Rock, paper, Scissors- Michael Jordan would bet on anything, Jordan’s former teammate Jay Williams had said. Not far behind is his long-time friend Charles Barkley.

Barkley would not have left the table before either winning a million or losing it! It is no surprise that beyond the basketball court, gambling would be something where the two legends would cross roads.

One such has recently come to light in a May 28 article by The Athletic. The story covers the Kenny Rogers Classic Weekends hosted by the country singer from 1988 to 1990. About 15 celebrities, across all arenas, gathered in Rogers’ lavish accommodation – the 1200-acre Beaver Dam Farms to compete in basketball, tennis, golf, and fish bassing. One among them was Michael Jordan, keeping interests up through his games and bets.

Understandably, Jordan was impressive in basketball. But it wasn’t the only sport where everyone was in awe of him. Tennis star Kevin Curren recalled in the article by The Athletic how good of a player he saw Jordan to be in his sport despite his inexperience – thanks to his athletic ability and confidence. “It was the absolute dream to play basketball with Jordan, and then I played tennis with him. That was even more fascinating to witness his movement on the court,” recalled Curren, who won doubles titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

It was here that Curren also recalled that those very abilities helped him win a bet against Charles Barkley. According to the article, in one year of the Kenny Rogers Classic Weekends gathering, Curren found Jordan and Barkley arguing over who was the better athlete. To put an end to the debate, they decided to play a set of tennis for $10,000. Jordan won easily, Curren recalled.

While this could’ve been without getting money involved, not making a bet when the opportunity presents itself is not something either of them would do. And it’s not as if either of the stars has not admitted to the habit. In an interview back in 2022, Charles stated that he won close to a million, about 5 or 6 times. But also admitted to losing a similar amount around 10 to 20 times. “It got out of hand. I quit for like 2 years,” Chuck had said.

via Imago

However, he admitted he’ll probably continue doing it but not to a great extent. “”Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a problem, but I don’t consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It’s just a stupid habit that I’ve got to get under control, because it’s just not a good thing to be broke after all these years,” he had said in an interview in 2006. He also had a way out to keep that check. He said he would go to bet with only $1,000 a hand instead of $20,000. So he would be losing only $50,000 instead of millions.

As for the Chicago Bulls legend, he stated gambling is a hobby for him rather than a problem. He once accepted that things getting a bit out of hand with this hobby.

“I think I have a very positive life. Naturally, there have been some things that I have done wrong, and most people have. The gambling thing is something that kind of get out of proportion,” he said. Indeed it has landed him in a problem, at times quite grave.

Back in 1992, while investigating a money laundering and drug trials case, police found that Michael, one of the wealthiest sportspersons, had written a drug dealer for $57K to clear his golf gambling debts. But, according to some reports, Jordan’s biggest loss in gambling came in Las Vegas. lost $5 million at the craps table on one night. Interestingly, his gambling tales in golf are also legendary.

Michael Jordan’s way of gambling: hundreds and thousands of dollars a hole

Back in 2017, on Dan Patrick’s show, Barkley gave a glimpse of Michael Jordan’s lavish betting ventures in golf. “We’d be playing golf with certain people, and we’d be playing a couple hundred dollars a hole, and he’d be playing some guy for, like, a $100,000,” Barkley had said. His revelations also found support from Cedric the Entertainer.

Cedric had shared this instance on an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He shed light on Mike’s love for golf and how his bets throughout the game got pretty serious. The 60-year-old shared a particular moment that quickly got him out of his pay range.

“The time I played, (Charles) Barkley was with us, and they were playing like ten thousand a hole, $10,000 a hole,” he recalled. The stakes kind of scared Cedric, which should’ve been the case with most individuals. And more so considering Jordan wanted Cedric also to play.

However, the stand-up comedian tried avoiding it by hilariously stating he would have to open a second line of credit just to play golf with them. But Mike still got him to agree to put $1,000 on each hole. Little did Cedric realize it was 18 of those, and he lost every one of them.

This is still one of the many instances when Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan bet against each other until the two drifted apart after Buck’s one take on live TV. The two haven’t spoken in years for Barkley’s remark on Charlotte Hornets, a team owned by Jordan. Now, if the two were ever to reunite, it is up to the latter, because Charles is all in.

“EXCLUSIVE: Music Icon James Taylor Recounts the Surreal Moment He Discovered Taylor Swift Was Named After Him – A Backstage Encounter That Sent Fans into a Frenzy”

James Taylor is looking back at the moment he learned pop superstar Taylor Swift was named after him.

The 76-year-old music legend recalled the surreal appearance during a new interview with USA Today published on Wednesday, May 8, when he was asked if he has ever had a conversation with Swift, 34, about her being his namesake.

Taylor then recounted his first meeting with the “Anti-Hero” songstress, which he said was about “15-16 years ago.”

“We did a benefit for [the Candie’s Foundation], an organization that tries to help with teenage pregnancy, and it was interesting,” he recalled. “We were both there with guitars and played a couple of songs. I was performing with my wife and may have had a friend of ours playing cello and Taylor was there just playing by herself.” 

“She was just a teen,” the “You’ve Got a Friend” crooner said. “She told me she had listened to my music a lot and that her folks had named her with me in mind.”

Throughout her entire career, Swift has been vocal about her love for Taylor’s music, even mentioning the songwriter by name in her song “Begin Again” off her Red album.
Best headphones deals

The View let loose in its final segment of the day, welcoming NBA alum and Lucky 13 host Shaquille O’Neal to the Hot Topics table this morning. While he made an appearance to promote his new game show, Shaq spent most of his time bantering with the ladies, who were immediately charmed by him.

Whoopi Goldberg kicked off the segment by explaining why there were bowls of candy scattered amongst the co-hosts and their guest.

(Editor’s Note: The View is currently on hiatus; contrary to what you may have heard, The View was not canceled today. This article was originally published on July 17, 2024 when this episode first aired. The View will return with new episodes in September.)

“Now I hear you have brought something that I appreciate very much. A sweet and Shaq-ilicious treat?” Goldberg asked, as Shaq confirmed, “Yes.” But Sara Haines couldn’t resist slipping in a joke of her own, saying, “And he brought candy!” with an exaggerated hand gesture.

Her comment didn’t quite land at the table, but Alyssa Farah Griffin was amused, breaking into laughter that Haines

Shaq moved right on to promoting his new candy line with Hershey’s, which features gummy candy modeled in the shape of his face.

When Haines asked, “It is your face?” and Shaq confirmed, “Yes, it is my face,” she held one of the gummies up and told the audience, “You will be nibbling on his face. So if you’ve ever wanted to do that…” as she grinned right at her guest.

Shaq let out a laugh, then bowed his head to the table and jokingly shook his finger at Haines, who was delighted by his amused reaction.

When Sunny Hostin told him, “See what she did there?” Shaq replied, “You almost got me in trouble.”
Photo: ABC
But he wasn’t feeling too shy later in the episode. As Haines rattled off his list of accomplishments (including “candy model”), Shaq told her very seriously, “You forgot one. Sex symbol.”

As the audience whooped and cheered, he posed for the camera and adjusted his suit jacket while raising his eyebrows and sucking in his cheeks.

Haines reassured him, “That goes without mentioning! We all know that.”

Joy Behar, referring to Haines’ earlier admission that she once got pedicures with the basketball pro, quipped, “Now we know what those pedicures are about!” to which Haines replied, “I’m telling you, from top to bottom, he takes care of it.”

That one didn’t slip past the audience, who let out an audible, low “Ooooooh” that seemed to catch Haines by surprise. Even Goldberg gave her a look, while poor Griffin could be seen covering her face with her hands at the other end of the table.

Somehow, the segment only got more goofy, despite Haines’ attempt to shift the chat back to Lucky 13. When she asked Shaq how game show hosting is going for him, she began to mention something “Shaq-sized” featured in Lucky 13, which only made things worse. Haines, who was laughing too hard to keep speaking, managed to put a thumbs up in the air as Goldberg clarified that the show features “Shaq-sized” jackpots.

Hey, at least we got there eventually.

Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem will be saying farewell to the NBA after a 20-year run, and he’s had quite the career, winning three championship titles with the team.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman

On “The Pivot” podcast, Haslem revealed there was a time when he was certain his fate would be sealed when the “Big Three” was announced. He had been with the Heat since 2003, and in 2010, he was a free agent and realized the trio’s value could jeopardize his spot on the team.

However, the “Big Three,” which consisted of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, negotiated their salaries to keep him on the team.

According to NBC Sports, James and Bosh’s six-year contract was valued at $110.1 million, and Wade’s was $107 million.

“I’m out of here, because I know how the numbers worked, I know how the money worked. I know what those guys’ values was, I know they worth at the time. And I’m thinking, ‘Okay, it’s time to move on,’” Haslem explained.

Haslem adds he made his way to the 2010 Summer Heat Welcome Party at the American Airlines Arena to give his thanks to Pat Riley, Heat president, for providing him an opportunity when others failed to.

Before heading into the arena, Haslem received hopeful news from his agent of a deal valued at roughly $35 million. However, the Heat could not honor that amount, and the NBA player says he was presented with $20 million, thanks to the joint effort of James, Wade, and Bosh, who agreed to pay cuts.

Haslem knew from that moment on, their lost earnings would not be in vain.

He was right. He won two NBA championships alongside the trio.

“But the fact that Bron, CB, and D-Wade all collabed to take less money to make that $20 [million] available for me, it said enough, because they didn’t have to do that,” Haslem explained.

“Dwyane understood. Bron and CB don’t know me from a can of paint. They ain’t ever played with me, they don’t know nothing about me,” he continued. “But the fact that they was able to say, ‘Okay, cool. We need him. We need him to win.’ That let me know I got to get them boys they money worth.”

Jaylen Brown thinks Angel Reese has been playing better than Caitlin Clark this season, and should be WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Jaylen Brown spoke to Boardroom about the Rookie of the Year race in the WNBA. When asked who has caught his attention, Brown adamantly maintained that Angel Reese will get his vote, noting her consistency and her ability to regularly get double-doubles as a dominant power forward in the league as her reason to win.

“Angel Reese got my vote. I just think you know consistency to come in just double-double after double-double. It’s a lot of good players, it’s a lot of good guys out there doing their thing. Shout out to the WNBA. I’m a fan. I’m planning to come see some games when their schedule picks back up after the Olympics.”

Interviewer: “Do you have your eye on someone that could be [the WNBA] ROTY this year?”

Jaylen Brown: “Angel Reese got my vote. I just think you know consistency to come in just double-double after double-double.” 👀

(via @boardroom)pic.twitter.com/IYGWeVNf1U

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 7, 2024

Jaylen Brown picking Angel Reese over Caitlin Clark isn’t surprising. He has formed something of a friendship with Reese, especially since he has been linked romantically to Reese’s former Sky teammate Kysre Gondrezick.

The trio were even spotted watching an NBA Summer League game together, where Brown infamously told Gondrezick that he doesn’t think Bronny has what it takes to be an NBA player.

While Brown’s friendship with Reese is a very positive thing, it could be causing him to be biased towards Reese. So far, the race between Caitlin Clark hasn’t been as close as people would like to believe, with Clark seemingly pulling ahead with her incredible performances in the WNBA.

Clark And Reese Have Had A Long-Standing Rivalry

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry actually predates the NBA. The two went toe-to-toe in the 2023 NCAA National Championship, where Reese and LSU triumphed over Clark and Iowa State. Reese famously mocked Clark’s ‘You can’t see me’ gesture during the game.

Since then, the two players have made the jump to the WNBA, and have set the league on fire. A large part of the WNBA’s rise in popularity has been thanks to their incredible performances in their rookie years. The two even made it to the WNBA All-Star game this year, an incredible achievement for two rookies in the league.

Their rivalry has not slowed down since entering the WNBA, as they have been going at it and bringing physicality against each other. In one of their encounters,  Reese inadvertently smacked Clark in the head. And rather than apologize, she actually took a shot at Clark after the game for getting calls from the referees.

Clark has been having a phenomenal season, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. As for Reese, she isn’t too far behind in her performances, averaging 13.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.

Clark currently leads Reece in almost every statistical category except rebounding. This dominance from Clark should already cement her as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, as the WNBA regular season is about to come to an end very soon after the Olympics break is over and the season resumes.

The Rookie of the Year race may just be a formality at this point, as Clark has pulled ahead of Reese. However, there are many players in the league and many analysts who believe Reese’s double-double streak should be taken into consideration when casting their votes. It will be an interesting outcome to a hotly contested race for WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: CNN

With the glowiest skin we’ve ever seen.

Getty Images

Rihanna is here with the receipts: Her Fenty skincare routine gives her an ethereal glow. The ANTI singer has been more active on social media lately—lucky us—and her latest post showed off her glowing skin that she paired with a chic minimal manicure.

She posted a series of stunning selfies to Instagram on Aug 25 with a mindful Instagram caption that read “Here’s your reminder to put that sunscreen on baby!” to promote the new Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Face Moisturizer SPF 30. In short, if Rihanna can wear sunscreen every day, it’s the least we can do. And, with every great RiRi look there’s a fun manicure to match—this time, she opted for a nail design inspired by her skincare.

@badgalriri/Instagram

The 36-year-old paired her no-makeup makeup with a no-manicure manicure. She painted a barely-there sheer white polish on her dainty almond-shaped nails for a milky manicure that looked similar to glowing skin after an in-depth skincare routine. Quick refresher: Milky nails are a softer, modern version of the traditional white manicure that goes with literally everything. There are lots of ways to experiment with the design, and Rihanna’s take on the trend reminds us of the nail’s easygoing but luxurious feel.

@badgalriri/Instagram

For the photoshoot, she’s back to her bright honey blonde hair that’s styled in a straight, smooth side part. We’d wager she’s also wearing just the tiniest bit of makeup, like a swipe of brow gel and a lightweight foundation with a touch of bronzer that gives her a back-from-the-beach glow.

The end-of-summer calls for minimal makeup and manicures, and we’ll be adding Rihanna’s to the list of best low-key nail looks of the season.

Read the original article on Byrdie.

Recently, Taylor Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, reportedly issued a strong message to those labeling her daughter as a “distraction.” She emphasized that such remarks stem from jealousy, describing it as a “sickness.” Andrea’s defense comes amid criticisms suggesting Taylor’s high-profile relationships and public appearances might be diverting attention from other matters.

This protective stance showcases the support Taylor receives from her family as she navigates her career and personal life, often under intense public scrutiny. Andrea’s comment underscores the importance of focusing on Taylor’s achievements rather than being distracted by unfounded criticisms.

Justin Timberlake Is Reportedly Making Major Changes To Keep Jessica Biel Happy

Plus Icon

Justin Timberlake, Jessica BielDee Cercone/Everett Collection.

It’s been over two months since Justin Timberlake‘s DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, New York, and he’s been laying low on the European leg of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. Staying out of trouble and healing his marriage to Jessica Biel might be his top priorities because his wife was reportedly quite upset about the very public incident.

“Part of Justin’s mea culpa to Jessica was to admit that he’d gotten into some bad habits and that he needs to dial everything way back,” an insider told In Touch Weekly. In addition to his alleged offense of drinking while intoxicated, the 43-year-old singer was also “busted with a vape pen.” Biel wasn’t too pleased by that discovery, so “he’s now agreed to totally ditch that for good, and he’s gone pretty much cold turkey on the booze, too,” according to the source.

 

Justin Timberlake , Jessica Biel at arrivals for THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA Premiere at 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, John Zuccotti Theater at BMCC TPAC, New York, NY April 14, 2016.Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection.

Timberlake is “committed to a very clean life” after his driver’s license was suspended by the judge in his recent court hearing where he pleaded not guilty to the DWI charges. Biel, who was in Manhattan filming The Better Sister series for Amazon Prime when the arrest happened, was reportedly “colossally disappointed and embarrassed” by the incident. There’s going to be a lot of questions asked of Justin moving forward, without a doubt,” a source told The U.S. Sun in June.

The couple has already weathered his Janet Jackson and Britney Spears apologies along with his alleged cheating scandal with his Palmer co-star, Alisha Wainwright, in 2019. “Jessica has shown the patience of a saint forgiving his various misdeeds over the past few years, but this is really testing her patience and then some,” the source added. Now, it’s up to Timberlake to make things up to his wife and his two sons, Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4.

But, if we rewind five years, it seems like his close pals keep saying the same thing over and over to the press, though. “Justin has spent a lot of time apologizing and acknowledging Jessica’s feelings,” a source shared with E! News in 2019. “He feels terrible and wishes he could take back the public humiliation and embarrassment he caused. He loves Jessica and being married to her. He will learn from what happened and not let it happen again.”

Let’s hope it’s for real this time.

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Photos via Getty Images)
Angel Reese had a curious reaction after Caitlin Clark helped the Indiana Fever to a win over the Atlanta Dream on Monday night.

The Fever snatched an 84-79 victory and managed to hold on in the fourth quarter, having gotten outscored 20-14, with Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston spurring the offense on the night.

Mitchell scored a game-high 29 points, shooting 10-of-23 from the field and 3-of-10 from three. Clark added 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in a historic performance, while Boston chipped in with a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The win was a timely one for Indiana, given their previous loss to the Minnesota Lynx. It keeps their playoff hopes alive at 14-16, as they’re still in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

It also worked out well for Reese as the Chicago Sky moved ahead of Atlanta by one game, having previously led by 0.5 games in the eighth spot in the conference. Of course, they’re still 3.5 games behind the Fever.

Angel Reese Took To Social Media After Indiana’s Win

Reese got on X/Twitter right after Monday night’s game to post a video of herself dancing courtside but did not caption it.

Check it out below:

There’s every chance of this being random, but no one’s going to believe that.

It’s more likely that she was celebrating the Dream losing, considering the playoff implications. She could also be signaling some intent with Chicago’s next clash against Caitlin Clark and the Fever in mind.

The WNBA’s most attractive game isn’t far off and is scheduled for this Friday.

Taylor Swift to Travis Kᴇlce: You give me strᴇɴgth when I am ᴡeak, courage when I’m afraid, aɴd love when I feel unlovᴇable. You give me a ʀeason foʀ living.

In 2023, Taylor Swift experienced a year marked by significant career milestones and personal developments. The Grammy winner kicked off her monumental Eras Tour in March, setting a record for the highest-grossing tour of all time.

The tour spanned 151 shows across five continents and showcased Swift’s musical eras through a captivating three-hour performance. Changes in personal life

Amid her professional success, Swift faced changes in her personal life. In April, news broke of her split-up from long-time boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Speculations about their breakup had circulated since the release of Swift’s breakup ballad “You’re Losing Me” in November 2022.

Controversy arose when Swift was briefly linked to musician Matty Healy in May. The connection faced scrutiny due to Healy’s past remarks about Swift, leading fans to launch a #SpeakUpNow campaign for an apology.

Swift’s romantic life took a turn in July when NFL player Travis Kelce publicly expressed his interest in her on his podcast. Their relationship remained private until September when they officially went public. Since then, Swift and Kelce have been a couple, attending each other’s events and games.

As Swift celebrates her 34th birthday on December 13, her fans reflect on her eventful year, encompassing a record-breaking tour, high-profile relationships, and personal growth.

When it comes to Travis Kelce, “He’s down-to-earth and isn’t affected by fame. She also thinks he’s hot.”

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are seemingly dating (not to be confused with seemingly ranch)—at least, that’s the vibe the entire world is getting from her showing up to multiple (!!) Chiefs games in a row, chilling with his mom, and driving off in his getaway car.

But if you’re wondering how serious these two are, Us Weekly is out here with a source who dished that Taylor and Travis are talking non-stop and she’s not trying to hide their relationship.

The insider noted that Taylor and Travis “talk every day,” and that “Taylor’s really enjoying getting to know Travis. They’re taking it day by day, but she has high hopes. She likes that he’s a normal, nice guy. He’s down-to-earth and isn’t affected by fame. She also thinks he’s hot.”

Meanwhile, another source added that “Travis is completely smitten,” while yet another said that, “Taylor’s doing all the things she hasn’t had time for lately, like going out with her friends and staying out late.”

They also mentioned that, “Taylor is at a point in her life where she’s no longer willing to hold back. If something feels right—like it does with Travis—she’s jumping in with both feet. She’s very happy and loving life right now.”

Oh, and after keeping her relationship with Joe Alwyn so private for years, another insider maintained that, “Taylor has decided she’s not going to hide anymore. She’s going to be her authentic self and enjoy life.”

Living for this era.