BYU Hoops
@jessewade10/InstagramTalk about TEAMWORK!!!
The BYU men's hoops team had a unique form of team bonding before the NCAA tournament ... by having to save a teammate who was TRAPPED inside an elevator!!!
The disaster moment went down at the team hotel on Thursday ... when Cougars junior guard Jesse Wade experienced the "Scariest moment of my life."
But, BYU was NOT about to leave a fellow Coug behind ... so they teamed together to help pry the doors open to let Wade out.
The video is equally freaky and scary at the same time -- Wade’s face appears through the small opening of the trapped elevator doors ... and then screams "Oh my god" as his teammates break out in laughter while trying to get him out.
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NBA's Meyers Leonard Twitch Ban Lifted ... After Anti-Semitic Slur
3/18/2021 3:34 PM PT
GettyMeyers Leonard is free to stream on Twitch again -- we've learned his ban has been lifted just over a week after he used an anti-Semitic slur during a video game session.
Remember, the former Miami Heat player was playing "Call of Duty" on March 9 when he hurled the K-word at an opposing player.
Twitch immediately blocked Leonard from the platform -- and the NBA hit Meyers with a $50k fine and a 1-week suspension.
Leonard apologized for using the slur and he's been working with various Jewish leaders to educate himself about why the word is dangerous and offensive ever since.
Now, Leonard's Twitch account has been reactivated -- which means he can get back to playing games in front of his 69,000 followers.
So far, Leonard has not logged back on -- and we're told he doesn't plan on doing so for a while -- while he continues to focus on educating himself.
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THE FOUL MOMENTIn the meantime, Leonard has been traded from the Miami Heat to the OKC Thunder (though the Thunder don't plan on keeping him) ... and Meyers' wife issued a statement thanking the Heat franchise and the fan base.
"Our experience with the Heat has been anything but ordinary. Yet, it was nothing but exceptional", Elle Leonard said in a statement on social media.
"Miami truly shines brighter with a family like the Heat."
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President Obama Picks Gonzaga To Win It All!!! Releases NCAA Tournament Bracket
3/18/2021 5:49 AM PT
Getty CompositeCan Gonzaga really win the entire NCAA Tournament? YES, THEY CAN!
... at least, that what Barack Obama thinks!
The 44th President of the United States revealed his bracket for 2021 March Madness -- and POTUS likes Gonzaga, the #1 ranked team in the country.
In fact, Obama's Final Four is comprised entirely of #1 seeds -- Baylor, Illinois and Michigan.
The only longshot Obama likes to get to the Elite Eight is USC, a #6 seed.
He's got a couple of upsets in the 1st round -- including UCSB (12 seed) over Creighton (5 seed) and Georgetown (12) over Colorado (5).
On the women's side, Obama likes Baylor to win the whole thing -- they're a #2 seed!
His Final Four is made up of N.C. State, Maryland and Stanford.
Obama even has Baylor knocking out #1 seed UCONN in the Elite Eight!
The NCAA Men's tournament begins 1st round action on Friday. The women don't begin until Sunday.
President Trump never filled out an NCAA bracket during his time in office -- no word if he has plans to start now!
Unclear if Joe Biden will try his luck as well.
But, Obama loves hoop and follows it closely -- he's been all over the brackets for as long as we can remember.
The entire NCAA men's tourney is taking place in a controlled environment in Indianapolis -- but there are serious concerns over COVID, which has already impacted several teams and even referees.
Hopefully, the tourney will go off without a hitch and everyone can stay healthy!
Good luck!
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NBA's Shawn Bradley Paralyzed In Car Vs. Bike Crash ... 'Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury'
3/17/2021 11:19 AM PT
GettyNBA legend Shawn Bradley was badly injured in a bad car vs. bicycle accident in Utah back in January that has left him paralyzed, the Dallas Mavericks confirmed Wednesday.
The 48-year-old -- known for his 7'6" frame -- was riding on his bicycle near his home in St. George, Utah on Jan. 20, 2021 when he was struck from behind by an automobile.
"The accident caused a traumatic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed," the Mavericks said.
"After undergoing neck fusion surgery, Bradley has spent the last eight weeks hospitalized and undergoing rehabilitation."
Doctors have told Bradley his road to recovery "will be both long and arduous, perhaps an even more difficult physical challenge than playing professional basketball."
The Dallas Mavericks say Bradley's wife, Carrie, has been by his side the entire time ... and note Shawn is "in good spirits."
Gallery Shawn Bradley On The Court Launch Gallery GettyMavs owner Mark Cuban issued a statement saying, "We are saddened to hear of Shawn's accident. Shawn has always been incredibly determined and shown a fighting spirit."
"We wish him nothing but the best in his recovery. He will always be a part of our Mavs family."
Bradley was the #2 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft -- he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers, but played the majority of his career in Dallas.
Among his accomplishments, Bradley led the NBA in blocks in 1997 and competed for Germany on the international stage.
Bradley was so respected in the league, Michael Jordan tapped him to appear in the original "Space Jam" back in 1996.
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NBA's Fred VanVleet Details COVID Battle 'I Wouldn't Wish It On Anybody'
3/17/2021 10:46 AM PT
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HAPPY TO BE BACK"I just felt the sickness, I could just feel it in me, I could feel it in my bones and my blood and my muscles."
That's Toronto Raptors star Fred VanVleet describing how COVID ravaged his body after testing positive around the end of February ... and now the 27-year-old is focused on getting back on the court.
VanVleet has been out due to the illness for 2 and a half weeks -- but he was finally cleared to return to the gym on Monday to practice. He's still waiting for the green light to play in a game.
VanVleet spoke with reporters Tuesday about how he's handled the situation over the past few weeks -- and was super candid about his experience.
"I tested positive, had symptoms pretty soon after that," VanVleet said.
"Back sore. Body aches. I just [felt] like I just played 3 nights in a row. Sore, headache, my eyes were hurting. I didn't have the shortness of breath or anything like that. I had a fever for a day and a half, two days. But definitely nothing like anything I've ever had."
He added, "It was a whirlwind, definitely an experience that I won't forget ... I wouldn't wish it on anybody. But I'm here, I'm alive, I'm breathing."
"And I know that there's a lot of people that didn't make it through COVID, so my thoughts and my heart is with the families and people that's been affected by this thing that weren't as fortunate as I was and as I am."
VanVleet isn't the only member of the Raptors who was hit by COVID -- his teammates Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Patrick McCaw, and Malachi Flynn have missed time while battling the virus.
Fred says isolating while waiting out the virus was a lonely feeling -- but it's made him appreciate the game of basketball in a whole new way.
"I caught myself walking into the gym just smiling, smiling like I forgot how much I love this ... I'm just happy to be back with the team right now."
Fred says he's not sure how the virus will affect his conditioning when he returns to action but promises he'll "come out swinging" and give it all he can.
The NBA says roughly 100 players have tested positive for COVID so far this season forcing 31 games to be rescheduled.
Stay safe everyone ...
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Mike Krzyzewski Kobe Bryant Is 'The Best H.S. Player I've Ever Seen'
3/17/2021 9:08 AM PT
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AHEAD OF THE PACKIt ain't Zion Williamson, Grant Hill or Kyrie Irving ... no, the best H.S. basketball player Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's ever seen is Kobe Bryant.
The NCAA hoops legend made the revelation on the newest episode of “The Dream Team Tapes: Kobe, LeBron & The Redeem Team” from Diversion Podcasts ... saying straight-up Kobe was Michael Jordan-esque even in high school.
"I never saw LeBron play in high school," Krzyzewski said, "but when I saw Kobe play, he's the best high school player I've ever seen."
"When he walked into a gym, he walked in like Jordan at a high school level. Like, the place stopped."
In fact, Coach K said Kobe was so ridiculously good ... the Blue Devils honcho put in very minimal effort into recruiting Bryant because he just knew the guy was destined to skip college for the NBA.
"He looked that good, he believed he was that good, and he was that good," Coach K said. "But, I knew he was never going to come [to Duke]."
Kobe reportedly averaged over 30 points, 12 boards, 6.5 assists, 4 steals and nearly 4 blocked shots per game during his final H.S. season at Lower Merion in Penn.
He eventually did pass on college for the NBA ... getting drafted in the 1st round by the Charlotte Hornets before immediately being traded to the Lakers.
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College Hoops Insanity Bracket Tips from a Former Champ ... And 2 Idiots!
3/17/2021 6:55 AM PT
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BRACKET BREAKDOWNIt's that time of year ... the biggest event in college hoops -- and if you're looking for some bracket advice, we gotcha covered!
Sure, you can ride with the heavy betting favorites ... but there's ALWAYS a dark horse that rides deep into the competition!
So, which team will shock the world in 2021? Check in with college hoops legend Renee Montgomery and her TMZ Sports co-hosts, Evan Rosenblum and Mike Babcock, to help you lock in your picks!
And, if you're feeling saucy, download the FOX Bet Sportsbook app where you can make real wagers and win real money!
In fact, users get a free $10 in betting credit every game day when you place a wager of $10 or more ... credit you can use for parlays, bets on other matchups, etc.
The offer is open to all FOX Bet users -- not just newbies.
Remember, despite the incredible tips we're giving you here -- there's no such thing as a sure thing ... so be smart and responsible!!
And good luck!!
Disclaimer: 21+ and present in NJ, PA, CO or MI. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/PA),1-800-522-4700 (CO) or 1-800-270-7117 (MI).
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Kobe Bryant's Family Wants 'Mamba and Mambacita' Trademark ... for Clothing, Shoes
3/17/2021 6:43 AM PT
GettyKobe Bryant's family is gunning to lock up the trademark for "Mamba and Mambacita" -- with the intention of using it for clothing and shoes, according to the application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
An attorney for Kobe Bryant LLC filed the application on March 10, 2021 -- noting the trademark would be used for clothing ... namely shirts, skirts, pants, shorts, bottoms, socks, dresses, jackets, hoodies, etc.
The application also notes workout clothing such as sweatbands, armbands and footwear.
So, is there a Mamba and Mambacita shoe in the works? Unclear.
In fact, the Bryant family could just be trying to lock up the trademarks to block anyone else from using it ... just like Tom Brady did when he applied for the "Tom Terrific" trademark.
Kobe's estate has filed for several trademarks since the tragic deaths of the NBA star and his daughter Gianna back in January 2020 ... including "Mamba Sports Academy," "Mambacita," "Lady Mambas," "Lil Mambas" and more.
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Shaquille O'Neal I Burned My Nuts W/ IcyHot 🔥🔥🔥 ... Tells Hilarious Story!!
3/16/2021 3:44 PM PT
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CODE REDShaquille O’Neal’s first experience with IcyHot is something he will literally NEVER forget!!
The NBA legend shared the hysterical (and painful) story on the “Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend” podcast … explaining he was once forced to leave an NBA game early after a team trainer used the blue gel “too high” when treating an injured leg.
“I always used to see IcyHot in the locker room, and one day I kind of had like a thigh bruise, and the guy rubbed it, but he rubbed it too high.”
“During the game, my little guys started getting hot -- like, really hot. Like, I thought something was wrong.”
ChattemShaq says the pain eventually got so intense ... he couldn't continue hooping.
“It got to the point where I was like, 'Hey man, I think I need a doctor. My little guys are on fire.'"
O'Neal says he left the court and made a beeline for the showers ... but the water only spread the IcyHot around ... making the situation wayyyy worse.
Thankfully, Shaq says there was a janitor in the locker room ... who suggested he use milk to kill the burn.
“So now I'm in the shower pouring milk on my boys and the guys coming in, they're looking at me like, 'What the hell are you doing?'"
The milk? Well, it worked ... and Shaq knew firsthand the pain-relieving product did too.
So, he signed an endorsement deal with the company ... and many years and big checks later, Big Diesel still works with the brand.
Alexa, play “Burn” by Usher 😬😬😬🔥🔥🔥
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Virginia Tech Hoops Coach Trashes Jehovah's Witnesses ... Apologizes Hours Later
3/16/2021 2:17 PM PT
Getty"We’re not playing the Jehovah’s Witness All-Star team here. We’re playing the [Florida] Gators, man."
What a stupid thing to say, right?!
Well, the man behind that idiotic quote is Virginia Tech basketball coach Mike Young ... and guess what, he's apologizing now!
Young was addressing the media during an NCAA Tournament news conference Tuesday ... when he was asked about his mindset going into the team's 1st round game against the Florida Gators.
"We’re not playing the Jehovah’s Witness all-star team here. We’re playing the Gators, man. We’re playing the Gators."
Get it ... Young's insinuating that a team full of Jehovah's Witnesses would be trash compared to the Florida Gators.
Someone wanna clue in Coach Young about Serena Williams -- perhaps the most dominant athlete on the planet ... who also happens to be a Jehovah's Witness?
Obviously, there are many examples of talented JW athletes -- but that's not the point. The point is, it was a stupid and offensive comment. And, within hours, Coach Young was apologizing.
"Earlier today on the NCAA Tournament conference call, I attempted to show my respect for our upcoming opponent, the University of Florida. Regrettably, I didn’t articulate that sentiment in an appropriate manner," Young said.
"I apologize for my insensitive remark and am sincerely sorry for anyone I may have offended."
Virginia Tech (#7 seed) is set to take on Florida (#10 seed) on Friday -- and when the season ends, Mike should probably stop bashing talented JW players and start recruiting some instead.
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Virginia State University School Prez Destroys 1-on-1 Opponent ... In Campus Showdown!!!
3/16/2021 1:41 PM PT
Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. is the esteemed President of Virginia State University.
... AND HE CAN BALL, SON!!!
The Prez was leaving his campus office when he was approached by a student named Afo -- who's pretty well known for staging fun pranks and viral videos around the school.
Afo's bit of the day was approaching people with a basketball for an impromptu game of 1-on-1 to see if random people would square up on the spot.
I was walking around Virginia State & the President of the school just embarrassed me..😭🏀 pic.twitter.com/1hAh5MUISL
— Afo ❼ (@ifyouwereafo) March 16, 2021 @ifyouwereafoAfo balled up a woman in a tight red dress, a security guard and others -- but when he approached President Abdullah, that's when the tables turned!!
The President smacked the ball right out of Afo's hands and proceed to ball out -- even removing his fancy jacket to show he wasn't messing around.
But, the best part was the NUTMEG at the end that had Afo on skates!!! It was awesome!!!
It was all in good fun -- and the two even snapped a pic together afterward.
Afo tweeted, "I’m not gonna lie, it took a lot for me to post this. He definitely got me tho."
President Abdullah also weighed in -- saying, "You already know it's all love. I can't wait until everybody is back on campus."
We spoke with President Abdullah who tells us he's just a recreational player who loves the game -- and had a blast messing around on campus.
He praised Afo as a "fantastic kid" who's a talented entertainer and a scholar who's expected to graduate soon.
As for a possible rematch, Abdullah put it this way -- "I don't know if my knees will let me do it twice! I think I might have gotten just enough out of these knees. I'm going to retire now."
#BallisLife
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Bobby Shmurda Gets VIP Treatment at Nets Game ... Jersey from James Harden!
3/16/2021 7:27 AM PT
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THE HARDEN HOOKUPLife on the outside is proving to be GOOOOOD for Bobby Shmurda -- the formerly incarcerated rapper got the VIP treatment at the Brooklyn Nets game on Monday ... and a signed jersey from superstar James Harden!
The 26-year-old had been in custody since December 2014 after he was charged with conspiracy to murder and other gun charges.
In 2016, Shmurda copped a plea deal to conspiracy to possess weapons and possession of a weapon -- and was sentenced to 7 years in prison followed by 5 years probation.
Shutterstock PremierHe was released in February 2021 and immediately embraced by rap stars like Quavo. He also had a big presence during NBA All-Star Weekend.
And, the celebration continued Monday night at Barclay's Center where Shmurda enjoyed a VIP suite to watch the Nets take on the NY Knicks.
After Brooklyn secured the W, James Harden took off his game-worn jersey and presented it to Shmurda -- along with a personal message and signature on the threads.
Shmurda was so fired up about the gift, he went right to the media and showed it off while sporting that sick new gold chain he recently scooped up.
Bottom line ... Shmurda is back to living like a true rockstar. The next question -- when will he get back in the studio and release another album???
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NCAA Tourney 6 Refs Sent Home Over COVID ... 54 Refs Remain
3/16/2021 5:52 AM PT
GettyThe tournament hasn't even started yet ... and already the NCAA is down 6 referees for March Madness due to COVID.
The NCAA has confirmed 6 referees were sent home from Indianapolis -- where a controlled bubble-style environment has been set up in the hopes of limiting exposure.
The NCAA says 1 of the officials tested positive for COVID-19 on March 15 -- "and 5 other officials the person interacted with the day before were identified as exposure risks due to prolonged close contact."
"Based on tournament protocols and contract tracing with local public health authorities, these officials may not participate in the tournament."
Now, the ref who tested positive "must be placed in isolation, and the other officials must be placed in quarantine."
The tournament -- one of the most exciting events in sports -- is set to kick off on Thursday.
The NCAA had tapped 60 referees in total to work the tourney -- now, they're down to 54 refs to work the 63 total games.
The NCAA tourney has already felt the impact of COVID -- just ask the defending champs from the Univ. of Virginia.
Most of the Cavaliers players are still in quarantine after one member of the program tested positive for COVID. They're not expected to arrive in Indy until Friday, the day before their 1st-round game against Ohio.
The NCAA has a backup plan in case teams need to pull out -- they've booked 4 teams as backup squads ... Louisville, Colorado State, Saint Louis and Mississippi.
The backup teams will only be on standby until Tuesday -- after that, a team that withdraws due to COVID will not be replaced.
Talk about Madness ...
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Sen. Ted Cruz Vaccination Trend's Encouraging ... Let's Play Hoops at Sucky Senate Gym
3/15/2021 4:20 PM PT
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HOOP DREAMSTed Cruz is liking what he's seeing with the country's vaccination rollout, and it's got him thinking about ballin' ... even though the court at the Senate gym sucks.
The Texas Senator was arriving at Reagan National Airport in D.C. Monday when he had a hopeful chat with our photog about returning to normal, putting the pandemic behind us ... and taking a member of his staff to the hole.
Sounds like Ted's got a case of March Madness, and even though he tells us the basketball court at the Senate's facility is terrible ... he's ready to "bang around a little bit."
If ya don't know, Cruz ain't bad when it comes to playing hoops ... at least compared to Jimmy Kimmel. He took down his late-night talk show host rival in a sweaty mess of a 1-on-1 match back in 2018. Thankfully, it was all for charity.
Clearly, Ted's itching to get back to the sport and says everyone's eager to get out of their houses after a year of dealing with COVID-19 ... and he's encouraged we're getting closer to normalcy.
Who knows ... maybe a trip to Cancun is in order for all of us soon.
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Norman Girls Basketball Team Players Speak Out On Racist Announcer ... 'He Should Be Held Accountable'
3/15/2021 12:49 PM PT
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DEMANDING CHANGESeveral players from the Norman High School girls basketball team have broken their silence about the racist comments directed at them by a game announcer ... and they're calling for action.
It's powerful stuff.
The players have teamed up with famous civil rights attorney Ben Crump -- who has worked with the families of several high-profile victims of police or racial violence ... from Ahmaud Arbery to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Jacob Blake.
Crump held a news conference Monday with several of the players and their families -- who all spoke out about Matt Rowan, the announcer who hurled the n-word at the team for their decision to take a knee during the national anthem.
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3/11/21 APPALLING COMMENTSAs we previously reported, Rowan's comments were caught on a hot mic -- and people at home could hear him bashing the NHS players who were demonstrating to spotlight police brutality and racial injustice.
During his rant, Rowan said he hoped the Norman team would get their asses kicked on the court that night.
Rowen later apologized for his language -- and said he's a Type-1 diabetic who loses his ability to censor himself when his blood sugar is high, which he claims happened that night.
FYI, the Norman High School girls basketball team went on to win the Oklahoma 6-A state championship over the weekend.
The players say they were obviously hurt and shocked by the comments -- but they're proud of the way they stood together as a team and still WON the whole tourney!
Ben Crump says there are no plans to take legal action at this time ... but continued to praise the team for thriving in such a challenging moment.
Salute to the champs!!
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Michael Rapoport Not Happy With Meyers Leonard Punishment ... He Got Off Easy!!!
3/15/2021 2:19 PM PT
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STILL NOT HAPPYMichael Rapaport ain't happy with the punishment dished out to NBA player Meyers Leonard in the wake of his anti-Semitic slur ... suggesting he it would have been way worse if he used the n-word instead of the k-word.
Rapaport was one of Leonard's harshest critics after the Miami Heat center used the k-word to insult an opponent during a video game live stream session earlier this month ... calling him a "dumb f**k" and demanding a sincere video apology.
Play video content THE FOUL MOMENTThe NBA has since imposed a 1-week suspension on Leonard and fined him $50,000.
Meyers has apologized and vowed to work with leaders run the Jewish community to educate himself on why the word is so dangerous and offensive.
But, Rap says that's not good enough ... and he's comparing the situation to the announcer who hurled the n-word at a high school basketball team in Oklahoma.
Play video content 3/11/21 APPALLING COMMENTS"Why is that any worse than the Myers Leonard thing?" Rapaport told us.
"I'm not happy with [Leonard's] punishment, but I think if he had said a different word -- if it had been a white guy saying the n-word, he’d be cut."
Rap continued, "Every single athlete would have spoken out about it, every single actor -- white, black and in between -- would have spoken out about it and it would still be discussed a week later."
The actor says he's AGAINST canceling either Leonard or the high school basketball announcer ... but feels strongly they both need to held accountable.
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