Soduh and his co host, Freaky, breakdown how the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson are going to get Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs all the way out here. Soduh says he has the Squeeze Boys on deck ready to send Taylor Swift packing to Lexington Market if she comes to The Bank on Sunday!
Soduh & Freaky also reflect on the 2023 Ravens season and give their insight on who they think the key players are.
Dawg. From TMZ:
Washington Wizards guard Ryan Rollins has been accused of stealing from Target on several occasions … and now the point guard has been cut from the team.
Documents from the Alexandria General District Court show the 21-year-old was charged with seven counts of petit larceny for items worth less than $1k … all of which are misdemeanors in Virginia.
The alleged offenses happened twice in September, four times in October, and once in November … according to the court docs. He’s due back in court in February.
According to The Athletic, Rollins has been accused of shoplifting household goods like groceries, body wash and candles.
From People:
NBA star Carmelo Anthony has officially announced his retirement from basketball.
Anthony, 38, shared the video announcement on Instagram Monday morning. In the video, the 10-time NBA All-Star said, “I remember the days when I had nothing. Just a ball on the court and a dream for something more.”
He continued, “But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong — my communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way.”
From ESPN, where you can read more on the story:
Undefeated boxing star Gervonta Davis pleaded guilty on Thursday to four counts stemming from a hit-and-run crash in November 2020 that left four people injured, including a pregnant woman.
Davis’ sentencing is May 5.
Davis, 28, was scheduled to stand trial but waived that right Thursday. He did not speak after leaving the courtroom, and his lawyer Michael Tomko declined comment.
Davis pleaded guilty to four traffic offenses: leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failing to notify of property damage, driving with a revoked license and running a red light. Upon Davis entering his guilty plea, Circuity Judge Althea M. Handy told Davis that he’s doing so “with no agreement of what penalty will be at sentencing.”
On Nov. 5, 2020 around 2 a.m., Davis left a downtown club in Baltimore and drove a Lamborghini under a police escort, according to the prosecution. He then veered from the caravan and eventually ran a red light and struck the passenger side of a 2004 Toyota Solara. Davis was accused of feeling the scene of an accident that involved four people, including pregnant woman Jyair Smith.
Cam Thomas was fined $40k for this pic.twitter.com/Vgls4DbjcJ
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) February 10, 2023
SMH. From ESPN:
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been fined $40,000 for using “derogatory and disparaging language” after Thursday’s win over the Chicago Bulls, the NBA announced Friday.
Thomas was interviewed by TNT on the court alongside new teammate Spencer Dinwiddie following the Nets’ 116-105 victory. Two days earlier, Dinwiddie had joked with the media in the wake of the Kyrie Irving trade with the Dallas Mavericks that while the Nets might not have acquired the most talented players in the deal — which included Dorian Finney-Smith going to Brooklyn — they did get the “best-looking.”
“And the Nets needed some help in that department,” Dinwiddie said. Asked by TNT about Dinwiddie’s comment, Thomas said postgame Thursday night: “We already had good-looking guys, no homo.”
I want to apologize for the insensitive word I used in the post-game interview. I was excited about the win and was being playful. I definitely didn't intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love 🫶🏽❤️
— Cam Thomas (@24_camthomas) February 10, 2023
From USA Today, where you can read the full story:
New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia wasted no time shaking up the franchise.
The Suns are acquiring NBA superstar Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.
The deal will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Nets, in addition to a pick swap in 2028. The Suns will be getting Durant – a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP – and forward T.J. Warren.
For those unaware, Haskins was initially drafted by the now-Washington Commanders in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, playing with the D.C. squad for a couple of years before moving on to Pittsburgh. As seen on ESPN:
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died early Saturday morning after he was struck by a dump truck while he was walking on a South Florida highway. Haskins was 24 years old.
Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Lt. Indiana Miranda said Haskins was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 when there was oncoming traffic,” Miranda said in an emailed statement.
She didn’t say why Haskins was on the highway near Fort Lauderdale at the time. The accident caused the highway to be shut down for several hours, and Miranda said it’s “an open traffic homicide investigation.”
Haskins was training in South Florida with other Steelers quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
One legacy. One unified future.
We are the Washington Commanders #TakeCommand pic.twitter.com/Eav9NOV5Mm
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 2, 2022
From CNN, where you can read the full story:
The National Football League’s Washington franchise unveiled its new team name on Wednesday — the Washington Commanders.
Accompanied by a new logo, the changes come about 18 months after the franchise ditched the “Redskins” name for its racist connotations.
The team had competed as the Washington Football Team for the past two seasons but will continue to use its burgundy and gold color scheme.
Congrats to a true boss in the game. From TMZ:
Yo Gotti has gone from taking over the rap game to taking over the soccer game — ’cause the star MC is now a co-owner of the MLS’ D.C. United!!!
Gotti just announced his new business venture on Monday … saying he — alongside 3 other investors — bought ownership of the franchise.
With his investment, Gotti currently owns 2-3% of the team — and BTW, D.C. United is currently worth $750 million.
From ABC7, where you can read the full feature:
Jalil Hackett, who turns 18 on May 11, is on his way to Las Vegas next week to train with one of his heroes, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.
“It’s great, I’ve been working hard for this since I was eight years old,” Hackett told 7News. “So for the hard work to pay off, is good.”
His trainer and father, Bernard Hackett, a one-time amateur boxer in D.C., is as happy as his son about recent events. And come June 6 in Miami, Floyd Mayweather will be at the top of the boxing card against Logan Paul.
And Bernard’s son will also be on the card boxing an opponent.
“Bucket list” opportunity is how he describes what’s opened up for his son. He is working along with Derrick Curry, Mayweather’s rep in D.C., who’s become Jalil’s manager.
It’s clear that Durant is done with everyone’s bullsh*t. From Complex:
During a recent episode of the FS1 debate show, Sharpe—an admitted LeBron James stan—criticized Durant for the quote, which implies that he’s better than LeBron James because he beat him in back-to-back Finals.
“Kevin Durant thought by winning the title, people would regard him universally as the best player in the NBA. Better than even LeBron James But very few people were willing to go there,” Sharpe said. “And then he’s like…Because he said it. ‘If LeBron James is the GOAT. I beat the GOAT twice, and hit the shot in his building. What does that make me?’”
The trouble is, Durant never said what Sharpe accused him of saying.
Y’all drunk uncle out here lying again. When did I say this @ShannonSharpe ??????????????????????????? https://t.co/698XHOxcYn
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 13, 2021
Shannon went on tv responding to this quote like I actually said this. Gullible fans will believe it, or say “you was thinking this anyway” it’s comedy at this point https://t.co/heKXs8iOuE
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 13, 2021
Ole Shannon refuses to respond to me. Yo Shannon why are u using your platform to push fake quotes about me???
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 13, 2021
KD, IF* you wanna talk to me. I’m not hard to find, but I’m not going bck and forth on social media. Whatever our differences are. They can be handled out of the eye of social media. 👍🏾👍🏾 https://t.co/60CGNzMRg9
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 13, 2021
KD, enjoy your day. Stay healthy and finish the season off strong. ✌🏾 https://t.co/XT0zIo1urf
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 13, 2021
But I’m sensitive pic.twitter.com/ui2pSX6tCi
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 13, 2021
I’m not gangsta, but I’m not going bck and forth with KD and lose my job either. I’ve had disagreement with other athletes, ppl b4 , we handled it like adults and moved on… “ADULTS” https://t.co/BYJrCxSpfj
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 13, 2021
BIG E – New theme – New Titantron,
LET'S GO#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/f0IrkwGDFb— GIFSkull III (Backup) – #njbosj #njpw (@SkullGIF) December 5, 2020
UPDATE: You can now enjoy the track — titled “Feel The Power,” which also features DJ Money — in its entirety below.
As seen on Metro:
WWE fans were disappointed when The New Day split – and now it’s clear Big E really is going solo on SmackDown.
The beloved faction – which still features Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston on Raw – captured 10 tag team titles during their time together thus far, but it looks like it’s time for us all to move on.
Big E scrapped the group’s iconic theme music on SmackDown this week, instead coming out to a new song by Wale.
In an exciting move, he did bring back his old weight-lifting chalk entrance, which he used regularly back in his Big E Langston days.
As seen on ESPN:
The Washington Football Team released quarterback Dwayne Haskins one day after he was benched in a loss to the Carolina Panthers — and hours after he was demoted behind a player signed to the practice squad less than a month ago. In a statement, Washington coach Ron Rivera said he met with Haskins on Monday to inform him of his decision.
“I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”
In a tweet, Haskins wrote: “I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of a NFL QB & will become a better man & player because of this experience.”
Thank You DC. pic.twitter.com/Pgwe8BdDWq
— John Wall (@JohnWall) December 3, 2020
Farewell to one of D.C.’s biggest icons ever, both on and off the court. From ESPN:
The Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets have agreed to trade two disgruntled star point guards, John Wall and Russell Westbrook, in a blockbuster deal, the teams announced Wednesday.
The Wizards are sending Wall and a lottery-protected 2023 first-round NBA draft pick to the Rockets for Westbrook in a deal that both players wanted and had been simmering for weeks.
The 2023 first-round pick is lottery protected for the Wizards. If it doesn’t convey in that year, it has a succession of protections that include picks Nos. 1-12 in 2024, picks 1-10 in 2025 and picks 1-8 in 2026, sources said. If it hasn’t conveyed as a first-round pick to Houston by 2026, it becomes a second-round pick in each of 2026 and 2027, sources told ESPN.
Sigh…no comment. From ESPN:
Effective immediately, Washington will call itself the “Washington Football Team” pending the adoption of a new name, the NFL franchise announced Thursday.
This is not a final renaming and rebranding for the team; this is the name it will use until the adoption of a new name.
The team will continue the process of retiring its former name and hopes to be entirely rid of it on physical and digital spaces in the next 50 days, by the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington will not have any change to its color scheme. It will still use burgundy and gold, and its former logo on the helmet will be replaced by each player’s number in gold. Washington will debut its home uniforms in Week 1 against the Eagles and its road uniforms in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Now is a good time to check out new podcasts, especially if you’re a sports junkie feeling a loss. The SportsFreqs Podcast, presented by KM, Mique, and friend of the site, Tweeze, is a good way to fill that void. The three hosts, all of whom are audio engineers, are knowledgeable, funny and opinionated. These are all people who’ve recorded or mixed music that you’re listening to if you like any artists from the DMV. They don’t just touch on sports topics either, KM, Mique, and Tweeze talk about the music industry and studio experience at length. Check out their first episode. A description is below.
This episode we speak on topics such as:
The Atlanta Falcons signing Todd Gurley, Cam Newton to the Washington Redskins?, the Greatest NFL QB’s to never win a super bowl, what will happen once the NBA season comes back, the NY Knicks having too many forwards, 2 track vs stem mixing, adv
Heartbroken for @JohnWall. His beloved mother, Frances Pulley, passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The job she did raising John into the man he is today — incredible. Everything John is today — humble, a servant leader, a man of God — he got from her.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) December 13, 2019
As seen via News Observer. Our condolences go out to Wall and his family.
Frances Pulley, mother of NBA star John Wall, has died after a long battle with cancer, according to a tweet posted by Wall’s college coach, Kentucky’s John Calipari.
Pulley was 58.
From People, where you can read the full story:
NFL star Robert Griffin III is officially off the market – again!
The 28-year-old quarterback married Grete Šadeiko, 24, in an extravagant wedding in Miami, Florida, on Saturday among family and friends.
Griffin shared photos of their big day on Instagram, including one photo of the couple in a room created by hanging crystals with a perspex floor with white roses on top and purple lights within to match their wedding’s color scheme.
“First name Grete, Last name Griffin. All I ever wanted to be for you is your hero. It turns out that all along, you were mine,” RGIII – who wore a blue suit with a bow tie and silver Christian Louboutins – wrote in the caption.”
From the Washington Post, where you can read the full story:
Washington’s downtown sports arena is changing names, effective immediately. Monumental Sports and Entertainment will make the switch official on Wednesday, announcing that Verizon Center will now be known as Capital One Arena. The signage and branding makeover will happen this fall, but there’s already a new logo and a third name for the Chinatown venue, which opened as the MCI Center in the winter of 1997.
The previous 20-year naming rights arrangement was negotiated by former Wizards and Capitals owner Abe Pollin, and current owner Ted Leonsis has said repeatedly that he was seeking a more team-friendly deal. The Verizon deal was set to expire in 2018, but Capital One’s involvement accelerated the schedule.
Financial details were not released, but the deal is worth $100 million over 10 years, according to a source familiar with the arrangement, who confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report. That’s believed to be a significant jump over what Monumental received per year from the previous deal.
WWE s**t:
Hip-hop star Wale hosts a unique Rap Battle between The New Day and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos.
From Boston Globe:
Aaron Hernandez comitted suicide in prison Wednesday morning, the Department of Correction said.
According to a statement for the Department of Correction, the former New England Patriot star was discovered hanging in his cell at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley Massachusetts at approximately 3:05 a.m.
“Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell ina general population unit,” the statement said. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.”
State Police are investigating and his family has been notified.
The statement said Hernandez was transported to UMass Leominster, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. Wednesday.
Hernandez’s suicide comes five days after he was acquitted of murdering two men in Boston in 2012. However, it was still serving a life wihtout parole sentence for murdering Odin L. Lloyd in North Attleborough in 2013.
From TMZ:
Aaron Hernandez has just been found NOT GUILTY of murdering two people in a 2012 drive-by shooting.
The jury spent more than 35 hours over 6 days deliberating the case.
Hernandez was only found guilty on one lesser charge — illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to serve between 4 and 5 years in prison for that conviction.
Prosecutors claimed 27-year-old Hernandez killed Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado on July 16, 2012 because one of them spilled a drink on him in a Boston club earlier that night.
The families of both Abreu and Furtado were in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
The ex-New England Patriots player was previously convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for killing semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.
The acquittal comes almost exactly 2 years after Hernandez was convicted of murdering Lloyd. That verdict was reached on April 15, 2015.
Image source: Sporting News via Getty Images
From the Georgetown Hoyas’ official website, where you can read more on the story:
Georgetown University announced today that Patrick Ewing (C’85) has been named its new Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Ewing comes back to Georgetown after serving for 15 years as an assistant head coach in the NBA. He served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2003-06) and Orlando Magic (2007-12) and most recently as the Associate Head Coach for the Charlotte Hornets.
Ewing is recognized as the greatest men’s basketball player to ever don the Blue & Gray. He was selected as one of the top 50 players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ewing was a three-time consensus First Team All-America selection (1983, 1984, 1985) on the Hilltop, leading the Hoyas to three NCAA Championship Game appearances and the 1984 National Championship title. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1984 tournament. His play propelled Georgetown into one of the most respected basketball programs in the country.
“Patrick’s commitment to Georgetown and to further animating our legacy of excellence is inspiring,” said University President John J. DeGioia. “He is a visionary leader with a deep connection to our community. His experience as a coach over the last 15 years with some of the best basketball minds in the country has prepared him to lead our program. We very much look forward to welcoming him back to our Hilltop as the Head Coach of our men’s basketball team.”
“After a very thorough national search, Patrick Ewing emerged as the talented leader best prepared to coach the Hoyas in this new era of highly competitive college basketball,” Georgetown Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed said. “To hire a head coach with this depth of coaching experience and personal achievements is tremendous. It is a thrill to have him come back to his alma mater and continue the legacy of tradition and success he had as a student-athlete on the Hilltop.”
We can’t really be mad at Durant’s feelings on the matter, to be honest…he still gets our support 100 percent. From the Washington Post (where you can read the full editorial):
When Durant plays at Verizon Center on Tuesday night as a Golden State Warrior, with an enormous tattoo spelling “Maryland” still inked across his shoulders, it will evoke two of the forces that shaped his life and colored his choice: an abiding love and appreciation for where he grew up, and an ardent need to expand himself beyond it.
“I don’t want to open up anything in the past, but I really just didn’t want to play at home,” Durant said. “It was nothing about the fans. Being at home, I was so happy with that part of my life — playing at home, being in front of friends, hanging with friends and family every day. That was a part of my life that has come and gone.
“I was like, I’m trying to build a second part of my life as a man living in a different part of the country, just trying to do different things. I did everything I was supposed to do in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, I felt. Now it’s time to do something new. I didn’t want to come back. That’s just my thought process behind it. It had nothing to do with basketball, the fans, the city.
“It was just like, ‘All right, that part of my life I’ve conquered already. What’s next?’”
