Connect with us

Sports

Cooper Flagg’s Duke debut just the beginning in season full of highly anticipated steps

Published

on

Cooper Flagg’s Duke debut just the beginning in season full of highly anticipated steps

DURHAM, N.C. — Twenty minutes were just a taste.

Or really, a tease.

Only so much can be gleaned from these preseason, meet-the-team, intrasquad events, like Duke’s Countdown to Craziness on Friday night. They’re as much about the schtick — mood lighting, air cannons, silly introductory dances — as any actual basketball. And, obviously, they don’t count.

But they do have meaning.

Especially in the case of this projected top-five preseason team — with the country’s top freshman in Cooper Flagg and a bevy of other NBA hopefuls — this is a glimpse. A snapshot of what’s possible. So when you see junior guard Tyrese Proctor on the fast break, with Flagg — the expected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — sprinting ahead of him, and then you see Proctor kick ahead an outlet pass, and you see Flagg loading up as he takes off toward the rim …

Advertisement

Well, you start imagining the possibilities. About the high-flying acrobatics about to unfold, yes, but also beyond. Your mind skips forward, to the sorts of spectacular plays and games this team may have in store if it can deliver on even a fraction of the still-growing hype surrounding it.

The moment, at least, delivered: Flagg effortlessly elevated off the Cameron Indoor court, twisted backward in midair and flushed home a highlight dunk with a ho-hum attitude.

His face seemed to say, more to come.

“You can’t really describe it, the feeling when you’re out there playing,” Flagg said. “That type of stuff is something you can’t really experience until it happens.”

Flagg finished the night with 13 points — third-most overall, considering players were switching teams at halftime — as well as three rebounds, three assists, and two turnovers. He was … good, if not overly deferential.

Advertisement

“I thought Cooper tonight was being a little hesitant, and just getting a feel for things,” coach Jon Scheyer said. “That’s the beauty of Coop: He’s such a team player, and he has such a great feel for the game.”

That much was evident, even on his first basket. The 6-foot-9 Maine native drove left from outside the arc, then switched the ball to his right hand in midair, showcasing the touch and inside finishing he’s so known for. From the first row of Duke’s student section, through the raucous applause, you could hear one Cameron Crazie note the occasion:

Those were Cooper Flagg’s first points at Duke.

The novelty around Flagg, especially early on — and especially if he’s as good as expected, anywhere near the Zion Williamson stratosphere that no one in college hoops has occupied since — will be a thing. His first dunk. First pick six. First 20-point game, first double-double. All of it. It will be noted, diligently, the continuing ascent of someone already deemed “generational” by the masses before his 18th birthday. (That’s Dec. 21, by the way; Georgia Tech drew the short stick and hosts the Blue Devils that night.)

Flagg, of course, can’t look at this season that way. Neither can his teammates, many of whom — like fellow freshmen Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel — will likely be following him to the NBA as early as next June. If Duke learned anything from its star-studded 2018-19 season with Williamson, it’s how to handle the spectacle that follows a phenomenon.

Advertisement

“You’ve just gotta stay present,” Proctor said. “Everyone knows who Coop is. Everyone knows who Khaman is. Everyone knows who all these guys are. So I think from day one, everyone has been on the same page. We haven’t necessarily had to sit down and talk about, ‘It’s going to be we over me.’ Everyone sort of knows that.”

But saying so in front of your home fans, on a night that’s more ceremonial than serious, is one thing — and maintaining that after a tough early-season stretch is another entirely. In the first month of the season, Duke plays (deep breath) Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Atlanta, at Arizona, versus Kansas in Las Vegas, all before hosting Auburn in the ACC-SEC Challenge in early December. That’s three of The Athletic’s top 10 preseason teams, one after another after another. We’ll have a good sense by Flagg’s birthday of the kind of talent he is, what kind of team Duke is — and how fair the national title expectations for this squad really are.

Friday was a taste of all that, a 20-minute morsel before the 30-plus games Duke has coming over the next five — maybe six — months.

It’s nothing worth overreacting to.

But it is, if nothing else, worth noting. Because Friday was Flagg’s, and Duke’s, beginning.

Advertisement

“I liked seeing him in a Duke uniform tonight,” Scheyer said. “I know that much.”

(Photo: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)

Sports

ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd

Published

on

ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.

While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.

Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

Advertisement

Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.

The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”

Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.

WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME

Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

Advertisement

Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”

Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.

“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”

Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.

Continue Reading

Sports

After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town

Published

on

After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town

It’s time to reveal memories, laughs and crazy times from Randy Rosenbloom’s 55 years as a TV/radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He’s hopping in a car next Sunday with his wife, saying goodbye to a North Hollywood house that’s been in his family since 1952 and driving 3,300 miles to his new home in Greenville, S.C.

“When I walk out, I’ll probably break down,” he said.

He graduated from North Hollywood High in 1969. He got his first paid job in 1971 calling Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall for $10 a game. It began an adventure of a lifetime.

“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.

Randy Rosenbloom (left) used to work with former UCLA coach John Wooden for TV games.

Advertisement

(Randy Rosenbloom)

John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian and Jim Harrick were among his expert commentators when he did play by play for college basketball games. He called volleyball at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for NBC and rowing in 2004. He’s worked more than 100 championship high school events. He did play by play for the first and only Reebok Bowl at Angel Stadium in 1994 won by Bishop Amat over Sylmar, 35-14.

“There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”

He conducted interviews with NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas and boxing greats Robert Duran, Thomas Hearn and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s worked with baseball greats Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces. He called games with former USC coach Rod Dedeaux. He was in the radio booth for Bret Saberhagen’s 1982 no-hitter in the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium. He was a nightly sportscaster for KADY in Ventura.

Advertisement
Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.

Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.

(Randy Rosenbloom)

He was the voice of Fresno State football and basketball. He also did Nevada Las Vegas football and basketball games. He called bowl games and Little League games. He was a public address announcer for basketball at the 1984 Olympic Games with Michael Jordan the star and did the P.A. for Toluca Little League.

Nothing was too small or too big for him.

“I loved everything,” he said.

Advertisement

He called at least 10 East L.A. Classic football games between Garfield and Roosevelt. He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.

Probably his most notable tale came when he was doing radio play-by-play at a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Ala.

“I look down and a giant tarantula is crawling up my pants,” he said. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat.”

Did Rosenbloom tell the audience what was happening?

“I stayed calm,” he said.

Advertisement

Then there was the time he was in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium and a bat flew in and attached itself to the wooden press box right next to him before flying away after he said, “UNLV wins.”

Recently, he’s been putting together high school TV packages for LA36 and calling travel ball basketball games. He’ll still keep doing a radio gambling show from his new home, but he’s cutting ties to Los Angeles to move closer to grandchildren.

“I’m retiring from Los Angeles. I’m leaving the market,” he said.

Hopefully he’ll continue via Zoom to do a weekly podcast with me for The Times.

He’s a true professional who’s versatility and work ethic made him a reliable hire from the age of 18 through his current age of 74.

Advertisement

He’s a member of the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He once threw the shot put 51 feet, 7 1/2 inches, which is his claim to fame at North Hollywood High.

One time an ESPN graphic before a show spelled his name “Rosenbloom” then changed it to “Rosenblum” for postgame. It was worth a good laugh.

He always adjusts, improvises and ad-libs. He expects to enjoy his time in South Carolina, but he better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like him.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42

Published

on

Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.

Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.

Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Advertisement

She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.

Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.

Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.

WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’

AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Advertisement

It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.

Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.

Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending