Latest news with #TheDanPatrickShow
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Big3 erupts as Rachel DeMita brutally fired for daring to mention Caitlin Clark during live broadcast
Big3 erupts as Rachel DeMita brutally fired for daring to mention Caitlin Clark during live broadcast (Image via Getty) A surprising move has rocked the basketball world. Courtside reporter Rachel DeMita has been fired from Ice Cube 's Big3 basketball league. Her offense? Posting tweets about WNBA star Caitlin Clark during a Big3 broadcast. The situation quickly blew up online, and now fans are divided. The firing happened just as Clark continues to dominate headlines and turn down huge offers from other leagues. Rachel DeMita let go after posting about Caitlin Clark on June 14 during Big3 duties On Saturday, June 14, 2025, Rachel DeMita was working as a courtside commentator for the Big3 league when she posted eight tweets mentioning Caitlin Clark. The posts went live during the Big3 broadcast, the same day Indiana Fever beat New York Liberty in the WNBA. According to Front Office Sports, this was the 'final straw' for Big3 executives after months of concern. Rachel DeMita, who turned 35 that same day, later read a termination letter from Big3 on social media. The letter said the league was 'dismayed and disappointed' by her decision to spotlight a rival league's player. Big3, which features retired NBA stars, was founded in 2017 by rapper Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Rachel DeMita, who is engaged to former NBA player Andre Roberson, responded by saying she would 'take it on the chin' and accepted full responsibility. Her dismissal ends a 12-month working relationship with Big3. Caitlin Clark turned down Big3's massive $15 million offer to stay in WNBA Caitlin Clark has been the center of attention in women's basketball. Earlier this year, Ice Cube revealed on The Dan Patrick Show that Clark was offered $10 million for two seasons with Big3. The offer included bonuses and team ownership options. Big3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz claimed the deal could have reached a $15 million total value. Also Read: Who Is Sophie Cunningham? Viral WNBA Moment Shows Her Fierce Defense Of Caitlin Clark Despite the offer, Caitlin Clark chose to stay in the WNBA. She is currently on a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever, worth $338,056. Instead of joining rival leagues like Big3 or the new Unrivaled league, Clark decided to focus on improving her game. Her endorsements are massive—most notably an eight-year, $28 million shoe deal with Nike. On June 14, she played in a one-off game worth six times her annual WNBA salary. That same day, a controversial foul and fan backlash once again sparked debate about how the league is protecting its rising star. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Post
a day 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.'
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
J.J. Spaun went to school on Viktor Hovland's U.S. Open putt — now he's buying a present
J.J. Spaun went to school on Viktor Hovland's U.S. Open putt — now he's buying a present Show Caption Hide Caption J.J. Spaun relives the dramatic 64-foot birdie on 18 to win U.S. Open A 64-foot birdie to seal it. J.J. Spaun is your 2025 U.S. Open champion after a dramatic finish at Oakmont. USGA Viktor Hovland has a bottle of wine headed his way from U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun. 'I got to give him a nice bottle of wine or something, whatever he wants,' Spaun said on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday. Spaun holed a 65-foot birdie putt on the 18th green on Sunday to shoot 2-over 72 and finish as the only player under par at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. Spaun benefited from Hovland putting first after his approach stopped very close to Spaun's ball and on the same line. Hovland nearly made his but settled for par and finished alone in third place. 'That was a nice teach,' Spaun said. 'That's one of those things that has to go your way to win, not only a championship but a major championship. I'm just happy to have capitalized on that little advantage.' It was the longest putt anyone had made all week at Oakmont and the longest putt Spaun had made all season. He also had made a 40-foot bomb at 12 and a 22-foot birdie at 14. In all, he made over 400 feet of putts, best in the field and ranked second in Strokes Gained: Putting. How surprised we he that he made the putt? 'Oh, stunned,' Spaun said. 'You can tell by my reaction. My LAB Putter was so hot that I had to toss it. I didn't even want like a 3-footer. When I hit it. I knew it was good pace. I just wasn't sure if it was the right line.' Patrick next asked if Spaun would be retiring his putter. 'Heck, no, Dan, c'mon. That thing has been so hot for me,' he said.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
George Kittle says goal of Tight End University is to get better, paid more
George Kittle says goal of Tight End University is to get better, paid more Show Caption Hide Caption Greg Olsen talks Tight End University and what he's excited for in the 2025 NFL season Greg Olsen stops by to talk about another year of Tight End University and who he's excited to watch as the NFL season inches closer. Sports Seriously School may be out for the summer, but class is in session for tight ends across the league. Tight End University is returning for another season and while the goal is to improve on the field, George Kittle also has something else in mind for the 80 to 90 players in attendance. The San Francisco 49ers All-Pro and Tight End University co-founder wants to make sure his colleagues get paid. Kittle, who signed a four-year, $76.4 million extension this offseason, spoke about the event during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Monday. "The only way for the tight end market to continue to grow is if everybody's getting paid," Kittle said. "That's the only way to do it. You can't just have one guy do it and then it just sits for three or four years because then you're stuck and it's stagnant and no one's getting paid." Competition is the name of the game, but Kittle is rooting for tight ends to be successful when they aren't playing the 49ers – because it helps drive up the price of future contracts. "We want everybody, I want everybody to have great seasons," Kittle said. "I want everybody to have great games, just not against the 49ers. But throughout the rest of the season, they can play as well as they want to because I want guys to get paid, to keep bumping up that market so by the time that Brock Bowers is doing his contract in three years, he's going for over $20 million, which he will. That's just the whole point. When Tight End U first started, I think the top of the market was $15 [million] and now it's $20 [million]." The requirements for enrollment are fairly lenient. Kittle said as long as he has an email address or can get a hold of them, all active players are invited. 'If you're on an NFL roster or were in the last year, you're invited,' Kittle said. 'I talk about run blocking, pass protection, YAC. Those are things I focus on. Travis [Kelce] talks about his route tree, how he reads his coverages, Greg Olsen talks about his routes. Jordan Reed has spoken about his releases. This year Evan Engram is going to talk.' Kittle expressed that they try to cover a lot in their limited time together, focusing on skills related to the game in addition to things that happen off the field, such as financial advising and investing. "We try to talk about all the things a tight end does because we're the only position that gets to do everything: Pass pro, run blocking, catching the football, scoring touchdowns, running the ball sometimes, so we kind of try to cover as much as we can in the limited time we have with these guys and just try to give them a step forward in their careers to help them make a team in the upcoming camp," Kittle said. Founded in 2021 by Kittle, Kelce and Olsen, Tight End University is a three-day program that takes place in Nashville before training camp. It's an event that continues to grow in popularity and seems to be paying off at the negotiating table. The Arizona Cardinals awarded Trey McBride a four-year, $76 million extension, which made him the highest-paid tight end in league history at the time. Of course, Kittle eventually surpassed that, but the arrow is pointing up for the position. Perhaps that degree is worth a bump in salary.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
49ers' George Kittle Fires Back at NFL Over Tight End Disrespect
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The evolution of NFL players' pay continues to change season after season. With non-quarterback positions like pass rusher resetting the market at $40 million per season, which is what Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett received, there are more skill players questioning when the big contracts will come. More news: Vikings' JJ McCarthy Just Got a Big Update From NFL Insider One such player is current San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle. Kittle has been at the top of his game for multiple seasons, and he is viewed as the best tight end in the game, alongside Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Though the tight end position has evolved into more of a pass-catching style, similar to the skills that both Kittle and Kelce have, but that is not where the position stops. George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Photo byMore news: Packers Urged to Consider Signing Former Bears Key Defender Tight ends are often called on for blocking packages when it comes to plays, regardless of whether they are run or pass. Due to being an offensive position that can do it all, Kittle believes the NFL does not pay the position what it should get. "The only way for the tight end market to continue to grow is if everybody's getting paid," Kittle told The Dan Patrick Show on Monday. "That's the only way to do it. You can't just have one guy do it and then it just sits for four years because then you're stuck and it's stagnant and no one's getting paid. We want everybody, I want everybody to have great seasons. I want everybody to have great games, just not against the 49ers. Throughout the rest of the season, they can play as well as they want to because I want guys to get paid, to keep bumping up that market so by the time that Brock Bowers is doing his contract in three years, he's going for over $20 million, which he will. That's just the whole point." Kittle also delves into Tigh End University, which was started by Kittle, Kelce and Greg Olsen to help educate and elevate the position. The belief is that the three-day program can lead to a much more evolved player. "When Tight End U started, I think the top of the market was 15 (million dollars), and now we're almost at 20," he said. "So we're continually growing it. As a tight end and as a position who does everything, yeah, I think we should be making more money, but we're working on it," Kittle added. Right now, Kittle is making $19.1 million per season, which is the top of the position. Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride is second with $19 million per season. Below that is Kelce, who makes $17.125 million per season. Kittle has a point that the tight end position has evolved to include catching, blocking, and so much more. If receivers are making $20 million per season and more, then a position that is responsible for that and blocking should theoretically make more. More NFL: Saints Sign Former Super Bowl Champion RB in Massive Free Agency Move For more ont he 49ers, head to Newsweek Sports.
