordingly, jot down meaningful messages to leave behind, create memories with one last family vacation, look into new hobbies—but at the end of the day, parents are still going to be feeling all the feels.

And just like any beautiful chapter in life, we are meant to savor the sweet along with the bitter. While it’s probably best to try to hold in those tears during the actual move-in day (it is the kid’s day, after all) it’s completely natural to let it all out on the car ride home.

Wagner’s delightful prank might have gotten some viral laughs, but it also highlights a more lighthearted, optimistic way for parents to take on what’s sure to be a day full of big feelings.

Nearly two months ago, Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard requested a trade away from the organization he’s called home for the first 11 years of his NBA career. Since news of Lillard’s request broke, his desire to be dealt only to the Miami Heat has been steadfast and singular. Yet according to Andscape’s Marc Spears, a member of a different Eastern Conference contender has reached out to Lillard and attempted to lure the All-NBA point guard to his team, albeit unsuccessfully.

“I know Jayson Tatum’s called him, tried to get in his ear,” Spears said on The Oregonian’s “Sports by Northwest” podcast. “But his focus is definitely on Miami.”

Regardless of whether Boston has the requisite means to acquire Lillard, he’d clearly be a wonderful fit with the Celtics. He’d address their tenuous and ball-handling guard depth following Marcus Smart’s departure and presumably give them the superstar initiator they’ve needed to avoid some of the offensive lulls that have plagued them the past couple years in the playoffs. But ultimately, it seems Lillard is fixated on the Heat and is uninterested on broadening his preferred destinations. At the moment, though, Portland and Miami do not appear close to a trade, so this saga rolls on.

Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 2022-23.

Earlier this year, Yeule (née Nat Ćmiel) signed to Ninja Tune, home of critically acclaimed artists like Odesza, Sampa The Great, and Thundercat. They shared the alluring song “Sulky Baby” and later announced their new album Softscars, and now they’re back with a hypnotic single called “Inferno.”

“The song is a gash, scar no.9,” Ćmiel said in a statement. “In this scar I ask the blue flame in my heart, will you ever fade? When you are engulfed and eaten in blue, what was left of me were parts of you.”

“Inferno” is as ethereal and transcendent as they hint. “Heartbeat, heartsink / Heart broke, don’t think / Don’t love, don’t trust,” they sing against a pulsating beat. “The memory of you turns to rust / Used to be just us / Used to be honest.” The song soars with intergalactic synthesizers, culminating into a mesmeric storm. Softscars is sure to be a beautifully disorienting whirlwind, a great follow-up to 2022’s Glitch Princess.

Listen to “Inferno” above and find the album artwork and tracklist below.

1. “X W X”
2. “Sulky Baby”
3. “Softscars”
4. “4UI12”
5. “Ghosts”
6. “Dazies”
7. “Fish In The Pool”
8. “Software Update”
9. “Inferno”
10. “Bloodbunny”
11. “Cyber Meat”
12. “Aphex Twin Flame”

Softscars is out 9/22 via Ninja Tune. Find more information here.

Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel might have a long-running “feud,” but behind the scenes, it’s anything but. During an episode of the new late night host podcast featuring Kimmel and the four other titans, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host revealed a generous offer from Damon and his old pal Ben Affleck.

“Ben Affleck and the despicable Matt Damon contacted me and offered to pay our staff for two weeks, a week each, they wanted to pay [them] out of their own pocket,” Kimmel said via The Hollywood Reporter. “I felt that that was not their responsibility.”

Colbert, on the other hand, felt otherwise. “Couldn’t you say yes and then give your money to us?”

The podcast, titled Strike Force Five, was launched for the express purpose of raising money for the staff of each of the late night shows that have been off the air since the strike. Each week, one of the hosts will take the lead and Kimmel was first out of the gate. While the comedic banter has obviously been high, Kimmel hasn’t been afraid to get personal.

During the first episode, the late night host revealed that he was “very intent on retiring” just before the strike started, but then he realized how much he would miss the job.

“Now I realize, like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s kinda nice to work,’” Kimmel shared about his free time over the past few months. “You know, when you are working, you think about not working.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Just days before Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a “mysterious” plane crash, the mercenary leader reportedly filmed a video assuring his supporters that “everything is fine.” The video was reportedly filmed in Africa where Prigozhin was fighting to keep control of his military operations after his attempted coup earlier in the summer put the Wagner Group at odds with Vladimir Putin, who had contracted the controversial private army to turn the tide in Ukraine. They did not.

“For those discussing whether or not I’m alive, how I’m doing. It’s the weekend now, the second half of August 2023. I’m in Africa,” Prigozhin said in the video. “Fans of discussing my liquidation, intimate life, earnings or anything else—actually, everything is fine.”

Prigozhin would die just a few days later in the mysterious plane crash. Although, the resurfaced video has already sparked speculation that maybe he didn’t?

Via The Daily Beast:

While the clip is likely to fuel conspiracy theories that the foul-mouthed warmonger’s death was staged—a theory circulated by the families of some Wagner mercenaries who believe the plane crash was a ruse—Prigozhin is wearing the same outfit in the new video as one he had on in a clip published on Aug. 21.

Prigozhin, who famously recruited convicted killers and rapists from Russian prisons to, as he put it, “win this damn war at any cost” for Putin, was buried at an ordinary St. Petersburg cemetery earlier this week after a strangely low-key funeral that only included about 20-30 people and no military honors.

Since Prigozhin’s death, Kremlin puppets on Russian state TV have repeatedly tried to deflect blame from Putin. Fingers have been pointed at everyone from Ukraine, America, France, and of course, NATO. Anyone but the likeliest suspect.

(Via The Daily Beast)