Tag: American Century Championship

Travis Kelce hilariously dedicated his karaoke win to Taylor Swift at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe

Travis Kelce, like Taylor Swift, is at home on stage.

Travis Kelce channeled his pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift on Thursday night out at Lake Tahoe as he took to the stage for a karaoke contest. Kelce is in Nevada at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course for the 2024 American Century Championship, a tournament that brings celebrities and athletes together to raise money for charity.

MORE: Jason Kelce actually sang his favorite Taylor Swift song to Travis on the latest New Heights podcast

Part of the pre-tournament festivities included the aforementioned karaoke contest, where Kelce busted out Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.” It was a rousing rendition, even if a bit pitchy at times.

After his victory, Kelce dedicated the win to Swift, saying “Taylor, this is for you!” through exaggerated emotions as Brian Baumgartner of The Office and Rob Riggle joked that it was the best thing that happened to him this year. Perfect moment.

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Panthers WR Adam Thielen shares glowing impression of rookie Xavier Legette

Adam Thielen on Panthers 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette: “He wants to be a great receiver in this league.”

If you want some insight into a Carolina Panthers wide receiver, Adam Thielen is probably one of the best people to talk to.

Well, WCNC sports director Nick Carboni did exactly that on Thursday—linking up with the veteran pass catcher before he hit the links against some fellow celebrities at Edgewood Tahoe South this weekend. Carboni and Thielen chatted about a few of the faces on the new offense, including this year’s first-round pick Xavier Legette.

“I think, No. 1, he’s a great guy,” Thielen said of Legette. “He’s been really fun to be around. Obviously, the country accent is pretty funny. But beyond that, he’s a really great kid and excited to go on and continue to work with him.

“Really, as a player and as a teammate, you just wanna see guys love the game, work hard and treat each other with respect. And he’s one of those guys, and those are the guys that you root for. You want those guys to have success. The guys that do things the right way—that wanna learn, that wanna be a great player. I think—at times, honestly—he’s gotta be kinda pulled back because he wants to go and do extra stuff and get the field work in, out of the building and do all these things because he wants it so bad. He wants to be a great receiver in this league.”

Unfortunately for Legette, he had to be pulled back quite a bit during spring workouts. The 23-year-old was held out of the bulk of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp due to a hamstring injury.

But head coach Dave Canales has stated that the team is taking the safe and smart route with the rookie, so all systems should be a go come training camp.

And as for Thielen, he’ll be trying to improve on last year’s 14th-place finish at the American Century Championship in the coming days.

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Don Cheadle on Chiefs’ villain image: ‘They’re the bad guys until they get beaten’

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to actor Don Cheadle about the public’s recent perception of the #Chiefs as villains due to their success. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs will face plenty of obstacles on the journey to trying to accomplish a three-peat this season. Their recent triumphs have not just viewed them as a dynasty but also as the top target on every team’s bulletin board and rival fans’ hate list.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to award-winning actor Don Cheadle about being competitive in this weekend’s American Century Championship and the public’s recent perception of the Chiefs as the league’s villains due to their success.

“I don’t get like that [competitive],” Cheadle explained. “I mean, I know that people are taking bets on certain things. My friends have “last-longer” bets and better performance bets with other players. But like I said, it’s to see these dudes that I don’t, you know, necessarily get to see all year in that setting.

“It’s the tournament (American Century) that does a great job of taking care of us, providing entertainment, and it’s for charity. It’s really the reason to get together and do this. There are a lot of guys that I would like to bump into again and be with Michael Pena, and he and I are in a movie coming out this year together, so it’s good to kick it with him.”

During Super Bowl LVIII media week, the Chiefs were considered the league’s villains after consecutive winning seasons. The reaction from most of the crowd in attendance preferred the San Francisco 49ers as the heroes for reasons beyond the game’s proximity.

“I think it’s all [a] hype thing to sell tickets and get people to watch. And, of course, if somebody is sitting on top of the hill, you have to knock the king off the top,” said Cheadle. “So I’m sure they’re viewed as villains, but to see what they’ve done and to all the different iterations of personnel that they’ve had, and still been able to be as successful as they’ve been able to be.

“It’s a real testament to the team and to [what] Andy Reid has been able to do, and what the front office has been able to do, and how to put these people together and kept, the key pieces together to continue to make them the championship level, caliber team. So, yeah, they should be; they should be the bad guys. They’re the bad guys until they get beaten.”

Cheadle has played many roles in his illustrious career while continuing to work in various humanitarian efforts. In 2017, alongside Oceans 8 movie castmate George Clooney, he was presented with the Summit Peace Award by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome for work to stop the genocide and relieve the suffering of the people of Darfur.

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Don Cheadle on his interaction with Kevin Hart after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory over the Eagles

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Don Cheadle about his interactions with Kevin Hart after the #Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory over the Eagles | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl titles have helped attract many fans locally and internationally. Their increased popularity has made their games a topic of discussion in every circle, especially among celebrities.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to actor and Kansas City native Don Cheadle about his reaction to the Chiefs defeating his friend and co-star in the upcoming Peacock miniseries Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, Kevin Hart’s Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, and his starting tight end choice between Travis Kelce and Tony Gonzalez.

“There was no trash talk, [just] necessary eye contact, bowed heads, and somber feelings,” Cheadle explained. “You don’t want to rub it in. You don’t need to rub it in. I didn’t need to rub it in. The team did all the talking.”

Cheadle is proud of the Chiefs’ success, which includes three Super Bowls over the last five seasons. He looks forward to this weekend’s American Century Championship, where he will see Kelce and many others on the course, although Patrick Mahomes isn’t scheduled to appear this year.

“Of course, watching it now [the team’s recent success] is incredibly exciting,” said Cheadle. “Travis [Kelce] is in the tournament, and Patrick (Mahomes) is also cool to see and celebrate them.”

Kelce, however, isn’t his choice yet as a starter on his all-time fantasy Chiefs team. As the legendary actor explained, the honor remains with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.

“Just a couple more years, it would be him, but right now, I’m going to give it to the veteran,” said Cheadle. “I’m going to give it to the old guard.”

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Don Cheadle reflects on filming classic NFL commercial with Chiefs legend Dante Hall

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Don Cheadle, who reflected on an ad he filmed with Dante Hall and his thoughts on the current #Chiefs’ acting skills | @EdEastonJr

This weekend’s American Century Championship will feature Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowler Travis Kelce, legend Marcus Allen, award-winning actor Don Cheadle, and more. From July 12-14, competition coverage will be on NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to tournament participant Cheadle, reflecting on his early 2000s NFL postseason commercials, including one featuring Chiefs Hall of Famer Dante Hall. He also shared thoughts on current Chiefs stars in recent commercials.

“That’s so funny. I saw Dante (Hall). I’m in Hawaii right now, and I saw him out here. I saw that. We reminisced about that. That was a lot of fun. Yeah, those commercials were great,” said Cheadle. “He was obviously; you go back and look at the highlights. It’s insanity what he was doing. Making entire teams have to do their whole scheme to stop him was pretty great to see. It’s a great thing. I don’t know if he’s playing (America Century Championship) in this next year. It’d be great to see him again.”

Cheadle has noticed the many commercials starring Chiefs players like Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Head Coach Andy Reid. He playfully acknowledges their acting efforts while praising Kelce’s comedic timing.

“Yeah, I’m not gonna go out there trying to throw a 60-70 yard pass or coach the team, and I imagine they would have a commensurate reaction if I tried to coach their team,” Cheadle explained. “They’re funny. I think Travis (Kelce) is especially funny in his commercial; he makes me laugh, and Andy (Reid) makes you laugh for different reasons.”

The veteran actor and avid golfer has earned nominations for an Academy Award, two British Academy Film Awards, and eleven Primetime Emmy Awards. He is on a short list of performers to be nominated for the four major American entertainment awards, better known as the ‘EGOT.’

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Award Winning actor Don Cheadle discusses his Chiefs fandom

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Award Winning actor and American Century Championship participant Don Cheadle about his #Chiefs fandom. | @EdEastonJr

The 35th edition of the American Century Championship, better known as the “Super Bowl of Celebrity Golf,” begins this weekend. The tournament, which features Kansas City Chiefs players, legends, and other stars, will award $750,000 in prize money. Over the years, celebrity participants have donated nearly $8 million to non-profit causes.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Award Winning Actor and tournament participant Don Cheadle about his expectations for this weekend’s event at Lake Tahoe and revealed when he first became a Chiefs fan.

“It’s just a great opportunity to test yourself and come together with other golf geeks from different disciplines and people we don’t get to see,” Cheadle explained. “I don’t necessarily bump into each other often, and then kind of get to meet again. It’s kind of a reunion of sorts and a lot of fun. You have the opportunity actually to walk inside and feel some of the structure and what it must be like [to be a professional golfer]. [I’m] a lightweight, but it’s kind of like being there on tour and getting to pretend to be golfers for a minute.”

Cheadle was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and has experienced many years of Chiefs football and its impact on the community. He would eventually move to Denver, Colorado, home of one of the Chiefs’ biggest division rivals.

“I’m from Kansas City, and it was to be a Chiefs fan or be excommunicated and kicked out of my house,” Cheadle said, “so, I was definitely [a fan of] the Chiefs. When I was first watching the Chiefs, Len Dawson was the quarterback. So that’s how long ago that was. I’ve been rooting for a long time, and then I moved to Denver a little later, and, kind of had some torn allegiance there because, you know, I had a lot of AFC [West] drama in my life, but whenever Denver is playing the Chiefs, I usually root for the Chiefs anyway. That’s the history of my [football] background.”

Since starting his career in 1984, Cheadle has been one of his generation’s most critically acclaimed and accomplished actors. He has earned many accolades, including two Grammy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Ryan Fitzpatrick gives his prediction for Chiefs’ 2024 season

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick about his thoughts on Kansas City’s chances of completing the three-peat. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are weeks away from opening training camp in preparation for the 2024 season. Expectations and stakes are high as they have a rare shot at making NFL history.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick about his thoughts on Kansas City’s chances of completing the three-peat and his assessment of this year’s American Century Championship, which will be held Friday through Sunday, July 12-14.

“I would say there are probably four different tiers of golfers,” Fitzpatrick explained. “There are ten guys that can win it every year. There are ten guys that are competitive every year. And then there are two tiers in between. Some guys are pretty good golfers but don’t have a chance at winning.

“I’m in that third tier of my game, which is very temperamental, so depending on the day of a year or two, you’ll definitely see some double bogeys, but it is a lot. When guys go out there to play for the first time, they have to learn, just to keep the proper perspective, because we’re not all professional golfers, but it’s great interacting with the fans and having fun out there.”

The Chiefs had many doubters during last year’s troubles on offense but still managed to win a third Super Bowl in five years. The prospect of winning three Super Bowls in a row is the burning question everyone has an opinion on, including Fitzpatrick.

“I think it will be extremely difficult, but I doubted Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes last year, so I learned my lesson,” Fitzpatrick said. “I will never doubt those two. It was amazing that they were able to pull off what they did last year to win the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t have them as the favorites, but I can’t doubt them because they’ve already made me eat crow once.”

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Ryan Fitzpatrick discusses ‘Amazon Prime’ career, Patrick Mahomes’ success

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick about his transition to becoming an analyst and his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes. | @EdEastonJr

The immediate success of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has placed him atop the league. Players past and present have marveled at his abilities and continue to give their opinions on what could be the secret to his domination.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick about his transition to becoming a television analyst for Amazon Prime’s football coverage after retirement and his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes.

“I think it’s been helpful in transitioning to something post-career because I’m still around the game so much and because we travel to the stadiums to interact with the players and the coaches,” Fitzpatrick explained. “I played on nine teams. So it seems like every week, there are coaches, training staff, equipment guys, and players that I was able to play with and play for.

“It’s really helped me keep those relationships and make some new ones with these players and kind of the budding stars of the NFL. But it’s been, it’s been great. It’s been a lot of fun. Football has been a big part of my life, so to continue to do it and share my knowledge and perspective with the fans has been a lot of fun.”

Fitzpatrick has used his many years of experience to give educated opinions on players. He shared what he believes has been critical to Mahomes’s unrivaled success rate throughout his NFL career.

“I think the biggest thing with Patrick Mahomes is; anybody that’s on the field with him has an expectation that they’re going to win, and so that added confidence that he brings to a team, the relationship that he has with Andy Reid, and their ability to put points on the board at any moment, and then also, his enthusiasm he plays the game,” said Fitzpatrick. “It rubs off on his teammates, and he demands a lot out of them and obviously has the track record to demand a lot out of them, so he gets the most out of the guys he plays with.”

Fitzpatrick will be at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course during the second week of July for the annual American Century Championship starting Friday-Sunday, July 12-14. The nationally televised (NBC/Golf Channel/Peacock) tournament features 90 sports and entertainment celebrities. He provided an honest analysis of his game plan heading into the tournament.

“I’m always just hoping for positive points, so I’m not in the negatives. I think this will be my best tournament yet, and I feel pretty good about where my game is right now,” said Fitzpatrick. “So that means I hope to be somewhere from shooting like an 81 to an 84 every day. I’d be really happy if I did that for the three days of the tournament. That’ll put me in positive numbers.”

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Ryan Fitzpatrick weighs in on Chiefs vs. Bills rivalry

In a recent interview, former NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick told @EdEastonJr his thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills rivalry | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have held the upper hand over their AFC rival Buffalo Bills in the postseason over their last three meetings. The marquee matchup between star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen is expected to be a must-see attraction for years to come, regardless of the team’s records.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick about who he believes is the best NFL golfer ahead of this year’s American Century Championship, and the Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills rivalry.

“I think Tony Romo has proved that [he is the best] over the years,” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s won the American Central Championship three times, but he’s certainly one of those guys in the top three in terms of the odds and wins this thing every year.”

The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which is donated by the celebrity players to local and national charities. Nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes over the years. Competition fuels not only on the golf course but also on the football field, with the ongoing rivalry between Kansas City and Buffalo.

“As a huge fan of the NFL, I now see these quarterback rivalries with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes… This is what everybody always wants to see, and unfortunately, in the playoffs, it’s been one-sided,” Fitzpatrick explained. “This is going to be a rivalry that continues because they are two of the best quarterbacks in the game. So, we will see this matchup year after year, just like we got to be treated to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Whenever Josh Allen is on the football field, the Bills will have a chance to win the Super Bowl.”

Fitzpatrick played four of his 17 seasons in the NFL with the Bills, his longest-tenured team.

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson reflects on Andy Reid’s impact on his NFL career

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to American Century Championship tournament participant Doug Pederson about Andy Reid becoming the league’s oldest coach | @EdEastonJr

Now entering his third season as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Doug Pederson completed his first two years with back-to-back winning records. He spent time as a Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff member under his long-time collaborator Andy Reid.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to American Century Championship tournament participant Pederson about Reid becoming the league’s oldest coach and impacting his career.

“As the oldest coach in the National Football League right now, I mean, it’s for a reason, and it’s because of the success that he’s had on the football field, and obviously, he’s to me, it’s a Hall of Fame career, hands down,” said Pederson. “I’ve learned so much as a player from him when he coached me and Brett Favre in Green Bay, which are still some of the things that I use as a head coach now in Jacksonville.

“Then, when I got to work for him in Philadelphia when he was the head coach there, and I became an assistant coach for him, just watching how he comes to work every single day and his attention to detail and his focus and drive, and how he leads his football teams.”

Pederson coached the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016 to 2020 and won the 2018 Super Bowl, the first Super Bowl title in the Eagles’ history. As a backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers under Reid as a coordinator, Pederson was part of the 1997 Super Bowl championship team. According to Jacksonville’s head coach, Reid isn’t expected to appear on any golf course soon.

“No, I don’t even think he plays golf,” said Pederson. “So, no, I’m not going to get him on the golf course.”

Pederson will be attending this year’s American Century Championship tournament for the fifth time.

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.