Latest news with #SportsCenter
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith's daughter makes NBA Finals cameo — and the ESPN star didn't know how to handle it
What is better than one Smith? Two Smiths. Famous ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith and his daughter, Samantha, shared rare screen time together ahead of the Pacers' 108-91 Game 6 trashing of the Thunder in Indianapolis. It seemed like Smith had no intentions of bringing his daughter on 'SportsCenter' until co-host Elle Duncan invited her on camera. 4 Stephen A. Smith and his daughter on ESPN's 'SportsCenter.' @awfulannouncing/X and ESPN Just like her father, Samantha was a natural in front of the camera. 'Hi guys, I'm Samantha. I'm so happy to be here, I've made so many friends. This is really a great experience,' Samatha said. 'This is a really great experience and I feel really grateful to be here, you guys.' While Samantha gave her introduction, her father did not look too thrilled. Later during the conversation, Stephen even gave some pointers to his daughter on how to act professionally in front of the camera after Samantha interjected while Duncan talked. 'Did you just interrupt her while she was talking?' Stephen said. After that, the conversation wrapped up and Samantha was on her way. 4 Stephen A. Smith and his daughter, Samantha. @awfulannouncing/X But that was not the end of her night on TV. Later, during 'NBA Countdown' on ABC, Samantha returned to make her Game 6 pick. 4 Samantha returned to offer her pick. @TSN_Sports/X 'I'm going OKC,' Samantha said. 'I think they're just going to end it tonight.' This pick went against her father's take and Stephen would get the last laugh. 4 Indiana's Obi Toppin, who had a team-high 20 points, and James Johnson. AP The Pacers led by as much as 31 points to force a Game 7 on Sunday thanks to an all-around strong performance that featured six players scoring at least 10 points. Samantha is one of Smith's two daughters. She has a younger sister, Nyla.
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mack Brown reflects on Texas tenure: ‘We Got Tired' after 16 years leading Longhorns
Mack Brown reflects on Texas tenure: 'We Got Tired' after 16 years leading Longhorns Brown described the period as 'a long time at a place like Texas.' With Mack Brown officially entering retirement, presumably for good this time, he's embracing a new chapter as an analyst and podcast guest, reflecting openly on the highs and lows of his storied career. The 73-year-old has appeared on several podcasts and shows since announcing his retirement from coaching earlier this year. In a recent episode of the "See Ball Get Ball" podcast with former ESPN analyst David Pollack, Brown shared candid insights about his time at Texas and the burnout he experienced before leaving the Longhorns in 2013. 'We got tired at Texas. Sixteen years is a long time at a place like Texas,' Brown said. 'Sally [his wife] always said it's four presidential terms. So that's a long time to be at the University of Texas, so it was probably time for me to leave there and for them to get somebody else new, because you get worn down.' After departing Texas, Brown transitioned to television, working as an analyst for ESPN and ABC. He quickly found comfort in his new role, traveling for games and studio shows. 'I was with you, with TV, and I really liked it,' Brown told Pollack. 'I enjoyed having a team again. I loved, I was probably crazy, I would go Friday night and do a game or Thursday night, and then get up at 4 in the morning, fly to Bristol, do ABC Countdown to Kickoff all day, then do SportsCenter on Sunday morning before we'd come home. But I loved that.' Brown emphasized his enduring passion for football and the relationships the sport fostered. 'I loved the game. I loved the coaches. I loved the kids that played the game. And that's really, really important to me, and it's what I want to continue to do, stay involved,' he said. Despite enjoying his time in broadcasting, Brown realized he wasn't ready to leave coaching behind for good. When North Carolina called in 2018, the decision to return was natural for Brown and his family, who have deep ties to Chapel Hill. 'Sally and I thought we'll only go to a place where we would want to live and we would only go back to a place where we thought we could win within the rules. And North Carolina, we got married there, our kids grew up there. They went to school at North Carolina, some of them. So it was a natural when they called us and asked us to come back,' Brown said. Brown saw the Tar Heels' struggling program as an opportunity to make a difference. 'I like fixing things, and the program was in a mess,' he said. 'They'd won three games two years before. They'd won two games the year before. Nobody was coming to the games. It was really sad to sit there at ESPN and even watch. … You get into coaching because you can change lives. And that's what's so important. And people forget that.' Brown's return to North Carolina revitalized the program, leading the Tar Heels to multiple bowl games and national relevance. Now, as he settles into his analyst role once more, Brown remains committed to staying close to the game, though he is uncertain what the future holds. 'I want to continue to be involved,' he said. 'That's what's really important to me.' With Texas's history of welcoming back legends in advisory roles — like Gary Patterson and Vince Young — speculation has swirled about a possible return for Brown in a special assistant or ambassador capacity. Brown previously held such a role at Texas after stepping down as head coach in 2013, serving as a trusted voice and ambassador for the Longhorns. A return could benefit both parties: Texas would gain a respected figure to connect with alumni and boosters, while Brown could stay involved with the sport he loves, minus the grind of coaching. At 73, it could be the perfect way for Brown to remain part of Longhorn Nation and be apart of the program's future. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Dubai Eye
US Open champ JJ Spaun carries momentum to Connecticut
JJ Spaun's news conference Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship might have been the longest he has sat still since winning the US Open on Sunday. "It's been pretty hectic but also very fun," said Spaun, whose dramatic birdie-birdie finish at Oakmont Country Club gave him a two-stroke win over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and his first major championship. "It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it," he said. "So I enjoyed it. It was a fun time." Spaun celebrated with a stopover Monday night in New York City, where he had dinner with his family, but said he didn't get to catch up on his sleep until Tuesday night. He received congratulations from several celebrities, including actor and comedian George Lopez and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and from golfing greats Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun, 34, said he was looking forward to carrying his momentum into the PGA Tour season's final signature event, which starts on Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "Super excited," he said. "I didn't get to play here last year. I love the area. I love the course. Such a great course that they have here at TPC River Highlands. Looks like we're going to have some pretty good weather too, so that's nice. Just excited to get the week going." Spaun, who missed the cut the last two times he was at the Travelers in 2022 and 2023, said he's still getting used to the idea of being a major champion. "I still haven't really been able to enjoy it and not have any responsibilities," he said. "It would be nice to just sit on my couch at home and have the trophy sitting right next to me and watch some 'SportsCenter' or something, but that's kind of how I like to enjoy things, just kind of vegging out, especially after long weeks on the road and big tournaments." Spaun said he wants to savor his breakthrough win without becoming complacent. "I definitely need to keep the hunger there. I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself, I feel like, and that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer," he said. "As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well, and obviously winning the US Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning."
ARN News Center
a day ago
- Entertainment
- ARN News Center
US Open champ JJ Spaun carries momentum to Connecticut
JJ Spaun's news conference Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship might have been the longest he has sat still since winning the US Open on Sunday. "It's been pretty hectic but also very fun," said Spaun, whose dramatic birdie-birdie finish at Oakmont Country Club gave him a two-stroke win over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and his first major championship. "It's been nice to be given the opportunity to express my feelings, my emotions. A lot of people want to hear from me. I was really grateful to have the opportunity to tell everyone about it," he said. "So I enjoyed it. It was a fun time." Spaun celebrated with a stopover Monday night in New York City, where he had dinner with his family, but said he didn't get to catch up on his sleep until Tuesday night. He received congratulations from several celebrities, including actor and comedian George Lopez and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and from golfing greats Curtis Strange and Hale Irwin. Spaun, 34, said he was looking forward to carrying his momentum into the PGA Tour season's final signature event, which starts on Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "Super excited," he said. "I didn't get to play here last year. I love the area. I love the course. Such a great course that they have here at TPC River Highlands. Looks like we're going to have some pretty good weather too, so that's nice. Just excited to get the week going." Spaun, who missed the cut the last two times he was at the Travelers in 2022 and 2023, said he's still getting used to the idea of being a major champion. "I still haven't really been able to enjoy it and not have any responsibilities," he said. "It would be nice to just sit on my couch at home and have the trophy sitting right next to me and watch some 'SportsCenter' or something, but that's kind of how I like to enjoy things, just kind of vegging out, especially after long weeks on the road and big tournaments." Spaun said he wants to savor his breakthrough win without becoming complacent. "I definitely need to keep the hunger there. I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself, I feel like, and that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer," he said. "As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well, and obviously winning the US Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
J.J. Spaun is still processing his U.S. Open win on the eve of the Travelers Championship
J.J. Spaun is still processing his U.S. Open win on the eve of the Travelers Championship Life is changing fast for 2025 U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, who said Wednesday that he's still coming down from his Oakmont triumph. CROMWELL, Conn. — J.J. Spaun hasn't had the quiet, still moment where the world fades, the noise quiets, and the magnitude of what just happened finally hits. The 33-year-old from Los Angeles is a U.S. Open champion, and on Wednesday morning at TPC River Highlands, a few days removed from draining a 64-foot putt to win at Oakmont, he admitted it hasn't fully sunk in. 'I'm not like fully in the clouds still,' Spaun said with a grin on Wednesday morning. 'We're getting a little below the ceiling.' That was Spaun's way of saying: this is still surreal. His phone is stacked with messages he hasn't answered. He's appeared on national TV. His beloved Los Angeles Dodgers reached out. So did Mookie Betts. George Lopez texted. In the middle of it all, he's doing his best to get his head around his accomplishment and recalibrate to life as a major champion — and find a time and place to exhale. 'I got back (to his hotel from Oakmont) at 1:30 a.m., and I just kind of sat in bed, trying to maybe go through my phone,' Spaun said, recalling what happened after the trophy presentation ended, he signed mountains of memorabilia, and completed his duties as the new U.S. Open champion. 'Took a quick shower, started going through my phone to respond to some people, and just tried to see what was going on to help me soak it in and realize that it actually happened. It's just been such a blur since then.' That's not the way Spaun instinctively likes to soak in his accomplishments. 'It would be nice to just sit on my couch at home and have the trophy sitting right next to me and watch some SportsCenter or something,' he said. 'That's kind of how I like to enjoy things.' That moment, he says, is coming next week, after this week's Travelers Championship where he is scheduled to play Thursday afternoon with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The weight and the wonder What Spaun accomplished at Oakmont is no small thing. He won on what many believe is the toughest U.S. Open course. He did it by going 3 under over the final nine holes, in swirling wind, on a soaked course, after a weather delay. It was as gritty as golf gets. The win vaulted Spaun to No. 8 on the Official World Golf Ranking and No. 3 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. It earned him a spot in the history books and put a spotlight on his back. Life changes fast after your first major, and his fellow pros know it. 'The first time you come back out to the course is a bit of a circus,' said Scheffler, who has won two Masters and last month's PGA Championship. 'There's more people, more stuff to sign. It's a different energy, but J.J. earned it.' Keegan Bradley, who is the United States Ryder Cup captain, won the first major he ever played, the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. 'Everything changed after Atlanta,' Bradley said Wednesday at TPC River Highlands. 'I remember coming home and going out to dinner with my friends and walking into the restaurant. I could feel that people knew who I was. I had never felt that. The thing I told J.J. was I hope he really enjoys this.' Spaun has talked openly about wondering recently whether he was going to lose his PGA Tour card and whether his professional career might end soon, but after losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the Players Championship in March, and now winning the U.S Open, he's the one doing the inspiring. Jordan Spieth, who has won three majors and returned to the PGA Tour this season after a wrist injury, said, 'To see J.J. grind it out, to say last year, 'If this is the end, so be it,' and then turn it around, and now he's almost won two of the biggest four events this year? That's the kind of story that reminds you why you love this sport.' Walking the tight rope The balancing act Spaun must perform now is appreciating what he has done while maintaining the high level of play that won him the U.S. Open in the first place. 'I definitely need to keep the hunger,' he said on Wednesday. 'Winning the U.S. Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning.' Self-doubt and wondering whether he had what it takes to be successful on the PGA Tour was something that challenged Spaun in the past, and something he had to overcome. 'I feel like that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career – just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer,' Spaun said. Player after player who competed last week at the U.S. Open has said this week's Travelers Championship, a tournament that prides itself on a relaxed atmosphere, player-friendly amenities (Pizza trucks and an espresso bar on the driving range, anyone?) and low scores comes at the perfect time. For Spaun, this no-cut PGA Tour Signature Event might be the perfect low-stress environment he needs before the British Open, FedEx Cup Playoffs, and now, the Ryder Cup. Keegan Bradley discussed Spaun on Wednesday as if he were already on the team. 'I think he's a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat,' Bradley said. 'He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but he's also -- that's also a great thing to have on your team.' At some point next week, sitting on his sofa with the U.S. Open trophy beside him, that will be something nice for Spaun to quietly think about.
