Denny Hamlin is back to being the villain, provoking Michigan crowd after win
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Denny Hamlin the antagonist is back.
He brought his famous line out of retirement to goad the crowd after winning Sunday's Cup race at Michigan International Speedway and delivered an Ohio State cheer to incite fans of the University of Michigan in the stands.
'I do thrive on it,' Hamlin said of being viewed as the villain, 'just simply because you feel like you've got 60,000 people that are rooting against you. When you have that, it just feels really, really good and gratifying to prove them wrong.'
A week before Father's Day, Hamlin eschewed his dad's wishes and told the crowd after winning for the third time this season and the 57th time in his Cup career: 'Daddy, I'm sorry, but I beat your favorite driver folks.'
Many in the crowd booed.
Nate Ryan,
It was a repeat of the line he first uttered after winning the Bristol night race in September 2023. He said the line again after winning the Clash at the Coliseum in February 2024 and then stopped doing it.
Hamlin said on his podcast 'Actions Detrimental' afterward that his father sent him a text to stop saying the line. His father said he didn't like it and thought it was too cocky. Hamlin said on his podcast that 'I'm going to listen to dad on this one.'
Oops.
'I thought about saying it a few other times,' Hamlin said Sunday night. ' … In this one, son knows best.'
Just to add another layer of antagonism, Hamlin did part of the O-H-I-O cheer for Michigan rival Ohio State in front of the crowd, earning further furor from some.
Hamlin attended the college football national championship game in January that Ohio State won over Notre Dame. While he had no previous allegiance, his friends were Ohio State fans and he supported the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes fans, look here. 😂
Wolverines fans, look away. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/sgWTlcrOFQ
Hamlin thrives on chaos. His fiancee is due to deliver the couple's third child any day, an appellant panel ruled against his team and Front Row Motorsports this past week and both face the prospect of losing their charters and being open teams as soon as the end of the month.
So, of course Hamlin won Sunday. And of course he stirred it up with the crowd unlike in his wins earlier this year at Darlington and Martinsville.
Dustin Long,
While he often is greeted with some of the largest chorus of boos during driver introductions, his actions Sunday are likely to amp that up.
He's fine with that.
'Until the crowd shifts to mostly cheers over boos, I'm always going to antagonize the booers,' Hamlin said. 'Like, until you really get the switch, which I don't think I'm ever going to in my career, what else is there?
'... I got to find ways to have fun doing this. It's such a grind and it's so hard to win. I found myself winning races a few years ago and I just moved on to Monday and it was on to the next track. I never really got to spend it celebrating. I took it for granted I'm just going to win next week, I'm going to win the week after that. I just thought another one was going to always come.
'You have another birthday (turning 45 last November). You keep wondering like how long are you going to be able to keep doing this at this level? Listen, 57 (Cup wins) might be it. None of us in this room know. I'm at least going to enjoy it as if it's my last, then I'll go to work on Monday, just like I always have.
'I don't want to be so ho-hum with winning that it's boring because then I lose my drive.'
Or the boos.
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Indianapolis Star
21 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
'I'm the son of Poison': Scot Pollard's ESPN Father's Day doc will bring you to tears
INDIANAPOLIS -- Scot Pollard unbuttons the top of his shirt and stands up, bearing his chest which inside beats the heart of Casey Angell. With tears in her eyes, Angell's widow walks over to Pollard, puts a stethoscope in her ears and places the tiny monitor to Pollard's skin. Pamela Angell hears thumping. Strong and steady. Thump-thump ... thump-thump ... thump-thump. It is a beautiful sound. Angell may no longer be with Pamela but, inside this room, he is with her. Living inside Pollard. Soon, it's not just Pamela crying, but Angell's sister, Megan Tyra, Pollard's wife, Dawn, and Pollard, too. He is meeting the family of his heart donor for the first time, the people who loved the man who saved his life. The emotional scene plays out in the ESPN "E60" film, "Heart of Pearl," which debuts 1 p.m. Sunday for Father's Day. It tells the story of former Indiana Pacers player Pollard who received a heart transplant in February 2024. The film also examines the impact Pollard's father, Pearl "Poison" Pollard, had on his life. The elder Pollard died waiting on the transplant list in 1991 when Scot was 16. ESPN followed Pollard as he waited on a heart at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and as he received his new heart and then as he recovered. The film ends with Pollard meeting the family of the donor who gave him another chance at life who, in turn, received their own gift. "We're grateful, yeah, we're grateful that Scot's here with Casey's heart," Pamela tells Pollard and Dawn in the film. "And William has another person to look up to as a father figure." William Angell was 12 when his dad died. "I feel for you. I know what it was like. I was 16 when my dad died," Pollard says to William. "And I was the last one in my family to see him alive." Pollard had gone surfing the morning of Oct. 28, 1991, for a physical education class he was taking at Torrey Pines High in San Diego. As he was coming up off the beach, his dad drove by in a white truck. Pearl was a public works director for the city of Solana Beach who made sure the roads were taken care of and the sand was raked. When Pollard spotted his dad, he raised his hand and waved. Pearl stopped and asked, "What are you boys doing?" Pollard told his dad they had just finished a surfing class. Pearl said, "Get back to school." "I said, 'Alright, dad,'" Pollard says. "He said, 'Take care.' That was the last thing he said." A couple of hours later, a friend of Pollard's called him. "Scot, I just saw your dad's car. It's crashed, and there are paramedics working on him." Pearl Pollard had died. He died when his heart failed him as the truck he was driving rolled gently through a stop sign and into a parking lot, then came to rest against some parked cars. Pearl died waiting on a heart transplant. The autopsy said the cause of death was cardiomyopathy. He was 54. One year before he died, Pearl was diagnosed with heart issues, but he had been sick much longer. The family noticed he was falling asleep a lot, passing out. Pearl would be talking to them and the next thing they knew, his skin was gray and he was out. They finally convinced him to go to the doctor, who told Pearl he needed to be put on the heart transplant list. But at 6-9 and 380 pounds, doctors said, it would be tough to find a heart big enough. "We knew it was a death sentence," Pollard says in the film. "So, obviously, 16 years old, that kind of stuck in my brain." Pollard was still 16 as he stood at his father's funeral, unable to believe and accept the man he loved and looked up to so much was gone. "He was a giant of a man in every single way possible. Everybody loved my dad," said Pollard. "Everywhere I went in Utah when I was a little kid. 'You're Pearl's son, aren't you. Is that Poison's kid?'" Now, Pearl was gone and Pollard was facing a dark reality. "I was just thinking, 'God, I'm going to grow up without a dad,'" he said. "On the other hand, I was mad at him for not taking better care of himself." Pollard's sister, Lyne Jorif, says in the film she remembers hugging her brother a lot, trying to comfort him, trying to make him feel better. "And just the look on his face. Nothing was going to console him," she said. "His worst fear of losing his dad had just happened." That basketball season at Torrey Pines, the team wore black bands in memory of Pearl and as a way to show their support for Pollard. He changed his jersey to No. 31, his dad's number. "He said, 'I'm going to honor my dad,'" said Jorif. "'I'm the son of Poison.'" Pearl Pollard had been a standout basketball player in high school and at the University of Utah, nicknamed 'Poison" because he was so lethal on the court, it was as if he was poisoning his opponents. Playing basketball was something Pollard had done for his dad. Now, he was gone. "It hurt too much to pick up a basketball and not have his dad. We just both kind of hit the wall and we slid down to the floor and we cried and cried, and it took him a while," said Jorif. "I told him, 'It's OK. You don't have to. Dad would never push you. Dad would tell you to do what you need to do." Pollard knew what he had to do. "The real reason I was ever successful at basketball was because my dad died. That was the catalyst. My dad passing just sharpened everything inside of me and made me angry," said Pollard. "And I went bat(expletive) nuts." Pollard took his anger and turned it into a passion and fierceness on the court as he played at the University of Kansas and then in the NBA. He was known for his relentless, competitive drive. Just like his dad. And 15 years after Pollard retired from the NBA, he found himself re-living the exact same health journey his father had lived. "We've got to talk about transplant," Dr. Sunit-Preet S. Chaudhry, a specialist in congestive heart failure at Ascension St. Vincent, told Pollard in September 2023. Pollard had been short of breath, his skin was gray and he was sleeping all the time. "I thought, 'Well, I'm going to die,'" Pollard told IndyStar inside his Carmel home in December. "I was 16 when my dad died on the transplant list because in 1991 you couldn't transplant a giant. That's it. I'm going to die just like my dad." Doctors tried to encourage Pollard that medicine had come a long way in the more than three decades since his dad died from cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. There was a good chance they could find a heart big enough for Pollard's monstrous body. "I very seriously considered just letting it ride," said Pollard, who played in the NBA 11 years, including for the Indiana Pacers from 2003 to 2006. "You know what? I've had a wonderful life and family. Maybe it's just ... let's just ride this out because I don't want to die in the hospital. "And thank God, (Dawn) talked some sense into me." Pollard couldn't give up on his failing heart. He couldn't leave behind Dawn and his four children. He might be the son of Poison, but he was going to take a different road than his father had. In February 2024, Pollard got his new heart. Angell's heart. When he woke up, he realized how close to death he had been. He was so very grateful. And he knew, he had to meet his donor's family. "Thank you guys for making that decision (to donate Angell's organs)," Pollard tells the family in the ESPN film. "Because if you hadn't made the decision, I may not be here." "Heart of Pearl" premieres 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. Streaming will be available after on ESPN+ Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Analyst Reveals Why Will Howard Spurned USC as Transfer
Analyst Reveals Why Will Howard Spurned USC as Transfer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young broke down the USC Trojans' chances of climbing to the top of the Big Ten on Sunday. Lincoln Riley's program has been on a tear on the recruiting trail, and Young offered a nugget about former Ohio State Buckeyes passer Will Howard as he revisited the team's quarterback play. Advertisement "Up until recently, and by recently, I mean Miller Moss, Lincoln Riley had been more or less unassailable when it comes to evaluating quarterback play," Young said Sunday on "Adapt & Respond with RJ Young." "We all know that, when he got to Oklahoma, it was Baker Mayfield, and from Baker Mayfield, you get to Jalen Hurts. From Jalen Hurts, you get to something like Spencer Rattler. ... Kyler Murray's in there, obviously, right? And then Caleb Williams. "And then we get the move to USC. Caleb Williams follows, so we'll count that, but after that, Miller Moss had a great game in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville. And that got him the job. As a matter of fact, probably kept Will Howard from going to USC." Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) motions at the line of scrimmage during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Howard discussed his transfer portal recruitment on Ryan Russillo's podcast in March, a month before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement "When it kind of came down to it, it was really Miami, USC, Ohio State, and then the draft," Howard said. "I want to go somewhere where I feel like I can develop as a quarterback and improve my draft stock and compete for a national championship. You know, Miami had a favorable schedule. You know, they had a really good offense. You know, but I just felt like at the end of the day, it wasn't the right place for me. "USC, the draw was Lincoln (Riley). I felt like he's one of the most elite quarterback developers and maybe if I had like two or three years of eligibility left, I'd go there." Related: Bomani Jones Reveals How NFL Taught Caleb Williams A Lesson After Pre-Draft Controversy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.


Business of Fashion
2 hours ago
- Business of Fashion
Why Lace and Crochet Are Everywhere Right Now
The day H&M launched its Magda Butrym capsule collection, Butrym took her husband and son out of town for a quick vacation. 'I was so nervous it wouldn't do well,' the designer said, 'but when I checked my phone, it had sold out immediately!' In fact, just minutes after H&M's website went live with the collaboration on April 25, the site and app both crashed. Subsequently, the fast-fashion giant's Instagram was flooded with angry messages from shoppers who weren't fast enough to get their hands on one of the 45 pieces from the line. Clearly, the Polish designer's signature floral appliqués, lace crochet and romantic tailoring at high street prices had hit a nerve. The doorhandles at Magda Butrym's New York pop-up are adorned with crochet. (Magda Butrym) Butrym, who started her brand in Warsaw in 2014, is certainly having a moment. She is bringing crochet and lace everywhere — even the doorhandles at the brand's New York pop-up are adorned with crochet. But while she is undoubtedly a modern pioneer of the style, which in her hands takes its influence from traditional Slavic and Eastern European clothing, hers is not the only brand driving the momentum. Fellow Polish brands Chylak and Karen Arcanjo have handwork built into their DNAs. Latvian brand Skarule, by Sabine Skarule, was one of the first to popularise crochet headscarves, pants and tops. UK-brand Shrimps by Hannah Weiland and Canada-based Beaufille, founded by Chloé and Parris Gordon, both tout crochet or lace as key elements of their recent collections. Lace also graced the runways of fashion giants like Chloé, Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen for their Fall-Winter 2025 collections, signalling that even big brands are returning to romantic, delicate aesthetics. 'In today's world where everything feels industrial and fast fashion, there's a growing demand for things that feel slow-moving and crafted,' said Ofri Weintraub, creative producer and founder of Spotlighttime, a page dedicated to highlighting independent brands and trending aesthetics. 'Intricate handiwork and delicate details feel like a rebellion against the noise of modern life. It's almost a form of soft resistance choosing something made with care, history and emotion over something made with speed.' Shoppers are taking note. On resale platform Depop, searches for 'Lace' are up 42 percent this year, while searches for 'Crochet' are up 95 percent. Google search interest for 'crochet' hit a five-year high this January. Part of this growth is driven by the booming bridal industry. Like many non-bridal brands, Magda Butrym has recently added her own bridal capsule collection, leveraging the seamless crossover in production that bridalwear bears with her core collection, along with added benefits like heightened social media exposure and added revenue. But the romantic connotations of lace and embroidery have also transcended weddings and crept their way, slowly but surely, into daily life. 'After the big trend of quiet luxury, crochet and embroidery are quite dreamy and stand out a lot,' Butrym said. 'I've been doing it already for 10 years, but now it's having its moment.' The Handmade Movement High street and fast-fashion brands have been quick to adopt the aesthetics of handwork in their collections. Weintraub pointed out that lace and crochet can be found all over platforms like Shein and Aliexpress, as well as at mid-range brands such as Reformation. Brands like Butrym's, however, are winning over customers with their authenticity. 'I think people are looking for something authentic,' said Weintraub. 'If you want to buy something authentic, you go to this designer where the aesthetic is woven into the DNA.' 'I can totally see how it's exploding, it's nice for me to see the comeback,' said Zofia Chylak, who is also from Poland and is the founder of her namesake brand, Chylak, which features traditional local embroidery and weaving techniques in its most recent collections. 'I feel we need a story when we buy something now, to know where it comes from, who made it. With crochet, lace and embroidery there is so much to say.' Chylak's Wilanow campaign inspired by the traditional clothing of Polish towns. (Chylak) The brand employs local Polish artisans, all female, to craft its handmade pieces. To make one of its signature collars takes more than 60 hours. The women who still know the techniques are usually retired and do the work out of love, according to Chylak, who worries that in a matter of years there may be nobody left who knows the craft any longer. Slavic Roots, Global Appeal Although lace and crochet have centuries-long histories that span various regions, it's no coincidence that Poland is one of the countries at the forefront of the nostalgic handmade aesthetic. 'All Polish grandmothers could crochet,' Butrym said. 'In the 1960s, during communism, there was not much in shops, no nice dresses or cute baby pieces — that pushed women to make things at home if they wanted to stand out.' Butrym feels there is a certain Slavicness in the romanticism of lace and crochet. One of her brand's recent campaigns was called 'Slavic Chic.' For her, the challenge is making the look feel relevant to the present moment. 'It was very hard for me to do it without looking too folk-ish and outdated for a modern woman,' she said, emphasising the importance of sharp styling and tailoring. What stands out about the handcrafted aesthetic is its unequivocal female dominance in a world where most big brands' creative direction is still white and male. The labels driving its resurgence tend to be female-founded and led. Both on the creative and the consumer side, lace, crochet and embroidery are resonating with women globally. It's helping Butrym connect with a growing number of female shoppers, as well as partners like H&M, despite not being a household name. 'I was surprised,' Butrym said about being approached by the Swedish retailer, 'but H&M told me that when they surveyed who to collaborate with next, my name came up the most.'