Category: Sports

Jimmy Butler trolled Pat Riley at a coffee shop as Heat trade rumors intensify

Butler thinks that THIS is what a boss should do for his employees.

The feud between Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler and team executive Pat Riley took another turn, but this one is a bit sillier.

Butler is currently suspended for requesting a trade away from the Heat. There are several teams (including the Suns) that could have interest in trading for Butler, who recently said that he probably won’t find joy playing basketball again while playing for Miami’s organization.

However, according to Riley, the team has no plans to trade him despite tensions about Butler’s upcoming contract. Riley is known as a very tough individual to negotiate with and his relationship with Butler has remained tense since the end of last season.

Butler appeared to subtly respond to some of this ongoing turmoil at his coffee shop.

He went up to one of the baristas and said “this is our best guy” right here.

The former Team USA gold medalist at the Olympics then joked that he gave his barista at BIGFACE in Miami a compliment.

“That’s what bosses do,” said Butler. “We build you up. We don’t break you down.”

As he delivered his last line, he looked directly at the camera and subtly smiled as if he was looking directly at Riley. He then gave a “thumbs up” as the video finished recording.

Of course, perhaps Butler is just discussing good management style and this has nothing to do with Riley. But based on everything going on in this saga so far, it sure seems like it has everything to do with Riley.

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Texas A&M men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams admits that he does ‘not watch any games’

“Without being condescending, I have literally tried to live in the most narrow lane you can possibly imagine. Rarely look at my phone.”

The Texas A&M men’s basketball team has gotten off to an undefeated start through two games of SEC action and coach Buzz Williams is well aware of the debates that are beginning because of it.

“It is the first full week of conference play. If you were a fan, this would be fun. If you had a platform such as you guys or you were a media personality, like I am assuming some of you guys are, it is good fodder, it is good content. It is like, what about this and what about that and this coach and that player and what is next? What about what happened last week? That is what has created the exposure that this league has,” Williams explained Wednesday. “Without being condescending, I have literally tried to live in the most narrow lane you can possibly imagine. Rarely look at my phone. I do not watch any games. I am not talented enough to give away emotion and energy to something that does not impact us.

“Because when you are doing this for whatever, three hours tonight, shoot around this morning for an hour, film this morning before shootaround, chapel before film, travel here, all of the things that you are doing – when you give away time, energy, emotion over what is about to be one- and two-possession games for 10 consecutive weeks, I do not think you can lead from that. When you are trying as best as you can to be responsible and leading, on average, 20-year-olds who are completely bombarded, I just want to try to be the best example I can be. We are really thankful. We are glad that the bus ride, that the pizza will taste a little better. We are glad that it is only an hour home.

“But we are going to get home at whatever time, and literally, the preparation for Saturday’s game against another top 20 – this one, top five – team, starts as soon as I take a shower. I understand that is what comes with the job, so I do not want a portion of what I am saying to come across as if I am complaining. But thankful, OK, purge, cleanse. We have to figure out if we have a chance in another one- or two-possession game, if we can get it to that on Saturday.”

The No. 9 Aggies (13-2, 2-0 SEC) host No. 5 Alabama (13-2, 2-0) at Reed Arena on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

‘We tried real hard,’ Basketball coach Buzz Williams reflects on Aggies beating Oklahoma

“I do not think that they ever dropped their heads,” he said. “They were very accountable to one another and to what we were trying to do.”

After trailing by 18 points Wednesday night, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team fought back to beat Oklahoma on the road, which pleased head coach Buzz Williams.

“I just think we tried real hard. Oklahoma is so gifted offensively, and coach Moser is an offensive savant in regards to how he uses that talent. But there is always a lot of lipstick prior to the shot attempt that causes a lot of confusion, a lot of really gifted decision-makers with the ball. But the things that they are doing are really difficult to guard,” Williams explained. “In many respects, they beat us from start to finish. I do not know that you can give up 42 points from three with the 3-point field goal percentage being higher than the overall percentage and it not be 51-33. Actually, I would say that should be the line, 51-33, because everything that we were trying, they were taking advantage of and having near-perfect success.

“But I do think that the character of our guys and the relationships that they have with one another – they just hung around. I do not think that they ever dropped their heads. They were very accountable to one another and to what we were trying to do, and we were very fortunate to win.”

The No. 9 Aggies (13-2, 2-0 SEC) host No. 5 Alabama (13-2, 2-0) at Reed Arena on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Former Texas A&M commit Anthony Hill discusses playing at ‘crazy’ Kyle Field for Longhorns

“Playing at Kyle Field was crazy. I can’t lie, the atmosphere was jumping. It was really cool to play in that stadium. It was fun,” he said.

Texas sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. spoke to the media yesterday prior to playing in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Hill, a former Texas A&M commit, reflected on his choice to sign with the Longhorns and what it was like playing in the stadium that he initially thought would become his home.

“Do I have to say anything? I mean, I feel like I made the right decision. Look where I’m at,” Hill proclaimed. “Decommitting, I want to leave that in the past.”

“Playing at Kyle Field was crazy. I can’t lie, the atmosphere was jumping. It was really cool to play in that stadium, of course after decommitting from there. It was fun.”

When he flipped to Texas, the Aggies set their sights on sophomore linebacker Taurean York, who Hill was complimentary of Thursday.

“He was playing fast,” Hill said of York. “It was pretty cool playing in the SEC and seeing him play that fast. He was playing really fast. And, his freshman year, he did a good job. He was running the show. So, it’s pretty cool seeing him play, since I’ve been knowing him since my sophomore year (of high school).”

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‘Zhu was tremendous,’ Coach Buzz Williams explains how Texas A&M won without Wade Taylor

“Zhu was tremendous. Zhu was really good on Saturday. But we can’t just give all of that to one player. Our group did a really good job.”

For only the second time in his historic Texas A&M career, senior point guard Wade Taylor IV missed a game Wednesday night due to injury.

However, the Aggies were still able to win at Oklahoma, thanks in large part to fellow senior PG, Zhuric Phelps.

“Statistically speaking, you could say that (Taylor) may be the best player (in Texas A&M history). There have been a lot of really good players. The game before Christmas was the first time that (Taylor) has ever missed the game, including the two practices prior, too. The same thing happened – I guess it would be Monday, Tuesday, entering today,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams recalled postgame. “He carries a lot for our team. He is incredibly gifted, but his IQ level as a player is probably at the same level or better than his talent. So not only did we miss his talent; we also missed his IQ. As best we could, our staff did a really good job of dispersing that burden and not putting it on one guy.

How the Los Angeles wildfires affected the sports world, including a postponed game

How the sports world was affected by the devastating wildfires.

The devastation from the horrific multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area continues as firefighters try to fight them.

We’re thinking of everyone out there as this all continues to unfold. Of course this has all touched the sports world as well, with at least one game postponed and questions swirling about whether an NFL playoff contest will be moved because of the fires.

Here’s a look at how the fires have affected the sports world in one way or another, and we’ll update this as the news continues to roll in. Here’s a look at the athletes, coaches and games affected:

The Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames game was postponed

No word yet on when it will be played.

Kawhi Leonard stepped away from the Los Angeles Clippers after his family was evacuated

Here’s what coach Tyronn Lue said about that, via the Associated Press:

“You definitely have to take care of home. … Totally had my support 100%. Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”

The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings playoff game has a contingency plan

The NFL could move the game to Glendale, Arizona and it would be played on a Monday.

Riviera Country Club is in the evacuation zone

Videos on Wednesday showed fire approaching the site of the Genesis Invitational.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said his family had to evacuate

From the Associated Press:

“I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now,” Redick said prior to the Lakers’ 118-97 loss to the Mavericks. “That’s where I live.

“Our family, my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family. From the sound of things, with the winds coming (Tuesday night), I know a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everybody stays safe.”

LeBron James’ wild dunk did not impress Charles Barkley as he continues to criticize the Lakers

How did Charles Barkley not appreciate THIS?!

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James had one of the coolest dunks of the season, possibly the best we will ever see from a 40-year-old.

But despite the undeniably incredible athletic accomplishment, Inside the NBA analyst and longtime pro Charles Barkley was unimpressed.

“It must have been a beautiful play,” Barkley sarcastically said on the TNT broadcast. “We showed it 22 times.”

Ernie Johnson asked Barkley if he thought that play was worth it and Barkley responded.

“Not 22 times,” he added. “We didn’t have to show it a hundred times.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick and Barkley have recently had a back-and-forth beef about how Inside The NBA covers the league.

Barkley said the Lakers “stink” and called them a “bunch of bums” after the loss on Tuesday night.

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The Texas A&M men’s basketball team is ‘a very mature group’ per head coach Buzz Williams

“We have a group that has really good character, that’s important. When we’re together, our ideas have to be based on the truth,” Buzz said.

The Texas A&M men’s basketball team made a statement on Saturday night at Reed Arena, outscoring Texas by 20 points in the second half en route to an 80-60 victory in the conference opener.

Following the big win, Aggies coach Buzz Williams made his weekly appearance on “The Aggie Basketball Hour”

“The margins are just so thin. You always have to figure out a way to get better. We’re thankful for Saturday. There’s very little margin over the next nine weeks,” Williams said Monday. “We have a very mature group. We have a group that has really good character, and that’s important. When we’re together, our ideas have to be based on the truth.”

Next up for No. 9 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) is a road contest against the SEC’s other new addition, No. 16 Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1). Texas A&M faces off against the Sooners tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Watch the No. 9 Texas A&M men’s basketball team assert its dominance against the Longhorns

The No. 9 Aggies face off against the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

This past weekend, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team dominated the second half of its conference opener against Texas to win the return of the Lone Star Showdown on the hardwood.

The No. 9 Aggies (12-2, 1-0 SEC) were tied at 37 with the Longhorns (11-3, 0-1) at halftime on Saturday night at Reed Arena. Then, Texas A&M asserted its dominance by outscoring Texas 43-23 in the final 20 minutes of action to ultimately win 80-60.

“Their shots were at the rim,” Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said postgame. “Our shots were perimeter shots. If we make some of those shots, it’s a different game.”

Next up for the Aggies is a road contest against the SEC’s other new addition, No. 16 Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1). Texas A&M faces off against the Sooners tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

Relive the Aggies’ tremendous victory below in this highlight put together by the Texas A&M social media department:

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams says that Texas A&M SG Hayden Hefner ‘is an assassin’

“You can’t judge a book by its cover. ‘H’ is an assassin. He’s going to do exactly what he’s supposed to do. I have great respect for him.”

It’s safe to say that Texas A&M men’s basketball head coach Buzz Williams is a member of the Hayden Hefner fan club.

In typical Buzz fashion, he was brutally honest about the graduate student shooting guard following an 80-60 victory versus Texas in the conference opener Saturday at Reed Arena.

“Probably the least talented player that played in the Lone Star Showdown, but it’s hard to grade guts,” Williams said of Hefner. “He’s got big guts.”

Then Monday, Williams provided massive praise for Hefner on “The Aggie Basketball Hour.”

“He’s not the same person from when he got here to today,” Williams explained. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. ‘H’ is an assassin. He’s going to do exactly what he’s supposed to do. I have great respect for him.”

The No. 9 Aggies face off against No. 16 Oklahoma tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.