WASHINGTON — When Jayden Hardaway and DJ Rodman walk into the press room at the Washington Wizards practice arena, there are each subtle and obvious signs that they are the sons of Nineties NBA greats Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway and Dennis Rodman.

Apart from having for much longer hair, Jayden Hardaway is a spitting image of his dad. From his face to his muscular construct (he’s 6’1″ while his father is 6’8″) to the skinny, triangular goatee that his dad used to rock as a member of the Orlando Magic, it’s like stepping out of a time machine back in 1994, when I’m him.

If you saw DJ Rodman walking down the street, you would not immediately associate him with “The Worm’s” son because he has a lighter complexion and favors his mother. But a look at his black painted nails shows his origins.

While the NBA is stuffed with the sons of former players – the Golden State Warriors had five such players on their roster last season – it’s rare for star sons to be at the level of Penny Hardaway, and Dennis Rodman got to that time suddenly. On October 26, the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ G League affiliate, accepted them into the second round of the developmental league draft.

Making an NBA roster could also be an extended shot, but they’re counting on the intangibles they learned during their long college careers to someday make the essential roster. But as they start their skilled basketball careers, Hardaway and Rodman need to forge paths that do not depend on their famous names.

“We appreciate the love and we know the ‘expectations’ that await us, but we will know what we need to do every night to be the best we can be, and there is no point in comparing us to our fathers,” Hardaway said during Capital City Go-Go 6’s media day November.

“They were a rare breed. We will be the best.”

After a stellar profession at the University of Memphis, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1992, Penny Hardaway was drafted third overall in 1993 by the Golden State Warriors and traded to the Orlando Magic. Over the next three seasons, the dynamic defender landed two successful blows on Shaquille O’Neal, which resulted in a visit to the 1995 NBA Finals. Hardaway’s athleticism, handles and Magic Johnson style gameplay made him one among the hottest athletes of that era, as illustrated by, amongst others, Nike’s signature line of sneakers and a series of commercials featuring a puppet bearing his likeness, voiced by actor Chris Rock. Knee injuries interrupted his profession and Hardaway retired in 2007. In 2018, he was hired as a coach at his alma mater, where he still trains today.

After a highschool profession that included winning the 2017 state championship, Jayden Hardaway joined his father in Memphis. He redshirted his freshman season in 2018–19 and played sparingly over the next five seasons, averaging 11.7 minutes and three.3 points in 132 games (26 starts).

Regardless of his playing time, Penny Hardaway treated her son like a five-star recruit.

“He was pushing me like I was our best player,” Jayden Hardaway said. “He would be tougher on me than everyone else on the team, just to try and prepare me for every moment.”

Go-Go coach Cody Toppert was an assistant at Memphis during Jayden Hardaway’s three seasons with the team. He describes the younger Hardaway as a standout, especially on the team, who helped keep order in the locker room. Being a coach’s son and Penny Hardaway’s son never discouraged Jayden Hardaway, and he remained humble, which is why Toppert wanted him drafted.

“He’s proud of it, so he doesn’t run away from it, he embraces it, but at the same time he doesn’t let it affect what he does and who he is,” Toppert said. “It has its own distinct identity.”

Penny Hardaway was an actual star before she left college. Dennis Rodman took a distinct path. He played one season at Cooke County Junior College in Dallas after which attended the NAIA program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University for 3 seasons. Both were removed from Division I basketball. Regardless, Rodman developed a fame as a masterful rebounder, which led to the Detroit Pistons acquiring him in the second round of the 1986 draft. As a member of the “Bad Boys” alongside Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Chuck Daly, Rodman developed right into a defensive juggernaut who wasn’t afraid to get dusty on the court. Before he joined Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1995, he was a tattooed, dyed-haired weirdo who dated models and was as famous for his antics as his play.

Dennis “DJ” Rodman Jr., whose sister, Trinity Rodman, plays for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Games, played at Washington State from 2019-2023 , averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in his final season. After the 2022-2023 season, Rodman transferred to USC, where he joined a squad headlined by No. 1 highschool prospects Isaiah Collier and Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. The Trojans were ranked twenty first in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, and the program became a media circus as a result of the younger James’ presence.

“We were probably one of the most sought-after teams in college basketball,” Rodman said.

In July 2023, James suffered a cardiac arrest during a USC practice and didn’t play his first game until December of that season. After starting 4-1, USC lost 4 of its next six games before ending the season with a 15-18 record, capped by a 70-49 loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Despite all the challenges, Rodman, who averaged eight points and five rebounds in his only season with the Trojans, tried to stay calm and positive despite the losses in his effort to maintain the team together.

“I’ll be angry the night I lose, but I’ll come back the next day with a smile on my face because you can’t live in the past, and you can’t live in other people’s expectations,” Rodman said.

For this reason, Toppert wanted to decide on Hardaway and Rodman. They are well-rounded athletes who understand the elements that result in team success, not individual success, which is one among the goals of the G League.

Rodman is an brisk, selfless defender who prides himself on doing extra things – rebounding, diving for loose balls, etc. – that contribute to the team’s wins.

“Actually, being out of breath gives me a lot of joy,” he said.

He learned this mentality by watching his father’s old Finals games against the Pistons and Bulls on the long-running NBA telecast (Dennis Rodman last played in the NBA in 2000, a 12 months before DJ Rodman was born).

“He had no problem guarding the best guy,” DJ Rodman said. “I plan on having the same mentality when it comes to being a player on the field.”

Hardaway also prides himself on his defensive skills, calling himself a “3 and D” player who may knock down shots (he shot 31.7% from 3 at Memphis, though he converted 46% in 2021-22). As he said, its best advantage is versatility.

“If I actually have to play, like if someone is hot and I actually have to be certain that they find shots, I can try this. Or if I would like to establish the floor and prepare to knock it down, I can try this. When it involves taking up the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s best player, I’m up for any challenge,” Hardaway said.

Hardaway, 25, and Rodman, 23, come to the team with maturity and an understanding of their roles at this level of competition, in comparison with a consummate teenager who expects to begin in the G League and be drafted immediately.

“I think we’re very realistic about who we can be and who we will be for the team in the future and for this team today,” Rodman said.

However, their relationships with their fathers differ. Hardaway grew up along with his father, attending games during the final years of his dad’s profession. And eventually he followed his father to Memphis for five years. The two have an excellent relationship that goes beyond the court.

“That’s a big difference between a dad and a coach,” Jayden Hardaway said. “Me and dad are super cool, me and coach used to fight sometimes.”

It’s not the same with DJ Rodman. As he wrote in his memoirs, Dennis Rodman was abandoned by his father when he was 6 years old. “I have not seen my father in over 30 years, so what could I miss? I have a look at it this manner: some man brought me into this world. That does not imply I actually have a father. In the past, Trinity Rodman has said that growing up, her father was rarely in her and her brother’s lives, although she has rekindled some relationships in recent years.

DJ Rodman said he “doesn’t necessarily talk to him as much as everyone thinks,” but that does not imply he’s running away from who he’s. His mother told him to never feel like he needed to live as much as his father, but somewhat to forge his own path.

“Just because I’m around him doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and party every night, I’m going to be a bother, it doesn’t mean I’m going to do everything that everyone thinks I will,” Rodman said, adding that he prefers to remain in home along with his girlfriend and playing video games.

Hardaway and Rodman’s success won’t be immediate. Hardaway appeared in just two of the team’s first six games for a complete of 4 minutes (zero points). Rodman appeared in 4 games, averaging just 3.5 points. But it’s about the slow technique of becoming higher players and teammates in order that someday they will suit up for an NBA team. And after they do, it is going to be due to their names somewhat than their fathers’ famous names.

“We will not be naive to the fact that our fathers are who they are,” Rodman said. “We will do our best to be different and forge our own path, although of course we will always have that cloud over our heads.”

Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has faced dissatisfaction after showing off her body online.

Just a few days ago, Sánchez uploaded a file revealing selfie to her Instagram story, which was picked up by the Daily Mail and other media outlets.

Sánchez, who can also be vp of the Bezos Earth Fund, dated the billionaire for five years before revealing their engagement last May. She often shares photos of their fancy dates and TV appearances to advertise her book. But her outfit on this sexy photo was much shorter than the one she wears online.

“He is doing the whole lot to maintain his place. Then he wonders why she wasn’t really accepted anywhere unless he was invited and she’s the plus,” someone wrote in a Daily Mail comment.

In the November 16 post, the 54-year-old journalist might be seen wearing a cleavage-baring black minidress, black knee-high boots and a red trench coat. She may also be seen wearing a diamond pendant around her neck with the letter “B”, possibly derived from Bezos’ surname.

Speaking on to her future husband, one person added: “Come on Jeff, it doesn’t take the amount of your (money) she spends to look cheap and classless. She could spend less and get the same results.”

A 3rd person said: “They are living proof that money can’t buy class (or taste).”

Sánchez’s outfit even drew comparisons to Jennifer Lopez’s risqué selfies amongst critics, who wrote: “She is accomplishing an amazing and unimaginable feat, she is worse than JLo” and “Sad. JLo dresses more classic than her.

Another commenter asked: “Does this woman really want to do this at her age? Think about this for a minute. There are certain things that spouses keep to themselves.”

Yet one other critic added: “We are approaching an age where no amount of implants or skimpy clothes will help. Time catches up with everyone. You either look old or silly.

Some even called it “the street”. However, many got here to her defense, including one one that wrote: “Well that plastic caught her because the richest man ever. She will need to have some substance. Personally, I do not think it’s perfect beauty, but it surely’s for everybody.”

Sánchez became engaged to Bezos, 60, in May 2023 after the pair reportedly began dating in 2019. The New Mexico native has repeatedly expressed her love for her future husband on social media.

“You showed me that you don’t have to fight bravely for great love. Thank you for always being there for me and for being the most loving and supportive partner,” Sánchez captioned an Instagram post celebrating her fiancé’s 59th birthday in 2023.

The mother of three continued: “Thank you for at all times being there for me and being essentially the most loving and supportive partner. I’m grateful for the memories we now have had and the adventures yet to come back. We wish you a lot more birthdays stuffed with love and laughter.

In January 2024, Sánchez shouted out her partner again on Instagram. The licensed pilot praised Bezos on his sixtieth birthday by sharing a childhood photo of the Washington Post owner.

“Today is one other day when your laughter fills our house and your smile lights up every room. I wish you plenty of easy joys and quiet moments of happiness,” Sánchez wrote.

She added, “I hope every day brings you countless reasons to smile, similar to you give me a reason to smile every single day. I like you and blissful birthday, darling.

Before agreeing to marry the third richest person on the earth, Sánchez married Endeavor talent agent Patrick Whitesell in 2005. They had two children: a son, Evan, born in 2006, and a daughter, Ella, born in 2008.

Remember this, Laura Sanchez. She is the fiancée of Jeff Bezos. This is her Oscar De La Renta outfit. I mean girl, with all that cash!!!!!! #MetGala2024 pic.twitter.com/ax10raoUvc

— Cindy Sainvilien🇭🇹 (@cindoodooch_) May 7, 2024

Sánchez allegedly cheated on Whitesell with Bezos. The affair reportedly caused the top of that marriage in 2019, in addition to Bezos’s marriage to novelist MacKenzie Scott.

Bezos and Scott married in September 1993 and officially separated in April 2019. After separating after 25 years of marriage, Scott married science teacher Dan Jewett in 2021 and then divorced in January 2023.

Sánchez also gave birth to a son named Nikko in 2001 with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez. Bezos has 4 children with Scott, three sons and a daughter.

West Coast rap pioneer-turned-political affiliate Ice Cube has repeatedly denied being a supporter of Donald Trump or the MAGA movement years after the controversial encounter, but lots of his fans do not believe him.

Recently, the NWA co-founder said that folks “f***ed him up” for considering he was a Trumper, while explaining where he thought the split got here from.

The “No Vaseline” artist appeared on the Tuesday, November 19 episode of “The Baller Alert Show” on YouTube, and on his “Friday” he talked about all the pieces from newest basketball star Caitlin Clark and the contract he offered her to her recent movie. concession. He also talked about how people think he doesn’t support the GOP and doesn’t support Vice President Kamala Harris.

The host talked to him for a segment about him broadcast titled “You Got Me F-ked Up” and asked if the artist had anyone he could tell it to.

“People who think I’m a MAGA supporter or a Trump supporter (and stuff like that) and I went out there and voted Republican and that’s it, man, they pissed me off,” Ice Cube told hosts Ferrari Simmons and You Know BT.

He added: “I never said that. They don’t have any proof. I even have never supported any candidate. So, you understand, I believe they pissed me off and it’s only a false narrative.

When the Art of Dialogue sent excerpt from the interview, many fans expressed mixed opinions.

“He simply used his voice and asked to see what both sides had to offer Black people, as he should as a voter. “People exaggerated the proportions,” one person wrote.

Others were convinced he supported Trump.

“He supported Trump and voted for him 100%,” someone declared, one other person said, “You bet $5 he voted for Trump.”

Someone else said: “Anyone who thinks they are wrong to vote for Trump hasn’t paid attention.”

A fifth comment read: “He saw it coming, now he’s trying to take back his words.”

According to Ice Cube, people consider he supports Trump on account of his contact with the Trump-Pence campaign regarding what they planned to do for Black people through the 2020 election cycle.

He presented them with what he called the “Black America Deal.”

Don’t you understand why I do not know Trump’s plans just like the back of my hand? This is his plan. My plan is the Contract with Black America. Compare the 2 and see what they took. https://t.co/roKuVsWYWD

— Ice Cube (@IceCube) October 17, 2020

During the 2020 campaign season, he reached out to each Democrats and Republicans on his proposal outlining policies to handle systemic inequalities affecting Black Americans.

“Both sides came to me,” Cube told the hosts. “I didn’t go to them saying, ‘Look what I’ve got, man. You should sit down and talk to me. They both came up to me and said, “Hey, you’ve got an interesting document here.” Can we discuss this with you?”

While the Biden campaign reportedly postponed discussions until after the election, the Trump campaign “ripped out” elements of the “Ride Along” star’s proposal and incorporated them into its “Platinum Plan,” prompting public backlash and accusations of political affiliation.

“That’s not my plan, that’s what it is,” Cube added. “This was done in their own counseling center.”

Once again, the “It was a good day” rapper’s interactions with the Trump campaign sparked controversy amongst fans, especially after Trump adviser Katrina Pierson publicly thanked him for his involvement.

Cube responded by stating that the 2 sides had made contact and continued talks with the Trump campaign on account of their desire to interact immediately. He emphasized that his actions were intended to supply tangible advantages for Black Americans and to not support any particular political ideology or candidate.

Fans even threatened to boycott his recent movie “Last Friday” on account of his political connections and the perception that he’s a MAGA freak.

After Cube partnered with Elon Musk to air the 2024-2025 season of his BIG3 basketball league on the X platform on social media, crowds began criticizing him for supporting a known Trump supporter, claiming it was proof of Cube’s appearance “conform” to the ideology of white supremacy.

Shut your ass, bitch! I’m not with anything, you trash. I draw my very own fucking lines. https://t.co/hnKX3IMTNa

— Ice Cube (@IceCube) March 22, 2024

The 2009 BET Hip Hop “I Am Hip Hop” award winner says nothing may very well be farther from the reality. He doesn’t like Trump, Musk or some other politician. He clarified that he’s impartial and focused solely on advancing his community-focused agenda.

The “Straight Outta Compton” rapper said he has been intentionally silent in regards to the 2024 presidential election, noting that he has never told people to not vote or who to vote for despite false reports. But he said, “You should get something for your vote, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Cube’s stance appears to exemplify the nice line between advocating for real change and navigating political landmines.

While he has passionately defended his decisions to host talks with Trump and other conservative lawmakers, he also wants to guarantee his core fans that he shouldn’t be in anyone’s political pocket.

Still, Cube’s desire to attach not only polarizes him within the eyes of many, but additionally sparks intense debate.