Latest news with #BlowtheWhistle
CBS News
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Rapper Too Short, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong join Oakland Ballers ownership group
The Oakland Ballers on Wednesday announced that two Bay Area music icons were joining the team's ownership group with the addition of legendary rapper Too Short and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. The announcement comes as the Pioneer League team launched a new round of community investment so fans can purchase a stake in the team. Last summer, over 2,200 baseball fans put their money into the Ballers franchise with the team raising $1.234 million. Filling the void left by the departure of the Oakland A's for Sacramento ahead of the team's eventual relocation to Las Vegas, the Ballers had a successful inaugural season last year, selling out the team's home opener and consistently drawing big crowds to its refurbished 4,000-seat ballpark in West Oakland's Raimondi Park. The Ballers invested over $1.6 million in the park prior to the team's first game, with residents in the area enthusiastic about the positive impact the Ballers have brought to the neighborhood. Born Todd Anthony Shaw, Too Short grew from selling cassettes of his music out of the trunk of his car to become one of the most influential rappers to emerge from the Bay Area. Scoring hit singles including "Life Short," "The Ghetto" and "Blow the Whistle" during a career that has spanned four decades, Too Short has released more than 20 albums. "Oakland has produced some of the best athletes and sports fans in the world and The Ballers commitment to feeding that competitive fire is exciting for me as an Oakland native," Too Short was quoted as saying in the press release. "I'm proud to be joining the Ballers ownership group, and excited for the impact we're going to have on the community and the overall sports landscape in the Bay Area and beyond!" The principle songwriter behind multi-platinum band Green Day, Armstrong was vocal in his criticism of the Oakland A's ownership when the team moved forward with plans to leave the East Bay last year. He praised the commitment the Ballers have shown to Oakland along with the Oakland Roots Soccer Club and their sister women's soccer team, the Oakland Soul SC. "Sports in the Bay Area have been transforming over the last couple of years. We've had some emotional goodbyes to teams we grew up with, but recently there has been a major shift. The Oakland Ballers and the Oakland Roots & Soul represent everything I love and grew up on in the Bay Area," Armstrong said in the release. "The welcoming atmosphere, DIY attitude and the people behind it make me proud to be an investor and support the next generation of teams kids in the bay will be proud of."
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Arrest made in killing of Too Short's brother, more suspects sought
(KRON) — The Oakland Police Department announced an arrest Friday in the shooting death of Bay Area rap legend Too Short's older brother. Replica rifle allegedly brandished in Oakland road rage incident leads to arrest Wayne Shaw, 61, was shot and killed in the 1200 block of 49th Avenue just after 7 a.m. on Jan. 29. According to a preliminary investigation, individuals attempted to force their way into a cannabis grow using a vehicle. When Shaw exited the location, he was confronted before being shot multiple times. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Two blocks away from the crime scene, police had found a car involved with multiple bullet holes. Police said officers arrested Maijji Jackson in connection with Shaw's homicide. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is currently reviewing the case. OPD continues to investigate the case and is actively seeking additional suspects. Too Short (also stylized as Too $hort) is a Bay Area-based rapper who is famous for the hit song 'Blow the Whistle.' He was born in Los Angeles but moved to Oakland as a kid and attended Fremont High School. He began rapping in the 1980s and is one of the most prominent rappers to come out of the Bay Area. In 2022, Oakland renamed a stretch of Foothill Boulevard 'Too $hort Way' to reward the rapper for the work he'd done in the community. Dec. 10, 2022 was declared Too $hort Day in Oakland. KRON4 previously reached out to Too Short but did not hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Philadelphia rapper Gillie Da King challenges Taylor Swift to Super Bowl bet
The Philadelphia Eagles' unofficial hype man Gillie Da King has issued a challenge to pop star and Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift ahead of Super Bowl LIX. In an Instagram video, Gillie said if the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl, he'll wear Travis Kelce's jersey for "three days straight" and do his famous "Blow the Whistle" dance in front of his souped-up Eagles-mobile. Swift, who grew up in Berks County, has been dating Kelce since 2023, and spent the last two seasons attending Chiefs games and cheering on the reigning Super Bowl champions with family and friends. "We know somewhere deep down in your heart you're an Eagles fan," Gillie said in an appeal to Swift, "but sometimes love tangles and twists things, so we forgive you Miss Taylor Swift." If the Eagles win the Super Bowl, Gillie challenged Swift to wear former Philadelphia center Jason Kelce's jersey "not for three days, not even for 10 seconds." The 14-time Grammy winner will just need to wear Jason's jersey and do Gillie's dance for a mere four seconds. "Do you accept the challenge, Miss Swift? We love you!" Gillie said. "Shoutout to all the Swifties!" Taylor Swift has yet to respond to or accept Gillie's challenge. But aside from football and friendly sibling rivalries, Gillie had another request for Swift: Drop the brand of her signature red lip color. "My wife wanted me to ask you where you get the red lipstick from. What brand is that, because she's been trying to find it and can't find it." Safe to assume Swift will be rocking that red lip with her Chiefs gear this weekend. "Blow the Whistle" videos go viral Gillie Da King started posting videos dancing in his driveway earlier in the Eagles season. The clips, which usually feature a rotating cast of neighbors who join in on the dance, have amassed millions of views and tons of copies from Eagles fans. The rapper and podcaster even ended up in the Eagles locker room after Philadelphia beat the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game, where he danced to Too Short's "Blow the Whistle" with the team. Clad in an oversized Eagles hat and head-to-toe Philly gear, Gillie Da King's moves have become the signature celebration of Philly fans this season. "All this positive Energy Brings Positive Results," he said in a recent post.
Axios
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Eagles flying to Super Bowl after crushing Commanders
The Eagles are heading back to the Super Bowl after toppling the Washington Commanders in Sunday's NFC Championship game. Why it matters: The Birds have a chance to win the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy — and possibly avenge a stinging Super Bowl loss to Kansas City in 2023. Driving the news: The second-seeded Eagles are going to New Orleans to face either the Chiefs or Bills on Feb. 9. The Eagles put together their most complete game of the playoffs in their 55-23 win, with QB Jalen Hurts scoring three times, two on the Birds' patented "brotherly shove" play. The Birds scored seven rushing TDs in the game. There was no comeback in store for Washington this time. The Eagles' top-ranked defense stayed true to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's bend-but-don't-break philosophy. They forced four turnovers — the Eagles converted all of them into touchdowns — and came up with a game-sealing, fourth-down sack of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that star running back Saquon Barkley turned into a knockout TD, his third of the game, a few plays later. Zoom in: The win touched off celebrations throughout the city. Thousands of fans lined Broad Street, some climbing greased-up poles in pure euphoria. In the Birds locker room, Philly rapper and influencer Gillie Da Kid donned an Eagles championship T-shirt while doing his viral "Blow the Whistle" shimmy. Zoom out: The Empire State Building lit up green in honor of the Eagles and Barkley, the Giants' former star. Even Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) got in on the fun. He wrote on X after attending the game with his sons that it was a moment they'd "remember ... forever." Catch up quick: The Eagles (14-3) tied a franchise record for regular-season wins, powered by Barkley, who left NFC East rival the Giants in free agency to sign a three-year, $37.8 million deal with the Birds. Helping douse the heat on head coach Nick Sirianni, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season, almost eclipsing Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. And he's racked up nominations for league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. The intrigue: Hurts is the first Eagles quarterback to reach two Super Bowls. "We gotta finish," he said after Sunday's game. "Don't doubt him," Sirianni told Fox's Terry Bradshaw about Hurts during the postgame celebration. "All he does is win." What's ahead: The Eagles await the winner of Sunday's AFC Championship. A potential rematch with the Chiefs would pit the Eagles against their former longtime coach, Andy Reid, plus tight end Travis Kelce, the younger brother of retired center Jason Kelce. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
