Roman Anthony’s sister Lia Anthony reveals her relationship status
Roman Anthony’s older sister became an unexpected star as the Boston Red Sox outfielder made his MLB debut this week, and she opened up about that in an interview on Thursday.
Lia Anthony and the rest of Roman’s family attended Tuesday night’s game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. After Roman ripped a two-run double for the first hit of his MLB career, a couple of members of his family were interviewed by NESN.
Lia immediately generated buzz on social media because of her good looks. She was asked about the newfound popularity during a Thursday appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” and she described it as “surreal.”
“It’s been surreal. I went from having, I think, 3,000 (Instagram followers) and now I’m at 14,000. It’s crazy,” Lia said. “I’ve gotten quite a few DMs since that night.”
Lia added that Roman was “shocked” by the attention she received but said the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball is focused more on helping the Red Sox. Lia then revealed that she is single.
Roman's sister, Lia Anthony joins!
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) June 12, 2025
How many followers has she gained since Roman's debut?
Coco: "Are you single?" @WEEI pic.twitter.com/mI8VgLiWrz
Who is Lia Anthony?
Not a whole lot is known about Lia Anthony, even after her interview with WEEI. Her social media photos indicate she is a recent Florida State graduate. The Anthony family is from West Palm Beach, Fla.
Lia’s Instagram profile, which has gained thousands of followers since Tuesday, features a lot of photos of her on beach vacations and celebrating special occasions:
We fully expect the cameras to find Lia if she attends more Red Sox games this season.
JK Dobbins has firm message for his former team
JK Dobbins signed with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, leaving the Los Angeles Chargers after one season. In his first comments after signing, he had a pointed message for his former team as he prepares to face them twice a year.
Dobbins said he will definitely have a chip on his shoulder when facing the Chargers, but it goes further than that. He is tired of losing in the playoffs, and he wants to succeed with the Broncos where he has fallen short in the past with his other teams.
“I don’t want to just beat the Chargers. I want to go on, and I want to get a ring. Because I’ve been in the playoffs every year I’ve played. So, I’m tired of losing in them,” Dobbins said, via Josh Buckhalter of Heavy.com. “So, that’s my goal is to bring a Super Bowl to the city and just be a blessing to the community as well.”
Dobbins spent his first three NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before moving to the Chargers last year. He has not been able to get over the hump in the playoffs despite being there every year, so he has bigger ambitions than simply showing the Chargers what they are missing.
Dobbins played in 13 games for the Chargers in 2024, carrying the ball 195 times for 905 yards and 9 touchdowns. Those are respectable numbers, even if they are not quite as good as he might have hoped. If he can stay healthy, perhaps he can make the Chargers pay for letting him go.
Giants WR has hilarious description of Jameis Winston
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has been formally introduced to the Jameis Winston Experience this offseason, and it sounds like he is enjoying the ride.
Slayton was asked at minicamp on Thursday what it has been like to talk with Winston, who is known for having a quirky personality. The receiver let out a big sigh before offering a hilarious description of how his conversations with Winston have gone.
“It’s so hard to describe. Like, how I’m talking right now, he’ll be talking just like this and it’s just the random thoughts that come to his head. They just come out,” Slayton said. “We were talking about, you know, a slant. How did we get to Kentucky Fried Chicken? Just hard lefts.
“I can’t think of an exact example, but that’s the best I can describe it. It’s just random hard lefts, but then he comes right back on topic. … He’s a really fun guy to be around.”
Darius Slayton says Jameis Winston's random thoughts have been have been entertaining 🤣
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) June 12, 2025
"We were talking about a slant, how did we get to Kentucky Fried Chicken?" pic.twitter.com/QK3MYqETiR
Anyone who has called Winston a teammate knows exactly what Slayton is talking about.
Winston, who signed a 2-year, $8 million deal with then Giants in March, made seven starts for the Cleveland Browns last season. His performance off the field was as unpredictable as his play on it.
Winston finished with 2,121 yards, 13 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 2024. He drew more attention for his legendary pregame speeches and surreal postgame quotes than his play on the field.
Slayton has now gotten a first-hand look at Winston’s unique outlook on life, and the veteran quarterback has lived up to the hype.
Patriots announce new plan to honor Tom Brady
The New England Patriots have planned another ceremony to honor Tom Brady, and the latest will unveil a permanent shrine to the legendary quarterback.
On Thursday, the Patriots announced that they are building a bronze statue of Brady outside of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
The statue will be unveiled prior to the Patriots’ preseason game against the Washington Commanders.
A legacy etched in bronze forever.@TomBrady’s statue will be unveiled on 8/8 prior to Patriots vs. Commanders. pic.twitter.com/mRfKkbqC7i
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 12, 2025
The Patriots retired Brady’s No. 12 jersey during a ceremony last offseason. Team owner Robert Kraft announced at the time that plans were in the works to build a 12-foot statue of Brady, which would be the first statue the team has built honoring a former player or coach.
Brady played for the Patriots from 2000-2019. He won six Super Bowls with the team and is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time. The Patriots went to nine Super Bowls and won the AFC East 17 times with Brady as their starting quarterback.
After he left the Patriots, Brady went on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While there were some issues between Brady and Bill Belichick toward the end of the quarterback’s tenure in New England, it has since been made clear that there are no hard feelings.
The Patriots may also choose to honor Belichick with a statue one day, but for now Brady will stand alone in bronze outside their stadium.
Brewers awkwardly wish player a happy birthday before trade request
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Civale celebrated his birthday on Thursday by asking for a trade, and it is fair to question whether the team’s social media people were aware that the request was coming.
Civale turned 30 on Thursday. As teams often do, the Brewers wished the right-hander a happy birthday with a post on social media.
Happy birthday @AaronCivale #DeltaDentalBirthdays pic.twitter.com/LFG8ApTrf1
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 12, 2025
There was nothing unusual about the gesture, but it quickly became awkward when a report surfaced that Civale has asked the Brewers to trade him.
Civale’s agent, Jack Toffey, told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the veteran pitcher has requested a trade from Milwaukee. The decision was made after Brewers general manager Matt Arnold informed Civale that the veteran pitcher is moving to the bullpen.
“The conversation was very professional,” Toffey said. “I just very respectfully said that Aaron would really like an opportunity to continue his career as a starter. He’s going to be a free agent at the end of the year.”
Civale has been a starter throughout his entire MLB career. He made one appearance out of the bullpen in the playoffs last year, but all 122 of his regular-season appearances have been starts.
The Brewers have called up top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski, who is scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. The team decided to move Civale to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for Misiorowski.
Civale, whom the Brewers acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays last July, is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts this year. He missed time with a hamstring injury earlier this year.
The Brewers are not the first team to send public birthday wishes to a player at an uncomfortable time.
Bengals 1st-round pick leaves minicamp amid dispute
The Cincinnati Bengals still have not signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a contract, and it does not appear that the two sides are on the verge of a resolution.
Stewart was present for mandatory minicamp with the Bengals on Tuesday and Wednesday, though he did not take part in on-field drills. With no contract agreement in place on Day 3 of minicamp, Stewart decided to leave the team.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Stewart left minicamp on Thursday.
Cincinnati’s unsigned first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart now has left mandatory minicamp, per source. Stewart had been attending team activities, but without a signed contract and with the Bengals asking for certain clauses, no longer. pic.twitter.com/qeo492Z6As
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 12, 2025
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed during his media availability that Stewart was not at practice. Taylor said that he has had “good communication” and “positive conversations” with the former Texas A&M defensive end. When asked if he believes Stewart will sign his rookie deal prior to training camp, Taylor told reporters he was “not going to make any predictions.”
The Bengals drafted Stewart with the 17th overall pick this year. Stewart has reportedly been in a dispute with the team over language in his rookie contract that could allow Cincinnati to void future guarantees.
Stewart was asked about the contract dispute earlier this week and made some harsh remarks about the Bengals’ front office.
The Bengals have had their fair share of contract standoffs with players over the past two offseasons. Star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both skipped mandatory practices last year for similar reasons. Pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson has been holding out this year and is reportedly considering some drastic measures if he does not receive an extension.
Texans DB Jimmie Ward arrested on family violence charge
Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward was arrested early Thursday morning following an alleged incident at his home.
According to police records in Montgomery County, Texas, that were reviewed by Catherine Dominguez and Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Ward is facing a felony assault and family violence charge after he was arrested just before 6 a.m. Thursday morning at his home in Magnolia, Texas.
Police did not initially share any details of the alleged incident.
Ward has spent the last two seasons with the Texans after playing for the San Francisco 49ers for the first nine years of his career. The 33-year-old initially signed a two-year deal with Houston prior to the 2023 season and then got a 1-year, $10.25 million extension last summer.
The Texans said in a statement on Thursday that there are aware of Ward’s arrest and gathering more information.
“We are aware of the report involving Jimmie Ward. We are gathering more information and have no further comment at this time,” a team spokesperson said.
Ward has played in 10 games for the Texans in each of the last two seasons. He finished with 48 total tackles and 2 interceptions last year.
Ward’s 2024 season was cut short due to a foot injury. He has not practiced yet this spring while recovering from foot surgery.
Report: Knicks have ‘increased focus’ on surprising head coach candidate
The New York Knicks have been forced to expand their head coach search outside of candidates who are under contract with rival teams, and it sounds like they have serious interest in one somewhat surprising candidate.
Veteran coach Mike Brown has received “increased focus” from the Knicks, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. The same is true for former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Brown most recently coached the Sacramento Kings from 2022-2024. He inherited a team in 2022 that had missed the postseason for 16 straight seasons and led them to a 48-34 record and a playoff berth. Woodson went 46-36 in his second year with Sacramento and missed the playoffs. He was then fired earlier this season after the Kings got off to a 13-18 start.
The Kings received a great deal of criticism for the way they handled Brown’s firing.
Prior to his stint in Sacramento, Brown had two separate stints as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and a brief tenure in the same role with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors for several seasons between his second stint with the Cavs and his time with the Kings.
Amick notes that Brown has a close relationship with Knicks president William Wesley, who was a member of LeBron James’ inner circle when Brown coached LeBron in Cleveland. Brown also interviewed for the Knicks job in 2020 before Tom Thibodeau was hired, and Brown is said to have made a “very strong impression” on New York’s brass.
The 55-year-old Brown has been named NBA Coach of the Year twice, so he is experienced and has an impressive resume.
The Knicks have tried to interview several head coaches who are currently under contract with other teams. All of those requests have been denied, including their attempt to speak with their reported top choice.
There has been talk of New York potentially bringing back one of their former coaches as well, so their search appears to be wide open.
Rory McIlroy bombs insane drive at U.S. Open
Rory McIlroy was forced to switch to a new driver ahead of the PGA Championship last month, and it appears the new equipment is working just fine for him.
McIlroy absolutely crushed a drive during the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. The tee shot, which came on the 12th hole, went nearly 400 yards.
McIlroy landed the ball in a perfect spot on the fairway and watched it run out at least another 50-75 yards:
That one nearly made it to the crosswalk! 💪
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025
A 392-yard blast with a turbo kick for Rory on 12. pic.twitter.com/8BUM3Vreww
McIlroy is one of the best drivers in the world when he is on his game, and he has hit a handful of 400-plus-yard drives in the past. We will likely see more drives like his 392-bomb throughout the U.S. Open, as conditions at Oakmont are expected to be extremely fast.
Prior to the PGA Championship last month, the USGA determined that McIlroy was using a driver that was considered non-conforming, which is not uncommon. The same thing happened with another top player.
McIlroy, who won the Masters to complete the career grand slam earlier this year, was one of the favorites entering the U.S. Open. While monster drives will certainly help, it is the rough at Oakmont that has been the big story.
Internet reacts to Bennedict Mathurin’s explosion in Game 3 win
Game 3 of the NBA Finals had a very unlikely hero.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was the star during his team’s Finals game victory on Wednesday. Mathurin came off the bench to lead all scorers with 27 points on 9/12 shooting. The career night from Mathurin lifted Indiana to a 116-107 victory in front of their home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The Pacers now lead the best-of-seven series by a 2-1 margin.
Mathurin was scoring in all different kinds of ways during the game, getting to the rim, hitting midrange jumpers off the dribble, and even sinking two key three-pointers.
MATHURIN FOR 25 AND A NEW PLAYOFF CAREER HIGH!
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
Gives the @Pacers the lead in the 4th pic.twitter.com/MpQ8BK8vJ1
X users reacted to the out-of-nowhere performance from Mathurin with a number of great posts.
Bennedict Mathurin pic.twitter.com/U27StgURTh
— (@NewMediaSports_) June 12, 2025
Bennedict Mathurin Finals MVP pic.twitter.com/zHFnKNUJ8b
— Jake (@SuperiorNBA) June 12, 2025
bennedict mathurin tonight: pic.twitter.com/j6Un9qAuOk
— alex (@steven_lebron) June 12, 2025
The Mathurin Game. pic.twitter.com/eM4joJNwuW
— NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) June 12, 2025
Indiana also got some impressive contributions on Wednesday from some other bench players. TJ McConnell put up 10 points with five assists and five steals, and Obi Toppin also chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
But it was Mathurin who was the most impressive of all, doing all of his scoring in only 22 minutes of action to boot. Mathurin’s Game 3 explosion was even more unlikely when you consider that he had scored just 23 points combined over his last three playoff games entering play on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Mathurin was Indiana’s No. 6 overall pick in 2022 and has always had plenty of scoring talent. But he was in and out of the starting lineup this year, especially after Aaron Nesmith got healthy, and had even been involved in some unsavory on-court incidents earlier in the postseason.
None of that mattered on Wednesday though as Mathurin turned in the biggest game of his life to lead the Pacers to a crucial NBA Finals game victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taunted with 1-word chant by Pacers fans
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s reputation is preceding him at this point.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander was taunted by Indiana Pacers fans in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. During the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Gilgeous-Alexander successfully drew a foul on Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard.
The Pacers faithful were not at all pleased about the call and quickly burst out into a deafening one-word chant. They yelled “Flopper!” at Gilgeous-Alexander.
Pacers fans start a “Flopper!” chant after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 12, 2025
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/G3Yad1mq5F
Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-minted NBA MVP, was not rewarded with free throws for the foul as it took place before he went into his upward shooting motion. He also had a somewhat modest first half overall, putting up 12 points on 5/12 shooting and earning just two total free throw attempts.
But opposing fanbases are thoroughly fed up with Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul-baiting tactics. He drew 8.8 free throw attempts per game during the regular season, and that number has grown even further during the playoffs (where he is shooting 9.3 per game).
Gilgeous-Alexander shot eight free throws during his team’s Game 1 loss to the Pacers and followed that up with 12 free throws in a Game 2 win. That is more than enough for Indiana fans to label him as a “flopper,” and they are far from the only ones as well. During the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the home fans in Minneapolis hit Gilgeous-Alexander with a similar but slightly more creative three-word chant.
Knicks could consider surprise reunion with their former head coach
The New York Knicks are striking out with all their current NBA head coach targets right now, so they may have to turn to a former one.
Ex-Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is considered to be a “wild card” for the job, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reported Wednesday during an appearance on the “Knicks Film School” podcast. Begley says that the Knicks will likely “at least have a conversation” with Woodson and notes that Woodson has good relationships with Knicks owner James Dolan, president Leon Rose, and executive William Wesley.
You can watch the full clip of Begley’s remarks below.
Mike Woodson as Knicks coach again?@IanBegley: “Very strong relationship w Leon, Wes…I’d be surprised if didn't at least have conversation…I think he & James Dolan…on good terms. Wild card…Another one that’s at least on my mind”
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 11, 2025
MORE @KnickFilmSkool https://t.co/l0Hy9Xcfq5 pic.twitter.com/JU7a6WDQJs
Woodson, now 67 years old, was the head coach of the Knicks from 2012-14 (a period marked by the Carmelo Anthony-Amar’e Stoudemire partnership). In 2013, Woodson led the Knicks to a division title as well as their first playoff series victory since 2000. However, Woodson was fired in 2014 amid widespread rumors that he did not get along with multiple Knicks players.
Also previously an NBA head coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Woodson spent the last four seasons in the college ranks as the head coach at Indiana University. He went 82-53 (.607) overall with the Hoosiers (including two NCAA Tournament appearances) but stepped down at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Woodson has since landed a job as a lead assistant coach for a different NBA team. But it looks like there is at least a chance that Woodson could have a change of heart if he gets a call from the Knicks (who have kicked around the possibility of a head coaching reunion with Woodson in recent years past).
Lu Dort gets away with elbow to Tyrese Haliburton in Game 3 of Finals
Lu Dort pulled a Lu Dort during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Dort got away with an elbow to the head area of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. During the first quarter of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Dort passed out of a three-point attempt and swung his arm backwards, catching Haliburton with his left elbow.
No foul was called though as referee James Capers (who was in the immediate vicinity) did not blow his whistle. The Thunder went on to miss a shot at the rim, igniting a Pacers fast break. Here is the video of the play.
Lu Dort elbowed Tyrese Haliburton in the face pic.twitter.com/nVmmpvm2ZF
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 12, 2025
Haliburton remained down for a few moments as play continued. But he was eventually able to get up to his feet and ultimately looked to be OK.
An All-Defensive First Team selection this season, Dort is known as one of the fiercest perimeter stoppers in the league (and also made a strong contribution offensively with three triples during the first quarter of Game 3). But Dort is also a very unpopular figure among opposing fanbases due to his history of seemingly dirty plays.
Dort, who is often tasked with defending rival superstars, has become fairly notorious for his overly physical and extracurricular style of play. In fact during a Thunder game earlier this season, Dort ended up getting ejected for a nut shot on a stationary opponent.
Report: Lakers to target ex-NBA rebounding leader in free agency
The Los Angeles Lakers may already have a play called in the huddle to address their paper-thin frontcourt.
Veteran NBA big man Clint Capela is expected to “sit pretty high” atop the Lakers’ target board in free agency this offseason, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reported this week. Irwin adds that Capela is considered to be “within reach” at $5.7 million (which is the value of the taxpayer’s midlevel exception that the Lakers will have at their disposal this summer).
Capela, 31, is an 11-year NBA veteran who led the league in rebounding during the 2020-21 campaign with 14.3 per game. Though Capela is slightly undersized for a center at 6-foot-10, his energy (especially on the offensive glass and as a rim protector) would be a real asset to the Lakers at this point.
With the Atlanta Hawks this season, Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game. Atlanta phased out Capela towards the second half of the season (replacing him in their starting lineup with 24-year-old Onyeka Okongwu), and now Capela will be free to leave as an unrestricted free agent if he so chooses.
Meanwhile, the Lakers sacrificed their depth down low by trading away Anthony Davis as part of the Luka Doncic blockbuster last February. As a result, they opted to go small for extended stretches during the first-round playoff loss to Minnesota (and managed to alienate one of the only true centers left on their roster in the process).
The Lakers might want to shoot for a younger and higher-ceiling big man than Capela, especially since there are some options for them on the trade market. But for the $5.7 million MLE, Capela makes for a strong candidate.
Former No. 3 overall pick to undergo Tommy John surgery
The MLB-best Detroit Tigers are getting a harsh reality check this week.
Detroit announced on Wednesday that pitching phenom Jackson Jobe is set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Jobe has UCL damage in his pitching elbow and will need to have the procedure as a result.
The 22-year-old right-hander Jobe landed on the injured list at the end of May with what was initially diagnosed as a Grade 1 flexor strain. However, further evaluation with doctors on his elbow revealed that Jobe is actually dealing with a UCL injury that will require surgical reconstruction.
Jobe was the No. 3 overall pick (out of high school) during the 2021 MLB Draft. After spending his first couple of seasons in the minors, Jobe was called up last September and made a contribution out of the bullpen as the Tigers made it to the ALDS (marking their first playoff appearance in a decade).
Once regarded as the top pitching prospect in baseball, Jobe had been coming into his own this season as a full-time starter for Detroit. He was 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 10 total starts. Jobe had also been sitting in the 96-97 mph range with his fastball and in the 95 mph range with his sinker (per FanGraphs).
The rotation has been an area of strength for the 44-24 Tigers this season, especially with reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal leading the way and the likes of Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize providing support. But with Jobe now looking at an absence that will cost him the rest of 2025 and likely all of 2026 as well, the worst-case scenario has materialized for the talented young hurler (as he becomes the latest notable MLB pitcher to get the Tommy John blow).
Pope Leo shows off his White Sox love with hat at Vatican
Pope Leo is not hiding his love of the Chicago White Sox.
Pope Leo XIV was photographed sporting a White Sox hat at the Vatican during his weekly general audience. The White Sox proudly shared the photo via their X account.
.@Pontifex representing his favorite squad 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lyJG42S529
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 11, 2025
Prior to being elected the new pope last month, Pope Leo XIV was named Cardinal Robert Prevost. He grew up in Chicago, Ill., and was a White Sox fan. A false rumor was spread initially saying he was a Cubs fan, but that error was quickly corrected. Later, some folks even dug up footage that showed Pope Leo attending a White Sox World Series game in 2005.
The White Sox entered play on Wednesday with a 23-44 record, which had them last in the AL Central. They had won four of their last five games though, so maybe Pope Leo can bring them some good fortune.
Fabio Fognini had insults for Corentin Moutet during handshake
Fabio Fognini did some name-calling toward Corentin Moutet during a handshake between them after their first-round match at the Stuttgart Open in Germany on Tuesday.
Moutet won the match 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to advance to the second round of the event. Their handshake at the net was nasty afterwards. Fognini tried to get Moutet to look at him but Moutet would not engage.
“Look at me, you little pig. You’re a piece of sh-t,” Fognini said to Moutet in French, which is Moutet’s language.
Spicy handshake 🌶️@moutet99 wins the battle of the entertainers 6-4 6-7 6-3 vs Fognini 🍿#BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/75P18ZH0rW
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 10, 2025
Both players are known for their confrontational ways and conflicts on the court, so it’s not too surprising there were some fireworks after the match. The big surprise is that Moutet did not engage what we have seen from him in the past.
Moutet, 26, is currently ranked No. 91 in the world. Fognini is ranked No. 89 but has been ranked as high as No. 9 during his career. He is known for being a hot head.
Everyone said the same thing about Knicks’ latest failed target
The New York Knicks have been rebuffed once again in their latest attempt to speak to a current NBA head coach, and their failed attempts are starting to provoke a reaction from many.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder for their head coaching vacancy. The Hawks “firmly denied” that request.
Another one: The New York Knicks have requested permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, but were firmly denied, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025
This marks at least the fourth current head coach the Knicks have tried and failed to interview. That includes Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who is seen as the team’s most prominent target.
The attempt to interview Snyder opened the Knicks up to widespread criticism on social media. Many mocked the team for their focus on other NBA head coaches that are already employed elsewhere, while others felt that the requests make them look desperate and lacking a plan after firing Tom Thibodeau.
So they fired their coach with absolutely no plan for the next hit except pray some team lets theirs go?
— japtaa⚡️ (@DubsBetterr) June 11, 2025
The Knicks: pic.twitter.com/y2RZmTBCfv
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) June 11, 2025
The Knicks entire coaching search concept being “let’s see what teams don’t like their coach enough to just let him leave” is hilarious https://t.co/yqwNUkngXM
— Tucker (@SportingLogical) June 11, 2025
Knicks drunk DMing coaches “you up?” is hilarious https://t.co/lkshuvTVI2
— vic (@CountOnVic) June 11, 2025
Well…there are still 25 other current NBA head coaches for the Knicks to ask about before they run out of those options. So, that's something!
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 11, 2025
Even Kevin Garnett could not help but mock the Knicks for the series of rejections.
Everytime the Knicks asks for permission to interview 😭😭😭
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) June 11, 2025
This is crazy 🤦🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/yY5WqX07L8
One could certainly argue that the Knicks are casting a wide net in their coaching search and doing their due diligence. A series of high-profile rejections from rival teams would seem to undermine the argument that they had a clear plan after firing Thibodeau.
The Knicks had their reasons for seeking out a new head coach. However, there does not appear to be a leading candidate a week after they made that decision, and their search has mostly made headlines for who they cannot speak to than anything else.
3-time Pro Bowl Za’Darius Smith names the team he wants to sign with
Three-time Pro Bowl defender Za’Darius Smith is still on the free agent market, but he knows where he would like to land if it were up to him.
Smith wants to return to the Detroit Lions after finishing the 2024 season there. He had praise for the coaching staff and players, and views it as a place where he can contend for a Super Bowl to cap off his career.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith told Tyler Dragon of USA Today at the 2025 BET Awards. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”
The Lions could benefit from some edge rushing help, but have yet to work anything out with Smith. The team traded for him to help fill the void after Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury, but have yet to prioritize the position this offseason with Hutchinson on his way back for 2025. However, having Smith as an insurance policy may not be a bad idea.
The 32-year-old Smith had four sacks in eight games for Detroit last season after the trade. He has 69 career sacks in 10 NFL seasons, and as he indicated, would be a quality rotation option and leadership piece for the Lions if they found a place for him.
Davante Adams takes a shot at his former teams
Davante Adams certainly seemed to have a pointed message to at least one of his former teams when commenting on his decision to join the Los Angeles Rams.
The veteran wide receiver raved about the environment around Rams practices on Tuesday, pointing out that coaches and teammates are all in a good mood. He used that as an opportunity to contrast the situation with the “dark cloud” he has experienced at other teams in recent years.
“Everybody’s in a good mood. It’s not like a dark cloud over the building. And I’ve experienced that quite a bit over the last few years,” Adams said. “So, it’s a glaring difference when you come into a building like this.”
Davante Adams said he feels "rejuvenated" this offseason in LA.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) June 10, 2025
"Everybody's in a good mood. It's not like a dark cloud over the building. And I've experienced that quite a bit over the last few years. So, it's a glaring difference when you come into a building like this."
Adams spent most of the last three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before finishing last season with the New York Jets. Neither organization has had much success lately, so it is entirely plausible that he could be referring to either of them.
Critics might argue that Adams might have contributed to those dark clouds, especially with the Raiders. So far, however, he seems to love working with the Rams, and is working on developing a rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Only time will tell if that lasts.
