TikTok is highlighting Olympic athletes pronouncing their names out loud and it’s the funniest

This is the best Olympics content.

This is just delightful and weird and very TikTok.

There’s someone on TikTok (@leosburg) who found Olympic athletes saying their names out loud on the official Paris Olympics website — which is super smart! We should know how to pronounce their names correctly!

But then @leosburg is rating their sound clips, some of which include laughs from the athletes, heavy breathing or really slow pronunciations. It is a delight when you hear them all in a row.

Check them out below and see if you enjoyed them as much as I did when they crossed by For You page. I give them a 10/10:

@leosburg

me every 4 years: dafuq is a kilometer rAhHH 🦅🦅🔥🔥🔥 #olympics #olympics2024 #parisolympics @Olympics @paris2024 @Simone Biles @Coco Gauff @suni @Ilona Maher @Team USA @USA Gymnastics @USA Rugby

♬ Mozart Minuet with violin(815356) – 松本一策

@leosburg

Replying to @jpinator literally these are low key helping me discover so many athletes and i will be rooting for so many of them now cacAwWW 🦅🔥🦅🔥🦅 #olympics #parisolympics #olympics2024 @Team USA @Olympics @paris2024 @Katie Ledecky @USA swimming

♬ Mozart Minuet with violin(815356) – 松本一策

@leosburg

Replying to @audreyraekr final part. the last one gagg3d me 😭😭! to get to know more of the athletes check out the official olympics website 🤙 #olympics #parisolympics #olympics2024 @Team USA @paris2024 @Olympics @LA28 @gretchen walsh @Carlos Alcaraz 🧠❤️🥚🥚 @USA swimming

♬ Mozart Minuet with violin(815356) – 松本一策

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Duke football announces partnership with social media content creator Rachel DeMita

Rachel DeMita, who boasts more than one million Instagram followers, will attend every Duke home game this year and create content with the team.

Blue Devils fans lost social media superstar [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag] to the NBA earlier this summer, but there will be another internet celebrity in Durham this fall.

Rachel DeMita, a social media content creator who previously worked with the Big3 basketball league, announced on Thursday that she would attend every home game on the Duke football schedule this season. Her partnership with the team will also include social media content.

Video game fans might also recognize DeMita from NBA 2KTV, a show aired in connection with the famous NBA 2K franchise. Former Duke basketball star Jayson Tatum will actually appear on the cover of the newest edition, NBA 2K25.

The newest member of the Blue Devils content team sports more than one million followers on Instagram. Demita might not match McCain’s millions of followers on TikTok, but she comfortably sits above 400,000 followers on that platform as well.

DeMita’s tenure with the Blue Devils begins on August 30 with the season opener against Elon. Watch her announcement below.

Viral TikTok shows Jared McCain growing up on his path to the NBA

Jared McCain got drafted to the NBA on Wednesday, and one TikTok user put together a short video detailing his journey to the pros.

The Duke Blue Devils only played a small role in [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag]’s journey to the NBA, and a viral social media video showed just how long the California native has had his sights set on the pros.

One TikTok user compiled a video of McCain’s journey from youth basketball through high school to Wednesday night’s draft.

The path concluded with the Philadelphia 76ers calling his name with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and the video shows McCain embracing his family members in tears as he processes that his dream has, in fact, become reality.

The start of the video contains some of the best footage from McCain’s days on the junior circuits.

The video generated close to 300,000 likes within two days thanks to McCain’s large following on social media, showing how popular the sharpshooting guard has become.

McCain also picked up more than a million likes on his first TikTok in a Sixers jersey, and he recently surpassed three million followers on the platform.

@ndgojordy

someday. congrats @Jaredmccain24 !!! #jaredmccain #duke #philadelphia #76ers #nba #basketball #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #jordy

♬ original sound – jordy.

Star WR tells Jayden Daniels that 49ers ‘don’t want me back’

Aiyuk and Daniels are close from their time together at Arizona State.

During the 2024 NFL draft, there was a lot of talk about whether the San Francisco 49ers would trade star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The draft came and went, and Aiyuk remained. The 49ers consistently said they wanted to agree to a long-term deal with Aiyuk, who is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

Now, here we are, over a month away from training camp, and Aiyuk told a former teammate about the 49ers: “They said they don’t want me back.”

Who did Aiyuk tell this to? That would be Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in a FaceTime call posted on TikTok. Aiyuk and Daniels are close, dating back to 2019, when Daniels was a freshman quarterback at Arizona State while Aiyuk was an All-American wide receiver.

Could the Commanders be an option for Aiyuk if the 49ers decide to trade him?

On the surface, it sounds good. Washington does have a No. 1 wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, who is under contract for two more seasons. Former first-round pick Jahan Dotson is entering his third NFL season this fall, and the Commanders just spent a third-round draft choice on Luke McCaffrey.

Beyond that, there are plenty of questions.

Aiyuk would cost any team draft picks, in addition to a salary of around $28 million annually, which is in line with what Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins received recently.

Washington’s salary cap is in excellent shape for future seasons, so money isn’t a problem. However, general manager Adam Peters would be more reluctant to part with draft capital. It is worth noting that Aiyuk and Peters also have a relationship, as Peters had a hand in drafting Aiyuk in San Francisco.

Don’t count on Washington making a move for Aiyuk, but you can’t rule anything out.

The tall people on TikTok, who everyone’s rooting for to date, explained

Meet Tyler Bergantino and Gabby Gonzalez, who are dating as everyone watches.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Have you seen some stuff about Tyler Bergantino and Gabby Gonzalez on TikTok and how everyone wants them to get married? And you’re very confused about that whole thing? Don’t worry. We’re here to help.

Yes, that’s right. We’ve got a possible romance playing out on social media thanks to a pair of tall people who did an interview and now everyone wants to see them date, not just because they’re tall (but it helps!).

Let’s help you get to know these two.

Who are Tyler Bergantino and Gabby Gonzalez?

He’s a former UMass basketball player that stands at 6-foot-9. She’s 6-foot-1 without heels. And the two of them got together and posted a video on TikTok in which they chatted … and definitely flirted.

@tyler.bergantino

Replying to @Alexandria 💕 @Gabbers 🇨🇴

♬ original sound – Tyler Bergantino

@tyler.bergantino

that breaks my heart @Gabbers 🇨🇴

♬ original sound – Tyler Bergantino

Wait, did people want them to date just because they’re tall?

Well, sort of, but also you can see in those videos that there’s definitely chemistry!

Did Tyler and Gabby start dating?

YES! Sort of. In true TikTok fashion, they filmed their first date when they got coffee and everyone lost it.

@gabbyygonz

So we got coffee… @Tyler Bergantino

♬ original sound – Gabbers 🇨🇴

So that’s it, they’re dating?

Here’s the thing: we saw the date and then nothing.

BUT! They both spoke to USA TODAY and had this to say:

The two talk and FaceTime pretty much all-day, every day, Gonzalez says, adding consistent communication has been a lifeline for both.

Gonzalez says she’s still getting used to strangers coming up to her and asking how their relationship is going. When the pressure starts to feel too much, Bergantino helps ground her. One night, when she felt especially anxious, he serenaded her on the guitar until she fell asleep.

As of now, Gonzalez and Bergantino haven’t made their relationship “official.” They’re still talking and getting to know each other. They don’t know where their journey will lead, but both respect and value the other and look forward to making videos about it, something that brings them both joy.

What’s next for them?

Gonzalez is off to South Carolina on Friday to see him, so … maybe we’ll see more?

TikTok video showed just how crucial former Wizards players have been in recent NBA Finals runs

This is the closest to the NBA Finals the Wizards have ever been.

When you think of modern NBA Finals matchups, you should be considering the Washington Wizards. No, really, I’m serious!

A new TikTok video from Michael Mockler (@esquiresports) shows that the Wizards — rather, former Wizards — have had at least one player play a big role for every single NBA champion since 2017. That streak will continue with the 2024 edition of the Finals as Washington’s starting frontcourt from last season — Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford — play for the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.

The lesson here? Acquire a former Wizards player if you want to make a run to playing June NBA basketball. And no one is kidding:

The list of former Wizards to play for the eventual champion in every NBA Finals since 2017 is as follows:

  • 2017-2018 Golden State Warriors: Shaun Livingston, JaVale McGee
  • 2019 Toronto Raptors: Jodie Meeks
  • 2020 Los Angeles Lakers: JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Markieff Morris
  • 2021 Milwaukee Bucks: Bobby Portis
  • 2022 Golden State Warriors: Gary Payton II, Otto Porter, Chris Chiozza
  • 2023 Denver Nuggets: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green, Ish Smith, Thomas Bryant

Obviously, one of Gafford or Porzingis will eventually be included on this list after the 2024 Finals have concluded.

Don’t think this will likely stop in 2025, either. If free-agent names like Tyus Jones or potential trade candidates like Deni Avdija or Kyle Kuzma land on the right contending teams, this NBA Finals streak may well be extended for another year.

NBA fans hilariously have made obscure players look like stars in elaborate TikTok and Instagram videos

Any NBA player can look like a star on TikTok or Instagram.

One of the joys of being an NBA fan is admiring truly obscure players on your team who don’t usually get all the headlines.

That end-of-the-bench guy who mean-mugs after making one solitary play a game? He is your guy. That third-string backup point guard who shimmies his shoulders when he merely makes a couple of good passes? You’ll never forget him! That “enforcer” who is known most for his fake tough guy act and really nothing else? He is flat-out inspiring. Full stop.

A recent new Twitter thread pays proper tribute to these kinds of NBA players. It features various videos of guys like Raymond Felton, Quincy Acy, and so much more.

With careful and creative editing, some of these players actually look like stars. Let’s highlight some of them.

(Warning: NSFW language is present in some of the videos and in the Twitter thread.)

Here’s Darvin Ham, ex-Los Angeles Lakers coach, who scored less than three points per game during his NBA career:

Here’s Jimmer Fredette, most known for having an incredible college jumper that never translated to the NBA:

Here’s Thanasis Antetokounmpo, most known for being Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother most known for his time on the Milwaukee Bucks:

The list goes on, dearest readers. Check out the thread yourself and prepare to die laughing as you uncover various underappreciated players finally getting their shine.

Jalen Williams unbothered by criticisms of his social media presence

Jalen Williams unbothered by criticisms of his social media presence.

Finding a social media post by someone on the Oklahoma City Thunder doesn’t take long when scrolling through X or TikTok. The youngest first seed in league history has leaned heavily on its youth.

The social media-savvy bunch is part of the new generation of players who grew up with modern technology and have had an online persona for most of their lives.

Jalen Williams is the most face-forward example on the Thunder. The 23-year-old is extremely active on X and has regularly posted and reposted TikTok videos.

Williams’ heavy online presence has ruffled the feathers of some fans and opposing fans, who possess an old-school mentality of players needing to stay offline during the playoffs.

The 23-year-old has been criticized for his social media usage, but he wasn’t concerned when asked about it in his exit interview. The critiques are shallow when discovered it’s more about optics and has zero correlation to how the second-year wing performs on the court.

“It doesn’t bother me at all. I got to play in the playoffs, be a key piece on the youngest team in history to be a one seed and win a playoff series,” Williams said. “And compete in the last one to go to six, obviously have a chance to play in the Western Conference finals.”

Williams continued that his playoff experiences will improve him as a player. The second-year wing has ascended into one of the best players in the league, becoming an efficient scorer who can do a little bit of everything.

“Experiences like that will make me better. Criticism, I could care less about. It doesn’t really bother me,” Williams said. “I go back to a very good life right after we’re done with this interview, so it doesn’t really bother me at all.”

Williams admitted he wasn’t on social media in the postseason as much as he was during the regular season. He also said while the unfair criticisms are there, being actively online also has its positives by building an interpersonal relationship with the fan base.

“I got off a little bit. I wasn’t on (X) as much. I was still there, but I still saw some stuff,” Williams said. “Like I said, it doesn’t really hold any value. It’s behind the keyboard.

“There’s also a lot of love on social media, too. I think in the heat of it you want to be consumed so much with people who are possibly preying on your downfall or hating, but at the same time, I got a lot of true authentic love and appreciation for what we’ve been doing all year. So you’ve kind of just got to take it with a grain of salt.”

It sounds like Williams will continue to actively stay online. It’s part of his character that’s helped him develop into the player he’s become. Changing that to appease a small group out of touch with modern reality isn’t worth the trouble.

“I try and just use it as motivation and go from there,” Williams said. “I think all year nothing really changed trying to navigate my way through social media and try and use it as a positive force.”

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The TikTok baby who wants to go to Four Seasons Orlando is the best new meme

Who wants to go to the Four Seasons Orlando? This baby does.

A Four Seasons hotel is always nice, and even babies know it.

What the heck am I talking about? It’s all from TikTok.

Someone named @sobrizzle on the social media site posted video asking a pair of young kids “Who wants to go to the Four Seasons Orlando?” The little girl says “Meeee!” But so does a baby being held, which is delightful.

As these things go, the video has gone mega viral, to the point where it was trending on X (formerly Twitter) with all kinds of memes and jokes and hopes that we’ll see this baby at the Four Seasons Orlando sometime soon:

@sobrizzle

If the @Four Seasons Hotels is looking for a baby ambassador my niece got you 😂🤣😂🤣😂

♬ original sound – Stefanie O’Brien

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What happens next if TikTok gets banned by Congress?

The clock is ticking (pun intended) for TikTok.

TikTok being banned by Congress could quickly become a reality.

For months, national security concerns have been raised about TikTok sharing U.S. user data with Beijing. In March, a bill was introduced that would force Bytedance, the company that owns TikTok, to sell the company or face a ban. Bytedance has firmly disputed those allegations, but now it may face an uphill battle.

Per Riley Beggin of USA TODAY, the House has included a version of its plan to enforce the ban in a foreign aid bill that is highly likely to pass both the House and Senate. (The House could vote on it as soon as this weekend, putting the onus on the Senate — who has had the legislation since last month — to pass it.) President Joe Biden has also expressed that he would sign the bill into law immediately. If the ban is passed, Bytedance has one year to sell TikTok or be banned.