Sports
Granderson: Remember 'Nipplegate'? 20 years later, we all owe Janet Jackson an apology
The numbers do not lie: The Super Bowl is our most cherished TV show.
Regardless of location, matchup or storylines … regardless of protests or presidents … regardless of crimes and other off-field drama … this one game is consistently the year’s most viewed event.
Which is why it’s so important that the NFL invites Janet Jackson back.
Opinion Columnist
LZ Granderson
LZ Granderson writes about culture, politics, sports and navigating life in America.
It’s now been 20 years since our culture decided a half-second glimpse of one of Jackson’s breasts — the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the halftime show with Justin Timberlake — threatened the foundations of society.
Sounds ridiculous now, given the modeling career of former First Lady Melania Trump, but back when we were still pretending to be precious about sex, we wrung our hands about this scandal for weeks, only half-jokingly nicknaming the saga “Nipplegate,” as though it were on par with the crimes and coverup that forced Richard Nixon to resign. Talking heads condemned Jackson 24/7.
In short, we overreacted.
It was an election year, and the U.S. was engaged in two religious wars: one abroad in response to 9/11 and one at home as President George W. Bush used the threat of same-sex marriage to fuel his culture war and drum up votes.
Everybody wanted to appear patriotic while the definition of patriotism got blurry. Islamophobia seemed to replace freedom of religion. Sen. John F. Kerry, a decorated war hero, was mocked for his service in Vietnam. This was the era when the Dixie Chicks (as they were then known) spoke out against Bush starting a war in 2003, and for that they were threatened and nearly lost their careers.
Less than a year later, it was Jackson’s turn.
She’s moved on and we’ve moved on, but no one ever made amends for mistreating her. The Super Bowl would be the place to do it. We need to apologize for how we treated Jackson in the aftermath of Nipplegate because we were never as pious as we pretended to be in 2004.
When we found out players for the Dallas Cowboys ran a brothel during the 1990s, we didn’t cast them out. We kept calling them “America’s Team.”
After learning that college football star Lawrence Phillips dragged his ex-girlfriend down three flights of stairs before smashing her head into a mailbox in 1995, the National Football League made him the sixth overall pick in 1996. The nation responded by making the Super Bowl the most-watched show once again, as if nothing unsavory had happened. Corporations paid more than $1 million for a 30-second commercial back then.
Today we’re the country with elected officials who talk about secret sex parties in Washington and display sexting photos on the House floor. We’re the country where celebrities with sex tapes visit the White House and a top candidate for president can be found liable for sexual abuse without losing support.
What happened in 2004 was nasty. Not because of Jackson but because of us.
Every other performer at Super Bowl halftime shows ends the night feeling on top of the world. Jackson ended hers hiding and in tears. She woke up to threats, the Federal Communications Commission getting involved and the sudden need to save her career. Not because she crossed a line, mind you, but because we overreacted.
Jackson has rebuilt her life from that low point. She doesn’t need the Super Bowl gig. Her 2023 tour was the highest grossing of her career, and she’s back on the road again this year. But the coronation that comes with the Super Bowl halftime show was stolen from her. There’s a simple way to make it right.
Football is more than a game to us. Even those who don’t care about the sport are affected by its culture and influence.
Taylor Swift could not have had her six-night mini residency at SoFi Stadium last summer — a run that brought in an estimated $320 million to Los Angeles County — but for the NFL. Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams, bought the land in 2014. The league’s exploration of the area goes back to the mid-1990s. No other industry swooped in to develop that land over those years.
The Super Bowl venue this year exists only because the Raiders moved to Las Vegas and helped develop Allegiant Stadium, which not only built up the city’s sports culture but also brings in revenue from other events at the stadium that wouldn’t have been possible a decade ago.
In my hometown of Detroit, Ford Field anchors a revitalized downtown. The two playoff games the Lions hosted this season brought $40 million to the city.
Football’s reach holds many communities together.
And in 2004 we took all that togetherness, all that cultural and economic inertia and vilified one of the most successful recording artists of all time.
In 2001, Jackson’s album “All for You” was her fifth consecutive to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart. She won a Grammy in 2002. When the NFL approached her about the Super Bowl, Jackson held the record for the most consecutive Top 10 hits. More than Madonna, the first female solo act for halftime; more than Beyoncé, who was second; more than Lady Gaga, who came after that.
What better way to atone for the foolishness of 2004 than to give Jackson her flowers in 2025? It would be a way to not only guarantee a terrific show but also recognize Jackson’s most important characteristic: resiliency.
Sports
Auburn fans shower officials with debris after wild buzzer-beater gets overturned
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A chaotic scene unfolded at Auburn University on Tuesday night as a wild buzzer-beater was waved off well after the Tigers had celebrated on their own court.
With 0.6 seconds remaining and Auburn trailing 90-88, KeShawn Murphy, somehow left wide open, caught an inbounds pass and nailed a long 3-pointer for what was thought to be the game-winner.
However, officials went to the scorer’s table to review the play, which was awfully close.
Auburn Tigers players watch the replay of a possible game-winning shot that was called back as Auburn Tigers take on Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Ultimately, officials ruled that the shot had not gone off in time, ending the Tigers’ celebration and prompting one from Texas A&M.
The officials quickly made themselves public enemy number one and were showered with debris from fans on their way off the court. At least one referee needed his head to be covered.
One fan sitting courtside even turned his back and threw his drink over his shoulder aimed at an official.
“They didn’t say a word. They just said it was no good and ran off the floor. I probably wouldn’t want to talk to me in that moment, anyway,” Auburn head coach Steven Pearl, who took over for his dad, Bruce this season, said after the game. “So, I get why they’d run away from me. Just from the angles that I saw, it looked like it was off his fingers. But that was just, I don’t have all the same angles they have.”
Texas A&M Aggies players celebrate victory as Auburn Tigers take on Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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It is now six losses in their last 10 games for the Tigers after starting 5-1. They lost in the Final Four last year to Florida, who won the national championship over Houston.
Auburn (9-6, 0-2) led 47-37 at halftime and extended the margin to 61-45 with 12:29 remaining.
KeShawn Murphy of the Auburn Tigers reacts after officials ruled that his last-second shot did not beat the shot clock to win the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena on Jan. 6, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
Texas A&M answered with a steady run fueled by outside shooting, taking its first lead at 8:42 when Pop Isaacs buried a 3-pointer. The Aggies followed with back-to-back triples from Isaacs to open a five-point cushion that they would not relinquish, by the skin of their teeth.
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Sports
Former NFL player Jordan Shipley is in critical condition after accident on his ranch
Two-time All-American wide receiver and prominent Outdoors Channel host Jordan Shipley is in critical condition after an accident on his ranch in Texas, his family said in a statement.
Shipley, 40, was described as stable after remaining hospitalized Tuesday night in Austin. The statement said a machine that he was operating near his hometown of Burnet caught fire. The former Texas great suffered “severe burns on his body.”
Shipley abruptly retired in 2012 after three NFL seasons primarily because of persistent concussion issues and chronic knee problems. He quickly transitioned to television shows that showcased his passion for deer hunting, co-hosting “The Bucks of Tecomate” and “Tecomate Whitetail Nation.”
“It was not hard at all,” Shipley said at the time of retiring at 27. “Only because I never saw myself as a football player first. Don’t get me wrong, I worked my tail off for football and I loved it but never saw that as my whole identity because I had such a big background in outdoors. Really, with this opportunity I had I was actually pretty excited about moving forward.”
Although he enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 with 52 receptions for 600 yards and three touchdowns, he is best remembered as a record-setting player at Texas.
Shipley starred as a receiver and a kick returner from 2006 to 2009, setting program single-season records in 2009 with 116 receptions and 1,489 yards. He also remains the career leader for receptions with 248 and ranks second in career receiving yards with 3,191, behind Roy Williams. Shipley also returned four punts or kickoffs for touchdowns.
After being drafted in the third round by the Bengals, he became one of the most popular players with Cincinnati fans, and his No. 11 jersey was worn by thousands. After a debilitating knee injury early in the 2011 season, he was never the same player, and he had short stints with Tampa Bay and Jacksonville before retiring.
According to his family, Jordan was operating a machine at his ranch when it caught fire. He managed to free himself from the machine, but “not before sustaining severe burns on his body in the process.” Jordan was airlifted to the hospital in Austin.
“He was able to get to one of his workers on the ranch, who drove him to a local hospital. He was then care-flighted to Austin, where he remains in critical but stable condition,” the statement said.
Shipley’s younger brother, former Texas wide receiver Jaxon Shipley, 33, asked for prayers in a statement on Instagram: “Please pray for full healing and no infections or other issues on his road to recovery. I don’t want to get into all the details, other than his life was spared today by the grace of God and the sheer will to live. I believe prayer is effective so I’m asking anyone and everyone to lift Jordan up in prayer.”
Sports
Tom Izzo explodes on former Michigan State player in wild scene: ‘What the f— are you doing?’
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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has been known to get visibly angry with his players over his years in East Lansing, but what happened Monday night against USC was different.
Izzo let loose his frustration on a former player.
During the Spartans’ blowout over the Trojans, 80-51, Izzo was spotted unloading on former Michigan State center Paul Davis, who played for the team from 2002-06, after he caused a disturbance in the stands.
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Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena Jan. 2, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Referees pointed out Davis, who was a spectator, from his courtside seat after he was among many in the building who disagreed with a call in the second half. Davis stood up and shouted at referee Jeffrey Anderson.
Anderson responded with a loud whistle, stopping play and pointing at Davis. Then, Anderson went over to Izzo to explain what happened, and the 70-year-old coach went ballistic.
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First, he was motioning toward Davis, and it was clear he asked his former center, “What the f— are you doing?”
Davis was met by someone asking him to leave his seat, and that’s when Izzo went nuts. He shouted “Get out of here!” at Davis, who appeared to gesture toward Izzo, perhaps in apology for disturbing the game.
Izzo was asked about Davis’ ejection after the game.
“What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world,” Izzo responded when asked what happened. “That ticked me off. So, just because it’s 25, 20 years later, I’m going to have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. And you know what he’ll say? ‘I screwed up, coach. I’m sorry.’”
Izzo quickly clarified that what Davis said “wasn’t something racial” and “it wasn’t something sexual.”
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo protests a call that benefited the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center Dec. 2, 2025. (Dale Young/Imagn Images)
“It was just the wrong thing to say, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Davis later met with reporters Tuesday, apologizing for his actions.
“I’m not up here to make any excuses. I’m up here to take accountability, to own it,” Davis said. It was a mistake that will never happen again. It was a mistake that’s not me, but, unfortunately, last night it was.”
Izzo said Davis was one of his “favorite guys” during his time playing for the Spartans. He had a breakout sophomore campaign with 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and two assists per game in 30 starts for Izzo during the 2003-04 season.
Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena Jan. 2, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
In his senior year, Davis averaged 17.5 points, a career-high, in 33 games.
He was taken in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Davis played just four seasons in the league, his final one with the Washington Wizards.
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