Latest news with #UCLABruins
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I maintained that attitude for way too long" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar admits he regrets not showing a friendlier personality during his basketball career
"I maintained that attitude for way too long" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar admits he regrets not showing a friendlier personality during his basketball career originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remained, for the most part of his Hall of Fame career, an enigma. Dominant on the court but distant off it, his stoic demeanor and deliberate detachment from the media carved out a misunderstood figure who often appeared aloof in the public eye. Now, in hindsight, he has voiced what many long suspected: that he regrets the emotional wall he built during his time in the league. Lessons that lingered too long Before Abdul-Jabbar became a name in NBA legendary history, he was Lew Alcindor, the towering centerpiece of John Wooden's dynastic UCLA Bruins. Under Wooden, the team was molded into champions with a discipline that emphasized humility, structure and media silence. Wooden discouraged his players from seeking attention and actively coached them to avoid it. The message was clear, the press was a distraction, a nuisance and not to be trusted. This mindset, built into the team culture at UCLA, stuck with Abdul-Jabbar far beyond his college years. As he transitioned into the NBA, that suspicion hardened into routine. "It made me suspicious and cautious with the media, and I maintained that attitude for way too long," Abdul-Jabbar said, acknowledging the ripple effect it had on his public persona. "Those are people you deal with when you are a professional athlete and if you don't do it, then it's bad for you, it's bad for your spot." Few athletes have achieved what Abdul-Jabbar accomplished in terms of accolades and influence. Six championships, six MVP awards and the all-time leading scorer title for nearly four decades speak to a career of unmatched consistency and cerebral dominance. Yet while his statistics soared, his public image often stood in stark contrast to his brilliance. It wasn't that he didn't have something to say — he was always one of the game's most thoughtful minds — but that he rarely offered access to the media or fans. That wall wasn't entirely of his own design. His initial wariness wasn't unfounded. As a young Black Muslim athlete in a tumultuous era marked by civil rights clashes, political assassinations and cultural upheaval, Abdul-Jabbar bore a unique weight. Changing his name shortly after joining the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 invited skepticism and criticism from press outlets unfamiliar or uncomfortable with his transformation. His refusal to participate in the 1968 Olympics due to racial injustice only cemented his position as an athlete willing to stand on principle, even if it meant standing alone. That principled solitude, however, came at a price. He often seemed remote to fans and uncooperative to journalists, which shaped a narrative that stuck for legacy outgrew the silence Despite the cold veneer, Abdul-Jabbar never stopped growing. As his playing days wound down and retirement ushered in a slower pace, he began to reveal more of himself. Essays, books, social commentary and speaking engagements brought forth the intelligence and compassion that had long been obscured by caution and restraint. Still, the regret lingered over the cost of staying guarded for so long. The cultural shift around athletes and media relationships has made his reflections even more poignant. In today's NBA, players are expected to manage their own brands, embrace social media and speak out on issues beyond basketball. Abdul-Jabbar helped blaze that trail, but he now sees how his approach may have limited connection when connection mattered most. In recent years, he's been more open, humorous and visible. He's appeared in documentaries, spoken out on political issues with clarity and calm, and even found a late-career rhythm as a writer — you can check out his Substack too! — and social critic. The distance that once defined him now feels bridged by his willingness to revisit the past with story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 college football uniform rankings
College football teams have multiple uniforms to choose from thanks to deals with all sorts of athletic companies. For this exercise we will attempt to stick to the basics -- whatever that is at Oregon -- to rank the Top 25 'fits for college programs. Some are iconic and have stood the test of time. Others mesh the perfect look of colors and design. Check out a different Top 25 as college football season gets closer for 2025. College football teams have multiple uniforms to choose from thanks to deals with all sorts of athletic companies. For this exercise we will attempt to stick to the basics -- whatever that is at Oregon -- to rank the Top 25 'fits for college programs. Some are iconic and have stood the test of time. Others mesh the perfect look of colors and design. Check out a different Top 25 as college football season gets closer for 2025. 25. Oregon State Beavers Oregon State Beavers place kicker Everett Hayes makes a game-winning, 54-yard field goal. 24. UCLA Bruins UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Jay Toia tangles with Fresno State Bulldogs offensive lineman Toreon Penright. 23. Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays, and wide receiver Bru McCoy surround running back Dylan Sampson. 22. SMU Mustangs Southern Methodist Mustangs offensive lineman Caleb Johnson and quarterback Preston Stone in action. 21. Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State cornerback Audavion Collins (2) takes a moment in the north end zone. 20. Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs running back Cash Jones celebrates after scoring a touchdown. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams makes a circus catch. 18. Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with players before the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Navy won 21-20. 17. Clemson Tigers Tristan Smith of the Clemson Tigers warms up before the spring game. 16. Boston College Eagles Boston College Eagles' Liam Connor kicks an extra point. 15. North Texas Mean Green North Texas Mean Green kicker Kali Nguma kicks a field goal against the Army Black Knights. 14. Pitt Panthers Pittsburgh Panthers Phil Jurkovec prepares to fire the ball downfield. 13. Kansas Jayhawks The Kansas Jayhawks take the field. 12. Kent State Golden Flashes Kent State defensive end Kameron Olds and linebacker Rocco Nicholl celebrate. 11. Oregon Ducks Oregon quarterback Bo Nix throws a pass. Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers. 9. Miami Hurricanes Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo against the Virginia Tech Hokies 8. San Diego State Aztecs San Diego State Aztecs players walk out onto the field. 7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receivers Xavier Southall and Alex Whitman celebrate during the Blue-Gold game 6. Missouri Tigers Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook runs the ball. 5. Texas Longhorns Texas Longhorns offensive linemen Cole Hutson and Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) in action. 4. Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins and quarterback Will Howard celebrate. 3. Michigan Wolverines Michigan Wolverines running back Jordan Marshall pushes off on Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jeremiah Alexander. 2. Florida State Seminoles The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. 1. LSU Tigers LSU Tigers wide receiver CJ Daniels reacts after missing a pass. This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Ranking the best college football uniforms for the 2025 season
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Atlanta Hawks rookie has high expectations heading into NBA 2K26 Summer League
The Atlanta Hawks are carefully observing Kobe Johnson. The undrafted rookie and former UCLA Bruins guard made a bold statement about his defensive expectations heading into the NBA 2K26 Summer League earlier this week. Kobe Johnson spoke to the media on Tuesday, July 8, as the Atlanta Hawks prepared for the start of the summer league. When 92.9 The Game reporter Caleb Johnson asked Kobe Johnson what he wanted to show during the summer league, he responded with a bold and confident statement. "I want to show that I'm the best defender in the country," Kobe Johnson said. Those are strong words coming from a rookie about to make his first professional performance, but he has the pedigree to back it up from his college days. Johnson made three straight All-Defensive Teams in college: two for the Pac-12 with USC and one for the Big Ten with UCLA, according to UCLA. His defense was stellar for the collegiate game, but being the best as a pro rookie, especially early on, will be a tough task for anyone. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks ranked near the middle of the pack defensively with a 114.8 defensive rating, according to the NBA. If Johnson's defensive prowess continues at the professional level, then the Hawks have an exciting future ahead with the brotherly duo of him and small forward Jalen Johnson. He will have a chance to show what he can do, starting on Friday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time on ESPN 2 against the Miami Heat.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dante Moore lands notable QB ranking among Big Ten signal-callers
Going into the 2025 college football season, it's become a bit difficult to rank Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore among other signal callers. On the one hand, there are high expectations for Moore, a former 5-star recruit who was rated as the No. 4 player in the 2023 class. In his handful of starts with the UCLA Bruins as a true freshman, he showed some promise, displaying impressive arm talent and accuracy. However, he also struggled with consistency and decision-making, throwing nine interceptions alongside his 11 touchdowns. Since his freshman season, we haven't seen much of Moore, as he backed up Dillon Gabriel in Eugene last season. While the spring game earlier this year provided a solid opportunity for Moore to impress, it's fair for anyone to still want to see No. 5 in a game before anointing him as the next big thing in Eugene. So, how do you rank him among Big Ten quarterbacks going into the new season? Put him near the top, and you're risking disappointment, but put him too low, and you leave yourself open to looking foolish should he play up to expectations. Earlier this week, USA TODAY ranked the passers in the conference from best to worst, with Moore coming in at No. 4 on the list, which is respectable considering his lack of production but high upside. "Moore started at UCLA in 2023 and then spent last season learning the Ducks' system behind Dillon Gabriel," Paul Myerberg wrote. "Look for the former five-star recruit to grab this opportunity and run with it to become the next super-productive Oregon starter." Here's how the top 10 QBs fleshed out: Of course, Moore still has to beat out Austin Novosad to win the QB1 spot this fall, but should he do that, there is a hope among the fanbase that he can lead the Ducks back to the Big Ten Championship game and into the College Football Playoff once again this year. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Matt Barnes rips Maurice Cheeks over how he treated him and former 76ers teammates: "That's probably why he's a lifelong assistant"
Matt Barnes rips Maurice Cheeks over how he treated him and former 76ers teammates: "That's probably why he's a lifelong assistant" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Matt Barnes logged 14 seasons in the NBA — a stretch long enough to form countless connections along the way. And as life tends to go — we all know it — some relationships turn out better than others. Advertisement Barnes would certainly agree, but with a sharp twist. Speaking recently on "The Rich Eisen Show," the former 6'7" forward said he rarely holds hate for anyone. Then came the punchline. "To this day, I don't dislike anyone," Barnes said, looking straight into the camera. Then, with a pointed finger, the California native added, "I dislike, still to this day, Mo Cheeks." Barnes' biggest grudge There's a saying in life: never meet your idols. Barnes, a former UCLA Bruin, learned why firsthand, shifting from admiration to outright disdain for Cheeks over the years. During the podcast episode, he recalled actually growing up as a big fan of Mo. And Barnes certainly wasn't the only one. After all, Cheeks was far from an ordinary player. Advertisement A four-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive member, the Chicago native anchored the Philadelphia 76ers as a fundamentally sound point guard throughout the 1980s, including their remarkable 1983 championship run. He ranks seventh all-time in steals and 15th in assists in league history. More than his on-court excellence, the Hall of Famer earned a reputation as one of the NBA's all-time good guys. That reputation was cemented in 2003 when, as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, he famously helped a 13-year-old singer finish the national anthem after she stumbled during a playoff game — a truly memorable act of kindness. Related: "It's like Whack-a-Mole" - Cedric Maxwell recalls his unforgettable fight with Charles Barkley Tense Sixers stint Good guy? Barnes wouldn't exactly agree after his tense run with Cheeks during the 2005–06 Sixers season. At the time, the former was a raw talent trying to find his footing. At the same time, the latter was the head coach — and their relationship quickly unraveled. Advertisement Matt laid it out clearly. It started in the gym, him doing drills alongside the team's shooting coach, when Coach Cheeks casually dropped a barb: "I don't know why you're shooting. You're not going to get to shoot here." Probably meant as a joke, but the player didn't see the humor. "You're a head coach — you're saying that?" Barnes recalled thinking. Barnes explained that Mo still carried that player mentality — joking and bantering like the rest of the guys. But coming from a respected figure, that approach didn't sit well with him or several teammates, the 2017 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors said. That aforementioned moment was bad, but things boiled over a week later. Advertisement During practice, the now co-podcat host of "All the Smoke" took a shot the head coach saw as "ill-advised," and Cheeks stopped everything to call out his player in front of the whole roster. "I was going to pounce on him," Matt remembered his reaction. "Luckily, Chris [Webber] grabbed me and stopped me." Ultimately, Barnes, outspoken as ever, couldn't resist a jab. He said Cheeks' poor treatment of players left a lasting, and not positive, impact. "That's probably why he's a lifelong assistant," the 45-year-old noted, alluding to the fact that Mo hasn't held a main role on the sidelines since the 2014–15 NBA regular season. Advertisement Related: "Are we seeing the end of an era with Giannis?" - Matt Barnes feels Giannis Antetokounmpo could be playing his last playoffs with the Bucks This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
