‘I'd Literally Slap You Tasteless’ — Josh Hokit Fire Backs at Ex-NFL MVP’s Criticism for Michelle Obama Diss
The actions of Josh Hokit during the UFC White House were widely criticized around the sports world, not just by people involved with MMA. But Hokit doesn’t seem to be backing down on his thoughts, taking to social media to call out whoever says anything about his actions.
Josh Hokit Threatens to Slap Cam Newton After Comments on UFC White House
Josh Hokit won his fight against Derrick Lewis, extending his MMA record to 10-0 and firmly putting himself in contention for the belt. His post-fight interview with Joe Rogan was going normally, but at the end, out of nowhere, he shouted a phrase that even Rogan was bemused to hear:
“And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
The White House event was supposed to be a major celebration of the country. The occasion marked the 250th year since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the U.S., with a smaller list of fights and many title shots. Hokit’s actions were widely called out after the event.
This includes a former NFL MVP who’s now part of the podcast world. Cam Newton, speaking on his “4th & 1” show, defended the former first lady, saying, “we don’t play about that one.”
But Hokit was in no mood for apologizing and threatened Newton on his X account. “Tasteless lol I’d literally slap you tasteless and you wouldn’t do anything about it,” said Hokit.
Newton wasn’t overly critical in his tone, even though he didn’t approve of Hokit’s comments. However, the fighter’s personality would never allow him to talk in a normal tone after he’s criticized.
Newton enjoyed way more success in the NFL than Hokit. The latter joined the Fresno State Bulldogs as a walk-on and went undrafted after four years with the university. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers and spent two seasons as part of their practice squad.
He later signed with the Arizona Cardinals in August 2022 but was released five days later and never signed with another team, effectively ending his football career. His switch to MMA has been much more successful, and he’s aiming for a title shot in the heavyweight division of the UFC.
Newton, on the other hand, played for 11 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL, spending most of his career with the Carolina Panthers. He was the league’s MVP in 2015 and last played in the 2021 season.
Even Dana White criticized Hokit’s comments, stating that he was “completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families.” While a line has clearly been crossed, he’s not going to apologize.
Social media has been ablaze with videos of Scotland’s soccer fanbase, called the Tartan Army, taking over the streets, marching with bagpipers to Fenway Park in the heart of the city, and, most notably, causing bars to run out of beer as they drank the city dry. The bond stretched so deep that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed a letter of intent last week to establish Boston and Glasgow, Scotland, as “sister cities” starting next year, a move intended to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between the two spots.
As Scotland prepares to take on Brazil in a pivotal group stage clash in Miami, the team’s fans have departed Boston after a week of merriment, much to the sadness of New Englanders. To honor the impact Scotland’s Tartan Army had on Boston and nearby areas, the Globe took out an ad to thank them.
“You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more,” the message began. “For a week, you turned train stations into singalongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.
Scotland fans have been drinking parts of Boston dry as they cheer on their team (PA)
“Boston has hosted championships, parades, and celebrations of every kind. But we’ve never hosted guests quite like you all,” the note continued.
“Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes, and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we’ll never forget the joy you brought to our city.”
“New England - it has been an absolute pleasure. Across Boston, Providence, Newport and many towns in between you’ve welcomed us with open arms and unbelievable hospitality, and we can’t thank you enough,” the Tartan Army wrote on X.
“As we begin our journeys to South Florida, we hope it’s not goodbye, but see you again soon.”
(Reuters)
New England - it has been an absolute pleasure. Across Boston, Providence, Newport and many towns in between you’ve welcomed us with open arms and unbelievable hospitality, and we can’t thank you enough. As we begin our journeys to South Florida, we hope it’s not goodbye, but… pic.twitter.com/VgvpZsgVJ0
— 🏴 The Tartan Army 🏴 (@TartanArmyGroup) June 20, 2026
“You’ve made us feel more than welcome in the time we’ve spent with you; you’ve made us feel part of your incredible city. Thank you for your generosity and your wonderful hospitality.”
Videos of Scotland fans bringing their traditions — like placing traffic cones on the heads of historic statues — to Boston and surrounding areas have gone viral on social media since the start of the World Cup. And while Scotland’s next match will be played in Miami, there is a chance the team could wind up back in Boston if they beat Brazil during their scheduled Wednesday clash.
The impact Scotland fans have had on Boston has been felt so deeply that a Massachusetts state senator has called for the Tartan Army to start visiting annually.
Scotland fans have won the hearts of Boston locals (PA)
As we head for Miami, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the city & people of Boston.
You’ve made us feel more than welcome in the time we’ve spent with you; you’ve made us feel part of your incredible city.
Thank you for your generosity and your wonderful hospitality.
💙
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 20, 2026
“You have been playing the bagpipes everywhere, you’ve been singing, you’ve been chanting, you have put traffic cones on the heads of all of our historic statues, which has been something to see,” Senator Paul Feeney said in a video message shared to social media.
“I don’t want that to end. So here’s my proposition,” he continued. “Let’s get together and make this an annual thing where the Tartan Army comes over to Massachusetts, comes over to Foxborough, and we do this again. Maybe every year!”
Feeney proposed several ideas to get fans to return to the area, including a match between Scotland and the USMNT, a Scotland vs. Ireland clash, or even a local match against Foxborough High School.
“Whatever it takes to get you back here year after year,” Feeney continued. “We’ll promise to restock the beer.”
Jackson Chourio has a matchup with a homer-prone pitcher in a homer-amplifying ballpark tonight.
Getty Images
The MLB best home run bets have run well lately. Unfortunately, Jo Adell and the Dodgers’ Max Muncy didn’t hit home runs on Friday, dropping the season’s record for home run props to 13-44, with three no-bets.
Every article won’t provide winning home run bets. They’re rightfully priced at long odds because they’re long-shot wagers, and the two incorrect picks on Friday could be the start of a cold streak, as those are always just around the corner in this particular betting market.
Still, it’s been a profitable season for MLB best home run bets to date. Anyone who’s bet $100 on each of the suggested home run props at the listed odds has profited $1,127. Players with +329 and +425 odds to hit a home run offer an excellent opportunity to add to the season’s profits tonight.
MLB Best Home Run Bets
Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee Brewers - OF)
Over 0.5 Home Runs (+329) at DraftKings Sportsbook
Brady Singer is a punching bag for hitters this year. Among tonight’s probable starters, Singer has the third-highest home runs allowed per nine innings (2.32 HR/9) in 2026.
The 29-year-old righty has allowed 17 home runs in 14 starts in 2026, coughing up at least one in 10 of those starts, and permitting multiple homers in five turns. Singer has allowed nine homers in six starts at home, avoiding a home run in only one of those starts, and allowing multiple homers in three of them.
The Brewers should take him deep at least once, but multiple players could launch home runs against him tonight. Picking one hitter from the Brewers was challenging, but Jackson Chourio was the top pick.
The 22-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder has hit 10 home runs in 41 games and 192 plate appearances this season. Chourio has hit seven of his 10 homers in 136 plate appearances against right-handed pitching this year.
The toolsy outfielder also has fantastic batted-ball data. Among 259 qualified hitters in 2026, Chourio is tied for 20th in barrels per plate appearance rate (9.6%), 29th in barrels per batted-ball event rate (14.1%), tied for 34th in hard-hit rate (48.8%), tied for 21st in fly-ball and line-drive exit velocity (96.8 mph) and tied for 135th in launch-angle sweet-spot rate (33.6%).
Chourio’s likelihood of hitting a home run tonight is also enhanced by where he’s playing. Great American Ball Park’s 118 park factor for homers since 2025 is tied for the third-highest mark since 2025. Chourio should take advantage of his plus matchup and park factors tonight and hit a home run.
Alec Burleson has a sweet matchup against a pitcher coughing up home runs in bunches lately.
Getty Images
Alec Burleson (St. Louis Cardinals - 1B)
Over 0.5 Home Runs (+425) at theScore Bet
Alec Burleson hit a career-high 21 home runs in 152 games and 595 plate appearances in 2024 before dipping to 18 home runs in 139 games and 546 plate appearances in 2025. Burleson has bounced back with 13 homers in 74 games and 326 plate appearances this year, putting him on pace for a new career high.
The left-handed-hitting first baseman has a career-high 49.6% pull rate and a career-high 14.1% home runs per fly-ball rate (HR/FB) this year. His 91.6 mph average exit velocity in 2026 is only 0.1 mph behind his career high 91.7 mph on only 39 batted balls in his MLB debut in 2022.
Burleson’s batted-ball data is mostly good this year. Among 259 qualified hitters this year, Burleson is 40th in barrels per plate appearance rate (8.4%), tied for 74th in barrels per batted-ball event rate (11.2%), 40th in hard-hit rate (48.3%), 39th in fly-ball and line-drive exit velocity (95.7 mph) and tied for 125th in launch-angle sweet-spot rate (33.9%).
Burleson has drilled 12 of his 13 home runs this year in 225 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, and he’s hit five in 113 plate appearances against righties at home.
He has a desirable matchup to hit a home run tonight. Merrill Kelly has allowed 15 home runs in 12 starts this year, coughing up at least one in nine starts. He has allowed multiple homers in four starts, including in three of his last four starts. Burleson should connect for a home run tonight.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Dez Bryant was one of the most dominant red-zone threats in the NFL over the past 25 years. The longtime Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver made his presence felt throughout the prime of his career and is a name plenty will remember for years to come.
Bryant is one of many NFL players, past and present, celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday, but he took to social media to share a deep emotional message about what Father’s Day means to him.
Dez Bryant’s Emotional Father’s Day Message
Father’s Day is a day to celebrate fathers and what they do for their children. However, Bryant’s meaning for Father’s Day is much different than the meaning many others are accustomed to.
“I’m thankful for the mistreatment I experienced as a kid,” Bryant said on X. “For being neglected . . .treated unfairly just for being present in a place I didn’t ask to live in. I’m thankful for being misjudged.
“And I’m thankful for all the projection from people who thought they knew me better than I knew myself. I’m truly thankful for my rough childhood because my kids will never experience it. Happy Father’s Day to the fathers who are really intentional about their children.”
The three-time Pro Bowl receiver uses Father’s Day to remind himself of what he never wants to be and to inspire himself to be the loving, caring father he didn’t have as a kid.
During his nine-year NFL career, Bryant caught 537 of 920 targets for 7,506 yards and 75 touchdowns. He topped 1,000 yards three times in his career and tallied at least eight receiving touchdowns five times.
His best season came in 2014, when he helped lead the Cowboys’ offense to the No. 2 ranking in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric (OFFi). That season, he was named an All-Pro for the only time in his career while catching 88 of 136 targets for 1,320 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns.
While his career was cut short due to injuries, Bryant established himself as a dominant player at the NFL level, giving his kids a mentor to look up to.
He holds the Cowboys’ record for career receiving touchdowns while sitting fourth in franchise history in receptions and fifth in receiving yards.
While Father’s Day is a happy day for many fathers, Bryant uses what could be a tough day for traumatic and difficult memories from his past as a way to remind him of what he never wants his kids to experience and why good fathers are celebrated on this holiday.
Serena Williams, the number 1 seed for the Western and Southern Open beat Samantha Stosur on Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Williams won 7-6(7), 7-6(7) Wednesday. Photo shot Wednesday August 13, 2014. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley
Tennis superstar Serena Williams had announced her retirement from the court back in 2022 after she finished the US Open. However, she seems to have changed her mind four years later.
Robert Griffin III All-In on Serena Williams Hype for Wimbledon
Williams officially announced her comeback to the WTA tour earlier this month. She even played doubles in the HSBC Championships. She then pitched her wish to play at Wimbledon later this month. Her wish was granted by the All England Club, and she has been granted the final ladies’ singles wildcard.
Former quarterback Robert Griffin III lost it when he saw Williams’ confirmation of her entry to play at Wimbledon. He took to X via his podcast account ‘Outta Pocket With RGIII’ and tweeted, “THE GOAT IS BACK. 🐐”
Before this month, Williams had not seen the inside of a tennis court professionally for nearly four years. However, fans won’t have to wait long to see history in the making. Wimbledon kicks off on June 29. The Women’s Final is scheduled for July 11.
She has absolutely nothing left to prove, but the Queen of the Court is officially back to write a few more chapters. Whether she makes it to the finals or not during her nostalgic return to the grass court, she is going to go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game of Tennis when she hangs up her shoes for good.
Williams boasts tons of achievements and awards to her name in tennis. She has 23 Grand Slam Singles titles, 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles, and four Olympic gold medals.
Rob Gronkowski Makes Feelings Clear on How Patriots Can Overcome Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Scandal
The New England Patriots have been the talk of the NFL for virtually the entire offseason. After a disastrous few years following the end of the Tom Brady tenure, the franchise found its footing with Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel and returned to the Super Bowl.
However, a scandalous development for their new head coach prompted a lot of offseason drama. The team has soldiered on, with the A.J. Brown trade giving them a boost of momentum. But Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski believes there’s only one way for the team to completely move on from the controversy.
Rob Gronkowski Weighs In on Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Distraction
For a while, the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal was basically all anyone could talk about. It dominated headlines, transcending sports media and becoming a tabloid circus. After initially laughing off the allegations, both parties had to deal with the consequences.
Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic, while Vrabel stepped away from the Patriots on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling alongside his family. The scandal has loomed over the organization like a dark cloud. Even the draft and schedule release couldn’t distract from the scandal.
The blockbuster trade for Brown did provide a bit of a break from the scandal. They landed one of the best wide receivers in the league, immediately addressing a position of great need and giving their MVP candidate an elite weapon after cutting ties with Stefon Diggs earlier in the offseason.
However, the controversy still looms large over the Patriots, and it doesn’t show any signs of going away. The Patriots will play in the NFL season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, and the scandal will certainly be a talking point. So, how can New England overcome this distraction? Gronkowski believes there is just one solution.
“It’s as easy as this: win,”Gronkowski told Fox News. “You come together as a team. You work together, you work your butt off. Everyone has to show that they’re accountable during training camp and the preseason. Once the regular season comes, you gotta win, baby. If you win, it solves all problems. It really does.”
It remains to be seen if it will be as simple as that. But for the time being, all the Patriots’ players can do is control what they can control and try their best to block out the outside noise. That should get easier as time passes, particularly if the team is winning games.
AJ Dybantsa is all smiles as the audience guesses his favorite foods, and music during his 2nd annual backpack giveaway at West Middle School in Brockton on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
In the NBA, and in any sports in general, family support plays a huge part in getting a player to the top. Players say it all the time after big wins and big nights that behind every rising star, a family is pushing from the background.
On Father’s Day, projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, had a few words of his own for the man who has been by his side through all of it.
AJ Dybantsa’s Emotional Social Media Post for His Father
Dybantsa took to X over the weekend and shared a post for his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa. The post included two pictures and an emotional caption.
“My dad got ts out the mud. Congo, to France, to Brockton, to where we are right now. He built that so I wouldn’t have to start from scratch… That’s all I ever needed… Happy Father’s Day, pops,” Dybantsa wrote on X.
One of the pictures he posted was taken in Washington, D.C., which feels fitting, given that AJ is widely expected to be selected first overall by the Wizards when the draft takes place this week.
Dybantsa’s father was born in the Republic of Congo, and when Dybantsa was a young teenager, his father, Joachim, sent him off to France to live with his brother so he could get a better education. Ace eventually moved to the Boston area in 1989, where he played soccer at Massasoit College.
It was there that he crossed paths with Chelsea Hudson, AJ’s mother, who had also left home at a young age.
This isn’t the first time Dybantsa has shown this side of himself online. Back in May, he posted a similarly warm tribute to his mother on Instagram for Mother’s Day, where he posted a mirror selfie with his mother as an Instagram Story.
“Happy glo mommaa, words can’t rlly describe,” Dybantsa wrote as the caption.
Honestly, it’s fair to say that family is the foundation of everything Dybantsa has built. During his lone season at BYU, he averaged 25.5 points a game and finished as the nation’s leading scorer.
The signature moment came against rival Utah, when he dropped 43 points, breaking BYU’s freshman single-game scoring record that had stood since Danny Ainge set it decades earlier.
He kept turning heads in the postseason, too, as he piled up 93 points across the Big 12 Tournament to set a new tournament scoring record. He edged past the mark Kevin Durant had held since 2007.
Now, with the 2026 NBA Draft scheduled for June 23, all eyes are on where Dybantsa will begin his professional career.
While his NBA future remains uncertain for now, one thing appears clear. It is that Dybantsa knows that the journey would not have been possible without the support of his family, especially his father, Ace.
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Rossa Ryan riding Orthodox win The Norfolk Stakes on day five during Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse
To get a picture of what it takes to win at Ascot, and especially in any of what the British call “Group 1” (in American racing parlance, Grade 1) contests, we need only look at Orthodox’s fine musculature in the sumptuous Alan Crowhurst shot of his victorious finish in Day 5’s Norfolk Stakes, above. Rossa Ryan is in the irons guiding Orthodox to the win; but focus for a moment on the equine athlete’s airborne moment sailing down in the perigee of his last stride. Just because he’s finishing a stride in the Crowhurst shot doesn’t mean his work is done; on the contrary, he’s bunching up to prepare for another launch.
He’s brought his hind legs resolutely forward to land, and his power source, that mightily-muscled rump, is poised to fire him forward the second his rear hooves touch the ground. That explosion will raise his chest at the same time that his forelegs will claw up into the air again to gain another apogee in the next stride’s arc. This run, and this shot of it, are things of beauty, and they go to the heart of why the British Royal family have sponsored Royal Ascot for the last three hundred years. Pictured below, the beautifully worn boots of an unnamed rider from a royal stable and his runner’s finely nourished musculature on Day 5.
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Saddlecloth on Day Five during Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse
What would Day 5 be without the King and Queen closing things out? Yes, there was the Royal Procession. Pictured below, Charles III deep in conference with Sir Francis Brooke, the Chair of Ascot Authority Holdings, Ltd. and the man who, among many other delicate tasks, oversees the operations and not least, the guest list, of the Royal Enclosure.
Britain's King Charles III talks with Francis Brooke on the fifth day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting in Ascot, west of London, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
A social and sartorial note: This superb and highly specific candid by the AFP’s Henry Nicholls tells us much because the photographer caught the king’s determined, serious mien. Whatever else he may be, Charles III is a good listener and has the force of his considerable wit about him, and here, in the very teeth of Royal Ascot’s social whirl – which is, in fact, a massive philanthropic enterprise in that virtually the entire profit of the week goes to charity – Charles is especially serious with his chief lieutenant, Sir Francis. That is some business that the gentlemen are discussing.
If we add to that the details of the king’s formal day kit that this portrait affords us – from the summery light-grey suitings to the tight parabola of the rolled brim on the topper and the breathtakingly precise double-dimple in the tie, which clears the neckband of the blaze-white collar to frame and lift the face – we can fairly observe that this no-nonsense, refreshingly outspoken British king looks ready for business. Of any sort or description.
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Flora Macdonald Johnston attends Day 5 of Royal Ascot at Ascot, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on June 20, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images for Royal Ascot)
Getty Images for Royal Ascot
No moss, but long tons of embroidered floral motif in silver and blaze gold have gathered on Flora Macdonald Johnston, via her superbly cut suit, pictured above on Day 5. The former Financial Times and Vogue writer and editor – currently the fashion director at Koibird, a retailer in Central London’s Marylebone – clearly has an eye for detail: Those bright little applique blooms asymmetrically studding the skirt and lining the pocket flaps of the jacket outshine even the lush peonies in the background. Unknown is whether they are daisies, or more historically political Jacobean white roses.
Because: This Flora Macdonald Johnston is eminently Scots, her family house is in Aberdeenshire, the eastern jut of Scotland into the North Sea just below the Firth of Forth, or as she once put it in an interview, “at the ass end of nowhere.” That beloved family place is just a stone’s throw across the northern reaches of Scotland from the Hebrides, where Flora Macdonald Johnston’s famous 18th-century namesake, Flora MacDonald, is buried on the isle of Skye. The 18th century heroine was was a central actor in helping to save Bonnie Prince Charlie (the Jacobean prince Charles Stuart) from the British forces after his, Charles’ loss to the British at the Battle of Culloden. MacDonald booked the boat and sailed with the prince and a small entourage to Skye on June 28, 1746 – considered a great coup to this day, despite it landing MacDonald in the Tower of London after her own arrest. No, she was not beheaded.
Unknown is whether the current Flora Macdonald Johnston is descended from her ferociously patriotic namesake – pictured above is the 1749 Allan Ramsay portrait of the noble Scotswoman that hangs in Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. However the MacDonald/Macdonald DNA has worked its way down in Scotland over the last three centuries, it’s safe to say that Flora Macdonald Johnston seems to have been aptly named – she shares an indomitable serenity-in-ferocity with the Scotswoman lovingly rendered by Ramsay above.
Sometimes, it’s just plain bracing to see that the old, bad habits of legendary drinker-and-smoker Winston Churchill are being lovingly cared for in today’s increasingly sleek and all-correct Britain, especially at contemplative moments of recreation, as the more serious British racegoers view a day at Royal Ascot. Pictured above, the hardworking AFP shooter Henry Nicholls produces yet another fine portrait in his shot of a young handicapper luxuriating in the Zenlike smoke-wreathed focus required to select just the perfect and perfectly-priced mounts to back in the next race. Because: Those British bookmakers. You cannot go unarmed among them without, like a sheep, being roundly fleeced.
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Top Hats on day five during Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse
The highly agile Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met. For instance: the twinned projects of drinking, while keeping track of your beaverskin. Both are obligatory, simultaneous modes of behavior at Royal Ascot, especially so in the various “enclosures,” at the very pinnacle of which is the Royal Enclosure.
You’ll notice that, while actually “racing,” the king offlays his iconic beaverskin in the Royal Box. The ladies in attendance, very much including the Queen of course, do not. What to do? Well, the gentlemen need a place to park the lids because, the social froth in the Royal Box or in any other Royal Ascot enclosure can get quite demanding, and there are many, many black or grey toppers in attendance. One seven-and-a-half topper in black looks quite like another.
Did we mention that the “Ascot” top hat, bespoke in dove grey, retails for USD $833.93 currently at Lock & Co., in St. James’s? Those lids don’t grow on trees. It’s not kind of accessory you’d really like to lose tossing it aside as required in an Ascot box.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
The scandal involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini dominated the NFL offseason, unlike anything in recent memory. A steady stream of details dating back to 2020 led Russini to resign from The Athletic on April 14, before its internal investigation concluded, and prompted Vrabel to miss the third day of the draft to begin counseling.
The noise around Vrabel and Russini has faded as training camps approach, but the story isn’t closed. The Athletic’s investigation remains ongoing, and Tony Farmer, who has covered the scandal extensively, raised a new question this week about what the league may have missed.
Tony Farmer Hints at Mike Vrabel’s Patriots Tampering Through Dianna Russini
Farmer hinted at how Vrabel’s alleged relationship with Russini may have revealed how the New England Patriots conducted business. On March 9, 2025, one day before the legal tampering period opened, Russini reported that New York Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses was “expected to hit free agency.”
The now-deleted post included a graphic featuring the Patriots’ logo. She deleted and reposted it, but Moses signed with New England less than 24 hours later on a three-year, $24 million deal.
“People completely misunderstand the implications of Dianna Russini’s deleted Morgan Moses tweet [2025],” Farmer wrote. “It’s not potential evidence of wrongdoing between Russini and Vrabel. It’s potential evidence of alleged wrongdoing by the Patriots (tampering) and evidence Russini and Vrabel talked about that alleged wrongdoing by New England.”
“People on X called for an investigation at the time,” he added. “Most journalists and the NFL completely ignored it. If the NFL had investigated, it might have learned that Vrabel and Russini are close.”
Farmer’s distinction shifts the framing from an off-field scandal to a potential violation of league rules. If Vrabel shared recruitment information with Russini before the tampering window opened, that would constitute a violation regardless of their personal relationship.
The post about Moses isn’t the only reporting thread under scrutiny. Russini was among the first to report a rift between A.J. Brown and the Eagles as early as September 2025, consistently identifying the Patriots as a likely destination.
Brown was eventually traded to New England on June 1, and many have projected Russini as the driving force behind the wide receiver’s reunion with Vrabel.
As of now, the NFL has shown no appetite for investigating the tampering angle, but that could change if additional evidence surfaces. For now, the league appears content to let The Athletic’s internal investigation serve as the only response to a story that could raise many big questions about Vrabel, the Patriots, and other teams around the league.
Jameesia Ford and MiLaysia Fulwiley (Sources: Imagn, Imagn)
South Carolina track star JaMeesia Ford is dealing with a significant setback after suffering an injury at the NCAA 200m prelims during the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week. She abruptly stopped during Heat 1 and fell to the ground, ending her 2026 championship hopes.
Ford is in a relationship with LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who gave her girlfriend some support following the injury.
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This came as JaMeesia Ford posted a message on her Instagram page on Thursday that she will be OK.
“First thing first, I just want to give thanks to everyone who has reached out and supported me it means the most ❤️. I’ve been trying to avoid what happened at NCAA’s. It’s not easy to accept it but I can say it’s a blessing in disguise. While this isn’t the outcome I expected, I know God has a bigger plan than what I can see right now. Just a minor setback, into a journey of recovery and taking one day at a time,” Ford wrote.
MiLaysia Fulwiley responded to the post with a brief message of support.
“still da goat 🤭❤️🔥❤️🔥🥰,” Fulwiley wrote.
MiLaysia Fulwiley has a message for JaMeesia Ford (Source: IG/ JaMeesia Ford)
Ford reportedly appeared to have suffered a lower-body injury midway through the race, with her slowing down suddenly before falling to the ground. She soon left the track in a wheelchair and was seen in tears as her 2026 outdoor season ended without a championship.
Injury Stops JaMeesia Ford, Dashes Her Championship Hopes
Coming into the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Jameesia Ford was one of the clear favorites to win gold. She had already qualified for the 100m final and the 4x100m relay final with her South Carolina teammates. With her injury, however, she would not be able to challenge for the 100m final, the relay, or defend her 2025 200m title.
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She did have her leg examined on site, but the extent is still unknown. For now, the only clear thing is that her season is over and that she suffered some severe leg/hamstring issue.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, local outlet KHOU 11 News Houston spoke with one Swedish man proudly wearing a brown cowboy hat amid the festivities.
Asked if he picked up the cowboy hat in America or back in Sweden, the man revealed: “No, from Buc-ee’s, from Buc-ee’s. So go Buc-ee’s — great place. I love the beef jerky, we love the cowboy style. You’re great.”
Buc-ee’s is a beloved mega-travel center and convenience store chain that originated in Texas. Widely celebrated for its clean bathrooms, extensive snack selection and expansive gas pump stations, it is a popular tourist destination that has expanded into several other Southern states.
One Swedish World Cup fan revealed he picked up his cowboy hat from Buc-ee’s, a Texas staple (KHOU 11 News Houston)
The Sweden fan’s praise for Buc-ee’s didn’t go unnoticed.
“Buc-ee’s coming clutch with the cowboy gear!” one person commented on Instagram, while a second wrote: “Take that man to a rodeo.”
“A cowboy hat from Bucees?!” a third exclaimed, alongside a handful of laughing emojis. “I’m dying.”
When the reporter noted the energy and the number of Swedish fans who turned out, the man replied: “Of course, it’s the World Cup. You talk about Super Bowl here in America. You have to understand, this is the biggest sport and the biggest event in the world.”
The 2026 World Cup has invited 48 teams and countries to compete in games taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The tournament is currently in the group stages, but will move into the knockout rounds June 28.
“Who knew dip-lomacy could be achieved through addressing the obvious: ranch is the king of condiments,” the TSA wrote in the caption of a recent Instagram post, featuring comments about packing the American staple in a checked bag. “The world is slowly discovering ranch pairs perfectly with pizza, chicken wings, fries, onion rings, quesadillas, crackers, chips, vegetables, and the list just keeps growing.”
“Are you kicking around the idea of flying home with your favorite dip?” said the company, which mandates that all liquids in carry-on luggage — including shampoo, conditioner and now sauces — need to be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less.
“Ok please avoid chugging your ranch outside security, the airlines will check it for you,” the TSA wrote in one photo, while another read: “Yeah, soooo your carry-on wasn’t made for *check notes* four bottles of ranch & a taser.”
Politics is often a divisive topic, and sports figures and athletes are no different from everyone else in their differing political opinions. Current President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama are among the many political figures who have staunch defenders and avid supporters.
One Super Bowl champion took to social media to share his feelings about each American president.
Asante Samuel Criticizes Donald Trump on Social Media
Two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel is the latest professional athlete to make his political feelings clear on social media.
“So, Barack Obama had a deal in place with Iran. Donald Trump rips it up to negotiate a new deal and give away 300 billion. Trump can’t negotiate or lead the country,” Samuel said on X. “Only weak-minded people will deny the truth.”
The longtime NFL cornerback’s comments come as a response to the deal President Trump recently signed with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
President Obama was the commander in chief of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran in 2015. Meanwhile, President Trump served as commander in chief for one term from 2017 to 2021 and was elected to another term starting in 2025.
The two American presidents are from opposing political parties: Trump is a Republican, and Obama is a Democrat, which has led to differing opinions on their political ideologies and beliefs.
“Donald Trump’s entire mission is to feel loved like Barack Obama,” Samuel added. “He could never be Obama.”
Samuel played 11 years in the NFL, spending time with the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons. In his 11-year career, he made four Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro twice.
Samuel played 157 games in the NFL, recording 439 tackles (398 solo, 41 assists), nine tackles for loss, 51 interceptions, 164 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, and six defensive touchdowns.
He led the NFL in interceptions twice in his career and also led the league twice in passes defensed. In 2007, he was named a first-team All-Pro and helped lead the Patriots to the No. 5-ranked unit in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric (DEFi).
His son, Asante Samuel Jr., currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is entering his sixth season in the NFL after being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
Samuel is far from the first celebrity or athlete to make their political opinions known on social media, and he will certainly not be the last either. While his comments have resulted in divided opinions on both ends of the political spectrum, that comes with the territory and is part of the social media experience in 2026.
Le’Veon Bell didn’t mince words. The former NFL All-Pro running back recently went on a livestream rant, explaining his frustrating experience while trying to audition for Kai Cenat’s Streamer University in Los Angeles. Despite his stature, the 34-year-old chose to enroll like a normal applicant rather than pull some strings, but things didn’t go according to plan.
Now, former NFL MVP Cam Newton has given Bell a blunt reality check on his podcast, claiming that it was all about “acceptance” for the former running back.
Cam Newton Questions Le’Veon Bell’s Need for Validation
It’s not an experience Bell is used to. To prove his dedication, the Ohio native waited six to seven hours, hoping to audition for Kai Cenat’s Streamer University 2026. However, despite his patience being tested to the limit, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back was not even granted the opportunity to meet Cenat or present his résumé.
What followed was an angry rant on a livestream, in which Bell said that big streamers act as if they are above regular people.
However, the former NFL MVP was not having it. Issuing a blunt reality check on the “4th&1 with Cam Newton” podcast, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback said, “You (Le’Veon Bell) mad that he didn’t pick you, boy. But why would you give a person that much stronghold over like your feelings?
“Let’s just be honest, Le’Veon. You played in front of 80,000, 90,000, 100,000. You expecting one person to make your life better. You said it’s not about the streaming university check. Yes, it is. It’s about acceptance.”
Urging Bell to take matters into his own hands, Newton went on to say, “Yes, it should have lit a dog on fire up under you because now start your own streaming university. Start your own running back university.”
Streamer University is a popular, multi-day creator bootcamp hosted by Cenat, where aspiring content creators compete to live and collaborate. The in-person auditions are known to be chaotic, with stops like Atlanta being shut down earlier than expected due to overwhelming crowd sizes.
Bell isn’t the only high-profile name that Cenat has turned down. Celebrities like Soulja Boy have also been turned away in the past after he threatened to beef with Cenat if he wasn’t allowed to attend the event, leading him to announce his own Rapper University.
As for Bell, it remains to be seen whether he will take Newton’s advice. While the former running back’s livestream may have been aimed at Streamer University, many believe it revealed a much bigger underlying issue. As “Super Cam” suggested, one closed door typically shouldn’t lead to this much frustration, and the reaction hints that the rejection itself may not have been the real issue.
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