Latest Culture News & Articles by OutKick

Latest Details Of Hamas Leader's Assassination Are Incredibly Bada**

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 23:04:39 -0400

More details are out about the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, and the situation was straight out of a thriller.

The now-dead Hamas leader was killed in a bombing in Tehran, Iran while attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in late July.

It was initially thought the Israelis might have fired a missile into the residence he was in from an F-35 stationed outside of Iranian airspace.

However, it was reported last week that he was actually killed by a bomb inside the building. It was something resembling a Tom Clancy thriller, and the latest details are even more badass.

As soon as it was reported the bomb came from inside - not outside - of the building under IRGC protection, I immediately said the Israelis had people within the building that had turned and were working for them.

Well, that's apparently exactly what happened. The Jewish Chronicle reported earlier in the week that "two Iranians recruited by the Mossad from the Ansar al-Mahdi security unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" were used to plant the bomb that killed Haniyeh.

The two unnamed Iranians turned Israeli assets used a key card to enter the room Haniyeh would be staying in, planted the explosive, left three minutes later and drove right out of the compound without being stopped after being recognized by other guards and were later smuggled out of the country. Both men "were offered a six-figure sum each as well as immediate relocation to a northern European country," according to the same report.

It's safe to say they're both long gone and will never be seen again in Iran.

The Iranians figured out what happened by later watching security camera footage. The report from the Jewish Chronicle also pushes back the claim the bomb was there for a lengthy period time, including up to two months.

The bomb was reportedly placed roughly 13 hours before it was remotely detonated to kill the then-Hamas leader.

Like I said, I called it that the Israelis had turned people in the compound. It was really the only option that made any sense. It also can't be overstated how bold and a gutsy call this was from the Israeli. Reaching out and touching a terrorist leader under the protection of the IRGC is no small feat, and the killing has no led to fears of a broader conflict. We can debate that topic another time, but what's not up for debate is that the assassination plan was awesome.

Imagine how much those two Iranians must have been sweating as they exited the compound. Death sentences awaited them if captured.

Instead, they disappeared into the night and almost certainly already have new identities with their healthy bank accounts. Incredibly awesome all the way around. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

'Romper Stomper' From The Porta Potty Brawl At A Morgan Wallen Concert Responds To Hawk Tuah Girl Collab

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:50:51 -0400

Way before the Hawk Tuah Girl Haliey Welch went viral, there was another blonde who captured the internet's attention. Her name is Dalanie DiSabato, aka the "Romper Stomper."

She went viral at a Morgan Wallen concert at PNC Park last summer for playing a starring role in a porta potty brawl. She was seen in the viral video, as her nickname suggests, stomping her opponents while wearing a romper.

DiSabato turned her success into more than 187k followers on TikTok and a job with Playboy, which included joining their exclusive content platform.

Now there have been calls for a collaboration between the "Romper Stomper" and "Hawk Tuah" after some of the similarities between the two were pointed out to DiSabato.

She addressed the calls for "The duo we need!" in a recent TikTok video. Although any collab between the two would likely have to take place on a platform other than Playboy.

"Romper Stomper and Hawk Tuah seem similar. We both had our super viral video with Barstool and like the interview, but like, what's wrong with that?," DiSabato started off the video by saying.

"Haliey seems like a super nice, sweet, genuine person, so I don’t feel like there’s any reason to compare on like, a negative aspect. Our stories are a little bit different, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

"I think we’re both popping off and doing our thing, so I guess so. We probably would be really great friends, honestly."

DiSabato tagged Welch in a response to a comment on the video calling for them to team up. There were also several calls for a collaboration of some kind between the two viral stars.

Will it happen? We can only hope.

Even if it doesn't, I'm happy we live in a world where a viral porta potty brawl at a concert can turn a coffee shop employee in a romper into a star who makes content for Playboy.

Canadian Pole Vaulter Alysha Newman Twerks After Securing The Bronze Medal

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:14:00 -0400

Canadian pole vaulter and content creator Alysha Newman isn't leaving the Olympics empty-handed this year. Her third time at the Summer Games has her taking home a medal when she packs her bags and leaves Paris.

The "Pole Vault Queen" as she refers to herself on the funder of her training, OnlyFans, earned herself a bronze medal on Wednesday.

This was more than a medal that will allow Alysha to add "Olympic medal winner" to her bio on her social media platforms. It's also Team Canada's first Olympic pole-vaulting medal in 112 years.

Alysha took home the bronze behind Australia's Nina Kennedy, who earned her country's first Olympic gold in the pole vault, and USA's Katie Moon, who took silver.

The medal winning attempt by the Canadian pole vaulter reached a height of 4.85 meters and, on top of being medal worthy, the attempt set a new Canadian national record.

Not a bad finish for the 30-year-old who qualified for the final for the first time in her three Olympic appearances. The only thing more impressive than ending up on the podium might be her celebration.

Alysha started her celebration before she had even hit the mat. She knew she had secured a medal and ran around before pausing to twerk for the crowd.

What a beautiful moment. The hard work, the overcoming of her injuries, the domination of the cold tub, and, of course, the history that she made. Twerking is the only celebration that's appropriate for such a moment.

It wouldn’t have made sense if Alysha won a medal and simply ran around screaming in celebration.

That works for other Olympic athletes, but not this Olympic athlete. The content game has been too good to her. She needed a way to make sure people took note of her work and she did that.

Credit to me. I called it all the way back in January when I said that she was "someone to watch when the Olympics get here this summer." She had just put on an elite performance in a cold tub in the snow.

There was something about the way she, without hesitation, went for it. It was different. She was doing anything and everything to prepare well in advance and it paid off.

Alysha earned that medal and the twerking celebration that followed. Congratulations.

Alabama Rush Girls Report For Duty, Ole Miss QB Cheating Scandal Rocks The SEC & The Latest Sex Craze

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:31:37 -0400

First Hump Day of August! What a day. What a week.

We've got Hard Knocks BACK, preseason football in full swing, exactly 17 days until college football kicks off, and the content out of Paris continues to flow like fine wine.

For an early-August class, we are LOADED today, which is nice because it means we're slowly coming out of the summer lull.

There are only so many times I can keep going back to the Jennifer Aniston/Danica Patrick well before you all get annoyed. I get it. It ain't easy in the summer, you know. There's a reason schools take these two months off every year.

But I think we're safely on the other side of all that, and we're stronger for it. Let's get to humping.

Welcome to a Wednesday Nightcaps – where we celebrate the return of fall class with the Alabama sorority girls. A tradition like no other, as Jimbo Nantz would say.

What else? I've got Aussie hurdler Michelle Jenneke – who has the heart of a lion – checking in with a couple nosedives, a cheating scandal at Ole Miss that's rocking Oxford, Skip Bayless nearly taking a punch from Cris Carter, and the newest sex fantasy that's all the rage right now.

Allegedly, of course.

Grab something warm from that cabinet tucked away in your kitchen, mix it with something cold, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

We're gonna go ahead and start in Paris and work our way back to the states. Sound good? Good!

Credit to Joe Kinsey for alerting me to this – big brother's always looking out for the ugly sibling! He sent it my way this morning, and I've been locked in ever since. Can't get enough of it.

This Michelle Jenneke is a pistol, and I'd go to battle with her any day of the week.

Unreal fight. If I took a tumble like that on the national stage, there is absolutely no shot I'd get back up and keep going. None. I'd quit so fast, heads would spin. Take my ass and go straight home. Would've even wait for the rest of my team. I'd just vanish.

But not Michelle Jenneke. She's been a pistol since Day 1, waaaaaaay back in 2014 when she stole our hearts as a little-known 21-year-old hurdler from Australia:

She burst onto the scene then, and she's BACK now with even more #content. It's not how hard you fall, it's how fast you get back up.

Our girl dragged herself across the finish line just to remain eligible for something called Repechage. No idea what that is, but I'm watching.

OK, back to the states! Look who's back on campus …

The comment on that last video, at least for me, summed it all up perfectly …

Bama Rush is defrosting.

Like flowers blooming in April, this is how we know a new season is upon us. When the Alabama girls start firing off ridiculous social media videos ad nauseam, and dancing to songs none of us have ever heard, THAT's when you know fall semester is about to begin.

And how about the cameo by Nate Oats?! What a recruiting tactic.

PS: no shot that's a Ray Rice jersey, right? It HAS to be JK Dobbins. Lord, I hope it is. Who has a Ray Rice jersey just lying around, anyway? No chance.

In any event, welcome back, Bama Rush girls. Can't wait to see what these new few weeks hold in Tuscaloosa. No more Nick Saban, so it's open season there right now. Nobody knows what to expect, and I sort of enjoy that.

Roll tide!

Luckily for them, they don't have to face Ole Miss and Jaxson Dart this season. The Rebs are LOADED this fall. Surely nothing can derail them, right …

I mean, what a disaster for Lane Kiffin and Co. on the eve of a new season. When Lane talks about Rat Poison, this is what he means. Don't yell at me, Lane! I'm just the messenger!

You can't have your QB1 dealing with relationship drama with an SEC gauntlet staring him in the face. Will Jaxson Dart handle Furman, Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Southern whilst dealing with Lola Sexton fallout? Sure. I could do that.

But SEC play begins Sept. 28. Georgia comes to town in November. A trip to Florida looms around Thanksgiving (although the Gators will be like 3-7 by then). We need our man to lock it in and handle this head-on.

Did he cheat on Lola for a year straight? Who knows? Doesn't matter, though. We've got a football season to prepare for. Lock it in.

OK, rapid-fire time on this Hump Day in August. First up? Let's stick with college football, where we had a social media war break out today between … Colorado and Arkansas?

So, everyone on social media accused the Buffs of faking that first video and editing it together to look like a completed pass. It's not the best video, if we're being honest, so I can see why everyone was so cynical.

A few hours later, Arkansas fanned the flames with a video of their own, prompting Colorado to issue the full video.

Is it all petty? Sure. But we LOVE petty around here. It's the lifeblood of blogging, frankly. Without petty drama, this class would be miserable. What, do y'all wanna talk about actual, real-life topics? Come on. Econ 101 is right down the hall!

Next? Let's check in with Skip Bayless and Cris Carter!

My God. I forgot how electric that show used to be. Remember when it was Cold Pizza? What a time to be alive. How about the nuts on Skip? He really is/was a loose cannon. An idiot, but a loose cannon.

I can say that now that he's gone, right?

Finally … for those wondering what the latest sex trend is, rest easy, I've got your answer: infidelity!

From the NY Post:

Nova Hawthorne has worked in the sex industry for a while now and while she’s always had clients who were married or in relationships, she’s noticed an uptick in the affair fantasy.

Hawthorne, 29, said she thinks it comes from the "thrill of the forbidden fruit" and people wanting to lean into the taboo of ignoring monogamy.

"The thrill of secrecy and the taboo nature of an affair can really heighten someone’s sense of arousal and pleasure," she told news.com.au.

If the affair trope is your jam, Hawthorne said there are "safe and ethical ways" for individuals to explore that fantasy without cheating.

"Make sure you’ve had a conversation with your partner about your sexual fantasy and check they are on board with some sexy exploration," she advised.

"Roleplaying can be a fun way to tap into a cheating fantasy without compromising your relationship."

Hawthorne said you can really put some effort into it, go out, get dressed up, and pretend to meet your partner for the first time.

Obviously, you all know where I'm going with this, right? Come on. You've been in this class long enough to know what show I'm about to reference:

God, TV used to be so great.

OK, that's it for today. Enjoy your role-playing, everyone!

See you tomorrow.

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

You excited for Bama Rush Week? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Denise Richards Encourages Tori Spelling To Go Topless Behind A Paywall, Tori Wants A Third Boob Job First

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:32:28 -0400

Tori Spelling, like the rest of us, has bills to pay. That includes some upcoming college tuition for her five kids. The 51-year-old revealed that she's considering taking some drastic measures to pay for it all.

By drastic measures, she says that she's contemplating joining OnlyFans.

Denise Richards, who is also in her 50s and has taken her talents behind a paywall and cashed in, joined Tori's misSPELLING podcast and encouraged her friend to go for it. Tori brought up the topic, seemingly looking for some advice.

Denise responded to the apparent hesitation to join the subscription platform on Tori's behalf by asking, "What the f*ck are you waiting for?"

A fair question. Tori responds by shifting the attention to a drag on the OnlyFans parade in the room with them, who is advising her not to join the platform.

Denise was having none of it. She told the other person, "She has nothing to lose. We have nothing to lose. At our age, people want to see us? F*ck it."

It couldn’t have been said any better. Obviously, Denise gets it. She goes on to describe OnlyFans as a fan site where you can communicate differently than you can on platforms like Instagram.

You know, if you want to pull your boobs out for your fans and have them pay you for that, then you can. That's the beauty of joining OnlyFans.

Denise added, "Do I do topless? Yeah. But I already have it out there, cause I did f*cking Playboy."

Upon learning that Tori's boobs weren't already out there on the internet like hers are, she says, "Oh. Well, you might as well have them out there."

Some more solid, friendly advice from Denise here. Why not? You've made it all the way to your 50s without putting them out there. There's never been a better time to do so.

The pep talk appears to have hit home for the former 90210 star. By the end of it, she seems to be onboard with putting her boobs out there, but there's one order of business to take care of first.

Tori must first go under the knife again. She responded, "After the third boob job, because I hate them right now."

It's all very simple for Denise. She summed it up by saying, "At our age, I'm like if someone wants to see my boobies and see me naked, I'm like f*cking thank you!"

Sign me up for a Denise Richards life coaching session any time.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart's Girlfriend Hints At Cheating In Tiktok Video

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:56:15 -0400

Heisman hopeful Jaxson Dart appears to be entering the 2024 season with some major off-the-field drama after his girlfriend appeared in a viral Tiktok video.

Lola Sexton appears on a Starbucks patio with her friend who captioned the video, "Just a casual coffee date finding out her boyfriend cheated on her for the last year."

"Real!!!!!," Dart's girlfriend Lola Sexton replied in the comments.

Oh, there's more.

Further down in the comments, Lola's sister, Kloee hopped into the fray with some context. "She had no idea about any of the cheating until now. She’s not going back," Kloee claimed.

The tragedy in all this, according to TikTok observers, is that Dart & Lola started dating as high schoolers and went to a COVID prom together before Darty took off for USC and then transferring to Ole Miss.

The last thing salacious culture departments like the OutKick Culture Department wants to see out of our NIL-era college football gunslingers, especially at Ole Miss, is for them to be tied down to high school sweethearts.

It's one of the biggest issues with modern quarterbacks.

The sport, and position, need more quarterbacks who are single and ready to mingle. It's even more interesting if they're willing to cheat on their high school sweethearts.

Again, I know there are real and raw emotions at play here, but this is also NIL college football and we need storylines. Dart and his girlfriend having drama opens up a huge content play for the OutKick Culture Department.

Dart is going to be a stud – Draft Wire says the guy "should be one of the top prospects at his position in the 2025 NFL Draft – and has a shot at winning a Heisman. It's highly likely he'll be 6-0 heading into a MASSIVE October 12 showdown with LSU in Baton Rouge.

Oklahoma comes to Oxford the following week for a pre-Halloween contest.

Women will be throwing themselves at Dart if he can run the gauntlet like a modern-day Johnny Manziel.

The last thing the guy wants to be dealing with is a long-distance relationship.

And from the look of things, he seems to have made sure that won't be happening.

If I'm an NFL GM, Dart has officially moved up the draft board. This guy clearly doesn't want any distractions heading into the football season. The breakup/cheating allegations dropping during the preseason camp is genius from Dart.

Good luck changing my mind.

Email: joekinsey@gmail.com

Jaxson Dart Dealing With Rumors That He Cheated On His Girlfriend

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:01:28 -0400

Trouble in Oxford as Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is forced to deal with some off the field drama involving cheating allegations. Not exactly an ideal situation as he prepares for his senior season and a run at the College Football Playoff, but here he is nonetheless.

For his part, he's ignored the rumors. There hasn't been a peep about it on his end. It's been football, football, and more football, which is an encouraging sign. His longtime girlfriend Lola Sexton, on the other hand, appeared to have confirmed the rumors on social media earlier this week.

Sexton, who Dart has been dating since the two of them were in high school in Utah, showed up in a video on her friend's TikTok. The text overlay on the five-second clip is where the drama comes in. It reads, "Just a casual coffee date finding out her boyfriend cheated on her for the last year."

The drama continues in the comment section of the video where Sexton pops up with what seems like more evidence supporting the cheating rumors. She commented, "real!!!!😘🤝."

She then dropped a heart emoji in response to the comment "Girl I been there too. It ain’t ever about you just know that👏🏼👏🏼."

Then, because Sexton had to do some promoting of her own TikTok, she shared a video on her account.

Again, not an ideal situation for Dart. He's got big things to accomplish this season. Ole Miss is expected to be a good team, and he's got Heisman Trophy aspirations.

Who knows? A little off the field drama due to a cheating scandal might be exactly what he needs to fuel a playoff run and a run at the Heisman. The fact that he's been heads down is, again, a very good sign.

There's no need to jump into things or mix it up in the comments. It's on to the season and making the most out of it. What's done is done.

That said, I don't blame Lola Sexton here at all for getting on social media and cranking the drama up. For one thing, who doesn't like a little off the field drama before the season starts?

Not to mention we live in the social media age. Taking the opportunity to shine light on her own social media accounts is a smart move. Add some followers and juice up those DMs.

Eric Trump Wouldn't Mind Deporting Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:00:23 -0400

Don't expect Eric Trump to be invited to any of Prince Harry or Meghan Markle's get-together's anytime soon.

The son of former President Donald Trump didn't hold back his thoughts when it came to the estranged Royal couple that famously left Great Britain to head to Los Angeles in 2020.

"You can happily have those two [Meghan and Harry] back," Eric Trump told the British media outlet GB News after being asked about the Trump family's thoughts on the British Monarchy.

"We’ll happily send them back from America. You can have them back over here, but I’m not sure if you want them anymore. We might not want them anymore, it feels like they’re on an island of their own," Trump continued.

It's unclear if Eric watches South Park, but his point echoed the infamous episode that mocked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex blaming America and the American media for all their troubles. In the episode, both Harry and Meghan are hilariously ridiculed for their real-life tendencies of claiming they don't want attention and want to be left alone, while at the same time seemingly appearing to be EVERYWHERE.

"You can always have bad actors in everything. You can have spoiled apples in every orchard," Trump continued.

Although the former President Trump had a good relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth II as well as King Charles III, he has not been fond of Harry and Meghan. During an appearance at February's CPAC Conference, Trump criticized the Biden Administration for being "too gracious" to the Royal couple. "I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me," Trump said at the time.

Although I highly doubt Donald Trump is going to deport Harry and Meghan, the bigger question should be - would England and the Royal Family even welcome them back?

New 'Game Of Thrones' Series Gets Great Release Update, First Footage Released

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:48:15 -0400

"Game of Thrones" fans have their first look at footage from "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms."

The latest plot of the latest HBO project in the "GoT" universe is described as follows:

"A century before the events of "Game of Thrones," two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends."

Production on the series officially started in June, and fans have been desperate for two things since then:

Fans now have both………sort of.

After plenty of anticipation and wondering when the new "Game of Thrones" series might arrive, fans won't have to wonder anymore as for the exact year.

HBO announced that it will arrive at some point in 2025, but no specific day is known. The powerhouse network also released the first footage of the new series.

You can watch it starting at 1:08 in the announcement video below. It's not long. I suggest not blinking.

It's an interesting time for an update to come about "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." "GoT" fans are currently beyond livid thanks to the disappointing season two finale of "House of the Dragon."

People were expecting a massive bloodbath. It simply didn't happen, and the backlash has been nonstop and unrelenting. Will that impact "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"?

It's hard to say. The ending of "GoT" upset the vast majority of viewers and "HoD" certainly appears to be trending in the wrong direction. Is the brand losing its luster?

I hope not, but HBO needs a winner in the "Game of Thrones" universe that doesn't leave fans feeling disappointed and frustrated.

My guess is fans should get ready for a summer 2025 release of the project, which would certainly pair nicely with "Stranger Things" if it also drops next summer as expected. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Florida Man Who Beat His Teacher's Brains In Gets Prison

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:44:07 -0400

The hulking 6-foot-6, 270-pound Florida Man, who nearly beat the life out of his high school paraprofessional for allegedly taking his Nintendo Switch, learned his fate Tuesday.

Brendan Depa, now 18, was sentenced to five years in state prison and 15 years of probation for the attack on Joan Naydich where, according to prosecutors, he punched the woman 15 times before five people pulled him off his prey.

"But for those five people pulling him off, I don’t think [Naydich] would be here today," Florida Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark said of the incident that left the teacher with broken ribs, a concussion and PTSD.

Let's take a look back at the attack that some appear to have forgotten about, including Depa's adoptive mother, who had some rather interesting things to say after the violent criminal was sentenced.

"They are punishing that he is Black, they are punishing that he is large and they are punishing his disability," Leanne Depa told reporters after the sentence was handed down.

Leanne Depa has spent the last 10 months proclaiming that the boy she adopted at 5-months-old has "had a hard life" while struggling with autism and behavorial issues. She testified that her son, who kicked his teacher's ass, had trouble making friends and was no stranger to aggressive behavior.

Earlier this year, a lawsuit against the Flagler County Public Schools on Brendan Depa's behalf.

"It should be noted that the school and staff working with him and the district knew that the electronics, specifically the Nintendo and its use on a school campus was a trigger for escalating behaviors," the lawsuit states.

Joan Naydich has done some of her own PR work over this Nintendo narrative.

"I just want to set the record straight. I never took the Nintendo Switch from him. From anyone that’s read or heard differently, I’ve been told this was unfortunately misinformation," she said in 2023.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit against the school district claims that threats to take away the Nintendo were common and that the "paraprofessional should not have interacted with the student in this manner. Her and the teachers actions caused a predictable outcome."

According to police, when they got their hands on Depa, he told cops, "F--k you, I don't want to go to jail. I have more important things to do" while claiming he was "going to kill [Naydich]" when he got another opportunity.

One has to ask the question, which the judge did during sentencing, if being autistic automatically means you're prone to kicking your teacher's ass at school.

Depa's attorney said no.

At some point the excuses for beating a teacher's brains in have to end.

Tuesday, in a court room, it all came to an end.

Spain's Beach Volleyball Players Steal The Hearts Of Olympic Fans On Social Media

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:43:48 -0400

There are a couple of beach volleyball players from Spain grabbing a lot of attention on social media during this year's Summer Olympics. Paula Soria Gutierrez and Liliana Fernandez are kicking ass and taking names in more ways than one.

Whether the two advance all the way to competing for a gold medal or not, the duo have already had an incredible run in Paris. As I'm writing this, the two are taking on Canada in the quarterfinals.

Gutierrez and Fernandez have also enjoyed a ton of viral success during their impressive run to the quarterfinals, as much as the Olympics will allow before having clips taken down.

One of the clips, a serve from Gutierrez, has helped turn up the attention on the two beach volleyballers. It has more than 15 million views and counting.

That's making the most of a trip to the Olympics, to say the least. It's also how you put someone walking around with the title of the "World's Sexiest Volleyballer" on notice.

Kayla Simmons has some real competition when it comes to that title now. They might not be on her level social media wise, but they're still playing the sport at a very high level.

Unfortunately, they won't be doing so for much longer. This will be their last Olympics together. Fernаndez announced that the Summer Games will be her fourth and final.

She's also retiring as a professional and there's a chance that could happen before the season ends.

Going out with a medal is nice, but if that doesn't happen, all is not lost. Stealing the hearts of fans before you call it an Olympic career isn't a bad consolation prize.

I'm not going to be rooting for Spain or anything, but if the USA can't get it done, who better to take home a medal than these two?

Jack Black Clarifies Trump-Hating Tenacious D Band Status: 'We'll Be Back'

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:32:08 -0400

What's the punishment when a popular band member is upset that former President Trump wasn't assassinated when grazed by a bullet last month? Well, for Tenacious D, it's taking ‘some time away’ but not too much.

Speaking with Variety Tuesday night, Tenacious D frontman and comedian actor Jack Black said that the band is "taking a break," that was well-needed because "everybody needs a break sometimes…" but fear not because "we’ll be back."

The downplayed comments contradict the actor's much more stern words and public apology after band member Kyle Gass ‘joked' during the band's live performance at an Australia show that he wished that Trump's shooter "doesn’t miss Trump next time."

The comments, which came just hours after the assassination attempt, were widely condemned in America as well as in Australia - with some of the country's politicians even seeking to revoke the band's passports and kick them out of the country. Tenacious D would end up postponing its tour and returning home. It was then that Jack Black condemned his bandmate's comments, but the actor says they still remain friends.

"Yeah, we’re friends. That hasn’t changed," Black told Variety. "These things take time sometimes… And we’ll be back when it feels right."

Now, personally, I'm not one for cancel culture. Were the comments rather stupid and in poor taste - especially when they were said to an international audience? Absolutely. But should Tenacious D never be allowed to play a show again? Well, that should be up to them. In the end, fans will decide for themselves whether they want to continue to see the band perform and ultimately set the market value.

I moreso had an issue of Jack Black's half-hearted apology that came days later and only after outrage. The public tweet or the iPhone Notes apology has become all too common these days and in many cases just reeks of a celebrity's PR team trying to do its best to grasp control of the narrative.

What's most troubling is that in the aftermath, Kyle Gass released a statement on social media saying that his comments were "highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake." He added, "I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone," on Instagram. "What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgment. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused."

Unfortunately, it appears that Gass doesn't believe that wishing for someone to get shot and killed is ‘highly inappropriate’, being that he has deleted the post. The fact that we can't have both sides of the political aisle agree on the basic premise that a former U.S. leader shouldn't be wounded or killed shows just how troubling things have become.

Hilarious RFK Jr. Memes Flood Social Media After Dead Bear Story Goes Viral

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:26:55 -0400

Memes mocking Robert Kennedy Jr. are flooding X, and the content is absolutely hilarious.

The independent candidate for President went viral Sunday when he shared a video on X explaining how he staged a dead bear he picked up to look like a bicycle accident had taken it out in Central Park.

No matter how I would attempt to summarize the story, there's absolutely no shot I could do it justice. If you haven't already seen the video, then I suggest you give it a watch below.

It's one of the most absurd and funniest things the internet has enjoyed in a very long time.

How did the internet react to RFK Jr.'s unreal story about staging a bike accident to dump the dead bear he randomly picked up?

With some of the best meme responses that we've seen in a very long time. Check out some of the best below, and hit me with your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com:

This is the internet at its finest. This is one of those moments were all people, regardless of political views, can unite around a common cause:

Roasting the hell out of RFK Jr. for his insane bear story.

Why did the independent candidate for POTUS believe this was a smart story to share? It seems he felt like had to get ahead of The New Yorker on it, but in hindsight, he probably should have just ignored it.

Instead of people maybe talking about it for an afternoon, he's getting cooked days later.

What do you think of RFK Jr.'s bear story? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Famous Liberal Makes Insane Comment About Daughter Competing Against Males: VIDEO

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:15:11 -0400

Cenk Uygur claims to have no issue with his young daughter competing against males.

The debate about transgender and male athletes in women's sports continues to dominate the news, and while many people think it's an insane thing to even consider - Kirk Herbstreit, for example - others don't see it as much of a problem at all.

That now includes the founder of the liberal news outlet The Young Turks.

The basic reality is that males - even young ones - have a significant physical advantage over females. Males are stronger, bigger and faster more times than not.

That's why keeping males out of women's sports isn't just common sense, but also a safety issue. Cenk would disagree and has zero problem with his daughter suiting up against males, which is defined as a mammal with XY chromosomes.

"You’re so obsessed with this trans issue. You mentioned you have a 12-year-old girl; I have a 12-year-old girl. I don’t mind if she competes against trans girls in junior high and high school. What are you going to do? Check the genitals of all those kids? What are you guys nuts? Now on the professional level, that’s a different story," Uygur said during an interview on "Piers Morgan Uncensored."

Piers was quick to push back claiming he absolutely does mind, and Uygur's response to that was absolutely insane. He suggested genitals be inspected for kids.

"Alright, go check the genitals of all the kids, you loons. You total utter loons," the TYT founder said during the argument.

You can watch the exchange starting around 42:45, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

I honestly can't even tell if Cenk is trolling or not. Back in the day, he seemed like a rational liberal. On the left? No question about it, but not crazy.

However, this is next level crazy. Putting the politics of the debate aside, it's a safety issue and it's a basic science issue. I have several female family members who were elite athletes in their prime, including professionally. They still lacked the muscle mass, speed or size to compete against male counterparts.

The differences grow as people age, but even as teenagers, there is a comically large gap between males and females. That's why women's basketball teams need to practice against men. It's so much faster that it makes games against women seem like slow motion.

Asking young females to go up against males is asking females to lose. That's the exact point Piers Morgan made about why there are different divisions for men and women.

What do you think of Cenk's crazy comment? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

WNBA Rookie Spent The Olympic Break With Her Rumored College Girlfriend

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:39:13 -0400

WNBA rookie Kate Martin, who had America's full attention earlier this summer by hard-launching her relationship with Iowa girlfriend Claire Gransee, is wrapping up the two-week break by stealing headlines yet again.

And you thought all we cared about was the Olympic gender drama! Hogwash. The WNBA is back in just a few short days, which means we'll be right back to Caitlin Clark/Angel Reese coverage on the court, and Kate Martin/Claire Gransee coverage off of it.

Kate got the ball rolling this week with an Instagram dump from her two-week vacation, and the slide show set the world on fire thanks to yet another mirror picture with girlfriend Claire.

What a story:

Welcome back to the show, Claire! It's been a while. Honestly, I thought these two would just sort of fade away. They got a ton of attention in June when news of their relationship first stirred the pot, but then it's been crickets ever since.

But the WNBA has been off for two weeks now, which means the ladies are out and about, and ready to captivate the country once again.

For those who don't know much about Kate Martin, she's a pistol. For starters, she's Caitlin Clark's old teammate from Iowa, so you know she's ready for prime time.

But she was also supposed to go undrafted in May, only to instead be drafted by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. What a twist!

And no, she's not just a benchsitter with a hot girlfriend. Kate has burst onto the scene in Vegas, become an everyday starter, and a fan favorite. Combine that with her off-the-field resume, and it's been a wild few months for Hawkeye Kate Martin.

Can't wait to see what her and Grace do next.

Carmen Electra Respects Summer From Her Swimming Pool, Bristol With A Baseball Field & Tyrus Vs. Jesse

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:02:58 -0400

Have a friggin' backbone, Little League International.

As an adult who watched his beloved Hardscrabble Little League be destroyed (before its death, Hardscrabble was the oldest Little League in Ohio) by the travel ball industrial complex, it makes me sick to see Little League get into bed with the travel ball scumbags who refuse to allow their kids to play with the boys who can't catch a baseball.

I hear it over and over from the travel ball scumbags: My kid isn't playing with the nosepickers. We're too elite.

Fine, don't play.

But, it turns out, the travel ball dirtbag parents want it both ways. They want their 32-team shootouts at Cooperstown, and then they want Latham to play on ESPN with a Little League patch on his shoulder.

What did Little League do?

It bent a knee to the Stanley-succin', Hampton Inn lobby bitching and moaning mama bears and their little Lathams because Little League needs to stay afloat and ESPN gives them a bunch of money to put on a product to sell Frosted Flakes to little kids throughout August as those kids are going back to school and begging their parents for Frosted Flakes.

The disgusting mama bears get what they want. Little League loser officials get what they want. ESPN gets what they want. Frosted Flakes' marketing team gets what it wants.

Just remember the bucolic nature of what you're watching this month on ESPN/ABC isn't the reality on the ground. It's not the Little League you grew up with.

- Travel Ball Hardo Chris B. in Houston loved this topic:

I don't think there is any Little League rule against also playing select ball. I think their only rule is that you have to live within your Little League's boundaries.

I think many of the LLWS players also play on select teams... when their schedules permit. That would mean that they play on select teams in the Fall &/or Winter, when Little League is not being played. I don't have any idea how rigorous the Little League schedule is, but if there are significant gaps between events during the Little League season the players can presumably get picked up by select teams for tourneys that occur when they don't have Little League games.

Also, I think the Little League coach could essentially enter his whole Little League team into select tournaments to get more reps in-between Little League events. It doesn't have to be one or the other... if you want to play alot.

Love the Minnesota crew choosing San Leon, TX! A great spot on Galveston bay.

- Duncan in Georgia writes in about Kirby Smart's son popping up on ESPN playing Little League baseball AFTER a travel ball season:

Kirby son played travel ball for the East Cobb Astros 11U Orange. His team was in our bracket one weekend but we didn't play them. I was shocked that he was on a Little League team, guess he was a hired gun.

If this link works, scroll to the bottom to see the roster. If not, I can send screen shots

https://www.perfectgame.org/PGBA/Team/default.aspx?orgid=420&orgteamid=188555&Year=2024

- Jeff writes:

Took a boys trip this past weekend. First to Cincy to see the Cubs POUND the Reds and then on to tOSU & lunch at the best German restaurant in the USofA! Finally, we got to Canton for the Hall of Fame weekend.

Going for the game and the ceremony were great, but the HoF itself is well worth the trip! Those KC SB Rings are HUGE!!

Seeing a Bears victory was the icing on the cake, even if it was the most inconsequential of pre-season games. Football is back! Go Bears!

Also, you thought the new kickoff formation looked weird on TV, wait until you see it in person!

Kinsey:

I'm due for a trip out to the HOF. I'm not going to reveal names, but l can report that Screencaps is read by some inside the HOF and I've been asked to come out for a visit, so that's on the agenda.

The last time I was at the HOF was 2018 when I asked Ray Lewis the question wondering if he'd use T.O.'s allotted HOF speech time since T.O. refused to show up. The Big Js got mad at me, but the question made headlines, so screw them. Losers.

- Chris A. shares:

It looks like the end for Aerosmith, with Steve Tyler's fractured larynx (let THAT sink in) not healing as it should, but ol' Steve is 76, and Father Time is undefeated.

Aerosmith was the first hard rock band that I really loved. I didn't get onboard until 1976, but then I was hooked. I saw them multiple times in concert, including the infamous Cap Centre gig where he dragged a girl around the stage like a mop: Aerosmith - Live in Largo, MD (January 25, 1980) (REMASTERED AUDIO) (youtube.com).

This was when they were split up and Jimmy Crespo was in the band replacing Joe Perry. After that show, I thought I had seen the last of Aerosmith. Everyone was high all the time, their albums got worse, and at some point Steven was broke and trying to score crack on the streets in some random town at 3am. And then Steven and Joe got back together, got straight (mostly), made some kick-ass new music, and got rediscovered by a whole new generation of fans. It has been a second act for the ages, and I'm not sure we will see the likes of them again.

They were the greatest American rock and roll band.

Congrats on the success of the 2-club. I'd love to get out there with you guys, but my game is embarrassing at all the wrong times. I'd rather that people think I'm terrible at the game than go out and play and remove all doubt.

Kinsey:

I had to look this one up. The only time I saw Aerosmith was at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY on February 26, 1994. I'm still surprised my buddies and I didn't catch heat from our parents for road tripping at that point in our high school careers. I was barely 17. You can do the math.

I don't remember a ton about the concert, but I remember the power steering in the car I was driving blowing out on I-75N on the way home in the middle of the night somewhere between Lexington & Covington, KY where my brother was living.

Easing that car into northern Kentucky is stuck in my mind. According to the archive, Aerosmith closed that show with "Walk This Way."

My ass thought it was about to walk home when that steering went out.

- Jonathan R. says no way, this is disrespect:

No comment...just the pic taken today at a Costco in Denver

- Lee D. in Tampa sent over this one. It appears Florida is getting back to normal:

- Indy Daryl provides an update:

I hope you are well on this glorious Saturday evening! As captain of Kinsey’s Folly, I have made sure to keep up my training for the October Bourbon Chase Ragnar. Making sure to lead by example, I embarked on a Coros (watch company) led 12 week speed training program and today I just set a personal best in the 5K!!

It’s not blazing but I was immensely satisfied with a time of 22:29 (7:24min/mile)!!!! Will adjust to an endurance program for the fall, making sure to include all necessary Ragnar prep.

Kinsey:

I need to find out if Daryl has had to kick anyone off the team for lack of work ethic.

#####################

That's it for this Wednesday in August as we inch ever closer to real college football action. I see it's only going to hit 74-degrees here this Saturday which will trigger the pumpkin spice latte crowd and people who love football Saturdays.

Remember, #RespectSummer. Don't wish away these patio days.

Go have a great day.

Email: joekinsey@gmail.com

'Stranger Things' Star Shares Disappointing Update On Final Season

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:38:37 -0400

"Stranger Things" fans better get comfortable waiting for the final season to premiere.

The fifth season of the legendary Netflix sci-fi show will serve as its conclusion. It's been a wild and epic ride since 2016, and it's time to find out how it all ends.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently announced that the final season will premiere in 2025, but further details remain shrouded in mystery.

So, is an early 2025 release in the cards? I wouldn't bet on it.

"Stranger Things" star Brett Gelman, who plays Murray Bauman on the series, recently spoke to Screen Rant about the final season and said the following:

"Filming is going great. I think you'll learn in the same way that everybody's learned in the past, you'll probably get some teasers, a couple teasers, and then, the big way you'll find out what's going to happen is the show. It's, obviously, the most secretive thing I've ever worked on, but I think the fans — you included — will be very happy with season five. Usually, like you, they're very understanding and they understand my position, so it's fine. A lot of people don't want to know, a lot of people want to be surprised, but they're eager. It's hard. It's gonna be a minute, probably, until it comes out."

It's that last part that should be concerning for fans. Hearing "it's gonna be a minute" until fans get season five is less than ideal.

I'm sure fans having been holding out hope for an early 2025 return. Perhaps January or February. After all, season four wrapped up July 2022.

That was more than two years ago. However, I always kind of feared a summer 2025 release was most realistic just because "Stranger Things" is infamous for its lengthy breaks between seasons.

Hopefully, Gelman is being a bit overly pessimistic and we get new episodes sooner rather than later. Let me know what you're hoping to see in the final season at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Comedian, TV Star Mocks Trump With 'God Bless The USA' Parody Song During Horrific 'Comics For Kamala' Call

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:03:00 -0400

If you're a Parks & Rec fan, look away. I don't want you to see this. Or hear this. It's too late for me. You still have a chance.

Nick Offerman – AKA Ron Swanson from the hit NBC show – has gone off the deep end. He's a lunatic. A weirdo. He looks like he smells bad, which you will see here in just a minute.

In maybe the saddest news of the day, Offerman has gone all in on Kamala Harris with perhaps the most horrific parody song of ‘God Bless the USA’ you will ever – and I mean ever – hear. It's maybe the toughest three minutes I've ever had to sit through, but I had to watch it, so you do, too.

Offerman took aim at Donald Trump and Republicans with his hit song during last night's … Comics for Kamala … Zoom call, which honestly sounds worse than death. Like, if someone gave me the option of A) dying, or B) sitting on this call, I think I would choose death 10 times out of 10.

I just can't imagine a worse hell. And after seeing this song by Nick Offerman, I think you'll gladly jump off the cliff with me:

My God. I don't know what to say. It's such a fall from grace. Ron Swanson is maybe my favorite TV character of all time. He's such an icon, and he's literally the polar opposite of that dirty tree-hugger you just watched.

Ron Swanson is the most anti-government person on this planet. That's his whole shtick. It's what makes him funny. And, frankly, relatable.

You know who Ron Swanson would love? Donald Trump. He'd laugh at the very notion of Kamala Harris being President. But, like the rest of Hollywood – and sane folks in general – Nick Offerman has gone completely insane. They hate Trump so much they resort to … whatever that was from Nick.

It's incredible how Kamala Harris has to have all these corny XXXX for Kamala events set up just to make her seem cool. Like, what are we doing here? "White Guys for Kamala" was hilarious from start to finish, and now we have "Comedians for Kamala."

Do they not see how lame they look? Like, did Nick Offerman really write this song and go, ‘Yes, this is it. This is a winner. They’re gonna love it.'

No shot. It's awful. If it were funny, I'd tell you. Believe me, I'd tell you. Politics aside, I appreciate good humor. It has nothing to do with the content in the song. Funny is funny, and fair is fair.

That was not funny. It was just awful. Pure torture. And Ron looks like he hasn't showered in a week.

Sad times.

Country Music Sisters Go Viral With New Video: WATCH

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:01:39 -0400

The Castellows continue to prove they're here to stay in the country music world.

The rising country music trio is made up of the Balkcom sisters Ellie, Powell and Lily, and the group has been on fire since recently releasing "Sober Sundays."

It feels like the hit song with Wyatt Flores is going to be the song that takes the three sisters to the next level. Early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, interest is growing and the Georgia natives have arguably never been hotter in the genre than they are right now.

Just how popular are The Castellows becoming? Well, they recently dropped a new TikTok video of them sitting and smiling in the back of a truck on a farm with "Sober Sundays" playing, and it's going viral.

You can check out the post below, and let me know your thoughts on the group at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

It's clear these three have struck the correct chord with fans because the comments are overwhelmingly positive:

I might not know much in life, but I know when people have the potential to become stars. Nearly a decade in the content game has taught me that skill, and I'm telling you all right now The Castellows are going to be here for the long haul.

Unlike a lot of the pop country that is borderline impossible to listen to, their music tells actual stories. It also speaks to an era of America that no longer seems to exist.

An era where rural America wasn't something people ran from. Also, I obviously don't know them, but they all seem like legit solid people.

That's become pretty rare in our current culture and climate.

I'm genuinely interested to see where The Castellows go from there. Three all-American sisters singing epic country music tunes who also love the outdoors and connect with regular Americans.

It's borderline impossible to believe anything other than the Balkcom sisters are destined for greatness.

Let me know what you think about The Castellows at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Photos Of Legendary Vegas Casino Empty And Gutted Are Out Of A Horror Film

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:20:51 -0400

More photos of The Mirage have hit the web, and the scene is jarring.

The legendary Sin City casino closed down in July, and it's scheduled to reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.

The Mirage closing its doors represents the end of an era. The opening in 1989 kicked off a trend of mega-resorts on The Strip.

Would the iconic vacation location look the same if Steve Wynn had never opened The Mirage? It's hard to say, but there's no doubt it changed the city forever. Now, it's just a memory.

A photo of The Mirage gutted and empty shortly after it closed its doors went mega-viral in July, and we now have more photos that show the depressing state of the once-glorious resort.

Popular Las Vegas influencer Jacob Orth (JacobsLifeInVegas on socials) shared several more photos of The Mirage in its current state, and just like the original photo, it looks like a scene out of "The Last of Us."

Check out the photos below, and hit me with your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

There's something about an old casino sitting completely empty that is downright eerie. As a Las Vegas travel veteran (I go at least once a year to Sin City), it's almost hard for me to wrap my brain around envisioning a resort sitting completely empty.

It's just not right! It should be bustling with life. It should be packed full of people making memories like it was just a few months ago.

Now, it looks like a great setting for a horror movie or a massive paintball tournament. Hosting a massive paintball tournament there prior to construction really getting started would be epic. I might make a trip all the way to Vegas just to play.

I'll be in Vegas in a very short amount of time (exact details remain classified for the time being), and I'm 100% walking past The Mirage just to see what it's like. Maybe I can even find a way to jump inside for a moment and snag some pictures of my own.

I have some great memories there from over the past several years, including getting the penthouse one year. Now, it's gone. Vegas is a fast moving train and the energy doesn't stop. All we can know is remember the fun times we had at The Mirage.

Do you have a fun Las Vegas story? Make sure to let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

NFL Star's Wife Slams Tim Walz With Simple Message

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:19:13 -0400

Adam Thielen's wife Caitlin isn't a fan of Tim Walz.

The Minnesota Governor was officially tapped Tuesday by Vice President Kamala Harris to be her VP choice on the Democrat POTUS ticket.

Reactions have been all over the place. While some liberals have shown excitement with the pick, many people in America have pointed to Walz's liberal political positions on abortion, guns and immigration and his record in Minnesota has major red flags.

That includes the wife of the Carolina Panthers receiver.

Caitlin took to X after the pick Tuesday morning, and made her stance on the pick crystal clear:

She's not a fan.

"Oh man.. bad bad news. He has run Minneapolis into the ground," the Carolina Panthers receiver's wife said in a now-viral tweet that has been seen more than 8.5 million times as of publication.

You can see the tweet below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

While Caitlin didn't specify exactly what she meant, she's likely pointing to crime issues and the 2020 riots. Assaults, destruction of property crimes, motor theft, sex offenses and domestic aggravated assaults are all up over the past three years, according to data released by the city of Minneapolis.

Walz was also Governor of Minnesota when violent riots were kicked off in the city following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The situation was so bad during the riots in the city that a police precinct was abandoned and then burned by rioters. It was a disgraceful and embarrassing time not just for Minneapolis but for America. Now, the man who ran the state when it happened has been chosen to be Harris' VP pick. Seeing as Caitlin's tweet is blowing up, it seems like lots of people agree with her stance that Walz hasn't been good for Minneapolis.

What do you think of Kamala Harris choosing Tim Walz? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Air Force Black Ops Team Pulls Off Crazy Secret Mission: WATCH

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:47:04 -0400

America's ability to build things in war is nothing short of incredible.

I recently spoke with former 24th STS CCT Mike Lamonica about his career on a recent episode of American Joyride, and he shared a story that puts America's power on display:

Building a secret airfield on short notice in Afghanistan and maintaining it around the clock.

You can listen to Mike break it down starting around 48:00 (follow me on Instagram for more pro-America clips and content), and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

I hope you all enjoyed hearing Mike's story as much as I did, and make sure to follow along at the socials below:

Instagram: @david_hookstead

X/Twitter: @dhookstead

Subscribe on Spotify

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Demi Moore Is Pro-Flatulence, Americans Want Cheaper Beer, Funny Fake News & The Wholesome Buffalo Bills

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:35:18 -0400

How come the smoke detector battery always goes out at 2 in the morning?

Seriously.

Never in the history of the modern world has a person been chilling in their living room at a reasonable hour — say 3 p.m. — when their smoke detector suddenly starts chirping. You know, when it would be relatively easy to just stroll to the junk drawer, grab a 9V and a stepstool, then change that sucker out real quick.

No, no. It can never happen like that.

Last night, my husband and I returned home to Tennessee after two and a half weeks traveling up north. Phenomenal trip, but man, we were exhausted and excited to sleep in our own bed again. Until around 2 a.m., when we were rudely jarred awake by the worst sound known to man (other than maybe that song about what the fox says).

We begrudgingly get up, and my husband fumbles through the dark into the garage to dig for the appropriate batteries. Meanwhile, I wander around the house trying to diagnose which of our seven smoke detectors is screaming at us. (That honestly feels excessive for a 1,400-square-foot home, but what do I know?) At one point, I glanced over at our (very deaf) old dog, who was sound asleep on the couch. I've never been so jealous of her.

After what felt like an eternity (but was probably only 30 minutes), we found the source of the problem and changed out the battery. Unfortunately, though, we were wide awake after that.

This whole thing reminded me of the time a couple of weeks ago when that Niners player went on Up & Adams with a chirping smoke alarm and said he DIDN'T NOTICE IT. Truly psychotic behavior.

Needless to say, I'm a little tired today. A lot tired, actually. Which does not bode well for the start of my fresh week of training for the Ragnar Relay. We're a little under two months out now for the Bourbon Chase, and Team Screencaps is getting serious.

So the show must go on. I can't let the team down. I'll put on my big girl pants and get my run in today — although it will have to wait until the sun goes down because I missed my brief morning window before it got as hot as the devil's butthole outside.

Gotta stay hydrated, my friends. Grab a cold one and pull up a chair. Hell, pull up two. Like this:

It's Nightcaps time!

Since it is 400 degrees with 98% humidity outside, my running attire is as follows: shorts, sports bra, hydration vest, sweat rag. And even then, it's too much.

In this heat, I am jealous of you fellas — exercising shirtless without a couple of heavy weights strapped to your chest. I mean, I guess I could try that, too, but then I'd surely be arrested for indecent exposure.

Like this guy, who had the greatest interview of all time:

"One for each t*tty" nearly took me out.

OK, OK, so I regret to inform you that this is not a real news story. This guy has a YouTube channel, where he edits his fake interviews into real local news segments. And it's incredible.

Here are a couple more:

This reminds me of my grad school days at Arizona State. (I went to Tennessee for undergrad — just clarifying before anyone calls me a front-runner for being a Vols fan and not a Sun Devils fan.)

Anyway, because I'm a very serious Big-J Journalist, I got my master's degree in mass communication. And as part of the coursework, I had to take a media ethics class.

Cue Michael Scott… "Let's Get Ethical!"

And while being an honest and ethical reporter is very important, this class was just one big, woke circle jerk. (Clearly, I learned a lot.) And this was 12 years ago before it was even trendy to be woke!

Anywho, in one particularly enlightening session, we watched a series of news videos that my professor deemed "problematic." And then we had to discuss why these segments were problematic.

The first one was one of the funniest and most famous local news stories of all time — when residents in Mobile, Ala., thought they saw a leprechaun in a tree. If you haven't seen it, just watch. My description can't do it justice.

The whole class was (understandably) chuckling by the end of this news story. Until, that is, Professor Holier-Than-Thou scolded us. We shouldn't be laughing, she explained, because this news station "exploited and humiliated these poor people for cheap amusement."

So — now put firmly in our place — we moved on to the next headline: Popeyes in Rochester, N.Y., ran out of chicken.

This one, she explained, was a problem because it played off the stereotype of African-Americans who enjoy fried chicken. Never mind the fact that there are just as many black people in Rochester as there are white people (per census data, not just my observation)… and many of them happened to be in the line for Popeyes that day.

So there you go, future journalists of America, you must never objectively report what you see. You must manipulate the headlines and coverage based on the skin color of those involved.

I wish that was a joke, but that's absolutely the philosophy of far too many media outlets.

Speaking of…

Humble brag, I graduated No. 1 in my class at ASU. And it really grinds the journalism department's gears that I went on to work for a conservative-leaning news organization.

But Dr. Ethics would be proud to know that I now write a weekly column where we laugh at all funny news stories — including those that involve white people.

So with that said, let's go to Temu Kid Rock for his thoughts on the state of the U.S. economy:

Beer truly is the working man's Gatorade. And working woman's. (And non-binaries and transgenders and furries and two-spirit, flying cat people, too.)

Don't want to leave anyone out. Just trying to make my ethics professor proud.

If you had told me when I was that super straight-A+ overachiever in college that someday I'd be sitting on my couch writing about Demi Moore's farts, I most certainly would not have believed you. But ASU is probably going to revoke my degree after this tirade today, anyway, so what the hell.

The actress recently teamed up with a digestive health company called Wonderbelly to promote a book about the history of flatulence: An Adult's Guide To Farts. And it is really something.

"There's no shame in a fart," Demi says. "It's totally normal, and accepting that is accepting a part of yourself."

How the mighty have fallen, huh?

I still want to look like her when I'm 61, though. Clearly, her secret is free farting — and a skilled team of plastic surgeons.

Not that I'm hating on that, by the way. If I had Demi's bank account, you bet your sweet melons I'd be aging like fine wine, too.

I do admire the authenticity, though. We need more of that from women in Hollywood. Pam Anderson got it started with the no-makeup trend, and now Demi is flaunting her flatulence.

What's next? Sydney Sweeney narrates the audiobook for Everyone Poops?

During media day, the Bills' social media team put the players on the spot — telling them to call someone and say, "I love you."

See? We aren't all farts and fake news around here. We do heartwarming, too!

I don't have much to add to this except that I used to run social media for the Tennessee Titans — back when they really sucked at football. And sometimes it was difficult to get players to participate (enthusiastically, anyway) in silly stunts like this.

So kudos to these guys for being good sports. And for making all their moms happy.

As a Dolphins fan, that's the last nice thing you'll hear me say about the Bills for at least the next six months.

Stay tuned for my next TikTok video, where I call them just to say, "I hate you."

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m.

Follow me on X / Twitter at @TheAmberHarding or email me at Amber.Harding@OutKick.com.

Smokin' Charley Hull Reacts To Olympic Golf Smoking Ban

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:27:32 -0400

It's not smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em this week at the Olympics for Smokin’ Charley Hull, the cig-puffing professional golfer.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday in Paris, Hull was asked about her favorite pastime on the course. "I do smoke on the course," Hull told reporters. "It's a habit, but I won't do it this week. I don't think you're allowed."

She's right. No smoking is allowed at the Games.

The 28-year-old LPGA veteran admitted the smoking ban would present a challenge to her game. "I think it will. Because it relaxes me a little bit, but it is what it is," Hull added.

Earlier this season at a tournament in Pennsylvania, Hull and her cig-smoking habit became the talk of the Internet. She was headed to the practice range with a heater hanging off her lip while someone asked for an autograph.

"I always like signing autographs," Hull told reporters at the Women's Open. "Had a cigarette in my mouth, signed it, and then it’s gone viral."

The rest is history.

Now Smokin' Charley Hull has media interested in her at the Olympics and is going viral again.

All over her cig pastime. That's how the Internet works, folks. The rarities move the needle.

Was The Food Court Closed? Man Arrested For Licking Woman’s Hair In Georgia Mall

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:49:24 -0400

I don't know when the last time you visited a mall was, but mall food courts are far from where they once were. If your local mall doesn't have tumbleweeds blowing through it, then it's probably full of weird restaurants that are bizarre versions of restaurants you're familiar with.

Obvious Chipotle facsimiles, bootleg Sbarros, a place that definitely isn't trying to rip off Raising Cane's.

But never has the food court situation in a mall been so dire that I thought about going in for a mouthful of a fellow mall-goer's luscious locks.

The same can't be said for a Georgia man who has been with simple battery for licking and sucking the hair of an 18-year-old shopper at Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville, Georgia.

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, 35-year-old Devon Davis is the man in trouble for taking a taste of hair belonging to the young woman, who he did not know.

That last detail is my favorite. It makes it sounds like if he knew the person and felt like licking and sucking on her hair in a mall it would be no problemo and not weird at all.

If I was cruising through a mall, dodging cologne and cell phone case kiosk salespeople, and saw a dude sucking on someone's ponytail I'd be immediately repulsed. I wouldn't stop and say, "Hey… do. you two know each other?"

But I'm not the only one weirder out. Shoppers who had boots on the ground around the time of the incident were equally appalled by what had transpired.

"That's weird," shopper Dan Shower told Fox 5 Atlanta. "I don't know anybody that licks hair."

Thank you, Dan. Good to know your contacts list is free of hair-eaters…

Davis — who was also charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement officers — bonded out of jail Douglas County Jail on the condition that he doesn't return to the scene of the crime.