NBA stars can become hometown heroes forever. Then there's Kevin Durant.
Kevin Durant probably enjoys the scenic route. We know this because his circuitous trip to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame feels more and more rambling as the years go on. After his flyby in Phoenix and nothing more, the latest detour in his career leads him to Houston. There, Durant will anchor a young and rising Rockets team on the verge of greatness — quite similar to that one he left in Oklahoma City almost a decade ago. And there, in Southeast Texas, he'll play for a good coach and possibly contend for the NBA's Western Conference title, if not more. He might even enjoy the rodeo and all the lemon pepper wings his heart desires.
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MLS at 30: 15 Stranger-Than-Fiction Stories
Our MLS at 30 series continues with a wild look at 15 strange, bizarre, or downright unbelievable stories from across the league's three-decade history. From odd player requests and wrong signings to mascots being ejected and clubs sued over their name, these tales remind us just how weird and unpredictable Major League Soccer can be. As MLS celebrates its 30th season, we've dug through the archives to uncover some of the league's weirdest moments — some from the early days, others from recent years. Advertisement Yes, MLS has grown tremendously, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Along the way, there have been missteps, misfires, and some truly bizarre decisions. Below are 15 of the strangest stories we could find. (Honorable mentions include Jorge Campos reportedly asking for a Ferrari to sign with LA Galaxy, Crew Cat getting red carded, and the league's first celebrity All-Star Game in 1998.) Enjoy the misadventures of MLS! Kansas City Wiz — But Not for Long Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images In 1996, Kansas City kicked off its MLS existence with an unorthodox name, the Wiz — a nod to the city's connection to The Wizard of Oz — and a loud, garish kit. After one season, the club quietly rebranded to the 'Wizards' due to a trademark dispute with electronics chain Nobody Beats The Wiz. Instead of going to court, MLS, cash-strapped in its early days, simply tweaked the name and moved on. In 2011, the club would change its name once more, to a more Euro-sounding Sporting Kansas City. D.C. United Takes Soccer to Prison In 2024, D.C. United partnered with the D.C. Department of Corrections and the Twinning Project to bring soccer to local prisons. 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Image via MetroFanatic In 1998, the MetroStars signed Colombian defender Jose Arley Palacios — but many believe they meant to sign his more famous brother, Everth Palacios, who had just played in the World Cup. The team's yearbook reportedly used Everth's bio by mistake. It's never been officially confirmed, but the rumors never died. Eric Wynalda Pays for a 'Fire the Coach' BannerAdvertisement In 1996, Eric Wynalda feuded so badly with San Jose Clash coach Laurie Calloway that he paid for a plane to fly a banner over Spartan Stadium calling for Calloway's firing. That's next-level player-coach drama — even for Wynalda, who has never shied away from conflict throughout his career. David Beckham Booed by His Own Fans Despite being the league's biggest star, David Beckham was booed by LA Galaxy fans in 2009 after returning from a loan to AC Milan. Fans saw him as a part-time player who cared more about Europe than MLS — and let him know it, loudly and repeatedly. 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32 minutes ago
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Taylor Swift Wows Fans with Surprise ‘Shake It Off' Performance at Boyfriend Travis Kelce's Tight Ends & Friends Concert
Taylor Swift gave a surprise performance at her boyfriend Travis Kelce's Tight Ends & Friends concert on Tuesday, June 24 The pop superstar sang her 2014 hit "Shake it Off" at the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville Kelce founded Tight End University, an annual three-day summer training camp, alongside fellow NFL star George Kittle and sportscaster Greg OlsenTaylor Swift is a supportive girlfriend! On Tuesday, June 24, the pop superstar, 35, gave a surprise performance at her boyfriend Travis Kelce's Tight Ends & Friends concert at the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. Taking the stage at the concert, which is a part of Tight End University — the annual three-day summer training camp Kelce founded in 2021 with fellow NFL star George Kittle and sportscaster Greg Olsen — Swift performed her 2014 hit 'Shake it Off.' 'We would like to dedicate this to our favorite players who are going to play and these are the tight ends,' Swift said as she introduced the song while wearing a black mini dress and matching boots. 'I stay out too late,' she then began singing as the crowd went wild. Speaking about the surprise moment, an exclusive source told PEOPLE, 'Taylor surprised the crowd by joining Kane Brown onstage for 'Shake It Off.' The crowd lost their minds! At the end of her performance she made sure to thank the band and gave each one of them a hug.' The source added that Swift and Kelce, 35, arrived at Tuesday's event together in a black SUV. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'They made their way upstairs there they chatted with the TEU athletes and guests," the insider said. "Travis and Taylor stayed by each other's side all while chit chatting and catching up with everyone.' The source went on to share that Swift's 'face lit up around Travis" and she "enjoys letting him shine.' Along with her own performance, the musician was also seen dancing to Chase Rice's performance of his song 'Cruise.' 'She sang along with George Kittle, having the best time,' the source told PEOPLE, adding that Swift danced on a balcony at the venue while holding a drink in her hand. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! 'Taylor was having the best time watching all the country music artists and showing her support for them,' they continued. Ahead of the event, the venue's website teased that "surprise musical guests" were set to perform, along with artists Jordan Davis, Chase Rice, Sophia Scott and Graham Barham. ! Swift's surprise performance comes after she and Kelce made what fans were calling their "red carpet debut" at the Tight End University's opening night ceremony on June 23. A video posted by the Tight End University Instagram page shows the couple beaming as they walk a red carpet into the event while hand-in-hand. According to the event's website, the camp was founded to help tight ends "bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more." Read the original article on People
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FSU football recruiting: Seminoles land 4-star tight end Xavier Tiller for 2026 class
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