google-site-verification=cXrcMGa94PjI5BEhkIFIyc9eZiIwZzNJc4mTXSXtGRM Fans get it wrong as Shaquille O’Neal catches heat for posting a Rushmore basketball mount without former teammate Kobe Bryant - 360WISE MEDIA
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Fans get it wrong as Shaquille O’Neal catches heat for posting a Rushmore basketball mount without former teammate Kobe Bryant

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Fans thought Shaq left Kobe off of his basketball Mt. Rushmore list, not knowing that it was a reposted picture.

Shaquille O’Neal apparently catches stray animals after sharing an edited photo of a Mount Rushmore basketball as fans noticed the apparent omission from Diesel’s list.

O’Neal’s X post included the names of Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Steph Curry. In defense of O’Neal’s stance, each of those men has the consideration of putting their face on the mountain, with Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar each having six championships and James and Curry each having 4.

Fans thought Shaq left Kobe off his Mt. basketball roster.  Rushmore, not knowing that this photo had been reposted.
Fans thought Shaq left Kobe off his Mt. basketball roster. Rushmore, not knowing that this photo had been reposted. (Photo: @shaq/Instagram; @kobebryant/Instagram)

O’Neal captioned the post “Who’s Missing,” leaving social media users so as to add their very own suggestions. Some have suggested swapping James and Curry for other Hall of Famers like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan or O’Neal himself. There was one notable name that fans almost unanimously agreed was faraway from the list, and that was Kobe Bryant.

One critic said, “Kobe, come on! I really like Curry, he’s really great, but he scores a lot of his points on screens. Kobe created his own way where he didn’t need it, he was a killer. If you wish, you may have curry on the fifth place, but not over Kobe.

Another commented: “This disrespect is so REAL and it’s all because he’s not here to say something. They know 100% that if he were still alive, they wouldn’t even put LeBron over Kobe. We will never forget what Kobe brought to the game and stayed on the team. one team and one five rings!!!”

While a large portion of fans felt that O’Neal was included on the list and was “disrespectful” to his former teammate, this is way from the reality. The former dynamic duo had a tumultuous relationship while playing together for the Los Angeles Lakers, but their time apart sparked stronger feelings inside them.

Their relationship began in 1996, when Bryant was drafted into the NBA and O’Neal was released in free agency. O’Neal’s problems with Bryant apparently began within the late Nineteen Nineties, when rumors circulated that he had turn out to be jealous of Bryant’s growing fame and irritated together with his playing style. The pair really began to argue when O’Neal arrived at training camp in 2000-2001 chubby.

As they won three championships together, their relationship deteriorated and ultimately ended when O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.

This separation didn’t end the dispute, especially when reports emerged that Bryant had told Colorado police who investigated him in 2004 for a sexual assault criticism that
“I should have done what Shaq is doing… that Shaq would pay his women not to say anything” and has already paid as much as $1 million “for situations like this.”

Shaq responded, telling ESPN: “I never hang out with Kobe, I’ve never hung around him. In the seven or eight years we spent together, we were never together. So how this guy can think he knows anything about me and my company is hilarious. And one last thing – I’m not the one buying love. He is the one who buys love.”

Shaq continued to taunt his former teammate within the late 2000s, however the Black Mamba had the last laugh after winning the 2010 NBA Finals. After winning, one in all his first comments was, “I’ve got one more than Shaq, so you can take that to the bank.”

After retiring in 2011, O’Neal continually praised Bryant for earning more late-career accolades. Like most NBA fans, he was devastated when Bryant and his daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

During TNT’s tribute to Bryant, O’Neal said: “I haven’t felt pain this sharp in a while. I lost my little brother,” with tears streaming down his face.

Back in August, O’Neal added his “little brother” to his top ten basketball players. In an interview for Los Angeles TimesO’Neal said his list includes Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, himself and Bryant. He rounded out the list with Curry, Duncan, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone and Isaiah Thomas.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Reggie Bush brings back the Heisman Trophy

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Reggie Bush Gets Heisman Trophy Reinstated


Former NFL quarterback Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy while attending the University of Southern California in 2005. He gave up the honor in 2010 after NCAA officials discovered he had accepted improper advantages. After years of fighting to regain the trophy, the NCAA restored the honor on April 24.

Heisman Fund announced that he reinstated Bush due to changes in college athletics which have occurred over the past few years.

“I have always acted honestly and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA,” Bush said. “The allegations against me were baseless and unsubstantiated, and I am grateful that the truth has finally prevailed.”

The fund said it might get the trophy back and USC would receive a duplicate of the Heisman Trophy, awarded to school football’s most eminent player. The replica shall be placed alongside seven other Heisman trophies won by the famed school. Starting in December, Bush shall be invited back to all future Heisman ceremonies.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his achievements at the collegiate level,” Michael Comerford, president of the Heisman Trust, said in a written statement. “We have considered the tremendous changes in college athletics over the last few years, deciding that now is the right time to bring back the Reggie Trophy. We are very happy to welcome him back.”

The Heisman Trust said the NCAA’s latest rules allowing athletes to receive compensation for his or her name, image and likeness modified that call due to the NIL contracts now offered to students.

“Recognizing that compensating student-athletes is accepted practice and appears prone to remain so, these fundamental changes in college athletics have led the Trust to come to a decision that now could be the appropriate time to return the trophy to Bush, who was undoubtedly the 2005 college football player of the 12 months “

reported that Bush was given his Heisman Trophy at the conclusion of the April 24 summit meeting outside Jacksonville, Florida.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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At the age of 20, Coco Gauff is forging a new path

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This week, Coco Gauff dominated the Mutua Madrid Open and advanced to the third round, beating Dutch Arantxa Rus 6-0 in each sets, the first “double bagel” of her profession to date. After becoming the youngest person since Serena Williams in 1999 to win a Grand Slam title at the US Open, Gauff was not only hailed as tennis’ next big phenom, but additionally captured the attention and hearts of social media users and celebrities around the world . However, as she recently said Time magazine.she’s just getting began.

“I always knew I wanted to try to win a lot of Grand Slams,” said Gauff, who was honored by Time100 magazine as one of its 2024 Players of the Year. “Sometimes after winning, people lose motivation. It wasn’t a personal challenge for me.”

Following her historic victory, Gauff received praise and congratulations from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Magic Johnson, Spike Lee and Michelle Obama, who invited the 2023 Grand Slam champion to their home and reminded her that “When the demands of fame overwhelm you, it’s OK to say no.

Even though Gauff is only 20 years old, she’s no stranger to setting boundaries to guard her mental health. At the 2020 US Open, the budding tennis star lost in the first round after which lost in the second round of the French Open a few weeks later.

“I tried to live up to other people’s expectations. It kind of crossed my mind,” Gauff said, explaining how that mindset influenced her throughout 2022 as she reached her first major championship final. “It was like life or death. It was hard to breathe… I lost that match before I even stepped on the court.

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Throughout her life, Gauff overcame adversity each on and off the field. From skipping the crawling and walking stage at nine months old to beating Venus Williams at just 15, Gauff’s mindset has helped her meet the growing expectations of her profession.

“I tied my identity too much to tennis,” she told Time, reflecting on how her on-court losses were affecting her mental health. “It’s a lot easier to play for yourself than for other people. I spotted which you could’t please everyone.”

Now Gauff’s success takes her to the Paris Olympics, where she’s going to compete for the United States. Giving him “goosebumps (at the thought of) representing (his) country,” he admits that, like Serena Williams, he “wants to win gold so bad.” However, the tennis star is giving himself grace as he climbs the tennis rankings.

“If I could win every game, I would,” she said. “But I can’t. People don’t go to work and have a good day day-after-day. We just have to present one another grace.”

Building a repute each on and off the pitch, Gauff has landed quite a few brand deals, recognition and articles in publications resembling Vogue. Aside from her fame, the Grand Slam champion is just like every other young adult today: she enjoys time together with her boyfriend, watches TikToks and anime, and speaks out on sociopolitical issues.

“The best thing about Coco Gauff is just her ability to lead a life on and off the court,” she said in the film when asked to explain herself. “On the court he is quite energetic and intense, and off the court he is not mellow but giggly. I feel like I actually have two different personalities. I definitely appear to be I rarely smile when I’m on the court, but off the court it’s the exact opposite.”

She added: “I do tennis, but that’s not who I am. … I would like my legacy to be defined as someone who was obviously a great tennis player, but also someone who put just as much effort and work (into what he does off the court).”


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Ice Cube Shares Shocking Details About Caitlin Clark’s Big3 Deal, Accusing WNBA Star’s Agents of Sabotage and Working for ‘NBA Mob’ to Block ‘Mega’ Deal

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Ice Cube Shares Shocking Details About Caitlin Clark

Rapper, actor and co-founder of Big3 Ice Cube made headlines in March when it was reported that he had made a “historic” $5 million contract offer to the basketball star Caitlin Clark.

Unfortunately, Clark quickly turned down the offer to deal with her college profession before landing at Indiana, where she’s going to earn just over $300,000 before endorsements. Now Ice Cube has dropped a bombshell, revealing that Caitlin stands to make far more than the reported $5 million within the Big 3 and has likely been blocked by her own team.

Ice Cube shares shocking details about Caitlin Clark's Big3 bid, WNBA star's agents accused of sabotage and working for 'NBA Mob' to block 'mega' deal (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images; @caitlinclark22/Instagram)
Ice Cube (left) says a cabal prevented him from extending a Big3 offer to former Iowa star Caitlin Clark. (Photos: Paras Griffin/Getty Images, @caitlinclark22/Instagram)

In an article shared with Ice Cube’s official websitethe rapper’s business partner and co-founder of Big3 Jeff Kwatinetz detailed the league’s pursuit of Clark. However, it was the shocking reveal of their offer to Clark that left many fans in awe.

“From a financial standpoint, compared to her paltry WNBA salary, it was a MEGA deal,” Kwatinetz said. “Ten million dollars in salary over two years, multi-million-dollar percentage ownership of the team, fifty percent of the revenue from sales of merchandise derived from her name and likeness, and ownership of the BIG3 documentary with a seven-figure advance. In total, we’re talking about fifteen million dollars or more for playing just ten games a season. While allowing her to play in the WNBA. Absolutely the best of both worlds!”

Kwatinetz also shed some light on the Big Three’s thought process behind the unprecedented offer to Clark.

“As a female athlete playing in BIG3, she not only represents an incredibly fun business, but would also provide our league with a great engine to break down further stereotypes and promote diversity by showcasing women competing at a world-class level against men. That’s why we made an offer to Caitlin,” Kwatinetz explained.

However, the offer of a 3-on-3 men’s basketball league organized by Ice Cube never caught Clark’s eye.

“I found out about Big3 at the exact same time as all of you and my main focus is playing basketball.” Clark told reporters March 29. “Honestly, I don’t talk about these things with anyone. I have other people who deal with this, but they haven’t said a word to me about it.

Kwatinetz placed the blame squarely on sports agents and basketball executives, accusing them of deliberately concealing the offer to Clark.

“We have reason to believe that these agents and executives controlling the sport never even shared our pioneering offer with Caitlin, let alone allowed Caitlin to meet with BIG3 to discuss the opportunity,” Kwatinetz wrote.

He continued: “From our perspective, it appears these representatives should not working for a person customer like Caitlin. They appear to be working for the NBA mafia as their client list features a “who’s who” of NBA players. Do we expect them to select Caitlin over the NBA, the first employer of their highest-paid clients? The NBA is driven by fear and ensures that the industry of agents, lawyers, managers and networks stays in check. This line is meant to prevent the BIG3 from succeeding, even when it stunts the expansion of women’s basketball.

On April 15, Clark was chosen No. 1 within the WNBA draft. However, some fans were shocked to learn that her debut contract would allow her to earn a bit of greater than $1.50 CEO of McDonald’s.

Clark’s name, image and likeness (NIL) transactions were estimated to be price greater than $3 million He3. In the WNBA, Clark could earn about 10 percent of that quantity over 4 years.

According to the WNBA salary structure, Clark will earn $76,535 in 2024, $78,066 in 2025, $85,873 in 2026 and an option of $97,582 in 2027. Clark will likely earn a big amount through endorsements and other marketing channels, but this number stands in stark contrast to what the highest picks within the NBA Draft are.

April 19 Wall Street JournalI reported that Clark was on the verge of signing an eight-year contract price up to $28 million with sportswear giant Nike.

The Big3 band was founded in 2017. Team rosters are mostly made up of former NBA stars who’re within the twilight of their careers.

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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