Clark, who was picked by the Indiana Fever, will make an estimated base salary of $76,535 in her first year in the WNBA. For comparison, Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, made $10,132,300 in his first year. To put it in a different perspective, Clark will make $338,000 on a four-year rookie deal, while Wembanyma makes $55 million for his rookie deal.

In women’s basketball, salaries are negotiated by the WNBA players’ union. Lower-level draft picks typically make an estimated $64,154 as a base salary, and salaries are much higher for non-rookie players. Still, while the highest-paid WNBA players make over $200,000 in base salary, that’s still a fraction of the average NBA player. The lowest salary for NBA players is $1.1 million, while Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young, the highest-paid WNBA player, only makes $252,450.

Clark’s fans were quick to point out the shocking salary online.

These ladies deserve so much more…
Praying for the day l https://t.co/mIZmaXwPVi

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 16, 2024

Aint no reason i should have a higher salary than Caitlin Clark man pic.twitter.com/zufPliCeVE

— Aokiji クザン (@DukeOfZamunda) April 16, 2024

Caitlin Clark about to get PAID!

(like an accounting major who graduated with straight Bs from Lehigh working a job for a mid sized company in Cincinnati) pic.twitter.com/1gruqQob2x

— Nick Huber (@sweatystartup) April 16, 2024

On this salary Caitlin Clark would qualify for low income housing in San Francisco https://t.co/ZbOkPp4xBc

— Liam Dillon (@dillonliam) April 16, 2024

Many fans also pointed out that this is an example of the gender pay gap in the U.S.

“The gender pay gap is particularly acute in this example and is disheartening to see given the record number of viewers who tuned in to the women’s NCAA tournament,” Alison Stevens, senior director of HR Services at Paychex, told Newsweek. “Players like Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese may be the tip of the spear to drive more dollars to the WNBA, as they have all inspired young girls across the country and will certainly draw crowds to the WNBA.”

Some PKs go on to become pastors themselves. Some hightail it out of the Church as fast as possible. And some of them go on to be extremely famous entertainers. Here are a few stars that you probably didn’t know came from ministry families:

1. John Boyega

The Star Wars star is fairly private when it comes to his family, but he has shared that his father was a Pentecostal minister who has had a major impact on his faith and career. “The skill and ability that I’ve received has been from your prayers, and I cannot ignore what God has used my parents to do in my life,” Boyega wrote in an Instagram post about his parents.

2. Hunter Schafer

In a new interview with GQ, the Euphoria actress reveals that both her parents are church leaders in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her father, Mac, is the lead pastor at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and her mother, Katy, is the director of children & family ministries at First Presbyterian Church.

3. Marcus Mumford

Before Marcus Mumford teamed up with his Sons, he grew up as a PK to John and Eleanor Mumford, who were international leaders of the Vineyard Church. In 1987, the couple established the first British Vineyard church in South West London and led the church until 2015. In a 2022 interview, Mumford shared that watching his parents lead a church shaped the way he led Mumford & Sons.

“I was watching my folks at the center of attention and, I think, dealing with that really well,” he said. “But it did provide some element of training for what I chose to do.”

4. Katy Perry

You may know that Katy Perry got her start in a church choir, but she’s not the only one who started their fame journey from the pulpit. Perry’s parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, served as traveling preachers and speakers for a few years while their daughter was gaining notoriety.

5. Adam Driver

The Star Wars actor was raised by his mother and stepfather, who was a Baptist pastor in Indiana. Driver grew up in the church, and even credits his time in the church choir as his first step into the entertainment world.

6. Kelis

The “Milkshake” singer grew up with a Pentecostal minister for a father, but he was also a musician and professor who helped Kelis develop her career.

7. Phil Jackson

Regarded as one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, Phil Jackson was known off the court for his New Age philosophy. That’s a stark contrast to his upbringing, where he was raised by two Assemblies of God preachers who assumed he’d one day become a minister.

8. The Jonas Brothers

Nick, Joe and Kevin grew up as PKs in New Jersey. Their father, Kevin Sr., began his ministry as a singer with Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas before becoming the senior pastor of a church in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Honorable mention: Frankie Jonas, the “bonus Jonas” and co-host of reality competition series Claim to Fame.

But the Jonases aren’t the only PK siblings who grew up to be musicians…

9. Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon’s Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill grew up with a father who was a United Pentecostal Church preacher. The boys first developed their love of music by playing in church bands before their dad spoke from the pulpit.

10. Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington’s father served as a Pentecostal pastor in New York. Washington attended church for the first 14 years of his life before his parents’ divorce and he lost touch with his dad.

Following his team’s victory against the Brooklyn Nets last week, where he scored 34 points, the 22-year-old point guard expressed gratitude for his success, attributing it to his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

“I give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me these gifts,” Ivey said. “I sow the seed every day and just continue to trust God … to … grow my game.”

Before wrapping up the press conference, Ivey shared a message of hope, quoting John 14:6 and urging listeners to embrace their faith.

“I just want to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life,” Ivey said. “And to any of the world that’s hearing this message, the kingdom of Heaven is near. Jesus is coming back, and we all have to repent for our sins and we have to put our faith in Jesus.”

This isn’t the first time Ivey has spoken about his faith. In previous interviews and press conferences, he has consistently acknowledged the role of God in his life and career. He also isn’t the only young athlete speaking up about his faith. Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has openly spoken about God’s goodness throughout his career, while New Orleans’ Saints player Demario Davis shared the miraculous story of God healing his daughter last fall.

Watch Ivey’s presser here:

These are all questions most people spend their entire lives thinking about. But what they’re really asking is much more complex: what is my purpose?

Finding your true purpose in life is one of the most important journeys you will ever take. Oftentimes, it’s a journey of self-discovery, exploration and growth — one that will lead you to a life that is hopefully filled with meaning and joy. But what is your true purpose? How do you find it? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. Your true purpose is unique to you. It is something that you must discover for yourself. And it’s something that Tim Tebow wants to help others discover.

In Mission Possible, the NFL star writes 365 devotionals to help you discover your purpose — wherever and whatever that looks like. Tebow sat down with RELEVANT to discuss why he’s so passionate about purpose, how to discover it and how to protect it from anything life throws at it.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

RELEVANT: Why do you think it’s important to talk about purpose?

TIM TEBOW: I think it’s a question most people are asking: What is my purpose in life? It’s a question most people are wondering about, trying to figure out. They want to know how to do it, whether they can do it, and even if they have a purpose at all. These are the bigger questions we ask: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do while I’m here? Can I actually make a difference?

I want to be able to help bring people to God’s Word so that they can see Scripture answering these questions. Yes, you have a purpose. Your life is important. Your life is valuable. Your life has meaning, and there are good works for you to do.

I think this devotional helps shape your mindset, your mindset that you have a mission, a purpose, an understanding of your identity, and an understanding of God’s love and character for you. It also challenges you to get uncomfortable, to live intentionally, to say yes to helping hurting people, and to go out of your way. Don’t just say yes to praise, promotion, platform, and status—all the stuff that life throws at us. Say yes to the things that are going to last so much longer.

The third big area that this devotional touches on is encouragement. It encourages you, me, and everyone to trust God’s plan and to give it to the Lord. It’s also encouraging to read the stories of 31 other people who share a piece of their story in here. Some of them are parents who have lost their children. Some of them are young boys and girls who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. One of the stories shared is from a survivor of human trafficking.

These different stories, mixed in with God’s Word, give us encouragement because we all need it. Life can be hard. So, although we want to challenge people, we also really want to encourage them. When they pick up this devotional every day, we want them to know that they can set their minds on things above, be challenged to go live it out, and be encouraged to light that fire a little bit more.

How do you define purpose?

I think it’s what you’re created for, what we’re all created for, I think in the macro, is the same purpose: to love God and to love people. In the micro, I think your specific purpose is a little bit different than mine. And all of us along the way are going to have little unique paths to our purpose.

One way to encourage people to seek their purpose or mission is to ask them: What has God opened your eyes to? What has he pricked your heart for?

One of the stories that impacted my life is when I was 15 and I got to meet a boy who was born in the jungles of the Philippines with his feet on backwards. His village viewed him as less than, as insignificant, as a throwaway. That day I just felt so compelled in my heart. God was just pricking my heart. That is not a throwaway to God and he better not be a throwaway to me. And that day my heart was pricked, my eyes were opened, and I didn’t know how to articulate that. I didn’t know what exactly that meant, but I just knew I’m supposed to fight for boys and girls like this boy. And I still believe that that was a big part of God opening my eyes and calling me and pricking my heart, saying, this is what I want you to do. This is a big part of your micro purpose.

So I encourage a lot of different people: What are the things that God’s really opened your eyes to and He’s pricked your heart for? Is it encouragement? Is it inspiration? Is it teaching? Is it discipleship? Is it a people group? Is it a hurting person? Is it a family? What are the different things that have been stirred up in your life? Maybe that’s not ultimately your purpose, but maybe that can also help lead you to your purpose by saying yes to that and continuing to go down that road.

Once someone identifies their purpose, how can they walk into it?

I think there are a lot of different steps, but maybe even before that is to understand that you do have a purpose and that you really do like it. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that “we are his masterpiece created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in.” So when you understand that in Christ Jesus, you know that you’re a masterpiece, and then you also know that you have good works that were prepared for you long ago. And so it’s knowing, “Okay, I might not know what my purpose is, but I know I have one.” And then when you feel like, “Hey, maybe this is what I’m supposed to do,” I would encourage people to dive into it and try it out. It might not be your final destination, but it might continue to lead you on your journey, right? And you might learn from that, and you know, I have so many friends and family members and loved ones and different people that I’ve been able to walk with along the way that they’ve been impacted by something I stepped into, and maybe that’s not where they ended up, but it was such a piece of their journey that was teaching them or developing them or guiding them along the way to where they might not have got to ultimately if they wouldn’t have started to take those steps.

One of the other things that I encourage people to do is to take steps because I believe that God can do anything at any moment, but I also believe that when we take those steps, a lot of times I just see him use those steps in our lives to teach us. And I also very rarely, you know, ever hear testimonies or see friends that get impacted when they just go home and turn on Netflix. I mean, God can do it. I just don’t see him do it a lot. Yeah, I mean, I just, I don’t see when you get into the fifth season of your next show, you know, a lot of impact or a lot of profound thoughts or changes.

And so, and you know, we all get caught up in that. I’ll get caught up in that, and so my favorite shows too, and it’s not that those are wrong. Sometimes it’s nice to have something where you don’t have to think. But I would encourage people, you know, like maybe if you, if you, if we gave up one of those, or maybe if especially for young people, that you know, one study just indicated that young people right now spend more time on devices than they do asleep, right? That’s a lot of different voices and that’s a lot of things that aren’t necessarily going to always be positive. So maybe if there was one show we put down, one device we put down for a little bit, and that thing that stirred our heart we stepped into that a little bit more.

How do we overcome hurdles that keep us from our purpose?

That’s such a good question because when you’re trying to live out your mission, it’s not always easy. I would even say at times might not even feel fun. But I would also say that I believe that it’s totally worth it. It really is. And so I think the encouragement is really important because encouragement means to give support, confidence, or hope to. And we need those things. We need support. We need confidence and we need hope. And those are things that I feel like it’s why it’s so important that we start our day in God’s words, or why we start our day being able to dive in things that are also going to give us hope and hat are going to spark that hope in us. Things that hat are going to give us confidence and are going to support us.

Because life’s not always easy and it’s hard. But I think when we understand that going in, we know there’s going to be obstacles. We know there’s going to be adversity. But we also know when we say yes to it, at the end of the day, it’s also going to be worth it. Right? And so it’s that encouragement with the mindset of, hey, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be fun at all times. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. I do believe that it’s going to be fulfilling. But that fulfilling is also different than fun.

There’s going to be obstacles and there’s going to be naysayers. And there’s even going to be disappointing times. And one of the things that I like to encourage people with is, one of my oldest sisters, who was a missionary for a really long time in some really hard places, would always say to me, “Timmy, God will never waste your pain when you give it to Him. God will never waste it.” And so a lot of times, in going through the missions that God has for us and the purpose that God has for us, there are periods and moments of pain. But I also believe when we give it to Him, God’s not going to waste it. He’s going to use it in our lives and through our lives.

I think that’s also a piece that we like to touch on because it brings purpose to the pain. It brings meaning in those moments. And that’s something that we can also hold on to because adversity is here, it’s coming, or it’s just past us. But it’s a cycle. And while we’re here, it’s going to happen. I don’t encourage people to shy away from it or hope it doesn’t happen. We can be prepared for it. We can know it’s coming, but we can also be ready to brace ourselves.

The decision, handed down by Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes, unwinds the legal bind from 2004 that granted the Tuohys control over Oher’s financial dealings.

Oher, an NFL offensive tackle, became part of the Tuohy household in his teenage years, a story that inspired the film, The Blind Side. However, the real-life narrative has since taken an unanticipated twist in recent months.

At 18, Oher signed a conservatorship agreement with the Tuohys that granted them legal access to his life while he was beginning his football career. Fast forward to 2023, the now 37-year-old Oher alleges the Tuohys took advantage of his budding fame for financial gain under false pretenses of adoption. Oher has requested the Tuohys provide a financial accounting of money that may have come to them as part of the conservatorship.

Gomes has shared she is not dismissing the case. She said she was disturbed that an agreement like this was ever reached, as she had never seen a conservatorship agreement reached with someone who was not disabled during her 43-year career.

“I cannot believe it got done,” she said.

The Tuohys, on their end, have called Oher’s accusations “outlandish, hurtful and absurd,” and claim he knew it was a conservatorship the entire time. They argue the conservatorship was a necessity to help Oher navigate NCAA regulations, ensuring his athletic pursuits at the University of Mississippi remained unimpeded.

Oher is continuing to seek a thorough accounting and reimbursement, with accrued interest, of the earnings generated through his name and likeness.

Alcon co-founders Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove released a statement speaking out against what they call “mischaracterizations and uninformed opinions.” The comments come a week and a half after Michael Oher, the central figure of the film, made headlines by alleging that the Tuohy family, the film’s subjects, had deceived him about his adoption in order to benefit themselves financially.

“The notion that the Tuohys were paid millions of dollars by Alcon to the detriment of Michael Oher is false,” Johnson and Kosove wrote. “In fact, Alcon has paid approximately $767,000 to the talent agency that represents the Tuohy family and Michael Oher (who, presumably, took commission before passing it through). We anticipate that the Tuohy family and Michael Oher will receive additional profits as audiences continue to enjoy this true story in the years to come.”

The statement also detailed the trajectory of the film’s rights, starting with Michael Lewis’s 2006 book, explaining that the contracts negotiated at the time were different that standard contracts today.

“It is important to note that in 2006, the nature of life rights deals for books, documentaries and film, as well as the limitations of what college athletes were able to do and maintain eligibility, were very different than they are today,” the CEOs explained. “Comparing them to today’s marketplace for those rights is akin to comparing a basketball Hall of Famer’s deal from 25 years ago to the nine-figure deals that are prevalent in today’s NBA. The deal that was made by Fox for the Tuohy’s and Michael Oher’s life rights was consistent with the marketplace at that time for the rights of relatively unknown individuals.”

The statement also addresses criticisms that have risen about an “inaccurate depiction” of Oher’s life. Oher alleges that parts of his story were fabricated in the movie, including his adoption by the Tuohys.

Alcon shared that they believe their film is “verifiably authentic and will never be a lie or fake, regardless of the familial ups and downs that have occurred subsequent to the film.”

In the wake of Oher’s legal actions, the Tuohys have faced massive backlash, and the film itself has been under scrutiny, with some Internet users going so far as to argue that Sandra Bullock should lose her Oscar for her depiction of Leigh Anne Tuohy. However, Alcon Entertainment’s statement defends the film’s core message and its underlying motive.

“In the story of The Blind Side, we saw the better angels of human nature,” Johnson and Kosove’s statement declared passionately. “We saw it in the Tuohy’s wonderful acts of kindness toward Michael Oher. However, more importantly, we saw it in the extraordinary courage that Michael Oher demonstrated in accepting the Tuohys’ generosity not as a handout, or as his saviors, but as a way through which he could improve his own life.”

During a press conference in Memphis, the couple’s attorneys revealed the Tuohys had decided to formally dissolve the conservatorship that has been in place for nearly two decades, since Oher’s youth.

“If that’s what [Oher] wants to do, is terminate it, then we’re more than glad to do so,” said Randall Fishman, one of the legal representatives representing the Tuohys.

Oher, who is 37 years old, filed a petition last week seeking the termination of the conservatorship granted to the Tuohys. He alleges that the family capitalized on his name, identity and likeness, and “tricked” him into a conservatorship rather than an adoption nearly 19 years ago.

The initial conservatorship filing in 2004 outlined Oher’s desire for the Tuohys to serve as his legal guardians until he reached the age of 25 or until a court dissolved the conservatorship. In his petition, submitted earlier this year in February, Oher contended that he had come to realize that he was not legally a member of the Tuohy family.

Steve Farese, another attorney representing the Tuohys, assured the media that the couple’s financial resources were more than sufficient outside of their involvement with Oher.

“They don’t need his money,” Farese asserted. “They’ve never needed his money.”

In an interview with The Daily Memphian, Sean Tuohy refuted all of Oher’s allegations.

“It’s upsetting that people would think I would want to make money off any of my children,” Tuohy said. “We were never offered money; we never asked for money. My financial history is meticulously documented; you can verify how much my company was sold for.”

Oher, 37, filed the lawsuit on Monday, alleging that the Tuohys lied to him about adopting him and instead placed him under a conservatorship that gave them control of his finances.

Oher claims that the Tuohys used the conservatorship to profit from the movie The Blind Side, which was based on his life story. In his lawsuit, he claims they received millions of dollars in royalties from the film, but he did not receive any of that money.

The Tuohys have now denied Oher’s allegations, saying the claims have “devastated” the family.

“I sat Michael down and told him, ‘If you’re planning to go to Ole Miss — or even considering Ole Miss — we think you have to be part of the family, and this would do that legally,'” Sean Tuohy said to The Daily Memphian. “We contacted lawyers who had told us that we couldn’t adopt anyone over the age of 18; the only thing we could do was to have a conservatorship. We were so concerned that it was above board that we made sure the biological mother came to court.”

Tuohy explained that they put Oher under a conservatorship only because they wanted to ensure that he was eligible to play football at the University of Mississippi, where Sean is a booster.

The Tuohys also say that they shared the proceeds from The Blind Side equally with Oher, including an initial payment of $14,000.

“We didn’t make any money off the movie,” Touhy said. “Well, Michael Lewis, the [author of the book on which the movie was based], gave us half of his share. Everybody in the family got an equal share, including Michael. It was about $14,000 each.

“I will say it’s upsetting that people would think I would want to make money off any of my children,” he added.

The lawsuit is the latest chapter in a long and complicated relationship between Oher and the Tuohys. The Tuohys took Oher in as a teenager and helped him turn his life around. Oher went on to play college football at Ole Miss and in the NFL.

However, the relationship between Oher and the Tuohys began to sour in recent years. Oher has accused the Tuohys of being controlling and not as supportive as they once were. In addition to the allegations of financial fraud, Oher’s lawsuit also accuses the Tuohys of never truly accepting him as part of their family.

“The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,” the legal filing said. “Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact, provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”

In the 14-page petition, filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, probate court on Monday, Oher alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him. Instead, he claims, the couple tricked him into signing a document making the Tuohys his conservators just three months after he turned 18 in 2004. The conservatorship then gave the Tuohys legal authority to make business deals in his name.

“The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,” the legal filing says. “Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”

Oher alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal with 20th Century Fox that paid them and their two birth children millions of dollars in royalties from The Blind Side. The movie, which was based on Oher’s story, was a critical and commercial success, grossing more than $300 million at the box office.

However, Oher alleges he never received any money from the movie, even though he suspected that others were profiting. He says he eventually hired a lawyer who helped him uncover the details surrounding the movie deal and his legal connection to the Tuohys.

“Mike didn’t grow up with a stable family life,” said J. Gerard Stranch IV, Oher’s lawyer. “When the Tuohy family told Mike they loved him and wanted to adopt him, it filled a void that had been with him his entire life. Discovering that he wasn’t actually adopted devastated Mike and wounded him deeply.”

Oher is now seeking a legal end the Tuohys’ conservatorship, as well as an injunction barring the family from using Oher’s name and likeness. The petition is also seeking a full account of the money the Tuohys earned using his name, and for the couple to pay him his fair share of profits.

“Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or which they exercise control,” the petition reads. “All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher.”

Oher claims that back in 2004, he signed the conservatorship papers believing that it was the same as adoption. However, there are important legal distinctions between the two: if Oher had been adopted, he would have been a legal member of the Tuohy family and would have retained power to handle his own financial affairs. Under the conservatorship, Oher surrendered that authority to the Tuohys, even though he was a legal adult.

The petition alleges that the Tuohys began negotiating a movie deal about their relationship with Oher shortly after the 2006 release of Oher’s memoir, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. The movie paid the Tuohys and their two birth children each $225,000, plus 2.5 percent of the film’s “defined net proceeds.”

Yet while the deal allowed the Tuohys to profit from the film, the petition alleges that a separate 2007 contract signed by Oher appears to “give away” to 20th Century Fox Studios the life rights to his story “without any payment whatsoever.” Oher claims in the petition that he has no recollection of signing that contract, and even if he did, no one explained its implications to him.

The Tuohys have not yet responded to Oher’s petition.

While it wasn’t a fight for a title, the Showtime PPV event was still billed as one of the major boxing matches of the year — which makes Garcia’s walkout song choice even more unexpected.

Davis entered the ring to Chief Keef’s “Love Sosa” with the rapper alongside him, but Garcia took things a slightly more worshipful route. He opted instead to lets Hillsong UNITED’s “Oceans” hype him up for the big fight. Watch:

Ryan Garcia is ready

(Via @ShowtimeBoxing)

pic.twitter.com/pgSSp9lHBx

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) April 23, 2023

Garcia has spoken out about his Christian faith before. Speaking with YouTuber Logan Paul, Garcia shared his journey of coming to Christ and why he feels like he has to proclaim the Gospel everywhere he goes.

“When you search and you continue to search and you get enlightened, you want to scream it out to everybody,” Garcia said.

“The presence I’ve felt, the peace I’ve felt, the focus he’s given me and the wisdom that he’s displayed on to me — I want to tell people about it,” he continued. “But unless you’re willing to search for it, you’re never going to find it.”

@homeofthechampions

#boxing #boxing #mexico #mexicanboxing #ryangarcia #jesuslovesyou #jesus #yahweh #yahwehsaves #jehovah

♬ original sound – RONNIE RON

Sports betting saw a 61 percent increase for this year’s Super Bowl compared to last year, with nearly one in four U.S. adults placing a bet. The championship game saw roughly $16 billion in wagers, more than double last year’s estimates.

Sports betting has grown immensely in the past few years, with the market growing tenfold to reach a whopping $7 billion in 2022.

Five years ago, the idea of betting on live games was not on many people’s radars. But a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 changed all of that, making sports betting legal in 33 states and D.C.

But as the sports betting industry continues to grow, addiction experts are warning of a potential epidemic that could rival the opioid crisis. Experts warn that as gambling continues to increase over the next several years, sports-betting addiction will take a toll in rising rates of bankruptcy, domestic violence, depression, anxiety and suicide.

“Gambling is a very different addiction from drugs or alcohol,” said Professor Lia Nower, Director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. “You could be sitting with your kids, watching cartoons, and gambling away your house, your car, everything you own, on your mobile phone. How would you know?”

A poll by The Washington Post and University of Maryland found that 66 percent of Americans approved of legal sports betting in 2022, up from 55 percent in 2017.

“We have a movement toward expanding what was once considered a sin, what was once considered a vice, and embedding it at every level of American culture, down to kindergarten,” said Timothy Fong, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Surveys show that sports bettors are predominantly male, under 45, and while some are wealthy, a Rutgers University study found that half of sports gamblers earn less than $50,000 a year.

“I know that I’m blessed to be in this position… and so to have a faith backing, I know why I’m here – and it’s not about winning football games. It is about glorifying Him,” Mahomes said during a Super Bowl news conference. “I have no pressure when I step on that football field, because I know why I’m here.”

“It just kind of relieves the pressure of playing the football game, because I know that I’m on that football field to glorify Him before everything,” he continued. “And so it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about going out there and being the best that I can – the best that I can in His Name.”

The five-time Pro Bowl selection has been a standout player in the NFL, leading the league in passing yards per game, quarterback rating and touchdown passes, and guiding the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl in the past four seasons.

Mahomes has also been known to be very open about his faith and how it affects his approach to life and the game of football.

“My Christian faith plays a role in everything that I do. I always ask God to lead me in the right direction and let me be who I am for His Name,” he said. “It has a role in everything that I do. And obviously, we’ll be on a huge stage in the Superbowl that He’s given me, and I want to make sure I’m glorifying Him while I do it.”

Mahomes also revealed that he has a tattoo inspired by a story in the book of Acts, which speaks about not being “half in and half out” on God. He explained that the story has stuck with him and reminded him to be fully committed to his faith.

"I want to make sure I'm glorifying HIM while I do it."@Chiefs QB @PatrickMahomes shares how he wants to glorify God at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, AZ! https://t.co/f7XMkTXz3o

Video Credit: FSPN pic.twitter.com/ZT8iuL0Iho

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 8, 2023

“My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope,” Hamlin said. “And now with a new set of circumstances, I can only say He’s doing what He’s always done. I have a long journey ahead. A journey full of unknowns, and a journey full of milestones. But it’s a lot easier to face your fears, when you know your purpose.”

Hamlin, 24, suffered cardiac arrest after making a seemingly-routine tackle and was given CPR to revive him back to life on the field before being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. After waking up from sedation on Jan. 4, he returned home on Jan. 11. In the days that followed, fans from around the country prayed for Hamlin and raised over $9 million for his Chasing M Foundation.

“Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country, and even across the world,” Hamlin said. “Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting, no matter the circumstances. Sudden cardiac arrest was nothing that I would have ever chosen to be a part of my story. But that’s because sometimes, our own visions are too small, even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture. My vision was about playing in the NFL, and being the best player that I could be. But God’s plan, was to have a greater purpose than any game in this world.”

"The journey will continue."

An incredible moment as @HamlinIsland takes the stage at #NFLHonors. pic.twitter.com/TgqTKSAVKS

— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2023

Hamlin also expressed his gratitude for the medical staff that saved his life and for being given a second chance to live. Before he took the stage, the awards show played a montage detailing the medical staff’s efforts and welcomed members of the Bills and Bengals training and medical staffs as well as the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to the stage. Jim Kelly, legendary Bills quarterback, introduced them as “Team Damar” and they received a standing ovation from the audience.

All the heroes who helped save @HamlinIsland's life @UC_Health

: #NFLHonors on NBC pic.twitter.com/CWMMISoc1F

— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2023

To celebrate, Nike released a video highlighting James’ career, full of clips and images of James with an, um, inspirational message over it. Listen for yourself:

Notice anything? The whole ad feels a bit… blasphemous. The spiritual language, the Gospel choir, the elevation of his name as greater among anyone else. It’s clear that Nike had specific message they’re trying to get across.

And a lot of people noticed. Fans on Twitter were quick to call out Nike for treating James like God (while still giving James a bit of praise).

Trynna figure out if this is blasphemous or not leaning toward absolutely https://t.co/I8V0enGldt

— ROLLIE WOODS (@456rollie) February 8, 2023

Stop worshipping Idols and blaspheming the name of God. Congrats to Bron though

— SCARFACE (@cmomadeit) February 8, 2023

Many were specifically upset that Nike took a sermon about God and made it about a man.

bro fr..the pastor is evidently speaking about the greatness of God and this sacrilege will just go past so many people’s heads

— rants: sports, comics, pokémon, etc. (@sportcomicfan) February 8, 2023

The voiceover was originally in reference to God? Like a Pastor’s sermon praising the King of kings? If so, then even LeBron should be uncomfortable. https://t.co/nalmKa3L8w

— Analyst (@TheNaijaAnalyst) February 8, 2023

But it turns out, Nike didn’t actually steal anything.

Alonzo Chadwick, the voice behind the “sermon,” set the record straight on Twitter: He recorded the whole thing specifically for the commercial.

Does that make it any better?

“Let’s be real, it doesn’t get much more American than the Super Bowl,” said Rep. Joe Towns Jr., who introduced the bill with Tennessee Sen. London Lamar.

The bill would replace Columbus Day with the day after the big game, acknowledging the reality that millions of Americans take the day off anyway.

“With more than 16 million Americans expected to skip work the day after the Super Bowl and about 8 million expected to ask for the day off in advance, we’re talking about a major hit to the workforce,” Towns explained. “It’s becoming more and more the norm to miss work the next day. So maybe we should just codify it…or at least just talk about it.”

Research shows that millions of Americans agree with Towns. Last year’s Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals brought in over 100 million viewers, and reports found that nearly half of office workers conveniently called in sick the following day.

Reich, a retired quarterback for the Carolina Panthers and former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has been named the team’s new head coach. According to Sports Spectrum, Reich has signed a four-year contract with the Panthers. But before his coaching career, he was a full-time pastor at Charlotte, North Carolina’s Ballantyne Presbyterian Church.

Reich has been praised by Panthers’ General Manager Bill Polian as “a great person, a talented football coach, a strong motivator and a man who connects well with players and has a great football mind.”

But beyond being a top-notch coach, Reich is also a devout Christian who has balanced his football career with his faith. Reich spent 13 years in the NFL playing for teams such as the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Detroit Lions and even the Panthers. Before transitioning to a coaching career in 2007, he took the time to earn a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary, and served as the president of its Charlotte campus, as well as eventually pastoring at Ballantyne.

In a 2019 appearance on “Beyond the Game” podcast with NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, Reich emphasized that his coaching platform is centered on magnifying the name of Jesus Christ.

“The No. 1 goal is to magnify the name of Jesus Christ first and foremost above all things,” Reich said. “Whether it was in ministry or in coaching, no matter what I was going to choose to do, that was going to be my mission in life. … I really thought [ministry] might be it, but at the end of the day, I don’t think that was God’s calling on my life.”

Reich still delivers sermons from time to time, speaking on biblical leadership, courage and more.

The 24-year-old athlete was injured on the field Monday night and while his heartbeat was restored, he remains sedated and in critical condition, according to a statement from the Bills. The game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals was suspended while prayers and support poured in online.

Fans also showed their support by donating millions of dollars to the Chasing M Foundation, Hamlin’s charity that he started in 2020 shortly before he was drafted to the NFL in 2021. Damar’s foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps and more.

“As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me,” Hamlin wrote on the foundation’s GoFundMe page.

The Chasing M Foundation was running a campaign to purchase toys for children impacted by the pandemic in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where Hamlin grew up.

A cached version of the GoFundMe page shows that prior to Monday night’s game, the foundation had raised a little over $2,900. At the time of this writing, donations have reached $4.86 million.

But not just any people! Famous people. Will Ferrell, Max Greenfield, Luis Guzman, Tig Notaro, Daniel Dae Kim, June Diane Raphael, Paul Scheer, Kelly Rowland and Emma Watson have all been hoodwinked by their agents into participating. Cari Champion, John Michael Higgins and Bill Raftery are offering color commentary. Kenny Loggins will be there to sing the National Anthem? Sure. Why not?

Pickled isn’t the only sign of pickleball’s soaring popularity. Lebron James invested in Major League Pickleball, which is expanding its number of teams next year. And alas, there will apparently be some sort of halftime show sponsored by Claussen pickles. We live in a world of mysteries.

That said, there is reason to be optimistic. Ferrell’s involvement promises that at least someone, somewhere must be putting together a pitch for a Blades of Glory—type movie about competitive pickleball. Can’t be more boring than watching the actual thing.

The very worrisome situation has raised a lot of immediate questions. Why was Tagovailoa allowed to play? If it’s really true that Tagovailoa passed evaluations prior to playing, then just what sort of evaluations are these and what good are they? And most urgently: Is Tagovailoa OK?

Dolphins first-year head coach Mike McDaniel said that Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and nothing “more serious,” which isn’t exactly reassuring. But he said that concussion was a new development, and maintained that Tagovailoa’s earlier injury was to his back.

“If there’s any sort of inclination that someone has a concussion, they go into concussion protocol that’s very strict,” McDaniel said. “People don’t vary or stray, we don’t mess with that. Never have. And, as long as I’m the head coach, that’ll never be an issue you guys will have to worry about.”

The NFL Player’s Association isn’t so sure, and they’re ready to open an investigation. “Player health and safety is at the core of the union’s mission,” the NFLPA tweeted. “Our concern tonight is for Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing.”

DeMaurice Smith is the executive director of the NFL Players Association, and he texted former NFLPA player rep Amazon’s Andrew Whitworth that the investigation will be intense. “We insisted on these rules to avoid exactly this scenario. We will pursue every legal option, including making referrals against the doctors to licensing agencies and the team that is obligated to keep our players safe.”

Numerous people have responded to this hand slap by calling it a joke, but “joke” implies an element of surprise, and there’s no surprise here. Thirty women came forward to tell stories of their mistreatment in the pages of the New York Times, and Congress is currently investigating claims of sexual harassment in the front office of the Washington Commanders. In April, attorney generals from six different states sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, warning him to improve the league’s working conditions for women.

All signs point to that letter falling on deaf ears. Mathematically, complaints from 24 women resulting in a six-game suspension comes out to a price of about four women per game. For comparison, Atlanta Falcons star Calvin Ridley gambled $1,500 on a league game and got suspended for an entire season. But, of course, no women were affected by Ridley’s crime.

The NFL has a problem. It’s a well-known one, one they’ve been called out for over and over again. Not many people would even bother denying it, but until NFL franchises have to face real consequences for their actions, there is just no reason to think they will change. Why would they? Knowing something is wrong is not, in and of itself, accountability. Facing a six-game suspension is not a punishment that would seriously jeopardize the financial situation of any player.

That’s the point. The Cleveland Browns need Watson. They need him to be happy in Cleveland, and they need him to win football games. That’s what keeps the investors’ wallets well fed. They don’t need justice for their women, because there is just no financial upside to that. And until fans start making the NFL believe that skirting real accountability will cost them ticket sales, there is no reason to think anything will change.

If you’re a Grizzlies fan and don’t follow Ja Morant’s videographer @shotbynie you’re missing out. The YouTube channel he runs is excellent. I’ll share a link below to subscribe.

Here’s a clip from the recent vid of Ja tipping a waitress $500. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/33GI81k4oI

— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) July 5, 2022

It’s a sweet clip, especially as the server starts to realize who she’s talking to, but it’s a nice reminder for all of us. Most of us don’t have an extra $500 for an extravagant tip, but a little extra kindness and attention goes a long way.

https://t.co/t57UYsYDZV

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 5, 2022

"Beginning of the season, nobody thought we'd be here except everybody on this floor right now." pic.twitter.com/tHBY3Alg5D

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 17, 2022

“I thank God every day that I get to play this game at the highest level with some amazing people,” Curry told ABC after the game. “This is what it’s all about — for a championship and what we’ve been through the last few years. At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would be here — except everybody on this court right now. It’s amazing. It’s very surreal. …We were so far away from it.”

For all Curry’s acclaim as a player, his success this season was far from a sure thing. Two of his previous titles were secured with the help of Kevin Durant, Curry’s co-star in one of the best partnerships in NBA history. But Durant is with the Brooklyn Nets now, leaving Curry to prove that he was still capable of greatness on his own. He did just that, averaging 34 points in the finals.

“God is great,” he told reporters in the post-game news conference. “The ability to be on this stage and play with amazing teammates against a great Boston Celtics team that gave us everything …this one hits different for sure.”

Men and women will be compensated on “identical” terms for all games and competitions. The deals will also erase the payment disparity in the World Cup prize money, one of the thorniest barriers for equal pay. The deals last through 2028.

FIFA has declined to equalize the prize money for the World Cup, which has been a hurdle for equal pay. In 2018, FIFA gave a total of $400 million to men’s teams at the World Cup, with winner France taking home $38 million. By contrast, FIFA gave all women’s teams at the 2019 World’s Cup a total of just $30 million, with the U.S. women’s team taking home $4 million for their victory.

Under the new agreement, the U.S. men’s and women’s teams will pool any World Cup winnings and distribute them equally between both teams. It’s an innovative solution.

Yahoo! Sports notes that past deals had pitched the men’s and women’s teams as competitors for “finite resources,” each trying to get a share of the pie. This new agreement unites them in a common cause of bringing American soccer the same sort of attention it receives in many other countries.

It’s “a truly historic moment,” said U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone in a statement.

Walker Zimmerman, a USMNT defender, praised the agreement and said he hoped it sparked further change for payment equality. He hopes it will help “awaken others to the need for this type of change, and will inspire FIFA and others around the world to move in the same direction.”

Before Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, Greg Abbott — who was then the attorney general and is now the governor of the Lone Star State — called the game “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.” Congressman Chris Smith said, “We know from the past, any sports venue, especially the Super Bowl, acts as a sex-trafficking magnet” when the game came to New Jersey. And the late Senator John McCain’s wife Cindy McCain called the game “the largest human-trafficking venue on the planet.”

This is a difficult narrative to take issue with because the scourge of human trafficking is very real and very under-reported. We in America should be talking about human trafficking and taking the threat it poses seriously. But part of taking it seriously means getting the facts right, and when it comes to actual facts, there just aren’t many of them surrounding the idea that the Super Bowl is a magnet for human traffickers.

There have been many studies done on the influx of sex trafficking around the Super Bowl, and evidence of a dramatic flare-up is scant. For example, an investigative report from Sports Illustrated found that while it’s true New Jersey authorities claimed to have “recovered 16 children between the ages of 13 and 17 and arrested more than 45 pimps and their associates” in their report for the 2014 Super Bowl, that count was pulled from the entire tri-state area and included arrests made several months before the game.

Part of the difficulty of studying sex trafficking during the Super Bowl is that hosting cities will often devote extra resources to a crackdown on illegal prostitution in the days and weeks leading up to the game. This may lead to an uptick in arrests, but there’s not much evidence that similarly aggressive efforts wouldn’t have yielded the same results any other time of the year. In other words, police departments are probably finding more illegal sex work ahead of the Super Bowl simply because they’re looking harder. 

The Santa Cruz police department posted some daunting figures, saying they’d arrested 43 johns and six human trafficking arrests, but Officer Kurtis Stenderup later told SI that “we actually were able to contact more sex workers and had more john arrests in one day in October [2016] than we did during a three-week period leading up to the Super Bowl.” 

In 2011, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women released a comprehensive study of all human trafficking around major sporting events like the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the World Cup, and found that “despite massive media attention, law enforcement measures and efforts by prostitution abolitionist groups, there is no empirical evidence that trafficking for prostitution increases around large sporting events.”

The Arizona State University’s Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research did a study in 2014 that “found no evidence indicating the 2014 Super Bowl was a causal factor for sex trafficking in the northern New Jersey area in the days preceding the game.”

There are many other reports, and none have found any conclusive data supporting the idea that the Super Bowl leads to a rise in human trafficking. Advocates for real victims of trafficking say the increased resources cities will put into cracking down on prostitution during big sporting events can make for splashy, positive headlines, but can sap focus from the everyday reality of trafficking. “I would argue that sex trafficking occurs all the time regardless of major sporting events,” Stenderup told Sports Illustrated. “If we had the resources all the time we could make a very significant dent in this problem.”

But as long as inflated crises suck all the oxygen out of the real, much less sensational issue, the problem isn’t likely to go anywhere.

“I am a survivor,” Beach said in the interview. “I buried this for ten years, eleven years, and it’s destroyed me from the inside out and I want everybody to know, in the sports world and in the world, that you’re not alone.”

The Blackhawks commissioned a probe in the wake of Beach’s lawsuit, which uncovered damning revelations about how National Hockey League leaders like Panthers coach Joel Quenneville and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff knew about the assault but took few if any actions. Both Quenneville and Cheveldayoff have said they knew nothing of the assault allegations prior to Beach’s lawsuit, but the investigation found otherwise. In fact, they all discussed what to do about the allegations in 2010, and Quenneville advised against taking action against Aldrich — indicating that it would be a distraction from from the team’s quest for the Stanley Cup.

That quest would turn out to be successful that year, but Beach says he took no joy in fulfilling his dream of hockey success. “It made me feel like nothing,” he told TSN. “It made me feel like he was in the right and I was wrong.”

This week, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman stepped aside over the fallout of his mishandling of Beach’s allegations. “We and he ultimately accept that in his first year as general manager, he made a mistake alongside our other senior executives at the time and did not take adequate action in 2010,” said CEO Danny Wirtz.

Beach indicated that the organization still had a long way to go.

“They let me down and they’ve let others down as well,” he said. “They continue to try and protect their name over the health and the well-being of the people that put their lives on the line every day to make the NHL what it is.”

Dre, Snoop and Kendrick are all SoCal natives, so their presence makes a lot of sense. Dre is one of the true architects of the West Coast hip-hop scene, and is responsible for the careers of Snoop, Eminem and Kendrick, so it’s no surprise that they were happy to show up alongside their old mentor. Dre’s also done producing work for Blige, so it all really is a “Family Affair,” if you will.

“The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career,” Dre said in a statement.

Pepsi and Roc Nation are also working together to launch a new magnet school for Southern L.A. called Regional School #1. “This effort will help develop and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators,” L.A. Unified interim superintendent Megan K. Reilly told ESPN. “We are excited about the additional opportunities this partnership will bring to our students.”

Underrated will tell the story of Steph Curry, so the raw material is already good. But the movie’s prospects are greatly helped by the inclusion of movie studio A24, probably the most promising three characters you can have associated with your movie. And it’s also going to feature the production talents of Ryan Coogler, the writer/director behind hits like Black Panther, Fruitvale Station and Creed. The movie “will chronicle Curry’s historic rise to prominence during March Madness when he played for the Davidson Wildcats,” and, of course, went on to become a household name and the MVP of NBA.

No word on a release date yet, but there’s no reason to think this won’t be a movie worth watching.

Biles, who already has four gymnastics moves named after her, withdrew herself from the team final earlier this week, admitting she didn’t want to jeopardize her team’s success or her own health for the sake of the Games. In an interview, she said felt like she had “the weight of the world on her shoulders” during the competition. She had spoken with her coach and a team doctor, telling them she was not in the right “headspace” to continue because she was afraid of injuring herself.

“I want to walk out of here, not be dragged out by a stretcher or something,” said after the final.

Biles, who already has won 24 world championship medals, has been outspoken about her mental health journey surrounding the competition for some time now. She spoke with Glamour magazine about how therapy has become a “safe space” for her over the last few years, and she’s been trying to find a healthy balance in life. 

Biles, often heralded as the gymnast G.O.A.T. by fans, has more than proven herself to be an incredible and capable athlete. To compete on the world stage numerous times — and win — all before she can legally rent a car in the U.S. is impressive. She has shown the world that she can handle an absurd amount of pressure. But the question she is wrestling with, and one we should be asking ourselves, is should she have to handle the pressure?

Fans often praise Olympians for the hard work, perseverance and sacrifices made to achieve their goal. Their ability to push through injuries and insecurities is what makes them the best in our eyes. But the constant pressure to perform their best wears and tears on their bodies — physically, mentally and emotionally.

This pressure, coupled with the ongoing conversation about the US Gymnastics Association’s horrific handling of Larry Nassar’s abuse, all fell on Biles’ shoulders. Biles has spoken out more and more about USGA’s mishandling of the situation while still competing in a sport that has taken more from her than it’s given. And, for weeks leading up to the Games, media coverage focused heavily on Biles. She was featured in countless commercials, all focusing on her rightfully impressive athletic power.

It’s hard for us to grasp the amount of pressure Biles has been under for these Games. With her stunning performance in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and her continued success over the last five years, Biles entered the competition with all eyes on her. No one questioned her ability to win; the question was who would come in second.

So, when Biles announced that she was taking time to focus on her mental health, the world was shocked. No one wanted to see her dominate the Games more than me (I’ve been tweeting about it for weeks now) but above all, I want to see her happy and healthy. I love bragging about Biles as if she’s my own personal friend, but the truth is, she owes me nothing. She has successfully given it her all and doesn’t need to prove herself anymore. 

Yet by stepping away, she’s actually proving that she is still ahead of everyone.

Biles, with all the eyes on her, has chosen to step away from the biggest competition in the world. One of the most well-known athletes has said that all the achievements, all the glory, all the fame isn’t worth it if she has to sacrifice herself. Her courage to be open and honest about her reasoning is why she is the best. She could have easily said she was stepping away for a physical injury — something fans wouldn’t think twice about. But by acknowledging that she needs to focus on her mental health, even if it costs her a medal, will hopefully encourage her fans that they should prioritize their mental health, too. 

The conversation around mental health has been a journey, to put it lightly. After years of advocating for therapy and medication and just general positive support, mental health is finally being taken seriously (for the most part.) Roughly 42% of the US adult population has seen a therapist at least once in their life. But there are still people who believe we should simply “tough it out” and “push through the bad days.” There has to be a balance of finding ways to cope with difficulty and knowing when it’s right to step away from a situation altogether to seek help. And every time an athlete of Biles’ caliber makes the decision to prioritize their mental health over public expectations, it makes it just a little easier for the rest of us to do the same thing in our own lives.

Biles’ decision to step away has already been met with backlash from Twitter trolls and people who probably don’t have an athletic bone in their body. Their critiques are incredibly harmful and totally unnecessary. Thankfully, her true fans understand that she is continuing to show her strength and power by taking a step back. She’s proven herself more times than she’s needed to that she is, in fact, the greatest gymnast of all time. And by stepping away at the height of her career, maybe she can be the greatest mental health advocate of all time, too. 

In the team’s bronze medal match against Spain, the Norway team opted to wear longer shorts that provided more coverage. For this, each player was fined 150 euros by the European Handball Federation, which comes up to 1,500 euros total. The Norway Handball Federation said it would pay the fine on behalf of the players, adding that it stood by the team and that what athletes compete in “should be a free choice within a standardised framework …The most important thing is to have equipment that athletes are comfortable with.”

It may not surprise you to learn that the men’s handball teams have no such rules, and are allowed to compete in shorts as long as four inches above the knee. Women, however, are not allowed to wear bottoms that cover more than ten centimeters of their butts. When asked why this rule exists, a spokesperson for the International Handball Federation said she did not know. “We’re looking into it, internally,” she told reporters.

The Norway team had been planning to compete in the shorts for several weeks, and hope that the fine draws attention to the double standard in the sport. “I don’t see why we can’t play in shorts,” said Martine Welfler, one of the Norwegian players, told the New York Times. “With so much body shaming and stuff like that these days, you should be able to wear a little bit more when you play.”

The Tokyo Olympic Games, set to begin on Friday, could be cancelled last minute due to rising coronavirus cases, according to Toshiro Muto, the Games’ chief.

Discussion are still ongoing about what will happen as it’s impossible to know what will happen with COVID-19 infections at the Games. However, Tokyo has already declared a state of emergency as cases have shot up recently. Within the last month, there have been 67 cases accredited to the Olympics alone. 

“We can’t predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases,” Muto said in a news conference.”So we will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases.

“We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again. At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises.”

Rising cases aren’t the only issue the Tokyo Games are facing. Last month, an estimated 10,000 unpaid volunteers told organizers they would no longer participate in the events. Many dropped out due to fears of contracting coronavirus. Currently, only 22% of the Japanese population is fully vaccinated. 

And while the International Olympic Committee believes that at least 80 percent of athletes and residents of Olympic Village are fully vaccinated, there have been a handful of cases already of athletes who have tested positive for the virus. Some athletes are self-quarantining in hopes of still competing, while others have already dropped out of the events completely. 

Additionally, Japan has banned all spectators from attending events for this year’s Games. Instead, athletes will compete on the biggest stage in the world to a virtual, silent audience. 

The Olympics are a time for the world to come together and compete on an equal playing field, regardless of geography and GDP. Last year, the world had to skip the Games for the safety of athletes while hoping it would be good to go by this summer. Now, with all the drama surrounding the Games, we have to wonder if this is a sign we should have just waited one more year. 

Last weekend’s big matchup featured a Gibson Guitar Riff from none other than Stephen Mason, who you might know as the lead guitarist for Jars of Clay but who Nashville Soccer Club fans know as die-hard fan Soccer Moses — the wild-haired prophet of goals. Just watch.

LET MY PEOPLE SHRED @SoccerMoses @gibsonguitar pic.twitter.com/08MrquBlC9

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 4, 2021

Jars of Clay fans might catch a few seconds of “Flood” at the beginning of the riff before Soccer Moses goes full “Come Together” — albeit a little more Joe Cocker than John Lennon.

When he’s not recording with Jars of Clay or liberating goals from the sidelines, Mason works as a master barber at his barbershop, the Handsomizer. He’s a big soccer fan and the whole Soccer Moses thing originally started as a goof, but it’s become a key mainstay at matches both home and on the road, with Mason hoisting his “Let My People Goal” sign aloft not unlike the actual Moses’ staff, which held the sun in place for the armies of Israel. You can read more about the Soccer Moses origin story in this very entertaining profile.

Only in Music City pic.twitter.com/nEY1Wpv4Wi

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 4, 2021

Check out Jars of Clay’s most recent album Inlandia here.

The 23-year-old tennis player announced last week that she would be skipping press conferences in an effort to deal with her social anxiety and battles with depression, which she said she had experienced since the 2018 U.S. Open. In spite of Osaka’s reasoning for skipping press conferences, the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open) chose to fine Osaka for “choosing to not honor her contractual media obligations.” As part of the tournaments, players are required to meet with media personnel following their match. 

Osaka stated that by skipping the press conference she could “exercise self-care” while still participating in the tournament. However, the financial risks seemed to play a role in Osaka choosing to remove herself from the French Open entirely. She spoke openly on social media about her struggles, stating that she had decided to step away from the tournament so “everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.”

pic.twitter.com/LN2ANnoAYD

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021

The four-time Grand Slam winner is not new to press. She first garnered global attention when she defeated her tennis idol Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open. In 2020, Osaka gained attention again by becoming a leading activist in professional tennis during the 2020 U.S. Open when she wore masks, to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, that displayed the names of African Americans who had been killed in the preceding years, the majority killed by police. Despite her time in the headlines, Osaka has stated on she experiences large amounts of anxiety when she has to step into the spotlight by herself. 

Osaka’s public discussion of mental health has brought a new topic into her spotlight. Over the weekend, fellow tennis stars, athletes from various sports and other prominent figures announced their support of Osaka for prioritizing her mental health over her professional obligation. By placing an emphasis on her mental health and stepping away from an event she has dedicated her life to, Osaka can showcase the importance of mental health. 

She has promised she isn’t hanging up her racket completely, but rather is taking some time to focus on herself. When she returns, she wants to work with the Tour to make things better for the players, the press and the fans, physically and mentally. 

I am screaming. This is Canada's closing ceremony fit.

Cancel the Olympics. https://t.co/Q6xEybEIEM https://t.co/wf5E8yDPvL pic.twitter.com/KZ0iWUGFGQ

— Downtown Brandi Frown (@ItsTheBrandi) April 14, 2021

OK, so it’s not just a jean jacket. This jean jacket is spray painted with maple leaves and Olympics colors that would make it ideal for the Degrassi Junior High cast wardrobe and frankly bizarre for everything else. This isn’t to say anything bad about jean jackets, which some of us — hard to say who — might actually be wearing right now. But as a fashion statement for your national identity on the global stage, well, it’s a choice. You can see more of the lewks, which were made by Hudson Bay, here.

This is the gang that comes after you if you say you tried watching Schitt’s Creek but couldn’t get into it pic.twitter.com/SCHpf0QOwE

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 14, 2021

And hey, lest any citizens of the U.S. get to cocky about all this, Team U.S.A. has once again recruited Ralph Lauren to handle this year’s suiting duties and the iconic American fashion brand has once again decked our athletes out like the bullies in a teen movie about competitive sailing.

Polo Ralph Lauren unveils the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Closing Ceremony uniforms, proudly made in America

Featuring our @TeamUSA athletes: Skateboarders Heimana Reynolds and @JordynBarratt, and BMX Gold Medalist @ConnorFields11https://t.co/OxXILN3IIW pic.twitter.com/Hd3kaC40qS

— Ralph Lauren (@RalphLauren) April 14, 2021

Anyway, you won’t have to see much of these since most athletes will spend their time at the Olympics wearing, you know, athletic gear. And that’s for the best since nobody can figure out how to dress them like normal people. The Tokyo Olympics will (most likely) kick off in July.

Seriously, these never get old. Absolutely one of the most reliably funny pieces of content on the internet. There is something about watching these people stand around and blather absolute nonsense that exudes an almost James Joyce-like level of literary genius.

Enjoy:

Before departing Kansas City for the game in Miami, he told his local Fox 4 news station that “Faith has always been big with me,” adding, “Obviously I want to win every game, but I’m glorifying Him every single time I’m out there.”

“As long as I’m doing everything the right way and the way that He would want me to do it, then I can walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I am,” he explained. “I understand that He’s given me a lot of blessings in my life, and I’m trying to maximize them and glorify Him.”

After the game, Mahomes told reporters that the team never gave up on each other, even though they trailed late in the game. “We never lost faith, that’s the biggest thing. Everybody on this team, no one has their head down and we believe in each other and that’s what we preached all year long.”

Also, he’s going to Disney World:

As he explains in the clip, Rodgers was once heavily involved in the Christian ministry Young Life, but later started to question some fundamental teachings, including the idea of eternal punishment. “I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell,” he says in the clip.

That portion of the clip was shared by a Twitter feed called The Caring Atheist, and it ended up on the front-page of Reddit. 

However, it’s unclear if Rodgers himself considers himself an atheist. 

In a 2017 ESPN the Magazine profile, he spoke about his friendship with Rob Bell and his evolving views on scripture, explaining, “The Bible opens with a poem. It’s a beautiful piece of work, but it was never meant to be interpreted as I think some churches do.” Though he said he no longer considers himself a Christian, it’s unclear if he’s atheist, and in the interview with Patrick, he talks about spirituality. 

Bell is a preacher, author, Bible teacher and former megachurch pastor whose book Love Wins famously questioned traditional teachings on hell. Rodgers actually endorsed Bell’s 2017 book How to Be Here, saying, “Listing all the ways in which Rob has positively impacted my life would take up too much space; so I’ll simply say that he has inspired me to live life with a deeper level of appreciation and to love people with a greater awareness of our connectivity.”

Now, Daigle has posted an extended, behind the scenes look at the performance and why it was so meaningful. As she explains in the caption, “I grew up on [LSU Football]. We had season tickets since before I was born. My grandparents worked there for over 30 years. I attended my first LSU game in Death Valley at 4 years old,” she wrote.

“Never would I have imagined 24 years later that I would be singing the National Anthem at such a monumental game in front of our LSU Tigers.”

And, in case you didn’t see the game, Daigle’s night got even better following the performance: LSU took home the title. 

At the time, recent college graduate Anthony Federico had landed in a relatively thankless but potentially mobile gig as a content editor for ESPN. As he told WBUR Boston, “It was really cool. My job was to watch the night of sports unfold and kind of make editorial decisions in real-time about what stories we’re going to lead with, what angles we’re going to promote.”

Near the peak of “Linsanity”, during a game with the New Orleans Hornets, Lin had an off night and the Knicks lost. Federico, scrambling for a late night headline about the loss, went with “Chink in the Armor”.

You may remember the ensuing fallout, in which the headline was blasted for utilizing one of the most loathsome racial slurs in the English language. Federico apologized, calling it an “awful editorial omission.” He said it was a phrase he’d used many times before, and simply failed to consider the way it would be interpreted in the context of Jeremy Lin.

“My name and address got leaked to the media, so the Paparazzi started following me around,” he told WBUR. “And [I] started getting hate mail and death threats from all over the world. And a lot of the late night talk shows were roasting me, and, you know, my face was on a lot of newspapers. And I was this big racist villain. It was brutal.”

Federico was fired from ESPN and things got bad for a few weeks, until Lin himself reached out and the two met for lunch in New York City.

“He told me that he didn’t think that the headline was racial in intent, and that was so huge to hear,” Federico says. “I’m eternally grateful to him for his kindness. So we talked about the headline for a few minutes, and then we talked mostly about the world and our faith.”

That was the start of a journey that would result in Federico getting more serious about his own religious faith — attending Mass with more regularity and taking an interesting theology. He realized there was a lack of priests in his area and one thing led to another. He applied to the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut and was ordained to the priesthood in June. Now, he says, what he went through as ESPN has given him more grace for others.

“I think a sense of sympathy for what people are going through, and how everyone has a story that goes deeper than their worst moment or one thing they put out on the internet,” he told the radio station. “And I have a sense of what it’s like to be angry at God in this big way, and I can relate to them when they bring me their struggles and their hopes and their dreams and their fears.”

“And I think that that feeling of being abandoned by God was part of this whole process of preparing me for priesthood.”

He has remained unsigned since 2017.

While he was in league, Kaepernick became the face of protest against police violence and racial injustice, kneeling during the National Anthem before games. He filed a grievance against the league, alleging that owners colluded to prevent him from playing. That grievance was eventually withdrawn following a settlement with the NFL.  

Not everyone is convinced about the NFL’s motivation for hosting the workout. The workout will be on Saturday—not on Tuesday, as is the custom with these types of events. Saturdays are typically a day when most teams are traveling or are preparing for Sunday’s games. 

Kaepernick’s former teammate Eric Reid, who joined Kaepernick in his protests, told ESPN that the scheduling makes the workout feel “disingenuous,” adding, “At this point, it feels like a PR stunt.”

Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles told ESPN, “I really hope it’s a serious shot for him to get back in the league. I think he deserves to be in the league. For the last three years, he has unjustly not had a job. But based on all of the things that have led us to this point, it leaves me a little skeptical of the motivations behind it. But I think like anybody, we’re just all waiting to see.”

This year, however, in his first game of the season, Foles suffered a brutal broken clavicle injury and hasn’t played since. However, as Foles plans on returning to the field this week, he addressed reporters, and decided to talk about perseverance through trials, and what “prosperity” really looks like.

Foles is known for being out spoken about his faith and has said he plans on going into ministry after his football career is over 

Last week, Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson caught a foot directly to the eye in what appeared to be a painful, freak injury. However, this week, he was back on the field playing up to his typical, incredible level. As The Houston Chronicle notes, on Sunday, “Watson completed 22 of 28 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 120.4 passer rating.” While on the sidelines with a notably red eye after the game, he was asked how he was able to get back on the field. His response: Popeyes. 

He told the NFL Network, “I’ll tell you the key. The key is, it was the Popeyes spicy chicken sandwiches that I ate this week that helped the eye.”

Sorry Chick Fil A, you may have a hit song written about you, but you aren’t out there healing injured eyeballs.

On a side note, Deshaun Watson is one of the NFL’s genuinely coolest dudes. Reflecting on a recent visit to the Holy Land, where he was baptized in the Jordan River, he said, “This is a part of the world which gets a lot of attention internationally, and this is a chance for me to look beyond the headlines and learn more about the history and culture of this land. I have been blessed to visit many countries around the world, but the chance to visit the Holy Land, see the sites and meet the people of this special place, truly is a special blessing and an amazing opportunity.”

He also gave his first NFL game check in 2017—worth more than $27,000—to three women who work at the team’s cafeteria and were affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“With its global reach, the National Football League has the platform and opportunity to inspire change across the country,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Roc Nation has shown that entertainment and enacting change are not mutually exclusive ideas—instead, we unify them. This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of communities across America.”

According to the NFL, “As part of the agreement, Roc Nation will advise on the selection of artists for major NFL performances like the Super Bowl.”

Jay-Z has been critical of the NFL in the past, famously turning down the Super Bowl halftime show.

Ever since Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest racial injustice and police brutality, the NFL’s stand on social justice issues has been criticized. Kaepernick and fellow player Eric Reid settled a collusion case—reportedly for millions of dollars—after they remained unsigned following their participation in the demonstrations. Reid later signed a new contract with a new team. Kaepernick remains unsigned.

Jay-Z wore a Colin Kaepernick jersey during a 2017 appearance on Saturday Night Live.

Following the announcement, Reid took to Twitter, questioning the new partnership, and noted that Miami Dolphins part-owner Stephen Ross recently held a fundraiser for President Trump. 

Interesting timing on the partnership with Jay-Z on the heels of Stephen Ross’ fundraiser for Donald Trump and the backlash his other companies are getting because of it. #PayAttentionFolks

— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) August 14, 2019

All of this can make men feel angry, confused and — perhaps in the case of at least one out of every eight of us —  delusional. As proof, let’s take a look at this YouGov study, which found one and eight of us normal, human, men think we could win a point off of Serena Williams. 

Wait. Was this question confusing? That’s a possibility. After all, it was conducted in the U.K. Perhaps there is another Serena Williams over there, other than the 23-time grand slam champion. Or maybe by “win a point”, some responders thought the survey meant make a point, as in verbally. Admittedly, that wouldn’t be terribly easy either but it sounds at least possible.

Men, there are so many things we can do. Some might argue too many — like, say, dodge the legal consequences of our own actions for decades. But we can also do many appropriately manly things, like roast our own coffee beans, write letters to our mothers, fancast the inevitable Die Hard reboot, recycle our plastics and talk openly about our feelings with trusted loved ones.

But one thing that none of us — absolutely no man reading this — can do, is score against Serena Williams in tennis. We need to be honest about that and if that is a struggle, we need to take a little longer in this group huddle and get a grip. The stakes are high in the twenty-first century. Let’s make sure our heads are on straight.

And, while he was there, he got baptized in the Jordan River, documenting the experience on Instagram.

In a statement, he explained, “This is a part of the world which gets a lot of attention internationally, and this is a chance for me to look beyond the headlines and learn more about the history and culture of this land. I have been blessed to visit many countries around the world, but the chance to visit the Holy Land, see the sites and meet the people of this special place, truly is a special blessing and an amazing opportunity.”

Watson also happens to be one of the nicest guys in the league. Back in 2017, he gave his first NFL game check—worth more than $27,000—to three women who work at the team’s cafeteria and were affected by Hurricane Harvey.

"If you can, you must."@deshaunwatson​ gave his first @NFL​ game check to help a few familiar faces. #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/rwcyGMSRFN

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 27, 2017

Actress Jenna Fischer — still best known as Pam in The Office — was raised in St. Louis and is a big fan of the city’s sports teams. Her former Dunder Mifflin-doomed co-star and on-screen love interest John Krasinski was born and raised in the Boston area, so he stans the New England region.

Last night was game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals between, you guessed it, St. Louis and Boston.

Heading into the game, Pam was doing her part supporting her home town team.

#WeAllBleedBlue, even @jennafischer. pic.twitter.com/hYUex5lb8n

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 7, 2019

But, as fans of The Office and the NHL know, this put her directly at odds with Jim.

Jim vs. Pam: #NHLBruins vs. @StLouisBlues #StanleyCupFinal divides @theofficenbc's favorite couple – @johnkrasinski & @jennafischer https://t.co/GeIYqZdQwP pic.twitter.com/w1osmZX983

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) May 22, 2019

She seemed to have a good time trash talking Mr. Halpert.

It all comes down to tonight. Game 7. #LetsGoBlues #StanleyCup #Gloria #TeamPam @StLouisBlues @NHL @johnkrasinski pic.twitter.com/smGBAAi4t8

— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) June 12, 2019

Uh oh.@johnkrasinski Looks like Pam might be going home with Stanley. Who would have guessed! #StanleyCup #LetsGoBlues

— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) June 7, 2019

This is Jim we’re talking about here, so he had to take things to the next level, and decided the best way to troll Pam, was to get Pam’s former fiancé involved. Yep, actor David Denman, who played Roy, was Krasinski’s Game 7 date.

Game 7! Let’s do this!!! #NHL #StanleyCup @jennafischer pic.twitter.com/BxMokfdLLr

— John Krasinski (@johnkrasinski) June 13, 2019

The Office reunion happening at #Game7! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Icm3PthGak

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) June 13, 2019

Even Michael picked a side.

Steve!!! Not you too!! #LetsGoBlues #Gloria https://t.co/wM7aK35X7S

— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) June 12, 2019

At the end of the day however, it was Pam who walked away the champion—not only on the ice, but her own ice-cold response to Roy (remember, he left her at a minor league hockey game on their first date?)

Ha. Ha. Ha. Well played. Just be careful he doesn't leave you at the game. #GoBlues @NHL @David_Denman https://t.co/JtlCnqloxU

— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) June 13, 2019

I love you St. Louis! I love all of you who watched this game at Enterprise Center. I love all of you who watched in the pouring rain from Busch Stadium. From viewing parties and at home! We All Bleed Blue! Congratulations @StLouisBlues Stanley Cup Winners! https://t.co/sGib9JunPl

— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) June 13, 2019

Jim and Pam forever.

Unanimous Media is founded on the principle that faith stories in particular can make a positive, unifying impression on audiences whether those audiences have faith backgrounds themselves. The company’s early ventures carry a crossover appeal that’s still relatively uncommon in the world of faith-based movies. Breakthrough, a family drama about the power of prayer, was the company’s debut production, but the Unanimous pipeline is diverse: There’s a faith-adjacent romantic comedy in the works, a sports television show and even some projects related to VR.

The one thread running through all these projects is their common mission. Curry says: ”It was important for me to start Unanimous Media with the goal of telling powerful faith stories, honestly, because life is hard. There are curveballs and losses that can feel overwhelming; but through those moments there is also a God who by nature cannot abandon you. If we can introduce or redefine who God is to someone, then the entire production was worth it.”

Co-founders of Unanimous Media, Erick Peyton and Jeron Smith, have joined Curry in the endeavor to bring new faith stories to a wide audience. They spoke with RELEVANT about the motivations behind the company, their upcoming documentary Emanuel and a few additional movies and shows releasing soon.

RELEVANT: Why did you want to found Unanimous Media? What were those early conversations like about the mission of the company?

Smith: This is Stephen’s brain child. This is Stephen wanting to use his platform to impact and inspire. And when we all sat down and talked about the opportunity in media, there was no better way to inspire people than film, television and digital. Media became a vehicle to inspire, to impact and to bring families together.

Peyton: We want to work on projects that move people. It’s really as simple as that—storylines to draw people in and make them think or make them feel and bring them together.

It seems there are a couple pillars to these projects: sports, family and faith. Is that accurate, and if so, how did you land on those?

Smith: It’s almost serendipitous how [Unanimous’ first movie] Breakthrough brought those three pillars together. It kind of made it the perfect first theatrical release for Stephen and for our company. Those pillars came about as an extension of who Stephen is. When you think about who Stephen is and what he represents, he really is a man of faith, and his family is paramount.

How do you guys want to challenge people’s perceptions of what an inspirational story can be and what an inspirational experience can be at the movie theater?

Peyton: I think we look at these stories and we want to make sure the cast represents culture and the story represents the culture. That is really how we try to break these stories. We don’t want these things to fit in a box and be categorized as a faith-based film. We look at these films as inspirational. We’re trying to think outside the box when we’re reading these scripts. From a 360-degree view, we’re trying to break the mold around that traditional faith-based format.

Smith: Ultimately, delivering a premium product is imperative. Once we find the story, a line on the story, or feel like there are shared values in how that story is told, the focus shifts to delivering a quality product, which will obviously yield an excellent viewing experience for our audience. The more we deliver in terms of your cinema experience, the more eyeballs are going to see it, and that’s the goal. We want as many people to experience these stories as possible.

I want to talk about [your upcoming film] Emanuel. This was a devastating story, and there is so much it has to say about faith, race and forgiveness, but a lot of people may have familiarity with when it was in the news. How do you think viewers will be surprised watching this particular film?

Smith: The surprise comes in the families’ response to the tragedy, but it’s not just rooted in the response. Director Brian Ivie is incredibly talented. When you look at the story arc and the pace of the docs and the way he draws the audience into the individual families, you get to this climax where you experience the tragedy and how the families responded to it. Not all of the families chose to forgive Dylann for that tragic act, but many of the families did, and you witness these tremendous benchmarks in humanity. Those survivors chose to love in the face of hate.

There’s this moment when Dylann is locked up and the judge gives [the families] the ability to have some words for him. This woman is weeping and telling Dylann about the effect his act had on her family. You can barely make it out. She takes a moment and finds almost this divine spirit and says, ‘I forgive you.’ It brings me to tears every single time. So even if you know what the film is about, even if you know how the families responded to Dylann, it’s still a poignant and surprising moment when you’re able to hear the families utter those words.

Peyton: You also see how the community comes together and spreads the message about the power of forgiveness after the story of Emanuel hits the news. A lot of outlets picked it up and you see the community come together. I think that’s one of the important themes in the film as well.

What was it like the first time you guys and Stephen were able to see the film? What were your reactions to it?

Smith: Tears. I definitely had an emotional response to the film, and I think the same goes for Stephen as well as everyone who sees the film. I think you’re inspired by the power of forgiveness but I love the way the story did not tell you what to think. It creates a dialogue. It sparks a conversation and lets the viewer digest information for themselves.

Peyton: This is one of those films that truly sticks with you. You never know when you’ll start thinking about it.

I want to ask about a couple things I heard some rumors about. I heard there was a mini golf reality show you guys are working on. Is that in the works?

Peyton: Yeah, the show is called Holey Moley. It will be on ABC this summer. It’s really extreme miniature golf.  It’s one example of being able to sit down with your family for 30 minutes or an hour and just watch a fun and entertaining show.

Smith: Obviously Holey Moley isn’t a faith-based show, but when you think of Unanimous and our mission to use media to bring families together, this is definitely a show you can sit down and watch with your family and give you something to laugh and bond over.

Out of you two and Stephen, who’s a pretty avid golfer, who would win a round of mini golf?

Smith: I want to really hone in on how this is truly extreme miniature golf. While Stephen might win at your local miniature golf course, I think Eric and I have a shot at beating him on a Holey Moley course. It’s a little different.

I read there’s a potential movie about dating on the church scene. Can you tell me anything about that film?

Smith: Church Hoppers is the working title right now. It’s about two individuals who visit a myriad of churches for the purpose of picking up women, but along the course of the film they are transformed through the process.

I love the concept. In our reader base, everyone’s experienced dating in the church, but it’s never been depicted in any kind of meaningful way on film. What are some other projects you have in the works? I heard there could be VR and things in the gaming world.

Smith: We probably can’t go too deep, but we see media as multifaceted and multidimensional. When we look at media as a company, it goes beyond film and television, and soon you’ll see what our expression of experiential media looks like. Later this summer we ‘ll be announcing a few more projects that we’re incredibly excited about, because it shows the evolution of our company.

For Throwback Thursday, we look back at Scott Stapp’s special version of his song “You Will Soar,” rewritten for his beloved Marlins.

Warning, you can never unhear this.

Finn’s been working for the Aviators for three years now. Check it out:

What could possibly be more important than the very first bat retrieve in ⁦@AviatorsLV⁩ baseball history!!! Well here it was…. Ha!
⁦@MiLB⁩ ⁦ pic.twitter.com/wRf1YjGaqD

— Finn The Bat Dog (@finnthebatdog) April 10, 2019

Isn’t he one of the best (bat)boys you’ve ever seen?

There are a couple other bat dogs working the minor leagues. Rookie, a Golden Retriever, works for the Trenton Thunder, just like his predecessors Derby and Chase. Miss Lou Lou Gehrig works for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and JJ the Field General works in a professional league in Detroit.

Work isn’t always easy for these pooches. Just this week, Finn the Bat Dog struggled through a workplace altercation when the home plate umpire working the Aviators’ game picked up a wayward bat right from beneath his nose and tossed it toward the dugout. Finn finished the job and was indeed a very good boy, but the fans in attendance let the ump hear it.

Sheesh, ump. Let Finn The Bat Dog do his job! smh.pic.twitter.com/XymBWLeuQn

— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 10, 2019

Finn has a good relationship with officials. Just days before the game, he tweeted how excited he was to see his umpire buddies again, with a video clip of him bringing the ump a cooler full of cold water for him to be refreshed before the game.

When will bat dogs enter the major leagues? If we had our vote, it would be tonight.

Wade has been one of the most involved activists of the modern basketball era. He was one of the leaders in LeBron James’ now-famous “hoodies up” photo calling attention to police violence after the Trayvon Martin shooting, he co-founded a relief fund to combat damage from the 2010 Haitian earthquake and he’s been outspoken about gang violence in his hometown Chicago, where he puts much of his salary toward public works, like libraries.

#WeAreTrayvonMartin #Hoodies #Stereotyped #WeWantJustice http://t.co/tH6baAVo

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2012

Wade is a vocal Christian. He wore the #3 for most of his career in a representation of the Trinity, and when his mom rediscovered faith while she was incarcerated in the early 2000s, he partnered with her after her release to organize and fund a local ministry in Chicago.

Sure, this video might be a well-disguised commercial, but it will make you feel really darn inspired, and sometimes, that’s alright. Sports are awesome.