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NBC Sports
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Here's a small taste of Big Shield
It'll be released only five weeks from today. It's been pre-selling like digital hotcakes. For now, here's a little taste of the syrup. It's one of the early chapters of Big Shield. Chapter 5. Told from the perspective of Johnny Motts, a Vegas-based mobster who has developed a network of pro athletes to whom he pays money for information — before games and, for some of his players, during game. Read it, if you want. Skip it, if you want. Complain about it on social media if you want. (As if you need an invitation.) Pre-order the full, 81-chapter ebook for only 99 cents, if you want. The print edition also can be preordered, for $14.99. Here it is . . . Chapter 5. As told by Johnny Motts. Regarding his interactions with Larry Ballentine, the starting shortstop for the local pro baseball team. (Not MLB.) ——————————————————————————- Didn't I say I hate sending messages? I never said it to nobody that matters. Not that I ever would. They tell me to send a message, I send a message. Even if I wanna do more than that. Maybe I won't need to with this one. Baseball players are smarter. Maybe it comes from knowing how to avoid getting hit by that fucking ball. Hockey players will take a puck to the face and spit out three teeth and smile. Baseball players got some regard for their health. It must be from all that time they sit around and think when not a damn thing is happening. I wish this guy had done a little more thinking. He made a few mistakes with the shit he told me. Shit he was supposed to know. Shit he said he knew. He was wrong about the pitcher who wasn't supposed to make his next start because his elbow was swollen. The guy ended up throwing anyway, and it fucked up the action we put down ahead of time. I could let one slide. He's had a few now. It makes me look bad. I ain't gonna take the heat. The only way to keep my own ass clean was to tell Carmine about it and then wait for whatever he told me to do. So I did. I was hoping he'd be fine with talking to the guy. Carmine wanted a little more than that. Which might make me think twice the next time it's time to tell something to Carmine. When they want me to do more than talk, I'd rather just make the guy gone. Yeah, it could get a little dicey if a ball player on a big league team ends up disappearing. It's still gonna be an issue once I break his arm. He'll have to come up with a damn good story about how it happened. But guys fall down the steps all the time, don't they? Besides, baseball season is almost over. I was hoping that'd be enough to get them to let it float. But they didn't ask what I thought. They never do. I had to wait a few days until the team got back from the road. I told him to call me as soon as he got home. He didn't ask no questions. He knows he's in trouble. The last thing he's gonna do is make things worse by not doing what I say. I didn't tell him I was stopping by. Who knows what he would have done if he thought something was gonna happen? I drove over to his place. He lived alone. I make sure all my guys live alone. The less family they got, the better. I don't need wives or girlfriends or God forbid kids getting in the way of whatever I need to do. Plus, it's easier to trust them to keep their mouths shut if they don't have somebody hanging around who might get wise. I parked a couple streets over. I cussed the whole way to his door. I felt the sweat starting in my pits and up my ass. If I wanted a job like that, I'd be moving refrigerators. I put my finger over the lens on the camera by the door and pushed the bell. I heard feet coming. They stopped. 'Who is it?' 'It's the pizza boy.' I said it in a loud voice. I hoped like hell he remembered the signal. 'I didn't order a pizza,' he said. I could tell by the way it came out that he remembered the signal. 'I think you did. C'mon, it's getting cold.' I kept waiting with my finger on the lens. 'What do you want?' 'I wanna give you your pizza. I just said it's getting cold.' I was starting to think he wasn't gonna let me in. That would make it easier for me to skip this step. I started looking for the best window to bust. The door opened just as I figured out how to get inside. 'Why didn't you tell me you were coming over?' He was holding a bat. 'Working on your swing?' He looked at the wood. 'I just like to be careful.' 'That's the problem. You ain't been. Now, are you gonna invite me in or is this problem we have about to get a little bigger?' He stepped back. I reached out my hand. He was smart enough to know what I needed him to do. He gave me the bat. I took my finger off the camera and went inside. I moved slow. I didn't want him doing nothing dumb. Maybe deep down I did. I held up the bat. 'I ain't swung one of these in years.' I pushed the door shut behind me. It closed with a slam. He jumped at the sound. 'Calm down,' I said. 'I am calm. Are you?' The place smelled like nasty food. I made a face. 'It stinks in here.' 'I just had dinner.' 'You save some for me?' He seemed confused by that. I smiled. 'I can make something else, if you're hungry,' he said. 'I'm always hungry, but not for whatever you cooked.' 'I can make something else. You want some pasta?' He backed away from me as I went deeper into the house. 'You know, us Italians eat more than spaghetti.' 'I didn't mean it like that,' he said. He was nervous. I glanced around to see if he had any more bats close by. I wasn't interested in getting in a sword fight with a couple of Louisville Sluggers. I pulled back my jacket with my free hand so he could see the piece in the front of my pants. 'I'm sorry about the other day. I fucked up.' 'You fucked up more than once, Larry.' 'It won't happen again.' 'You're right about that.' He got a little more nervous. 'I thought I had good information.' 'If I thought you was fucking up on purpose, I wouldn't have rung the bell.' He kept walking backward. He bumped into the wall. 'How many times do I have to tell you to calm down?' 'I can give back some of the money. I have plenty upstairs.' 'I don't want your money. You earned it. Well, most of it. You won't be getting paid for the next two weeks.' 'That's fair.' I could tell he was looking for any reason to think I wasn't gonna do what I was about to do. 'I'm glad you think it's fair. What would you do if you thought it wasn't?' 'What do you mean?' 'What would you do? Call the cops? Sue me?' 'Nothing, I guess.' He'd moved into the kitchen. It smelled even worse in there. I wondered what the fuck he'd eaten. I realized this was taking too long. 'Stand still,' I said. 'I am.' 'Well, keep standing still.' He looked at the gun. He looked back at me. He didn't say nothing else. I thought for a second it was the smartest thing he done all month. Until he did the dumbest thing he ever done in his life.
Eater
11-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
Las Vegas Loses Three Restaurants With Plant-Based Menus
Three restaurants that catered to vegans, Meatless Monday enthusiasts, and vegetable lovers shuttered across the Las Vegas Valley in the past week, including local favorite NoButcher and the mushroom-forward eatery Chagaroot. NoButcher announced the closure of both its locations — on South Rainbow Boulevard near Spring Mountain Road and its three-month-old outpost on Saint Rose Parkway in Henderson — via Instagram on Monday, July 7. The plant-based deli, known for its vegan takes on classic sandwiches like pulled pork and pastrami with Swiss, cited unforeseen challenges, including underperforming sales and undisclosed building issues. 'This may only be temporary, but for now, we are taking a step back,' the post reads. 'Sales are 30 percent lower than what we were originally told,' the post added, noting that the concept 'isn't gone forever.' Chagaroot, which closed on Thursday, July 3, primarily focused on plant-based fare — particularly mushrooms — but also offered meat add-ons such as salmon, chicken, and steak. The Henderson restaurant featured vegan chicken sandwiches, crispy nuggets, and smoothies made with tropical fruits and mycelium mix or cordyceps mushrooms. A farewell Instagram post reads, 'From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey.' The Vegas-based brand continues to sell its mushroom protein powder online. Japanese tea shop debuts in Vegas Japan-based tea shop Nana's Green Tea has landed in Las Vegas. The matcha used at the shop is stone-ground in Uji or Shizuoka before arriving at the new location at 6925 South Buffalo Drive, Unit 140, near Warm Springs Road. Matcha is available in lattes, floats, sodas, soft serve with chocolate, and parfaits layered with black sesame. First Watch makes first appearance First Watch, a daytime café with nearly 600 locations across the country, is bringing casual brunches to Las Vegas. The first of three planned locations opens this August at 1020 East Craig Road in North Las Vegas. The menu includes smoked salmon eggs Benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes, quinoa breakfast bowls, kale salads, and roast beef and horseradish Havarti sandwiches.
Eater
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Las Vegas Gets Shut Out of the 2025 James Beard Awards
On June 16, luminaries of the restaurant and bar world gathered at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago to celebrate the finalists and winners of the 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards. However, none of those winners represented the city of Las Vegas. Eater hosted the official livestream that showed Vegas-based finalists Cristie Norman of Delilah for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service; Sarah Thompson (Casa Playa); and Eleazar Villanueva (Restaurant de Joël Robuchon) for Best Chef: Southwest representing Las Vegas's prodigious and talented dining scene. Vegas did come away with a victory of sorts. Though no longer based in Las Vegas, the founders of Portland, Oregon's JinJu Patisserie Kyurim 'Q' Lee and Jin Caldwell won the national award for Outstanding Bakery. They worked extensively in Las Vegas, including Aria, Wynn, Bellagio, and Joel Robuchon, prior to opening their now award-winning bakery in Portland. The James Beard Awards, often considered 'the Oscars of food,' are among the most prestigious awards in the food and hospitality industry. Each year, the James Beard Foundation gives awards in categories like Outstanding Restaurant, Best Chef, and Best New Chef. This year's awards introduce three brand-new categories into the mix: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. The first James Beard Awards ceremony was held in 1991, when chefs like Rick Bayless, Nancy Silverton, and Wolfgang Puck walked away as winners. In recent years, the foundation has been under increased scrutiny after canceling its programming in 2020 and 2021 due to misbehavior and abuse allegations against nominated chefs, and a lack of nominated and winning Black chefs among the categories. In response, the James Beard Foundation conducted an internal audit to make its voting processes more inclusive and equitable before returning in 2022. The awards have also shifted the Best Chef category to a regional model to better recognize the diversity and depth of talent. Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation. See More:
Business Wire
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
JD Lands on Las Vegas Strip in Key Moment for US Growth Strategy
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JD Sports is pushing youth culture forward across the globe, now linking the energy of the Las Vegas Strip to its worldwide network of flagship stores opening on Saturday 14 June, marking a major moment in JD's US growth and connection strategy. The launch of JD's near-29,000 sq ft store brings the brand's signature retail experience and curated product mix from the world's most influential sportswear brands, linking global style to JD's iconic retail locations around the world. The opening of a new flagship on Las Vegas Boulevard marked JD's third in the US and its continued connection to global youth culture in the most influential cities across the US. As of 3 May 2025, there were 339 JD stores across North America (including Canada). John Hall, Managing Director for JD North America, said: 'Las Vegas is known for delivering next-level experiences, making it the perfect location for JD's next US flagship. We're bringing our customers a retail experience that can't be found anywhere else in the market, serving up the freshest and most desirable product from the biggest names in sports fashion. With our new store on the Las Vegas Boulevard, we're building on growing momentum across North America to bring customers iconic experiences as we continue to propel youth culture forward, on every corner of the world.' The new flagship brings JD's best-in-class omnichannel offering to life, blending physical and digital to reflect the unstoppable energy of youth and JD's Forever Forward mission. It features one of the most elaborate digital design capabilities of any JD location, allowing for fully immersive storytelling that elevates the customer experience from the moment they enter the store. Shoppers can expect: Hyped drops and only-at-JD brand moments from global sportswear giants such as Nike, Jordan, New Balance, adidas, ON and ASICS Vegas drip, in JD Style with collections from Supply & Demand, New Era, Von Dutch and Hoodrich inspired by the iconic destination Bold double-height shopfront bringing the Las Vegas energy with one of the largest LED displays in JD's North American portfolio All the access with zero hassle thanks to the in-store product slide system to deliver stock straight to the shop floor QR code scanning, mobile checkout and click-and-collect for an experience that moves at the speed of youth culture JD touched down on the Vegas strip with an opening weekend where culture came out heavy to show up and show out. The hottest names in the game, including: Aaliyah Nye, Las Vegas Aces Rookie Karen Bull, Actress and content creator Zach Hernandez, Vegas-based fashion content creator Brandon Malonzo, Vegas-based fashion content creator Local, live DJ's bringing the Vegas vibes at JD's famous in-store DJ booth A $1,000 JD Sports shopping spree up for grabs with the JD 'Human Claw' – where shoppers suited up to win exclusive prizes After early deals this month, JD's also turning it up with exclusive STATUS promotions for the Las Vegas launch. With 'Slot Sweepstakes', new and existing members who spend a minimum of $100 at any Las Vegas location will be entered to win one of three prizes: Grand - $500 JD Shopping Spree (1 Winner) Major - A pair of Retros (15 Winners) Minor - $10 STATUS Cash (200 Winners) About JD Sports Fashion Plc Founded in 1981, the JD Group ('JD') is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion brands. JD provides customers with the latest sports fashion through working with established and new brands to deliver products that our customers most want, across both footwear and apparel. The vision of JD is to inspire the emerging generation of consumers through a connection to the universal culture of sport, music and fashion. JD focuses on four strategic pillars: JD Brand First, first priority, first in the world; leveraging Complementary Concepts to support JD Group global expansion; moving Beyond Physical Retail by building the right infrastructure and creating a lifestyle ecosystem of relevant products and services; and doing the best for its People, Partners and Communities. JD is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index and had 4,871 stores worldwide at 3 May 2025.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
YouTuber SinCity-MannyWise claims that he shot streamer Finny Da Legend in ‘self-defense' in Las Vegas
Sin-City MannyWise shot Finny Da Legend and his wife Bubbly in Las Vegas (Image via Youtube) What started as digital beef between two livestreaming personalities has now become the center of a real-life courtroom drama. Manuel Ruiz, better known online as SinCity-MannyWise, is facing two murder charges after allegedly shooting fellow YouTuber Rodney Finley a.k.a. Finny Da Legend and his wife Tanisha Finley (Bubbly) near the Bellagio fountains. But in a surprising twist, Ruiz is now claiming it was all self-defense. A Stream That Turned Into Tragedy The tragedy took place on Sunday, June 8, 2025. YouTuber Finny Da Legend and his wife Bubbly were shot while livestreaming outside the Bellagio. The accused in the case is SinCity-MannyWise, a well-known Vegas-based streamer. Authorities say the confrontation was the culmination of a long-simmering online feud that began in 2023. What began as trolling, copyright strikes, and petty digital wars eventually spilled into the real world, with deadly consequences. SinCity-MannyWise's Court Claim: 'I Thought He Had a Gun' SinCity-MannyWise appeared in court Tuesday morning and told the judge he opened fire because he feared for his life. According to his statement, Finny Da Legend made a threatening motion, reached toward his waistband, and said, 'What up, cuz?'—a phrase SinCity-MannyWise claims he interpreted as a threat. Believing Finny was about to pull a weapon, he says he fired in self-defense. He also admitted to shooting Bubbly, saying he thought she had a 'shiny black object,' which he feared was a gun. That object was later identified by witnesses as a phone gimbal. The judge denied bail, and SinCity-MannyWise now faces two counts of murder. He remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. This The Real Reason Sin City Manny K*lled Finny Da Legend And His Wife (RECEIPTS & FOOTAGE) A Toxic History Between the Two Creators The feud between Finny Da Legend and SinCity-MannyWise wasn't new. According to fellow streamers, things escalated in 2023 when SinCity-MannyWise allegedly pepper-sprayed Bubbly during an in-person encounter. Rather than retaliate physically, Finny Da Legend responded online, trolling SinCity-MannyWise on livestreams and mocking his content. Their online war spiraled from there, with Finny Da Legend frequently watching and reacting to SinCity-MannyWise's videos on stream. SinCity-MannyWise reportedly retaliated using YouTube's copyright system, striking Finny's videos and demonetizing his content. In one of Finny Da Legend's streams, a voiceover of Donald Trump mockingly said, ' I want to say f*** Sin City Family and f*** Manny ,' referring to SinCity-MannyWise and his followers. Community Reeling from the Aftermath While internet users continue to argue about who was right and who was wrong, what's clear is that this was more than just online drama. Two people are now gone—Finny Da Legend, known for his energetic Vegas streams, and Bubbly, who brought warmth and light to every broadcast. SinCity-MannyWise's self-defense claim is now the center of a murder case that has gripped both the streaming world and the wider public. Whether it holds up in court is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: this is a tragic reminder of what happens when digital rivalries spill into real life.
