ALBURGH, Vt. — A brawl broke out among spectators at a middle school basketball game in northern Vermont, and a 60-year-old man who participated in the fight died, police said.
State troopers were called to the Alburgh Community Education Center just before 7 p.m. Tuesday after a report of a large fight involving spectators during a seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball game between Alburgh and St. Albans.
The fight ended before troopers arrived, and many of the participants had left. Russell Giroux, of Alburgh, sought medical attention, police said. He was taken by ambulance to the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, where he was pronounced dead.
Jay Nichols, the executive director of the Vermont Principals’ Association, said in a statement that the group, which oversees school sports in the state, had no information about the event beyond what the authorities provided.
“Although we can not speak specifically about the events at this individual game, we would like to once again emphasize that middle and high school sports are educational and are for the benefit of the student-athletes,” he said. “Spectators that cannot behave appropriately can be barred from events and can face criminal charges.”
The superintendent of the Grand Isle Supervisory Union, which includes Alburgh, did not respond to a Wednesday request for comment.
The state police and Grand Isle state’s attorney’s office are investigating Giroux’s death. The state medical examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy.
Alburgh is a town of about 2,100 in northwestern Vermont. It is surrounded on three sides by Lake Champlain. The northern part of the community forms part of the border with Canada.
One of the more interesting recruiting battles in the Southeast ended on Wednesday with UCF keeping Andrew Harris home for college. The Altamonte Springs area prospect was also considering Maryland with twin linebacker brother Michael signing with the Terrapins. The win for the Knights brings another All-American talent to the 2023 roster.
WHAT UCF IS GETTING
For his Lake Brantley squad, Harris collided against 4M offenses as an inside linebacker. Andrew works through the box with ease slipping linemen reading his keys in a hurry meeting the tailback in the hole. Also an Under Armour Next All-America selection, Andrew’s play at the Polynesian Bowl earned him defensive MVP honors.
WHY THIS IS BIG FOR THE KNIGHTS
A big part of UCF’s recruiting plan under head coach Gus Malzahn is keeping the local talent home for college. Landing the four-star from Altamonte Springs, just north of Orlando, goes that next step in building that proverbial fence around central Florida for the Knights; this sends a signal to other recruits.
Harris is a Power Five talent, and a great fit for UCF as they head to the Big 12. There is a toughness Harris brings to the field that has been spotlighted throughout his high school career and in postseason All-American events; UCF got a thumper.
IN HIS WORDS
“I like Gus Malzahn a lot. I like their new defensive coordinator (Addison Williams) and I like their linebackers coach (Ernie Sims) that they just got; love them. Their atmosphere is great.” – Andrew Harris
The Welsh Rugby Union says either its new chair or chief executive must be female under major reforms proposed in response to allegations of sexism and misogyny within the organisation.
Among the plans to “modernise”, the WRU also says its new board will comprise of at least five women and be more diverse.
A majority of 75 per cent of members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), to be called imminently, will need to vote in favour in order to pass the proposals.
University of Georgia athletic department officials confirmed the vehicle involved in a crash that killed a football player and an employee was to be used strictly for recruiting activities
In a statement, a Georgia Athletic Association spokesperson said the SUV was not meant for any extracurricular actives and use of the car for personal reasons was “strictly prohibited.”
Offensive lineman Devin Willock and 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy were killed several hours after the Bulldogs ended a parade celebrating the program’s second straight national title.
Georgia Bulldogs offensive linemen Devin Willock (77) run blocks during the CFP national championship game against the TCU Horned Frogs Jan. 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LeCroy worked in the recruiting department and was driving the SUV at the time of the accident. Offensive lineman Warren McClendon and staff member Victoria Bowles were also inside the vehicle at the time.
McClendon, who had just announced plans to enter the NFL draft, suffered minor injuries. Bowles was hospitalized with multiple serious injuries.
“The car driven in the accident was one of several vehicles leased by our athletic department for use during recruiting activities only,” the athletic association said in Saturday’s statement.
Devin Willock (77) of the Georgia Bulldogs in action against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Sanford Stadium Oct. 15, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (Adam Hagy/Getty Images)
School officials added that the car was being rented and should have been returned.
“Policies and expectations that were well understood by athletics staff dictated that such rental vehicles were to be turned in at the immediate conclusion of recruiting duties,” the school said.
“Personal use was strictly prohibited. Therefore, the continued use of the leased car by our staff members after their recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was unauthorized.”
Georgia Bulldogs offensive linemen Devin Willock (77) after a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks Oct. 2, 2021, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The crash happened at around 2:45 a.m. not far from Georgia’s campus. According to a crash report released by the Athens-Clarke Police Department, the SUV struck a power pole and a second utility pole, cutting it in half.
The car spun out, striking several trees and another parked car before eventually coming to rest.
Police listed excessive speed on a road with a 40 mph limit as one of the primary causes of the crash. Willock was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle.
“We are continuing to cooperate fully with investigators,” the athletic association statement said. “Above all, our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of those we lost and those who were injured in this tragic accident.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
A Michigan State cornerback avoided jail time for his actions in a postage brawl against University of Michigan players.
Khary Crump was sentenced to 12 months probation and must serve 80 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement.
A Michigan State Spartans helmet on the field before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium Nov. 26, 2022, in State College, Pa. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The incident occurred after the Wolverines took down the Spartans, 29-7, in Ann Arbor Oct. 29.
Crump was one of seven players charged, although he was the only one charged with a felony. He pled guilty to his assault charge after hitting Gemon Green with a helmet.
Crump’s record will be wiped clean if he completes the community service and gets through probation without trouble as part of the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.
“Unfortunately, an exchange of words (took place), I felt attacked and, unfortunately, I did what I did,” Crump said of the tunnel altercation. “I’m not proud of that. I’m looking forward to moving forward.”
Crump will miss the first eight games of the 2023 season as he serves a suspension for his actions.
“I had difficulties trying to stomach my actions … on that fateful day, but it happened. I can’t take it back,” Crump told MLive.com after a hearing. “Honestly, I’m just looking forward to whoopin’ some maize and blue in the future — on the football field, of course.”
A Michigan State Spartans helmet sits on the sideline during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium Oct. 9, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
He also pled guilty to misdemeanor counts of assault and battery and disorderly person jostling and was ordered to pay a $550 fine, complete an anger management course and go through random drug and alcohol testing.
Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday morning.
While it would be difficult to summarize a career spanning more than two decades, Brady attempted to do just that on social media, sharing just a few moments from his legendary time in the league.
Tom Brady of the Buccaneers screams in celebration after rushing for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“I’m retiring – for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time. So, when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. So, I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year,” Brady said in his announcement video.
“I really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors… I can go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady celebrate after beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
On Instagram, Brady posted dozens of pictures spanning from his time with the New England Patriots to his last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From photos with former Patriots players, like Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, to selfies with coaches Bill Belichick and Bruce Arians, Brady shared his fondest memories.
Tom Brady talks to head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before the Dallas Cowboys game at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 24, 2019, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Among those memories, most notably, were pictures of his parents, his children and his exes Bridget Moynahan and Gisele Bündchen.
Brady and Bündchen announced their divorce in October after weeks of speculation that the couple was headed toward a split.
Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bündchen celebrate after he won the Super Bowl in 2021. (Kevin C. Cox)
“In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage,” Brady wrote in a statement at the time. “We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together. We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way.”
In his initial retirement announcement in February 2022, Brady thanked Bündchen for being “the most loving and supportive wife who has done everything for our family to allow me to focus on my career.”
If you want to play for Alabama, you might not get your way when it comes to NIL money.
According to OutKick, Nick Saban had no problems letting a top recruit and one of his own players go recently after they asked for over $1 million combined from the school.
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide during pregame warmups prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Saban attended the ALFCA (Alabama Football Coaches Association) Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, on Thursday night, where he reportedly told fellow coaches about the two players’ requests and his decision to let them go.
“Someone with one of the best corners in the nation (in high school) came to me and asked if we’d pay them $800,000 for the player to sign here. I told him he can find another place to play,” Saban said, according to Baker High School coach Steve Normand. “I’m not paying a kid a bunch of NIL money before he earns it.”
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide leaves the field after a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium Nov. 5, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Normand added that Saban feels the NCAA “needs more ways and means to control it because it’s getting out of hand.”
Saban later added that he lost 10 players, including a starter, to the portal already.
“One of them wanted $500,000 and for us to get his girlfriend into law school at Alabama and pay for it. I showed him the door,” Saban reportedly said.
It’s unknown who Saban was referring to. He did not mention names or schools, but it’s possible he was talking about Javion Cohen, who transferred to Miami.
Saban has been critical of NIL deals in the past but does support the concept.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban addresses the media during the SEC Football Kickoff Media Days July 19, 2022, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I think a couple of things are of concern,” Saban said in August. “We allow alumni through collectives to get involved in recruiting and other things. That’s always something we’ve always guarded against in college football. I think what kind of competitive balance are we able to create if we allow that to happen, which is not going to be great for fans.
“The best competitive balance you can have is like in the NFL. They have rules to create competitive balance. Whether it’s salary cap, difficulty of schedule, where you draft, where you pick relative to your won-loss record. Those things are important I think in the interest of creating a lot of good matchups on a national basis.”
Sorry, Tom Brady, but on behalf of football fans everywhere, I hereby reject your retirement announcement.
Brady just means too much to all of NFL fandom — those who love him and those who are happiest when he’s beaten. We all want him to stay.
When Brady was a rookie, he was carrying a pizza box into the Patriots’ practice facility when he ran into the owner, Bob Kraft in a stairwell. Brady being Brady, he introduced himself, to which Kraft responded, “I know who you are.”
To which Brady confidently responded, “I’m the best decision you ever made.”
Being a Brady fan is the best decision I ever made as a sports fan. In a world of tarnished idols, of gossip, and shamelessness, Brady stands out as a true role model. Not just because he won more Super Bowls and set more records than any other NFL athlete. Instead, it’s because he does things the right way.
Don’t come around with those tired lies about Deflategate. Ever wonder why NFL quarterbacks never said boo about the so-called scandal, in which Brady allegedly ordered footballs primed to a certain level of inflation? It’s because every NFL quarterback did, and probably does, the exact the same thing. Brady’s real crime was simply winning too often and leaving too many opponents, and their fan bases, mired in disappointment.
One of Bill Belichick’s best maxims is “Never mistake experience for preparation.” Brady went out year after year and kept himself at the highest level of preparedness, conditioning, and mental and physical agility. He hasn’t missed a start since 2008, and he hadn’t missed a game due to injury prior to that since taking over from Drew Bledsoe in 2001. Has anyone else out there missed zero days of work in the last 15 years? Yeah, I thought not.
Brady continually introduced himself to new teammates, as if they had no idea who he was. Humility is a lost art in today’s chest-pounding, follow-me-on-Snapchat world. Today, you can’t hide bad behavior from the media, paparazzi, or just knuckleheads with cellphones. The next time Brady will be in the tabloids for bad behavior will also be the first time.
We will likely never again see the stability generated in any sport with the same player, coach or manager, and owner together for two decades. Brady continually took less money and stayed in New England so that in the parity-driven NFL he could have better players around him. He tolerated Belichick’s boot camp for 20 years and became the most dominant quarterback in NFL history. Maybe that’s why he’s got seven rings and that guy in Green Bay has exactly one, even though Aaron Rodgers’ projected 2023 salary is roughly double what Brady would have made.
We don’t get Brady sightings in nightclubs, gentlemen’s clubs, or anywhere else we wouldn’t our own kids to find us. During and after his divorce, we never heard him make one negative remark about his ex-wife. Nor did we see him with one or more new female friends (although that’s certainly his prerogative). We did see his ex-wife photographed with her martial arts instructor — her martial arts instructor! — on a date of some sort just weeks after the ink on the divorce papers went dry. If Tom had an opinion, he graciously kept it to himself.
Anyone who has met Brady knows he’s a gentleman, especially around kids. That was my experience at a grip-and-grin with Brady and my two sons, then 15. The best way to describe Brady is “well-raised.” This is not a given with top athletes these days in any sport.
Here’s the pity of it – not one but two teams offered great opportunities for Tom to come back and play ball. He could have been reunited with Josh McDaniel in Las Vegas, along with a bunch of guys who can catch passes. Or he could have gone to his beloved 49ers, who broke his heart by not drafting him back in the day, while Brock Purdy and Trey Lance heal from injuries. Either team would have backed up the Brink’s truck and given him a two-year deal.
For all these reasons, on behalf of those who, like me, adore Tom Brady and those who love to see him to lose (because of their own twisted psychological makeup), I hereby reject Brady’s retirement. He un-retired once. Who’s to say he won’t wake up in a few weeks, realize that he made a terrible mistake, and sign up with the Raiders, the 49ers, or even the Titans?
And when he does, remember that you read it here first. Pencils have erasers. And we can always add the prefix “un-” to his retirement statement.
From the Tuck Rule pass to his seventh ring, there’s never been a winner, on the field or off, like Tom Brady. And that’s why fans like me will refuse to accept the idea that Elvis – er, Tom – has left the building.
The sports world woke up Wednesday morning to the news that Tom Brady announced he was “retiring for good” after 23 seasons in the NFL.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, made the announcement in a video posted to social media.
Tom Brady of the Buccaneers screams in celebration after rushing for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“Good morning, guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady said. “I’m retiring for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time. So, when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first so. I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.
“I really thank you guys so much to everyone single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors… I can go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream.
Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt smiles while talking with San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle in Santa Clara, California, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
One of those competitors – recently retired defensive end, JJ Watt – hopped on Twitter to congratulate Brady on his incredible career.
Watt retired following the conclusion of the 2022 season after 12 NFL seasons, and both Brady and Watt will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2028.
Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt talks with quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 25, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Buccaneers struggled all season, making the playoffs but finishing the regular season under .500.
Tampa Bay’s offense finished the season scoring just 18.4 points per game, 25th in the NFL.
Brady finishes his NFL career first all-time in passing yards (89,214), regular season touchdowns (649), playoff passing yards (13,400), and playoff touchdowns (88).
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Penner flew out to Michigan to meet with Harbaugh for an in-person discussion – Harbaugh’s first conversation with Denver had been virtually.
In that video conversation, Harbaugh told the Broncos he was pulling out of the race, but Penner and general manager George Paton still made the trip, ESPN reported.
Harbaugh also met with the Minnesota Vikings after last season, saying he would no longer seek out NFL opportunities and describing it as a “one-time thing.”
“I love the relationships that I have at Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, president Santa Ono and especially the players and their families,” Harbaugh said in his statement Jan. 16. “My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to out-happy, happy.’ Go Blue!”
Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines speaks to the press after a college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Michigan lost the Peach Bowl to TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinals, and TCU will meet Georgia in the national championship game Monday. It was the second straight CFP appearance for Michigan.
Harbaugh is 51-17 since joining Michigan in 2015. Including his stops at Stanford and the University of San Diego, his college head coaching record is 74-25. During his four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, he went 44-19-1, making three straight NFC championships and the 2013 Super Bowl, which he lost to his brother, John, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Hard Rock Stadium. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Following Tom Brady’s retirement from football Wednesday morning after 23 NFL seasons, tributes poured in on social media.
One year after Brady’s first retirement, Wednesday’s news feels final following a season of struggles for Brady.
Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
“Good morning, guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady said in the video announcement. “I’m retiring for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time. So, when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first so. I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.”
Widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, former teammates and competitors chimed in on social media to congratulate the seven-time Super Bowl champion for an incredible career.
Brady is the greatest winner in NFL history, winning Super Bowls in three decades.
His greatness was recognized by another all-time winner Wednesday morning – New York Yankees legend, Derek Jeter.
Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter speaks to the fans as he is honored by the New York Yankees before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 9, 2022. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
“Congrats[Tom Brady] on an unbelievable career,” Jeter posted to Twitter. “It was fun to watch!”
Jeter retired in 2014 after 20 MLB seasons, all 20 with the New York Yankees.
While Jeter’s “GOAT” status will create a massive argument among baseball fanatics, his impact on the game is as clear as Brady’s.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady yells to the crowd as he takes the field to face the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Brian Fluharty-USA Today Sports)
“One, you have to perform, and I think when you perform, people ultimately look at you as being a leader. Tom doesn’t make excuses, right?” Jeter said of Brady in an “EXTENDED Conversation” with ESPN.
Derek Jeter and Tom Brady, a Michigan alum, talk with Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, during the Michigan Signing of the Stars event on Feb. 3, 2016, in Ann Arbor. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
“What’s one thing you don’t want to say or have a leader that makes excuses. And then you also don’t have to talk about being a leader. I think you want people to respect you and if they respect you enough, then ultimately they may follow.”
Brady retires as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), regular season touchdowns (649), playoff passing yards (13,400), and playoff touchdowns (88).
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills was indicted on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping in Ohio on Wednesday, the state’s attorney general announced.
Sills, 25, was indicted on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden said in a news release. Both charges are first-degree felonies.
Oklahoma State Cowboys offensive lineman Josh Sills plays against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 1, 2022. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
The indictment stems from an incident in December 2019. Sills allegedly “engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will,” officials said. The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation after the alleged crime was immediately reported.
The indictment comes days before the Eagles are set to play in Super Bowl LVII. Sills was a rookie in 2022, and he played in one regular season game.
“The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills. We have been in communication with the league office and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time,” the Eagles said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Sills was issued a summons to appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 16 — four days after the Eagles are set to play in the Super Bowl.
Sills, who plays tackle and guard, joined Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent. He spent his collegiate career with Oklahoma State. He was born in Sarahsville, Ohio.
Philadelphia Eagles guard Josh Sills looks on during training camp at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Aug. 7, 2022. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sills appeared in only four snaps on special teams for the Eagles in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. He’s listed as a backup right guard to Isaac Seumalo on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital.
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills was indicted by a Guernsey County Common Pleas Court grand jury on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping, both first-degree felonies, according to a release posted on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.
Per the release, Sills engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will in December 2019.
The alleged crime was immediately reported, according to the release, and the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a detailed investigation. The case was presented to the grand jury and is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office.
A summons was issued for Sills, 25, to appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16.
The Eagles are playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.
Sills, a Sarahsville, Ohio native, was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent last April. He attended West Virginia from 2016-19 and then transferred to Oklahoma State in 2020.
Sills appeared in one game for the Eagles this season, in October against the Arizona Cardinals.
Wait, seriously? You don’t know Tom Brady, the superstar N.F.L. quarterback who has won seven Super Bowls?
Just kidding, I know who Brady is. But could you briefly review his career for me anyway?
Brady grew up in Northern California and played college football at Michigan. But he was unheralded enough to be drafted only in the sixth round by the New England Patriots in 2000, a slight he has used as motivation throughout his career.
The pick was a steal, as Brady led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories. He moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent and won a seventh Super Bowl, the most by any player. He was named M.V.P. in five of those Super Bowls.
He finished with gaudy regular season stats: 7,753 complete passes, 89,214 passing yards and 649 passing touchdowns, all records, over 23 seasons.
In the playoffs, he has another 1,200 completions, 13,400 yards and 88 touchdowns. Again, those are all records.
Did you say 23 seasons? How old is this guy?
He’s 45 (and turns 46 on Aug. 3). He was the oldest player ever to play in the N.F.L. besides a few kickers.
Didn’t he retire once before?
Yes, about a year ago. “I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” he wrote. Forty days later he made that competitive commitment again and decided to come back for the 2022 season.
In 2022, he was rated the ninth highest paid athlete in the world by Forbes, which estimated he made an additional $50 million above and beyond his salary in that year alone.
The extra cash comes from endorsements of cars, clothes and mobile service providers, among many other products.
Brady also endorsed FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed last year. Many of the millions of people who lost money in the failure declared some animus toward Brady and other celebrity endorsers. Brady himself was a major shareholder in FTX, according to a court document, and his stake went from tens of millions of dollars to virtually worthless.
Wasn’t he involved in some bizarre ball controversy?
Sadly, this answer could probably be book length. In short, Brady was accused of arranging to deliberately deflate the footballs used in a playoff game in January 2015 to gain a competitive advantage, a bizarre scandal that came to be known as Deflategate. After numerous claims of skulduggery and court appeals — yes this reached federal court in a moment that yielded this illustration — Brady finally agreed to accept a four-game suspension for being “generally aware” of the plot. He served the suspension during the 2016 season.
What’s next for him?
Before this season, Brady agreed to serve as a commentator for Fox Sports upon his eventual retirement. While his salary for that job is not public, various reports have put it at $20 million, $25 million or even $30 million a year. (The New York Post said it was worth $375 million over 10 years.)
No doubt his on-field prowess and off-field fame will continue to get him endorsement deals as well.
What about Brady’s personal life?
Brady has a son with the actress Bridget Moynahan. He married the model Gisele Bündchen, and they have a son and a daughter. The couple announced in October that they were divorcing after 12 years of marriage.
Brady is a longtime friend of the former president Donald J. Trump, but has mostly tried to stay cagey in public about his politics. Before Trump was elected in 2016, Brady had a “Make America Great Again” cap in his locker in 2015 and mused about a Trump administration (“There’d be a putting green on the White House lawn,” he predicted).
Brady founded the health and wellness company TB12 Sports with his longtime trainer Alex Guerrero. He also has Religion of Sports, which is a media company, and the Brady Brand clothing line.
What’s this I hear about a movie?
Fortuitously, or not, a movie called “80 for Brady” is opening on Friday. Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin play Patriots fans of a certain age who travel to the Super Bowl to see their hero. Brady appears in the film as himself, along with some of his old Patriots teammates. He is also credited as a producer.
By all accounts, Tom Brady is not going to be vanishing from sight anytime soon.
It’s Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, and the Miami Heat are down three to the Dallas Mavericks with 6.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. James, in his quest for his first NBA championship, has scored only 8 points, looking lost on the floor at times. But now, with one shot, he can tie things up and keep the Mavericks from evening the series — if only he can get free for a look.
Jason Terry won’t let it happen. As Heat forward Mike Miller takes the ball on the inbound, Mario Chalmers sets a screen for James, but Terry fights right through it. Miller pump-fakes in the direction of James, then passes to Dwyane Wade, who fumbles the ball and dives to prevent a backcourt violation. He barely manages to get the ball back to Miller as James watches in the corner. Miller throws up a desperation 3, which misses the rim and lands with a thud. Game over. A defeated James, who shot the ball only once in the fourth quarter, slowly walks to the locker room.
The Heat never recover, losing the final two games. James’ critics grow louder than ever — where was he when his team needed him the most?
His career since that Mavericks series has provided the resounding answer. Eleven seasons and four championships later, he’s quickly approaching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for the most points scored in league history. The Lakers have struggled since winning a title in 2020, but James has remained dominant.
This is the oral history of James’ worst performance — Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals — and how he used it to unlock his greatness.
JAMES BECAMEONE of the most hated players in sports after leaving his home state to take his talents to South Beach and form a superteam with Wade and Bosh in 2010. He was nicknamed “LeFraud” and found himself in uncharted territory for a beloved basketball prodigy.
In the 2011 playoffs, the Heat eliminated the Sixers, Celtics and Bulls, each in five games. Miami then won Game 1 of the Finals at home. James had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists. But in Game 2, Miami blew a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead. James had only two points in the final period.
The Heat squeaked out a two-point win in Game 3, but James again had just two in the fourth. Miami held a tenuous 2-1 lead in the series.
James [on an episode of “The Shop”]: My first year in Miami … I wanted to prove everybody wrong.
Heat guard Eddie House: LeBron is a great dude. Funny, outgoing, outspoken. He’s a great leader. That first year in Miami, he took on a different persona. It was serious business and everybody hates me, and I want to show them why they shouldn’t hate me. That weighed on him silently. It didn’t look like he was having fun at times. And he always looked like he had fun playing basketball.
Heat assistant coach David Fizdale: That year was so hard on [James] because of “The Decision” [a 75-minute ESPN special that revealed his free agent choice] and all of the backlash that he had received for really just being like any normal human being who controlled the destiny of his career and picked where he wanted to work. He got really torn up about that. The press never let it up. It was a good story, and negative stories always play well.
House: He was even more guarded, at that point, than he had ever been in his life, just because of “The Decision” and all the stuff that people were saying.
In the regular season, Miami’s Big Three — James, Wade and Chris Bosh — scored two-thirds of its points. Dallas was led by future Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki, its star, and Jason Kidd, its leading assist man, and future Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler. But the Mavs needed to throw everything they had at James and company, including different lineups cooked up by head coach Rick Carlisle and imaginative defensive schemes spearheaded by assistant Dwane Casey.
Former Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry remained a reserve, where he was joined by guard DeShawn Stevenson, who had started the first three games of the series. Stevenson was replaced by a hard-nosed 5-foot-10 guard named J.J. Barea.
Barea: In our shootarounds, there was a lot of talking between Jason Kidd, myself, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, [forward] Shawn Marion and Dwane Casey, [Carlisle], [assistant coach] Terry Stotts. There were arguments during shootaround, talking about what we were going to do during the game. Going into Game 4, I remember coach [Carlisle said], “Hey, you’re going to start, and we’re going to put DeShawn Stevenson off the bench.” I said, “OK, I’ll be ready.”
Heat center Joel Anthony: He really gave them a really big spark. And that definitely helped them change the momentum.
Barea: There was going to be some times when I have to guard bigger people like LeBron. It’s tough, but I was pretty good at guarding bigger guys away from the paint. I liked it. I knew they were going to try to bully me.
Marion: That’s part of the postseason, though. That’s part of great coaches, man, you have to make adjustments. … When you look at our roster, we [were] probably the deepest team in the playoffs. That goes a long way. You’re going to go as far as your bench takes you.
In the locker room before the game, Carlisle tasked his squad with overwhelming the Heat as a collective. He’d make sure to use the whole roster to do so. Meanwhile, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra implored his players to simply outwork the Mavs.
The game began with Nowitzki hitting a fadeaway along the right baseline. Then another fading jumper along the left baseline. Then a jumper from the right wing. The Heat, on the other hand, didn’t score until more than two minutes passed. James scored his first four points in the opening period on a tip-in and two free throws. The first quarter ended with a 21-21 tie, but Nowitzki’s Mavericks set the tone for the rest of the game.
Mavericks swingman Corey Brewer: I’m not going to say [Game 4] was like Game 7, but focus was definitely really up there. Really high-focus game. We have veteran guys. They knew what it took to win.
House: When you break it down, in every playoff series, the guys that are the guys need to be the guys — and you get what you get from the role players — and our guys were hit and miss at times [throughout the series]. [The Mavericks’] guys were hitting.
Heat guard Mike Bibby: Dirk’s confidence [was]: “I don’t think anybody could stop me on that team.” I think that’s what his mentality was like.
Brewer: Dirk let his game do the talking.
Nowitzki [in a news conference following Game 4]: This is the Finals. You’re going to leave it out there.
The Heat’s offense was disjointed in the second quarter. During a 9-0 Dallas run midway through the period, Miami had four straight turnovers caused by confusion and clutter: an offensive foul drawn by Kidd on James, a shot clock violation, an errant pass that evaded a cutting James and a stolen bounce pass intended for James, who was the roll man in a pick-and-roll with Chalmers.
James’ only shot in the second, a running heave that slammed off the backboard, came as the halftime buzzer sounded. The Heat led 47-45 at halftime.
Fizdale: The first big down the floor for us always ran to the strong-side post. And if LeBron has the ball, you don’t want Joel Anthony standing in the strong-side post as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade [are] bringing the ball up the court. All these guys who are really brilliant basketball minds are using our system against us to help guard him, clog up the paint and just keep people in front of them.
James [in a news conference following Game 4]: I got the ball in the post a few times, and I [saw] double-teams. I tried to kick it out to guys and [who have] made shots for us. At the same time, I can’t let that stop my aggression when they bring two on the ball. I still got to make plays for my team but also make plays for myself to keep me in the rhythm of the game.
Marion: We took them out of the things they normally do.
Brewer: Jason Kidd was freaking amazing defensively [in the series]. He was picking up 94 feet.
Fizdale: And we were killing … the process of LeBron just being great and giving him the space to go.
But the Heat did have Wade, who made all five of his shots in third. Meanwhile, James had his best all-around quarter of the game, collecting four points, four rebounds and three assists. With just over a minute left in the quarter, he muscled Terry near the free throw line and made a 15-foot jumper over him. It was decisive and defiant. They also were his last points of the game.
The Heat went on an 8-1 run to end the third quarter and entered the fourth with a 69-65 lead, but James — who was just 3-of-10 from the field to that point — was still riding shotgun.
Bibby: D-Wade [was the go-to guy] that game.
Wade [in a news conference following Game 4]: My teammates and my team count on me to be more than one-dimensional. So obviously I’m in an offensive rhythm.
James [in the same news conference]: I’m confident with my ability. It’s about going out there and knocking [open shots] down.
Fizdale: I don’t care what people say, a jumper just is not going to consistently fall if you’re not getting some free throws [James and Wade combined to attempt 13 free throws in the game; James attempted just four of those]. We weren’t getting the easy ones.
Bibby: I’ve never been in that situation to where it’s like, “We’re both superstars, it’s not my night tonight, you got it. Go do what you do. Take us home.” I think LeBron was saying [to Wade], “OK, you got to go get it.”
Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas: The whole season, when we ran into trouble, we didn’t know where to go, who to go to. Because Chris, Dwyane and LeBron were the main guys coming in. So, it was kind of, “Is it your day? Is it my day?”
Nowitzki [in a news conference the day after Game 4]: Whoever has the ball [in Miami’s Big Three], the other two can’t have the ball.
Wade [in the same news conference]: Obviously, when you have players playing well, playing aggressively, like I’ve been playing and Chris played, you kind of get passive. That’s what LeBron kind of got [in Game 4]. That’s kinda how I got in the Chicago series. … When [LeBron has the ball], we want him to take advantage of his opportunities.
James [in the same news conference]: Me just being more assertive, that’s what it’s about.
But James spent much of the last 12 minutes of the game in neutral — standing passively in the corner or swinging the ball around the perimeter.
A little more than three minutes into the fourth, the Mavericks subbed out Barea in favor of Kidd, who joined Nowitzki, Stevenson, Terry and Chandler. Carlisle and Casey then used both zone and man defenses. Against those looks, James missed the only shot he took in the period, a contested jumper over Stevenson with 2:25 left.
Barea: We put [Kidd] on LeBron sometimes, And every time he went for a layup, he had Tyson Chandler there waiting for him. We started switching it up on everything. We went from zone to man to pressing a little bit sometimes [throughout the series]. With the second unit — me and [Terry] were small — coach gave us a lot of freedom the whole year to change it up, and we did.
Anthony: It wasn’t something that we had dealt with heavily during the season, in terms of having a smoothness to [zone] offense. We weren’t able to do that as well as we would’ve wanted to.
Casey: We knew that guarding LeBron and Wade one-on-one was an impossible feat. We had to do something to counteract their athletic ability.
Anthony: A lot of what we were doing, because we were a great defensive team, we were able to do with [defense] first and then generate offense. When that momentum [defense creating offense in transition] slowed down, which would happen in the playoffs, and especially in the fourth quarter when the game slows down more, things just weren’t as smooth.
Casey: Against great athletes, you can’t give them rhythm. You have to make them play in crowded spaces. If the Heat were going to beat us, it was going to be from the outside. We played zone mainly in Game 4 and Game 5. But Game 4 gave us more confidence to run it in Game 5. The zone kept them off balance and made them slow down and think.
Anthony: In basketball, once you start thinking about things, you’re kind of done. … It wasn’t like [James] was just missing shots [in Game 4]. He was also not having the same aggressiveness that we’re used to.
House: [For James, it was] almost like, “I’m here, but I’m not. My mind is on something else” — almost like a blank stare at times. Plenty of guys went up to him, “Hey, we need you. Come on, let’s go. Let’s go.” At times, it was falling on deaf ears because everybody’s coming and telling you the same thing. It probably just made him a little bit more numb to whatever the situation was that he was dealing with inside, mentally.
James [in a news conference the day after Game 4]: You start aiming shots. You start thinking about plays too much. You start thinking about the game too much and, instead of going out and reading and reacting and playing the game.
Ilgauskas: Looking back, we all wish LeBron was more aggressive in that series, but it’s hard to get into somebody else’s skin. I always told him that I would never consider any of his shots bad shots.
Fizdale: We were still trying to play like the old Heat when we just had Dwyane, [when] he was our star and that was it. We weren’t ready to deviate from what we have been doing all year long.
The game’s final 14.4 seconds put that failure on full display.
After Wade missed a potential tying free throw and Nowitzki made a layup, the Heat had two possessions down by three. James was a spectator in the right corner for both. On the first, Dallas conceded a dunk to Wade (the Heat’s only field goal in the last seven minutes); Mike Miller’s airball ended the second — and the game, 86-83 in favor of Dallas. The series was tied at 2. Both plays were run for Wade.
The question on everyone’s minds: What happened to LeBron James in Game 4? James, through a representative, declined to be interviewed for this story.
James [on “The Shop”]: [In the series], I literally lost myself in the moment.
Anthony: [James has] never been in that situation [that he faced in 2010-11], probably since middle school. That’s a huge change, to go from your entire basketball life being that main option, and then having a situation where you’re still the main option but, right now, the ball is in someone else’s hands. That would be tough for any player, it doesn’t matter how good they are, to be able to deal with and to be able to figure out how to play off of that, how to be efficient off of that.
Fizdale: At the time we were all together, for sure [it was James’ worst game]. If you look statistically, for sure. That [game] probably sticks with him the most, sticks with all of us the most. It probably still burns in him now, and he would want that game back a million times over.
Barea: When we tied [the series], that gave us confidence that, “Hey, we could really do this.” And he really thought, “Oh, maybe this is going to be tougher than I thought to win. Maybe we could lose.” I think that’s when the pressure really got to him.
Bibby: Everybody [on the team] was saying, “We could get the next game. We know we can beat them here. We’ve done it.” And our star player is in single digits, and we lose by three? That’s not going to happen again. That’s the mindset we had going into Game 5.
Bosh [from a news conference the day after Game 4]: It’s not [James’] first bad game in his career. He knows how to put it behind him and move on. We’ve seen what he’s done after a bad game in the last series [after 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting in a Game 1 Eastern Conference finals loss to the Bulls, James had 29 on 12-of-21 shooting in a Game 2 win]. He’s been there before. We’ve all been here before. We just have to keep trusting ourselves and trusting each other.
Spoelstra [in the same news conference]: He doesn’t need to overthink it. He’s a great player. He’s a proven player. He knows how to be aggressive and how to pick his spots. The aggressive mentality will be enough. We will do some things to help him, put him in positions to be aggressive.
Barea: When we won [Game 4], that’s when everything started to change. [James’] confidence went away, especially on offense. That’s when I really knew we had a chance.
Before Game 5, which James called the biggest moment of his career thanks to his Game 4 struggles, a video surfaced that showed James and Wade coughing as they walked through the tunnels inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Many perceived this as mocking Nowitzki, who played Game 4 with a fever.
At the time, James and Wade deflected questions about their intentions. In 2021, Wade claimed it was more of a dig toward the media than Nowitzki but admitted he doesn’t like watching it and would tell his son to avoid making the same mistake. Last year, Nowitzki denied seeing the video until after Game 5, but his teammates say the video helped seal the Mavericks’ championship fate.
Barea: Making fun of Dirk for being sick, that really gave us a little bit more energy. We didn’t even need more. We made sure [Nowitzki] watched that video, though.
Brewer: I remember Dirk was like, “All right, whatever. I’ll show them.”
Mavericks forward Caron Butler [in an interview on Bally Sports Southwest]: When [Dirk] got wind of people thinking he wasn’t built for the moment, he was just dialed in to a whole new level. It immediately shifted to, and I say this with the utmost confidence, that we was going to have a parade in Dallas.
Nowitzki scored 29 points in Game 5 and had 21 points and 11 rebounds in Game 6. The Heat were outscored by a combined 35 points when James was on the floor in those two games. Nowitzki captured the Finals MVP for the Mavericks, who won the series 4-2 en route to their first NBA title.
Three days after the series, ESPN published a piece titled: “Does LeBron James need a sports psychologist?” James then disappeared into the offseason and wouldn’t return to the court for a meaningful game for more than six months because of a lockout.
James [on “The Shop”]: We lost because I wasn’t even there. … I wasn’t even present.
Fizdale: I know he cried a lot. I know he spent a lot of days alone in the dark, really having to face himself. I know that because that lockout didn’t give you a choice, right? He was really in his own little bubble. It really forced him to take a hard look at his ego. When you suffer at monumental levels like that, especially at the thing you identify with and your craft, I think it was a huge blow. I think it was really the final blow to really tear through all of the BS that our brain clouds us with, this whole thing, “Who we are, what we are.”
James [in a 2019 interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin]: The level of scrutiny that I was dealing with, and how I got out of my comfort zone, I lost my love for the game. I knew that was the mental side.
House: That [series] is something that he could directly look at and reflect on and say, “I no longer ever am going to have an opportunity and let my team down, let myself down. I’m not going out like that no more,” and he hasn’t since. That motivated the hell out of him.
Anthony: D-Wade told him, “Look, this is your team, your show. We go as far as you will take us.” There was that change where there wasn’t that hesitancy anymore. He knew what he wanted to do.
Fizdale: That time [after the 2011 Finals loss], whatever he was doing, I just saw a different guy come back into the gym. And it was really beautiful to watch his evolution.
On Christmas Day 2011, in a season-opening rematch with the Mavs, James collected 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in Miami’s 11-point win.
Redemption, though, would have to come in the postseason. When the 2012 playoffs arrived, James tuned out the noise by reading books instead of consuming media — both traditional and social.
Then came perhaps his best game ever: a 45-point, 15-rebound demolition in a Game 6 road win over the Celtics, who were leading the 2012 Eastern Conference finals 3-2. It was one year to the day from Game 4 of the 2011 Finals. James’ Heat won Game 7, too. They went on to win an NBA title, the first of James’ car1eer.
Fizdale: It was one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen on a basketball court. And I do think a lot of it had to do with what happened in Dallas.
Anthony: For us to fully get there where we’re a really well-run machine, sometimes it takes those losses to get those final tweaks out.
Fizdale: [Losing the 2011 Finals] caused [Spoelstra] to assess our system so that it fit LeBron instead of trying to fit LeBron into what we were doing. Our system came together that next year, and monumental numbers [for James] came out of it.
House: You can’t hit [Michael] Jordan status until you win a championship.
In 2012-13, James set career highs with 56.5% shooting from the field, including 40.6% from 3. Miami went on a 27-game winning streak and won its second straight title. James won the regular-season and Finals MVPs for the second year in a row. James and Wade became one of the best duos of all time, their success drawing a blueprint for future superstar unions. And James is at least in the conversation — avert your eyes, MJ loyalists — as the best player ever.
Brewer: LeBron is always chasing greatness. So when he has a game like that — and when he loses in the Finals — of course he’s going to go to the drawing board and just get better at his craft. And as we’ve seen, he definitely got better. I think it was motivation for him.
James [tweeted about Game 4 on May 17, 2022]: I hit the reset button, went back to the basics, worked on things in my game I needed to get better at so the defense couldn’t just sit on one thing. Hours and hours and hours every day in the offseason on it.
Marion: I think he started to try to make a conscious effort to just seal guys under the basket more. He did add some more stuff to his game. He’s one of those guys that, with his ability to get to the rim the way he does, is truly special because he’s been able to do it for 20 years.
Casey: He’s a computer on the floor. When you play against LeBron, it’s a chess match. That series made him see the game and think the game. … Matter of fact, that’s why I’m [the head coach in] Detroit right now. I spent three years [losing to James’ Cavaliers in the playoffs] in Toronto. Some of the same ideas I had in Dallas, we used in Toronto. But they didn’t work.
Fizdale: He was no longer playing with the worry of what people thought of him [or] what if I don’t win this thing.
Bibby: Everybody talks bad about him still, and he [will pass] Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] in scoring in NBA history. He’s strong-minded enough to where he blocks all that outside noise out. I think he learned for the next time, “I’m not going to let that happen again.”
James [in the 2019 interview with ESPN]: To be able to be in a packed arena on the road, with 20,000, 22,000 screaming fans going crazy, to be able to find a moment — two minutes, one minute, 30 seconds, whatever — to be able to close my eyes, to be able to relax myself, calm myself. It’s like meditation, basically. It has worked tremendously for me in my career.
MOBILE, Ala. — Former Tennessee star quarterback Hendon Hooker is on track to be healthy in time for his opening NFL training camp this summer, he told ESPN on Tuesday.
At the Senior Bowl, Hooker flashed the familiar halogen grin that accompanied his rise to stardom at Tennessee the past two seasons. He told ESPN he has begun working out after Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache repaired the torn ACL in his left knee on Dec. 13.
“It will be a better version of Hendon Hooker, the best we’ve seen yet,” he said when asked what he’ll look like upon his return.
Hooker won’t participate in the Senior Bowl game on Saturday, but he accepted an invitation here to meet with NFL teams and further familiar himself with NFL offenses. He’s perhaps the most intriguing player here this week, as he surged into becoming a top Heisman Trophy candidate and a potential high-round draft pick with his dominant play for the Vols this season. That searing streak to stardom ended suddenly with a torn ACL on Nov. 20 against South Carolina.
“There were a lot of emotions, missing the game and missing being around my teammates,” he said. “There’s been a lot of jokes and laughter and also going back and watching tape and tearing up.”
Hooker threw for 58 touchdowns and five interceptions the past two seasons at Tennessee and led the Vols to a No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press poll, the highest they’ve been ranked since 2001. Hooker said that he has met with close to 20 teams, joking that there’s many to count. He said he’s had a few “double meetings” with teams but declined to name the teams. He let them know that he’ll be ready for camp this summer and is planning to be ready for full contact by the start of the preseason.
Hooker will not run at Tennessee’s Pro Day on March 30, but he plans to warm up and “stride it out” to show how well he’s moving.
“I feel great,” Hooker said. “I’m moving around. I’m excited to get back to my regular self. My cerebral side has elevated to a whole other level. I’m continuing to build that and my leadership skills and communication skills. I’ll have that chip on my shoulder whenever I get back.”
Hooker has been working out and rehabbing in California. He said after the surgery, there was an adjustment process of learning to walk on crutches, shower and sleep sitting up because of the injury.
He made a point to thank his sister, Nile, for moving out to California with him and help him navigate his comeback. His on-field quarterback training has been done by Steve Calhoun and Jordan Palmer, as he said that throwing while sitting allows him to both experiment with different arm angles and simulate deep balls. He’s working out with fellow college quarterbacks Max Duggan (TCU), Clayton Tune (Houston), Will Levis (Kentucky) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA).
“I’m doing really well, putting 100 percent weight on it,” Hooker said. “I’m able to do exercises without my brace. I’ll throw sitting down some. Nothing too crazy on my knee where I’m twisting and turning on it, just taking it slow and all the precautions.”
Hooker said that while out in California in December, he would wake up at 4 a.m. for the Vols’ 7 a.m. Zoom meetings at the Orange Bowl. He said he wanted to understand the game plan to help out Joe Milton, the Tennessee backup, and “be transparent” when they were chatting about the game.
When teams have asked Hooker what kind of player they are getting, he has responded this way: “I want to be smart and learn and want to come in and be extremely competitive. A dynamic guy who is hungry for betterment of himself on and off the field. A dynamic guy in the pocket and a good deep-ball thrower and an accurate thrower. And an athletic player. A competitor.”
BERKELEY, Calif. — Longtime University of California women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever was fired Tuesday following an investigation into alleged harassment, bullying and verbally abusive conduct, the school said in a statement.
McKeever led the Golden Bears to four NCAA team titles over 29 years. She coached the U.S. women’s swim team at the London Olympics in 2012, the first woman to serve in that role.
Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said in a letter to team and athletic staff that an investigative report by an independent law firm detailed “numerous violations of university policies that prohibit race, national origin, and disability discrimination. … The report also details verbally abusive conduct that is antithetical to our most important values.”
Knowlton said the 482-page report substantiated many allegations of unacceptable behavior and said it was in “the best interests of our student-athletes, our swimming program and Cal Athletics as a whole” that the program part ways with McKeever.
The investigation followed a Southern California News Group probe in May that said McKeever “allegedly verbally and emotionally abused, swore at and threatened swimmers on an almost daily basis, pressured athletes to compete or train while injured or dealing with chronic illnesses or eating disorders.”
