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Granderson: Remember 'Nipplegate'? 20 years later, we all owe Janet Jackson an apology

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

@LZGranderson

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson Sr.’s future in Indianapolis faces more uncertainty than ever. 

The Indianapolis Colts granted Anthony Richardson, the team that used the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on the quarterback, permission to explore a trade. His agent, Deiric Jackson, confirmed the latest development in the 23-year-old’s tumultuous career to ESPN on Thursday.

Veteran quarterback Daniel Jones beat out Richardson in a preseason competition for the starting job. Jones made the most of another opportunity as an NFL starter, helping the Colts win eight of their first 10 games of the 2025 regular season. 

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

However, his season was ultimately derailed by an Achilles injury. The setback came two years after he tore an ACL with the New York Giants. The Colts appear ready to move forward with Jones, clouding Richardson’s future in Indianapolis.

Jones is set to become a free agent in March, meaning the Colts must either use the franchise tag or sign him to a new deal. Richardson has started just 15 games in three seasons with the Colts, his tenure largely shaped by injuries. 

A shoulder surgery limited Richardson to four games during his rookie campaign, while a series of setbacks cost him four games in 2024. 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for an open receiver during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

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Richardson suffered what was described as a “freak pregame incident” during warmups last season, landing him on injured reserve after attempting just two passes in two games in 2025. He has thrown 11 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in his NFL career. 

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that the vision problems stemming from Richardson’s orbital fracture last October are “trending in the right direction.” He added that Richardson has been “cleared to play.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is expected to return to the Colts next season.

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When asked about Richardson’s standing with the Colts moving ahead, Ballard replied, “I still believe in Anthony.”

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

William Hudson, a 14-year-old freshman golfer, shot 71 on Monday at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills to win the Servite Invitational.

“It was very important to me and my school,” Hudson said.

Some think it’s the first time a St. John Bosco student won an invitational title.

Hudson is a straight-A student who picked up his first golf club when he was 3. He has a daily routine involving practicing at 6 a.m. before heading to school. He’s also enrolled in a school entrepreneur program that involves taking classes at a junior college that will qualify for college credits.

“They are long days, but I get through it,” Hudson said.

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He comes from a family that enjoys golf. His great-grandfather played until his death at 98 last year.

“I love how it can take me to interesting places and meet interesting people,” Hudson said. “I can play for the rest of my life. It’s a lifelong sport.”

It’s looking like another strong year for golfers in Southern California, with several individual champions returning, including Jaden Soong of St. Francis and Grant Leary of Crespi.

Now Hudson has thrust himself into the conversation.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Dashcam video shows former WWE executive Vince McMahon rear-ending vehicle on Connecticut highway

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Dashcam video shows former WWE executive Vince McMahon rear-ending vehicle on Connecticut highway

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Police have released new video showing former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon speeding before crashing his 2024 Bentley Continental GT into another luxury car on a Connecticut highway last summer.

McMahon appeared to be followed by a state trooper in Westport moments ahead of the eventual collision. McMahon’s vehicle reached speeds of more than 100 mph, state police said.

A trooper’s dashcam video showed McMahon accelerating and then braking too late to avoid rear-ending a BMW. The car McMahon was driving then swerved into a guardrail and careened back across the highway. A cloud of dirt, apparently mixed with vehicle debris, was visible in the immediate area of the crash.

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WWE owner Vince McMahon enters the arena during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium on Apr 3, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)

“Why were you driving all over 100 mph?” a state trooper asked McMahon after catching up to the wrecked Bentley.

“I got my granddaughter’s birthday,” McMahon replied, explaining he was on his way to see her. The encounter was recorded on police bodycam video.

No serious injuries were reported in the July 24 crash, which happened the same day former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack in Florida.

In an image taken from Connecticut State Police police bodycam video, Vince McMahon is questioned in his car after an accident on July 24, 2025, in Westport, Connecticut. (Connecticut State Police via The Associated Press)

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Aside from the damage to the rear of the BMW, another vehicle driving on the opposite side of the parkway was struck by flying debris. The driver of that third car happened to be wearing a WWE shirt, police video suggested.

McMahon was cited for reckless driving and following too closely. In October, a state judge allowed him to enter a pretrial probation program that could erase the charges if he completes it successfully.

He was also ordered to make a $1,000 charitable contribution. His attorney, Mark Sherman, called the crash simply an “accident.”

“Not every car accident is a crime,” Sherman said. “Vince’s primary concern during this case was for the other drivers and is appreciative that the court saw this more of an accident than a crime that needed to be prosecuted.”

Vince McMahon attends a press conference to announce that WWE Wrestlemania 29 will be held at MetLife Stadium in 2013 at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  (Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)

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State police said a trooper was trying to catch up to McMahon on the parkway and clock his speed before pulling him over. They said the incident was not a pursuit, which happens when police chase someone trying to flee officers. They also said it did not appear McMahon was trying to escape.

“I’m trying to catch up to you, and you keep taking off,” State Police Det. Maxwell Robins said in the video. 

“No, no no. I’m not trying to outrun you,” McMahon clarified.

An accident information summary provided to the media shortly after the crash did not mention that a trooper was following McMahon.

The trooper’s bodycam video also shows him asking McMahon whether he was looking at his phone when the crash happened. McMahon said he was not and added he hadn’t driven his car in a long time.

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After Robins tells McMahon that his car is fast, McMahon replies, “Yeah, too (expletive) fast.”

Fox News Digital submitted a public records request to obtain the police video, which was first acquired by The Sun.

McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in 2024, a day after a former WWE employee filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. McMahon has denied the allegations. The lawsuit remains pending.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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