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Elliott: Serena Williams taps crowd’s energy to fend off retirement at U.S. Open

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Elliott: Serena Williams taps crowd’s energy to fend off retirement at U.S. Open

Each time Serena Williams wobbled, the group willed her its energy to regular her.

Each time she double-faulted, followers applauded to console and encourage her. With every level she gained from Danka Kovinic of Montenegro on Monday, roars cascaded down from the higher reaches of jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nobody needed this emotionally charged second, this U.S. Open first-round match, Williams’ groundbreaking profession, to finish.

Requested concerning the crowd, Williams mentioned: “They actually helped me pull via. I used to be actually pumped. I used to be like, ‘I acquired this.’ ”

Serena Williams chases down a return in opposition to Danka Kovinic on the U.S. Open on Monday.

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(John Minchillo / Related Press)

Williams, who shall be 41 subsequent month and not too long ago mentioned she’s “evolving” away from tennis, gave the group what it so fervently needed. Sporting a black skater-style gown with a glittery high, an identical glittery headband, sparkly footwear and glossy stones woven via her hair, she overcame an erratic serve and clawed out a 6-3, 6-3 victory over her 27-year-old opponent, prolonging her profession by at the very least one match. Her practically 5-year-old daughter Olympia, carrying an similar outfit, sat courtside to cheer her on.

Six occasions a winner at Flushing Meadows and 23 occasions a Grand Slam occasion singles champion, Williams got here right here unseeded as a result of she’s early in her return after a 12 months’s absence attributable to a hamstring harm. Ever the fighter, she fought again after Kovinic took a 3-2 lead within the first set and gained the final 4 video games on sheer grit and her impressively good motion. Her serve grew to become extra constant within the second set, and she or he completed with 9 aces and 6 double faults. She additionally had 23 winners and 25 unforced errors, to 18 and 25, respectively, for Kovinic.

Her victory earned her the correct to stage yet one more battle, in opposition to No. 2 seed Anett Konteveit of Estonia, on Wednesday. That figures to be a harder match than Williams had in opposition to Eightieth-ranked Kovinic, however Williams’ resilience is aware of no bounds. She has misplaced a step, however her coronary heart is greater than any bodily shortcoming.

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She got here out to the courtroom Monday to the accompaniment of a video montage of her exceptional profession, narrated by Queen Latifah. She was proclaimed the queen of Queens — the New York Metropolis borough that’s dwelling to the Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle — however she’s additionally the queen of tennis queens.

Williams and her older sister Venus, who started their spectacular careers on the general public courts of Compton with their father Richard as their coach, will crew up in doubles this week. That shall be a becoming ending for 2 sisters who usually felt it was them in opposition to the world — till they conquered the tennis world.

Requested what she needed folks to assume, particularly ladies in Compton:

“I simply needed folks to be impressed by my story,” she mentioned. “I’m from Compton, Calif., and I made it.”

Throughout a postmatch ceremony, Billie Jean King praised Williams’ fearlessness and fireplace to win. “You’ve touched our hearts and minds to be our genuine selves, use our voices, to dream huge,” King mentioned. “You’re simply starting.”

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Oprah Winfrey, narrating a video, thanked Williams for “by no means backing down … for altering the face of the sport.”

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Julian Edelman recalls tense backstage moment between Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick at Tom Brady's roast

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Julian Edelman recalls tense backstage moment between Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick at Tom Brady's roast

There was a noticeable amount of tension in the air before Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady” kicked off, according to former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman.

Edelman was joined by Drew Bledsoe, who was the Patriots starting quarterback before Brady took the reins, on a recent edition of the “Games with Names” podcast. The two former NFL stars , who both attended the roast, detailed the seemingly tense pre-show moment.

Edelman said his former coach Bill Belichick was initially enjoying his time in the green room and was “excited” to see so many of his former players. 

Julian Edelman speaks onstage during G.R.O.A.T The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady for the Netflix is a Joke Festival at The Kia Forum on May 05, 2024 in Inglewood, California.   (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix)

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“Pre-show, we’re in the green room. Randy [Moss], Drew [Bledsoe], me, [Rob Gronkowski], we were just chilling in there,” Edelman said. “Bill was opening up, he’s having fun, he’s talking war stories, talking rookies. Doing s— we know what Bill’s about, but it was like amplified, because he’s excited to see guys because he doesn’t have a job anymore.”

SUPER BOWL CHAMP ADMITS ‘OLD-SCHOOL MENTALITY’ WOULD HAVE KEPT HIM FROM BILL BELICHICK ZINGERS DURING ROAST

But, Belichick’s relaxed demeanor quickly went out the window once longtime team owner Robert Kraft walked in.

“The tension in that room, though, could cut f—ing glass,” Edelman said. “It was so awkward. … I was just like, ‘Oh s—, this could be some fireworks.’ I just walked away.”

Tom Brady and Julian Edelman walk

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman #11 look on after Edelman scored a touchdown in the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Bledsoe described the awkwardness as “some crazy s—” and hinted that the tension was “very, very real.”

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But, Bledsoe did note that Belichick and Kraft did manage to have a brief conversation.

“They did break it down and got together for 10 minutes at least, the two of them,” the former Patriots quarterback said.

At one point during the roast, comedian Kevin Hart encouraged Belichick and Kraft to both drink a shot of alcohol as a show of goodwill.

Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick and Kevin Hart

Bill Belichick, Kevin Hart and Robert Kraft speak onstage during G.R.O.A.T The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady for the Netflix is a Joke Festival at The Kia Forum on May 05, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix)

“I want to say this is the greatest coach in the history of the game that did what no one else has done,” Kraft told the audience. “And having Tom Brady and him was the greatest honor the good Lord gave me.”

Belichick left the Patriots earlier this year after a remarkable 24 seasons with the team. The Patriots said the organization and the coach “mutually agreed to part ways.”

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However, Belichick and Kraft’s relationship seemed to grow particularly sour in recent years. Belichick did not land another coaching job once he left New England, which is something Kraft may have contributed to.

In April, ESPN reported that Kraft contacted Falcons owner Arthur Blank following Belichick’s interview for Atlanta’s head coaching job and suggested that the coach was not trustworthy.

Belichick coached the franchise to six Super Bowls during his tenure. But, the Patriots largely struggled following Brady’s departure. Belichick never won another playoff game after Brady left, and New England finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record.

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UC president recommends UCLA pay Cal $10 million a year for leaving Pac-12

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UC president recommends UCLA pay Cal $10 million a year for leaving Pac-12

In another possible blow to a UCLA athletic department awash in debt, the president of the University of California system is recommending that the Bruins pay sister school California $10 million a year through 2029-30 for leaving the Golden Bears to scramble for a new home after UCLA’s move to the Big Ten conference alongside USC contributed to the dismantling of the Pac-12.

The proposed subsidy, based on a projected $50-million difference per year in revenue between the schools’ athletic departments, is at the high end of the $2-million-to-$10-million annual payment that was discussed in December 2022 when the UC regents approved UCLA’s departure to the Big Ten.

The recommendation from UC president Michael V. Drake, which would start this year and run through the existing term of UCLA’s contract with the Big Ten, is expected to be discussed at the board of regents meeting May 14 to 16 at UC Merced. The regents could elect to reduce or adopt the suggested payment.

A $10 million annual payment on top of the amount UCLA has committed to spending to support its athletes — as much as $10.32 million a year for enhanced nutrition, mental health and academic tutoring in addition to more chartered flights to mitigate travel challenges — could put the Bruins at a competitive disadvantage against other Big Ten schools.

The payment known as “Calimony” will penalize UCLA after the school announced in June 2022 that it was leaving for the Big Ten and a much richer media rights deal starting in August 2024. Cal subsequently agreed to join the Atlantic Coast Conference alongside Stanford and Southern Methodist while taking a reduced share of the conference’s media rights deal.

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If enacted, this payment would put another dent in UCLA’s athletic budget. The Bruins have run up $167.7 million in debt since the 2019 fiscal year, one of the reasons the school sought an infusion of cash as part of its move to the Big Ten.

UCLA and the other Big Ten schools are projected to receive an annual media rights payment of roughly $60 million as opposed to around $11 million a year for Cal during its first seven years of membership in the ACC. Cal will receive larger percentages of the conference’s revenue pot over the next two years before getting a full share in Year 10.

“This is a materially different outcome for UC Berkeley than what was projected in December 2022 when there was still optimism about the follow-on Pac-12 media rights deal,” Drake wrote in suggesting the maximum possible subsidy.

The letter also suggested that if there was a change in revenues or expenses for either school exceeding 10% over the 2024-25 figures, the regents would further discuss UCLA’s payment to adjust accordingly.

Cal‘s athletic department is facing dire financial challenges of its own, requiring a reported $30 million in subsidies from the campus during the 2023 fiscal year to balance its budget. The letter from Drake’s office alluded to the measures that Cal was expected to take to address its financial shortfall.

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“These include the development of new department revenue streams, additional philanthropic support, consolidating athletic scholarships to the campus Financial Aid and Scholarships Office,” the letter read, “and an additional extraordinary payout from athletics-related endowed funds.”

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NBA champion Glen 'Big Baby' Davis sentenced to prison in insurance fraud scheme

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NBA champion Glen 'Big Baby' Davis sentenced to prison in insurance fraud scheme

A federal judge handed down a 40-month sentence after NBA player Glen “Big Baby” Davis was convicted in a scheme to defraud a health care benefits plan.

Last November, Davis was found guilty of health care fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. The convictions carried a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

In addition to the prison sentence, Davis will be subjected to supervised release for three years. During that time, Davis will have to attend a financial management class and undergo mandatory drug treatment as conditions of his release.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis of the Power shoots a free throw during the Big3 Playoffs at Smoothie King Center on August 25, 2019, in New Orleans.  (Chris Graythen/BIG3 via Getty Images)

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More than 20 people have been charged and sentenced for their roles in the scheme, which involved filing inaccurate medical claims with the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan, according to the indictment.

FORMER NBA PLAYER BRYN FORBES ARRESTED ON FAMILY FELONY VIOLENCE CHARGE ONE YEAR AFTER MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT

Terrence Williams was one of the individuals who was sentenced in the case.

Terrence Williams dribbling with Knicks

Terrence Williams of the New Jersey Nets is shown during the game against the Houston Rockets in Guangzhou, China, on Oct. 16, 2010. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Williams, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, pleaded guilty to piracy and aggravated identity theft. He also admitted he led the plan to submit false claims for medical and dental expenses.

“Williams led a scheme involving more than 18 former NBA players, a dentist, a doctor, and a chiropractor, to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of millions of dollars,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement in August 2022. “Williams also impersonated others to help him take what was not his — money that belonged to the Plan.”

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Terrence Williams with Kings

Terrence Williams of the Sacramento Kings is shown during the game against the New Jersey Nets in Sacramento, California, on March 31, 2012. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Williams has agreed to pay restitution of $2.5 million and pay a fine of more than $650,000.

Davis was a member of the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA championship team. He was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution.  

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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