The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night at the Staples Center in what will be the team's first game since learning the news of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death.
To pay tribute, the Lakers organization is passing out shirts in honor of Bryant. Hours before tip off, local reporters obtained photos of inside the Staples Center with shirts draped all over the seats. Representing the Laker home jersey, half the stadium will receive #24 shirts, while the other half will rock #8, that according to USA Today’s Sandy Hooper.
In addition, the coaches are expected to all wear Kobe's sneakers on the bench tonight as well.
The Lakers were slated to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, just three days after Bryant's death, but the NBA postponed the game "out of respect for the Lakers organization.” Since then, we’ve heard reactions from Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and his best friend Rob Pelinka.
It’s surely going to be an emotional evening inside the Staples Center, and one you’ll want to tune in and watch on ESPN at 10 PM EST.
NBA All-Star Jerseys To Honor Kobe Bryant, Daughter Gianna & Victims Of Crash
Team LeBron will wear #2 jerseys in honor of Gianna and team Giannis will rock #24 jerseys for Kobe.
The NBA announced on Friday that the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago will honor Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, by wearing their respective jersey numbers.
Team LeBron will wear no. 2 jerseys in honor of Bryant’s daughter Gianna and Team Giannis will wear no. 24 in honor of Kobe. In addition, both teams will wear patches on the jersey displaying nine stars, representing those who lost their lives in the crash, including John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.
On Thursday, the NBA announced that the All-Star game format would be changed in order to honor Kobe Bryant. The first three quarters of the game will be structured as seperate mini-games played for charity, with the score resetting at the start of each quarter. The fourth will ultimately determine the winner and will be untimed, with both teams aiming for a set score of 24 points.
Airing on TNT, the NBA All-Star Game will go down Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago. Set your DVR’s now.
Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes & More Read Mean Tweets On Kimmel: Watch
Watch another hilarious rendition of NFL mean tweets.
With Super Bowl LIV just a few days away, that means Jimmy Kimmel is back with another NFL edition of his hilarious segment “Mean Tweets,” where NFL players read disrespectful tweets about themselves.
This time around, Jimmy has called on some superstar names to participate, including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joey Bosa, and others. Brady kicks things off reading about being a crybaby and having a “butthole chin,” while Mahomes gets made fun of for his haircut.
“Hi I’m Tom Brady. Im a crybaby and I have a butthole in my chin,” Brady reads. Meanwhile Mahomes reads, “I imagine Patrick Mahomes barber is a superhero who has to run and save the world every time he gets half way through Mahomes hair cut.”
Later, Todd Gurley joined in on the fun, and was called a “fucking snowflake loser bitch,” before his teammate Jared Goff gets ripped on for throwing the ball like shit. “Jared Goff throws a football like he got a shit in his pants,” his tweet read.
Check out all that and more in the hilarious, NSFW-segment (below). Look for other mean tweets read by Michael Irvin, Terry Bradshaw and others.
Nick Cannon Praises Kobe Bryant For Always Being A "Solid Dude"
Nick Cannon looks back on his early days with Kobe.
Nick Cannon has had some wild claims against him recently that he’s shut down while holding the media accountable. While we can expect him to comment on the matter with Vlad TV since he recently paid a visit to the studios, the first clip to arrive sees Nick discuss the fallen legend that is Kobe Bryant who sadly passed in a helicopter crash last weekend alongside his 13-year-old daughter and seven other victims.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
In the video below, Nick talks about his early days linking with Kobe when he did stand-up comedy. “Super serious, and when I say serious I mean like driven, focused, determined, had a vigorous spirit,” he said of Kobe. “You know, he’d joke and laugh and all that. He ain’t gone be fake, you know what I mean. […] People he had love for he had a genuine love for.” Nick recalls when he was just 16-years-old doing stand up on Sunset and Kobe was present and gave him dabs afterward. “I was good, that was all I needed,” he added.
Nick explained how he was visiting Suge Knight in prison when Kobe died and didn’t have any devices on him to be aware of the update. When he left, his squad updated him and he was taken back. Watch in full below.
Disney Heiress Abigail Disney On Kobe Bryant: "He Was A Rapist, Deal With It”
She has since received a ton of backlash for her comments, and deservingly so.
Abigail Disney, who's the heiress to the Walt Disney company, is facing some serious backlash at the moment after she put her foot in the mouth speaking on Kobe Bryant's death this week. On Wednesday, Abigail took to Twitter to call Kobe a “rapist,” and told everyone to “deal with it.”
“I haven’t said anything about Kobe so far because I felt some time needed to pass before weighing in. But yes, it’s time for the sledgehammer to come out. The man was a rapist. Deal with it.”
Since the tweet was sent, Abigail has been met with a ton of backlash and deservingly so. Many people were emotionally heated and clapped back with harsh words, while others seriously tried to get through to Abigail. You can see some of those tweets (below).
Abigail’s tweet comes just a day or so after Westworld actress Evan Rachel Wood said the same thing. She too called Kobe out and wrote, “what has happened is tragic. I am heartbroken for Kobe’s family. He was a sports hero. He was also a rapist. And all of these truths can exist simultaneously." She too has been met with backlash, but it's not even worth our time.
Ranking The Top 10 Best Super Bowls Of All Time
Some of these may bring back bad memories.
This weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will be battling it out in Miami as they try to win the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The 54th Super Bowl is set to be a phenomenal game between two teams that completely dominated the NFL regular and postseasons. While it remains to be seen who will win, we’re sure to be treated to an entertaining game, unlike that mess we got last year.
There are a lot of factors that go into what makes a good Super Bowl. You need intrigue, a game that goes down to the wire, big plays, otherworldly individual performances, and even some upsets to throw a wrench in the mix. With this in mind, we decided to make a top 10 list, counting down the ten best Super Bowls of all-time. When constructing this list, entertainment was certainly a factor, however, it’s not the be-all, end-all. Instead, we have used the criteria above to construct a top 10 that takes a look at all of the moving parts. Having said that, let’s get into it, shall we.
10. Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33
Coming into this Super Bowl, the Eagles were clear underdogs. The Patriots came into this match as one of the greatest dynasties of all-time while the Eagles were playing with an unproven back up quarterback in Nick Foles. Somehow, the Eagles defied all expectations and defeated the Patriots in a 41-33 shootout. This game was defined by the infamous Philly Special that occurred at the end of the first half. For Eagles fans, this was a momentous occasion as the team finally won its first Super Bowl.
9. Super Bowl XLVII – Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31
There were plenty of stories to go around in this game. Jim and John Harbaugh were coaching against each other. Colin Kaepernick was looking to cement himself as a starter while Joe Flacco wanted to prove he was truly elite. Meanwhile, Ray Lewis was looking to end his career with one last hoorah. In the end, we got a huge treat for a game. After taking a huge lead in the first half, the Ravens began to implode. A lengthy power outage gave the 49ers plenty of time to prepare for a comeback. Eventually, the Ravens were able to hang onto the lead, with some help from the officials.
8. Super Bowl XXXII – Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24
John Elway Vs. Brett Favre. This was a quarterback matchup for the ages. Favre had already won a Super Bowl by this point while Elway was known for losing in the big game. The Broncos legend was nearing the end of his career and was looking to finally get the weight off of his shoulders. Elway put together an incredible performance capped off by a valiant running effort to get a first down when the game was on the line. His performance will forever be considered one of the best in Super Bowl history. Not to mention, this win kicked off back-to-back Super Bowls for the Broncos.
7. Super Bowl XLIII – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
There were two moments that made this game so memorable. Of course, we are talking about the James Harrison 100-yard pick-six and the Santonio Holmes catch in the corner of the end zone. These two plays helped propel the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl victory. Ben Roethlisberger won his second title of his young career which instantly made him one of the most successful quarterbacks of the decade. This was also the first and only time the Arizona Cardinals had made the Super Bowl which made it extra special.
6. Super Bowl XLIX – New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
This game is memorable because of the final play. I mean, who can really forget it? “The Seahawks should have ran the ball” became a rallying cry that is still said to this day. After a questionable first half, Tom Brady led a huge second half comeback that had the Patriots leading late in the game. In the final minutes, Russell Wilson and company began driving down the field and were just yards away from a game-winning touchdown. Instead of giving the ball to running back Marshawn Lynch, Wilson threw an interception in the end zone and the rest was history. The finale was spectacular and made for one of the best Super Bowls in modern day history.
5. Super Bowl III – New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7
Many of you reading this probably weren’t even alive for this game. Hell, I wasn’t either. The score itself is fairly meager and in terms of pure entertainment value, it’s definitely not the greatest. With this in mind, you may be asking why this is even on the list to begin with? Well, it’s one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. Joe Namath was considered a young QB with a big mouth. Meanwhile, Johnny Unitas was a behemoth of a quarterback and was favored to win by a significant margin. Somehow, Namath led his team to victory in what would become a career-defining moment. Jets fans haven’t had a lot to cheer for over the years but at least they can cling to Super Bowl III.
4. Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
The sight of Kevin Dyson being tackled on the one-yard line with no time left will always haunt Tennessee Titans fans. It’s a moment that will forever be one of the best in Super Bowl history as the Rams won their first title. Sure, the game itself wasn’t anything spectacular but this one play made it one of the best championship games in sports history. Leading up to this game, the Titans got lucky with the Music City Miracle while the Rams were enjoying the success of young quarterback Kurt Warner. These were two teams few people saw going to the Super Bowl and it made the matchup that much more intriguing.
3. Super Bowl XIII – Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
Fumbled punt returns, dropped touchdown passes, and back and forth offensive performances made this game an instant classic. The Cowboys were led by Roger Staubach while the Steelers were captained by Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw put on a show as he went on to win Super Bowl MVP. At the time, the Cowboys and Steelers were two of the best franchises in the league and every single time they hit the field, it was box office. Cowboys vs Steelers was like the Lakers vs Celtics of the 80s. If you were around for this era, you could truly appreciate what this game meant for the rivalry and the NFL’s stranglehold on popular culture.
2. Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28
28-3. Quite frankly, that is all that needs to be said. We still can’t believe the Falcons blew that lead.
1. Super Bowl XLII – New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
Pretty well everyone in the world thought the New England Patriots were going to win this game. They finished the season with the first ever 16-0 record in NFL history and were trying to have the best perfect record the league has ever seen. Tom Brady was on the cusp of tying Joe Montana for four Super Bowls. In the end, the Giants were able to put on a defensive clinic. The game was capped off by one of the most incredible catches in NFL history, courtesy of Davis Tyree. Plaxico Burress scored the final touchdown and Eli Manning got his first ever Super Bowl. This was one of the biggest upsets in sports history and it remains a sore spot for Patriots fans, despite their six other Super Bowl wins.
What was your favorite Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments below
Joe Rogan Responds To Stephen A. Smith: "MMA Is Not In His Wheelhouse"
“I appreciate the props you gave me in that video, but you’re wrong.”
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith posted a video on social media earlier this week in response to criticism from Joe Rogan and MMA fans, following his harsh critique of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
Fight fans were enraged at how Smith described his disgust with Cowboy’s “atrocious performance” against Conor McGregor at UFC 246, and Rogan shared in the fans’ frustration as he later explained that Smith’s commentary was bad for the sport. Even McGregor and Nate Diaz have chosen sides in the debate.
With Smith’s inflammatory remarks gaining traction, it should come as no surprise that Rogan took some time to issue a response.
Dylan Buell/Getty Images
During a discussion with UFC’s Frankie Edgar on the Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan further explained why SAS was wrong, stating that MMA simply isn’t in his wheelhouse. Says Rogan:
“Stephen A. Smith – I guess I should respond – you’re a very entertaining guy. I like you a lot. I appreciate the props you gave me in that video, but you’re wrong.”
He adds, “Stephen A. Smith said he felt like Cowboy quit. He did not quit – he got smashed. You’re talking about a guy who has the most fights in the UFC, the most finishes in the UFC, the most head-kick knockouts in the UFC, the most bonuses in the UFC. Cowboy is a fucking legend.”
As seen in the video clip embedded below, Rogan broke down exactly how McGregor gained an advantage over Cowboy at the very start of the fight with those shoulder strikes and proceeded to pummel the veteran fighter en route to a first-round TKO.
Paul George Gets Dragged For Considering Number Change To Kobe Bryant’s No. 24
"I actually reached out and see if I could bring 24 back."
In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's passing, a number of NBA players who wear No. 8 or No. 24 have decided to informally retire the numbers in honor of the Laker legend. On the other hand, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George is reportedly thinking about changing his jersey number to No. 24 as way to pay tribute to Bryant, who wore the number for the second half of his illustrious career.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Paul explains:
"I actually reached out and see if I could bring 24 back, just because I always want to remember why I started playing this game. And that meant so much to me. You know, so, now I sit back and review it. I think every time should find a way to honor that. Let that jersey be a number that no one would be able to wear again. So we'll see."
George wore No. 24 at the start of his career with the Indiana Pacers but ultimately switched to the No. 13 that he still wears today. The 29-year old forward grew up in Southern California and credits Kobe Bryant as being the reason he ever picked up a basketball, but it seems like a majority of fans don't want to see a Clipper wearing Kobe's jersey number.
Check out some of the reactions below.
Bradley Beal’s Fiance Trashes NBA Over All-Star Snub: "It’s A Joke"
"The NBA is becoming laughable in my honest opinion."
The NBA's All Star reserves were revealed on Thursday night and as you can tell from the headline, Washington Wizards' shooting guard Bradley Beal didn't make the cut. The two-time All Star was admittedly pissed off after he had been snubbed despite the fact that he's averaging a career-high 28.7 points to go along with 6.4. assists (also a career-high) and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Following Thursday night's victory over the Charlotte Hornets, Beal said he felt disrespected by the coaches, but "was kind of expecting it."
Says Beal ( NBC Sports Washington):
"I'm a little pissed off about it, but I know how I am. I was kind of expecting it, honestly. It’s disrespectful, but the real ones know. I’ll just keep competing. I’m going to try to get my team in the playoffs for sure.”
Beal's fiance, Kamiah Adams, shared her frustrations with the voting process during the Wizards postgame show, "It's politics and it's a joke. The NBA is becoming laughable in my honest opinion."
“It’s a popularity contest. It’s about who has the most followers on Instagram, who has the most likes, and it’s a joke to me because my thing is you can’t name five people that were selected for reserves on either the East or the West who are outplaying Bradley right now,” said Adams.
When asked specifically about Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, who was voted a starter, Adams said, “It’s a joke to me. Not taking away from his game… He’s playing cherry-picking basketball.”
Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein, also vented about the Eastern Conference coaches, saying, “I think they’ve sent a horrible message.”
According to Candace Bucker, Bartelstein added, "There's a reason why the players voted him No. 2. The players and these coaches - if they're being honest, there's nobody in the Eastern Conference, other than Giannis, that they game plan for harder than they game plan for Brad."
Click here to see how #NBATwitter reacted to the list of 2020 All Star reserves.
NBA All Star Reserves Announced: NBA Twitter Reacts
Beal, Booker among biggest All Star snubs.
The 2020 NBA All Star Game reserves were officially announced on Thursday night and, as usual, there were several All Star caliber players that didn't make the cut. Most notably, Phoenix Suns shooting guard, Devin Booker, and Washington Wizards shooting guard, Bradley Beal. But before we get too far into the All Star snubs, lets take a look at which players did earn All Star honors.
Representing the Eastern Conference: Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, Kyle Lowry, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo.
Out West, the reserves are as follows: Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Chris Paul, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook.
While the fans, media and players combined to vote in the NBA All Star starters, it was the coaches who were solely responsible for selecting the reserves. According to NBA.com, there are a total of six first-time All Stars in the mix, including Bam Adebayo, Domantis Sabonis and Jayson Tatum in the East, as well as Brandon Ingram, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the West.
Bradley Beal, a two-time All Star, is averaging career-highs in points (28.7 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg). Devin Booker, who has never been voted to the All Star team, is also having a phenomenal year, averaging a career-best 28.7 points to go along with 6.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per night.
Needless to say, basketball fans were stunned to see that both had been omitted from the coaches final ballot. There's also a case to be made for guys like Paul George and Karl-Anthony Towns as well. Scroll down to check out some of the reactions around #NBATwitter.
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