Sports
Deion Sanders stirs up even more chaos and tarnishes Colorado football with his cult of personality
When I moved to Fort Myers, Florida, in 2000 to write down a three-day-a-week sports column, I quickly realized that town’s most famous athlete had a difficult relationship with his hometown and the local media.
Deion Sanders was born and raised on this city, once considered The Most Divided Country in Americawhere a train station separated whites from blacks until the Nineteen Seventies. Returning to town while playing at Florida State within the mid-Eighties, Sanders was arrested at a shopping center for allegedly attempting to steal. He was arrested again in Fort Myers — in 1996, while playing for the Dallas Cowboys — for trespassing and fishing in a non-public lake on the airport.
In general, he never trusted town authorities, the police or the media.
That’s the default position for black men on this country, comprehensible given American history. When you’re a superb generational talent with a track record to match your extraordinary athleticism and you grow up poor amid the standard racism of the Deep South, your skepticism can grow. While Sanders has develop into a marketing marvel and one of the best corporate salesman since leaving Tallahassee, the sport stays an us-versus-them proposition.
You are either with him or your enemy; there isn’t any in between.
Colorado, which opens its season Thursday night, went all-in by hiring Sanders as its head football coach, putting him in the motive force’s seat and strapping him in. The destination could also be uncertain, but there’s no mistaking who’s driving the bus. And Sanders desires to run over a neighborhood sportswriter he clearly can’t stand.
“After a series of ongoing, personal attacks on the football program, and Coach Prime in particular, the CU Athletic Department, in conjunction with the football program, has decided not to answer questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events,” the athletic department said in a press release. he said in a press release last week.
Keeler clearly doesn’t like Sanders, whom he has referred to in various columns as “Deposition Deion,” “Bruce Lee BS” and “false prophet.” Colorado’s football program has also been discredited, called “Planet Prime,” “Deion Kool-Aid” and “a circus.”
Sports
These takes could also be exaggerated depending in your perspective. Fans of New York teams and athletes have seen worse within the Big Apple tabloids. But Keeler’s criticism is just not unique. Sanders’ brash and boastful personal style has, over time, created hordes of critics, culmination last 12 months in his first season at Colorado. He rebuilt this system in his own flashy image and was the talk of the faculty football world because the Buffaloes won three of their first 4 games. But the haters had the ultimate word as CU lost its final six games to complete 4-8.
Sanders’ sensitive side with the media got here to the fore in 1992, when he tried to make history by playing in an NFL and MLB game on the identical day. Baseball commentator Tim McCarver criticized the choice, and Sanders aggressively threw ice water at him within the Atlanta Braves locker room. His petty nature resurfaced in 2021, when he coached Jackson State and a neighborhood reporter was banned after the story concerning the assault allegations against the brand new recruit. Now Colorado is taking orders from Sanders in his relationship with Keeler.
“Keeler remains permitted to attend football-related activities as an accredited media representative, and other Denver Post reporters may ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players and staff,” the college said in a press release.
Colorado needlessly rushed to Sanders’ defense, as if he were too weak to handle Keeler on his own. Sanders can answer or decline to reply anyone’s questions as he sees fit. Media members who use insults, especially “false prophet,” understand the danger of getting the cold shoulder in return. Sanders will be polite and skilled—or rude and vulgar—and still give Keeler nothing. The athletic department didn’t need to get entangled.
Coaches don’t need to like every thing that’s written or said about them. But they do select what kind of leader they need to be and what kind of behavior they need to model for the young individuals who look up to them. Being touchy and vindictive is just not the type of example I would like to set, but that’s who I’m. Sanders is just not the primary to lean into bullying when in power, but his response is unlucky nonetheless.
Winning would help. The more a coach wins, the larger an asshole he will be. Fans and school officials don’t care which reporters will ask questions if Sanders starts gathering the Ws. Colorado is blissful to simply accept the notion that “Prime Planet” is fully effective if it results in championships and playoff berths.
Otherwise, it’s just going to be an even greater mess to deal with, due to Coach Prime bringing national attention to Colorado.
You get what you pay for.
Sports
NFL star Terrell Owens signs a contract with Michael Strahan’s talent agency
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.
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.
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.”
Sports
New Unrivaled Women’s League Reveals Team Rosters and Coach Allocations
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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