sports

20 Mar 2025

Will Kendrick Lamar Be Involved in 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A.? It’s a ‘Fair Bet’

If you’re tired of Kendrick Lamar, he’s not going anywhere for at least three years. Earlier Thursday (March 20), Casey Wasserman — the head of the Wasserman talent agency and the chairman of the 2028 L.A. Olympics organizing committee — spoke with The Associated Press in Greece during the 14th International Olympic Committee session and floated the idea that Lamar may be involved with the 2028 Summer Games.

“Fortunately in my day job, I represent Kendrick Lamar,” Wasserman told the AP. “He is truly an L.A. icon, so I think it would be a pretty fair bet that Kendrick will be involved in the Olympics in Los Angeles in some way.”

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Wasserman also mentioned the L.A. wildfires from earlier this year and that the Summer Olympics can make for a good “comeback story.”

“The rebirth, the rebuild, maybe reimagining L.A. 2.0 — and the Olympics as a catalyst for all those things — we think is really part of our ethos,” he said. “You can’t have a natural disaster at that scale in a city as big and as important as Los Angeles and not have it be part of your core philosophy going forward.”

Lamar has had himself a crazy year. Since popping up as a hidden feature on Future and Metro Boomin‘s song “Like That” in March 2024, kicking off his historic rap battle with Drake, he seemingly beat the Toronto rapper handily, dropped a No. 1 album in GNX, and performed the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history.

He was also a hidden feature on Playboi Carti‘s most recent album Music, appearing on the songs “Mojo Jojo,” where he provides ad libs; “Backd00r,” on which he and Jhené Aiko are on chorus duty; and “Good Credit,” where he gives fans a stellar verse as he pulled off a great A$AP Relli line.

The Los Angeles opening ceremony is set for Friday, July 14, 2028.

19 Mar 2025

Ben Stiller Wants to Hang Out With Taylor Swift at Another Knicks Game & Travis Kelce Is on Board

Ben Stiller is ready to sit courtside with Taylor Swift again, and this time, Travis Kelce is welcome to the party.

On the latest episode of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, the actor joined as a guest and recalled how he once attended a New York Knicks game with the pop star in 2014. “By the way, I went to a Knicks game with Taylor,” Stiller told Travis, who revealed that he’s never been to a game at Madison Square Garden but is dying to watch basketball at the venue he called the sport’s “mecca.”

“This was, like, 10 years ago, and I was there with my son,” continued the Severance director, who shares daughter Ella and son Quinlin with wife Christine Taylor. “We FaceTimed my daughter, who’s a huge Swiftie. She’s 23 now. And we had the best time. She was incredible.”

“I appreciate that,” Travis replied. “I think the same thing, so it’s perfect. Maybe we can get Taylor to another Knicks game.”

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“Yeah, this is the time,” the Night at the Museum star agreed. “You should definitely come though. I can hook that up.”

It was late October 2014 when Swift and Stiller watched the Knicks face off against the Chicago Bulls together. The “Karma” artist was joined that day by bestie-at-the-time Karlie Kloss, and the two women at one point posed for a photo taken by Stiller with a then-9-year-old Quinlin, whom Swift lovingly wrapped her arm around as he gave a thumbs-up.

More than a decade later, Stiller now counts Swift’s beau as a costar. The pair both appear in Adam Sandler’s upcoming Happy Gilmore 2, the first full trailer for which premiered earlier this week, featuring Bad Bunny as the titular character’s golf caddie.

Watch Kelce and Stiller make plans for a Knicks game hangout with Swift on New Heights below.

15 Mar 2025

Disturbed’s Pyrotechnics Damage Bulls’ Championship Banners at Chicago Concert

The Chicago Bulls‘ six NBA championship banners have been removed from the United Center after sustaining damage from pyrotechnics during a Disturbed concert.

In a statement released on Friday (March 14), the United Center confirmed that the banners — earned during Michael Jordan’s reign in the 1990s — sustained “minor damage” during a March 8 performance featuring Disturbed, Three Days Grace and Sevendust.

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“United Center is currently working with the Bulls to explore options to repair these banners,” a United Center spokesperson wrote in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “While the banners will not be in place for the remainder of this season, we do anticipate them being back in place next season.”

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Fan-captured video from the concert, posted to social media, shows the Bulls’ banners being blown by flames during Disturbed’s set.

The rock band, originally from Chicago, had not yet commented on the incident at press time.

The Bulls’ championship banners — which commemorate the team’s titles from 1991-93 and 1996-98 — will be absent for the rest of the 2024-25 season. The Chicago arena had “originally hoped the banners would be returned to the rafters by Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets,” the Chicago Tribune reports, but the repairs won’t be completed until the end of the season.

The banners were taken down prior to the Bulls’ home game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Neither team had commented on their removal until the end of the week.

The championship banners of the United Center’s other sports tenant, NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, were not damaged during the show.

14 Mar 2025

T-Pain Gives Hilarious Response to Fans Saying He Looks Like New York Giants Football Player

When offensive lineman James Hudson III signed with the New York Giants on Thursday (March 13), he probably didn’t expect to hear from T-Pain hours later.

The Giants posted a photo of Hudson III inking his two-year $11 million agreement to X and fans began saying he looked like T-Pain and made references to the Nappy Boy Entertainment CEO.

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“I’m finna turn this franchise around,” T-Pain hilariously promised when quote-tweeting the photo of Hudson on X.

Hudson had a sense of humor about the exchange as he replied to T-Pain with a laughing emoji: “Aye chill out.”

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T-Pain’s original response has over 278,000 likes and counting since Thursday night. Football fans chimed in looking to see what skillset the Florida native had to offer. “Mr. Pain, Jokes aside, we need a quarterback. Talk soon,” one Giants fan asked.

Another joked: “New song coming soon — I’m In Love With A Kicker!”

T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Entertainment leaned into the joke further when crafting a fake quote from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. “The fact other teams in the National Football League did not sign him sooner… is criminal,” they wrote.

Hudson spent the first four seasons of his career playing offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns before signing with Big Blue.

Although he didn’t sign with the Green Bay Packers, T-Pain is returning to his second home of Wiscansin in June for his fourth annual Wiscansin Fest.

The “Buy U A Drank” singer will be hitting The Rave stage alongside Pusha T, Wale, Keyshia Cole, Feid, NLE Choppa, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Jermaine Dupri, Kash Doll, Armani White, and more to be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the two-day festival going down on June 13 and June 14 are now available.

14 Mar 2025

DK Metcalf Reveals Engagement to Normani During Press Conference: ‘Hold That Rock Up, Baby’

After a couple years of dating, Normani and DK Metcalf have wedding bells on the horizon.

During a Thursday (March 13) press conference following his recent trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Stealers, the wide receiver adorably revealed that he and the Fifth Harmony alum are engaged. “Hold that rock up, baby,” he said, smiling and appearing to gesture to an off-camera Normani to encourage her to show off her new ring.

When one reporter asked where he proposed, Metcalf shared that he’d popped the question to the “Motivation” singer one day prior while both of their families were together in Houston. “It was my sister’s spring break and just thought about getting the whole family together for a big kumbaya and joining our families with the ring,” he said.

The couple’s engagement comes about two years after they first sparked dating rumors in summer 2023. Metcalf and Normani were set up by the athlete’s teammate Russell Wilson and the quarterback’s famous wife, Ciara.

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In 2024, the “Wild Side” performer opened up about her love life during an interview with Rolling Stone. “I am very happy,” she said at the time. “I’ve experienced a lot with relationships. I’m a real lover girl. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and finding space where that’s reciprocated feels good. I like to see myself happy. I really do.”

Metcalf was traded from the Steelers to the Seahawks just days before he and Normani got engaged. In a video on the East Coast team’s X account Thursday (March 13), the player personally said hello to his new Pittsburgh fanbase and gave a “shout-out” to the people who have supported him through the trade — including his “beautiful fiancée.”

See the moment Metcalf revealed his engagement to Normani below.

13 Mar 2025

Jennifer Hudson Reacts to Getting Hit By a Basketball & Shares Knicks Player’s Sweet Apology

She’s fine, people. Jennifer Hudson just broke down what really happened at the New York Knicks game where she got smacked by a rogue basketball, from the moment it happened to the aftermath.

“First of all, I wanna say: I’m OK!” the talk-show host began on The Jennifer Hudson Show Thursday (March 13).

“It happened so quick,” Hudson continued, laughing incredulously. “I’m like, ‘What the hell done popped me? Someone must’ve hit me. Of all the people to hit, you hit Jennifer Hudson. Really?’”

The episode comes more than a week after the vocalist went viral over the mishap at the March 4 Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors game, where she was sitting courtside and chatting with partner Common when suddenly, a rogue ball came out of nowhere and smacked her in the head. Player Miles McBride then came crashing into her, after which the point guard and a ref checked to see if Hudson was all right as she sat there, stunned.

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“So the ball did actually hit me,” Hudson recounted. “All of a sudden, there’s people standing over me, like, ‘You OK?’ I’m like, ‘Let me just come to for a second. Let me just gather my thoughts.’ The poor basketball player, he wanted to end the whole game.”

“My sweet love was like, ‘OK, you all right? Would you like to leave?’” she continued, referring to Common. “And I’m like, ‘I’m good, just let me sit here and gather myself. ‘Cause the last thing you wanna do is get up and go running somewhere.’ No, you need a moment.”

Hudson also added that she was better prepared for the blow than most because she’s “a boy mom.” “What that means is, I have been on the basketball court many a days playing with these children, so they trained momma well to be able to take the game,” said the Dreamgirls actress, who shares son Daniel with ex David Otunga. “I was ready.”

Though Hudson assured the crowd that she’s OK numerous times, one person was still concerned: McBride. In fact, the point guard ended up sending the American Idol alum a bouquet of flowers and an apology video, which she played for her audience.

“Just wanted to say I’m sorry for running into you at our game last week,” McBride said in the clip. “I was in the zone trying to make a play, trying to bring some energy, and unfortunately, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just saying I’m sorry, got you a little something — hope we can be cool after this.”

Hudson ended the segment by sharing what lesson she’s learned and plans on applying next time she sits courtside: “Bring a helmet.”

Watch Hudson talk about getting hit in the head with a basketball above.

13 Mar 2025

MLB Players’ Union & Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports Settle Lawsuit Over Agent Violations

Bad Bunny’s sports agency, Rimas Sports, and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) reached an agreement this month (March 6) to settle a lawsuit over penalties tied to improper inducements, according to Associated Press. The parties filed a stipulation with U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden in Manhattan, confirming that they had resolved the matter. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

The settlement brings an end to a legal battle that began when the MLBPA disciplined Rimas Sports last April for violating agent regulations. Co-founded in 2021 by Bad Bunny (Benito Martínez Ocasio) and his longtime manager Noah Assad, the agency was fined $400,000 and faced penalties, including the decertification of agent William Arroyo and a ban preventing Assad and Rimas Sports executive Jonathan Miranda from seeking certification. The union accused Rimas of offering improper gifts to prospective clients, including free VIP tickets to Bad Bunny concerts, suite access to a Phoenix Suns game, and a $200,000 interest-free loan.

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Last June, Rimas Sports escalated the dispute by filing a lawsuit against the MLBPA, alleging that the penalties stemmed from a “pre-determined investigation” designed to protect established agents from competition. The agency claimed the union’s actions were discriminatory, accusing it of targeting Rimas for being a Puerto Rican-led company disrupting the traditional order of MLB player representation. Rimas sought an injunction to overturn the penalties, calling them a “death penalty” for the agency and alleging it had caused immediate harm, including preventing them from finalizing a deal to represent reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.

The MLBPA fired back, defending its actions as necessary to uphold its agent regulations. In court filings, the union described Rimas’ conduct as “egregious and systemic,” arguing that the agency had built its business by “luring players with forbidden gifts.” In October, arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch upheld the MLBPA’s penalties, maintaining five-year bans for Assad and Miranda while prohibiting Arroyo from “re-applying for MLBPA certification until three years have passed from the date of the Notice of Discipline.”

12 Mar 2025

How to Watch the 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Online Without Cable

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The road to March Madness is on with the conference championships taking place this week ahead of the Big Dance. The 2025 SEC Basketball Tournament takes place March 12-16 in Nashville, TN.

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Last-minute tickets to watch the SEC basketball games at Bridgestone Arena are still available on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats. Bonus: use our exclusive promo code BB30 to save $30 off your purchase at VividSeats.com.

Want to watch the SEC Basketball Tournament on TV? Early round games air this year on SEC Network, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game airing live on ESPN. You’ll need a cable package with those two channels in order to watch the SEC tournament on TV.

How to Watch 2025 SEC Basketball Tournament Online

Don’t have cable? There’s a way to watch the 2025 SEC Basketball Tournament online. Sling TV is a streaming service that lets you watch live television from home without needing a cable subscription. The Sling Orange package includes access to ESPN (and 30+ other channels) for $45/month, while SEC Network is available through the Sports Extra add-on, which costs an additional $11/month.

What we like: Sling is currently running a limited-time promo that saves you up to 50% off your first month of service. Regularly $45+, you Sling Orange subscription is now discounted to just $23 and up.

Use Sling to livestream the SEC basketball games online from your phone, computer, tablet or smart TV (via the Sling app). In addition to ESPN, other channels on the Sling Orange plan include TBS, TNT, CNN, AMC and more. While Sling doesn’t currently offer a free trial, the site offers free DVR and thousands of hours of on-demand TV shows and movies as part of its subscription plans.

Auburn is the number one seed in the SEC tournament this year, with Florida, Alabama and Tennessee rounding out the top four. All four teams earned double byes and will kickoff their tournament play during the quarterfinals on Friday.

This is one of most competitive conferences for D1 basketball this year. Auburn, Florida and Alabama could all make it deep into the NCAA March Madness tournament, but first they’ll have to make it through this field.

Auburn defeated Florida in last year’s SEC Tournament Championship by a score of 86-67 to earn the automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.

Watch this year’s SEC Basketball Tournament live online through Sling TV here.

12 Mar 2025

How to Watch F1 Australian Grand Prix Live Online

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The start of the new Formula 1 season begins with a trip to Australia for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park. The racing event will kick off Thursday (March 13) with practice sessions starting at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT until race day on Sunday (March 16), airing in the U.S. on Saturday (March 15) at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT. There are some streaming options that’ll let you livestream the races online.

ESPN and its networks will livestream the race and practices for you to watch at home. The easiest way to tune in is through a the network’s cable channels. Cord cutters don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a cable package in order to livestream the 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix at home, there are additional ways to watch ESPN without cable.

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Keep reading to learn more.

How to Watch F1 Australian Grand Prix Online

ESPN+ is the official streaming platform for ESPN and it’s networks, which will let you watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025 and more live sports coverage. The streamer comes with a variety of affordable plans starting at $11.99 per month or you can save 17% off with an annual plan for $119.99 per year.

In addition to live sports, ESPN+ has exclusive on-demand videos and access to content from what was formerly known as ESPN Insider. You’ll also be able to stream original shows to stream on-demand, game recaps and analysis hosted by Peyton Manning, a shorter version of NFL Primetime and full replays of historic NFL matchups.

To expand your savings and content offerings, you can also bundle ESPN+ with Hulu and Disney+ for a single monthly price of just $16.99 per month for all three services.

How to Watch F1 Australian Grand Prix Online for Free

ESPN is also available through live TV streamers and with current free trials and promos going on, you can watch the 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix for free. Below, ShopBillboard put together a list of the best offers to take advantage of now.

Sling TV

Sling TV is offering new users half off their first month when they sign up for one of the three packages available. ESPN is only included in the Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue packages, which are discounted for as $23 for the first month (reg. $45.99 per month). After your first month you’ll be charged the full package price.

The Sling Orange package comes with 32 channels that can be streamed on one device at once. For additional channel options including FS1 and the NFL Network, you can combine both plans for $33 for the first month (reg. $65.99 per month) and get access to all 48 channels. Please note that Sling TV pricing and channel availability varies from market-to-market. Learn more at Sling TV here.

Fubo

You can watch ESPN on Fubo and livestream the 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix and more for no added cost. New users can take advantage of a seven-day free trial in addition to a promo that’s taking $25 off the first month, giving you access to more than 200 live channels for as low as $59.99 (reg. $84.99).

Fubo’s Essential plan also comes with unlimited DVR storage, while you have the ability to simultaneously watch content on up to 10 screens.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV offers the most streaming options with access to more than 95 live channels including ESPN and the entire Hulu library. It starts at $82.99 per month, but unlike the rest of the options on this list, Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ for no added cost. You’ll have all of the Hulu library to watch and exclusive and original programming available only on ESPN+.

Who Is Performing During F1 Australian Grand Prix?

During the five-day motorsport event, rock bands The Living End and Spiderbait are set to perform, while rapper Baker Boy and singer Tones and I are scheduled to perform too. The musical headliner of F1 Australian Grand Prix is English DJ Fatboy Slim with Australian singer Anna Lunoe.

Stream F1 Australian Grand Prix on ESPN starting on Thursday (March 13) at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. Race day lands on Sunday, airing in the U.S. on Saturday (March 15) at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT. The best way to watch is on ESPN+, or ESPN via Sling TV.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

11 Mar 2025

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics: How to Stream the NBA Game Online

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The defending NBA champs, Boston Celtics, will face off against the Western Conference juggernauts Oklahoma City Thunder in a must-watch clash of titans. Tipping off at TD Garden in Boston on March 12, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will defend their home court against the season MVP frontrunner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, don’t miss this potential NBA Finals matchup airing live on ESPN and streaming on Fubo, Sling TV and ESPN+.

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Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s currently favored to win MVP, is having quite the season. He’s leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) while dominating teams on defense by accumulating the second highest average in steals (1.8 steals per game). The OKC Thunder are sitting atop the Western Conference with a comfortable 11 game lead over the second place Denver Nuggets, and are favored to make their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2012. Shai and the Thunder look to ride this momentum into TD Garden to face their biggest Eastern Conference threat.

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On the other hand, the Celtics haven’t shown any signs of slowing down since winning the NBA Finals last season. Tatum and Brown continue to prove that they’re one of the best duo’s in league history, alongside an extensive roster of weapons including Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and veteran Al Horford. Behind the three-point line, there’s no team better than the Celtics right now. They have the most team threes in the season with 1,157 so far, and hold the record for most threes made in a game with 29.

Want to watch or attend the Thunder vs Celtics game? Keep reading to learn how to stream the game online, as well as how to secure last-minute tickets.

When and Where Is the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics Game?

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics will square off on Wednesday, March 12, at TD Garden Arena in Boston at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The game will broadcast live on ESPN and available to stream on Fubo TV, Sling TV and ESPN+.

How to Watch the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics Game Online

To watch the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics game online, Fubo TV offers a seven-day free trial to new users. With the streaming service, subscribers can stream hundreds of cable, network and sports channels with Fubo’s Pro package, which is $84.99 a month for 145 channels such as CBS, ABC, Fox, NBC, FX, TLC, AMC, MSNBC, ESPN, FS1 and Nickelodeon. But you don’t have to sign up right away: Try it out with a weeklong free trial with no commitment to livestream the NBA game online free.

Sling Orange is another affordable streaming choice, especially for sports fans. Watch TNT, ESPN and other sports, news and entertainment channels for just $23 for the first month ($45.99/month afterward). You can also watch local networks such as ABC and NBC, as well as many cable networks, including Lifetime AMC, A&E, BET, Cartoon Network, Fuse, CNN, Food Network and many others.

ESPN+ is the official streaming platform for ESPN, and a subscription includes instant access to games and more exclusive content for $11.99/month. You can save 17% off by purchasing an annual subscription for $119.99/year. There is no free ESPN+ trial, but it does include exclusive on-demand videos and access to content from what was formerly known as ESPN Insider.

A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with ESPN — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial if you sign up now.

You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, Fox and PBS, as well as many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.

How to Get Last-Minute Tickets to the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics Game

Want last-minute tickets to the Thunder vs Celtics game? There are plenty of affordable tickets available on Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB30), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.

Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.