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USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams have most optimistic fanbase heading into 2025, per survey
Rams have most optimistic fanbase heading into 2025, per survey Los Angeles Rams fans are some of the most enthusiastic fans in the NFL right now. They have Matthew Stafford back, Davante Adams on the roster and one of the most exciting young defenses in the league. This excitement was incredibly prevalent in a survey from The Action Network. Following the 2025 NFL Draft, they asked NFL fans: "How optimistic are you about your NFL team's performance next season based on the moves made this offseason?' Rams fans finished with highest optimism score in the league, with 90% answering that they were "very" optimistic, according to the survey. The Action Network added that this is the highest optimism score they've ever recorded. Meanwhile, just 6% of Rams fans said they were "not at all" optimistic and 4% said "neither." The next-highest fanbases were the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. Rams fans do have a lot to be excited about following a wild 2024 season and an even wilder 2025 offseason. L.A. took the Eagles all the way to end in the NFC Divisional Round and lost by just six points despite a bevy of injuries throughout the year. Stafford's return is the biggest boost, though, considering the possibility he could have been traded in the beginning of the offseason. While the 2025 NFL Draft didn't have a ton of fireworks, the Rams added some good depth pieces and picked up a 2026 first-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons. Losing Cooper Kupp was tough for the loyal fans, but the addition of Davante Adams should quell and concerns about the pass-catching corps.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Will Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Donald Trump spark chaos at the Kentucky Derby amid heated immigration debate?
The Kentucky Derby is buzzing with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leading the odds, alongside Donald Trump (Getty Images) The Kentucky Derby has always been a magnet for high society, outrageous fashion, and, increasingly, celebrity spectacle. But this year, the 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs may be remembered less for the horses and more for the high-profile names potentially in attendance — with Taylor Swift , Travis Kelce , and former President Donald Trump dominating the pre-race chatter. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce top the charts with 3/1 odds of appearing together at the Kentucky Derby According to newly released celebrity attendance odds from The Action Network, all bets are on these A-listers to make a splash on Derby Day. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, the NFL power couple, top the charts with 3/1 odds of appearing together — a possibility that's already sending social media into a frenzy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Kelce has his own 4/1 odds, while Swift trails slightly at 5/1 solo. Trump, never one to shy away from the spotlight, also has 3/1 odds, fueling speculation that politics and pop culture may collide at this year's event. In a statement to The Blast, The Action Network explained the stakes: 'The Derby isn't just about horses, it's become one of the year's biggest stages for cultural crossover. These odds reflect not just celebrity schedules, but calculated media moves and public appetite for spectacle.' Donald Trump's potential Derby visit sparks concern over immigration policies While a Trump appearance would be in line with his pattern of bold public gestures, it comes at a particularly sensitive time. Derby insiders and horse racing leaders are sounding alarms over the former president's aggressive deportation proposals, fearing they could dismantle the very labor force that sustains the industry. At a press conference in Louisville this week, business and racing leaders emphasized the indispensable role of immigrant workers — from hot walkers to groomers — in keeping the sport running smoothly. 'From hot walkers to exercise riders, groomers, and farriers, skilled immigrant workers are the backbone of the horse racing industry ,' said Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition. 'Their contributions help generate $177 billion for the American economy and are crucial to the Kentucky Derby's success every year, but the immigration system is failing them.' Dale Romans, president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, didn't mince words either: 'Horses can't get on the track without the right workers behind them. Seventy-eight percent of backstretch workers are immigrants; the industry cannot survive without them.' Also Read: Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce skipping the 2025 Met Gala to avoid the spotlight—or to hide deeper issues in their relationship? As the spotlight shifts from the stables to the grandstands, the question looms: Will the celebrity appearances overshadow the horses — or will politics upstage them all?
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
All Bets Are On: Will Taylor Swift Or Donald Trump Steal The Show At The Kentucky Derby?
The is known for mint juleps, extravagant hats, and surprise celebrity sightings, and this year, the speculation over who might show up at Churchill Downs is already heating up, with , Taylor Swift, and leading the pack. The Action Network just released their celebrity attendance odds for the 151st Kentucky Derby, and it's not just the horses drawing attention, it's the A-listers potentially galloping into the spotlight. Topping the odds at 3/1 (a 25% chance) are President Trump and pop culture power couple Swift and Kelce, both as a duo and individually, per Action Network's report, which was sent to The Blast. Kelce sits at 4/1, while Swift has separate odds of 5/1, suggesting there's a strong chance at least one of them could show up, but a public appearance together would send the internet into a tailspin. In an email sent to The Blast, a spokesperson for The Action Network said, 'The Derby isn't just about horses, it's become one of the year's biggest stages for cultural crossover. These odds reflect not just celebrity schedules, but calculated media moves and public appetite for spectacle.' Other names in the mix include Trump arriving with members of his cabinet (10/1), Elon Musk (20/1), Kanye West (30/1), and President Joe Biden (50/1), all long shots, but in today's celebrity landscape, anything can happen. A Trump appearance would be par for the course given his history of bold, attention-grabbing public showings, especially because industry leaders are sending a direct message to the President and Congress, urging to take action on immigration reform, or risk unraveling the very labor force that keeps the Derby, and the broader racing world, running. In a press conference held Thursday in Louisville, business leaders and horse racing professionals gathered to spotlight the essential role immigrant workers play behind the scenes at Churchill Downs and beyond. From hot walkers and groomers to exercise riders and farriers, immigrant labor is a backbone of the sport, and there's growing fear that proposed mass deportation policies could devastate the industry. Trump has vowed to carry out the 'largest mass deportation operation in United States history,' but his comments about potentially allowing undocumented immigrants to return legally with employer support have drawn both attention and skepticism. 'We have to take care of our farmers, the hotels and, you know, the various places where they tend to need people,' Trump said during an April 10 Cabinet meeting, per Newsweek. 'They'll go out. They're going to come back as legal workers.' That's not sitting well with industry insiders. Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), emphasized just how crucial these workers are to the Derby's success. 'From hot walkers to exercise riders, groomers, and farriers, skilled immigrant workers are the backbone of the horse racing industry. Their contributions help generate $177 billion for the American economy and are crucial to the Kentucky Derby's success every year, but the immigration system is failing them,' she told Newsweek. Dale Romans, president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, echoed those concerns, adding, 'Horses can't get on the track without the right workers behind them. Seventy-eight percent of backstretch workers are immigrants; the industry cannot survive without them.' The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby kicks off this Saturday, as the world's top three-year-old horses converge on Churchill Downs for the first leg of the Triple Crown. With a scheduled post time of 6:57 p.m. ET, anticipation is building around several key storylines heading into the 2025 edition. Among the most talked-about is Journalism, the 3-1 favorite according to the latest odds. The colt enters the Derby on a hot streak, having notched four straight victories. If Journalism crosses the finish line first, he'll become the seventh favorite to win the Derby in the last 13 years. According to CBS, a former Sports Illustrated reporter and editor, Menez has his sights set on Burnham Square, despite the colt being a 12-1 longshot in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds. Burnham Square recently turned heads with a 1¾-length win over Tappan Street in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
