Sports
Simone Biles wins her ninth national title, supporting Olympic champion Sunisa Lee along the way
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – There was a time when pre-Olympic Simone Biles found “beauty in blindness,” reveling in not knowing what she didn’t know.
That was eight years ago. When she was still a young person. Still a bit “dizzy”.
Those days are long gone. The evidence shouldn’t be just Biles’ driver’s license or marriage certificate, but how the now 27-year-old is in a position to look beyond herself. The tunnel vision that almost all great athletes have of their pursuit of greatness has disappeared.
And perhaps that is the biggest difference between the national title the gymnastics star won Sunday night – her ninth, this time with a complete of 119.750 – and the first she won greater than a decade ago.
The defining moment of Biles’ victory was not a twist, turn or jump, but a walk.
That got here early, as Biles watched as 2020 Olympic champion and good friend Sunisa Lee spun awkwardly in the air during a jump and landed on her back, a combination of surprise and fear crossing her face.
“I thought it was over,” Lee said.
Biles then appeared at her side, unprompted. She knew exactly where Lee was at that moment, higher than anyone else.
Three years ago at the Tokyo Games, Biles’ similar wayward jump set off a sequence of events that led to her withdrawal from multiple competitions and dragged the conversation about the importance of mental health into the highlight.
Watching Lee, who has spent much of the last two years battling kidney problems which have yo-yoed her weight and complex her training, try to choose herself up, Biles left her teammates at the World Champions Center and offered Lee support, for that Biles relied on so heavily in Japan.
“I know how traumatic it is, especially on such a big stage,” Biles said. “And I didn’t want her knocking on her head, so we just went and talked about it.”
The two retreated from the floor to speak, and Biles reminded Lee that he “can do hard things.”
When they returned, Biles stood next to the uneven bars and cheered on Lee as she rebounded with a superb (if somewhat watered-down) program that scored 14.500 points and helped her to a promising fourth place finish.
“I know it was hard for me and she was there to help lift my spirits,” Lee said.
Biles is at a degree in her unparalleled profession where her enjoyment of the sport is not any longer solely focused on the quality of her performance.
Featured Stories
While she joked that she believed she was “aging like fine wine,” it’s telling that she kept her biggest smile on her face later as she talked about the five World Champion Center teammates – most of them a decade her junior – who would join her later at the Olympic trials in Minneapolis this month.
“That excites me because I think they have a long career ahead of them,” Biles said. “So if I can do anything to help them now and in the future, that’s what I will do.”
This is her way of giving back. She is fully aware of the highlight that awaits her in Paris and tries to set an example for others on how you can take care of the pressure that awaits her. She attends therapy recurrently – now even during weeks of meetings – and is set to give attention to what she will be able to control.
For example, her gymnastics.
In front of an audience that included her husband, Chicago Bears reliever Jonathan Owens, Biles placed on a four-rotation clinic that featured all the hallmarks of a typical Biles performance. There was stunning athleticism mixed with precision and greater than somewhat swagger.
Biles finished with the highest two-day rating in all 4 events, something she had only done once before at nationals (2018).
Her only mistake on Sunday was in the vault. She failed Yurchenko’s double pike – two back flips with her hands behind her knees – during her warm-up, and when it counted, she overcompensated by generating a lot force that she landed on her back. Still, she received $15,000 for her efforts, a testament to a treasure trove that no other competitive woman has ever accomplished and only a select group of men have attempted.
Not that it apprehensive her. Biles steeled herself, took a couple of deep breaths, then climbed to Cheng’s vault, which was rewarded with a 15.1 rating and put her ninth national title close by. No other U.S. gymnast in the history of the sport has greater than seven.
While Biles stays at the front as usual, competition is fierce for the remaining 4 spots on the five-man U.S. team, which is able to go to Paris as the major favorite to return to the top of the podium after ending second to Russia in Tokyo three years ago.
Skye Blakely (19) had one other impressive performance and can head to Minneapolis with great momentum. Three years after her bid to make the 2020 Olympic team led to injury, Blakely is hitting her peak at the right time.
Lee stays the epitome of elegance on bars and beam, her best competitions, and felt encouraged after her first elite all-around competition since she triumphed in Tokyo, with Biles cheering from the stands.
Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are competing in the race, although each suffered falls on Sunday. Third place Kayla DiCello fell off the uneven bars.
Then there’s Shilese Jones, considered the top all-around gymnast in the U.S. not named Biles, who withdrew from the championships on Friday with a shoulder injury, although she said on Sunday she was feeling higher and planned to be available for trials. The same will apply to 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who decided to not compete on Sunday after making some changes during Friday’s opening session.
Both – if healthy – are serious contenders for an invite to Paris (Jones specifically).
Biles’ ticket is essentially canceled. Same as at all times.
NFL Hall of Fame receiver and podcast host Terrell Owens has signed with a talent agency to further strengthen his claims within the entertainment game.
According to , Owens was signed by SMAC Entertainment, headed by host and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz has also joined SMAC Entertainment.
“We are excited to add TO and Jordan to the SMAC family. They are both at the top of their game and set the standard in their industry,” Schwartz-Morini said in a written statement. “TO and Jordan have already brought an infectious energy to our team, and we are excited to help them realize their vision for careers in media, business and branding.”
A five-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Owens played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. In 2018, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A member of the 2000 NFL All-Decade Team, Owens finished his profession with 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 touchdowns, rating third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Since retiring from skilled soccer in 2012, Owens has already made several moves. He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including “,” and in addition had his own reality show, “, on VH1.
He currently co-hosts the podcast with former NFL player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe.
SMAC Entertainment is home to stars similar to rapper and actor Common, Wiz Khalifa, Strahan, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and current NFL players similar to Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf.
Sports
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings an NBA championship desire with his Olympic experience
The gold medal went to the USA Basketball team. Mission completed on the 2024 Paris Games. U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr just answered his final query during his final news conference on Aug. 10 after his team defeated France within the gold medal game.
However, before leaving the stage of the press conference in Paris, Kerr stopped to deliver an unsolicited message to media around the globe.
“Devin Booker is an amazing basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just desired to say that,” Kerr said.
The “underrated MVP” compliment meant so much to the Phoenix Suns guard.
“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his mind throughout the entire process. A 12 months ago I said what I desired to do for this team and what we desired to do for the country.
“It was a lot larger than all of us. Survival was something we’d discuss for the remainder of our lives.
The USA Basketball team was centered around NBA star icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. There has also been some discussion amongst media and fans in regards to the lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and, to a lesser extent, Tyrese Haliburton. Lost within the shuffle was the all-around, unselfish play of sharpshooter Booker wearing the armband.
Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images
Booker was fourth in scoring for the U.S., averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and a couple of.2 three-pointers made early in all six Olympics, and likewise had the perfect plus/minus (plus-130) for an American. Kerr was impressed with Booker’s deal with a difficult defense, regardless that he is thought for his offense, ball movement and the way he has adjusted to not being one in every of the highest options on offense.
“I just understood what was at stake,” Booker said. “I’m proud to be from this country. I’m happy with playing basketball. Even though it wasn’t invented in America, we dominated for a very long time. Obviously the world is incredibly talented and the sport is growing, however it was just one other message to allow them to know who we’re.
Booker said he also learned in regards to the preparations from his all-star team, watching the preparations on and off the court. The 28-year-old added that he gained lifelong friendships.
“It’s cool to see that everyone has their own issues,” Booker said. “In my 10 years in the NBA, I’ve learned that you have to choose what you can use for yourself. But the level of detail, the attention to detail, the intensity – it’s all consistent across the board.”
As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the 2 Sun stars “is close and grows stronger every day.” They live about five minutes from one another within the Phoenix area and commonly spend time at home and on the road. Most recently, Booker had to steer the Suns without Durant, who was sidelined with an injury.
The amazing Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and three.4 assists, which were tops for the Suns. However, the 14-time NBA All-Star has been sidelined since November 8 with a left calf strain. Suns players Bradley Beal (calf) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) were also sidelined. The Suns are 1-5 without Durant, which incorporates 4 straight losses.
Booker and Suns sans Durant’s next rivals shall be the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Over the last six games, Booker is averaging 24.1 points, shooting 43.2% from the sphere and making 16 of 43 three-pointers. Suns guard Tyus Jones said there was numerous pressure on Booker offensively due to the injury.
“We’re asking a lot of Book,” Jones said after Monday’s 109-99 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic. “It’s numerous pressure for him. We are very focused on it. They are physical with him, holding him and grabbing him, throwing two or three bodies at him all night long. So he’s got so much on his plate and we just need to proceed to seek out ways to get him open within the moments we will and proceed to assist him when other players are taking shots and making plays.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Booker currently has two Olympic gold medals, 4 NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing from the Suns’ second-leading all-time scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they’ve yet to win a title.
After experiencing the joys of winning a gold medal, Booker as an NBA champion wants the gold Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy much more.
“Most of the guys that were there did it,” Booker said of his Olympic teammates who were NBA champions. “They were champions. This is standard for them. Anything lower than that, they need nothing to do with it. It’s contagious…
“That’s all I want. That’s all I want.”
After months of introducing the players and coaches who will participate in its inaugural season, the brand new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league announced its team rosters and coaching assignments on Wednesday.
Founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled consists of six teams of six players each. The league was created to offer WNBA players with a substitute for playing overseas in the course of the offseason.
Although initially announced as having 30 players, the league has since expanded to 36, which Collier attributed “above financial forecasts”. The league has announced 34 players publicly up to now.
The inaugural season of Unrivaled will begin on January 17, 2025, with all games going down in Miami. Here are the official teams for the inaugural season, as well season schedule.
Vinyl Basketball Club:
– Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Rose Basketball Club:
– Coach: Nola Henry
Mgła basketball club:
– Coach: Phil Handy
Lunar Owls Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: DJ Sackmann
Phantom Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: Adam Harrington
Laces Basketball Club:
– Coach: Andrew Wade
Simone Biles torn apart after giving George Strait’s wife a ‘vulgar look’ while fans came to her defense
Percival Everett wins the National Book Award for his Huckleberry Finn-inspired epic “James.”
Ant stings can be painful. Here’s how to avoid getting stung this summer (and what to do if it happens)
What do you know about Cynthia Erivo?
Snoop Dogg Takes Over ‘Amazon Music Live’ in Season 3 Finale – Essence
CEO of 360WiSE Launches Mentorship Program in Overtown Miami FL
The Importance of Owning Your Distribution Media Platform
U.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce Appoints Robert Alexander of 360WiseMedia as Board Director
360Wise Media and McDonald’s NY Tri-State Owner Operators Celebrate Success of “Faces of Black History” Campaign with Over 2 Million Event Visits
Another lawsuit accuses Google of bias against Black minority employees
Cyntoia Brown is released from prison
Diversifying Your Revenue Streams
Man removed from Airbnb for racist, hate-filled messages to black client
Charmaine Bey Shares Inspiration Behind Children’s Book on Colorism
Will Poulter got emotional during the filming of ‘Detroit’
-
Press Release8 months agoCEO of 360WiSE Launches Mentorship Program in Overtown Miami FL
-
Business and Finance6 months agoThe Importance of Owning Your Distribution Media Platform
-
Press Release7 months agoU.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce Appoints Robert Alexander of 360WiseMedia as Board Director
-
Business and Finance8 months ago360Wise Media and McDonald’s NY Tri-State Owner Operators Celebrate Success of “Faces of Black History” Campaign with Over 2 Million Event Visits
-
Ben Crump7 months agoAnother lawsuit accuses Google of bias against Black minority employees
-
Fitness7 months agoBlack sportswear brands for your 2024 fitness journey
-
Theater8 months agoApplications open for the 2020-2021 Soul Producing National Black Theater residency – Black Theater Matters
-
Ben Crump8 months agoHenrietta Lacks’ family members reach an agreement after her cells undergo advanced medical tests