Latest news with #ex-NFL
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Poor sportsmanship' — John Mellencamp criticizes Pat McAfee's Knicks celebrity booing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27
(Image Source - Getty Images) In a blend of sportsmanship and showmanship, Indiana's rock legend John Mellencamp publicly criticized ESPN's Pat McAfee for his behavior during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. McAfee, recognized for his flashy style, stirred the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to boo celebrity Knicks fans such as Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet. Mellencamp, stressing the value of "Hoosier Hospitality," voiced his embarrassment over the situation, leading to a wider dialogue about respect and etiquette in sports arenas. John Mellencamp denounces Pat McAfee's callout of Knicks celebrities as uncharacteristic of Indiana's hospitality In the fourth quarter of Game 4 on May 27, 2025, between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks, Pat McAfee really stole the show at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The ex-NFL punter and now ESPN host took the mic to pump up the crowd, highlighting the celebrity Knicks fans in attendance, "We got some big wigs from the big city in the building! Spike Lee is here! Ben Stiller is here! Timothée Chalamet is here!" Each name was met with escalating boos, culminating in McAfee's rallying cry: "Let's send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears ringing!" John Mellencamp, attending the game, was dismayed by the crowd's reaction. Without naming McAfee directly, he took to social media to express his disappointment, "I was embarrassed when somebody... called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team... The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality." He further lamented, "I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life. " Ben Stiller, one of the stars who was called out, reacted with a mix of surprise and understanding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo He described McAfee's remarks as "weird" but chalked it up to his WWE-style theatrics, noting that most Indiana fans were really welcoming. Stiller even invited McAfee to join him for a game at Madison Square Garden, pointing out the different fan cultures between the two cities. After being criticized by Mellencamp, McAfee remarked on his show that he heard Mellencamp's comments, but that he was confident in his role of inspiring the home crowd. Stiller invited Brown to watch Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, but he refused because of the ticket price being as high as $171,000 and not getting support from the Knicks owner. Also Read: New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson accused of r*pe and years of abuse by former girlfriend in Los Angeles lawsuit The case shows that there is a slim difference between acting as a passionate fan and acting in a good-sportsmanlike manner. McAfee hoped to bring energy to the home crowd which instead revealed the importance of keeping respect, even during hard-fought games. Joan Mellencamp urged people to be kind, remembering that being loving includes respect. Both the teams and their fans get to embrace what the sport stands for as the series progresses.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
T.J. Watt absent from Steelers OTAs amid contract drama as brother J.J. turns up pressure
Another star pass rusher wants a raise and is encountering resistance from his team. Steelers All-Pro defensive lineman T.J. Watt is absent from voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) and appears to be sending a message to the front office amid the dispute. Meanwhile, his brother, former defensive stalwart and now CBS broadcaster J.J. Watt, implored the Steelers to take care of his brother during an appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show.' 3 TJ Watt has clearly outperformed his contract in Pittsburgh. Getty Images 'I've long been a big believer that ownership and front offices obviously treat this as a business, but they do not like it when the players flip the script on them and treat it like a business back,' the ex-NFL star said when asked his brother going into the last year of his contract. 'If you take care of things early, especially when players want to take care of things earlier and say that they'll take less money to take care of things earlier because it sets themselves up long term financially, do that.' While J.J.'s comments don't mention his brother directly being upset with the team, T.J. posted a peace sign to his Instagram account in April, perhaps referencing his unhappiness with his deal. T.J. is entering the final year of a massive four year, $112 million contract, which he has largely outperformed to this point after the Steelers made one of their best picks in 2017 by selecting him at No. 30. 3 JJ Watt talks to Pat McAfee about his brother, TJ Watt's contract. X, @PatMcAfeeShow In the first year of his new deal in 2021, T.J. won Defensive player of the Year and tied Michael Strahan's sack record of 22.5, which had stood untouched since 2002. His contract is just the seventh-most lucrative deal in average salary per year ($28.02 million) among pass rushers, a market that has reset this offseason. Fellow pass rushers like Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby have been rewarded this offseason with new record-setting deals. 3 TJ Watt is surely wondering where his big contract is in Pittsburgh. Getty Images The Steelers also gave their new receiver D.K. Metcalf an extension. Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney II said he wants keep the prized defensive superstar, but the clock is ticking before Watt enters free agency. The team could use the franchise tag, though, to delay the process. 'That's something we want to look at this offseason. T.J. has been one of the foundations of the defense for quite a number of years now,' Rooney said in January, as reported by The Athletic. 'And certainly hope we can have T.J. for the future, beyond this year.' T.J. is not the only AFC North star pass rusher in a contract dispute, as Bengals standout Trey Hendrickson is holding out and said he won't play under his current contract.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith rails on Knicks stars for sloppy Game 4 play: ‘What the hell is going on!'
The Knicks weren't exactly playing their best basketball against the Pacers through three quarters on Tuesday night. And Stephen A. Smith was letting them know about it as directly as he could. The ESPN 'First Take' panelist took to X during Game 4 and called out the team — which had 14 turnovers through 36 minutes — and he called for both Mikal Briges and Josh Hart to get it together, tagging their handles. 'The @nyknicks desperately need @mikal_bridges to step up if they're going to win this game. Missed shots. Turnovers. ill-timed decisions. #Damn [Come] on bro,' he wrote. 'You too @joshhart. The @nyknicks need him too. Not taking the damn night off with one mishap after another! What the Hell is going on!' 3 Josh Hart of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NBAE via Getty Images Hart and Bridges combined for just 15 points through three quarters as the team trailed by 11 points going into the final quarter. Game 4 was a huge swing game for the Knicks, which probably factored more into Smith, a well-known fan of the team, getting riled up over the team's play. After losing two heartbreakers on home court, the Knicks rallied in Game 3 to make it a 2-1 series before Tuesday night. 3 Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NBAE via Getty Images 3 Stephen A. Smith attends a playoff basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Arena on May 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images But after Game 1's 14-point choke job, ex-NFL defensive end Chris Canty said on ESPN Radio that the Knicks were maybe suffering from what he called 'the curse of Stephen A. Smith' for his incessant trash talk of the Cowboys. Smith took exception to the trolling. 'It's that damn Chris Canty, I'm telling you right now, he does a phenomenal job for us on ESPN Radio every morning,' Smith said on 'First Take' this week. 'But ever since he got that damn radio show, he's gotten more evil. That's what he's done. That's what he turned into. Chris Canty used to be this nice big teddy bear…and then all of a sudden, he gets the morning radio show and he is just slicing and dicing people up – calling folks frauds and everything like that. And now he's trolling me. I'm gonna get him.' If the Knicks don't come back to take the series, it'll be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Moses Itauma set for return on historic night but two opponents ruled out
The British boxing heavyweight star is set for an immediate return to competitive action as he looks to go one step closer to a shot at the world title Moses Itauma is gearing up for a quick return to the ring as the rising British heavyweight sensation is set to feature on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois on July 19. The Chatham brawler improved his perfect record to 12-0 on Saturday night, following a savage defeat of ex-NFL linebacker Mike Balogun in Glasgow to earn himself a No.1 ranking with the WBO. Just days after another impressive victory, the Brit is set for a quick turnaround. It's been announced that the young fighter will enter the ring again in less than two months at Wembley Stadium. His next opponent is set to be a big step up in competition, but Martin Bakole - who had been linked with a fight against the 20-year-old - has been ruled out by boxing promoter Frank Warren. "I don't know why everybody keeps going on about Bakole," Warren said to The Ring on Monday. "He looked terrible in his last fight and he got knocked spark out in the one before that. I don't really know what he is. I look at his list of opponents and he hasn't really fought anyone so I don't know where that talk of him fighting Moses has come from." "And why would I want to give them the money they are asking for? Plus the fact I got a text off his trainer Billy Nelson saying he won't be ready to fight until are not in the Bakole business. We care about Moses Itauma." Speculation has also been swirling about a possible match-up with Joseph Parker in recent weeks. Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that a fight between the pair won't take place due to the New Zealander's WBO mandatory status, stating: "Parker is the WBO interim champion right now so that won't happen on July 19," and "We couldn't afford to do it on the undercard at Wembley." The famous boxing promoter added: "We could have rolled the dice and got Moses a world title shot, but his career is a marathon not a sprint. I want him to learn his trade, so does Francis and the team, but he is a very capable kid. He's really not far off the world title and when he gets there we want him to stay there. We will look at options for his next opponent in the next week or so." The boxing superstar has already caught the eye of many within the boxing community, having fought impressively on two Tyson Fury undercards in Saudi Arabia. The youngster, who has received accolades from the 'Gypsy King' himself, boasts a unblemished record with victories over formidable opponents such as Demsey McKean, Mariusz Wach and Ilja Mezencev, leading many to predict his rise to world championship glory imminently.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sheriff reveals 26 illegal migrants not on federal 'radar' among 255 arrested in Florida sex-trafficking sting
A multi-level operation, aptly named "Fool Around and Find Out," nabbed 255 suspected human traffickers, child sex predators and illegal migrants in Central Florida. The Polk County, Florida, operation, conducted over nine days in May, resulted in the arrest of the highest number of individuals ever recorded in a single sting by the sheriff's office. Sheriff Grady Judd told Fox News Digital that the operation was a coordinated effort with multiple law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which was embedded for the first time with the Central Florida department. "We made a lot of arrests. Our team preps in advance. We know what places to go on social media to find those evil people or to set up for them to come to us, so they did a remarkable job." Florida Sheriff Asks Trump's Ice To Remove Biden-era 'Shackles' One of the most startling revelations from the operation was 36 illegal migrants apprehended. Judd said 26 of them had not checked in with federal authorities, making them untraceable until this operation. Read On The Fox News App "Twenty-six of them were not even on the federal government's radar," he said. "They had snuck in the country and did not check in." The migrants arrested account for approximately 15% of the total, and Judd argued that their absence could have prevented that same amount of crime. "If those illegal immigrants weren't here in this country, then there would have been 15% less crime committed," he said. WATCH: Former NFL player arrested in Florida human trafficking bust The operation also revealed a cross-section of suspects from all walks of American life. Among those arrested were a medical doctor, an executive from the American Red Cross, active and retired military personnel, and even a former NFL player, Adarius Taylor. Prior to retirement in 2020, Taylor played for the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns. Judd recounted that the ex-NFL player left his young, medically vulnerable child alone in a car while he allegedly sought sexual favors from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute. Another suspect allegedly visited the operation while his wife was battling cancer at home. "Are you kidding me?" Judd exclaimed. "Your wife is being treated for cancer. And at a time in her life where she needs you the most, you're turning out a trick with a hooker at an undercover location? That is incredible. There were all kinds of occasions, just like that." Detectives charged a total of 102 felonies and 284 misdemeanors during the investigation. The suspects' prior criminal histories included a combined total of 400 felonies and 519 misdemeanors, with charges such as premeditated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated battery and sexual assault. "The online prostitution industry enables traffickers and allows for the continued victimization of those who are being trafficked," Judd said in a release following the sting. "Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings (Johns) and those profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in exploitation, disease, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families." Florida Man Impersonates Ice Agent, Threatens To Deport 2 Men, Police Say Judd said Polk County has a zero-tolerance stance on criminal activity. "This is not the last one. This is just the last one. There's going to be another one, and another one and another one." Judd's message is clear: those who come to Florida with criminal intent will not remain in the shadows and will be publicly held accountable. "Florida is the vacation state. People come from all around the world with their children," he said. "We want to make sure that it's a safe environment, and it is." "If you think you're gonna sneak here and, 'Hey, what goes on in Florida stays in Florida', that's wrong," he said. " I'll put you on blast all across the nation, and that's a guarantee."Original article source: Sheriff reveals 26 illegal migrants not on federal 'radar' among 255 arrested in Florida sex-trafficking sting
