Athletes from across the sports world have spoken out over the past week about racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Some have participated in or organized protests nationwide, while others have used their platforms to continue to put the message that Black Lives Matter in front of the public in an inescapable manner to continue to shine a light on the police’s treatment of the black community.

While many have spoken eloquently and powerfully on the subject, from Stephen Jackson to Malcolm Brogdon, others have received backlash for their commentary on the situation and protests. Drew Brees found himself getting rightfully torched by teammates and the sports world as a whole on Wednesday after he once again misconstrued the protests of police brutality by Colin Kaepernick and others during the national anthem prior to NFL games in recent years as “disrespecting the flag,” earning him backlash from teammates like Michael Thomas and Malcolm Jenkins, a fellow star QB in Aaron Rodgers, and even LeBron James.

Late on Wednesday night, Florida State’s new head coach Mike Norvell found himself in hot water with his new team before ever really stepping foot in the Seminoles locker room, as he told The Athletic’s Tashan Reed that he “went back and forth individually with every player this weekend” about the protests and discrimination. Shortly after Reed posted that quote, All-American defensive tackle Marvin Wilson issued a statement on behalf of the FSU players, saying it was a lie, they got a “generated text” from Norvell, and there was not dialogue between the two sides.

I do not know what Norvell’s plan was in giving this quote beyond trying to win some PR points for being a good and caring players coach, but you can’t actually earn those points without putting the actual work in behind the scenes. Wilson says players are “outraged” by Norvell’s public statement since such conversations never really took place and will no longer be reporting to workouts until further notice.

It is really hard to lose the locker room before you’re even allowed to share the locker room together with your team, but Norvell has managed to do it. He tried to win on the recruiting trail with a nice quote about caring about his players and their journey and fight against discrimination and hate, but failed to, you know, actually care and talk with his players in the manner he suggests he did and now has some serious work to do to earn the trust of players he has earned no goodwill with.

---

View Entire Post ›

---

View Entire Post ›

---

View Entire Post ›

-Here are your quick, editorial-free NXT results for June 3, 2020. The go-home show for NXT TakeOver: In Your House feature Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae, Drake Maverick fighting for his job in the Cruiserweight Championship tournament final, and more. Make sure you’re back here tomorrow for the Best and Worst of NXT review.

NXT results:

1. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim ended in a double count-out. The women continued to fight after the match ended. Other members of the women’s roster tried to pull them apart, then a group of referees. Johnny Gargano and Keith Lee entered to support their significant others and the couples had a standoff.

– It was announced over the loudspeaker that William Regal was turning this brawl into a mixed tag team match.

2. Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano defeated Mia Yim and Keith Lee. LeRae pinned Yim with a roll-up after Gargano stabbed Lee in the eye with his car keys. Gargano stood over Lee’s title after the match.

– A video package about the upcoming Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross match included a promo by Ciampa.

– In a backstage interview, Dexter Lumis was asked who he thinks will win this weekend’s NXT Championship mask. He remained silent, left the scene, returned with an easel, and started to draw.

– In an interview earlier in the day, Drave Maverick said he felt no pressure about his upcoming match.

– A video package about the Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream’s title match included Cole hanging out with the rest of the UE at a restaurant, Dream seeing a motivational vision of Prince, and analysis from Sam Roberts, Peter Rosenberg, and Drew McIntyre.

– Dexter Lumis’s drawing was of himself driving a car with the UE tied up in the back.

3. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Tony Nese with a sunset flip counter to a sunset driver. Jack Gallagher attempted to distract Scott during the match, but it didn’t achieve anything. Nese and Gallagher swore revenge on Scott after the match.

4. Breezango defeated The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong) and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to earn a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship. Tyler Breeze hit Fish with the Beauty Shot and Fandango put him away with the Last Dance. Imperium entered the venue after the match and Malcolm Bivens and Indus Sher entered after them. All three teams stared each other down until the commercial break.

– Backstage last week, Robert Stone and Chelsea Green cut a promo about the Robert Stone Brand. Green said after her win with Charlotte Flair, she’s the hottest she’s ever been – then fired Stone.

5. Santana Garret defeated Aliyah, who was supported by Robert Stone during the match.

– There was a video package about the upcoming NXT Women’s Championship triple threat with a similar format to the one for the In Your House NXT Championship match.

6. Cameron Grimes defeated Bronson Reed with the Cave In. Karrion Kross appeared in the ring after the match, hit the Doomsday Saito on Reed, and cut a promo on Ciampa.

– A six-woman tag team match was announced for In Your House: Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, and Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, and Raquel Gonzalez.

7. Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament final: El Hijo del Fantasma defeated Drake Maverick, pinning him after hitting Thrill of the Hunt to become Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion. As Maverick was making what looked like it would be his final WWE exit, Triple H entered and offered him a new NXT contract, which Maverick tearfully signed.

Here are your quick and dirty, editorial-free AEW Dynamite results for June 3, 2020. The show featured matches for the Tag Team Championship and TNT Championship, Big Swole returning to the ring to face Nyla Rose, and more. Make sure you’re here tomorrow for the complete Ins and Outs of AEW Dynamite column.

AEW Dynamite Results:

1. Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defeated Jimmy Havoc and Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford) to retain the AEW Tag Team Championship. Ford was ejected from ringside for interfering. Page pinned Havoc after a Last Call

— They showed a clip from social media of Tully Blanchard giving Shawn Spears a very angry pep talk, and then presenting him with a fingerless black glove.

2. Brian Cage (with Taz) defeated Shawn Dean, pinning him quickly with a Drill Claw.

— After the match, Taz cut a promo on Jon Moxley about why he was smiling last week. Moxley showed up and said that fighting a guy as intense as Cage makes him happy.

— Somewhere out in the country, Alex Marvez interviewed Lance Archer, who got really worked up talking about how one loss wouldn’t deter him, because everybody dies. After Archer stalked off, Jake Roberts apologized to Marvez for Archer’s behavior.

— Private Party were having drinks backstage when Matt Hardy showed up to check on how Marq Quen is doing after hurting his knee last week. Private Party suggest that the three of them should team up as Hardy Party.

— Sammy Guevara came out with one leg supported by a scooter and loudly sang along with Jericho’s entrance song, while QT Marshall and Allie were seen with their arms around each other in the crowd.

3. Chris Jericho defeated Colt Cabana by pinfall with the Judas Effect.

— After the match, Chris Jericho said that him versus Mike Tyson is the match everyone wants to see. He repeatedly called for “the Baddest Man on the Planet” to come out and face him, and Orange Cassidy showed up. Jericho and Jake Hager tried to attack Cassidy but failed to touch him.

— We got a montage of Doctor Britt Baker working out in her wheelchair.

4. Nyla Rose defeated Big Swole. It was a close match, but Nyla pinned Swole after a spinebuster.

— After the match, Tony Schiavone attempted to interview Big Swole at ringside, but they were interrupted by Britt Baker, who was sitting in her wheelchair in the back of a golf cart. Swole grabbed a chair and was going to attack Baker, but Britt yelled at Rebel to drive her away.

— Backstage, Darby Allin told Tony Schiavone that life’s a joke but he’ll get the last laugh.

— Tony Schiavone interviewed FTR, who named a bunch of AEW tag teams they’d like to face, but didn’t mention the Young Bucks until Tony asked about them. They said they want to beat the bucks in three minutes, and that they saved the Bucks from the Butcher and the Blade because when they beat the Bucks, they don’t want anyone to have any doubt about them being 100%. The Butcher and the Blade showed up, and FTR said that their attack wasn’t personal, but they can settle it in the ring. They’ll do that next week.

— Alex Marvez was interviewing Colt Cabana about his recent losses, when Brodie Lee showed up and attempted to recruit him into the Dark Order.

5. Cody Rhodes defeated Jungle Boy to retain the TNT Championship. The Crossroads got the pin.

— After the match, Cody helped Jungle Boy up and they hugged as other members of the Nightmare Family and Jurassic Express joined them in the ring.

Last year’s drama Just Mercy did pretty well for a non-blockbuster, raking in a respectable $36 million in an era when moviegoers almost exclusively reward comic book movies. (And that’s despite starring three superhero movie vets: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and Brie Larson.) But it still mostly fell through the cracks, not attracting much attention, not get any major awards, and not starting any meaningful conversations about its central issue, which is systemic racism.

That was then, this is now. Jump about half a year later and systemic racism is what we’re finally talking about with more passion than in years. The entire nation has erupted in protests, which have come about due to the death of George Floyd last week. The protests have for the most part been peaceful, even if the police (nor the president’s) response hasn’t always been. And if you wanted to watch a movie that will educate you about some of the same issues, then, you’re in luck: As per IndieWire, Warner Bros. has just made it available for free through the month of June.

In Just Mercy, Jordan plays Bryan Stevenson, an idealistic defense attorney working to free an African-American man (Foxx) wrongfully convicted of murdering a white woman, all while exposing a system designed to oppress minorities.

“We believe in the power of story,” Warner Bros. said in a statement released online. “Our film Just Mercy, based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, is one resource we can humbly offer to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society. For the month of June, Just Mercy will be available to rent for free across digital platforms in the US.”

Just Mercy isn’t available as of this writing, but you can check places like Amazon and Apple TV when it is.

(Via IndieWire)

---

View Entire Post ›

---

View Entire Post ›

Movie theaters nationwide have been shuttered since around mid-March, but insiders have been cautiously optimistic that they could reopen by July. Will that happen? Will Christopher Nolan’s Tenet really be the first movie people see in an actual movie theater in four months? Maybe! Or maybe not. But whenever theaters do open, one chain won’t make wearing masks a requirement.

This comes from The Wrap, who reported that Cinemark discussed their plans about reopening to Wall Street analysts. And while their employees will be required to wear masks, it will only be recommended that the same extend to their guests.

“We have been intensely focused in developing enhanced health and safety protocols, understanding that these factors will weigh heavily on the confidence and peace of mind of our employees, guests and community as we reopen our theaters,” Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi said during the call. “[We will be] requiring all employees to wear face masks and encouraging guests to do the same.”

When The Wrap asked Zoradi to clarify his language, he made it a bit more clear, saying, “outside of those areas where it is required by local mandates, Cinemark will be encouraging — not requiring — guests to wear face masks.”

Wearing masks, or some kind of facial covering, when outdoors, and especially when anywhere near other people, has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control since fairly early into America’s quarantine era. The idea is not so much to protect yourself but to protect others from you.

In the call, Zoradi discussed other ways Cinemark would be adapting to a changing world, saying they would also be looking into “seat buffering technology,” which would ensure that patrons are seated with enough space between each other — social distancing while reclining and watching a movie. They will also ramp up cleaning and sanitation measures, minimize physical interactions, and staggering showtimes to decrease crowds. The chain, which has over 500 theaters in the U.S. and Latin America, is scheduled to reopen on July 17. For now.

(Via The Wrap)