Sportswriter Terry Frei faces backlash for racist Indy 500 tweet

Sportswriter Terry Frei faced tremendous backlash on Twitter after sending a tweet Sunday about the Indy 500.

Frei, who writes for The Denver Post, said he was “very uncomfortable with a Japanese driver winning the Indianapolis 500 during Memorial Day weekend.”

That was in reference to driver Takuma Sato winning the Indy 500 after beating out Helio Castroneves. Sato became the first Japanese driver to win the Indy 500.

Frei writing a racist tweet like that did not sit well with many. The writer, who has authored multiple sports books, left the tweet up long enough to get over a thousand replies before finally deleting it.

Here’s a look at some of the backlash he faced, including from people who called for his firing: (more…)

Sam Dekker, Olivia Harlan officially engaged

Sam Dekker and Olivia Harlan are officially engaged.

Harlan, a TV reporter, announced on social media Saturday that Dekker proposed to her on Friday night.

I've been stupid in love with this guy since day 1. he asked me to be his wife last night that… https://t.co/OKPhkXFbtf

— Olivia Harlan (@Olivia_Harlan) May 27, 2017

I've been stupid in love with this guy since day 1. he asked me to be his wife last night that means I can cry from laughing and poke his dimple forever. I thank God everyday for bringing me this perfect man

A post shared by Olivia Harlan (@olivia_harlan) on May 27, 2017 at 11:02am PDT

Dekker just completed his second season with the Houston Rockets after being drafted by them out of Wisconsin in the first round in 2015.

Harlan is a former teen beauty queen who serves as a sideline reporter for Atlanta Hawks game and covers ACC football for FOX Sports Southeast. She is the daughter of well known play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan. The two have been dating since at least the end of last year.

H/T Bro Bible

Ice Cube calls out LaVar Ball for 4-point challenge

Ahead of the start of his Big3 League, Ice Cube called out LaVar Ball, which could result in Ice Cube buying Big Baller Brand shoes.

Among the rules of the new 3-on-3 basketball league that’s set to begin late next month is a 4-point shot players can attempt if they are touching the designated circles. Thanks to a video posted to his Instagram account, we know Ice Cube can make the shot. However, he wants to know if Ball can as well and issued a challenge. If Ball can make the shot, Ice Cube will purchase 10 pairs of Big Baller Brand shoes.

‪Callin out @lavar for @thebig3 #4pointchallenge! Make the 30ft shot and I'll cop 10 pairs of #bigballerbrand.‬

A post shared by Ice Cube (@icecube) on May 23, 2017 at 7:38pm PDT

Much has been made of Ball’s pedestrian college basketball stats and claims of being able to beat Michael Jordan 1-on-1 back in his heyday.

This would be a chance for Ball to show what he can do on the court and score a couple of sales in the process.

H/T Bleacher Report

LFL players protesting national anthem

Colin Kaepernick may not be planning to kneel during the national anthem if an NFL team signs him for the 2017 season, but some of the players in the Legends Football League are continuing the protest that the quarterback started last year.

Two players from the LFL, formerly known as the Lingerie Football League, took a knee during the national anthem before a recent game. Fans could be heard yelling things like “get off your knees!” as Danielle Harvey and Sherri Awagah of the Los Angeles Temptation made their political statement.

Players from the LFL, formerly known as the Lingerie Football League, took a knee during the national anthem https://t.co/S9TIehcSjp

— Steve DelVecchio (@SteveDelSports) May 24, 2017

A report from March claimed Kaepernick has decided he will stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner” this upcoming season, and some have speculated that he backing down from the protest to make himself more appealing to NFL teams. Still, he is not the only NFL player who has taken a knee, and even some athletes from other sports have followed in Kaepernick’s footsteps. Awagah and Harvey can be added to that list.

McKayla Maroney doubles down with new racy Instagram photos

McKayla Maroney is doubling down on the Instagram controversy she created over the weekend.

On Saturday, the former Olympic gymnast posted a video on Instagram of her dancing in a thong, clearly showing off her behind.

After the racy video caused a stir, Maroney responded to those who suggested she was hacked and didn’t intend to share such a revealing video.

“i didn’t get hacked. unfollow if u need to. all love,” she wrote.

Just in case you thought she might regret being so revealing on Instagram, she bounced back Monday with two more revealing photos. The caption for the first one, “i still wish em well”, seems to be a message to her haters.

(more…)

CNN analyst takes jab at Kentucky while discussing Syria missile strike

A CNN analyst took a jab at Kentucky basketball while discussing the missile strike President Trump launched against Syria on Thursday evening.

Talking about the US’ involvement in Syria, Major General James “Spider” Marks, a war analyst said that this strike wouldn’t be an isolated incident like Kentucky’s one-and-done basketball program.

He really did RT @MrBrando3 This fool on CNN just compared the Syria situation to Kentucky hoops, "This isn't one and done." pic.twitter.com/qj8CRriAYH

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) April 7, 2017

Anderson Cooper didn’t even flinch, perhaps not understanding the comparison. It was a silly one at that.

Kentucky has been a target for critics of the one-and-done system, which head coach John Calipari thrives in. Calipari took his team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion North Carolina. Cal recently gave this defense of the one-and-done system. Meanwhile, many will argue against the wisdom for continued military action in Syria.

Fans outraged over pole dancers at Ultimate Disc League halftime show

An American Ultimate Disc League team — yes, that is a thing — has found itself in some hot water over its choice in halftime entertainment.

On Saturday, the San Diego Growlers invited a group of six women from a fitness studio to participate in their halftime festivities. This particular studio is called Sexy Beast Studio, and it is where people use pole dancing to stay in shape. Growlers trainer Chris Chamberlain, whose wife runs the business, suggested the idea.

Fans were not happy.

“This makes me embarrassed. @SDGrowlers not ok,” a woman who owns a share of another American Ultimate Disc League team wrote on Twitter, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Issue apology and educate yourself on sports and gender issues 101. Stat.”

Many fans actually left the event during the halftime show.

“I attended this game and was shocked to see the dancers at halftime,” one Reddit user wrote. “A not insignificant number of attendees left the event as soon as they realized what was happening; mostly attendees who had brought their children expecting a family affair.”

Chamberlain himself participated in the pole dancing, and many on-lookers said his routine looked like “top-level gymnastics.” Still, the team apologized to anyone it offended.

“It wasn’t our intent to insult anybody or offend anybody in any way. We certainly apologize,” Growlers co-owner and player Will Griffin said. “These girls are great athletes. They’re really fit; they could kick my butt.

“I understand the optics of it. We didn’t frame it up well enough. People were confused.”

We’ve seen how pole dancing can end poorly at an NFL tailgate before, but it sounds like these women (and one man) are good at what they do. Maybe they’d be appreciated more at a different venue.