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Tom DeLonge left Blink-182 in 2015. But the rumor mill regarding the group’s longtime guitarist and singer returning to Blink-182 has been picking up steam. Current guitarist Matt Skiba (also of Alkaline Trio), Blink’s bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, and even DeLonge himself have either hinted or issued statements recently that have left fans wondering whether or not Tom DeLonge is rejoining Blink-182. So here’s what we know so far:

Is Tom DeLonge rejoining Blink-182?

Last November, Tom DeLonge told James Corden that, “I feel like I’m always talking about some kind of reunion. We always talk about playing together again and I think that that’s definitely something we’re all interested in.” This got people excited, but it wasn’t until Matt Skiba replied to a fan account on Instagram asking if he was still in the band that people started thinking that a DeLonge reunion might very well be in the works. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Skiba replied as to whether or not he is still in the band. “Regardless, I am very proud of and thankful for my time with Blink-182. We shall see…”

Then on August 1st, DeLonge himself seemed to drop a hint on his Instagram page that he might be rejoining Blink-182. Under his bio, he now lists both Blink-182 and Angels And Airwaves as his current projects. He then posted a photo with original bandmates Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker with the caption that read simply “Blink-182.”

Finally, on the 30th anniversary of Blink-182, Hoppus issued a statement on Discord seemingly addressing rumors about Delonge rejoining the band: “There is no news to share. There is no announcement,” he began. “Today is thirty years of blink-182! If and when blink has any announcement about anything, you will hear it from the official blink-182 outlets. Not teased on a radio station like ‘tune in for a major announcement…Tom tagged Mark in a photo from two decades ago.’”

It looks like Mark Hoppus is playing it cool, but the energy in the room, err… the internet, seems to be indicating that Tom DeLonge could be rejoining Blink-182.

Blink-182 is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Earlier this week, the long-expected news of a Deshaun Watson suspension became public. A jointly-appointed arbiter, former judge Sue Robinson, determined that Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and will be suspended for six games during the 2022 NFL season. The ruling does not include any sort of fine for the recently-acquired Cleveland Browns signal caller.

The suspension was far less than what the league reportedly wanted — the NFL apparently believed the allegations against Watson were worthy of him receiving an indefinite suspension that would at least span the entirety of the upcoming season. But in the aftermath of the ruling, it was reported that the NFL could try to appeal the decision, and on Wednesday afternoon, we learned that the league will indeed go down that path.

The league put out a statement explaining how they are able to do this, citing a provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that either side has to appeal so long as they file said appeal within three days of the ruling being handed down. Now, per the statement, the appeal will “be heard by the Commissioner or his designee,” and Roger Goodell will have to “determine who will hear the appeal.”

The evening before the decision was handed down, the NFLPA issued a statement saying “regardless of [Robinson’s] decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.”

When Beyonce first released her house-influenced single “Break My Soul,” it was a pop culture-shifting moment. The single sparked a growing conversation about Black artists’ pioneering efforts in dance music, as well as reviving interest in genre staples such as Robin S.’s “Show Me Love.” Now, Beyonce has doubled down on the empowering track and her commitment to a traditional rollout for her new album, Renaissance (or maybe even quadrupled), by releasing a surprise, four-track EP of “Break My Soul” remixes.

Each of the new reworkings of the song is produced by a different standout DJ from the dance music world, including Honey Dijon, Nita Aviance, Terry Hunter, and will.i.am. Their respective takes add elements such as trance or church organs to transform the hit record and expand its inescapable dance floor appeal.

The new EP should help refocus the public’s attention on the music and tastemaking history lesson at the core of Renaissance after another of the album’s tracks inadvertently hijacked the public’s interest. After “Milkshake” singer Kelis called out Beyonce for supposedly sampling her on “Energy,” much of the discourse revolved around whether or not Beyonce should credit Kelis. However, Beyonce later removed the disputed vocal, keeping the actual interpolation of “Milkshake” that prompted the speculation.

Check out Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” remixes below via Spotify.

The Joker sequel has locked down a release date. Despite the apparent chaos at Warner Bros. Discovery following the cancellation of Batgirl (and rumblings of HBO Max’s fate hanging in the balance), the new regime has emphasized a commitment to theatrical releases. After Joker broke a billion dollars in global box office on a relatively small budget, naturally, Warner Bros. has been itching for a sequel, which was confirmed back in June.

According to Deadline, Joker: Folie à deux is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2024 and will reportedly begin production this December. Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role, and there has been talks of Lady Gaga joining the film as a new version of Harley Quinn. Oh, and also, the sequel might be a musical.

Via The Hollywood Reporter:

Details on her character are being kept under wraps, but Joker is known for his on-off abusive relationship with Harley Quinn, his psychiatrist at the Arkham Asylum mental institution who falls in love with him and becomes his sidekick and partner in crime. It is unclear whether Phillips and company are using other DC characters or striking out on their own, as they did in many instances with the first movie.

The Joker: Folie à deux release date does reaffirm Warner Bros. Discovery’s commitment to focusing on theatrical releases as it attempts to figure out what to do with its struggling DC Comics films. Granted, the studio has had successes with Joker, The Batman, and Aquaman, but nowhere at the consistent level of Marvel. Reportedly, CEO David Zaslav is making moves to overhaul DC Films, and things are clearly getting interesting on that front following the shelving of Batgirl.

(Via Deadline)

How many times have you watched the footage of beet-red conspiracy theorist Alex Jones finding out that his lawyers accidentally sent a digital copy of the entire content of his cell phone to the Sandy Hook parents’ lawyer?

If the answer is under five, well, let’s roll the footage again.

It’s like a scene out of Law and Order or one of its 12 spinoffs, except no TV lawyer would be that dumb. Take it from former-Law and Order writer David Slack.

In response to NBC News senior reporter Ben Collins tweeting that he’s seen a lot of episodes of Law and Order but he’s never seen a twist as good as “Alex Jones’ lawyers accidentally sent Sandy Hook parents’ lawyers the entire contents of his phone and his long-hidden financials, but they waited 12 days to let him lie,” Slack replied, “Because on Law & Order. we wouldn’t have let a lawyer do something that dumb.”

Do I understand how the American legal system works? No. But would I be surprised if Jones fired his lawyer — who responded to his blunder by taking on the same pose as The Thinker — and hired Rudy Giuliani? Also no. They’re both being sued, and Jones wouldn’t have to worry about Rudy sending his text messages to another attorney. He might butt dial a private conversation to a reporter, but that’s just Rudy being Rudy.

A Dirty Dancing sequel is on the way, and now, another Patrick Swayze classic is receiving the reboot treatment. This news arrives as a surprise, however, because the project is being reimagined with the leading man role portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal. Maybe that casting news is not what one would expect on paper, but Jake has been known to whoop some ass (see 2015’s Southpaw). Here’s everything we know about the project so far.

– The project’s not newly in development. In fact, word began circling back in November 2021 that Gyllenhall could star in such a revamp as directed by Doug Limon. Now, it’s official, and together, they’ll put an updated spin on the 1980s film that saw Swayze star as an NYC philosophy student who heads down South to be a bouncer. The original film’s got some crushing and brutal fights, though there’s no telling whether that 1980s “sensibility” will work in 2022.

– Co-stars are coming. The MGM film’s gaining new life after the MGM/Amazon acquisition news, and the film will officially arrive under the Amazon Studios banner. Variety quotes Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke as calling the movie “a home run,” and Deadline reports that Gyllenhaal will be accompanied by UFC champ Conor McGregor within what will be his first major studio acting gig. Salke further promises to not go easy on the “action-packed” nature of this reimagining.

-What we don’t know. Do we have a release date? Nope, not yet! But we’ll keep you posted. Nor do we know what time period this movie will take place in, so we don’t know if this will be a period piece or contemporary, or what era of hairstyles we’ll see on Jake and Conor.

– The biggest pressing question. Bill Murray has not weighed in yet, although he will probably still pick up the phone every time he catches the movie on cable and sees Swayze’s sex scene with Kelly Lynch. Yep, there’s nothing like the original.

Picture it, if you will. You, your partner, and your dog are taking a hike through a mountain in England when you suddenly hear a noise. It’s something in the sky, and it’s getting closer and closer. It’s… it’s a helicopter! But it’s not just any helicopter breaking up the silence at the summit of High Crag. It’s a helicopter containing one of the world’s most famous actors, Tom Cruise, who hops out of the chopper, apologizes for disturbing your hike, compliments your dog, and then proceeds to jump off a cliff.

This is what happened to Sarah and Jason Haygarth, who discussed their encounter with Cruise with The Sun. “Sorry for disturbing your peaceful walk with all the noise — I like your dog,” they said the highly-paid Top Gun: Maverick star told them. Sarah replied, “Are you really going to jump off there?” Cruise nodded, smiled, and yelled back, “See you later, folks.” He was “as cool as a cucumber,” Sarah confirmed.

Cruise was filming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two at the time, although I assume this (“this” meaning “jumping off a cliff and paragliding away”) is something he does for fun even when the cameras aren’t rolling. You can see the pics here, but if you, dear reader, have any equally eventful stories about meeting Tom Cruise, like the time you peed next to him at a Dave & Buster’s in Phoenix, please let me know.

(Via The Sun)

The UConn Huskies will not have the services of their national player of the year when the 2022-23 college basketball season tips off. The program announced on Wednesday afternoon that star guard Paige Bueckers, who is about to begin her junior year in Storrs, suffered a torn ACL in her left knee on Monday while playing pickup basketball.

As a result of the injury, Bueckers, who was named an AP All-American honorable mention last year but earned unanimous All-American honors during her freshman campaign, will need to undergo surgery on Friday and won’t be able to take the floor this year.

“We’re all devastated for Paige,” Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. “She’s worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback. Paige is obviously an amazing basketball player but she’s a better person and teammate and it’s really unfortunate that this has happened to her. We’ll miss her presence on the court, but she’ll do everything she can to still lead and help her teammates this season. Our program will support Paige through her healing process to help her come back better and stronger.”

Bueckers suffered a left knee injury last season that led to her missing nearly three months of action — she required surgery to repair an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear. After a brilliant freshman season that saw her get named the nation’s best player by the Associated Press and a number of other organizations, Bueckers was limited to 17 games as a sophomore.

The Wisconsin Old Fashioned — or brandy old fashioned if you don’t want to get all regional about it — is a stone-cold classic. The drink is a hyper-regional riff on the classic old fashioned, which dates back to the 1800s. This is more of an American suburbs take from the 1940s with a very Midwest vibe.

There are a few key differences at play with this cocktail vs. the typical iteration. One is obvious — the use of brandy instead of American whiskey. The next is the muddled fruit at the bottom of the drink. This is a descendant of the “Old Fashioned No. 2,” which also muddles its fruit but is rarely seen in today’s uber-hip cocktail scene. Lastly, this cocktail is treated a little bit like a highball — topped with fizzy soda. In most cases, that’s usually 7-Up, but I’ve seen it made with Squirt, club soda, and even, gasp, Sprite (I kid, I kid … but only barely, people get rigid about using 7-Up here).

Alas, this does sound a bit like Frankenstein’s Monster version of a simple old fashioned. Still, there is something nice under all of the tweaks that’s worth giving a shot, especially as the summer pushes into its hottest days. So, let’s get stirring!

Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months

• Our ‘Perfect Whisky And Coke’ Recipe Uses The Last Brand You’d Expect
• The Hemingway Daiquiri Is A Deeply Refreshing Summer Cocktail — Here’s The (Very Simple) Real Recipe
• The Godfather Is A Simple Scotch Cocktail To Power You Through Winter
• Recipe: The Amaretto Sour Is The Ideal Cocktail To Close Out January
• The Tom Collins Is A Classic Cocktail That’s Perfect For The Hotter Days Ahead

Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Korbel Brandy
• 2 oz. 7-Up
• 2 cocktail cherries
• 2 orange slices
• 4 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• Ice
• 1 cocktail cherry
• 1/2 orange wheel

What You’ll Need:

• Rock glass
• Muddler
• Barspoon
• Jigger
• Cocktail spear
• Paring knife

Method:

• Add the two cherries, two orange slices, sugar, and bitters to a rocks glass. Muddle the fruit into the sugar until the cherries and orange start to fall apart into bits.
• Fill the glass with ice and pour the brandy over the ice. Top with 7-Up and stir vigorously until everything is combined (for about five seconds).
• Spear an orange wheel with a cherry for garnish and serve.

Bottom Line:

This felt like a time machine to a bygone era. It’s sweet and fizzy at first, making it feel more like a highball than a cocktail. Then, the muddled fruit kicks in and creates an almost fruit punch or sangria vibe, with plenty of spices and botanicals and a hint of vanilla from the brandy. It’s actually a little too sippable and refreshing.

Thanks to that fruit punch feel once you dig into this cocktail, it becomes a great summer refresher. Suddenly, the oldness of the format of this drink disappears and the freshness of the bright and dark fruits with a good measure of spice feel almost tropical.

That said, this is on the sweeter side and might not be everyone’s jam. Still, if you’re looking for something to cool you off as the heat spikes, this is a good choice.

Occasionally last season, former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel elected to close games without Russell Westbrook in the lineup. Given Westbrook’s stature, vast collection of accolades, and the significant trade required to bring him to Los Angeles, such a move was somewhat surprising. Conversely, though, given his struggles in 2021-22 and discordant fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, such a move made sense, especially on the nights Westbrook’s jumper, defense, and decision-making lagged below the necessary threshold.

If those struggles continue into 2022-23, new Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will enjoy the freedom to reduce Westbrook’s minutes, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

“Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources. (Former head coach Frank Vogel did so a few times last season),” Buha wrote in a recent mailbag article. “That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well.”

Buha also speculated that Los Angeles’ regular closing lineup could be composed of James, Davis, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Austin Reaves, and Troy Brown, although he noted Stanley Johnson could supplant Toscano-Anderson, depending on how training camp unfolds.

And herein lies the problem for Los Angeles. Even if Westbrook’s foibles extend into next season, the alternatives and counters are not ideal solutions. Barring a Westbrook trade that bolsters the rotation significantly, the roster around James and Davis is quite lackluster. Toscano-Anderson is an effective, defensive-minded bench wing. Reaves is a sufficient closing option, fueled by his defensive exploits and complementary offense. I still reserve some optimism about Brown’s NBA future, but he was a fringe rotation forward on a Chicago Bulls team that lost in the first round in five games last season. Either him or Toscano-Anderson closing games for a team with title aspirations is suboptimal.

A renewed version of Westbrook, however likely or unlikely that is, provides this team a boost that none of the aforementioned Lakers probably can. It’s absolutely conceivable all of them prove to be better closing candidates than Westbrook next season, but that presumably spells trouble for Los Angeles’ overall quality as a team if it’s consistently the case.

This is not to say Westbrook deserves to close all the time, more so that his inability to do so would hamstring the roster and underline the lack of playoff-caliber and starting-caliber depth around James and Davis. Those two will be required to do some seriously heavy lifting, though their talents may certainly be up for the challenge. It’s simply a lot to ask is all.