After leaking on Sunday night, Marvel officially released the first trailer for the highly-anticipated Spider-Man: No Way Home, which arrives in theaters this December.
Inject all of this footage into my veins.After Marvel announced its schedule for Phase 4, Spider-Man: No Way Home was at the top of my list in terms of films I wanted to see. It’s time to find out what the multiverse is all about.
After the events of Far From Home, where Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s identity, Peter Parker’s life has been flipped upside down. The trailer highlights Peter’s new life and how his secret has made life a lot harder for his family and friends. Peter wants people to forget that he’s Spider-Man, and he’ll do anything to make that happen.
Enter Doctor Strange. Before Doctor Strange can fully tackle the Multiverse of Madness in 2022, he’s going to open a multiverse in Queens. Peter seeks the help of our favorite medical practitioner to cast a spell in which the world will forget that Peter is Spider-Man. Despite better judgment, Strange casts the spell, and of course, it went haywire. The spell tampered with space and time. In other words, the multiverse is about to unleash hell and screw up the timeline. Thanks a lot, Sylvie.
The next two pictures are why I would pay $100 to watch Spider-Man right now.
Norman Osborn, also known as The Green Goblin, and Otto Octavius, also known as Doctor Octopus, are in the MCU. Somebody pinch me. The two best villains in the history of superhero movies (yes, I said it) will team up with Max Dillon, also known as Electro, to do what they do best, which is to make Spider-Man’s life a living hell. With the additions of the Green Goblin and Doc Oc, the multiverse is off and running.
But it won’t stop there because we all know what’s coming. This moment will probably be the second biggest moment in the MCU behind Thanos’s snap.
The three versions of Spider-Man will come together.
They’ve been denying it for months, but this is inevitable. Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland are going to team up in No Way Home. It’s going to happen, and when it does, the Internet will break. Another trailer should highlight this impending meetup, and I’m predicting it to happen on Monday Night Football. Without a Star Wars to showcase, revealing three Spider-Men during halftime of *insert game here* will set viewing records for a trailer.
I’m way too excited for a Monday night. I can’t wait for the next trailer.
On this week’s episode of the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast, George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden get deep into the weeds on the recruiting of some of the Pac-12’s schools, especially University of Arizona (trending up!) and University of Washington (trending down!). Washington governor Jay Inslee has said that all state employees must be fully vaccinated by mid-October- what will Wazzu Head Coach Nick Rolovich do? George interviews UCLA Head Coach Chip Kelly, and the guys go through every Pac-12 Team and set baseline expectations for the season.
Breakdown (2 hours, 23 minutes)
You can listen to Pac-12 Apostles on iTunes or Spotify, or by clicking play on the iHeartRadio widget below:
Some of Chip Kelly’s quotes from his interview with George Wrighster:
On Going From Under Armour to Jordan Brand:
“I think it’s the best sports footwear and apparel company out there… You can just see the silhouette of the Jordan brand and you know what you’re getting into. I know our players love it…”
On Recruiting Through the Pandemic:
“Our class that we signed in December of 2020, some of them enrolled early, but 11 of them showed up here on June 21st, and it was really the first time for most of those guys that we had ever seen them face to face because for the last 18 months everything had been done online… It was different. Usually you want to see kids in person, you want to see them practice, maybe play another sport… but all those things were out the window.
The whole camp circuit was off in the year of 2020 and we weren’t allowed to go to camps and see any kids either. It was all about off of film, a lot of schools played, but there are some high schools, New Mexico, Hawaii, they didn’t play football, so you don’t have any tape from a kid after his sophomore year, so you have to project him. In the NCAA, we gave everybody the year back, but in high school, they didn’t give them the year back… That was just part of the process you had to deal with.”
On Teams Offering Non-Committable Scholarships:
“Our word is our bond. So if we offer you, it’s committable. I don’t understand ‘we’re going to offer you but it’s not a committable offer.’ Then my answer would be, ‘then it’s not an offer.’
We’re not making reservations for dinner, you’re dealing with young men’s lives. I don’t think it’s fair to offer a young man, and then tell him it’s not a committable one, because I don’t know what message you’re sending them- ‘You can trust me, but not in everything I say,’ so our word is our bond.
The other thing for us is we have a great school here academically and not everybody can get in, so we wouldn’t offer a kid if we didn’t have a transcript in hand that we could show to our admissions office to see if… if this young man is an admit-able athlete… In most cases we need at least 5 or 6 semesters of high school work for our admissions office to be able to tell us if the kid’s an admit-able student athlete. In the rush of some people offering 8th graders and freshmen, my response all the time is ‘the kid doesn’t even have a transcript, how do you know if he’s an admit-able student?’
We want to make sure we get the right kids and the right fit here. Kids that are about books, and kids that are about ball… they understand that if they get an offer from us, it’s a committable offer, and it’s not a reservation for dinner, it’s actually a scholarship one.”
On How UCLA Evaluates Talent:
“We’re not governed by someone else’s opinion… we don’t offer a kid because of his ranking. Those guys work really hard at it, but I don’t know if recruiting rankings have all the information, the academics and the character background things that maybe schools have…I don’t think that’s any different than the NFL Draft… you always see a guy in the Draft that everybody thought is a sure first round pick and he drops to the sixth or the seventh, well it may have been medical, or it may have been a character issue that the public is unaware of...
There’s more to the evaluation and offer than ‘he has a really good highlight tape, there’s a lot more to it than that when you’re projecting who’s going to be a power five guy.”
On UCLA’s Chance to Win the Pac-12 South
“We don’t talk about that. It goes back to our mindset of ‘if we are talking about that, then we got too far ahead of ourselves.’ This team has to be good enough to have a really good Monday, and not get caught up in it, and it’s hard, it’s a lot easier said than done because of a lot of talk, and we do have a lot of players back, and a lot of depth, and a lot of returning experience. But I think if you get caught up in that, then you lose sight of what you need to do, and what you need to do is come to work every single day… it would be kind of disingenuous of me to answer questions like that and talk about predictions and things like that because that’s not something that governs how we work…”
Have a take you’d like us to read and address on the show? Email us at immad@unafraidshow.com and we’ll read your take on a future podcast.
As John B and Sarah Cameron relax on a beach in the teaser trailer, the Pogue leader looks at his girlfriend and says, “Back in the G-game, baby.” I’m ready to go hunting for some gold in Outer Banks Season 2.
I’ve spoken about my obsession with Outer Banks ad nauseam. For a “too long, didn’t read” version, I started watching Outer Banks on a Friday night in April 2020, right in the middle of the lockdown. I started on a Friday night and completed the 10-episode first season by Saturday night. The world wasn’t doing too well in April 2020, so the show provided the perfect escape from reality.
The young adult drama was an instant hit as it quickly climbed to the number 1 spot on Netflix’s Top 10. One year later, the show is back for Season 2, which premieres on July 30.
https://youtu.be/1M6VbhwGfO0
In Season 1, John B and his fellow Pogues, JJ, Kiara, and Pope, join forces with Sarah Cameron to investigate the disappearance of John B’s father. During their investigation, they learn about the treasure of the Royal Merchant, which is rumored to be worth $400 million in gold, and how it tied to John B’s missing father. The Pogues eventually find the gold, but it’s later stolen by Ward Cameron.
In the season finale, John B and Sarah attempt to flee from the authorities during a storm via boat after John B was wrongly accused of killing Sheriff Peterkin. The boat capsizes in the storm, and the two young lovers are believed to be dead. However, John B and Sarah survive and are saved by a cargo ship. The ship is headed towards the Bahamas, where Ward Cameron stashed the stolen gold.
From the trailer above, Season 2 ups the ante with more drama, romance, and explosions. John B and Sarah make it to the Bahamas, but they’re considered fugitives with a $50,000 reward to anyone who turns them in. While the duo tries to find the gold in the Bahamas, JJ, Pope, and Kiara are trying to move on with their lives in the OBX. However, they soon learn that their best friends survived the storm. A Pogue reunion was rumored to happen at some point, but it’s now been confirmed.
Now, the Pogues will look to take back the gold that they found. However, Ward is not the only one trying to claim the gold. A new villain named Limbrey (Elizabeth Mitchell) is interested in the treasure, and it seems that she has a bone to pick with Ward, who may have doublecrossed her in the process.
In true Outer Banks fashion, things will get complicated, people will get hurt, and someone will die. I wouldn’t want it any other way! Below are a few of my predictions for Season 2.
Predictions
There’s either a second treasure or more gold from the Royal Merchant. Right now, Ward has under half a billion worth in gold. In the trailer, the Pogues are exploring the island and find a key that leads to another room. Perhaps this room holds another treasure or even more gold.
Topper joins the Pogues. One of the Kooks has to help the Pogues at some point. It’s not going to be Rafe so Topper is the likely choice because of his previous relationship with Sarah.
John B’s mother arrives at the end of Season 2. With the show’s popularity, Season 3 is inevitable so setting up storylines at the end of Season 2 makes sense logistically. We know about John B’s father, but his mother is still a mystery. Nothing would shake things up more than her arrival.
Grab your favorite bandana, tie it around your neck, and play some “Left Hand Free.” See you later, Pogues.
What are your predictions for Outer Banks Season 2? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, @unafraidshow.
Do you live your life a quarter-mile at a time? Well, do you? Ever since Dominic Toretto taught me how to live in The Fast and Furious franchise, my life has changed for the better.
The Fast Saga holds a special place in my heart. It’s in my top 5 for favorite franchises of all time. I’d argue that The Fast Saga executes its proven formula better than any other franchise.
What does that formula involve? Well, fast cars are a good start. The action sequences always provide edge-of-your-seat thrills where you have to pick your jaw up on the floor after it is finished. Most of the stunts are over the top and unrealistic, but no one ever said these films had to reflect real life. It’s escapism at its finest.
What else makes these movies so successful? The lessons of loyalty, friendship, and family are sprinkled in throughout every film. Whenever Dom gives a toast, I pretend I’m also holding a corona because as we know, you can have any brew you want as long as it’s Corona. One-liners are also a huge part of the dialogue. Dom, Roman Pearce, and Luke Hobbs usually duke it out for best line reading if all three are in the same movie.
At the heart of these films was the real-life friendship between Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. They were brothers on and off the set. Because of their chemistry, it’s as if they weren’t acting onscreen whenever they were together. You could believe their friendship was genuine, which is why it’s so hard to watch older movies knowing Walker died in 2013.
On a lighter note, F9finally hits theaters after a 15-month delay. In honor of F9, here are my five favorite scenes from The Fast and Furious franchise.
5. VINCE! – The Fast and the Furious
VINCE! If you’ve watched this scene, then I bet you screamed “Vince” the same way Diesel did when trying to rescue his friend off a truck. No stunt is too big or great for The Fast Saga, but this stunt still holds up in 2021. Jumping back and forth between cars while an angry trucker tries to shoot your head off still gets me out of my seat. If Vince wasn’t dying, Dom would have thrown Brian into a moving truck. Thankfully, he didn’t so more movies could be made.
4. The Tank Sequence – Fast & Furious 6
Come on a journey with me, please. In this scene from Fast & Furious 6, Letty is throw off a tank into mid-air between two elevated roads where she would fall to her death 999,999/100,000 times. But not this time. Dom crashed his car into the guard rail, jumped out of his car, flew (yes, flew) in mid-air, caught Letty, and crashed into a car windshield across the gap. Dom didn’t even have a cut! Dom is superhuman.
3. Hobbs vs. Toretto – Fast Five
Ali v. Frazier. Tyson vs. Holyfield. Luke Hobbs vs. Dominic Toretto. My god was this a heavyweight fight for the ages. Fast Five is the best film in The Saga. Fast Five opened a world of possibilities for this franchise. Street racing and wrenches were traded in for bank heists and machine guns. Straight up, Fast Five is one of the best action movies of the last 10 years. The Rock joining The Fast family was like Kevin Durant going to the Warriors. It was a cheat code. Up until this point, Dom never had a worthy foe. He was always bigger and stronger than his opponents. In this movie, Dom finally faced someone who was just as strong and used just as much body butter on the biceps. I need these two to fight in real life. Oh wait, they kind of did?
2. You Never Had Me – The Fast and the Furious
In the comments of this video, YouTube user Engineering Explained wrote, “So many perfect lines in such a short amount of time. Those writers are blessed.” I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Explained. Diesel and Walker look like kids in this scene. This was the moment that started a brotherly bond that could not be broken. It’s the perfect encapsulation of two characters. Walker, the cocky and charismatic Brian, is mesmerized by Diesel, the confident and loyal Dom. Please write this on my tombstone – “You almost had me? You never had me. You never had your car.”
1. Final Ride – Furious 7
I’ve spoken about the ending of Furious 7 many times, but it never gets old. I just watched it minutes ago and now there are goosebumps on my arm. Furious 7 had an impossible task when Walker died halfway through shooting. I’ve always said that Diesel is the backbone of The Fast Saga, but Walker is the heart. Without Walker, a giant piece of the franchise is missing. Somehow, someway, Furious 7 nailed the ending. Giving Walker the hero’s ending that he deserved instead of killing his character onscreen was such a smart decision. It’s not only the best scene of The Fast Saga but one of my favorite scenes of the last 10 years.
NBA Instant Replay revolves around the idea of accuracy. No one wants games decided by a missed call so replay is all about getting it right. But what happens when the quest for precision becomes a problem?
Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns was the poster boy for the case against instant replay.
The Clippers and Suns were in an exciting battle all night. Role players like Cameron Payne and Ivica Zubac were playing like seasoned vets. No team could get an edge as they traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter.
Then, the last 90 seconds became a new game in itself.
The last 90 seconds of the game took 33 real time minutes.
90 seconds of the game took 33 REAL MINUTES. Not 3 minutes, not 13 minutes, but 33 minutes. That makes me want to puke. You could have started and finished the basketball episode of The Office with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter and not miss much from the real basketball game.
Something has to change.
Nothing personifies what’s wrong with replay more than the Devin Booker-Patrick Beverley situation. With just under 14 seconds left, Devin Booker drove to the right-wing. Patrick Beverley moved his feet, swatted at the ball, and knocked it out of bounds. The refs ruled Suns ball.
Patrick Beverley has done his job. Suns try to have Bridges screen for Booker with Kennard on the floor. Really nice show and recover, Beverley able to recover and get a hand on the ball. pic.twitter.com/JEJkCKR0Ss
Beverley spun his index finger in the air like he was calling for a daiquiri break in Wedding Crashers. In the last two minutes of an NBA game, the spinning finger motion has more power over the officials than any coach or player. If you swing your finger in the air on an out-of-bounds play, nine times out of ten, the officials will huddle up and go to the table for review.
This situation was no different. The refs huddled up and went to the table for the review. After viewing super slow-mo replays for a few minutes, the refs decided to overturn the call on the floor and award the ball to the Clippers.
Awful.
Throughout basketball’s illustrious history, we know that the Booker-Beverley play should have resulted in Suns ball. If this game was in a local park, then it would be Suns ball. If that play that happened with 2:01 left in the fourth quarter, then it would be Suns ball. However, because of super slow-mo, the ball probably went off Booker’s fingertips at the last nanosecond so the refs changed the call to Clippers ball.
If Booker reached for the ball before it went out of bounds, then I have no problem with awarding the ball to the Clippers. But that’s not what happened. The ball was knocked out of his hands in one motion. That’s Suns ball, and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Even worse, replays take way too long. Five reviews in 30 minutes are unacceptable for a product that’s struggling with its ratings. I have friends who always complain about the end of games, saying the “last two minutes take two hours.” I love the NBA and will always watch the game, but the casual fan has a point in terms of length. Why should casual fans watch a game that spends more time at the scorer’s table than on the court at the end of games?
If replays are long, tedious, and inaccurate, why use them?
To fix replay, the NBA should steal a page from tennis. In my opinion, tennis has the best use of replay. It’s quick and accurate and gives players a definitive answer as to whether the ball is in or out.
The NBA should adopt the same principles. The league can still keep replay in the last two minutes of the game, but put a time limit of 30 seconds on each replay. If the refs can’t make a decision within 30 seconds, then it’s not a clear and obvious reversal so stick with the call on the floor. With a 30-second review, the coaches and players won’t receive a free three-minute timeout. The flow of the game will be preserved. Most importantly, the fans won’t get restless.
I’m all for getting the call right, but it’s time to adjust replay in the NBA.
Do you agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
The NCAA suffered a major blow to its amateurism model on Monday, when the United States Supreme Court issued their ruling in favor of college athletes in the landmark college athletics case – NCAA v. Alston. For the first time since 1984, the Supreme Court heard a case involving college athletics. A lot has changed in college sports since then. The industry is riddled with six and seven figure coaches’ salaries, billion-dollar television revenue deals, and lavish facilities. Sports administration officials receive all of this, while college athletes are limited to a cost-of-attendance scholarship. The Supreme Court addressed these inequities in their unanimous opinion affirming the lower courts’ decision that the NCAA can no longer restrict education-related benefits for college athletes. This is a major win for college athletes’ rights that has been years in the making.
Alston Case Summary
In 2018, a California District Court judge held theAlston v. NCAAtrial. During the trial, former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston alleged that the NCAA’s amateurism rules violated federal antitrust law. At trial, The NCAA acknowledged that their amateurism rules do in fact violate federal antitrust law. However, the NCAA contended that their rules were necessary to preserve amateurism. The plaintiffs then demonstrated that the NCAA could accomplish its goal of preserving amateurism in a less restrictive manner. Specifically, the plaintiffs showed that the NCAA could preserve amateurism by no longer restricting education-related benefits while still being allowed to restrict non education-related benefits. Education-related benefits include benefits such as musical instruments, computers, and scholarships for graduate or vocational school.
The District Court ultimately ruled that the NCAA could no longer restrict education-related benefits but could still restrict non education-related benefits. Subsequently, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision. The United States Supreme Court has affirmed the lower courts’ ruling that the NCAA can no longer restrict education-related benefits.
The Supreme Court’s Ruling
In the opinion, the United States Supreme Court Justices did two very notable things:
1. The Justices Made it Clear that the NCAA’s Rules are Subject to Antitrust Law.
The Justices made it clear that the NCAA’s amateurism rules are unequivocally subject to antitrust law. The NCAA has argued tirelessly that their amateurism rules should not be subject to review under federal antitrust laws due to a small passage from the 1984 Board of Regents case. In 1984, the Supreme Court heard another federal antitrust law case involving college athletics. The issue before the Court involved the NCAA’s rules regarding television contracts and whether those rules violated federal antitrust law. Although the case did not address college athlete compensation, the court included one passage that the NCAA has held onto in its efforts to preserve amateurism. That passage states:
“The NCAA plays a critical role in the maintenance of a revered tradition of amateurism in college sports. There can be no question but that it needs ample latitude to play that role, or that the preservation of the student-athlete in higher education adds richness and diversity to intercollegiate athletics and is entirely consistent with the goals of the Sherman Act.”
Even though this line really had nothing to do with the issue in the case, the NCAA has attempted to treat this passage as it if it were settled law that the NCAA’s rules should not be subject to antitrust law. On Monday, the Supreme Court gutted the NCAA’s reliance on that passage and made it clear that the passage does not absolve the NCAA of all challenges to its amateurism rules. Specifically, the Justices stated:
“Board of Regents may suggest that courts should take care when assessing the NCAA’s restraints on student-athlete compensation, sensitive, to their pro competitive possibilities. But these remarks do not suggest that courts must reflexively reject all challenges to the NCAA’s compensation restrictions.”
This is a major blow to the NCAA and its attempt to preserve amateurism. This line was arguably their Achilles heel in their pro amateurism argument. The United States Supreme Court has definitively stated that the passage in Board of Regents is not law. The Court affirmed that it is not a basis for the the NCAA to skirt antitrust law scrutiny. What will the NCAA turn to now to defend its precious amateurism?
2. The Justices Made it Clear that This Case Only Addresses Education-Related Benefits
In the opinion, the Justices made it clear that the case is very narrow as it only applies to education-related benefits. The opinion did not address other forms of potential compensation for college athletes such as name, image, and likeness rights nor benefits that are unrelated to education. The Justices also reiterated that the NCAA has considerable flexibility in determining what exactly an education-related benefit is. The district court invited the NCAA to specify what education-related benefits are and as such the Justices noted that the NCAA could institute a “no Lamborghini” rule if it chooses to.
While the main opinion did not address broader college athlete compensation issues, Justice Kavanaugh did in his concurring opinion. Justice Kavanaugh wrote a scathing concurring opinion where he painted the picture of college athletics for what it is. In his concurring opinion, Justice Kavanaugh noted the fact that much of the NCAA’s reasoning used to defend amateurism is circular and weak. He stated that the NCAA’s business model would be illegal in almost any other industry in America.
Furthermore, Justice Kavanaugh pointed out that college athletes generate billions of dollars in revenues each year. He also addressed the fact that many of those athletes are African American and from low-income backgrounds. He further stated that the NCAA’s tradition of hosting collegiate tournaments cannot “justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated.” Lastly, he plainly stated that “the NCAA is not above the law.”
What does This Ruling Mean for the Future of College Athletics?
While this a significant win for college athletes’ rights, the fight is far from over. The Justices made clear in their opinion that the ruling in this case is very narrow. It only applies to the NCAA’s ability to restrict education-related benefits. Justice Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion highlighted many of the other issues that still need to be addressed regarding college athletics. His concurring opinion will be very beneficial to future challenges to the NCAA’s rules. It helps portray the issue as the civil rights issue that it is. The ruling will also help future challenges to the NCAA’s remaining amateurism rules as it completely gutted one of the NCAA’s core arguments. Furthermore, the ruling made clear that the Court will not be giving the NCAA an antitrust law exemption. The Court instructed the NCAA to look to Congress for such an exemption.
Many may be wondering if the impending name, image, and likeness laws are still necessary. The answer is that they most certainly are. This case only addressed education-related benefits. As such, it does not address college athletes’ ability to make money from their athletic prowess. The impending name, image and likeness laws is one way to give college athletes the ability to do so. On Monday, the college athletes’ rights movement took one giant step forward, but there is still much work to be done.
About the Author
Kassandra Ramsey is an intellectual property, sports and entertainment attorney is the Washington, D.C. metro area. Follow her on Twitter @esquire_coach and Instagram @the_esquirecoach. Check you her website www.kassandraramseylegal.com.
Finding the right balance between jokes and seriousness is the key to a good comedy. Much to my surprise, Dave conquered this balancing act in 2020.
On one hand, Dave, which returns for a second season tonight on FXX, is a comedy series full of immaturity, juvenile hijinks, and penis jokes. What else would you expect from the series creator and star of the show, Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky? Burd stars as a fictionalized version of himself as he attempts to become a successful rapper. His name has the word “dick” in it so yes, Burd talks about his penis… a lot.
The bathroom humor doesn’t stop there. In the ninth episode, “Ally’s Toast,” Lil Dicky battles an urge to poop while hiking with his girlfriend, Ally. Burd is left with no choice but to unleash hell in the pond. I’m not above toilet humor, and this was a hilarious scene.
However, Dave can be a thoughtful show full of emotional nuance and maturity. “Hype Man,” the show’s fifth episode, revolves around Lil Dicky’s hype man, GaTa, and his struggles with bipolar disorder. The respect and sensitivity in “Hype Man” for its portrayal of mental illness is something you wouldn’t expect from a show that showed us a milking table. (There are no cows involved with this table.)
The ability to balance wild humor with sensitive issues is why Dave became one of the best shows of 2020. The series continued to improve after “Hype Man,” and ended the season on a high note with the show’s last two episodes, “Ally’s Toast,” and, “Jail.”
Lil Dicky is in on the joke and the criticism of his persona, which is one of the main reasons why the show works so well. Burd acknowledges that he’s privileged. He’s self-aware but presents and expresses his healthy arrogance in an entertaining way.
Dave doesn’t put Lil Dicky on this pedestal where the audience worships his talent (and he is very talented). In the show, Lil Dicky’s too smart for his own good, which is why he seemingly runs into trouble at every turn. His neurosis and arrogance help elevate the likability of supporting characters GaTa, his manager Mike, ex-girlfriend Ally, his DJ Elz, and friend Emma. These characters bring Lil Dicky back to reality, and these interactions provide some of the show’s best moments.
Season 2 will pick up a few months after the Season 1 finale, where Lil Dicky finally gained notoriety as a rapper and secured a record deal. On the surface, Lil Dicky’s life has improved as evidenced by a beautiful house in the hills and celebrity interactions with Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Benny Blanco, Doja Cat, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, he’s struggling to make an album while trying to get over his breakup with Ally.
Dave might make dick jokes, but it’s capable of so much more if you give it the chance.
Do you watch Dave? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Should the New York Knicks extend Julius Randle? Which playmakers should the Knicks sign in the offseason? Is Chris Paul, Lonzo Ball, or Kyle Lowry realistic targets to bring in next season?
We all need to settle down.
It’s been less than 24 hours since the Knicks ended their season with a 103-89 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and the Knicks fanbase is thinking about next year. Instead of taking a minute to appreciate the team’s best season since 2013, fans are trying to make fake trades and free-agent signings without any regard for the rules of the salary cap.
I’m not here to shit on the dreams of unrealistic fans just yet. New Yorkers are happy about a promising season so they’re ready to create a better Knicks team. I’m guilty of looking ahead to next year, too.
Fans can look ahead and plan for the future right now because our decisions don’t affect the team. However, the organization needs to take a different approach in the next couple of months.
The Knicks front office must show patience this offseason.
The culture is in place thanks to Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau. A team that plays good defense and plays hard every night has been established. Now, it’s time to take upgrade the roster with playmakers and stars.
The Knicks can’t run it back with the same group of guys. That doesn’t mean they should let veterans like Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson enter free agency. But the lack of talent throughout the Hawks series was alarming, and the Knicks need stars to win in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, this won’t happen overnight. Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul are legitimate stars that would improve the Knicks significantly. However, does Kawhi want to come to the East Coast after buying his third house in California? CP3 has the connection to Leon Rose, but why would he leave the Suns if they offer him the 3 year, 100 million contract he’s seeking?
CP3 intends to decline his $44.4M player option in the hopes of signing a new multiyear deal in the $100M range over the next three seasons, per B/R's @EricPincus
If the Knicks strike out on Kawhi and Paul, which will probably happen, the worst thing New York could do is to panic and spend their 60 million in cap space on good, not great, players.
Dennis Schröder would be an upgrade at the point guard position, but is it worth paying him close to 90 million over four years?
Probably not.
DeMar DeRozan is an above average scorer. On a short term deal, DeRozan is a viable option. However, should the Knicks give a longterm contract to a guy that shoots 25% from behind the arc?
Probably not.
Lonzo Ball would start for the Knicks immediately. Ball improved his shooting from three and provides court vision that the Knicks haven’t had at point guard in over a decade. But, the price is probably going to be around 100 million over four years. Is it worth it?
Maybe.
Making the big splash in free agency might not happen this offseason, and that’s OK. The aforementioned cap space to go along with two first round picks (19 and 21) signify the Knicks are headed in the right direction. The team has the flexibility to improve in the backcourt and acquire more shooters.
In today’s NBA, stars get unhappy all the time. Just ask Kyrie Irving, who told the Boston media he would re-sign with the Celtics only to bolt for the Nets months later.
Report: NBA executive adamant that Knicks star Julius Randle doesn’t deserve max contract https://t.co/guHVvBPErw
It’s only a matter of time before the best player in a lousy franchise grows tired of his situation and wants out. Bradley Beal, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Brandon Ingram could all be in potential trade discussions this summer. To a lesser degree, Collin Sexton and Buddy Hield would be fix a good amount of the Knicks’ problems.
Then, there’s always the dream scenarios where fans will photoshop players into Knicks’ jerseys. The prime target for the dream scenario would be Damian Lillard. We should all probably keep dreaming because it’s unlikely to happen, but it’s important to remember that situations constantly change.
The Knicks will need to acquire multiple superstars to compete for a championship. It may not happen this summer, but be patient. If the Knicks continue to rebuild and improve, it’s only a matter of time before a star forces his way to New York.
What should the Knicks do this offseason? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me, @danny_giro.
Who killed Erin McMenamin? That’s the million-dollar question heading into Sunday’s series finale of HBO’s Mare of Easttown. For those who have not watched, Mare of Easttown stars Kate Winslet as Mare, a local detective tasked with solving the murder of a teenage mother in a Pennsylvania suburb outside Philadelphia.
Before we go further, this is your spoiler warning. I will be discussing spoilers so if you haven’t caught up yet or plan on watching the show at some point, stop reading. Mare of Easttown is a small-town murder mystery with an excellent leading performance from Winslet. I was hooked from the first episode. Ok, let’s move on.
Watched the MARE OF EASTTOWN pilot. A troubled detective, who drinks too much, must solve a murder mystery in a small town before her life falls apart. This show was created in a lab for me. Obviously, I liked it. #MareOfEasttown
In the penultimate episode, Billy Ross confessed to the murder of his cousin, Erin. Billy’s brother John, the adulterer (cheap shot by me?), decided to take Billy up to their father’s cabin for one last fishing trip instead of turning himself in. Is Billy aka Fredo going out in the boat?
Mare tracked down the origins of Erin’s necklace and confirmed that a Ross family member bought it. Mare raced up to the cabin to confront Billy, who she believes killed Erin. Mare has good reason to believe Billy killed Erin. Plus, Billy concealed the weapon in the tackle box of his fishing gear that potentially murdered Erin. There’s also the possibility that Billy fathered Erin’s child.
While Mare raced up to the cabin, Jess visited the precinct and turned in the photo she pulled out of Erin’s diary. Chief Carter looked distressed after viewing the photo and urged his colleague to call Mare.
He did confess to the murder, right? Billy clearly loved and cared for Erin. There may have been some inappropriate and extracurricular activities that took place between cousins. For a show that’s had twists at the end of every episode, Billy as the murderer seems way too obvious. Do I believe he loved Erin? Yes. Is he hiding something? Yes. But did he kill Erin? No.
Lori
Mare’s best friend being the killer is a twist that would elicit a huge reaction on Twitter. On the night of Erin’s murder, Lori was at the bar with Mare celebrating the anniversary of Mare’s big shot, but her whereabouts are unknown later that night. Di Lori kill Erin? Perhaps John cheated on Lori with Erin, which led Lori to take matters into her own hands and kill Erin to save her marriage. I don’t feel Lori is the killer, but she’s hiding a major secret from Mare.
There’s a Reddit post that selected Lori as the murderer because of her Dave Matthews Band t-shirt. I want Lori to be the one who did it now.
Dylan
HBO
The word I associate to describe Dylan is scummy. This dude reeks of cigarettes, alcohol, and bad decisions. I’d like to believe he was once a good kid, but good kids don’t threaten teenage girls with a gun to their head. Like most characters in Mare of Easttown, Dylan is hiding a major secret. I don’t believe Dylan killed Erin, but I’m inclined to think he knew the real identity of DJ’s father. Perhaps the Ross family paid Dylan off to keep quiet when he found out the baby was a product of incest. All I know is Dylan probably smells like shit and needs to shower more than twice a week.
Richard
HBO
Why is Guy Pearce in this show if he’s not the killer? Many believe Richard was involved with Erin’s murder because of Pearce’s involvement. Pearce is almost too big of a star to be an emotional support character with not much to do in the show. Why are we all cynics? Can’t Richard just like Mare and not have ulterior motives? If you told me Richard killed in his past life to become a better writer like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, you could be onto something. Richard didn’t kill Erin because he slept with Mare that night. Pearce very well might be a huge red herring.
John
Now we’re cooking with gas. John is my leader in the clubhouse for the one who killed Erin. For starters, he cheated on Lori so he’s willing to commit immoral acts. John was at the family reunion that Erin attended and could have purchased the necklace for his younger cousin. Why would John let Billy confess to a murder and respond with a fishing trip to the cabin? John tells more lies than a game of telephone. The way Chief looked at the photo was so shocking that it represents a “Mare has the wrong guy” moment. It has to be John… right?
Frank
HBO
Frank might have seemed like he was the “normal” one in his relationship with Mare, but he’s just as problematic and twisted as his ex-wife. Who buys a house DIRECTLY BEHIND his ex-wife’s property? Frank once helped Erin out by donating baby supplies for DJ. Maybe he spent a little too much time with Erin if you know what I mean. If we couldn’t trust Roy from The Office, why should we trust Frank?
Deacon Mark
HBO
Deacon Mark is a weird cat. He received complaints from his old parish about his involvement with kids before he was transferred to his current role. Deacon Mark saw Erin the night of her death. Those are his words, not mine. He also chucked Erin’s bike into the river. Just like Dylan, Deacon Mark is too obvious of a choice, but that doesn’t change his creepiness.
Siobhan
Siobhan did not kill Erin strictly because of her musical taste. I refuse to believe a fan of Boygenius and Phoebe Bridgers would kill another human.
So Who Killed Erin?
Someone had to kill Erin in Mare of Easttown. Here’s my theory:
Both John and Billy loved Erin more than a cousin. John began his affair with Erin at the family reunion. Erin then confided in Billy about her relationship with John, which upset Billy. Erin knew it would never work with John because of his marriage to Lori. Then, Lori later found out about this incestual affair but remained quiet because of the shame it would bring upon her family.
John continued his affair with Erin until she was pregnant with his child. John could not support the baby because it was a product of incest and if this secret ever went public, it would ruin his life. This is where Dylan comes in. A pregnant Erin had sex with Dylan to make it appear that Dylan was the father.
Fast forward to the events leading up to her death. After Dylan refused to pay for DJ’s ear surgery, Erin went to John to ask for money. John refused, which led to Erin’s stint as an online prostitute. After being humiliated in the woods, Erin panics and calls Deacon Mark, Billy, and John. After speaking with Deacon Mark, Erin meets up with John in the park and they have sex. Midway through, they stop and Erin begs John to pay for DJ’s surgery. John once again refuses. Erin threatens to go public with their incestuous secret. The two have an altercation which ends with John killing Erin.
Where do Dylan and Jess come in? This is the only part of my theory that lacks conviction. My gut tells me Dylan and Jess had a secret relationship. Erin eventually found out the night of the woods party. Why would they burn Erin’s journals? Once again, I’m not entirely sure, but maybe Dylan and Jess believed Erin knew about their affair for a while so they burn her journals just in case Erin wrote about it.
Kate Winslet has been excellent in MARE OF EASTTOWN. Choosing the winner for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie is downright impossible. #Emmys
After John flees, Billy arrives at the scene and witnesses Erin’s dead body on the ground. Billy breaks down and hugs her, which explains the blood on his clothing later that night. Billy then panics, knowing he will be blamed for Erin’s death if someone spots him. So Billy drives Erin to the creek and leaves her there, hoping someone else will be blamed for Erin’s death.
Billy seems like a person who can be easily manipulated. After John hears about Billy and the bloody clothing, John decides to coerce Billy into confessing to the murder of Erin. Since Billy can’t take the guilt anymore, he confesses to the murder right in front of John. Mission accomplished.
However, John thinks Billy will tell the truth about his brother’s relationship with Erin and admit to not killing her when it comes time to discuss the matters with Mare and the police. John can’t take that risk so he takes Billy up to the cabin to kill him.
End Scene.
Hopefully, we all receive the answers we need on Sunday night.
What are your predictions for the Mare of Easttown finale? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.
Well, that’s one way to end the season. When we think it’s going right, This Is Us goes left. The Season 5 finale included a wedding, but it wasn’t the one I or the rest of America saw coming.
This Is Us Season 5 Episode 16 Recap: “The Adirondacks”
It’s a nice day to (contemplate your relationship and potentially) start again! While Kevin works on his speech (wink), Madison revisits some of the worst moments of her life. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Madison’s mother walked out on her, but left a pair of earrings to wear on Madison’s wedding day. As a teenager, Madison’s father gave her money for a prom dress and said it’s ok to settle in her relationships. As an adult, Madison’s boyfriend broke up with her. To say these are the three worst moments a bride could think about on her wedding day would be an understatement!
Things start to go wrong at the venue, and Kevin experiences a minor panic attack. By trying to make everything perfect, he loses sight of what this day is truly about. Maybe it’s just cold feet, but it might be more than that.
Guess what? It was more than that. Madison walks into Kevin’s dressing room and asks him the million-dollar question. Madison asks, “Are you in love with me?” Kevin says he loves his kids and the life they’re building together, but he never tells Madison he loves her. Ouch! Kevin begs Madison to make it work, but Madison refuses, saying she can’t marry Kevin if he doesn’t love her. The wedding is off.
After the wedding’s called off, Kevin, Kate, Randall, and Rebecca sit in the Adirondack chairs that Uncle Nicky purchased as a wedding gift. They reminisce about Jack and how he’d know exactly what to do in this situation*. Due to her fading health, Rebecca asks Kevin to build the house that Jack was going to build her up at the cabin. Kevin agrees, and the Big Four embrace. Maybe I’m a cynic, but a wedding was just called off, and everyone is happy again?
*There was a flashback where Rebecca and Jack argued in front of the Big Three and it frightened the young children. Long story short, they professed their love for each other in a mock wedding in front of the kids. I’m not trying to minimize this scene, but it was not the most important thing from last night. It was touching though. I’m not a monster. I do have a soul.
Kate and Toby’s relationship was on a collision course towards a major argument due to Toby’s impending employment in San Francisco. Before the wedding, Toby shares what he thinks is good news, which is a new job. However, the job is in San Francisco and he will eventually need to be there three days a week. Kate is stunned, and questions if Toby understands the gravity of the situation. Toby stupidly commits the mortal sin of saying he loves his children and follows it up with a “but.” He desperately wants to go back to work. (Side note: How long has he been out of work? A few months? You would think it’s been five years with the way he complains! Double side note: Being unemployed sucks.)
At the venue, Kate recalls her wedding vows and remembers what true love is all about, putting your partner before yourself. Because of this, Kate calls her coworker, Phillip, and announces her resignation as a teacher’s aide. Surprisingly, Phillip puts his foot down, compliments Kate’s teaching ability, and refuses her resignation.
Later on, Kate and Toby talk it out and decide that Toby should take the job while Kate will keep her job. They’re going to try long-distance like high school sweethearts who separate for college. I don’t have the numbers on me, but I bet two-thirds of long-distance college relationships fail.
Randall And Rebecca
A mother and her favorite son finally made some ground in their fractured relationship. Since his return from New Orleans, Randall hasn’t talked to Rebecca about his trip and birth mother.
When they first sit down, Randall shows a picture of Laurel, and Rebecca immediately cries. Both of them can’t handle the grief so Randall immediately changes the subject.
Later on, Rebecca confronts Randall and explains why she cried earlier. Rebecca tearfully apologizes to Randall for withholding information about William. She realizes what she did and messed with Randall’s emotions throughout his life. Rebecca will always feel guilty for what she did. But, a tearful Randall accepts her apology and they sit down to chat about Laurel. This was one of the few happy endings tonight on This Is Us.
The Flashforward
Five seasons ago, you fell in love with the Pearson family. 💛 Now, get ready for the final season of #ThisIsUs –– coming soon to NBC. pic.twitter.com/c4xt90RRHf
Finally, let’s talk about the flash-forward aka the only thing people will want to talk about. My mind went in all different directions while watching so it’s hard to form complete thoughts. I’m just going to rattle off everything I saw. Ready, break.
Kevin is at a wedding in the future. He’s practicing a speech in the mirror, but it’s not for him.
Big Three Construction is a real thing.
Kevin has a girlfriend (women’s clothes in his room), but who?
Randall has a “Rising Star” profile in a magazine.
Uncle Nicky is alive and married.
Beth and Madison are still alive.
Kevin is 45 so this flash-forward is about fourish years into the future.
Madison and Kevin seem to be on good terms. I did not spot wedding rings on their fingers, but both seem to be cordial and happy.
The location is Kate’s second wedding.
Kate is marrying… PHILLIP FROM MUSIC SCHOOL.
Kate and Toby are divorced.
End Scene.
Now that is how you finish a season. I encourage you to read Dan Fogelman’s interview on how the time jump frames the sixth and final season. It appears there are two major events in the future: Kate’s wedding and the family gathering at the house Kevin built. What is the time gap between these? If I had to guess, it’s either five or ten years. Five would make the Big Three 50-years-old at the new house so let’s go with that.
Unfortunately, we have to wait until 2022 for the final season. Until then, maybe I have to give up on my “Kate is dead” theory? See you next year.
Did you enjoy the This Is Us Season 5 finale? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me, @danny_giro.
