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Nikola Vucevic threw shade at Giannis Antetokounmpo after their on-court confrontation

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Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic took a jab at Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo Saturday after the two had a testy confrontation at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

Antetokounmpo drew the ire of the entire Bulls roster when he threw down a windmill dunk in the closing seconds of the Bucks’ 112-103 win. Vucevic was the first to approach Giannis after the dunk, with several upset Bulls players soon surrounding the Bucks star (video here).

Vucevic was asked about the incident after the game. The two-time All-Star claimed Antetokounmpo was acting out for a particular reason.

“I’m assuming Giannis was mad about that report that came out the Bulls didn’t want to trade for him,” Vucevic said. “I asked him why you did that. He said, ‘Yeah, you guys didn’t want to trade for me.’”

The mild-mannered Vucevic would not confirm whether Antetokounmpo actually said those words, but it seemed like his cheeky attempt to let Giannis know he was unwanted in Chicago.

Antetokounmpo explained the dunk was more about the future than the past. He told reporters that he was trying to “wake up” his team, which currently sits outside the postseason picture in the shallow East.

“I’ve been 13 years in the league,” Giannis said, via ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “If we keep on losing, probably half of the team not going to be here. We’re not going to make the playoffs…. And if [a windmill dunk] is what has to happen for everybody to wake up and understand we’re fighting for our lives, so be it.”

The report in question was from Chicago sports broadcaster Lou Canellis, who shared on local radio that Antetokounmpo’s team reportedly contacted the Bulls about a potential move but got shot down.

The veracity of the report remains unclear, but it was clear enough for Vucevic to use it as media-scrum ammunition against his European rival.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s showboat move in final seconds sparks Bulls-Bucks scuffle

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The Chicago Bulls did not take kindly to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dunk in the closing seconds of a Milwaukee Bucks win.

The Bucks led the Bulls 110-103 with just seconds remaining on the clock as Antetokounmpo got the ball across the halfcourt line at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. With no defenders in his path, Giannis decided to give the road fans a thrill with a windmill dunk just before the final buzzer.

The Chicagoans in attendance seemed to appreciate the slam, but the Bulls players did not. Bulls center Nikola Vucevic confronted Antetokounmpo at center court. Soon, other Bulls players gathered around the Greek Freak to give him him a scolding.

A scuffle ensued shortly after as Bucks players came to Giannis’ defense. The fracas was successfully contained without the scene escalating beyond pushing and shoving.

“We’re 11th in the East. … Got to keep finding an identity,” Antetokounmpo said of the dunk and ensuing altercation, via ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “If that’s to get a little bit scrappy at the end, so be it. We’re not the champs. Why should we play the clock out, have respect, and fair play? We’re fighting for our lives right now.”

It’s long been an unwritten rule in basketball that any team holding a decisive lead with possession in the closing seconds must dribble out the clock rather than pad their advantage even further. Some folks, including Bulls announcer Stacey King in the above clip, have pushed back on the practice.

Tempers were flaring all across the NBA on Saturday, as a fight also broke out in New Orleans that saw Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado punch Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams square in the jaw.

Fans had jokes over Jordan Poole’s reaction to his teammate throwing a punch

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Fans saw the amusement in Jordan Poole watching a punch get thrown during Saturday’s New Orleans Pelicans-Phoenix Suns game.

Poole’s Pelicans teammate Jose Alvarado and Suns center Mark Williams both got ejected after getting into a scuffle during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Alvarado, who stands more than a foot shorter than the 7’1″ Williams, connected on a right straight that clocked Williams in the jaw.

Poole had the perfect angle to witness the punch. The Pelicans’ sixth man had a bewildered reaction to the incident.

Several fans joked that Poole was having flashbacks after seeing his teammate’s punch land. Many recall Poole famously getting punched by Draymond Green in 2022, a moment that marked the beginning of the end for Poole’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors.

Poole didn’t let the moment bother him for too long. He finished the game with 19 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists in a 115-108 loss to the Suns. Williams left the contest with 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, while Alvarado had 11 points and 2 assists off New Orleans’ bench.

Despite being several years removed from the incident with Green, the infamous punch still haunts Poole to this day. That probably won’t change anytime soon.

LeBron James ripped over video of him seemingly disrespecting the national anthem

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LeBron James is sparking backlash this week due to a video of him supposedly disrespecting the national anthem.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced off on Thursday’s Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. As the national anthem played in the background right before the contest, the Lakers star forward James could be seen on the side facing away from center court and simply continuing his pregame stretching routine (instead of standing at attention out of deference to and respect for the anthem).

James was making such exaggerated arm motions while the anthem played that ESPN posted the clip to their TikTok page along with the caption “Bron working on his golf swing?” As such, the four-time NBA champion received sharp criticism online for seemingly failing to respect the national anthem.

Here is the video.

The soon-to-be 41-year-old James, who may be in his final NBA season, finished Thursday’s game with 18 points, two rebounds, and five assists in 32 minutes played. The Lakers lost to the Rockets by an ugly final score of 119-96 however, marking their third consecutive loss.

That video of James, meanwhile, reopened a sore spot for many fans. During the 2020 NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla., James notably joined countless other players and also coaches who chose to kneel during the playing of the national anthem before games. James once clashed with President Donald Trump over the anthem issue as well.

Fans all said the same thing about Malik Willis’ breakout performance for Packers

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Fans are seeing a lot of green in Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis’ future.

Willis looked more than comfortable starting in place of the injured Jordan Love in the Packers’ Week 17 clash against the Baltimore Ravens. Willis already had Packers fans on their feet just two passes into the contest at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

The fourth-year QB went 2/2 for 79 yards in the Packers’ opening drive, including a 39-yard strike to Christian Watson for a game-tying touchdown.

Willis also made some spectacular plays with his legs.

Willis was outstanding through halftime with a perfect 8/8 passing clip for 133 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He became the first QB since Michael Vick in 2002 to complete every pass for over 100 yards and record both a passing and rushing touchdown in a first half.

Several fans felt like they were witnessing Willis play himself into his first big NFL contract come the offseason. Some pegged the figure to be right around the two-year contract with 30 million guaranteed that Justin Fields got from the New York Jets in March.

Willis finished the game with a stellar 18/21 passing clip for 288 yards and a touchdown to go along with 60 yards rushing and 2 more touchdowns on 9 carries. However, Willis’ breakout game in a losing effort as the Packers fell 41-24.

The Liberty product had a tumultuous start to his NFL journey with the Tennessee Titans a few seasons ago, but appears to have turned the corner in Green Bay.

However, it’s hard to imagine the team being able to keep Willis around for much longer with Jordan Love firmly entrenched as the Packers’ starting QB. Some team out there will likely give Willis a shot at earning a starting job next season.

The Liberty product had a tumultuous start to his NFL journey with the Tennessee Titans a few seasons ago, but appears to have turned the corner in Green Bay.

Jose Alvarado, Mark Williams get ejected after throwing punches at each other

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Jose Alvarado went after a much larger man during Saturday’s game.

Alvarado and the New Orleans Pelicans faced off on Saturday against Mark Williams and the Phoenix Suns. During the third quarter at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La., there was a real brouhaha between the two players.

While attempting to fight over a Williams screen during a Suns possession, Alvarado gave Williams a two-handed push to the chest. He was whistled for a personal foul on the spot and did not agree with the call.

Then Alvarado turned back to Williams and took out his frustration on the seven-footer. He gave Williams another shove, and the two began throwing wild punches at each other (before teammates and referees intervened).

Here is the video.

Alvarado and Williams were both predictably ejected on the spot. Phoenix was leading New Orleans 87-83 at the time of the incident and went on to win by a 123-114 final score.

Both Alvarado and Williams will likely be facing further league discipline (possibly involving suspensions) for the incident. That is more in line with Alvarado’s M.O. though as he is known as one of the NBA’s great pests and even got into a fight during a preseason game earlier this year.

Colts fans fuming at Chargers kicker after his meltdown led to Indy’s playoff elimination

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Indianapolis Colts fans on Saturday felt like they were let down by a different team’s kicker.

To stay alive in the playoff hunt, the Colts needed the Los Angeles Chargers to beat the Houston Texans in their Week 17 clash at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Texans entered the contest as the hottest team in the NFL with a seven-game win streak, but the Chargers were on a 7-1 run of their own over their last eight contests.

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, the NFL’s all-time leader in field goal accuracy, played a significant role in the team’s success. However, Dicker looked like a replacement-level kicker in Saturday’s game.

Dicker missed a 32-yard field goal attempt to close out the first half that would have cut the Chargers’ deficit to 14-6 going into the break. Dicker had been a perfect 52-of-52 from within 35 feet in his career before the stunning miss against the Texans.

The Chargers kept things interesting in the fourth quarter with a touchdown with just over three minutes left. All they needed to get within three points was for Dicker to convert on the extra point. Instead, Colts fans watched in horror as Dicker went wide left on the PAT.

Several Colts fans expressed their frustrations over Dicker’s performance, accusing him of having a vendetta against Indianapolis.

A few fans even theorized that Dicker had money against the Colts making the playoffs. It felt like a more reasonable explanation to some than the most accurate kicker ever suddenly getting the yips.

The four points Dicker cost the Chargers ended up being their margin of defeat, as the team lost 20-16 to a streaking Texans team.

The result officially ended any chances of Philip Rivers leading the Colts to a magical Super Bowl run at the age of 44.

Cooper Flagg turns heads with Luka Doncic accomplishment

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Losing Luka Doncic still stings for Dallas Mavericks fans, but Cooper Flagg is helping them move on from the shocking February trade that sent the Slovenian superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Although wins have been hard to come by for the Mavs so far in the 2025-26 NBA season, that hasn’t stopped Flagg from shining on the court.

On Saturday, the former Duke Blue Devils star showed another glimpse of his immense potential to become Dallas’ cornerstone. Against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., the 19-year-old Flagg put up 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, albeit in a 113-107 loss.

With his performance against the Kings, Flagg became just the third teenager in the history of the league to have three straight games with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, according to ESPN Insights. The only other two players to pull off such a feat before turning 20 years old are Doncic and LeBron James.

Flagg had 5 turnovers against the Kings, but those are simply part of his learning curve in the pros.

One area where he just keeps on getting better is in his outside shooting, as he went 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Over the last three Mavs games, he’s gone 8-for-13 from deep, while averaging 27.7 on an excellent 61.8% shooting from the floor.

Flagg will look to keep it going on Monday, when Dallas plays the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Ore., for the Mavs’ final game in 2025.

Kyle Whittingham makes strong statement as new Michigan era begins

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New Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham can’t wait to start working in Ann Arbor.

In a video posted by the official X account of Michigan football, Whittingham shared a powerful message for Wolverines fans, expressing his intent to help the program get back on track.

“Michigan fans, coach Kyle Winningham. Honored to be here, honored to be the football coach at this great university. Can’t wait to get working with our players, getting to know them and getting Michigan football to where it should be,” the 66-year-old Whittingham said.

It is one thing to be optimistic, and it’s another to actually do the work needed to hit Michigan’s lofty goals, but Whittingham could be the right man to help the Wolverines achieve them.

Whittingham brings a breath of fresh air to a program that is still navigating through the aftermath of the controversial end of former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore’s tenure with the Wolverines.

Before taking on the Michigan job, Whittingham told the Utah Utes that he would not be coaching the team in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday, as he moves on to the next chapter of his career.

Michigan will play one more game in 2025, facing the Texas Longhorns in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday. Biff Poggi will handle the head coaching duties on an interim basis for the Wolverines.

Joe Burrow had the most eccentric Christmas presents for his O-line

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Joe Burrow continues to think outside the box when it comes to presents for his offensive line.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback turned heads last December when he gifted his O-linemen authentic Japanese Katana swords. The ancient weapons drew rave reviews from his teammates.

Burrow went even further back in history with his latest gift idea, per ESPN’s Ben Baby. On Monday, Burrow invited the Bengals’ O-line to his Cincinnati home and unveiled his latest Christmas offering: authentic dinosaur, bear, and mammoth fossils. Players were reportedly able to pick their fossil in order of when they arrived at the Burrow residence.

Bengals center Ted Karras chose the tusk of a woolly mammoth, while offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims opted for matching cave bear skulls. Rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild got himself a Tyrannosaurus rex artifact that would turn “Jurassic Park” fans green with envy.

“I think it speaks to his intelligence and interests and his desire to do something unique,” Karras said via ESPN. “I thought it was really special.”

Burrow made his love for fossils known during his appearance on the latest season of Netflix’s “Quarterback” show. The Pro Bowl QB admitted on the series that fossils were always on his mind.

While quarterbacks buying their offensive line gifts for Christmas has become commonplace, Burrow has next to no competition when it comes to gift creativity. Burrow has come a long way from his more conventional gift to his O-linemen three years ago.

Texans’ rookie duo stuns Chargers with rare feat unseen in 87 years

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The rookies brought the heat for the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Houston entered its Week 17 assignment against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., looking to secure a spot in the NFL playoffs, and the Texans’ rookie pair of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel answered the call early, helping their team record a 20-16 victory over Justin Herbert and company.

The Texans kicked things off with a quick score in the opening drive, as they needed just three plays to find the end zone, courtesy of a monster 75-yard touchdown reception by Higgins.

After Houston’s defense forced the Chargers to punt, CJ Stroud and the Texans’ offense got down to work again and finished yet another efficient drive with a huge play, as the quarterback found Noel for a 43-yard touchdown to extend the AFC South team’s lead to 14 points.

According to NFL+, Noel and Higgins just made history as the first rookie duo since 1938 to score 40-yard-plus touchdowns in the same game.

Plays like those by Higgins and Noel not only provided Houston an early boost in the contest but also likely gave the rookies a big confidence boost, which could help the Texans moving forward.

Tom Izzo has strong criticism of 1 fellow coach

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Tom Izzo is not pleased with the state of college basketball, and he is willing to criticize his peers by name if he thinks it is justified.

The Baylor Bears exploited a rules loophole to add 21-year-old center James Nnaji to their team, even though Nnaji has been selected in the NBA Draft. Nnaji was taken 31st overall in 2023, but never signed an NBA contract and spent each of the last two seasons playing in Europe.

Izzo is very much a traditionalist, and unsurprisingly, he was staunchly opposed to the move. He even said he called Baylor coach Scott Drew to figure out what was going on.

“I don’t know the whole situation. I’m a little disappointed. Scott’s a good friend of mine,” Izzo said. “I asked Coen (Carr), ‘would you be okay if I went and got Miles (Bridges) and brought him back?’ He laughed, but that’s what we’re doing. Somebody’s sitting. Somebody’s not playing. And I just don’t think that’s fair for the players. Some of them worked their butt off to get to this position.

“I’m a little surprised. I’ve got a call in to Scott. I’m anxious to see what he tells me. I’m not saying that we’re holier than thou art or anybody should not do this or that, but if that’s what we’re going to do, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too, but shame on the NCAA, because coaches are going to do what they’ve got to do, I guess.”

Because Nnaji never actually signed an NBA contract, he is eligible to play at the NCAA level. He gets a full four years of eligibility, while the New York Knicks still own his NBA rights.

Izzo is far from alone in finding this ridiculous. It certainly goes against the spirit of college athletics, even if not specifically the letter of the law.

While Izzo is adapting to the changes in college sports, he has made no secret of how much he hates them. It sounds like he would not have made this move were the opportunity presented to him.

Izzo has Michigan State off to an 11-1 start after an Elite Eight appearance last season. He may not like what is going on, but he is still finding a way to win in this environment.

TreVeyon Henderson gets status update before Patriots-Jets game

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The New England Patriots will have their best weapon on the ground ready for Week 17’s showdown against the New York Jets.

On Saturday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that New England running back TreVeyon Henderson has finally cleared concussion protocol, which means the former Ohio State Buckeyes star will be on the field on Sunday versus the Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Henderson was placed in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in Week 16’s 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. He logged consecutive limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday, which further indicated a positive outlook for his chance to see action against New York.

The rookie running back leads the Patriots with 776 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 148 carries, while averaging an efficient 5.2 yards per carry.

Henderson’s availability for the Patriots in Week 17 is excellent news, considering the number of players who will be unavailable for the Jets game.

New England has already ruled out wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, left guard Jared Wilson, linebacker Rober Spillane and defensive end Harold Landry III because of various injuries.

The Patriots have already clinched a playoff spot with a 12–3 record entering Week 17, but they remain in the hunt for both the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the AFC East title.

2 notable teams appear to have no interest in Chris Paul

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Chris Paul appears to be struggling to find a market after being sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul has been linked to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets since the Clippers sent him home in early December. However, neither team appears to be interested at this point.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line wrote Saturday that Paul has been told not to expect any interest from the Lakers. The Rockets have a need for point guard depth, but are unlikely to make any significant moves until late January due to how close they are to reaching the first salary cap apron.

The Rockets, in particular, seemed like a very logical landing spot for Paul. He has played for them before, they are a likely playoff team, and he could fit a need. Perhaps their stance will change later in the season depending on whether they can address their financial concerns, but for now, Paul will apparently be at home for a while longer.

The Clippers controversially sent Paul home in what was to be his final NBA season, with reports of numerous behind-the-scenes issues. It later emerged that he might have trouble finding a market for his services, and that appears to be precisely what is happening.

H/T Bleacher Report

Ryan Lochte explains why he is selling his Olympic gold medals

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Former United States Olympian Ryan Lochte is facing some backlash for his decision to auction off three of his Olympic gold medals.

Lochte is auctioning off his gold medals from 2004, 2008, and 2016. He announced the move in a post on Instagram, which drew some criticism and questions about his financial status.

Lochte addressed the critics in a separate Instagram post last week.

“I never swam for the gold medals,” Lochte wrote. “My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were just the cherry on top of an incredible journey. With 90 international medals — including Olympics, world championships, Pan Pacs, and Pan Am Games — I’ve been fortunate to achieve more than any swimmer out there. But what means the most to me is what I’ve done with them. I’ve given away medals to fans and young kids in the stands, because it’s never been just about me. It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams. The memories, the hard work, and the connection with all of you are what I treasure the most.”

Lochte’s comment was part of a larger statement about some recent personal drama. His ex-wife Kayla posted video of him reciting his wedding vows just after he announced a tell-all book about his professional and personal challenges.

Lochte won a total of six Olympic golds in his career through individual and team events. He previously sold many of his bronze and silver medals as well.

While Lochte is not officially retired, the 41-year-old has not competed at the highest levels of the sport since 2016, when he infamously sparked a huge controversy during the Rio Olympics when he inaccurately claimed that he was held up at gunpoint after a night out.

Puka Nacua responds to his hefty fine from the NFL

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua seems to have been taught a lesson by the NFL.

Nacua was fined $25,000 for his recent comments about league officiating. On Friday, he reflected on the fine and admitted he had a lot to learn from the experience.

“That one, it definitely hurt,” Nacua said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “I think it was something I was expecting. It was a learning moment and an experience to learn from and to never let happen again. There are going to be moments of frustration later on in my career whether it’s ups and downs on my personal half or on the team’s half so being able to manage those emotions and send that energy in the right direction.”

Nacua initially got himself in hot water by suggesting that some referees throw flags just to be on television. He doubled down after a tough loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which only made things worse for him.

Every player gets frustrated with officials at times, and Nacua is no different. Most, however, know to keep their frustrations private instead of airing them publicly. Doing it Nacua’s way is not going to gain him any sympathy from officials, whether he is right or wrong.

Nacua is still on a rookie contract and is slated to earn roughly $1.03 million this season. Taking $25,000 out of that is not necessarily a huge deal, but it will certainly sting him more than it would some of his teammates who make far more.

Bears’ Austin Booker gets punished over the hit that concussed Jordan Love

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Austin Booker is having to cut a five-figure check after concussing Jordan Love with a hit last weekend.

The NFL announced on Saturday that they have fined the Chicago Bears defensive end Booker a total of $11,636, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Booker is being fined over two separate hits on the Green Bay Packers quarterback Love during last Saturday’s meeting between the two teams.

The most notable hit came in the second quarter at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Love was dropping back to pass on a 1st-and-10 play when the pocket collapsed. Booker came rushing in from the left side and laid a helmet-to-helmet hit on Love, drawing a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness as a result.

You can see the video of the play in question here.

Love would immediately enter concussion protocol and did not return to the game, which the Bears went on to win in overtime by a final score of 22-16. The former first-round pick Love has since been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens as well, setting the stage for an extremely ugly quarterback matchup.

As for Booker, 23, he was Chicago’s fifth-round draft pick in 2024 (No. 144 overall). Booker has made seven starts for the Bears this season, recording 3.5 sacks, 29 combined tackles, and a forced fumble.

While Booker did lead with the crown of his helmet, it appears that Love also ducked down himself, resulting in the helmet-to-helmet contact. As such, the fine but no suspension for Booker feels like a decently fair outcome here.

Justin Herbert hurts fractured hand against Texans

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Justin Herbert seemed to aggravate his hand injury during his Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 17 game against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday.

Herbert got sacked in the first quarter by Danielle Hunter, who brought the Chargers quarterback to the ground. Herbert was grimacing after the sack.

The Chargers quarterback was later seen heading off the field favoring his fractured left hand. He unbuckled the chin strap for his helmet using his right hand rather than his left.

Herbert has been playing through a fractured left hand that he sustained in Week 13 against the Raiders. He even underwent surgery for it but did not miss any time afterwards.

Herbert and the Chargers got off to a rough start against the Texans and fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Herbert entered the game with 3,491 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. He also entered with 461 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. The Chargers entered the game 11-4 and looking to catch the 13-3 Denver Broncos for first in the AFC West. The two teams will play at Denver in Week 18.

Bryce Harper wears ‘not elite’ shirt in response to Phillies exec

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If Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski was looking to light a fire under Bryce Harper, he succeeded.

Dombrowski made some comments in October in which he questioned whether Harper could return to being an elite player in the future.

“He is still a quality player. He is still an All-Star caliber player. He did not have an elite season like he has in the past. I guess we will only find out if he becomes elite or if he continues to be good. Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer. He is the one that will dictate that. I don’t think he is content with the year he had, and it wasn’t a bad year. But when you think of Bryce Harper, you think elite. You’re thinking of one of the top 10 players in baseball. I don’t think it fit into that category. He is a very good player,” Dombrowski said of Harper.

Harper definitely saw those comments and took note.

During the week, Harper shared a video on TikTok of him hitting. He was seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt that said “not elite” on it.

Harper is known for taking things personally and being motivated by words.

Harper is 33 and batted .261 with an .844 OPS in 132 games last season. He has won NL MVP twice during his career, with the last MVP season coming in 2021. Maybe Harper is due for another big season, especially after being egged on by his own team.

Lions fan Ryan Kennedy disrespected DK Metcalf in latest statement

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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy spoke with the media on Friday to address his incident with DK Metcalf that has received attention since Sunday. During his speech, he was disrespectful towards the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver.

You may recall that Metcalf went over to the stands, grabbed Kennedy, and then punched at the Lions fan during the Steelers’ Week 16 win over the Lions in Detroit. Metcalf was suspended two games by the NFL for his actions. The NFL is not planning to take any action against Kennedy after determining that he did not commit any violations.

While speaking with his attorney at his side, Kennedy continued to call Metcalf “DeKaylin,” which is DK’s full first name.

“I want to be crystal clear about one thing: I didn’t use any racial slurs. No hate speech. None of that stuff,” Kennedy said.

“DeKaylin, if you’re watching this, man, if you could just say that please. My family is getting threats. It’s not cool,” Kennedy said.

DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf is DK’s full name. Kennedy is one of the few people who seems to call him “DeKaylin,” which obviously bothers the Steelers receiver. So his insistence on calling Metcalf by that name during his statement doubled down on that disrespect.

Kennedy has said that him calling DK “DeKaylin” is what bothered the receiver. Metcalf later said that Kennedy called him something inappropriate. Kennedy has threatened to file a lawsuit against Metcalf.

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