Blog

Alexander Bublik pulled out one of his tricks moments after his rival requested VAR in Dubai.

Alexander Bublik hit an underarm serve ace after a video review meant he was made to replay a point (Image: Tennis TV)

Alexander Bublik was back to his usual ways at the Dubai Tennis Championships, hitting an underarm ace on a second serve after a video review meant he was forced to replay a point.

The Kazakh was locked in battle with Felix Auger-Aliassime at 6-6 in the first set tiebreak during their opening round match when Auger-Aliassime requested a VAR check.

The umpire ruled in Auger-Aliassime’s favour but Bublik had the perfect response.

Bublik and Auger-Aliassime became embroiled in a tight tussle in the first set of their match in Dubai. At 6-6 in the tiebreak, the Canadian was running to chase a ball down when a ball kid stepped forward to catch it.

Bublik didn’t realise and began celebrating as he moved ahead by a point but Auger-Aliassime immediately requested a video review from the umpire, who examined footage of the incident.

“Wow, here we go. We’ve got a video review here for hindrance,” commentator Colin Fleming said.

The world No. 51 appeared confused but Auger-Aliassime told him: “The ball kid didn’t wait for the ball, he went to the ball. The ball kid moved in my way.”

A replay of the incident was played on screens for the umpire, players, and for fans in the stands and at home. The ball kid in question could be seen moving forward to catch the ball while Auger-Aliassime tried to hit it.

A video review showed that the ball kid moved into Auger-Aliassime’s way while the point was live (Image: Tennis TV)

“The ball kid has moved there. There’s no doubt,” Fleming remarked. Co-commentator Mikey Perera replied: “But it’s a tough call, isn’t it?”

Chair umpire Miriam Bley ruled that it was hindrance and grounds to replay the previous point. “As the ball kid was stepping out and anticipating to catch the ball while the ball was still in play, it was a hindrance,” she announced.

Fleming explained: “It’s difficult because Auger-Aliassime was in a position where he’s probably going to lose the point anyway but the ball kid did hinder his chance to play a better shot. Bublik looks like he has accepted it.”

The score returned to 6-6, meaning Bublik had to serve again. But he couldn’t get out of the point. His first serve was out.

On his second serve, Bublik hit what appeared to be an ace, but it just clipped the net tape and was deemed a let. At the third time of asking, the 27-year-old decided to switch things up and went for an underarm serve.

His tactic worked – Auger-Aliassime wasn’t expecting the underarm and didn’t chase the ball down and Bublik finally won the point to move ahead 7-6.

He waved his arms in the air, encouraging the crowd to cheer him on as Auger-Aliassime laughed from the other side of the net.

“It’s not the first time in this first set he’s hit an ace with the underarm second serve, come on!” Fleming exclaimed. “Have you ever seen anything like it? Video review, second serve let, underarm ace. Alexander Bublik, ladies and gentlemen.”

But it was the last point Bublik won in the set, as he later hit a double fault to give Auger-Aliassime the opener 7-6(7). The Kazakh refused to go away, however, winning the second set in a tiebreak to force a decider.

Auger-Aliassime went on to win 7-6(7) 6-7(4) 6-3 – but not before Bublik saved one of his match points with another underarm serve.

Disaster for the Celtics? Jrue Holiday & Al Horford Lead Alarming Injury Report Ahead of Raptors Clash!

One of the Celtics stars will be unavailable for the game against the Raptors.

Jrue Holiday and Al Horford headline the Boston Celtics’ injury report going into Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

The report reveals that Holiday will sit out the game as the Celtics are resting him. As for their veteran big man, Horford has a questionable status as he’s dealing with a toe sprain.

This season, Holiday is averaging 11 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a steal. He is shooting 44.4% from the field, including 34.9% from beyond the arc. In his last game against the New York Knicks on Feb. 23, he had 14 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

On the other hand, Horford is putting up 7.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He has shooting splits of 41% overall and 35.9% from downtown.

Al Horford’s presence on Celtics injury report

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Aside from Jrue Holiday and Al Horford’s injuries on the report, there are other Celtics who are dealing with ailments.

Backup center Luke Center will be unavailable for the matchup due to personal reasons.  Positive statuses show that big men Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman will be probable for the game, the former dealing with illness and the latter having left knee inflammation.

Other players who will be out are Drew Peterson and Anton Watson, who are playing in the G-League. JD Davison has a questionable status as well.

Raptors injury report

As the home side, the Toronto Raptors are working with their fair share of hurdles on the injury report.

Six of the eight players on the report will not play in Tuesday’s game. Notable names include Brandon Ingram and PJ Tucker, the former dealing with an ankle sprain and the latter’s not with the team.

The remaining two who are not carrying unavailable statuses are Jakob Poeltl and Gradey Dick. Poeltl has a right hip pointer injury as he is questionable, but Dick will be probable despite having a right thigh contusion.

Sylvester Stallone’s Daughters Steal the Spotlight: The Stunning Trio Taking Over Their Family’s Reality Show!

Sylvester Stallone is a legendary actor, screenwriter, director and producer. This talented man has experience with every major role in filmmaking, and he has achieved great commercial and critical success in his career. He is best known for his self-created role as the boxer Rocky Balboa in the 1976 film “Rocky.”

“Rocky” is such an iconic film that it was chosen to be inducted into the National Film Registry. It is also memorialized at the Smithsonian Museum, where fans can go see props that were used in the film franchise. The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are forever remembered as the Rocky steps, and there is even a statue of the character outside of the museum.

The other action film franchise that Stallone is known for is the John Rambo series, beginning with the film “First Blood.” Rambo is a soldier with PTSD, and the role earned Stallone critical acclaim for the first time since his success with Rocky. Stallone starred in a total of five Rambo films from 1982 to 2019. Stallone would become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors and starred in a steady stream of action films throughout his career.

Now 76, Stallone, who is a proud family man, is getting a television breakthrough that he and his equally talented daughters deserve. On his Instagram account, the “Rambo” actor took the time to show the world his three beautiful daughters as they shot promotional materials for a family-packed commercial advertisement in Philadelphia, all while filming their upcoming Paramount+ reality show. Read on to learn more about what the Stallones are preparing for their many fans worldwide.

Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Flavin and daughters (2014), (Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

Stallone’s romantic life was a popular topic in tabloids, with the media following him relentlessly and keeping tabs on all of his marriages. He married his first wife, Sasha Czack, in 1974. They had two sons together — Sage, born in 1976, who sadly died in 2012 from heart disease, and Seargeoh, born in 1979 and diagnosed with autism as a child. After 11 years of marriage, the couple filed for divorce. Stallone also married Brigitte Nielsen in 1985, but the couple eventually divorced two years later.

Then in 1997, Stallone married his long-time on-and-off girlfriend Jennifer Flavin, a former American model. The couple had their first daughter Sophia in 1996, followed by Sistine in 1998 and Scarlet in 2002.

After 25 years of marriage, Flavin filed for divorce in Florida in August 2022. However, a People Magazine source revealed that the two have since reconciled.

Asked if the whole ruckus of the divorce would be part of the upcoming Paramount+ show Stallone is doing with his family, Stallone had the perfect answer.

“Of course it’s part of the show. It’s the John Lennon thing: ‘Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.’ Hopefully, you’re involved with people who understand the foibles of life and the fragility of it and how rare a real good relationship is. Sometimes I put the work ahead of (my family), and that is a tragic mistake which won’t happen again,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the entertainment magazine, Stallone is set to debut his very first main role on television in the Paramount+ Original series, “Tulsa King.”

Aside from the action-packed crime drama series, the 76-year-old actor will also be having a “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”-style reality show, also to be streamed on the platform

Sistine Rose Stallone, Sylvester Stallone, Sophia Rose Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone (2015), (Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images)

The details for Stallone’s upcoming reality show have since been kept under wraps. In a Daily Mail report in August 2022, one of Stallone’s representatives revealed: “The Stallones are presently filming a reality show together which will debut on Paramount+.”

In a feature of Stallone by The Hollywood Reporter from Nov. 7, 2022, the “Rocky” actor expounded more on his decision to embark on uncharted waters — reality television.

“I thought it would be the ultimate home movie. This is a chance where I’m going to be with my kids under a work condition where they get to see me in action and I get to see them in action,” Stallone told the outlet.

For Stallone, he wants to redeem the lost time he had wasted early in his career — a time that he was supposed to spend with his family. The actor considers this his “biggest regret” in life.

“Everyone goes, ‘I wish I’d shown love more’ or ‘I wish I’d spent more time with the kids.’ I’m riding that boat. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do the reality show that I’ve been taking a lot of sh*t for,” he expounded.

Asked what people would be expecting from the show, Stallone had this to say: “What you will see is the real truth. This is a great opportunity. I don’t look at it as stooping to conquer. But each time you go in a different direction, people go, ‘Oh God, you must be in trouble.’ Just the opposite.”

Just to show everyone how fun of a father he is, Stallone took to Instagram as he and his daughters were in Philadelphia for an advertisement shoot. The actor posted a dashing photo of himself, along with his three girls, glammed up and dazzled, ready for the cameras.

The Internet Is Questioning Jayson Tatum’s Greatness Again?! These Dudes Really Don’t Know Ball

Jayson Tatum has been one of the most polarizing figures in the NBA over the last few years. The Boston Celtics superstar is a four-time All-Star, an All-NBA talent, and the face of one of the most historic franchises in basketball history. Yet, somehow, the internet still finds ways to doubt his greatness. And honestly? It’s getting ridiculous.

Another Day, Another Tatum Debate

Every time the Celtics hit a rough patch, or Tatum has an off-night, NBA Twitter and sports analysts alike rush to question whether he truly belongs among the league’s elite. It happened in 2022 after the NBA Finals loss to the Warriors. It happened in 2023 when the Celtics fell short in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. And now, in 2024, after leading the Celtics to the best record in the East (yet again), the same tired arguments have resurfaced.

Seriously, what more does this guy have to do?

The Resume Speaks for Itself

Let’s talk numbers. Tatum is averaging around 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists per game—elite production by any metric. He’s led the Celtics deep into the playoffs multiple times, proving he can perform under pressure. He’s already one of the top scorers in franchise history, surpassing legends like Paul Pierce and Larry Bird in some statistical categories before even hitting his prime.

If that’s not greatness, what is?

The Double Standard Is Real

What’s really wild is the double standard. When Luka Dončić puts up numbers but fails to win big in the playoffs, he’s considered a generational talent. When Tatum does it, he’s “not that guy.” When Devin Booker has a bad shooting night, it’s just an off-game. When Tatum struggles, the internet explodes with hot takes about how he’ll never be the guy.

The same critics who demand rings as the ultimate validation for players conveniently forget that legends like LeBron James and Michael Jordan also had to go through painful losses before winning it all. Tatum is 25—how about we give him some time?

What More Can He Do?

The scary part? Tatum is still improving. He’s become a more well-rounded defender, his playmaking has elevated, and he’s continuously adding to his offensive arsenal. The dude dropped 51 points in a Game 7 last year, the most in NBA history, and people still act like he hasn’t done anything impressive.

At this point, the hate isn’t based on logic. It’s just people looking for something to criticize.

The Bottom Line

Jayson Tatum is one of the best players in the world. The Celtics wouldn’t be where they are without him, and anyone who questions his greatness at this point is either biased or just doesn’t know ball.

So, the next time someone tries to tell you that Tatum isn’t a superstar, just remind them of the facts. And then ask them how many 25-year-olds in NBA history have done what he’s already accomplished.

Spoiler alert: Not many.

 

Madonna Once Offered Dennis Rodman $20 Million To Get Her Pregnant

During his active playing career, Rodman was mainly known for his fierce defense and rebounding abilities in the 1990s. He also was one of the NBA’s ‘baddest Bad Boys’ with plenty of controversial off court stories.

 

One of Rodman’s craziest stories, of which there are a lot, came to surface during an appearance on 105.1’s ‘The Breakfast Club. On the show, the five-time champion revealed that Madonna once called him while he was gambling in Vegas to inform him that she was ovulating. So Rodman put a hold on the table, jumped on a plane Madonna had sent, flew to New York, did his business, flew back to Vegas and continued gambling.

“Oh I tried…. I was rolling the dice in Vegas, that’s a good story, and she’s in New York. She calls: ‘Dennis, you got a call from Madonna!’ he just screams it, right. I said ‘to hell with you man, that’s bull crap.’ He said ‘no Dennis, you got a call from Madonna’. I said ‘hold the dice,’ get the call she said ‘Dennis, you know I’m ovulating.’ I said ‘WHAT?’….

‘I’ll be there in five hours’. So I put the dice down and said ‘hold the table’. So she sends a plane for me, G5, went to the airport, flew here, went over to here house, did my thing, went back on the plane, they had held the table, and started playing dice again.”

As you all know it didn’t work out, and Dennis did’t get Madonna pregnant that day, and when asked if he was disappointed that he wasn’t able to impregnate her, Dennis revealed that there was a lot more in store for him than making a baby – $20 million!

“No! Well, well, she asked me if I got her pregnant, she paid me $20 million.”

Jeanie Buss Reveals How The Luka Doncic Trade Went Down… And Why It Stunned The NBA!

Los Angeles Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss reiterated the team wasn’t shopping star forward Anthony Davis before sending him to the Dallas Mavericks to acquire Luka Dončić.

“When the opportunity came up, we were not looking to move Anthony Davis,” she said on The Rich Eisen Show. “He was our rock-solid player, so we had to give up a lot to get Luka.”

Shortly after the deal went down, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported how the Lakers had “never offered Anthony Davis in a trade before, ever.”

Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon of ESPN then provided the details of how the transaction materialized. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka met Mavericks GM Nico Harrison at a Dallas-area coffee shop, at Harrison’s request, on Jan. 7, and that’s when the negotiations began in earnest.

Los Angeles originally traded for Davis with the idea that he’d succeed LeBron James as the face of the franchise and the fulcrum of a championship-caliber roster. Davis’ bad luck with injuries and the Lakers’ inability to return to the NBA Finals after their 2020 title triumph raised questions over whether that plan remained feasible.

As Buss said Tuesday, the chance to land a talent as great as Dončić is rare and it was too good to pass up, even if it meant parting ways with Davis.

The general consensus around the swap was that the Lakers made out like bandits. They landed a five-time All-NBA honoree who’s six years younger than AD, and they did it without giving up their full complement of draft picks and complementary stars. Pelinka held onto Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht along with a 2031 first-round pick and future pick swaps.

The 2020 championship doesn’t happen without Davis, and he averaged 24.8 points and 11.0 rebounds during his six years in purple and gold.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a Lakers fan who didn’t immediately recognize the potential long-term benefits of getting Dončić and how it extends the Lakers’ window for contention.

Luka and Bron Trade Dimes

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Talks NBA Legacy, Says Fans Don’t Appreciate His Accomplishments

After an eventful 2023-24 season that saw him win an NBA title and capture a gold medal as a member of Team USA, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum still feels like he doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Speaking to Michael Lee of The Washington Post, Tatum said flat out “no” when asked if he feels appreciated for his accomplishments at this point in his career.

“If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments and you’re just like, ‘This is what this Player A accomplished at 26,’ people would talk about [me] a lot differently,” Tatum explained.

Tatum also spoke about how he doesn’t necessarily want to be inserted into the debate for the next face of the NBA whenever LeBron James retires because it’s an entirely subjective thing:

“I don’t really want to insert myself in things that can be debated. Did he win a championship? Yes. Did he win gold medals? Yes. Was he always a part of winning seasons? Was he first-team all-NBA? Those are things that you know are hard evidence. Yes or no. Face of the NBA? They can always debate. But it’s like, I check off all the boxes.”

Last summer was in many ways the crowning achievement of Tatum’s already-stellar career. He helped the Celtics win their NBA-record 18th championship in franchise history with a dominant Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Despite the Celtics’ team success, Tatum didn’t win Finals MVP. That distinction went to Jaylen Brown, though it was a close 7-4 vote from the media.

Brown said during his on-court interview after the decisive Game 5 that he shared the honor with Tatum.

After the Finals, Tatum joined Team USA for the Olympics in Paris. His role on the team was the subject of intense debate because he didn’t play in two of the tournament games—both against Serbia—resulting in head coach Steve Kerr having to explain why he wasn’t on the court in the semifinal game against the Serbians:

“The hardest part of this job is you’re sitting at least a couple of guys who are world-class, some of the very best players on Earth, and on the one hand it makes no sense at all. On the other, I’m asking these guys to just commit to winning one game and then move on to the next one. I have to do the same thing. And so I felt like last night those were the combinations that made the most sense.”

Tatum played a total of 71 minutes in four Olympic games. His high-water mark was against Puerto Rico in the group phase when scored 10 points.

The Celtics had no concerns about Tatum’s summer, as they rewarded him with a five-year, $313.9 million contract extension that is the richest contract in NBA history.

Since being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, Tatum has been one of the most reliable star players in the league. He’s made the All-Star team in six consecutive years, finished top six in MVP voting in each of the previous three years and is on pace for his fifth consecutive season averaging at least 25 points and seven rebounds per game.

The Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals six times in Tatum’s first seven seasons, not including this season. They currently have the third-best record in the NBA at 41-16.

Top Plays of 1st Half of NBA Season

Tristan Boyer completely lost his temper after defeat at the San Diego Open.

Tristan Boyer suffered a first-round defeat at the San Diego Open (Image: X: @edgeAIapp)

American tennis star Tristan Boyer kicked off at chair umpire Nick Flentie after losing in the first round of the San Diego Open on Monday.

The 23-year-old was down one set against Alex Bolt and fighting to stay in the tournament during a second-set tiebreak. With the scores level at 4-4, Flentie pulled Boyer up for a time violation and made a marginal ‘out’ call against him in the proceeding rally.

With a deep breath, Boyer kept his cool at the time but completely erupted after hitting into the net on Bolt’s match point.

Within a split second, Boyer screamed out at the top of his lungs and began repeatedly smashing his racket into the ground. With the racket a crumpled mess, the American jogged to the net and shook the hand of his opponent before unloading on the umpire.

“Unbelievable,” he ranted. “It’s ridiculous. You guys can’t do one thing right! God, it p***es me off. God, it’s frustrating. All over the place, horrendous calls. Horrendous calls!

“What are you doing giving me a time violation?! There are three people here. There are three people here watching me! Three people! It’s the first round, it’s ridiculous. We are not on TV, there is nobody watching, nobody is watching the stream. You’re ridiculous!”

Tristan Boyer is aiming for a place in the ATP’s top 100 (Image: Getty)

Flentie protested his innocence, telling Boyer ‘we are seeing it differently’ and ‘we are not going to just bend the rules’. But the American continued ranting as he stormed off court, picking up his racket and giving it one last smash on the ground for good measure.

On paper, Boyer was expected to get the better of Bolt at the ATP Challenger Tour event in San Diego. The California native is steadily working his way up the rankings and last year became the first American to win three clay-court Challenger tournaments in a single season.

Now, the world No. 113 has his sights set even higher. “The next goal is Top 100, rankings wise,” he revealed in November. “Being the best I can be is always the goal.

“Doing the right things, process wise. Making the right decisions in terms of what we are working on, how we are getting better to make sure we can keep on the right path and the results will show at some point.”

NBA: Boston Celtics Alum Al Horford Anna Horford Takes on Donald Trump and Elon Musk: What She Said Will Shock You…see more

If you thought NBA drama was wild, wait until you hear about the latest feud between Anna Horford and two of the biggest names in politics and business—Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The outspoken sister of Boston Celtics veteran Al Horford is known for never holding back on social media, and this time, she’s got her sights set on the 2024 president and his billionaire ally.

Anna Horford: More Than Just an NBA Star’s Sister

While Al Horford is making his mark on the court, Anna has built her own platform off of it. With a strong social media presence, she’s carved out a reputation for her unfiltered takes on sports, pop culture, and, most notably, politics. And if there’s one thing she’s made crystal clear over the years, it’s that she’s no fan of Donald Trump or his policies.

When Trump returned to office, one of his first moves was appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The goal? To cut unnecessary spending and streamline government operations. However, since its inception, the program has faced widespread scrutiny for its aggressive budget cuts—especially in the federal workforce.

On Tuesday, Anna once again took aim at the former president—who reclaimed the White House in 2024—and his new right-hand man, Elon Musk. This time, her criticism was aimed at their latest government initiative, and she didn’t hold back.

Anna Horford wasn’t about to let this slide. She took to her Instagram story to share a report revealing that, despite Musk and Trump’s promises, DOGE isn’t actually expected to save any money. With her signature bluntness, she added her own commentary:

“It’s almost like Elon Musk & Trump have no f*cking clue what they’re doing. Huh…”

That wasn’t Anna’s only dig of the day. She also shared another post that made scathing accusations about Trump’s personal hygiene—because, apparently, no topic is off-limits when it comes to her critiques. Meanwhile, as Anna roasts Trump and Musk online, her brother Al Horford is chasing his second NBA title with the Celtics. At 38, he remains a key piece of Boston’s championship aspirations.

Trump, of course, is no stranger to reality TV feuds, after all, he spent years hosting “The Apprentice” before entering politics. But something tells us he wasn’t expecting this kind of heat from an NBA player’s sister. One thing’s for sure: Anna Horford isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and she’s not stopping anytime soon!

Jessica Biel Gets Candid About the Highs & Lows of Parenting with Justin Timberlake—What She Revealed Might Surprise You!

Jessica Biel is highlighting the highs and lows of her relationship with Justin Timberlake.

The 42-year-old “7th Heaven” actress has been married to Timberlake since October 2012 and shares two children — sons Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4 — with the former NSYNC singer.

On Jan. 31, Biel took to Instagram to wish her husband a happy 44th birthday.

“Happy birthday my love,” Biel wrote in a short-but-sweet caption alongside a series of photos of the couple and their two children.

“Another year to make memories that I keep sacred in my heart,” she added. “Another year of joy and challenges being a parent with you. Another year together being curious and creative in the world.”

While she admits they’ve done a lot of “growing and evolving and sometimes devolving” through the years, Biel writes that they always seem to work it out with a laugh.

“Another year laughing about it all,” Biel concluded in the caption, to which Timberlake replied, “I love you so much!!!” in the comment section.

The photo dump included pictures of the couple in Paris, their LEGO-inspired Halloween costumes and a photo of Timberlake holding one of his baby boys.

“You always giving us the best pics,” one fan commented, while another one wrote, “We are ALL always evolving, changing, figuring it out, and growing.”

Also on Jan. 31, Timberlake posted a video of him laughing as he walked through the front door of his home — which was heavily decorated with balloons and colorful lights.

There were also three life-sized cutouts of his wife located throughout the home.

“Thank y’all for the BIRTHDAY LOVE!” he wrote in the caption. “And @jessicabiel… you outdid yourself. Not one but three cardboard cut outs”

Biel and Timberlake are ‘committed’ to staying married

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

The birthday post comes seven months after Timberlake was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor, NY, according to People.

In October, a source close to the family told People that Biel was “not happy” about the arrest, but was “relieved” to put the incident in the rear view mirror.

“They’ve been married for a long time,” the source added. “They have to work on their marriage like most couples. Being working parents is never easy.”

People also reported that Timberlake has “done everything he can” to make amends with Biel following the arrest.

“They are both committed to staying married,” the source continued. “Jess thinks he’s a wonderful dad. They’re a great team.”