Rick Carlisle backs Tyrese Haliburton’s choke gesture
There are some people who may have been bothered by the choking gesture that Tyrese Haliburton did during the Indiana Pacers’ historic comeback win on Wednesday night, but his head coach was not one of them.
Haliburton hit a step-back shot at the final buzzer in regulation to force overtime in Indiana’s 138-153 win over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers initially thought Haliburton hit a game-winning three-pointer, but reviews showed that his foot was on the line.
Haliburton celebrated his latest clutch shot by doing the famous Reggie Miller choke gesture. Miller was in the building calling the game for TNT, too. You can see the video here.
After the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was asked if he would have preferred that Haliburton not make the choke gesture. Carlisle had a great response.
“Tyrese has earned the right to do whatever he wants,” Carlisle said.
Rick Carlisle is asked whether he wished Haliburton hadn’t done the choking gesture: “Tyrese has earned the right to do whatever he wants.”
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 22, 2025
That was not the only huge shot Haliburton has hit in the postseason, which is why Carlisle is not about to tell his best player how he can and can’t celebrate.
The Pacers had no business even being in Game 1 late in the fourth quarter, let alone somehow pulling off the comeback. One brutal stat illustrates just how big of a collapse the result was for New York.
Haliburton led the Pacers with 31 points, but no shot was bigger than the one he made as time expired in the fourth quarter. He told reporters afterward that fans had been asking him to do the famous Miller choke, so he felt that was as good a time as any. It seems like Carlisle may have agreed.
Liam Hendriks says his family has received death threats
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks was knocked around in his last two outings, and the veteran right-hander says he has received death threats over it.
Hendriks took the mound in a 1-1 game in the seventh inning of the Red Sox’s game against the New York Mets on Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. He allowed 3 hits and 3 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning and was charged with the loss as the Red Sox fell 5-1.
Hendriks’ previous appearance was on Friday, when he allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Boston lost that game 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves.
On Thursday, Hendriks revealed via Instagram that he and his wife have received death threats. The 36-year-old said fans have told him he should kill himself and that they wished he died from cancer. Hendriks beat cancer two years ago.
“Just as an FYI: Threats against my life and my wife’s life are horrible and cruel. You need help,” Hendriks wrote on Instagram. “Leaving comments telling me to commit suicide and how you wish I died from cancer is disgusting and vile.
“Maybe you should take a step back and reevaluate your life’s purpose before hiding behind a screen attacking players and their families. Whether you do it from your ‘fake accounts’ or are dumb enough to do it from your real account. I think I speak for all players who have had to deal with this in their career when I say: Enough is enough.”
Liam Hendriks is now receiving death threats pic.twitter.com/DZk4XNFZ54
— Shawn (@PalmerDesigns_) May 22, 2025
Hendriks signed a 2-year, $10 million contract with the Red Sox during the offseason. He previously had not pitched in an MLB game since he was with the Chicago White Sox in 2023. He battled cancer prior to that season and then was shut down to undergo Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for all of 2024 as well.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Hendriks told the Boston Globe that he has been frustrated with his role in Boston’s bullpen. He said there is “no rhyme or reason” to how manager Alex Cora has been utilizing him. He reiterated his stance after Wednesday’s loss and said he feels he needs to pitch more often in order to be effective.
Hendriks now has a 5.56 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11 appearances with the Red Sox. He is not the first athlete to report that he has received death threats via social media.
Report: NFL pushed Packers to propose tush push ban
The Green Bay Packers decided to represent all of those who want the tush push banned by submitting a proposal this offseason calling for just that, but they may have done so at the request of the NFL.
The Packers formally submitted a proposal to ban the tush push ahead of the NFL owners’ meetings in March. Owners decided to table their vote then and revisit the discussion at the owners’ meetings in Minneapolis this week. The proposal, which included revised language, was voted down, meaning the tush push is here to stay for at least another season.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL asked the Packers to propose the tush push ban. Detroit Lions president Rod Wood also said this week that the league encouraged his team to propose a change to playoff seeding, which was also voted down.
Florio says the same happened with Green Bay and the tush push. A source told the reporter that most people within the Packers organization do not have a strong opinion on the play either way.
It would make sense for the NFL to have asked the Packers to become the face of the anti-tush push movement. Team president Mark Murphy had previously complained about the so-called “Brotherly Shove” and said there is “no skill involved” in the play. You can read his full comments.
Green Bay is now looked at as the “loser” with their efforts to have the Philadelphia Eagles’ favorite play removed from the game. The Eagles were more than happy to troll their NFC rival when the proposal was shot down, too.
Tyrese Haliburton’s dad celebrates with choke gesture
The New York Knicks had a historic collapse in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, and Tyrese Haliburton’s father had an appropriate celebration afterward.
The Pacers beat the Knicks 138-135 in overtime at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. It appeared the game was over when Indiana was trailing by 14 points with just over three minutes remaining, but the Pacers somehow forced OT on a Haliburton buzzer-beater at the end of regulation.
After draining the clutch basket, Haliburton did the iconic Reggie Miller choke gesture. You can see the video here.
Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, watched the game from a bar. John celebrated Indiana’s win with a very similar gesture:
Hali daddy in here clowning 😂 YES’CERSSSS @Pacers pic.twitter.com/s3dUO5FmmE
— Nurse Ky👩🏽⚕️ (@pplcallme_Ky) May 22, 2025
John Haliburton is known for sitting courtside at Pacers games and being quite animated. However, he has been away from the team since he had a heated on-court incident with Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first round of the playoffs. He also reportedly got into it with a fan at one point.
Tyrese has joked that his father has been enjoying watching games from home, but it looks like John decided to venture out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He and his fellow Pacers supporters had plenty to be happy about.
Tony Dungy reacts to Jim Irsay’s death with social media post
Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday at the age of 65, and the coach who helped bring Irsay his only Super Bowl win has shared his reaction to the news.
Former Colts head coach Tony Dungy said in a social media post on Thursday that he was devastated to learn of Irsay’s death. Dungy called Irsay “one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known.”
“When I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep it was devastating to me. The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us but I wasn’t ready for this. Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known,” Dungy wrote on X. “He was awesome to me and my family. He was a blessing to his players and staff. But more than that he had a heart for people and for the city of Indianapolis. He loved people and did so many things for others — more things than you could imagine. I miss him already. He was a special man and I couldn’t have worked for a better owner.”
When I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep it was devastating to me. The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us but I wasn’t ready for this.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) May 22, 2025
Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known. He was… pic.twitter.com/Gf7qNXCTPD
Dungy was the head coach of the Colts from 2002-2008, which was during Peyton Manning’s prime with team. Dungy helped lead Indy to the playoffs in all seven seasons. The Colts won the Super Bowl in 2006, and that was Irsay’s lone championship as owner of the franchise.
Manning also issued a heartfelt statement after receiving news that Irsay had died.
Irsay inherited the Colts from his father Robert, who had acquired the franchise in 1972. Robert moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis, and put son Jim in charge as general manager in 1984. Jim became the team’s owner in 1997 following the death of his father.
The tributes from Dungy, Manning and others show just how well-liked Irsay was as a person.
Caitlin Clark shares message after Pacers’ epic comeback
The Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning comeback against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night, and Caitlin Clark had a great reaction to the latest feat.
The Pacers beat the Knicks 138-135 in overtime at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. Indiana was down 14 points with 2:51 remaining in the fourth quarter and scored 23 points in the final 3:14 of regulation to extend the game.
Clark was so impressed she sent an all-caps message on social media.
“PACERS ARE THE GREATEST COMEBACK TEAM IVE EVER SEEN,” Clark wrote on X.
PACERS ARE THE GREATEST COMEBACK TEAM IVE EVER SEEN
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) May 22, 2025
Aaron Nesmith made five three-pointers in the final four minutes of regulation. He had six three-pointers total in the fourth quarter and is the only player in NBA history to ever accomplish that feat during a postseason game. Tyrese Haliburton hit a step-back shot at the buzzer in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and he celebrated with a timely tribute to Reggie Miller.
For whatever reason, the Pacers simply do not get rattled when trailing late in the fourth quarter. They had similar comeback wins against both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the playoffs.
As Yahoo Sports notes, teams that were trailing by seven or more points in the final 50 seconds of regulation or overtime in a playoff game are 4-1,702 since 1996. The Pacers have three of those wins in this postseason alone.
We have seen plenty of other insane stats that explain why Clark is calling the Pacers the greatest comeback team she has ever seen. There are people who have been around much longer than Clark who would probably agree.
Charles Barkley has request for Adam Silver
Charles Barkley made a request of Adam Silver while talking on TV Wednesday night.
TNT televised Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. The Pacers pulled off an epic comeback and won despite being down by 14 points with under three minutes to play.
The fervor surrounding the Pacers’ big win led Barkley to speak his message to the NBA commissioner while talking on TNT after the game. Barkley pleaded for Silver to allow Tyrese Haliburton’s father John to attend Games 3 and 4 of the series, which are scheduled to be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“I want to reach out to Adam Silver tomorrow. It’s time to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building,” Barkley said. “Adam, I’m asking you, hey, my man paid his dues. He did something really, really stupid. But he’s been punished. And I’m asking you and the Indiana Pacers to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game 3 and 4.
“Listen, he paid his dues. It shouldn’t be indefinite. He’s been punished enough. He would never do anything that stupid again. So, Adam, you know how much I love you … you all let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game 3.”
John Haliburton was banned from attending the Pacers’ playoff games following a highly publicized incident that took place between him and Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the postseason. Haliburton taunted Antetokounmpo after Tyrese made a shot to eliminate the Greek Freak’s Bucks in the first round.
Two days after the confrontation, a report had said that John Haliburton had been asked not to attend the team’s playoff games to avoid being a distraction. Barkley feels that John has served his time and should be allowed back to watch his son play in person. The Pacers and NBA probably could make that happen, so long as Haliburton doesn’t sit courtside, and they keep things quiet.
Chuck asks Commissioner Silver to let Tyrese Haliburton's dad attend games 3 & 4 in Indy 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VmRWOng87V
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 22, 2025
Brutal stat shows just how bad the Knicks choked in Game 1
The New York Knicks choked away Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on Wednesday night. One brutal statistic illustrates just how big of a collapse it was.
The Knicks were leading 119-105 with 2:51 left in the game, so it seemed like they had it in hand. In fact, teams had gone 0-970 when down by 14 points or more in the final 2:50 of regulation in the playoffs over the last 27 postseasons.
NBA teams were 0-970 when down by 14 or more points in the final 2:50 of regulation in the playoffs over the last 27 postseasons.
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) May 22, 2025
They are now 1-970.
But the Knicks stopped defending Aaron Nesmith, who got hot and proceeded to make five three-pointers plus two free throws. Tyrese Haliburton made a shot to tie things and send it to overtime, where the Pacers went on to win 138-135.
So if that felt like a historic choke job by the Knicks, it’s because it was. That’s right up there with the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to the Patriots. Playoff teams don’t blow 14-point leads with under three minutes to go at home … yet the Knicks did it.
Indiana now improbably leads the series 1-0. This sort of victory has become their thing this postseason, as they’ve come back from trailing against opponents multiple times.
Indiana has come back from down 15 or more FOUR times, tied for the most such comebacks in a single postseason in the play-by-play era (since 1997).
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) May 22, 2025
Pacers are 4-2 when they go down by 15 or more this playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton does Reggie Miller choke sign after epic shot in Game 1 win
Tyrese Haliburton certainly knows his basketball heritage.
The Indiana Pacers star Haliburton was the hero in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. During the contest at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., Indiana erased a 113-98 lead by New York with under five minutes left, closing the quarter on an improbable 27-12 run to force overtime.
It was Haliburton who hit the biggest shot of the night, splashing an absurd stepback two-pointer to tie the game as time expired in regulation. Haliburton’s shot came out of a scramble situation after Knicks forward Mikal Bridges poked the ball away, and the ball ended up taking a dramatic bounce off the rim and before finally falling down through the net.
After hitting the shot, Haliburton did the iconic Reggie Miller choke sign to celebrate (with Miller in the building calling the game for TNT to boot). Here is the video.
you cannot make this up.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2025
the basket to tie it from Tyrese Haliburton and force OT. pic.twitter.com/xqT7gKwmuO
Haliburton and the Pacers both thought that the shot was a three-pointer and thus began to celebrate as if they had won the game. But replay review showed that Haliburton had a foot on the line, so the game went into OT instead.
Fortunately, the Pacers were able to take care of business in the extra period, earning the 138-135 win. Haliburton ultimately finished with a team-high 31 points to go along with four rebounds and 11 assists as Indiana stole the Game 1 victory from New York on the road.
After the game, Haliburton explained his decision to hit the choke sign, popularized by the Pacers icon Miller during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals (also against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden).
“Everyone’s been wanting me to do it,” Haliburton told TNT’s Allie LaForce. “I was gonna hold it for the right time that felt appropriate. And then it went into overtime. So we’re gonna have to save it for later.”
The two-time All-Star Haliburton luckily did not have to eat crow with the early celebration as the Pacers still pulled out the victory in the end. Indiana teammate Aaron Nesmith also deserved a whole lot of credit for helping the team even get to Haliburton’s shot in the first place — Nesmith unbelievably hit six straight three-pointers in the final five minutes to claw the Pacers from 15 down to within just one possession of the Knicks.
Ultimately, that epic Game 1 victory by Indiana will go down as just the latest exhilarating miracle win that they have managed to produce just this postseason alone.
Actor Jon Hamm helps Knicks on live-ball play in Game 1 vs. Pacers
A very Madison Square Garden thing happened at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
During the first half of Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, famous actor Jon Hamm offered an unexpected helping hand to the Knicks. In the second quarter, the Knicks were on offense and forward OG Anunoby had the ball poked away by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
The loose ball went straight for the sideline, and it looked like Haliburton had an opportunity to save the ball and ignite a fast break. But Hamm prevented that from happening by grabbing the loose ball with two hands. As a result, the Knicks were able to retain possession.
Take a look at the video.
Jon Hamm playing tough courtside defense pic.twitter.com/0ztOQ4msRw
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 22, 2025
Knicks games at Madison Square Garden, particularly during the NBA playoffs, are known for the large amount of celebrities who are always in attendance. There is even a dedicated section known informally as “Celebrity Row” spanning the closest first few rows in the arena.
As for Hamm, the award-winning actor best known for his starring role in the AMC television series “Mad Men,” he is a well-known Knicks fan (though he is originally from St. Louis, Mo.). It is unclear how exactly Hamm, 54, became a fan of the Knicks. But we do know that he has a strong dislike of sports teams from Boston, which may explain his affinity for New York teams.
Peyton Manning issues statement reacting to Jim Irsay’s death
Peyton Manning is reacting to the death of the man who gave him his very first opportunity in the NFL.
The Indianapolis Colts announced on Wednesday that their longtime owner Jim Irsay had died at the age of 65. As a result, social media was immediately flooded with tributes to Irsay.
One such tribute came from the retired Hall of Fame quarterback Manning. In a post to his Instagram page on Wednesday, Manning said that he was “heartbroken” by Irsay’s death and called Irsay “an incredibly generous and passionate owner.”
“I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing,” wrote Manning. “He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched.
“His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten,” Manning continued of Irsay. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18.”
Peyton Manning’s IG post on Jim Irsay: pic.twitter.com/a7r6LWLoCO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2025
Irsay, who took over as principal owner, CEO, and chairman of the Colts in 1997, made Manning the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. The two enjoyed a very successful partnership with each other during Manning’s time in Indianapolis from 1998-2011. That included eight division titles, 11 playoff berths, and two trips to the Super Bowl (including a win in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 NFL season).
Manning would also blossom individually under Irsay’s tutelage. During his time as a Colt, Manning won four NFL MVP Awards, made eight All-Pro teams, earned 11 Pro Bowl nods, and set an all-time record with 49 touchdown passes in the 2004 season (which would later be broken by Tom Brady with 50 for the New England Patriots in 2007 before being reclaimed by Manning with 55 in 2013 as a member of the Denver Broncos).
Now 49 years old, Manning did have a bitter split with the Colts after openly criticizing various moves that Irsay and the Indianapolis front office had made at the time. Irsay was also later accused of taking cheap shots at Manning in the media.
But the two men were ultimately able to patch up their differences, and Manning was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor in 2017 (also getting his No. 18 jersey retired by the team). Now that Irsay has died, Manning has nothing but fond memories about the time that they spent with one another.
Breakdown shows how close Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic MVP vote was
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is officially the 2024-25 MVP, and he appears to have won the award fairly comfortably as well.
The NBA announced on Wednesday (after a lengthy wait) that the Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander had won this season’s Most Valuable Player Award. Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who finished second, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished third.
Shortly after the news broke, the NBA also shared the voting breakdown of the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic received all votes for first and second place (with the former earning 71 first-place votes and the latter earning the other 29).
You can see the full voting breakdown below.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner of the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 21, 2025
The complete voting results pic.twitter.com/j4nqOAWVT2
Gilgeous-Alexander, a first-time winner, averaged a league-leading 32.7 points per game this season to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Jokic had a slightly more well-rounded line with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. But Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder were much more successful this season with 68 wins compared to 50 wins by Jokic’s Nuggets.
Those who voted for Gilgeous-Alexander are also likely feeling vindicated with the Thunder now coming off a second-round playoff series victory over the Nuggets. But Gilgeous-Alexander himself, even now that he is an official NBA MVP, has not been winning any new fans lately with his increasingly controversial style of play.
Jim Irsay had notable final social media post before his death
Jim Irsay had the state of Indiana on his mind all the way up until the end.
The longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Irsay died Wednesday at the age of 65. In a statement announcing his death, the Colts said that Irsay died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon.
Irsay shared his final social media post earlier in the day on Wednesday as well. On Wednesday morning, Irsay took to his X page to post a good-luck message to the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and their owner Herb Simon.
“Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!” Irsay wrote.
Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 21, 2025
The Pacers are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals (for the second straight year). They are facing the New York Knicks, a historic rival, and tipped off Game 1 of the series at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. on Wednesday evening.
Simon and the Pacers later released a statement about the death of Irsay.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment Owner Herb Simon and the Simon Family on the passing of beloved Indianapolis Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay. pic.twitter.com/iYIp6EyljX
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2025
Irsay had a deep connection with the local community in Indiana, especially their many sports teams (professional and otherwise). That was particularly so with the Pacers, who play in the same city as the Colts (with their two home stadiums located less than a mile away from each other).
The former Super Bowl champion Irsay also had a highly-regarded reputation for his generosity in the Indianapolis area, which many noted in various online tributes to Irsay after his death on Wednesday.
Sports world reacts to death of Jim Irsay
Jim Irsay is receiving tributes from all throughout the sports world after his death at age 65.
The sad news broke on Wednesday evening that the longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Irsay had died. The Colts announced the news in a statement to social media, calling Irsay a “caring and unique spirit” who served as “a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the league.”
Social media was immediately flooded with tributes to Irsay from several prominent sports figures. That included a number of current and former NFL stars as well as former Colts players.
RIP MR. IRSAY https://t.co/NPhX5gWw1a
— Marvin Harrison Jr. (@MarvHarrisonJr) May 22, 2025
Prayers up for Jim Irsay’s family and friends
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 22, 2025
Rest in Peace
A generous man that LOVED his Family, Community and Football team.
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) May 21, 2025
Jim Irsay will truly be missed. https://t.co/HqHPNAVLsl
Sad sad day for @Colts nation AND the @NFL. What an amazing father first and foremost, and a damn great owner…loved every player on the roster! Sending prayers to the Irsay family https://t.co/3E6B8cznrd
— Jerrell Freeman (@JerrellFreeman) May 22, 2025
— DeForest Buckner (@DeForestBuckner) May 21, 2025
Ex-Colts star wide receivers Reggie Wayne and TY Hilton also had particularly emotional reactions to the news of Irsay’s death.
This hurts my soul…. https://t.co/wpK1fPD3jW
— Reggie Wayne (@ReggieWayne_17) May 21, 2025
Please don’t ask me if I’m ok. Cuz I’m not. Thank You Sooo Much Mr.Irsay. I will forever hold our talks close to my heart. Love You! RIP Mr.Irsay pic.twitter.com/EeOh5lmec5
— TY Hilton (@TYHilton13) May 22, 2025
Colts legend Peyton Manning reacted to the news as well, saying over Instagram that he was “heartbroken.”
Peyton Manning on the death of Jim Irsay pic.twitter.com/uOfFLUncS9
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) May 22, 2025
Others on social media proceeded to share their favorite moments and stories about Irsay.
An absolute legend
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 21, 2025
RIP Jim Irsaypic.twitter.com/U3WvCSNTXe
A great Jim Irsay story.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) May 22, 2025
Days before 98 draft. Polian was getting nervous, worried that Manning would end up the next Bernie Kosar.
"Can you live with Bernie Kosar?!?!?" he screamed at Irsay, pounding his fist on Irsay's desk.
Irsay never waffled. Manning was the pick.
I still have Jim Irsay’s money https://t.co/zxAaeFVexr pic.twitter.com/Wvrh9FK7mC
— Lord Mayor of Indianapolis (@Two_ahhh) May 21, 2025
Three things I’ll remember about Jim Irsay from stories that were told to me about him over the years:
— Stephen Andress (@StephenAndress1) May 21, 2025
– He made it a point to give every Colts employee a birthday card with a $100 bill.
– He would randomly give the homeless a wad of cash from time to time in hopes of helping… pic.twitter.com/tiaVbuUM9i
Irsay originally served as vice president and general manager of the Colts from 1984-96. He then took over as the principal owner, chairman, and CEO of the team after his father Robert Irsay’s death in 1997. During Irsay’s time in charge, the Colts won 10 division titles, earned 16 playoff berths, and made it to two Super Bowls (with a victory in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 season).
While Irsay’s personal demons were a part of his story as well, he will more so be remembered for his track record of success and incredible generosity over his many decades in the public eye.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has great reaction after losing out on MVP award
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a great reaction after losing out on winning the NBA MVP award.
The NBA on Wednesday announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had won the league MVP award. They included the results of the voting, which showed the Oklahoma City Thunder guard won easily, as he captured 71 out of 100 possible first-place votes. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic received the other 29 first-place votes and finished second.
Antetokounmpo finished solidly in third place. He received 88 votes for third, while Jayson Tatum captured 11 third-place votes and finished in fourth.
In response to a post from NBA reporter Shams Charania announcing Gilgeous-Alexander as the winner, Antetokounmpo shared some sarcasm.
“What??!!!! Did shams got (sic) hacked no way this is true??!!” Antetokounmpo humorously wrote on X.
Some wrongly took the post to believe Antetokounmpo was upset over the voting results. Those people likely though Antetokounmpo felt either he or Jokic should have won. The truth is it was well known for a while that Gilgeous-Alexander was going to win the award, so the announcement came as no surprise to Antetokounmpo or anyone else.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP winner. This is the fifth year in a row that Antetokounmpo has finished either third or fourth in voting. This is Gilgeous-Alexander’s first time winning the coveted honor.
Jim Irsay has died at age 65
Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday.
The Colts shared a statement via social media on Wednesday that left the sports world shocked. The team said that Irsay “passed away peacefully in his sleep” on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,” the team said in its statement.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025
Irsay’s X account was active prior to his death. Earlier in the day Wednesday, he had sent a note of encouragement wishing the Indiana Pacers well in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks.
“Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!” Irsay had written.
Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city! 💪❤️
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 21, 2025
Irsay inherited the Colts from his father Robert, who had acquired the franchise in 1972. Robert moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis, and put son Jim in charge as general manager in 1984. He became the team’s owner in 1997 following the death of his father.
Beyond his career in football, Irsay was known for his philanthropy. He also was known for having developed a large collection of sports and entertainment memorabilia that he would often put on display through shows.
Irsay was absent from the public in late 2023 amid a health issue. He denied that he had been hospitalized for an overdose, and the team said then that he was dealing with a severe respiratory illness.
Great photo shows Nicolas Cage as John Madden for upcoming movie
A movie about the life of John Madden is in the works, and we are getting a glimpse of how it will look on screen.
Last week, Amazon MGM Studios released a promotional photo for the movie. The photo shows actor Christian Bale in character as late former Raiders owner Al Davis, and actor Nicolas Cage in character as late former Raiders coach Madden. Both men have their hands out and are flashing Super Bowl rings.
Your first-look at Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale as Al Davis on set of the upcoming film, Madden. Production is currently underway.
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) May 14, 2025
The film follows Madden’s remarkable journey—from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating… pic.twitter.com/jmmF4uy8LR
Bale wearing that sweater, those glasses and with that hairstyle really conjurs up images of Davis. What about Cage though? How does he look as Madden?
Here is another photo that’s even better as it has a side-by-side of Cage with the real Madden.
Nicolas Cage looks unrecognizable as John Madden in 'Madden'🏈 pic.twitter.com/9yXnXkRuxE
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) May 18, 2025
What do you think of Cage dressed as Madden? Did they get it right? Was Frank Caliendo not available? If you ask me, Cage dressed as Madden looks a lot like when Ryan Reynolds wore a fat suit for the overweight high school version of Chris from “Just Friends.” Still, the film is being directed by David O’Russell, who knocked it out of the park with “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.” It probably will be a film sports fans won’t want to miss.
NBC reportedly bids for major MLB TV package
NBC is reportedly trying to diversify its sports offerings by getting involved in Major League Baseball.
NBCUniversal has entered the bidding for the package of Sunday night and playoff games previously held by ESPN, according to Joe Flint and Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. NBC also has interest in the rights to the Home Run Derby, which were previously held by ESPN.
NBC’s plan would be to air the games on their network, plus streaming service Peacock. It would give the network year-round sports programming to go with “Sunday Night Football” and its new NBA package, which will begin airing next season.
The report states that NBC is offering much less money than the $550 million ESPN previously paid annually for the package. That is partly because the network is not seeking the radio and international broadcast rights that ESPN also held.
ESPN has held the rights to “Sunday Night Baseball” since 1990, but 2025 will be the final year of their coverage. The two sides were at odds over the value of the rights package, and ESPN decided to walk away by exercising an opt-out clause.
It is not clear who else might bid for ESPN’s old package. MLB might prefer NBC no matter what, as it gives them a highly-visible partner that has invested in sports on a large scale. It would also be a nod to the sport’s past, as NBC was one of the league’s top broadcast partners from 1947 to 1989 and has been the home of 37 different World Series.
Timberwolves player thinks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘gets calls’
At least one Minnesota Timberwolves player appears to be buying into the narrative that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets a favorable whistle from officials.
Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels made the comment Wednesday, one day after his team lost 114-88 to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Paycor Center in Oklahoma City, Ok. McDaniels said the Timberwolves had been prepared for Gilgeous-Alexander to draw plenty of fouls, and that there was little the team could do about it.
“We expected it. Myself knowing coming in, he gets calls,” McDaniels said. “Not everything is going to go our way. Nothing we can do about it. Just got to keep playing.”
Jaden McDaniels on fouls: “We expected it. Myself just knowing coming in, he gets calls. Not everything is going to go our way. Nothing we can do about it. Just gotta keep playing.” pic.twitter.com/dblgamkx15
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) May 21, 2025
McDaniels added that the Timberwolves need to find a way to be less physical, and that the team has no choice but to “switch our gameplan of how the refs are calling the game.”
McDaniels does not necessarily sound angry about Gilgeous-Alexander drawing fouls, but is simply treating it as a reality of facing the star guard. At times, Gilgeous-Alexander has faced criticism for leaning too hard on free throws to score, and it seemed to annoy one of McDaniels’ teammates in Game 1.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the Thunder’s Game 1 win, with 11 of them coming at the line. McDaniels was limited to 24 minutes and fouled out with 5:21 to go in the fourth, with five of his six fouls drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander. He and the Timberwolves will have to figure out a new approach going forward.
Former North Carolina coach claims school made big change for Bill Belichick
Former North Carolina coach Mack Brown is claiming the Tar Heels made a significant change to accommodate his successor, Bill Belichick.
In an appearance on SiriusXM College Sports on Tuesday, Brown predicted that Belichick will be a success at North Carolina. He noted that the program is giving Belichick ample support, and indicated that the school even lowered its academic standards to enable Belichick to land better recruits.
“He’s arguably the best coach over. They’ve committed money to it. They’ve helped him with academics. They’ve lowered those standards some. There’s absolutely no reason that they shouldn’t be successful,” Brown said of Belichick.
Mack Brown opens up on leaving UNC and shares with @DustyDvoracek & @dannykanell why UNC has a chance to be successful quickly with Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/Mj9yE3poOk
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) May 20, 2025
Based on Brown’s statement, North Carolina made some significant changes to lure Belichick to the school. Those changes have continued as the school looks to help him navigate some of the new problems he has encountered.
North Carolina probably did not expect the recent drama that Belichick has gotten involved in to be a factor when he signed on. It makes sense that they would be concerned about that given how much effort they went to in order to land him. Talent acquisition, at the very least, still should not be a problem.
