When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. "There's just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself," he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.
Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 **** ists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the **** le in 2014.
Related: LeBron James is everything Philadelphia wants. And everything it can't stand | Bryan Armen Graham
"The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone," the team's president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. "We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are."
But even a historic season wasn't enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. "There wasn't as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left," says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. "I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a **** le, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto."

#SPURS #vince #carter #believe

John Leguizamo, the veteran stage and screen actor and leading activist for Latino representation in Hollywood, who is currently garnering career-best notices and Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Eumaeus in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is our guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, which was recorded in front of an audience of students at Chapman University.
Over the course of 42 years in the business, Leguizamo has worked with everyone. He has been directed by Brian De Palma, Spike Lee, Baz Luhrmann and Jon Favreau multiple times, as well as by Mike Nichols, George A. Romero, Ridley Scott, Todd Haynes, M. Night Shyamalan, Ava DuVernay and Christopher Nolan. And he has shared the screen with the likes of Sean Penn, Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wesley Snipes, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Keanu Reeves, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Hart, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Matt Damon.

In the movies, he has starred in blockbuster studio franchises (Ice Age and John Wick), revered indies (Poison and Chef) and cult classics (Super Mario Bros. and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar). On TV, he has been on hit network shows (ER) and acclaimed limited series (Waco and When They See Us). And on the stage, he has written and starred in six acclaimed one-man shows. Between them all, he has accumulated an Emmy Award and a special Tony Award, as well as Golden Globe and Critics Choice award nominations.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Universal Becomes First Studio to Cross $5B at 2026 Global Box Office
Charlize Theron Says 'The Odyssey' Just Gave Hollywood a Much-Needed Reminder

#hollywood

Travis Kelce turned his walk into the stadium into a luxury fashion moment, arriving for the Kansas City Chiefs' latest game in an outfit reportedly worth close to $100,000.
Kelce, 37, wore the look ahead of the Chiefs' game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, October 4, according to E! News. The NFL star wore a striped black Tom Ford set valued at nearly $7,000, along with Chelsea boots priced at close to $3,000.
His accessories pushed the total much higher: People reported that Kelce carried a $6,500 Bottega Veneta duffle bag and wore Jacques Marie Mage Leonard Aviator sunglasses worth about $1,000. The biggest expense was on his wrist: a Cartier watch valued at about $77,000.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA
Kelce's wife, Taylor Swift, is a Cartier fan, too. The Grammy-winning pop star, 36, has repeatedly worn pieces from the jeweler, including a Cartier Santos Demoiselle watch and a Panthère de Cartier necklace, according to GQ. She also accessorized her surprise appearance for Dakota Johnson's Saturday Night Live hosting stint on Saturday, October 3, with a Cartier Love Unlimited bracelet, Page Six reported.

#cartier #kelce #chiefs

Elizabeth Debicki has built a career around following unexpected possibilities. Born in Paris and raised in Australia, the actress grew up surrounded by performance but did not always imagine herself becoming a screen star. Archaeology, history and even law once competed for her attention before acting ultimately became her chosen path. That curiosity has remained visible in a career spanning stylish spy movies, ambitious science fiction and acclaimed television drama. Rather than following a predictable route, Debicki has repeatedly embraced roles that challenge what audiences expect from her.
Debicki was born to professional dancers, a Polish father and an Australian mother of Irish heritage. After the family moved to Melbourne when she was young, dance became an important part of her childhood. She trained in ballet before eventually deciding that acting offered the creative direction she wanted to pursue. Growing up as the eldest of three children also gave her a reputation within the family for being confident and ****** ertive, even though she has described her younger self as more awkward and bookish.
Before settling on drama, Debicki was fascinated by archaeology and the stories hidden within history. She also considered studying law and performed strongly academically. Acting ultimately won, and she studied drama at the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne. Soon after graduating, she began attracting professional opportunities that quickly moved her career forward.
One of her important early breakthroughs came when Baz Luhrmann cast her as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby. The 2013 film placed Debicki alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, introducing her to a large international audience. She followed it with Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 2015, playing the sophisticated villain Victoria Vinciguerra. The role pushed her into the stylish world of action cinema, despite Debicki not being a driver herself at the time.
Her versatility became increasingly apparent through projects including The Night Manager, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Widows. In 2020, she joined Christopher Nolan's Tenet as Kat, bringing emotional vulnerability to a complicated science fiction thriller filled with elaborate action sequences and unusual ideas about time.

#acting #Career #became #drama

Rick Ross was arrested in Florida and booked into jail on Thursday, Oct. 1, on charges of battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges
A judge ordered the rapper to stay away from his accuser, identified as J.K. in court documents
Ross pleaded not guilty as his attorney called the allegations false and questioned his ex-girlfriend's motivations
Rick Ross was arrested on domestic violence-related charges days after his ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick claimed that the rapper was physically abusive toward her.
The rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked into jail in Florida on Thursday, Oct. 1, on charges of felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery, according to Miami-Dade County court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

#battery #rick #thursday #booked

Rick Ross' attorney brought up his client's celebrity status while asking for a quick release from custody. The judge made it clear that fame would not change how she treated him. The rapper appeared by video before Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer on Thursday following his arrest on domestic violence-related battery charges. When his lawyer requested an expedited release for safety reasons, Glazer responded that she had "no idea" who Ross was. Ross has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
Spread Pictures / MEGA
Attorney Steve Sadow identified Ross by his legal name, William Leonard Roberts II, while asking the judge to speed up his release. "Mr. Roberts is a celebrity. I don't know to whatever degree Your Honor can, but I'd ask that his release be expedited," Sadow said.
The attorney argued that a faster release would be in his client's best interest. Glazer addressed Ross directly in her response. "Hi Mr. Roberts. I have no idea who you are, except as somebody here in the court who's going to be treated fairly, just like everybody here," she said.
Ross had been booked around 6:10 a.m. Thursday before making his video appearance. His bond was set at $4,000 for the felony battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery charge.

#release #glazer #Attorney #celebrity

Rick Ross is in hot water again after he was arrested in Miami over allegations involving his ex-girlfriend.
The latest arrest adds another legal chapter to Ross' history of run-ins with law enforcement. He has faced several arrests, including a 2011 marijuana possession arrest in Louisiana and a 2014 arrest in North Carolina over an outstanding warrant tied to a previous marijuana case.
Rick Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, rose to fame with his 2006 hit "Hustlin'" and became one of hip-hop's biggest names. The Mississippi-born Rapper later founded Maybach Music Group and built a career as both a successful recording artist and music executive.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA
Ross' latest legal trouble began with an accusation from someone who once shared a home with him. The rapper was taken into custody in Miami-Dade County on Thursday after his ex-girlfriend contacted police and alleged that an argument between them had turned violent.

#Legal #marijuana

Rapper Rick Ross appeared in court Thursday after he was arrested on two domestic violence charges.
The "Hustlin'" rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, voluntarily surrendered to police in Miami Beach early Thursday morning and was booked into jail on charges of felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery, according to the Miami Beach Police Department.
In court, Ross' attorney submitted a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Obtained by ABC News - PHOTO: William Leonard Roberts II Known as Rick Ross in a video grab og a court livestream, OCt. 1, 2026.
The judge ordered Ross to stay away from the accuser, who was not publicly identified, and set bond at $5,000.

#ross #roberts #beach #rapper

Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami on two counts of felony battery, including one by strangulation, which allegedly involve domestic violence.
The "Hustlin'" rapper, 50, was arrested around 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, on one charge of felony battery by strangulation and one charge of battery, both characterized as involving domestic violence, according to Miami-Dade County jail records viewed by USA TODAY. A bond hearing has been set for Oct. 1, according to county court records, and a stay-away order was entered as a pretrial condition.
Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, is being held in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is set to be arraigned on Oct. 22.
USA TODAY has reached out to Ross' attorney and the arresting agency, Miami Beach Police Department, for more information.

#county #strangulation

Rick Ross has been arrested on domestic violence charges in Florida.
The rapper was arrested by Miami Beach police in the early hours of Thursday on domestic violence charges, including felony battery by strangulation, according to Miami-Dade jail and court records.
The 50-year-old, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6.10am.
He faces two charges listed as involving domestic violence, including one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery.
The Grammy nominee reportedly turned himself in to police on Thursday after an ex-girlfriend alerted them on Tuesday, claiming he had been violent with her on 28 August.
The woman reportedly told police that Ross allegedly woke her up while she was sleeping and was physical with her while in a "jealous rage" over a photo she was tagged in on social media, according to TMZ.

#domestic #police #battery #Miami

A woman who reported to the police that Rick Ross allegedly committed domestic violence against her is revealed to be the rapper's former girlfriend by TMZ, just a few hours after Ross himself surrendered on the domestic violence allegations.
Rick Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II and who is 50 years old, turned himself in to Miami Beach police early Thursday morning. According to the documents provided by the county jail and court, Ross has been charged with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery related to domestic violence and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. He has posted a $6,000 bond for his release: $5,000 for the felony and $1,000 for the misdemeanor.
The sources in law enforcement, cited by TMZ, claimed that the woman contacted the police on Tuesday, roughly a month after the alleged **** ault. The website has not disclosed the complainant's identity, and authorities have not yet released the arrest affidavit.
As TMZ reports, the woman said that the alleged **** ault took place on August 28th, when Ross woke her up over a photo she had been tagged in on social media.
According to the woman, Ross demanded explanations from her about lying to him, slapped her in the face, and accused her of having affairs with other men. She told the police that he hit her every time she denied it. Moreover, the woman claimed that Ross struck her in the chest several times, choked her till she could not breathe, yanked her ponytail, and pushed her against the wall. Then she showed the photos of the injuries to the police, according to TMZ.

#ross #woman #domestic

The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is finally going forward, with the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers agreeing to complete the deal that was agreed to earlier this summer, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
The deal will be the same as what was agreed to 2 1/2 months ago: Leonard returns to the Raptors, with the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey ******* , two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap, said the person who spoke to The ******* ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approval.
It's a huge move for Toronto, which won the 2019 NBA ******* le with Leonard leading the way and is expecting to contend in the Eastern Conference. But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard's compensation.
The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month with massive penalties as a result of that probe, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks, among other sanctions.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was hit with a $700,000 penalty as a result of that investigation. But he was not suspended and his contract was not voided, and the Raptors evidently are now certain that his status will not be affected.

#clippers #raptors #picks #deal

Bayer Leverkusen and NK Celje clash this Wednesday at the BayArena of the UEFA Europa League. Bayer Leverkusen, who have already won this tournament, mark their 21st participation in the competition, whilst NK Celje go into their 2nd.
In their last game, Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with FC Augsburg (1. Bundesliga 2026/27). Last time out, NK Celje slipped to a 2-1 defeat against NK Bravo (Slovenian League 2026/27).
Montrell Culbreath - Foot Injury
Bayer Leverkusen ( vs FC Augsburg 2026-09-12): Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, Facundo Medina, Miguel Gutiérrez, Aleix García, Equi Fernández, Moussa Diaby, Ibrahim Maza, Afonso Moreira, Christian Kofane
NK Celje ( vs NK Bravo 2026-09-12): Zan Luk Leban, Pijus Sirvys, Leonardo Koutris, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Papa Mustapha, Mark Zabukovnik, Darko Hrka, Mario Kvesić, Benjamin Verbic, Matic Ivansek, Blaz Kramer

#bayer #bayarena

Lauren Sánchez Bezos brought a romantic take on classic tennis whites as she joined her husband, Jeff Bezos, for the star-studded men's final at the 2026 US Open.
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#lauren

Tapatío had a tough road test against Dorados on Matchday 8 of the Apertura 2026. After a hard-fought match, the Rojiblancos ended up falling 3-1 to the Sinaloa side.
Tapa opened the scoring in the opening minutes with a goal from Daniel Villaseca. However, the home team made the most of its chances to come from behind. Although the Rojiblancos kept pushing forward with different combinations, they were unable to close the gap on the scoreboard.
Now, the young Rebaño will have to turn the page and focus on its next home match, when it hosts Tlaxcala on September 20 for Matchday 9 of the Apertura 2026 in the Liga de Expansión.
The goals:
- What a play to score the opener! In the 8th minute, after a bold diagonal run from the final third, Leonardo Jiménez took the ball, got into the box, and delivered a pinpoint cross for Daniel Villaseca, who arrived to meet it with a great header and open the scoring.- In the 30th minute, the home side leveled the match with a goal by SebastiánCervantes.- The Sinaloa side took the lead in the 66th minute with a goal from Oscar Coronel.- In the 96th minute, Leonardo Vargas scored the final 3-1 of the match.

#matchday

Tapatío will have the chance today to get back to winning ways against Dorados. On Matchday 8 of the 2026 Apertura in the Liga de Expansión, the Young Flock will visit the Sinaloa side at Estadio El Encanto, where they will look to earn all three points and climb the standings toward the top of the table.
Here we present the list of the 20 players that José Meléndez selected to represent the Red-and-White pride in Sinaloa.
'Tapa''s squad to face Dorados
-Rodrigo Parra-Saúl Zamora-Eduardo García-Carlos Hernández-Gael García-Leonardo Jiménez-Vladimir Moragrega-Cruz Medina-Carlo Soldati-Raúl Nuño-Sebastián Esparza-Juan Pablo Uribe-Enrique Ledesma-Axel Leyva-Matías Cendejas-Diego Latorre-Carlos Corona-Daniel Villaseca-Leonel Calderón-Diego Rosales
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

#ndez #tapat

From the moment the 2025 season ended, UTSA set out to find answers for the team's biggest shortcomings. At the top of the list? Winning on the road, and avoiding slow starts.
The Roadrunners are 3-10 away from the Alamodome the past two years, opening the 2024 season 2-4 and starting 3-4 in 2025.
Now, after months of preparing and retooling, UTSA will finally find out if the problems have been solved, visiting Texas State for an I-35 rivalry showdown at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in San Marcos.
"We've been talking about it for a long time," Roadrunners defensive lineman Tai Leonard said. "We've been doing all the work that's required. So, I mean, God willing, we can go out there and showcase."
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor knows the results his offseason of changes to staff, roster construction and even day-to-day practice schedules will take more than one day to bear out.

#winning

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype is releasing rankings at every position. While Fred VanVleet was rated rather low as a point guard, Rockets star Kevin Durant was recently ranked as one of the best in his position. In a list of the top 27 small forwards in the NBA, Durant placed fifth after averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 ***** ists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 78 appearances last season.
The Duke duo of Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg were ranked first and second, respectively, before the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers (Jaylen Brown) came in at No. 3. No. 4 is a much more controversial choice, as Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was given the nod over Durant despite playing in just 33 contests last year. Kawhi Leonard (Raptors), Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Brandon Ingram (Clippers) and Brandon Miller (Hornets) rounded out the top-10.
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:
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#season #ranked

When the Miami Dolphins take the field on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, a trio of first-year players have the potential to collectively make NFL history. Three of Miami's 13 selections from the 2026 NFL Draft were wide receivers Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr.
Douglas was Miami's first receiver taken during this past April's draft when the Dolphins used pick No. 75 on the Texas Tech product. Bell from Louisville was selected with pick No. 94, and Coleman Jr. with pick No. 177 out of Missouri.
While a rare occurrence in any team class, there have been several instances where three receivers were selected by one team in a single draft. In fact, the Dolphins last tripled up at the position in 1975 with Freddie Solomon, Morris Owens and Leonard Isabell.
What has never happened before in league history is three drafted receivers each recording a reception during Week 1 of their rookie season. Douglas, Bell and Coleman could be that lone trio come Sunday. There have been a few close hits, but in the dozen or so cases, Miami's young trio could break the ice.
For Miami in 1975, none of these three recorded a catch back in Week 1 when they lost to the Oakland Raiders. Back in 2014, the Jacksonville Jaguars had three wideouts haul in a catch during Week 1 as rookies, but only two were actual draft selections.

#week #trio #receivers

Roberto Mancini is set to call several new faces for Italy's Nations League matches against Belgium and Turkiye, locking down Samuele Inacio, Issa Doumbia and Alessandro Romano to the Azzurri.
The ***** onale begin their second era under Mancini with the home game against Belgium on September 25 in Rome's Stadio Olimpico, then visit Vincenzo Montella's Turkiye on September 28.
France complete the group and that first encounter will be on October 2 in Paris.
PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: (L-R) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini attend the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)
According to Sky Sport Italia, Mancini has already contacted almost 70 players to let them know they are up for consideration, although ultimately only around 30 will actually be called up.

#mancini #Belgium #stadio

The Chargers dropped their final injury report of Week One and it's about as clean as you could ask for.
Edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu (hip) is listed as questionable after being a limited participant at practice for most of the week. He dealt with a lower-body injury to begin training camp and it looks like the team is still playing it cautious with him now that the regular season is here.
Cornerback Deane Leonard is the only player listed as out for Sunday's game after missing the entire week of practice. Leonard is the team's fourth cornerback and the best coverage player on special teams. His presence will be missed in the third phase of the game.
game status for week 1 vs. AZ

QUESTIONABLE — Tuli Tuipulotu

OUT — Deane Leonard
With Leonard out, expect Nikko Reed or Kaiir Elam to be elevated for game day. Reed likely gets the nod as he has the greater experience pool in O'Leary's defense over Elam who was just signed following final cuts at the start of the month.

#tuli #tuipulotu #reed #elam

As the American justice department investigates the Los Angeles Clippers and its salary cap contravention deals involving Kawhi Leonard and several outside companies, there is no immediate concern it will scuttle an expected trade with the Raptors. According to NBA sources granted anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation, the latest wrinkle shouldn't preclude Leonard from becoming a Raptor before training camp begins in about two weeks.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Continuing investigation, the latest wrinkle shouldn't …

#shouldn 't #american #clippers #kawhi

It started with yelling about toilets. Steve Ballmer was so serious about turning the Los Angeles Clippers into a serious franchise for the first time in their existence that he wanted to make sure no fan ever waited in a long line to use the bathroom when the team opened its new arena. Ballmer's drive to win eventually led the Clippers to courting Kawhi Leonard in free agency, fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to a 2019 NBA championship. Leonard wanted to live in Los Angeles, yes, but he also wanted Paul George as his running mate, so the Clippers shipped out a boatload of draft picks and future two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get him.
Leonard's people also made it known that their client wanted the type of big endorsement deals his off-putting, robotic personality couldn't land legitimately. Leonard's now infamous Uncle Dennis Robertson never tried to be subtle about his desire to secure similar off-court bags to the ones Kawhi's contemporaries like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant were landing on their own accord, and leaks of his demands circulated as soon as Leonard hit free agency.
The Clippers became so entangled in pleasing Leonard that it led to blatant salary cap circumvention, first reported by investigative journalist Pablo Torre. The NBA found enough evidence supporting Torre's claims that it hammered the Clippers with the most severe penalty in league history, stripping five future first-round draft picks, suspending executives including Ballmer, and more. That figured to be the end of the story, with the Clippers spending the next decade trying to climb out of the abyss. Torre continued to hint that there was another shoe to drop, and now that it's here, the Clippers might be in much bigger trouble than anyone first believed.
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers, according to the New York Times, and it's already issued one subpoena. While the scope of the investigation is unclear for now, the fact that the feds are watching the Clippers for under-the-table dealings potentially makes this a much bigger deal than simply breaking NBA rules.
How does breaking NBA rules amount to a federal crime by the Clippers? While there's a lot left to come out, the main idea is that the Clippers committed some level of fraud. Daktronics was a publicly traded company, the only one of the four tied up in the Leonard scandal to fit that description, while Aspiration, Lockton Insurance, and Boingo Wireless were not. Publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to disclose big investments, and it sure feels like that never happened when dealing with Leonard.

#ballmer

The Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers used secret endorsement deals to boost its star player Kawhi Leonard's income while violating the NBA's salary cap, the New York Times reported, just a week after the league suspended the team's billionaire owner Steve Ballmer for a year.
Owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers congratulates Kawhi Leonard #2 after his 55-point game to win 112-99 against the Detroit Pistons at Intuit Dome.
Citing unnamed sources briefed on the matter, the Times reported that the matter is being investigated by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn and the probe is in its "earliest stages."
The report noted that prosecutors have already issued a subpoena as part of the probe, but details of the crimes being investigated remain unclear.
The DOJ investigation began before the NBA handed out its own punishments against the Clippers—including a year-long suspension of the team's owner and ninth-richest person in the world.

#owner #angeles #kawhi

The NBA brought the hammer down on the LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap to funnel more money to Kawhi Leonard — and now federal prosecutors are looking into the matter.
The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' efforts to secure "no-show" endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, the New York Times reports. This investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the office that has traditionally looked into issues with professional sports leagues.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and it's unclear what, if any, federal charges could come out of it, according to the report.
The Justice Department investigation comes in addition to the Securities and Exchange Commission looking into Daktronics' role in the scandal, as it had an endorsement deal with Leonard despite never having had a celebrity endorser before and there being no evidence Leonard did anything for the company. Daktronics is publicly traded, and the SEC is tasked with protecting shareholders.
The NBA oversaw a year-long investigation of its own into the Clippers working to circumvent the salary cap with Leonard and last month came down with the harshest penalties ever imposed on a team:

#salary

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a report by The New York Times.
The team is accused of circumventing the NBA salary cap involving Kawhi Leonard.
Last week, the NBA punished the franchise with a $30 million fine and suspended owner Steve Ballmer. The league also stripped the Clippers of five first-round draft picks.
The Clippers have said they intend to vigorously challenge the findings and penalties.
This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

#clippers #kawhi #last

The Los Angeles Clippers are still reeling in the aftermath of a cap circumvention scandal. For their part in helping Kawhi Leonard secure millions in off-the-court, "no-show" endorsement deals, the franchise had to give up five first-round picks and $30 million, culminating in one of the most severe penalties in NBA history.
Through it all, Kawhi escaped the scandal relatively unscathed. Besides a $700K fine, he didn't face any major consequences, and even his trade to the Toronto Raptors remains completely untouched. And yet, even now, the Clippers have yet to finalize the trade, leading some executives to suspect they are considering some sort of revenge against Leonard for how he's turned his back on the team.
"The Raptors, I'm told, are eager to consummate the trade after initially placing it on hold July 9 (to guard against a Leonard suspension or the outright voiding of his contract) and still firmly believe that the deal will happen as agreed upon and intended. Ditto for Leonard and his camp," wrote NBA insider Marc Stein. "Yet the delay has naturally led some league observers to wonder aloud whether the Clippers are holding off — or considering something even more drastic — to spite Leonard for so readily accepting the league's punishment rather than invoking his right to pursue an appeal. Any formal appeal within the NBA's auspices in such matters, remember, must be initiated by the player in question rather than the team according to league by-laws."
The Clippers have given up everything for Kawhi, and they set themselves back 10 years just to make him happy. From his very arrival, Kawhi was making outlandish requests and even forced the Clippers to give up five first-round picks (along with future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) in a deal for Paul George. By the end, the total cost of Leonard's services amounts to 10 first-round picks (not counting SGA), and it was all for a team that never made the Finals.
So when the Clippers were caught holding the bag in the cap circumvention scandal, they naturally expected some level of cooperation from Leonard, someone they moved heaven and earth to appease. Instead, he settled with the NBA right away, avoiding more severe penalties while stripping the Clippers of any power to fight back.

#clippers #leonard #first

A stunning new rumor claims the Los Angeles Clippers might scrap the planned trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for a very petty reason.
When Pablo Torre broke the news last year about Clippers management creating shell companies to pay Leonard extra money and win his free agent sweepstakes in 2019, many wondered how severe the punishment for salary cap circumvention would be. Well, the long-awaited hammer dropped last week.
After the NBA found undeniable evidence of illegal violations by the Clippers, the franchise was fined $30 million. Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for a year. Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker was suspended without pay for a year, and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was suspended without pay for 6 months. The team was also stripped of five future first-round picks in upcoming seasons.
It is the stiffest penalty in NBA history. However, the one individual involved who got a slap on the wrist was Leonard. After speculation that he could be suspended or have his contract voided, the seven-time All-Star received a $700,000 fine. He also released a statement taking partial ownership of the fiasco.
With the punishment for cap circumvention finalized, the Clippers are expected to complete a previously agreed-upon trade sending the 35-year-old to the Raptors. Or maybe not. It is a bit odd that the two teams haven't completed a deal over a week after the penalty was handed down. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, some around the league believe there is a surprising reason the trade is still in limbo.

#clippers #year #trade

Bekah Martinez decided to send her kids to public school this year after previously homeschooling them
She shared that her own childhood included transitions between homeschooling, private school and public school
Martinez emphasized the decision is temporary and plans to return to homeschooling when the time feels right
Bekah Martinez is sharing why she made the decision to send her kids to public school after homeschooling them.
In a candid post on her Instagram, the former Bachelor star, 31, explained her decision to send her kids to public school this year — however, Martinez noted that the break was not a strict "goodbye" to homeschooling. Martinez, who appeared on season 22 of The Bachelor, shares her daughter Ruth and sons Franklin and Ernest, with fiancé Grayson Leonard.

#send #decision #bachelor

After Scott McTominay of Napoli, it was announced that Udinese and Poland international midfielder Jakub Piotrowski will also have heart surgery to correct a benign arrhythmia.
With the improvement in testing and focus on spotting cardiac problems early, Serie A clubs are increasingly able to identify potential issues in their players.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – JUNE 5: Scott McTominay of Scotland warms up during a training session at Florida Blue Training Center on June 5, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Scotland international McTominay was diagnosed with a mild, benign arrhythmia and Napoli medical staff recommended ablation surgery to correct it.
That was performed this morning in Manchester, and he is expected to be out of action for around two months, following an initial two-week complete rest period.

#lauderdale #june #training