Latest from Al Modon
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grizzlies Legend Sends Message to Ja Morant After Personal Issues
Grizzlies Legend Sends Message to Ja Morant After Personal Issues originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Back in 2023, the NBA suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant for 25 games due to what they called "conduct detrimental to the league" after multiple off-court incidents involving displaying firearms on social media. Though this incident occurred a couple of years ago, many fans and basketball personalities still discuss it, and it is a big part of the discourse surrounding Morant. Advertisement Recently, a Grizzlies legend sent a message to the Murray State alum regarding his off-court incidents just a few months after the team's early playoff exit in the first round at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Despite the discussions surrounding him, there is no doubt that Morant is one of the top guards in the NBA today and is crucial to Memphis' career. This sentiment is also shared by former Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph, who offered some encouraging words to the 25-year-old. In a recent appearance on The Big Podcast, Randolph said Morant will "be alright" and that he must keep his "head up high." Advertisement 'I just tell him, you going to be alright, just keep your head up high because I've been through [expletive]…It's about how you bounce back," Randolph said about Morant. After playing in just nine games for the Grizzlies in 2023-24, Morant played 50 games for the team this past season. On the year, he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Though they had a disappointing end to their latest campaign, the Grizzlies are aiming to bounce back in 2025-26 and re-establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the West. In order for them to do so, they must continue to rely on Morant, who is just two seasons removed from an All-Star season. Advertisement Related: Desmond Bane's Honest Reaction to Grizzlies-Magic Trade Surfaces Related: Kevin Durant to Grizzlies Trade Report Receives Major Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
ABC News
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Trump says it's 'very hard' to ask Israel to stop Iran attacks
US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of asking Israel to halt its attacks on Iran, as the two countries continue to trade missiles.
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
Fat Joe accused of sex trafficking, fraud in new lawsuit
Joseph "Fat Joe" Cartagena is being accused of sex trafficking, fraud and more in a new lawsuit brought by a former employee. The 157-page lawsuit was filed June 19 in the Southern District of New York by lawyer Tyrone Blackburn on behalf of Terrance "T. A." Dixon, who says he worked with Cartagena for over 15 years from 2005 to 2020 as a "hype man," "lyricist, background vocalist, security team member, and creative collaborator," according to the suit. In the complaint, Dixon alleges Cartagena and his associates "systematically engaged in coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion." Dixon claims he "contributed lyrics, vocals, and creative direction" to several of Cartagena's songs, including "Congratulations" and "Ice Cream," "without recognition or fair compensation." In addition to financial allegations, Dixon claims the rapper allegedly forced him "into humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance" and allegedly threatened abandonment in foreign countries, job loss or physical harm if he didn't comply, according to the complaint. The lawsuit also claims that Cartagena and his associates allegedly trafficked minors and psychologically groomed them, with Dixon claiming he "personally witnessed" Cartagena allegedly "engage in sexual relations with children who were fifteen and sixteen years old." Given the nature of the allegations, a trigger warning was included at the top of the court document, noting it contains "highly graphic information of a sexual nature, including sexual assault." Dixon is seeking over $2 million for "unpaid performance wages" as well as additional damages. When reached by ABC News, Cartagena's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said Cartagena sued Dixon and lawyer Blackburn back in April alleging "extortion, slander and more." He claimed Dixon's lawsuit against his client was "a blatant act of retaliation." "The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation -- a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations," Tacopina said. Dixon and Blackburn have until June 23 to submit a response to the first lawsuit and a hearing for the case is scheduled to take place Aug. 1. Tacopina described Dixon as a "disgruntled former employee" and claimed Blackburn has "a pattern of abusing" the court system. "We didn't just sue a disgruntled former employee trying to revive a false claim from 15 years ago -- we sued the lawyer behind it all," Tacopina continued. "Tyrone Blackburn has a well-documented pattern of abusing the courts to harass defendants and generate media attention." "Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated," he added. "We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable." In a statement to ABC News, Blackburn pushed back against Tacopina's claims. "Joe [Tacopina] is desperate. He thought only of himself when he erroneously advised his client to take this course," Blackburn said in part. He continued, "Fat Joe knows what he has done. My client was with him for nearly 20 years. My client does not do drugs, nor does he drink alcohol. His memory is perfect, and he has receipts. We have three additional pages of predicated acts, which detail trafficking of another sort. Joe [Tacopina] should better advise his client to do the smart thing."
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers vs. Thunder odds: Best bets, predictions for NBA Finals Game 7
The Indiana Pacers won their 10th game as an underdog this postseason on Thursday night, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals and covering as 5.5-point underdogs. The game stayed under the total for the fourth time this series. Indiana opened the series as a huge +550 underdog at BetMGM, while Oklahoma City was a massive -800 favorite. If the Pacers end up winning Game 7, it would be one of the biggest finals upsets in NBA history. Advertisement The Thunder opened as 8.5-point home favorites in Game 7, but the line has drifted back to -7.5. The total is the lowest in the series at 215.5. Yahoo Sports asked handicapper Jon Metler for his thoughts on Game 7 of the Finals and some best bets: Game 7: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5, 215.5) Metler: "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's assists prop opened at 5.5 with increased juice to the over. That's a really low total for SGA in general, but when you consider the spot, it really jumps off the page. The Thunder will want the ball in SGA's hands as much as possible in Game 7, and he'll likely play 40-plus minutes. Advertisement "SGA's assists prop has dropped throughout the series because he's had a few rough games in that department, but the final box scores don't fully reflect what's happening. Game 4 is a perfect example: He recorded zero assists, but had eight potential assists — they just didn't convert. In Game 6, he had only two assists, but again tallied eight potential assists. The low conversion rate, combined with reduced minutes due to a blowout, skewed the numbers. "These games have tanked his assists line in the market, but that's good for us — it's opened up a chance to attack the lower total and even take a shot at the alternate over of 6.5 (+132), which I believe should be trading closer to -115. There's solid value on this number, and the fact that his role players and shooters are back home should help, too. In the last home game (Game 5), they converted 10 assists for SGA." Best bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 6.5 assists (+132) Metler: "Just pause and think about this for a second: You're getting Tyrese Haliburton over 7.5 assists at +144. Imagine if I told you this price during the regular season. I know it's the Thunder defense, but 7.5 at +144? Come on. You were typically seeing 9.5 or even 10.5 for Haliburton's assists prop, with the over trading around -110 back then. Advertisement "Similar to the SGA prop, look at the spot — it's Game 7 of the NBA Finals, where his usage and minutes should be as high as possible. Yes, Haliburton is nursing a calf injury, but I thought he looked completely fine in Game 6. If anything, the injury is what's creating this value. "His totals dropped heading into Game 6 due to uncertainty around his minutes and the injury, and they didn't adjust much after Game 6 because he only played 23 minutes due to the blowout. If Haliburton plays 35 minutes in that game, he likely smashes all of his totals — and the numbers for Game 7 would look very different. "I believe this prop should be trading closer to -120 for Haliburton in Game 7, which is why I'm hitting the button on +144." Best bet: Tyrese Haliburton 8+ Assists (+144)
Al Arabiya
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Sabalenka Pulls Off 'Crazy Comeback' To Defeat Rybakina At Berlin Open
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a crazy comeback, saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7–6, 3–6, 7–6 in the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open tennis tournament on Friday. Sabalenka was 6–2 down in the final-set tiebreak but came storming back, winning six straight points to reach her eighth semifinal of the season. 'Elena is a great player, and we've had a lot of tough battles,' Sabalenka said. 'I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky. I remember a long time ago, when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points, and not so long ago I was thinking that it's been a while since I've made a crazy comeback, and here I am. It's amazing to win matches like that. I'm proud of myself for how I stayed in it. I was fighting. I was trying until the very last point.' Sabalenka next faces Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Ons Jabeur 6–4, 6–1. Liudmila Samsonova also went through with a 6–1, 6–1 victory over Amanda Anisimova. Samsonova will next meet Wang Xinyu or Paula Badosa.
