Have the dog days of the summer sports calendar ever been so…intense?
This week’s Sports-Culture Power Rankings range from the so-called Fight of the Century (where Dave Schilling is bearing witness) to the future of the Colin Kaepernick debate and t…
Have the dog days of the summer sports calendar ever been so…intense?
This week’s Sports-Culture Power Rankings range from the so-called Fight of the Century (where Dave Schilling is bearing witness) to the future of the Colin Kaepernick debate and the #ImWithKap rally (where Natalie Weiner is holding court).
But, hey: At least there is somehow still NBA trade talk—including, but not limited to, why LeBron James is destined for the Lakers less than a year from now…if Isaiah Thomas even makes it in Cleveland that long.
After we find out who won the week, A Boogie wit da Hoodie is back with a new track and some NBA takes (“Don’t make me look bad, Melo”). And then it’s over to Roger Goodell’s office for some good old-fashioned protest.
NBA star LeBron James, rapper Drake and Hollywood headliner Angelina Jolie will be just some of the celebrities in attendance when Conor McGregor takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.
TMZ Sports revealed a partial list of the star…
NBA star LeBron James, rapper Drake and Hollywood headliner Angelina Jolie will be just some of the celebrities in attendance when Conor McGregor takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.
TMZ Sports revealed a partial list of the star attendees set to witness arguably the biggest combat sports event in recent history. It will also count Denzel Washington, LL Cool J and technology pioneer Elon Musk among its spectators.
The action looks set to carry on after the bout, too, as TMZ reported there will be some of the “wildest afterparties of the year.”
The inter-combat sport showdown is expected to draw attention like few others as McGregor makes his professional boxing debut against 49-0 Mayweather, returning after almost two years retired.
The script writes itself, but while The Notorious was once offered impossible odds to emerge victorious, ESPN Stats & Info recently illustrated how his chances have steadily improved in the weeks leading up to their duel:
Other actors and actresses expected to be in attendance include Jamie Foxx, Charlize Theron and known fight fan Mark Wahlberg. The latter told JOE.ie in June he predicts a stiffer contest than some may expect:
The Aug. 26 meeting is expected to break new ground in more ways than one. The Independent’sLuke Brownreported an expected fight purse of $500 million (£390 million) is likely to be up for grabs.
Both Mayweather and McGregor tend to draw star-studded audiences to their matchups, and a meeting between the two will make for one mega-meeting of glitz and glamour.
Multiplatinum award-winning artist Justin Bieber has accompanied Money for his ring walks against Manny Pacquiao, Marcos Maidana and Canelo Alvarez, but even he recently told TMZ he doesn’t see his companion knocking McGregor out.
There’s no word as to whether Bieber will again walk alongside Mayweather at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in just over a week’s time, as if any more star power was needed at the venue.
There are sure to be a host of celebrities and stars who show up without any prior warning, with one of the biggest fights in recent history swiftly drawing in an elite crowd to match the occasion.
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James had words of support for MMA fighter Ronda Rousey after she lost her second straight fight on Saturday night, this time a 48-second knockout against Amanda Nunes.
James sympathized with Rousey, per Jason Lloyd…
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James had words of support for MMA fighter Ronda Rousey after she lost her second straight fight on Saturday night, this time a 48-second knockout against Amanda Nunes.
James sympathized with Rousey, per Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal:
In sports, in general, they build you up as high as they can, put you on the highest mountain in the world, just to tear you down. That’s coming from somebody who has experienced it. And that’s exactly what she’s going through right now. That’s a fact. I know exactly how she feels because I was that athlete. I went through that.
James, 32, compared Rousey’s fall from grace to his own when he famously left Cleveland for the Miami Heat in a televised event and was vilified by many NBA fans around the country. Rousey, meanwhile, was arguably the most dominant fighter in the UFC—and certainly one of its most visible personalities—over her first 12 fights.
But both Holly Holm and Nunes knocked her out in under a minute, leading to questions as to whether Rousey will ever fight again.
“I don’t know,” UFC president Dana White said on SportsCenter when asked if Rousey will fight again, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN. “Ronda obviously needs to go home and take some time. She’s very rich. She doesn’t need to fight anymore. She’s super competitive. Maybe she wants to, I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
Her agent, Brad Slater, added: “It’s too soon to say anything about the future. I don’t want to speak for her. She’s going to take some time to process this.”
James didn’t want to speculate on Rousey’s future.
“You don’t know her mindset,” he said. “You don’t know the drive, is the drive still there? You don’t know. But you can tell that it’s built and built and built and built and built, they always make the teardown story more important than how long it took for her to actually get to the mountaintop.”
One thing James didn’t add is that the sports world also loves a comeback story, and Rousey would certainly be primed to tell a great one if she decides to continue fighting. If she can rediscover the dominance that once saw her end fights against Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano and Bethe Correia in a combined one minute and four seconds between July 2014 and August 2015, her story would take another compelling turn.
James, after all, won two titles with the Heat and led the Cavaliers to their first NBA title in 2016 since The Decision. If Rousey wants to continue fighting and is looking for motivation, James’ story perhaps can provide it.
Just when you thought Ronda Rousey’s star couldn’t possibly shine any brighter…enter one LeBron James. The best basketball player on the planet, and one of the stars of the new movie Trainwreck, recently responded to a fan on Twitter who asked him, “…
Just when you thought Ronda Rousey’s star couldn’t possibly shine any brighter…enter one LeBron James. The best basketball player on the planet, and one of the stars of the new movie Trainwreck, recently responded to a fan on Twitter who asked him, “How long would you last in the ring with Ronda Rousey?”
James seems to get that he’d be at her mercy for as long as she allowed, before deciding to end it. He went on to say that he wanted to say hello to her at the ESPYs but didn’t want her to kick his butt.
It’s worth noting Rousey retweeted his tweet, so that must mean she approves.
We won’t delve into the “could Rousey beat a man…could she beat Mayweather?” silliness by breaking down how she’d fare against James. Shaquille O’Neal already admitted he’d only last 45 seconds against her, and he’s been training in jiu jitsu for years now.
Given that the two are both now getting into the movie making business, maybe they’ll end up on the same set together one of these days. Perhaps we’ll see James cageside at one of Rousey’s upcoming fights. Wherever and whenever their paths cross, King James and Rowdy Rousey seem destined to collide at some point.
Near the end of last night’s NBA playoff game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats, Josh McRoberts hit LeBron James with a beautiful jumping elbow, sending James crashing to the court in apparent agony. In the NBA, that’s worthy of a flagrant foul. In the UFC, McRoberts would be pocketing $50,000 for Performance of the Night. The Heat hung on to victory, and are up 2-0 in their series against Charlotte.
Near the end of last night’s NBA playoff game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats, Josh McRoberts hit LeBron James with a beautiful jumping elbow, sending James crashing to the court in apparent agony. In the NBA, that’s worthy of a flagrant foul. In the UFC, McRoberts would be pocketing $50,000 for Performance of the Night. The Heat hung on to victory, and are up 2-0 in their series against Charlotte.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2012, and has his first shoe debut with the brand earlier this year.
Now Jones is starring in his first major campaign alongside notable names like NBA MVP and champion Le…
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2012, and has his first shoe debut with the brand earlier this year.
Now Jones is starring in his first major campaign alongside notable names like NBA MVP and champion LeBron James and tennis great Serena Williams.
The new commercial debuted on Wednesday featuring guest spots from several high profile Nike athletes including Jones.
The spot titled “Just Do It—Possibilities” is a new Nike campaign that will be pushed on a national level.
Jones signed a worldwide deal with Nike—the first of its kind in MMA—in coordination with his representation at First Round Management along with discussions led by famed agent Ari Emanuel.
Jones has worn Nike gear specifically made for him in his last two appearances in the Octagon where he fought Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 in 2012 and his bout against Chael Sonnen earlier this year at UFC 159.
The first shoe released under the Nike brand with Jones’ name was exclusive to online sales along with a few select Nike stores with stock selling out in less than two minutes. Jones also had a shirt released before each of his last two fights from Nike as well.
Jones next competes in the UFC in September when he takes on top contender Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 in Toronto. It’s likely Jones will have another Nike branded walk out shirt for that fight being released in the coming weeks in anticipation of that fight.
Have the dog days of the summer sports calendar ever been so…intense?