Latest news with #IceCube
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
How Ice Cube's Big3 Is Changing the Game
Bloomberg Markets: The Close Music Legend, Actor and Producer Ice Cube discusses how Big3, the 3-on-3 basketball league he founded, is changing the game with Romaine Bostick on "Bloomberg The Close." (Source: Bloomberg)
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Basketball influencer Rachel DeMita ousted from job over Caitlin Clark posts while covering rival league
Basketball influencer Rachel DeMita has reportedly left her role as a courtside reporter for the Big3 league just days after posting about Caitlin Clark during a game. DeMita, who is engaged to former NBA star Andre Roberson, shared some of Clark's highlights from the WNBA while working for its rival league on Saturday night. And according to Front Office Sports, the 35-year-old's promotion of Clark and the WNBA was the 'final straw' that led to her leaving Big3 - the three-on-three basketball league co-founded by rap icon Ice Cube in 2017. After sharing a clip of the Indiana Fever superstar making a deep three-pointer, she wrote on X: 'for those who questioned the hype.' DeMita, a former Old Dominion basketball player who has one million followers on Instagram, first joined Big3 in June 2024. She has been engaged to ex-Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Roberson, 33, since December 2024, roughly six years since they started dating. DeMita sharing highlights of Caitlin Clark from rival league the WNBA was the 'final straw' Judging by her Instagram posts, the social-media personality is also clearly a huge fan of Clark, who she watched in the flesh as recently as May 3. DeMita shared a photo of herself wearing the Fever sensation's No. 22 jersey at a game in Indiana that day, while including the caption: 'oh it's going to be a fun season'. Clark was at the center of fierce controversy earlier this week after she was brutally shoved to the floor during the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun. When the Indiana superstar reacted angrily to being struck by Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon, the latter's teammate Marina Mabrey raced over and slammed her to the floor in a violent moment which sparked outrage online. Somehow Mabrey avoided an ejection from the game despite the shove being unprovoked, much to the dismay of WNBA fans. However, less than 24 hours later the league admitted referees were wrong to issue a technical foul to the Sun player. ESPN's Alexa Philippou revealed Wednesday that Mabrey's technical has been upgraded to a flagrant 2, which would have brought an ejection had it been dished out on the night. Clark's teammate and enforcer Sophie Cunningham was also fined separately for her foul with 46 seconds remaining in the game. As Sheldon came away with a steal in the final minute, Cunningham committed a blatant and hard foul of her own - wrapping her arms around the Sun guard's head and pulling her to the ground in an act of revenge after her foul on Clark. Another larger scuffle then ensued, with Connecticut's Lindsay Allen running over to defend her teammate and Sheldon popping straight up to shove the Fever player. Tensions took a while to die down and at the end of it, Cunningham, Sheldon, and Allen were all ejected.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Big3 commentator Rachel DeMita let go after posting Caitlin Clark tweet
The Big3 has no use for Caitlin Clark mania. Ice Cube's basketball league fired courtside commentator Rachel DeMita after roughly one year, according to Front Office Sports, with the 'final straw' being when DeMita tweeted about Clark's performance against the Liberty this past Saturday while she was working during a league game. DeMita, a popular basketball commentator with nearly 279,000 followers on X and at least 1 million on Instagram, posted eight times that day — which she indicated was her birthday — and all involved Clark. 4 Rachel DeMita posted this photo in May of her wearing a Caitlin Clark jersey. @rademita/Instagram She quote tweeted at 3:32 p.m. a clip of Clark's highlights from her return from injury in the win over the Liberty with the caption, 'for those who questioned the hype.' The Big3's scheduled listed four games that day, with a 3 p.m. ET tip time. There is beef between the Big3 and Clark after the Fever's star turned down the league's $10 million offer to play in the three-on-three league. Ice Cube said on 'The Dan Patrick Show' last June that the deal would have been for two years at $5 million each season and they had even discussed team ownership, plus merchandise benefits. 4 Caitlin Clark in action Thursday against the Valkyries. NBAE via Getty Images 'We believe her coming into the BIG3 would be such a big deal that all boats would rise and the league would benefit from the attention,' Ice Cube said last year. That salary would have been a humungous raise from her four-year, $338,056 contract after being drafted No. 1 last year by Indiana. 4 DeMita interviewing Carmelo Anthony at a Big3 event. @redemita/YouTube However, Clark is not like most WNBA players due to her lucrative endorsement offers that can make up for the roughly $84,500 yearly salary. She signed a historic eight-year, $28 million shoe deal with Nike. 4 DeMita at a Big3 event. @redemita/YouTube DeMita has not commented on the news on either her Instagram or X channels. The Big3 announced DeMita's role upon her hiring as: 'She will be giving basketball fans a behind-the-scenes look into the upstart basketball league and amplifying the voices of the star-studded league, which include Nancy Liberman, Lisa Leslie, Jason Richardson, Frank Nitty and other former NBA players.'
Sustainability Times
9 hours ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Physics Broken in Antarctica': Mysterious Signal from Ice Baffles Scientists and Defies All Known Particle Laws
IN A NUTSHELL 🔍 ANITA experiment detected surprising signals suggesting particles traveling through the Earth in unexpected ways. detected surprising signals suggesting particles traveling through the Earth in unexpected ways. ❌ Neutrinos ruled out as the source of these anomalies due to the steep angles of the detected signals. as the source of these anomalies due to the steep angles of the detected signals. 🧪 Other major detectors, like IceCube and the Pierre Auger Observatory , found no matching evidence, adding to the mystery. and the , found no matching evidence, adding to the mystery. 🚀 A next-generation detector, PUEO, is being developed to further investigate these unexplained emissions. In the realm of particle physics, where established theories largely dictate expectations, the unexpected discovery made by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment has sent ripples through the scientific community. ANITA, a cosmic ray detector, has picked up perplexing signals that challenge conventional understanding. These signals, recorded at steep upward angles, suggest particles have traversed the Earth in ways previously deemed impossible. As researchers delve deeper, the possibility of unknown particles or new interactions among known particles emerges, inviting a re-examination of established scientific beliefs. ANITA's Groundbreaking Discovery The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) is a balloon-borne experiment designed specifically to detect radio waves from cosmic rays interacting with Antarctic ice. Positioned approximately 25 miles above the icy surface, ANITA has a unique vantage point that allows it to listen for emissions produced by high-energy cosmic particles. The expectation is straightforward: detect neutrinos, the most elusive subatomic particles, as they interact with the ice. However, what ANITA detected defied these expectations. The signals appeared to rise through the Earth, a phenomenon that should not occur based on current particle physics models. Signals detected at angles as steep as 30 degrees below the horizon suggest these particles traveled through thousands of miles of solid rock before emerging from the ice. Such an occurrence challenges the very foundation of existing particle theories, raising the question of whether unknown forces are at play. 'Confirmed for the First Time': Scientists Turn Light Into a Never-Before-Seen Solid With Reality-Bending Quantum Properties Neutrinos Ruled Out as Source of Anomaly Neutrinos, nearly massless and chargeless particles, are known for their elusive nature. They pass through the universe, Earth, and even human bodies without much interaction. While they offer insights into cosmic events when detected, the ANITA signals did not behave like typical neutrino emissions. Stephanie Wissel from Penn State, who is part of the research team, noted that the detection of such signals from angles so steep suggests that these are not neutrinos. Wissel explained that neutrinos should not be able to travel through the Earth's crust without interacting. The fact that the signals were detected at all, given their steep angle, rules out neutrinos as the likely source. The scientific community is left grappling with these unexplained anomalies, as the math and physics behind the signals remain unfathomable under current models. 'Water Found Beyond Earth': Scientists Confirm It Formed Moments After the Big Bang in a Stunning Cosmic Revelation Other Detectors Found No Matching Evidence In an effort to corroborate ANITA's findings, researchers compared the data with results from other major neutrino detectors, such as IceCube in Antarctica and the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. Unfortunately, neither of these experiments recorded signals similar to those captured by ANITA. This lack of supporting evidence adds to the intrigue, as it rules out most known particle sources. Extensive simulations and modeling were conducted to eliminate the possibility of background noise or known cosmic-ray signatures skewing the results. Yet, the signals remain anomalous, suggesting the presence of phenomena not accounted for by current scientific understanding. This situation has propelled researchers to consider the possibility of undiscovered particles or interactions. 'This Thing Shouldn't Exist': Scientists Stunned as Humanity Witnesses This Deep-Sea Monster Alive for the First Time Ever Next-Gen Detector May Solve the Mystery Looking to the future, Stephanie Wissel and her colleagues are developing a next-generation detector, known as PUEO, which promises to offer enhanced sensitivity and a better chance of identifying the source of these unusual emissions. With hopes that PUEO will detect more of these signals, researchers anticipate gaining insights into whether these anomalies indicate new physics or are simply rare environmental effects. Wissel remains hopeful that future flights will provide clarity. As she speculates that some interesting radio propagation effects might occur near ice and horizons, the scientific community eagerly awaits new data. The findings of this study, published in Physical Review Letters, underscore the importance of continually questioning established knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what is known. The mysterious signals detected by ANITA have opened the door to a realm of possibilities in particle physics, challenging established theories and inviting speculation about the unknown. As researchers prepare for future experiments with advanced detectors like PUEO, the scientific community stands on the brink of potential breakthroughs. Will these anomalies lead to a revolutionary understanding of particle physics, or will they simply reveal previously unconsidered environmental phenomena? The quest for answers continues. What groundbreaking discoveries might the next flight uncover, and how will they reshape our understanding of the universe? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (26)
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
How The BIG3 Is Faring As It Begins Its Eighth Season
Michael Beasley goes one on one against Wesley Johnson in the first game of the BIG3's season. Michael Beasley, the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, went mano a mano against Wesley Johnson, the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. That kind of one-on-one showdown is a signature of BIG3 play. Each team in Ice Cube's three-on-three basketball league can challenge one foul call per half, creating the 'Bring the Fire' situation, and in the first one of the year, Johnson got the better of Beasley, stripping the ball from the 2024 BIG3 MVP. Profanities and trash talk ensued. Bring the Fire is not only one of the most intense plays of BIG3 action, but it also adds revenue through its Red Lobster sponsorship. 'Sponsors are the lifeblood of sports,' entertainment industry executive/BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz exclusively shared. Last season the BIG3 generated more than 25 million impressions for their clients, and several sponsors, including Walmart, Capital One, Merck and Simply Spiked by Coors, have returned. The Snickers candy logo is displayed on the referees' shirts, and ballboys use Swiffers (made by sponsor Proctor & Gamble) during timeouts. Fans wave foam red claws during Red Lobster's Bring the Fire. Such product placement is a positive economic sign, but leagues like the NFL and NBA have about 40 to 50 more sponsors than the BIG3. Nonetheless, Ice Cube is bullish as his league began its eighth year on Saturday. 'I definitely consider it a success,' BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube exclusively shared. Achieving financial success, though, is difficult for any upstart sports league because of the overhead. Kwatinetz noted that challenge of creating a pro league from scratch is 'not for the faint of heart.' 'We're still early,' he said. 'I mean, it took UFC 14 years to become profitable. Hopefully, it's going to take us eight.' To help with profitability, the BIG3 added local ownership for this season. It previously had been a traveling road show, going to a different city each summer weekend. Now based in eight cities, the clubs have been selling for about $10 million, according to a source close to the situation. That not only grows the financial pie, but Ice Cube and Kwatinetz are also hopeful that having localized owners will serve as a way to further engage those markets. Another positive is the ratings, which averaged 455,000 viewers on CBS across all 10 weeks and 512,000 when not coinciding with the Summer Olympics last year. 'Our ratings are great,' Kwatinetz said. The BIG3's 2024 viewership was better than the NHL's 2025 regular season, which averaged 445,000 viewers. The NHL, however, receives an uptick for its playoffs and plays a lot more regular-season games (82), resulting in a bigger cumulative number. For 2025 the BIG3's first two games each weekend are being televised on CBS, and the second two are on VICE Sports. Ratings for the Week One games on CBS were an impressive 513,000 despite airing against the U.S Open and New York Liberty-Indiana Fever game, featuring Caitlin Clark's return from injury. The latter is particularly noteworthy because the WNBA was a ratings behemoth, averaging well more than a million viewers during Clark's rookie year last season. The BIG3 will play most of its games in NBA arenas, including Houston's Toyota Center and Los Angeles' new, cutting-edge Intuit Dome. But Week One was played in Chicago's Allstate Arena, a stadium with a capacity of 18,500, and official attendance was 7,809. Although the lower bowl of the facility with two-level seating was mostly full, no one sat in the 200 level. The BIG3, however, did a good job of cultivating a basketball culture for those in attendance. Matas Buzelis, last year's lottery pick of the Chicago Bulls, sat courtside under the baseline, and so did Antoine Walker, the former Boston Celtics star, who grew up in Chicago. Beasley even flexed and screamed at Buzelis, who laughed it off. Fan interaction with players has long been a goal of the league. Before his game DMV Trilogy coach/14-year NBA veteran Stephen Jackson took selfies with fans. Dwight Howard did the same hours after he memorably ended his BIG3 debut by getting kicked out after a fight. 'It's funny,' Ice Cube said. 'He was thrown out of his first BIG3 game, but welcome to the BIG3.' Landing Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, was a coup for the league. He is the third Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer to play in the BIG3, joining Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson, though the latter barely played in the BIG3's inaugural season. Nearly a decade later, Ice Cube's league is still kicking. 'It's a great product,' the hip-hop star said. 'I still want to improve.'
