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Lonzo Ball Needs Another Procedure On His Knee And Will Be Evaluated In 4-6 Weeks

Lonzo Ball underwent knee surgery back in January. It was only expected to hold him out for a few weeks, but after a number of setbacks, the Chicago Bulls decided to shut him down with the hopes that he’d be able to go in time for the 2022-23 season. That hasn’t happened, and on Wednesday evening, the team announced that Ball will go under the knife again before the season begins.

The Bulls put out a statement indicating that Ball needs “an arthroscopic debridement of his left knee,” which he will undergo next Wednesday. After that, the team put a 4-6 week timetable on when he’ll next have his knee evaluated.

Previously, Bulls executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas said that Ball’s knee was not healing as quickly as they anticipated, and eventually, it was reported that Ball was viewed as doubtful to be able to suit up in time for the start of the season. It’s an extremely tough break for Chicago, as Ball was crucial to their early season success last year due to his ability to initiate their offense and help spearhead their perimeter defense.

Ball joined the Bulls last offseason on a 4-year deal worth $85 million. During his first year in Chicago, Ball averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in 34.6 minutes per game.

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A Robot Created A ‘Cobra Kai’ Story, And Naturally, ‘A Stingray Fights A Hawk’

(Spoilers for The Karate Kid spinoff Cobra Kai will be found below.)

The fifth season of Cobra Kai only arrived a few weeks ago, and people already want Season 6. Yet since there will obviously be a wait involved before that happens, the Netflix is a Joke Twitter account decided to gift us with a makeshift story, which involves a robot watching the entire show and then regurgitating its impressions, so to speak.

Man, and I thought that a star’s butt-double admission was the strangest thing that I’d see today from The Karate Kid spinoff, but nope. Enjoy this surreal yet surprisingly irresistible rendition of Johnny Lawrence’s karate lust and all of his students moving in unison. The highlight, for me, was when “a Stingray fights a Hawk.”

Hawk is, of course, actually Eli Moskowitz and portrayed by Jacob Bertrand, who would like to see his character team up with John Kreese after he escaped prison. And Stingray’s portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser with plenty of surprising conscience over the show’s most recent few episodes. The robot is correct: they should fight every season.

From there, I’m reminded that Daniel LaRusso doesn’t seem to work anymore because obsessing over the soul of karate is a full-time job. Hey, everyone has their thing. And I could definitely stand to hear Johnny shout, “Send it to the Internet!” but still, this is a nice consolation prize while we wait for more.

Netflix’s ‘Cobra Kai’ is currently streaming the first five seasons on Netflix.

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Indie Mixtape 20: Quinn Christopherson’s Grandma Inspired His Uplifiting Debut ‘Write Your Name In Pink’

Quinn Christopherson has a lot of gratitude. As a trans man and an Alaskan-born Native artist, there were a lot of people in his life that helped him get to where he is today, having just released his debut album Write Your Name In Pink to an outpouring of positive reviews. This gratitude is expressed in his album’s opener, aptly titled “Thanks,” which repeats his appreciation throughout its three-minute runtime. Christopherson sings of feeling thankful for being told he is smart, for people believing in him, and, among other things, being taught it’s okay to be wrong.

Much of Christopherson’s Write Your Name In Pink looks to the past with kindness, featuring thoughtful prose that can be likened to talented indie lyricists like Phoebe Bridgers and Christian Lee Hutson. Songs like the rolling, acoustic guitar ballad “2005” reflects on middle school which, although difficult, is now seen as a simpler time. Other tracks like the euphoric “Celine” lean more upbeat, combining shimmering chords and a triumphant chorus to create an overall joyous jam.

Christopherson’s music has already been recognized by venerable musicians, even before his debut album was released. He just finished opening for Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, and Julien Baker on their The Wild Hearts Tour, where he got the chance to share his music to crowds of thousands. To celebrate the release of Write Your Name In Pink, Christopherson sits down with Uproxx to talk forging mushrooms, his grandma’s storytelling, and sewing his own clothes in our latest Indie Mixtape Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Hopeful, nostalgic, joyous, vulnerable

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

In 2050 I hope that my music is remembered as art that exists as its own. That being a thriving queer person and thriving/visible Native person is normal and championed that the music stands alone as a unique and honest portrayal of one specific person’s life. I hope that the people who respond to it now — who identify deeply with my stories still find strength, energy, and encouragement from my music in the future. And I hope those fans are thriving, living exactly how they want to live.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

Seattle.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

My grandma Mary Alee’s storytelling has always inspired my songwriting.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

The best meals are the meals that we catch & gather ourselves! Salmon my partner caught, with fiddleheads and morel mushrooms we gathered.

What album do you know every word to?

Usher’s Confessions Part II.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

Dolly Parton!

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

I don’t have a format for outfits at the moment, but lately my favorite colors to wear have been white, beige, brown, and green.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Mariska Hargitay.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

“Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

Thai food near me.

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Definitely depends who I’m giving it to!

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

A horse barn.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

I have a grocery cart on my arm because my grandma used to say her favorite activity was grocery shopping. We’d go together every week and just take our time through every aisle and find something good to cook for dinner.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

Anything with heart!

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Believed in me.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

That if all I have is 2 chords, I can still say something important.

What’s the last show you went to?

HAIM in Washington, D.C.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Coyote Ugly.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

I love to sew and make clothes!

Write Your Name In Pink is out now via Play It Again Sam. Get it here.

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Drake With The Shot? Video Shows The Rapper Draining 12 Three-Pointers Against Actual Defenders

When Drake’s team won the championship of his Sanctuary Basketball League (SBL) earlier this year, he likened himself to Kobe Bryant. “I did what Kobe did in Game 7 against the Celtics,” he said. “Shots not falling, you play f*cking defense.” Nevermind the differences between the NBA and a rec league that Drake owns for him and his buds to hoop it up in, you still gotta love the pomp. Now it seems as though Drake has been working on his jumper to channel his inner-Steph Curry. A video he posted shows the “God’s Plan” star draining 12 three-pointers across a series of pick-up games at New York’s ritzy Summit Gym.

“My bad I thought it was office hours… work,” he wrote on Instagram. The video indeed shows a smooth stroke from beyond the arc by Drake as he nails triple after triple. NY rapper Rowdy Rebel was also on the court and NBA trainer Chris Brickley was there presumably on Drake’s behalf.

Drake is feeling his outside shot for sure and even takes the ball to the rack a couple of times. But the defense in these games is uhhh.. lacking? There’s nary a hand in Drake’s face when he shoots, it’s like he’s paid everyone to go low when he rises up for a J. Some of the players look like Murray Hill bros who were afraid they might hurt the 6 God. But hey, whatever gets them scooped up by his squad so they can share in the spoils of those $100K championship rings, right?

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Holy Crap, There Is So Much Money To Be Made From Starring In Cheesy Christmas Movies

After wrapping up Full House at the age of 18, Candace Cameron Bure retreated from the limelight to become a wife and mom after spending years as a child actor. When she eventually returned to acting, Bure struggled for a bit, but she quickly found a home at the Hallmark Channel where she basically became the Queen of Christmas Movies after knocking out 30 made-for-TV films. While none of Bure’s Hallmark movies are going to win an Emmy or wow anyone when they come to production value, it turns out making Christmas movies is a freaking cash cow for celebrities.

Buried inside a new Variety profile on Bure making the jump from Hallmark to the super conservative Great American Family network (where she’ll reportedly make $2 million per film, double what Hallmark was paying her) there’s an interesting nugget about the lucrative world of holiday films. Not only is Netflix paying huge upfront fees to lure stars like Dolly Parton, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kurt Russell for its holiday features, but even lesser name actors are making bank on the Christmas convention circuit, which unlike Santa is a real thing:

Now, much like Comic-Con and other fan conventions, the actors can earn money by signing autographs and taking photos with fans. Christmas Con launched in 2019, with 20 celebrity guests and 9,000 attendees; in 2021, attendees went up to 12,000. In addition to pricy day passes, fans can take part in a professional photo opps with stars like Lacey Chabert, Danica McKellar or Jesse Metcalfe, or buy an autograph for $80. Plus, each actor is paid a guaranteed rate to attend for the weekend — which can be anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000.

Damn, have the actors who make Marvel movies seen this? Forget jumping around in front of a green screen while wearing tights. All you gotta do is bake a few cookies, fall in love with an ex who’s back in town, and bam, there’s the gift that keeps on giving.

(Via Variety)

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Wizkid Reveals That He Will Perform His New Album At An Apple Music Live Show

Prior to this month, Wizkid was pretty quiet in the afrobeats world in a year that’s been one of the best for the genre in recent memory. However, his silence isn’t shocking as he spent most of 2021 in the spotlight thanks to the success behind “Essence” with Tems and his Made In Lagos album. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting Nigerian song to date. While things have certainly cooled off for Wizkid, he returned to form this month with the release of the amapiano-focused “Bad To Me.” It turns out that it’s not all the Nigerian star has up his sleeve.

Just a week after Wizkid released “Bad To Me,” Apple Music announced that he would be the next artist to have a live performance through the platform. The show will be held in London next week on September 27 and be released later this fall, and it turns out that Wizkid will perform new music during the show. “Biggest bird bringing #AppleMusicLive to London!” Wizkid wrote in a tweet. “For one night only at the Roundhouse performing my new album,” he added before sharing a link to purchase tickets for the show.

Wizkid previously revealed that the album would be titled More Love, Less Ego, but a release date for the project was not shared.

You can view Wizkid’s tweet about his upcoming Apple Music Live show above.

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Noted Red-Faced Loon Alex Jones Appears To Be Becoming An Even Bigger Red-Faced Loon With Each Passing Day Of His New Trial

Alex Jones continues to derail his own defense in the ongoing defamation lawsuits brought by the parents of Sandy Hook victims. His latest stunt involved holding a press conference just steps away from the Connecticut court where his latest trial is taking place.

Despite already being on the hook for a cool $49 million to the family of one of the children killed in the 2012 massacre, Jones went on a tirade about the poor treatment he’s faced from the judicial system and the media during both cases. During his minutes-long rant (via Raw Story), Jones admitted he “did say things that were hurtful and not true,” likely referring to the claims he made years earlier alleging the shooting was a hoax. But, he quickly absolved himself of any guilt adding, “as an American, I have a right.”

The InfoWars host went on to attack the justice system and the media reporting on the case saying he showed up to every deposition and court appearance but was turned away, presumably by the judge.

“The headlines were ‘Jones doesn’t show,’” he shouted. “They said we don’t want you! I show up yesterday. We don’t want you! I show up today! We don’t want you!”

There’s no evidence Jones was turned away from attending his own trial, but that didn’t stop him from losing it on the press, growing hysterical as he accused reporters of printing lies about him.

“And this guy is going to report I didn’t show up today!” he shrieked while pointing at a reporter. “That’s lying! That’s corporate fake media and that’s shame on you!”

Jones also tried to argue that his coverage of Sandy Hook was minimal and that there’s a conspiracy in place to make it seem like InfoWars profited off his claims more than the company actually did. It’s been reported that Jones made millions from his hoax theories, but to hear him tell it, Sandy Hook coverage only amounted to a small percentage of what he talked about on the show.

“They didn’t find us premeditatedly with some Lex Luthor plan to get rich off Sandy Hook,” he screamed. “It was a small part of our coverage. Their evidence is like 24, 23 minutes of me talking about this.”

If someone would like to pull the tapes, we’ll wait. Until then, enjoy Jones’ full meltdown above

(Via RawStory)

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Los Angeles Police Are Reportedly Investigating PnB Rock’s ‘Known Enemies’ For Murder Suspects

Los Angeles police are reportedly looking into the possibility that one of PnB Rock’s “known enemies” is responsible for the rapper’s murder at an LA restaurant earlier this month, according to TMZ. The investigation has detectives checking on connections in Rock’s hometown, Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta, for any suggestion that his death was premeditated and not a spur-of-the-moment robbery attempt as originally thought.

Rock was dining at Roscoe’s House Of Chicken ’N Waffles in South Los Angeles on September 12 when he was approached by an unknown assailant who apparently demanded he hand over his jewelry. After a short struggle, Rock was shot as the gunman escaped, and was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. Los Angeles police suggested that the killer may have been tipped off by the rapper’s social media tags, which he posted before entering the restaurant.

Fans had previously discussed the possibility that he’d been targeted due to his posts on Twitter, with many lashing out at commenters like Nicki Minaj who warned against entertainers posting their locations online, drawing parallels to the recent death of New York rapper Pop Smoke during a home invasion after accidentally revealing his temporary address on Instagram. Meanwhile, local artists have admonished both out-of-towners and locals to stop flashing jewelry and also stop engaging in reckless robbery attempts.

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A YouTuber Plans On Filing A Lawsuit Against Nicki Minaj Fans Over Serious Harassment And Threats

A YouTuber who critiqued Nicki Minaj as being “a horrible person” is planning to file a lawsuit against Minaj’s fans (familiarly known as Barbz) who she claims crossed the line in continuously harassing her, her family, and threatening violence.

Kimberly Nicole Foster runs the relatively popular YouTube channel “For Harriet,” which has 202,000 subscribers at press time and markets itself as “Celebrating The Fullness of Black Womanhood.” Foster, a Harvard graduate, drew the ire of the Barbz with a tweet last week where she said, “Nicki is so clearly a horrible person. Negativity sticks to her like glue. Idk if we’ve ever seen this before.” She told The Daily Beast that her mentions had blown up at first with “normal, annoying stuff,” but then soon got far worse.

“The messages became more threatening and dark, and then it started to be, ‘We’re gonna find you. I’m gonna kidnap you, I hope you get raped.’”

Foster said that the harassment has gone beyond the online space. She tweeted about going to her niece’s school for a day before a commenter replied that her niece would be “collateral damage.” Foster claims that Minaj has exacerbated the backlash towards her by liking the harassing replies from the Barbz and posted a video showing the activity from Minaj’s verified account on Twitter.

“There’s an understanding among the Barbz that the harder they go for her — the more virulent the nastiness — there’s more of an opportunity for her to recognize them,” Foster told The Daily Beast.

There are other instances of Foster critiquing Minaj’s music that fans were unhappy about, where Foster was perhaps being ageist in her choice of words and what she chose to highlight.

In the meantime, the report indicates that Foster is still gathering information like Twitter handles, IP addresses, etc. before filing her lawsuit. Minaj is said to not be the focus of Foster’s impending legal filings. It’s a strange turn of the tables in the Nicki-verse though, after Minaj recently filed a lawsuit against a blogger who called her a “cokehead.”

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‘Jeopardy!’ Is Considering A Controversial Cash Bonus Rule Change

One of the greatest feats a Jeopardy! contestant can accomplish is running the category. That’s when a player — like fan favorite Ryan Long — correctly answers an entire column of clues under one topic, which doesn’t happen often. As a user on the game show’s subreddit pointed out, “It used to be so much easier to follow a run category when play was top-down, straight-down. These days with bouncing and DD-hunting it’s so much harder to track one contestant getting every clue in a category right.” But category runs could happen more frequently if a proposed rule change goes through.

“I have been thinking about trying out, perhaps in one of our other tournaments this season, experimenting with giving out a cash bonus for contestants who run a category,” executive producer Mike Davies said on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast. “It’s a moment in the studio; it’s a great thing.” But controversial Jeopardy! champ Buzzy Cohen, who also appeared on the podcast, isn’t so sure.

Cohen pointed out that “Twitter exploded with pros and cons” when the proposal was first mentioned in the Sept. 13 episode. He asked if the bonus would affect the game score total. Davies and Foss both answered “no,” agreeing that it would be a “separate bonus.”

Cohen believes the proposal could “affect gameplay strategy, and I don’t know if that’s something you’re interested in doing,” but Davis countered that “it might also give incentive to people who are trailing to try and go into a category and get something from the game beyond their second or third place prize.”

The first contestant who runs the category for I Think You Should Leave Jazz Icons” and answers no other question correctly will go down in history.

(Via Decider)