Sports
Bronny James, Shedeur Sanders and when a father’s love is a hammer
I even have watched with great fascination as LeBron James and Deion Sanders skillfully guide their sons through the world of sports with goals of landing within the NBA and NFL, respectively.
They play different sports and are at different stages of life, but their approach to parenting is intriguing.
Sanders is an NFL star and football coach for Colorado, where he coaches his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Los Angeles Lakers forward James, awaiting his turn as a basketball star, is one in all the best players in NBA history. His son Bronny played one undifferentiated season of basketball at USC.
On Thursday, the journey to the professionals materialized for the James family when Bronny James was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fifty fifth pick on the second day of the draft. Never within the history of the NBA draft has a second-round pick been subject to a lot scrutiny. But however, never has the fifty fifth pick been the son of one in all the best players of all time.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
The number of Bronny James was some of the telegraphed moves in draft history and one other reflection of his father’s influence. On June 20, LeBron James helped arrange the hiring of a latest Lakers coach. Now he used his prestige, influence and considerable power to make sure the Lakers chosen his son and paved the way in which for a historic team-up.
LeBron and Bronny James will grow to be the primary father-son duo in NBA history to be lively players. They may even grow to be the primary members of the father-son team. Many have described it as an uplifting story of a 39-year-old dad extending his profession so he can play together with his 19-year-old son. I are likely to see it less as a story of fatherly love than of a daddy using strength and muscle to create a fabricated story.
The drama is just starting. There can be summer league, training camp, and then the magical moment when Bronny makes a historic lob to his father, who dunks the ball into the basket to thunderous applause from the group. It is not essential whether this moment was won or created, however the event itself.
I definitely plan to be there, because that is what journalists do: we capture a moment, real or imagined.
But within the ethos of competitive sports, where merit really does count, I’m wondering if LeBron James — in his quest for posterity — hasn’t done his son a disservice in the long term. Will his son carry the invisible burden of fraud?
That’s a burden that Shedeur Sanders, Deion Sanders’ youngest son, won’t must carry. He knows he deserves it.
Ryan Kang/Getty Images
This time next 12 months, Shedeur Sanders will walk across the stage on the NFL Draft to shake the hand of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as a likely first-round pick, perhaps one in all the primary quarterbacks chosen within the draft. Whether he gets elected or not, it won’t be due to his father’s lobbying.
Sanders is a Hall of Famer, as LeBron James can be once he retires. He’s also a showman, and he’s used his considerable influence to arrange his son for the draft. At Jackson State, for instance, he installed his son as a starter without legitimate competition, but he got the job done. Over the course of two seasons, Sanders caught the eye of Jackson, and his son, who rose to the occasion.
It could possibly be argued that Sanders was forced to let his son marinate because NFL rules state that players must complete a minimum of three years of highschool before they will turn skilled. In conversations I had with Deion Sanders, he said that because money was not a difficulty for his son, he desired to keep him in Colorado so long as possible, not just for this system, but additionally in order that he could develop, mature, grow to be stronger and improve your skills.
Deion Sanders allowed his son to marinate, grow, develop. Shedeur Sanders led Jackson State to back-to-back regular-season conference titles.
He learned to take a beating last 12 months in Colorado, learned to lose even when he was putting up big numbers, considering he was some of the sacked quarterbacks in Power 5 football. Deion Sanders let his son mature in college. LeBron James could have done the identical with Bronny—let him marinate for a 12 months or two in college and then let him make the leap. He could have let him construct his own resume and not must use his dad’s.
But that will take too long, and the calculation was apparently that point was not on either father or son’s side.
When I have a look at LeBron James’ maneuvers through the prism of a long history, it’s truly fascinating. Consider: a black man in a league that was integrated in 1950, when black players were subject to quotas and barred from holding coaching and management positions for a few years. That LeBron James went from highschool to the NBA and became such a powerful force that he can create an empire that forces his team to draft his son is a nod to progress.
The troubling aspect of LeBron and Bronny James’ historic relationship isn’t the blatant nepotism, however the rationale behind it. No one even bothers to argue that if Bronny hadn’t been his son, he wouldn’t have been drafted fifty fifth.
The rationale is that everybody else is doing it, that nepotism is a lifestyle that each wealthy person in a position of power and control uses to create their very own reality. That’s a real-world rationale, and I get it.
After all, on the earth of sports and fun it will possibly be said that you may have to earn a living.
Shedeur Sanders has a celebrity father who loves him as much as LeBron James loves his son. The difference is that he paid his dues and proved he deserves the eye to get to the following level. Bronny James didn’t. Ultimately, he’ll must prove he deserves a spot within the NBA.
But let’s be honest: it isn’t a lot about fatherly love because it is about power, and it helps when fatherly love is also a sledgehammer.
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
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