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What’s really going on between Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane and Gareth Bale?

This summer has reminded us that American sports aren’t the only ones where controversy floats around during the offseason. Soccer, clearly the world’s most wide and far-reaching sport, has some headlines of its own.

Gareth Bale has been at Real Madrid since 2013, but now, it seems his time at the Spanish club is set to end.

Zinedine Zidane, manager of Real Madrid, said he hopes Bale will leave the club soon, in a flurry of comments that threw a lot of people the wrong way as players and fans lobbied in support of Bale.

Bale is a talented, amazingly-quick, left-footed winger with a great touch and presence in the air. He played for the Tottenham Hotspurs before moving to Real Madrid, and also plays for the Welsh National Team. Bale worked very well on the opposite side of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real when Ronaldo was still at the club.

Both players were quick and highly-skilled and could get by defenders to either shoot or whip balls into the box. But Ronaldo is no longer on the Spanish super team, and Zidane seems primed to make tactical changes after many summer signings.

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Zidane was made manager in 2016 and won the UEFA Champions League all three years as the manager. He left in 2018, citing that the club needed a change, but after a poor 2018/19 season, he was reinstated as manager and looks to change the direction of the club.

For a club as big as Real, anything other than winning the La Liga Title or UEFA Champions League is a failure, and last season, Real didn’t even come close to winning.

Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018 after being there since 2009. Coinciding with Zidane’s exit, Madrid was forced to move on a new path. But this past season was a failure.

It was such a failure that Zidane had to come back to save the day. Thus, giving himself a chance to further his legacy.

Shocked La Liga GIF by Real Madrid - Find & Share on GIPHY

As forementioned, Real spent big money this summer. They copped Belgian superstar forward Eden Hazard, Serbian striker Luka Jovic, and French defender Ferland Mendy, amongst many others. Although their last season was buns Real already had a stacked squad, and they had the money to spend.

After all, they are the most valuable club in the world.

Zidane is a Real Madrid legend himself, and some of his former teammates such as David Beckham described him as the greatest footballer ever. He was a central midfielder, and in that position, he was able to impact all aspects of the game. He was known for making everyone around him better. A talent that can be hard to quantify.

With Ronaldo on the squad for almost all the years Bale was there, Bale was admittedly overshadowed. Real achieved so much success, and Ronaldo was rightfully the frontman on all of those teams.

But Bale has by no measure been a bust of signing, in fact, quite the opposite. This is how his numbers stack up against Zidane’s.

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In 2018, he scored possibly the most magnificent goal ever in a Champions League Final.

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He has shown up in big games and doesn’t warrant the disrespect shown to him by Zidane. I don’t believe Zidane meant to be as disrespectful as he was in his comments, and if he had a chance to do it over again, he would.

For a man that is famous for head butting an opposing player in the 2006 World Cup Final, Zidane has long been loved by his teammates and players. But Bale has helped Real immensely in his six seasons with the club, and deserves, at least, a “thank you.”

More than that, he deserves an in-depth talk with Zidane about where he would like to go before he moves on to a new team. It is fine if Zidane does not see Bale in the future of Real Madrid, but there was a better way to go about requesting Bale leave.

If this is the end for Bale at Real Madrid, which it surely looks like, I hope all Real Madrid fans can appreciate what he did for the club. For sure Real’s fans will remember his glorious decade on the squad.

How Mariano Rivera went from a kid from Panama City to a baseball HOFer

Mariano Rivera is a five-time World Series Champion, thirteen-time all-star, and beloved and consummate professional as the closer for the New York Yankees for 17 years. And as of July 21, 2019, Rivera is a Hall of Famer.

“Mo,” or “Sandman,” holds the record in the MLB for most career saves (652) and most games finished (952). He is widely regarded as the best closer of all time, and was a beloved teammate, playing his entire career with the New York Yankees.

Playing alongside other Yankees legends in Derek Jeter, Andy Pettite, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, and more, Mo was a part of a group that if not for their entire career, played for the Yankees for the majority of it. A tight-knit group that achieved a great amount of success, the Bronx Bombers of the late ’90s and early 2000s were anchored by the steadiest and best relief pitcher ever.

Rivera was born in Panama City, Panama, and played baseball and soccer as a kid, with soccer being his favorite sport and Pelé his favorite athlete. Living in a poor area, Rivera was forced to work year-round, six days a week, and dropped out of high school his first year.

After several nagging ankle injuries, Mo turned his attention away from soccer to baseball. In 1990, Rivera was scouted and signed a contract with the New York Yankees organization.

Mo had never left home and knew no English, but still flew to the United States and reported to a minor league affiliate of the Yankees. For five years Rivera worked his way up the minor leagues until in 1995, he was called up to the major leagues.

Rivera was treated as a starting pitcher until the end of his rookie season, and then after being the Yankees set up man in 1996, he was named the team’s closer in 1997.

Despite a few hiccups after his first few years in the league, Rivera is known for being a strong postseason performer, with an earned run average (ERA) of 0.70, and the most saves ever in the postseason (42).

He was named the 1999 World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the 2003 AL Championship Series MVP. Mo also led the major league in saves in 1999, 2001, and 2004.

In baseball, a sport of such random occurrences, the best team does not always win. Skill, momentum, and a whole lot of luck all play a part in determining who is victorious at the end of the year.

For a team to win five World Series championships in thirteen years is absolutely unprecedented in the modern age, and it is a testament to the group the Yankees kept together.

With Jeter as the leader in the locker room, Pettite leading the charge as the ace, and Rivera there at the end of it to help calm Yankees’ fans worries, this group of Yankees will forever be remembered.

Mariano Rivera will go down as the best closer, one of the best postseason performers, and one of the most beloved Yankees of all time.

GOATS against GOATS: Are we in the golden age of tennis?

These three tennis titans just won’t stop finding new ways to keep us entertained. Sports fans have an affinity for romanticizing the time when they most vehemently followed their favorite contemporary players, teams, and sports.

Even outside of sports, this is mostly the case. People love what they love, and their preconceived notions and experiences can blind their vision from the truth.

However, in the case of Men’s Tennis, it is not hyperbole to say that we are currently living in the golden age. With three of the top five players of all time facing off in constant classic competitive battles, it is a complete delight to see what we witness year after year from Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

This triangle rivalry was elevated this past weekend in Wimbledon as Nadal and Federer faced off in a thrilling semifinal match, and then Djokovic narrowly defeated Federer in the final in a match for the ages. It was the first fifth set tiebreak in Wimbledon final history and the match went on for nearly five hours.

Nadal is a crafty, quick player, and as a lefty he paints the corners with his precise and powerful shots. He has won 80 titles and 17 Grand Slams over the course of his career, and doesn’t look to be stopping soon.

Federer is most people’s choice for GOAT in men’s tennis. He is a genius with his shot placement, and his consistency and creativity on the court separate him from the other greats. His 101 titles and 20 Grand Slams don’t hurt either.

Finally, Djokovic came on the scene a bit later than Nadal and Federer, but he has quickly become an all-time great, and Sunday’s Wimbledon win was his 16th Grand Slam win. His exquisite backhand, long stretch, and extreme power got him where he is today.

Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are all in their 30s, and have been battling for more than ten years. Nadal and Federer may not be in their primes, but they are not far removed. Federer’s legs specifically looked pretty damn good for 37 in the Wimbledon final, and it doesn’t look like his winning days are over.

Djokovic is the number-one ranked player in the world, and for good reason. His elongated prime is still here, and he has the potential to possibly pass Federer for GOAT status if he keeps on winning. The best part about the matches between these three tennis titans is that any one of them can win on any given night.

We live in a sports world where Messi and Ronaldo are playing at the same time. Where Lebron James and Kevin Durant battle each other in the finals constantly. Where Tom Brady has faced off against Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.

GOATs going against GOATS, or at the very least the most talented players in certain aspects of the game are facing others with just as crazy-levels of talent.

Still, most profound of all the current sports rivalries is Nadal v. Federer v. Djokovic. These contemporary players are all at the height of their powers at the same time. #Sick

Imagine we got to see Jordan go against Lebron, or Ronaldo play against Pele? With men’s tennis over the past decade and a half, we have been treated to the best of the best.

Here’s to hoping it won’t end anytime soon.

What the USWNT’s success means for the future of women and soccer

Complete with a blaze of dominating efforts, magnificent goals scored and saved, and even a back-and-forth between its star player and the president, the US Women’s National Soccer Team won its second straight World Cup Sunday, July 7.

After defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final, the USWNT finished the tournament outscoring its opponents 26-3. That is insane.

But this domination begs for a bigger question to be answered. An answer that comes from outside of the lines on the pitch. Why does the Women’s National Team make significantly less money than the Men’s National Team?

All arguments of the men’s team bringing in more money are false and ignorant, and while the women’s team has won four of the eight Women’s World Cups in history, the men’s team’s highest finish was third… back in 1930.

If success isn’t the main factor by which salaries are determined and bonuses are given out, surely TV ratings and the revenue garnered are better identifiers.

Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker recently reported the USWNT’s home jersey “is now the number one soccer jersey, men’s or women’s, ever sold on Nike.com in one season.”

The USWNT were favorites going into this year’s world cup after winning the tournament in 2015 and finishing second to Japan in 2011. But tournament favorites do not usually outperform expectations like this.

In fact, more often than not, expectations become too much for a team. We saw it happen in Brazil for the 2014 Men’s World Cup where they hosted and arguably had the most stacked roster. We also were reminded again in 2018, when Germany lost in the group stage to Mexico.

From fiscal years 2016 to 2018, the women’s games generated more than $900,000 more revenue than the men’s games. And in the year following the 2015 World Cup win, women’s games generated more than $1.9 million more than the men’s games, which even takes into account the fees that opposing teams pay in order to play the men’s team.

What about the bonuses for success in a world cup? A drastic difference.

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Flat out, the men’s team just isn’t that good. While in 2014, fans had hope of a new age of soccer coming in when the USMNT placed in the round of 16, the team couldn’t even qualify for the 2018 World Cup. They have a bright young star in Christian Pulisic and not much else.

Megan Rapinoe, captain of the USWNT who recently told trump to fu*k off, won the golden boot after finishing the tournament with six goals and three assists, becoming only the second American to ever win it.

Rapinoe was the face of the USWNT this tournament, with her pink hair flopping in the wind, and her brazen attitude and leadership only one-upped by her play on the field.

Amidst a well-documented fight of sorts with the president, Rapinoe scored the first and decisive goal against the Netherlands yesterday in the most high-pressure moment possible. She is a star, and unabashedly her.

Rapinoe was also the first woman and non-NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem in 2016, in support of Colin Kaepernick.

Before 2015, the USWNT previously won the Women’s World Cup in 1999 and 2003 ( I urge you to watch Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team).

Back then, women’s soccer was starting to gain traction in America, with a beautiful style of play, winning results, and stars in Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, and a young Abby Wambach.

The height of popularity in the sport has surely not reached its pinnacle, but the stars of today’s game like Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, and others, could surely thank the 1999 and 2003 teams for helping pave the way.

Now, the USWNT is suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination, with a focus on the gap between the men’s and women’s teams. This lawsuit is definitely warranted, and it comes right on the heels of the women’s world cup win.

Why wait? Public opinion can play a big role in lawsuits such as this and what better time to call for equality than when you are smack dab in the public eye? There is an argument that the women deserve to be paid more than the men, but one battle at a time.

In winning the tournament in such a dominating fashion, the USWNT actually exceeded expectations, something unheard of for a pre-tournament favorite. The camaraderie between teammates and leadership in the locker room is a big part of what made it possible.

Often times egos and petty disputes bring down a dynasty. Just think of the early-2000’s Los Angeles Lakers. Or the late-90’s Chicago Bulls. There was none of that with the USWNT, and their celebrations after the win prove how close they are with one another.

These women are role models, in bravery, perseverance, and unity. They deserve what their success warrants in equal pay and perhaps more than that. I believe they will get it.

The Grizzlies’ ‘Grit and Grind’ lives on with the incredible story of Ja Morant

As of last week, Temetrius (Ja) Morant is headed to the Memphis Grizzlies as the number two overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Grizzlies are a franchise that prides itself on being tough, hardworking, and strong in the face of adversity. Their motto, “Grit and Grind,” embodies this, and is also representative of Morant’s journey to the NBA.

Ja attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina. He left the school as its all-time leading scorer, with 1,679 points, with a career-high 56 points against Sumter High School. Still, Ja was not heavily recruited out of high school.

In fact, his only major Division 1 offer came from South Carolina.

In the mix of a night of strong love between fathers and sons (principally Black fathers and sons), Ja’s father Tee, a former high school teammate of Ray Allen and professional basketball player overseas, joined his son on stage after he was drafted.

Showing his son up with that fresh-ass hat, Tee beautifully showed how to raise a child right. He waited for his son to show him that he loved the game, and then they went to work from there.

Born in Dalzell, South Carolina, Ja trained in his backyard under the mentorship of his father, who gave up his basketball career once he learned his wife was pregnant with Ja. They worked tirelessly together.

Playing in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for the South Carolina Hornets, Ja was actually teammates with Zion Williamson for one season.

Fast forward several years and Zion and Ja are the number one and two overall picks of the NBA draft, respectively.

With little offers after high school, Ja fell into Murray State’s lap rather accidentally. Murray State assistant coach James Kane attended a camp to watch a different player he hoped would join their team.

During the camp, Kane briefly walked away from the court. Was he unimpressed by the player’s showing? Was he sold and saw all that he needed to see?

Actually, he just wanted a fat, greasy, cheesy pack of Cheetos. Big fan of Cheetos until your fingers are orange as Trump. Iight, I don’t know if Kane was in search of Cheetos, but in fact the only reason Kane came across Ja was that he wanted a snack.

On his way to a nearby concession stand, Kane noticed Morant playing in a three-on-three game and was immediately impressed. Upon telling head coach McMahon of Morant’s ability, the school soon after offered him a scholarship.

In Ja’s freshman year at Murray State, he averaged 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, also recording just the second triple-double in school history. His sophomore year he took on a larger role, averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 10 assists per game.

His draft stock started to rise, and after posting a triple-double in Murray State’s NCAA tournament win against Marquette, he was widely considered as being worthy of the second pick in the NBA draft.

Here we are now in June, with Ja headed to the Grizzlies to help start a new era in Memphis. His story is one of resilience and determination, with the lesson being that if you work hard and strive toward your goals, you put yourself in a position to be discovered and successful.

Even if that discovery comes from a man just trying to grab a snack.

We almost lost a legend, thank God we still have David Ortiz

After suffering a gunshot wound in the back at point-blank range, multiple outlets have reported that legendary Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, also known as “Big Papi,” is now in “stable” condition.

Arrangements are being made to airlift him from his native Dominican Republic, the site of the incident, and where Papi spends at least several months a year, to the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

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According to doctors, Papi said, “Please don’t let me die. I’m a good man.” When he opened his eyes following a six-hour surgery, he first asked to see his family.

One suspect, Eddy Vladimir Féliz García, was named, while the other remained at large. The shooting, which took place outside the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo, was determined to be not a robbery. Further, Ortiz’s assistant, Leo Lopez, said the DH did not know the suspect.

Many MLB players, including A-Rod, Mike Trout of the Angels, Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, and Papi’s former teammate Pedro Martinez, tweeted their prayers for Big Papi on Sunday.

Among the well-wishers were Tom Brady and President Obama, who noted how Papi had helped “heal” the city of Boston following the devastating Boston Marathon shootings.

The Red Sox released a statement on Sunday:

“We have offered David’s family all available resources to aid in his recovery and will continue to keep them in our hearts.”

As a lifetime fan of the Red Sox — an anomaly among New Yorkers, and a result of my dad’s upbringing — I’ve spent many years rooting for Papi. He was my brother’s favorite player, and his first jersey was Papi’s #34. It was always thrilling to see Papi smash a home run, and always come through in clutch moments.

After an 80-year championship drought, Papi, a 10-year All-Star, was instrumental in breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004. Titles in 2007, 2011, and 2013 followed, with Papi winning MVP for the last one. Big Papi helped turn a once-cursed team into a quasi-dynasty.

The Yankees even honored him with a ceremony in his last game at Yankee Stadium. He retired in 2016.

In retirement, Papi continued to cheer on his team, offering advice to the players during their 2018 Championship season (which also marked the franchise’s win record, with 108).

He remains the face of the team; of the city and the Dominican Republic; and of baseball.

The Klaw vs. The Swoosh: This is why Kawhi Leonard sued Nike

Kawhi Leonard is more than an athlete. He’s a household name and brand. There is no “becoming” or “on his way to being” — he’s reached that superstar status.

Leonard is currently averaging 31.2 points per game, second behind Kevin Durant (among active players), shooting 50-percent from the floor, 39-percent from three, and 89-percent from the free-throw line. Oh, and he’s led the Toronto Raptors to their first Finals appearance in franchise history.

When you talk about top players in the game, Kawhi Leonard, now, has to be mentioned. This playoff run alone has possibly the hottest ascending star in the league right now — which is why it’s absolutely absurd that he does not own the rights to his own logo: The Klaw.

ESPN reported that Leonard has been in dispute with Nike over the ownership of the “Klaw” logo over the past couple of months, which,  has developed into a lawsuit against Nike in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

“In 2011, just after being drafted to the National Basketball Association, Kawhi Leonard authored a unique logo that included elements that were meaningful and unique to him,” the lawsuit reads.

“Leonard traced his notably large hand, and, inside the hand, drew stylized versions of his initials ‘KL’ and the number that he had worn for much of his career, ‘2.’ The drawing Leonard authored was an extension and continuation of drawings he had been creating since early in his college career.

The lawsuit continues,

“Several years later, as part of an endorsement deal with Nike, Leonard allowed Nike to use on certain merchandise the logo he created while Leonard continued to use the logo on non-Nike goods. Unbeknownst to Leonard and without his consent, Nike filed an application for copyright registration of his logo and falsely represented in the application that Nike had authored the logo.”

Kawhi addressed the news in Kawhi fashion while talking with reporters Tuesday ahead of Game 3: short and simple. “It happened over a long time ago. You guys are just finding out. Not a big worry of mine,” Leonard said.

Several things may come to mind when you think of Kawhi: Champion, Finals MVP, top-5 player, silent, killer; and all these things are true. But probably most of all, his most distinguishable trait would have to be his massive hands.

Just like Giannis taking advantage of his freakish length and Greek upbringing and Harden with his beard, Kawhi, too, is looking to brand himself, and what better than with his gigantic paws, especially as his name is all the buzz.

After all, this how athletes really make their money — using their basketball prowess to build a brand that transcends sports. Just look at LeBron and KD who’ve been building the blueprint for years.

Leonard is currently signed to New Balance, which has come out with some witty campaigns for Kawhi like “Fun Guy” and “King of North”, but his ultimate goal is to use the logo he designed for his without roadblock and limitations.

Nike has yet to make comment, however, according to the report, the last correspondence was in March when Nike told Kawhi they, “owns all intellectual property rights in the Leonard Logo and demanding that Leonard immediately cease and desist from what Nike claimed was the unauthorized use of the Leonard Logo.”

We’ll see just how far both are willing to go.

After Serena Williams’ catsuit ban, she shows you can’t silence a G.O.A.T.

After the French Open officials banned Serena Williams’ catsuit — a getup that made her feel like a “warrior princess” from Wakanda and helped prevent the blood clotting she experienced after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia — the superstar has returned with another empowering outfit.

If you can recall, the French Tennis Federation President, Bernard Giudicelli, said at the time of the outfit,

“It will no longer be allowed. One must respect the game and the place. I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far.”

What a ridiculous, sexist statement. It’s no wonder that this statement provoked a massive backlash.

Williams, who has won an Open Era record of 23 Grand Slam titles– one of them while pregnant– has done invaluable work for the game, and for the visibility (and profitability) of tennis.

She is unquestionably one of the greatest athletes in the world and if anything, the game of tennis needs to respect her. Can you imagine any sport trying to impose such arbitrary restrictions on its male superstars?

Designed by Nike’s Virgil Abloh, this year’s French Open uniform is a black-and-white ensemble consisting of a crop top, skirt, and (another superhero accessory) a cape, and features the words “mother,” “champion,” “queen” and “goddess” in French.

Abloh also designed the tutu that she wore all the way to the finals of the US Open last year.

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Let the Roland Garros begin. Here is my French Open look designed by @virgilabloh and @nike.

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In a statement released about the outfit, Williams said,

“I love when fashion becomes a vehicle for sharing a powerful message. With Nike and Virgil, we’ve created pieces that aim to inspire a new generation of athletes everywhere.”

And more specifically, female athletes.

With much effort, Williams’ outfits are demolishing outdated notions of what it means to be a female tennis player and, in a larger sense, to be feminine. Female tennis players shouldn’t have to wear “girlie” skirts. They can do what whatever they want.

Overtime Takeover x Converse give us a glimpse into the future of ball

It’s summertime. School is pretty much done and all you want to do is chill and vibe outside with your homies. What better way to do that than to squad up and hit the court for a little 3-on-3 action?

After exhausting your energy through competitive play, you’re hungry, you’re thirsty. What do you do? You cop some bites, a crisp drink,  jam out to some music and shoot the sh*t with your homies. Simplicity brings a smile to the soul.

Overtime, the fastest growing sports network for the digital generation, is doing exactly that by creating a one-of-a-kind, all-day basketball experience.

 

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This is May 18 @converse #ConverseHoops

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Today, Overtime announced that they are teaming up with Converse to create Overtime Takeover. The event will be a completely new way to experience basketball. This FREE tourney will feature a multitude of events for fans to fully immerse themselves in.

The main attraction for the Overtime Takeover is a competition amongst 24 of the country’s most skilled and talented athletes. Twelve girls and 12 boys – a collection of elite recruits — will team up and play each other in a 3-on-3 competition for glory on the court.

BUT WAIT! There’s more! Adding to the highly competitive matchups, these athletes will also display their style and athleticism in a dunk showcase.

For this event, Overtime has teamed up with Converse to provide fans with a basketball experience they could only dream about. And if you thought that all of this was lit, Converse will also be unveiling their new performance basketball sneaker, the All Star Pro BB.

 

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The sneaker was specially designed to match the versatility and endurance of today’s basketball player. Attendees can experience this unveiling at the Overtime Takeover retail pop-up. There, Overtime will have a new seasonal line of t-shirts, hoodies, outerwear, and accessories.

Also, consumers can peep the new Converse All Star Pro BB and buy the latest kick from Converse and even customize their gear.

Fans can immerse themselves into the vibes through events such as a real-life Overtime Challenge, testing fans’ skills and agility against Overtime Larry. Additionally, iconic sneaker artist Sierto will be in attendance to give an in-depth look at how he creates fire kicks for celebrities and athletes.

Jibrizy, a hip-hop illusionist will entertain the crowd by performing his unique brand of magic. Fans will also be able to compete in mini-games on-court with basketball personality Rachel DeMita, NBA legend Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, street-ball hero Larry “Bone Collector” Williams and three-time NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson, amongst others.

 

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To add more fuel to the fire, some of New York’s favorite food trucks will be onsite. Baskets, bites, and ballers. AKA a whole vibe!

Overtime has consistently pushed forth basketball culture through their digital channels. Overtime Takeover is just one of the many outlets that Zack Weiner, Overtime’s co-founder and president, has helped create. He said,

“Over the past two years, we have changed the game in how these emerging stars are covered. Now, we want to reimagine the game itself. We’re excited to work with Converse to break down every aspect of the experience –the players, the rules, and the environment– and create something totally new.”

The Overtime Takeover takes place on May 18th at the historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, where it will be transformed into an intimate space. Events will take place from 11 am to 3 pm, followed by exclusive events starting at 4 pm.

For the events taking place early on, you can cop tickets from this link. Additionally, the evening portion will be invite-only. Supporting grassroots community efforts in NYC, 15 organizations from the five boroughs will team up with Overtime to grow their sports and academic enrichment programs.

Will May 18th be a wave? Next question.

Kyle Korver’s essay on privilege is a wake-up call to white America

Monday, Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver penned a poignant essay titled “Privileged” via The Players Tribune that managed to make a splash in an already crowded sports calendar.

In the piece, the 38-year-old NBA veteran admits to not acknowledging his privilege and recalls events where his ignorance let himself and his teammates down.

In one story Korver tells in the essay is an instance where while playing for the Atlanta Hawks in 2015. He discredited the story of his teammate and friend, Thabo Sefolosha, who injured his leg when arrested by police in New York on a road trip.

Korver said his first reaction was, “What was Thabo doing out at a club on a back-to-back?” He failed to show concern for the injury or dismay over the arrest.

“I sort of blamed Thabo,” he said.

Similarly, Kyle opened up about the incident in March involving a Salt Lake City fan and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Korver told a reporter at the time: “You know Russ. He gets into it with the crowd a lot.” But soon after he heard the full story. Westbrook heard the fan make “racial” remarks, the OKC player recalled. Reinforcing Westbrook’s sentiments, his teammates shared stories of similar experiences.

“Guys were just sick and tired of it all,” he wrote.

In both incidents, Kyle was blinded by his privilege. Because he lives in a world where police wouldn’t harm him unless warranted. Maybe the line was never crossed when he was heckled, or he couldn’t imagine it happening for his teammates or colleagues.

Simply by being white, Korver was granted an experience. He has had a way of life that his NBA counterparts would never encounter. It just took the recent events in Utah to help bring it all into perspective for him.

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“What I’m realizing is, no matter how passionately I commit to being an ally, and no matter how unwavering my support is for NBA and WNBA players of color….. I’m still in this conversation from the privileged perspective of opting in to it…,” he wrote.

“Which of course means that on the flip side, I could just as easily opt out of it. Every day, I’m given that choice — I’m granted that privilege — based on the color of my skin,” he continued.

The outpouring was infectious. Every big name in basketball reached out and thanked Korver for his words and how important it was for him to speak out. Even outside the sports sphere, there was an abundance of praise and applause.

Korver’s testimony was powerful is that it was coming from someone like him — a white privileged man. It’s one thing for an individual to see the privilege they hold, having the guts to confront it is another. Which is why his testimony should be a challenge to white people everywhere.

In both incidents involving Thabo and Russ, Korver didn’t afford them the benefit of a doubt. In a human split reaction, he went against what he knew of his teammate and friend in Sefolosha. Additionally, with Westbrook, he sided with the individuals who looked just like him.

As apparent as racial bias and systemic oppression is in America, it’s still spoken of as a myth or ghost story. This year, 2019 is an equal and opportunistic place for all false narratives pushed by biased agendas, despite all stats and evidence suggesting otherwise.

That’s why it’s imperative to have people like Greg Popovich, Steve Kerr, and Kyle Korver who have large platforms with reach. “I know that, as a white man, I have to hold my fellow white men accountable…” Korver wrote.

“And we all have to be accountable — period. Not just for our own actions, but also for the ways that our inaction can create a “safe” space for toxic behavior,” he continued.

For white people, it’s not enough to “be woke” or “down with the cause” as much as it is to be a part of the solution. That involves learning what the problem is and seeing how you, as a white person, contribute to it.

Kyle Korver was able to do that. I hope other white people follow.