Titans WR breaks his collarbone attempting one-handed catch
A Tennessee Titans receiver’s attempt at acrobatics is going to end up costing him dearly.
Titans wideout Treylon Burks broke his collarbone during Saturday’s training camp practice at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported. As a result, Burks is now expected to miss “at least” the start of the 2025 season.
Turron Davenport of ESPN adds that Burks sustained the injury while making a one-handed diving catch. Burks reeled in a deep ball down the right sideline from Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward and crashed hard to the field. Burks is also reportedly being evaluated for a shoulder injury.
Fan-shot video eventually emerged of the play on which Burks was injured. You can see the video at the link here.
With Burks now out of commission for the foreseeable future, the Titans immediately made a move at the WR position. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Tennessee is now signing wideout Ramel Keyton, a former undrafted player who spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Burks, 25, was a first-round pick by the Titans in 2022 (No. 18 overall). But the three-time All-SEC selection out of Arkansas has yet to put it together at the NFL level, in large part due to injuries.
As a rookie in 2022, Burks spent time on injured reserve with turf toe and also suffered a concussion. Then in 2023, he missed time with an LCL injury in his knee as well as another concussion. The worst of it though came last year when Burks tore his ACL during an October practice, resulting in the end of his season after just five games played.
Now Burks is dealing with another major injury setback, and he could be nearing the end of the road with the Titans (who declined his team option for 2026 earlier this offseason). That will also put more on the shoulders of Tennessee’s current WR corps, including the former All-Pro whom they recently signed in free agency.
Jalen Williams fires back at those calling him ‘corny’
Jalen Williams does not appreciate the suggestion that he is a cornball.
The Oklahoma City star Williams fired back at his critics in an Instagram comment this week. Williams was asked by a user about what he would say to those labeling him as “corny.”
“tbh the same people calling me corny couldn’t hold my water in real life,” said Williams. “prolly would ask for a selfie if we was face to face.”
For context, the 24-year-old Williams made headlines this week by recreating an iconic photograph of Kobe Bryant. Williams recently underwent surgery on his right wrist and posed in the style of the famous 1999 photo of Bryant at the free throw line wearing pajama bottoms and a large cast on his wrist.
The “corny” label is usually given to NBA players who are seen as acting in an inauthentic way, especially to gain respect on social media. That becomes particularly so whenever they involve the late Bryant (with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum also drawing “corny” criticisms in the past for invoking Bryant in his antics).
Williams can probably do without the clout-chasing at this point since he has already very much arrived as an NBA player in his own regard. The ex-lottery pick was an All-Star, an All-NBA selection, and an All-Defensive selection this past season. He then went on to win the NBA championship with the Thunder and was among several core OKC players who got rewarded with rich extensions as a result.
That said, Williams is sometimes seen as a third fiddle with the Thunder behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. As a result, he tends to gravitate towards attention-grabbing stunts, and he does not care if he is labeled “corny” because of them.
Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf have an unusual toilet rule with each other
Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf appear to be bonding with each other in more ways than one during their first Pittsburgh Steelers camp.
Rodgers and Metcalf are suitemates during training camp, and have had to come to an agreement regarding their usage of the toilet. As Metcalf put it, their shared toilet is “super loud,” and they have had to negotiate appropriate times to flush it.
“The toilet is super loud,” Metcalf told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. “So he was like, ‘Yeah, at night, if we got to piss, just don’t flush the toilet.’ I was like, ‘All right, bet.’”
This is probably not the bonding experience Rodgers and Metcalf necessarily expected to have, but perhaps it will still have a positive effect anyway. The Steelers traded for Metcalf in part to lure Rodgers, and the two appear to be trying to buy in fully to their new relationship.
One of the most important things a quarterback and wide receiver can share is communication. This will certainly force that out of them, though the team is much more excited by the possibility of their shared touchdowns this season.
Marcus Jordan makes revelation about his relationship with father Michael
Marcus Jordan is sharing some details this week about his relationship with his famous father.
In a post to his Instagram Story on Friday, Marcus, the son of retired basketball icon Michael Jordan, made a revelation about his relationship with his father. Marcus revealed that he was inspired to reconnect with his family, including Michael, because two of his childhood icons died this week. Additionally, Marcus said that he recently almost broke his sobriety but is now successfully at 107 days sober and counting.
“Went THRU IT yesterday realizing that 2 icons of my childhood passed this week,” Marcus’ post read. “Reached out to both my parents & my siblings cuz life is short and it’s important to spend time with the people you love.
“Caught a SERIOUS case of the ‘fck its’ & almost had a drink,” Marcus added. “It was disheartening realizing how much of the ‘fun’ has been stripped from social media.”
You can see a screenshot of Marcus’ full post at the link here.
Marcus, 34, appeared to be referencing the respective deaths this week of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and wrestling great Hulk Hogan. Osbourne died on Tuesday at the age of 76 after a battle with advanced Parkinson’s disease, and Hogan died on Wednesday at the age of 71 following a cardiac arrest.
Not much was previously known about Marcus’ relationship with his father Michael. But these comments indicate that Marcus has been distant with his father (along with the rest of his immediate family).
A former college basketball player for UCF, Marcus has had some well-documented personal struggles in recent years. He was arrested in Maitland, Fla. last February for DUI and got hit with multiple charges (even reportedly telling officers at one point that “I’m Michael Jordan’s son”).
We also know that Michael disapproved of Marcus’ relationship with Larsa Pippen, the ex-wife of Michael’s longtime Chicago Bulls co-star Scottie Pippen. Marcus began dating Larsa in 2022, but the two broke up in 2024.
Now Marcus is progressing on his road to sobriety, and he was moved this week to reach out to his immediate family, namely, his father Michael, his mother Juanita Vanoy (Michael’s ex-wife), and his siblings.
Questions arise about Joe Mixon’s latest injury
The Houston Texans will be without Joe Mixon for at least a large portion of training camp, and it is unclear what happened to cause his latest injury.
Reports emerged Saturday that Mixon has suffered a foot injury and is likely to miss extended time. NFL Network’s Jane Slater added that this is a third injury to the right foot that he hurt twice last season.
I’m told he injured his right foot/ankle twice last year and this is a 3rd injury to it. https://t.co/AuiUIB92wP
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 26, 2025
Notably, Mixon had been placed on the non-football injury list. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, that means Mixon did not suffer the injury during football activities. That raises questions about what the running back did to his foot this time.
Mixon did play in 14 games for the Texans last season, even though he was playing hurt for a good portion of the season. He still managed to rush for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also limited during Houston’s two playoff games, but still added two touchdowns anyway.
Mixon’s lingering injuries were a huge source of frustration for him last season. One can only imagine he must be furious at suffering another setback right at the start of training camp.
Warriors still positioning themselves for possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing.
Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming.
Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multi-year extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move.
Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season.
The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season.
Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.
Aaron Judge dealing with concerning injury issue
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is undergoing tests due to a lingering elbow issue.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Judge will be held out of the lineup as he goes for imaging on his elbow, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The manager did not offer any indication of how serious the injury was.
Notably, Judge could be seen grimacing after making a throw during Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. At the time, the Yankees downplayed the issue and suggested Judge would feel better after a scheduled off-day.
Here’s the play in Toronto on Tuesday where Aaron Judge was wincing after a throw back to the infield.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 26, 2025
Aaron Boone said Judge felt better on the off day, but then last night he was “really dealing with it” and “couldn’t throw well from the outfield.”pic.twitter.com/fRWa26HK2w
The Yankees obviously cannot go without Judge for any extended period of time. The 33-year-old is having a historically great season, hitting .342 with 37 home runs. He also missed significant time in 2023, but has otherwise been able to stay healthy over the past several seasons.
Judge’s injury issue comes at a delicate time for the Yankees, who sit 5.5 games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East. They do lead the AL Wild Card race, but only by 2.5 games, so they are hardly assured of a playoff spot. If Judge misses time, their status gets even shakier.
Keith Hernandez had harsh line for heckling fan
Keith Hernandez had absolutely no patience for a heckling fan on Friday night during a game between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.
In the top half of the second inning, a Giants fan could be heard loudly heckling Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio while he was at the plate.
“That was a weak swing!” the heckler screamed.
PIX11 play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen attempted ot laugh it off, but Hernandez got a little heated.
“Give that guy a hot dog so he can chew on something and shut up,” Hernandez said.
Cohen got a good chuckle but warned, “I think he can hear you.”
Hernandez, who is often blunt and sometimes fiery, likely didn’t care. He was clearly annoyed by the heckler, as were fans who were watching the broadcast.
“The guy was awful. Keith was right,” one user wrote on X.
“SF needs to make him shut up,” another wrote.
Not only did the heckling fan catch a hilarious stray from Hernandez, but Mauricio got back at him as well. On the very next pitch, he sent a ball up the middle for a base hit.
The Mets ultimately won the game, 8-1, and sent that heckler home with his head hanging.
Eric Lauer tells a story about Max Scherzer to explain his fat lip
Eric Lauer, the 30-year-old left-hander and youngest member of the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation, showed up on Thursday ahead of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers sporting a nasty wound.
Lauer’s bottom lip was swollen and deeply bruised. He revealed the injury required six stitches.
But how did it happen? As Lauer tells it, it came as the result of breaking a cardinal rule.
“There’s kind of this, like, known thing not to mess with (Max) Scherzer on his start days, especially when he has his headphones in, and I broke that rule,” Lauer said, via the Toronto Star. “I tried to talk to him a little too early. He wasn’t very happy about that, so six stitches is what you get for that.”
Lauer was so deadpan when blaming the fat lip on Scherzer that members of the media weren’t sure if he was joking or not.
On Friday, before Toronto’s second game against the Tigers, Lauer kept the gag going.
“I want you guys to talk to Max first,” he said with a smile. “I want to hear what Max says.”
Even manager John Schneider learned into the joke.
“I had to separate them,” he said. “If there was an altercation, I didn’t see it. That’s all I can say.”
With concerns about in-fighting bubbling up among the fan base, Lauer addressed relationships and friendships in the clubhouse. However, he wasn’t quite ready to let go of the joke.
“I think the people who were taking that route should more look into how we interact with each other in the dugout,” he said “Even (Thursday), after I came out, we were talking, laughing, having a good time, so even if it was (a fight) it didn’t affect anything relationally.”
What actually happened to Lauer’s lip remains unclear, but it hardly impacted him on the mound. During Toronto’s series-opening victory on Thursday night, he hurled 8.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out six to pick up the win and improve to 6-2 on the season.
Fans float in hot tub at McCovey Cove during Giants-Mets game
McCovey Cove is a legendary hotspot nestled in the San Francisco Bay, located behind the right field wall of Oracle Park. San Francisco Giants fans consider it a rite of passage to take in a game there, especially if you’re able to snag a home run ball.
Barry Bonds made it the spot during his career, splashing dinger after dinger into the chilly waters.
Fans have also gotten increasingly creative with their vessels (and attire) in McCovey Cove, but a new bar was set on Friday night during a game between the Giants and New York Mets.
A trio of fans — two Mets and one Giants — showed up in a hot tub. A literal floating hot tub.
“So, it’s a raft. It’s got an outboard motor, it’s got a little BBQ, and it’s got a hot tub,” broadcaster Mike Krukow said, via MLB.com. “I mean, c’mon! That is living. Living, I tell you.”
“American ingenuity,” Duane Kuiper added.
Although the fans and their floating hot tub were the talk of the town, they were unable to rake in a home run ball. While Mets star Francisco Lindor did send a 377-foot shot out to right field, it wasn’t long enough to reach McCovey Cove.
Still, there’s no denying those guys had a blast.
J.J. Watt completes the 9-9-9 challenge at Brewers game
J.J. Watt is a competitor. If there’s a challenge, he’ll give it his all and often rises to the occasion.
Such was the case on Friday during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins when he took on the 9-9-9 challenge, where fans attempt to consume nine beers and nine hot dogs over the course of nine innings.
Watt logged the entire experience on X, frequently updating fans on his progress. He finished three dogs and three beers after one inning, giving him quite the head start.
After just two innings, Watt had downed five beers and swallowed five hot dogs. It was smooth sailing from there.
“Hitting cruise control now,” Watt wrote after consuming seven beers and seven hot dogs through three innings.
Watt wrapped things up midway through the fifth inning, sharing video of the final hot dog going down the hatch.
“Halfway through the fifth, nine hot dogs,” Watt said. “Quick shoutout to Stadium Sauce. . . All done.”
Watt periodically stopped to take photos with fans throughout the challenge, as some shouted, “It’s a bad day to be a hot dog!”
But Watt wasn’t done quite yet. While he had wrapped up the 9-9-9 challenge in speedy fashion, there was still room for more. He made a post-game pitstop at Culver’s, where he housed a double smash-burger, tater tots, and a pecan sundae.
He’s no Joey Chestnut, but perhaps competitive eating is in Watt’s future?
Cowboys QB Joe Milton throws some shade at Patriots
Joe Milton is thrilled to be a member of the Dallas Cowboys and, in expressing that, threw some very obvious shade at his former team, the New England Patriots.
Following the team’s practice on Friday, Milton praised veteran quarterback Dak Prescott and his willingness to teach and tutor not only himself, but also other young quarterbacks on the roster.
“Dak is a great leader,” Milton said, via the Cowboys’ official website. “All respect to him. He literally goes out of his way to help me, no matter if the coach is talking in the meeting, he literally goes out of his way to help.
“I’ve been in another building. I know how that goes. It’s just very different over here.”
That other building is Gillette Stadium, where Milton played alongside Drake Maye or Jacoby Brissett last season. He didn’t mention either by name, but flat-out admitted he preferred being traded away from New England.
“Definitely, I preferred it,” he said. “That was something me and my team put together. They were able to get it done, I really didn’t have to do much or say much. So just shout out to my agent, that’s pretty much it.”
Milton also praised Brian Schottenheimer for simplifying the learning process, which was apparently much more difficult and demanding in New England.
“At the Patriots, it was more everybody telling everybody what they’re doing based off the play, how long the play call was, the play call’s longer,” Milton said. “Over here, it pretty much goes back to my high school and college days, one word is a whole concept. I think learning the offense early like that, and coming in new to an offense, it’s pretty good to have that type of system.”
For Milton, it’s clear he sees the grass as much greener on the other side.
Security guard gets nailed in head during Brewers’ alumni home run derby
The Milwaukee Brewers held their Alumni Home Run Derby on Friday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of American Family Field.
The event took place following the team’s 5-1 loss to the Miami Marlins and featured 10 former Brewers players. Among the group were captains Ryan Braun and Carlos Gómez, as well as Prince Fielder, Nyjer Morgan, and others.
With Team Braun leading Team Gómez, 3-0, Morgan stepped to the plate and hit a pop fly that landed in the worst possible place: The head of a security guard who had his back to play.
Doink!
The crowd oohed as the ball bounced off his head, but the announcers no-sold it and continued discussing the event. The pitcher briefly glanced at the security guard before immediately turning back to Morgan for the next pitch.
One user on X mentioned the incident humorously, noting that no one warned the guard, while another expressed sympathy and concern over his well-being.
As of Saturday morning, there has been no update on the security guard, which may be a positive. No news is often good news.
Team Gómez ultimately won the derby, donating $10,000 to the Autism Society.
Nick Kurtz’s incredible nickname trends amid his 4-home run game
Nick Kurtz on Friday put together one of the best games in MLB history. His great nickname trended on social media in conjunction with the big game.
Kurtz went 6-for-6 with 4 home runs in the Athletics’ 15-3 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Kurtz scored 6 runs and had 8 RBIs in the game. His 19 total bases tied Shawn Green for the most total bases in an MLB game, suggesting he and Green are tied for the best hitting game in MLB history.
While reacting to Kurtz’s second home run of the game, A’s commentator Dallas Braden couldn’t resist calling out Kurtz’s nickname.
“What a magical night for the Big Amish. Smooth as butter, baby!” Braden said.
Nick Kurtz is out of this world 🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/mHDQMQEjF6
— Athletics (@Athletics) July 26, 2025
Yes, Kurtz’s nickname is the “Big Amish,” which is due to him being from Lancaster, Pa., which is a heavily Amish area. Kurtz celebrates big hits by pretending to churn butter as he rounds the bases.
The nickname caught on, with many mentioning the nickname via social media.
THE BIG AMISH https://t.co/29l6s7Pmxu
— Stephen Langsam (@StephenLangsam) July 26, 2025
They call Nick Kurtz 'The Big Amish'. So he pretends to churn butter during his home run trot! 😂😂😂 https://t.co/Y0j77NO9ct
— Rick Nyman (@RickNymanSport) July 26, 2025
It’s hard to beat that nickname. And after a game like that, people won’t forget Kurtz, who’s now up to 23 home runs on the season.
Nick Kurtz has one of the greatest games in MLB history
Nick Kurtz had every single slider turned up to 100 during Friday’s game.
The Athletics first baseman Kurtz had an evening for the history books against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Tex. Kurtz went a staggering 6-for-6 in the game and clubbed an even more staggering four home runs during the contest.
He kicked things off by singling off Ryan Gusto in the first inning and then hitting a two-run homer off Gusto in the second. Kurtz later doubled off Gusto in the fourth before continuing his onslaught against the Astros bullpen.
The rookie phenom Kurtz proceeded to hit a solo home run off Nick Hernandez in the sixth inning, another solo home run off Kaleb Ort in the eighth inning, and then a three-run home run off Cooper Hummel in the ninth inning.
You can see all four of Kurtz’s home runs here.
NICK KURTZ FOUR HOME RUNS IN ONE GAME!
— ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2025
First rookie in MLB history with four home runs in a single game! pic.twitter.com/Xip6UyFo0K
Kurtz, still only 22 years old, finished the game with a ludicrous six runs scored and eight RBIs as the Athletics pummeled the Astros by a 15-3 final score. He became just the 20th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game and the first-ever rookie to achieve the feat as well.
Furthemore, Kurtz joined Shawn Green as the only players in MLB history to go 6-for-6 with four home runs in a game (Green did so for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002). Kurtz also tied Green’s record, which was set during that game in 2002, for the most total bases in a single contest (19).
It is hard to put into perspective just how great of a performance that was by Kurtz, who has now surpassed his Athletics teammate Jacob Wilson as the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner. Last season, we saw a remarkable 6-for-6 game by Shohei Ohtani against the Miami Marlins to join the 50-50 club. Then this season, we saw a breathtaking four-homer game by Eugenio Suarez against the Atlanta Braves. But Kurtz managed to somehow do both of those things in just one game, becoming only the second player throughout all of MLB history to do so.
Benches clear in Cardinals-Padres game after Willson Contreras HBP
There was some extracurricular activity during Friday night’s St. Louis Cardinals-San Diego Padres game.
The Cardinals and the Padres faced each other for a weekend series contest at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. During the second inning, Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras got hit by an 0-1 pitch from Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta. The 94-mph fastball got Contreras on the elbow pad area, and he was not at all happy about it.
Contreras began yelling at Pivetta as he was walking down the first base line before Padres catcher Elias Diaz intervened. However, Contreras continued to jaw at Pivetta, and both benches emptied as a result.
Here is the video.
The Padres and Cardinals cleared the benches after Nick Pivetta hit Willson Contreras with a pitch pic.twitter.com/Ku4b9bT3Qb
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 26, 2025
John Denton of MLB.com noted that it was the 15th hit-by-pitch of the 2025 season for Contreras, which leads the National League. Denton also mentioned that Contreras was hit twice by Padres pitchers last season (with one of those incidents involving Contreras getting hit on the left hand and being knocked out of play).
St. Louis went on to win the game over San Diego by a 3-0 final score. But Contreras, who has been involved in multiple heated incidents with opponents this season already, is clearly fed up with getting plunked all the time. He even complained earlier this month about how he was supposedly not being protected by his Cardinals teammates after the constant HBPs.
Nick Young reacts to D’Angelo Russell facing cheating allegations
Nick Young is having a laugh now that the tables have apparently turned on D’Angelo Russell.
The new Dallas Mavericks guard Russell is facing allegations of cheating this week. An OnlyFans model by the name of “Jaw Morant” posted screenshots to X of alleged text and DM exchanges with Russell in which Russell was supposedly making plans to see her. The model claims Russell sent her over $5,000 and also posted a video of what appeared to be an alleged FaceTime with Russell.
You can see the screenshots posted by the model at the X link here (but beware that the profile has explicit content).
Meanwhile, Young (who was Russell’s former teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers) was asked by some content creators this week for his reaction to the allegations against Russell.
“What can I say, God answer all prayers, you know,” said Young. “Jaw Morant, she’s the GOAT.”
“You know, snitches never prosper,” Young added.
Here is the full video of Young’s remarks.
Nick Young reacts after a woman leaks DMs allegedly exposing D'Angelo Russell for Cheating: "God answer all prayers… You know Snitches Never Prosper"
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 25, 2025
Via: https://t.co/ffj6cfIVhb pic.twitter.com/Q5yAiCwkmY
Back in 2016 when they were teammates on the Lakers, Russell exposed Young for cheating on then-fiancee Iggy Azalea. Russell secretly recorded a Snapchat video of Young admitting to cheating on Azalea with a 19-year-old. The video eventually leaked, leading to an extremely awkward situation in the Lakers locker room as well as the ultimate end of Young’s relationship with Azalea.
Young never got over the Russell scandal and has taken several public shots at him over the years, even as recently as last December. While the allegations against Russell, who has been with Laura Ivaniukas since 2020, are simply allegations at this point, Young is clearly having some fun right now with the ironic saga.
Knicks make sizable coaching staff changes
The New York Knicks are overhauling their coaching staff amid the arrival of new head coach Mike Brown.
New York is parting ways with their assistant coaches Andy Greer, Dice Yamamoto, Daniel Brady, and Othella Harrington, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported Friday. Bondy notes that all four were assistants under fired ex-Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Additionally, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that assistant video coordinator Nick Thibodeau will not be returning to the Knicks next season either. Nick is the nephew of the former NBA Coach of the Year Tom.
The 55-year-old Brown, also a former NBA Coach of the Year himself, was just hired by the Knicks earlier this month to officially replace Thibodeau. While Brown was obviously not the team’s first choice for the job, the Knicks are now giving him all of the leeway that he needs to succeed in the new position.
It is generally pretty customary for teams to allow their new head coaching hires to build out an entire staff of their own. Thus, the mass departures from the Knicks are not all that surprising.
However, the Knicks still have some interesting dynamics in play here since it seems that at least two assistants from the Thibodeau era are being retained. Veteran coach Maurice Cheeks, who joined the Knicks’ coaching staff in 2024, still appears to be continuing with the team. Additionally, assistant coach Rick Brunson (the father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson) is sticking around as well, albeit in a demoted role according to recent reports.
Falcons take chance on former Pro Bowl WR
The Atlanta Falcons are kicking the tires on a former standout wide receiver.
Atlanta is signing veteran wideout DJ Chark to a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Friday. Chark had also visited with the Chicago Bears earlier this week but has now landed with the Falcons.
At 28 years old, Chark was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2018 NFL Draft (No. 61 overall). He went on to make a Pro Bowl team in 2019 on the strength of 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Chark then left to sign with the Detroit Lions before the 2022 season and also later ended up with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers. For the Chargers in 2024, Chark appeared in just seven games, catching four passes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
The ex-LSU star Chark has yet to recover his previous form after suffering a fractured ankle that ended his 2021 season prematurely (video here). He also spent time on injured reserve in 2022 with an injury to the same ankle.
For the Falcons, an 8-9 team last season, they could use a little more depth at receiver right now, especially with Darnell Mooney suffering a shoulder injury this week that is expected to cost him most of training camp. Atlanta did add a few new wideouts this offseason, including fellow ex-Pro Bowler Jamal Agnew. Thus, Chark will probably be facing some competition for touches, particularly once the Falcons are fully healthy again.
Where is Heather Clem from the Hulk Hogan sex tape now?
The death of Hulk Hogan at the age of 71 on Thursday has led many people to ask about someone who was closely associated with him, though for the wrong reasons. Heather Clem became famous — or infamous — when a sex tape of her having sex with Hogan got released in 2012.
Clem was formerly married to Bubba the Love Sponge (real name Todd Clem), a well known radio personality, from 2007-2011. Todd Clem had set up a secret camera in his bedroom and invited Hogan, who was the best man at his wedding to Heather, to come have sex with Heather. Bubba’s camera recorded video of the encounter. In 2012, a brief clip from the tape was published by the website Gawker, which led Hogan to sue Gawker, thanks to the backing of billionaire Peter Thiel. Hogan won the lawsuit in what was a highly publicized case that put Gawker in bankruptcy.
Clem has tried to move on since becoming infamous around that time. She appears to live in the Florida area, and now goes by her maiden name, Heather Cole. Cole is really into fitness. According to her Instagram page, she is a certified CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 trainer; a USA Weightlifting Level 1 and Level 2 coach; a certified personal trainer, and she is certified in aerial yoga.
Here is a video of her doing deadlifts.
Deadlifts with Helga Guðmundsdóttir#ThursdayThoughts #DontStop pic.twitter.com/HxuhWWPNz5
— Heather D. Cole (@heatherdcole) September 28, 2017
She also seems to still have a sense of humor over the whole Hogan/Bubba stuff:
What’s up brother!?!?! #FantasyFest #bubbaarmy #hulkamania #paypig #humiliation pic.twitter.com/HDpoynpjzB
— Heather D. Cole (@heatherdcole) October 27, 2023
Hogan wasn’t the only famous sports figure with whom Clem allegedly had a sex tape.
