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heavenlycloud · 6 months

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i don't like the way he's lookin' at you: 6th member! reader x huh yunjin

request: lessera in states r making me insane so i have a request...... at the lakers game one of the players (or a random dude. whatever you want) is checking out yunjin/being flirty with her so reader obv gets jealous and thr two start acting very homosexual which makes the press and fans go. crazy. thank you :3

cw // VERY MILD nsfw, swearing, jealousy

the one place you fell short as an american was being heavily into sports culture like everyone else had growing up. sunday night football was a huge occasion in your house, even more so when your older cousin began playing professionally. however, you never understood anything about the sport, it simply made no sense to you. most of your family teased you as the odd one out growing up for it because football was their thing. but you were quickly redeemed when you took a liking to basketball.

as a little kid your parents put you into sports just to make sure you were moving enough and getting exercise. they realized by middle school that you actually possessed a talent for it, so they put you in a club league. up until high school you played both club and school teams and indulged in both NBA and WNBA games when they were on tv. otherwise you were watching NCAA tournaments on your laptop, especially in March.

your love for the sport remained strong even after you had to quit playing to become an idol. instead, you kept up with your favorite team of all time: the Los Angeles Lakers. so when you heard that you and your members would be attending a Lakers game in LA during your trip to the US, you almost passed out. you'd only ever been to one other which was with your grandfather as a gift. that night you got to see kobe bryant, your favorite player and sports role model, play. since then it had been a dream to return at least one more if you ever got the chance.

the entire trip you were anticipating sitting in the stands and watching the game, a dream you'd had since childhood. all over social media your fans had been trending compilations of you sharing your love for basketball, especially with your members. the most ironic part of it all was that your members didn't really have an idea about the sport- especially your girlfriend.

time and time again you'd tried to get yunjin to understand basketball even so much as watching games with her and playing them back to explain. however, all she did was smile and nod, cheer when either team got points, or pointed out the most attractive players...mostly the last one which is why you no longer streamed WNBA games in her presence. yet, she was still the first one to steal all of your favorite team's jerseys, hoodies, and sweatpants from your closet.

you paced around your hotel room with nervous jitters as you tried to calm yourself before you all had to leave. yunjin watched in amusement from across the room with a smile on her face as she secretly recorded you. sensing a pair of eyes your way, you looked up and covered your face, "stop teasing me!" she giggled and stopped recording, captioning it simply with your instagram handle.

through your split fingers you noticed her outfit and smirked at the sight. her personalized jersey fell right against her upper thigh and just covering the tiny black shorts she was wearing beneath. she took a step back with a questioning look, "why are you looking at me like that?" you answered with a smug look, "nothin' you just look good n' i like the fit that's all." yunjin turned around and onced herself over in the mirror against the wall, "y/n i don't even have real pants on." you bit your lip and walked over to her, pressing your front against her back. she softly gasped when your lips hit her neck pressing a kiss gently to her skin. between kisses you mumbled, "ion mind. like i said before, you look good ma." she felt your teeth graze her skin and for a moment she started to give into your touch. a deep, breathy moan fell past her lips and you smirked as your fingers bunched up the material of the jersey around the hem.

right as you went to pull it off yunjin pushed you away, "no y/n." you groaned and pleaded, "come on now- lemme make you feel good, my pretty girl." yunjin felt butterflies erupt in her stomach at the pet name but she refused, "no because last time i let you do this before an event we were late." you gave her a look as if you didn't know what she meant and she clarified, "don't pretend you didn't mark my chest so bad they had to change my entire outfit last minute." you let out a laugh and admitted, "n' you still looked fine as hell in that lil' turtleneck." yunjin scoffed and pointed to the bathroom, "go take a shower so we can leave." you tried once more, "you sure you don't wanna join me?" your girlfriend gave you that one look you hated and you huffed, "ugh fineeeee." yunjin hummed and rolled her eyes playfully, shaking her head before deciding on the bottoms she wanted to wear with her top.

the entire ride to the staples center you were trying not to fangirl out too much. when you actually arrived you were in too much shock to even make a scene. your members took pictures and you did the same, making sure to capture every moment you could. when you all were escorted to your seats, you snapped a picture of just you and yunjin leaned over the camera so the upper half of your face was showing. you captioned the picture, "baby's first basketball game 🩵" and posted it right before the game started.

a few minutes into the players warming up on the court, you felt a shift in the air around you....something just felt off. when you looked down towards the end of your section your heart sank in panic until you saw eunchae happily talking to your other members. yunjin nudged you and asked, "what happened?" you shook your head and replied, "thought we left eunchae somewhere, but zuha's head was just blocking her from my view." yunjin laughed lightly and patted your leg, "everything is fine, enjoy this okay?" you nodded and smiled right until you noticed a guy sitting right beside yunjin, staring...hard.

his eyes flitted to her chest and you immediately took your Lakers varsity jacket off, "put this on." the firmness in your voice startled her slightly but she listened nonetheless because she liked wearing your clothes anyways. you turned away from the guy and the second you did, he tapped yunjin and flashed a charming smile, "hey." your girlfriend turned to the young man who looked no older than 24 and smiled back, "hi!"

the young man made conversation with yunjin casually but you could read between the lines to know what he was getting at. the entire time yunjin was catching no signs or signals that this dude was clearly into her. it was times like this that you didn't exactly find her obliviousness endearing. a slight bump to your arm caught your attention as yunjin added, "and this is y/n. she's in the group with me." you gave a tight lipped, forced smile before leaning back into your seat, placing a protective hand on yunjin's thigh. thankfully the game beginning pulled yunjin's attention away from the guy and to you and the middle of the court.

throughout the game you and your members were paying attention to the game, you more than others obviously. yunjin stole glances at her phone, from the corner of her eye she was definitely texting her friends about something totally unrelated which made you laugh. however, every so often the young man beside yunjin just had to tell her something about the game. being the polite and attentive person she always has been, she listened which you knew was giving the guy some kind of message that he was misinterpreting for interest.

you knew there were cameras on your entire group so you maintained composure the best you could. however, on the inside you were just dying for there to be a brief moment where you could make yunjin swap seats with you. into the second quarter, the Clippers called a time out which gave the guy enough time to start talking again. just a moment before yunjin laughed and said, "i don't even know what's happening to be honest." it was a mindless comment but it gave the young man enough confidence to start breaking down the game.

yunjin leaned closer to the guy to hear him and began laughing at what you deemed as stupid jokes. your girlfriend on the other hand, was eating it up. you stuck your tongue against your cheek in annoyance and sakura made a motion with her hand that she often did as a way to tell you to relax. you nodded and leaned your head against her shoulder and she patted the top of your head.

simply hearing the guy speak irked your nerves enough but the fact that yunjin was actually listening to him explaining what you'd tried to explain for years just made you more angry. you noticed the way he leaned towards her, manspread so his knees touched hers, and smiled a little too brightly for your tastes. his eyes lingered on her body when she stood up, and that was your breaking point.

without thinking you placed your hand firmly on yunjin's thigh, squeezing her leg gently. you held onto her hand and played with the wristband you both wore as the game continued on. when she stood up you followed in suit, slipping your arm around her lower back and resting your hand right above her ass. you smiled smugly when she grabbed onto your bicep when she jumped in excitement over a team scoring points. when you both sat back down you slung your arm around her shoulder, letting her play with your hand that rest against her shoulder. the game didn’t even finish before you and yunjin were trending on twitter and tiktok, and you knew it’d stay that way for days on the latter. but that only brought smirk onto your face knowing that people were noticing your behavior, a subtle way of hinting that yunjin was only yours.

when the game ended and you all got back to your rooms you barely let the door close before you were pressing yunjin against the wall. she giggled as your breath tickled her skin and sent shivers down her spine, "what's gotten into you today?" your hands undid the buttons on her jeans easily and you let them fall to the floor while her jersey fell against the very top of her thighs. you picked her up with ease and her legs wrapped around your torso, her arms holding your head against her chest lightly.

yunjin laughed and looked up at you from the hotel bed, her coppery red hair fanned out against the white duvet. she reached up and ran her thumb over your eyebrow, "hmm?" you shrugged and slipped your hands beneath her top, running your hands against her heated skin and letting your fingernails trail lightly behind. yunjin grabbed both of your hands and pulled them from her body before pushing you gently off of her. she scooted back against the pillows and headboard, opening her arms and legs for you to lay against her. she insisted softly, "come here baby."

you sulked and pathetically crawled into her embrace, her arms engulfing your body and ankles locking over your legs. you mumbled into her torso, "ion't like the way he was lookin' at you." yunjin hummed for you to repeat yourself and you clarified, "the fuckass dude next to you. i ain't fuck with that guy." your girlfriend brushed her thumb over your ear and your eyes fluttered shut out of instinct. she asked, "baby, you know i was just being nice." when you let out a dissatisfied sound and turned your face further into her body she laughed.

yunjin asked you seriously, "did it really bother you that much?" you sighed and answered, "i didn't mind that you was talking to someone. i'm not finna tell you who you can and can't talk to. i ain't like that he was lookin' at you up 'n down like a creep...n' you was all interested in him explaining the game too i guess." yunjin told you, "if i'm being honest...i wasn't even listening to what he was saying. there was someone filming us and i didn't want them to think i was rude so i played along. you were the only thing on my mind anyways, i gave you as much attention as i could."

you mumbled with a smirk, "not enough..." yunjin gently pushed you from her embrace and you switched spots with her. your back now against the pillows and headboard while she straddled your lap. she reached for your top and pulled it off with ease. you still had a slight pout on your lips with your face turned away from her in feign annoyance.

yunjin leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your lips, then another one on your cheek, down your jaw, and your neck. she pulled away for a second and said, "is this enough?" you shook your head in refusal and yunjin ran her thumb across your lip with a smile, "remember you said that." just then yunjin pressed another heated kiss to your neck, this time sucking your skin lightly just the way you like it. a smile tugged at the corner of her lips when she heard a whine fall past your lips, "yunnie..."

your girlfriend reached up and grabbed your neck, squeezing it lightly, "what's wrong baby? you wanted my attention, and now you have it. " she proceeded with her ministrations and your head fell back against the pillows behind you. your head swimming with no thoughts except how to explain to your stylist that you'd need high cut shirts and long pants for the remainder of your trip.

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stusbunker · 3 months

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Spotless: Eco

Chapter Eleven

Featuring: Dean Winchester/Reader, Dean/Bela

Other characters: Bobby, Bela, Dick Roman and Kobe Bryant mentioned (look, he wasn't supposed to be here but I did my research and well, he had to be), Anael, faceless paps

Word Count: 1683 with pictures

Warnings, etc: Mutual pining, tour planning, brunch and shopping with Bela, unbeta'd

Series Masterlist

“Okay, well the official schedule from the touring company arrived, so I have maybe a week to set up the promo interviews before they announce it publicly,” you said over the phone.

“Yeah, with Crowley it’s probably gonna be sooner. Annie’s gotta find someone to step in for the whole year with this so she’s already interviewing. Let me know if you need anything, because I’m just sitting on my hands until we’re actually rolling out,” Bobby replied solemnly.

The give me something to do, please, was implied.

“Check with Benny and his boys, I know the label is supplying some guys too, but I trust you to secure the crew and security schedules,” you said as you made another note on your ever increasing list of to do’s.

Two months may have seemed like a long time, but it was the shortest turn around you’d had for a tour since taking over as publicist for Phantom Traveler and you’d be damned if you fucked it up.

“With the holidays coming up, we’ll be in a pinch to get everything nailed down. But all the commotion with Bela and everything, people will be chomping at the bit to get actual news,” you added, staring unfocused at your computer monitor.

“And he’s got that interview coming up you said, just Dean for that one?” Bobby asked.

“Yeah,” you sighed. “I really hope Meg doesn’t eat him alive. But it’s his chance to give his side of things and for people to see where his head is at now.”

“The sassy little brunette, right?”

“The very one.”

“Is it going to be a tit-for-tat thing? Is Cas gonna be next for a tell-all?”

“Bobby, I don’t think Cas would do an interview and talk bad about Dean even if they paid him. He’s moved on.”

“If you say so, Dean didn’t exactly play nice.”

“He must have had hundreds of offers for the dirt since leaving the band. And everything I hear about him now is just about the kid he’s working with and how they’re creating something unique.”

“I just know how that reporter liked him— the last time.”

“I’m sure she’s going in with the bias against Dean here. Time will tell if she can be swayed,” you admitted. “Plus, Dean won't be alone. We made sure there'll be a few of us there to make it easier.”

“To keep him from making a damned fool of himself you mean.”

“Basically.”

Bobby sat on the other end of the line with his gruff silence before continuing, “you going home for Christmas?”

“Yeah, got the usual stuff with my folks for Christmas Eve then I’m helping Ellen on Christmas day. I’m flying so I won’t be gone more than a few days. Probably end up spending half of it at airports with my luck.”

“Okay, just checkin’.”

“You guys have any plans?”

“Just service on the night before and maybe something with Annie’s cousins. Might just be a train of open houses.”

“Wow, I’m impressed.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I’d enjoy myself.”

You laughed and wrapped it up with a promise to touch base before you left town. The next two days were a whirlwind of emails and phone calls. You put off confirming brunch with Bela for Sunday, but relented from guilt, as she now had regular visits from paparazzi outside her townhouse due to her and Dean’s night club-hopping. You finished up your Saturday errands and plopped yourself onto your stationary bike in a last ditch effort to fend off your restlessness until it was a reasonable enough time to crash.

God, your life was so exciting.

Bela poured you another glass from the endless pitcher of mimosas. “Anyway, I guess Dean got us tickets to the Lakers’ game tomorrow night, like I actually care about baseball.”

“Basketball,” you corrected, taking a sip.

“Exactly,” Bela smirked.

“How good are the tickets? He doesn’t really follow it either,” you continued, worried they’d be in an embarrassing section.

“I think he said something about getting the label’s box for the game?” She tried to play innocent.

You almost spit out your drink. “The entire box?”

“It’s not floor seats’ exposure, but it will be worth it at least. I think he said he called in a favor with Dick?”

“Dick Roman is giving Dean access to his exclusive luxury box at the Staples Center?” You were floored, you opened your phone and googled who they were playing. “Holy fuck, they’re retiring Kobe’s number tomorrow. It’s going to be insane. There’s no way that box isn’t gonna be packed, but at least you can bump elbows with the uppity ups.”

“Kobe Bryant, yeah? He was quite prolific,” Bela seemed pleased.

“Uh, yeah, played his whole career here,” you added, but put your phone away. Unwilling to text Dean a ‘wtf’ text while you still had another hour of drinks and foodstuffs to get through. “What are you going to wear?”

Bela slid her most compelling face on. “I was hoping we could find something together. It’s been ages since we drunk shopped. Plus, it’s the holidays so I will need to be a bit tipsy if I want to deal with the crowds.”

You had literally nothing left to buy for Christmas, but drunk shopping was a time-honored tradition between the two of you. Plus, it was fun watching Bela work her magic and pull a stunning outfit together out of seemingly discordant pieces.

“Three stores and I’m getting my own ride home, missy,” you warned with a firm pointer finger.

“Of course!” Bela chuckled and tucked into her eggs, eyes flitting back to you with conspiratorial delight.

You finished off your mimosa and finally saw to your french toast.

Bela’s driver took you to all of her favorite haunts and naturally she weaseled her way in to see the best stylists, at least those who were actually on hand on the Sunday afternoon before Christmas. At Sister Jo’s boutique, the owner herself greeted Bela with a double cheek kiss and hug.

“What are you doing here? Wait, don’t tell me, you need an outfit asap because your little rocker boy toy needs arm candy,” the woman, who was actually named Anael, teased.

“You know me too well,” Bela replied. “This is my dear friend, Y/N, and we’re a bit on the tilt from brunch, but I simply had to come see you. I need something casual and sexy. It’s for a basketball game.”

You waved as she nodded in your direction, not wanting to break the momentum.

Anael frowned and looked Bela over, with much consideration. Then she hummed before asking, “how do you feel about hats?”

Nearly two hours and a top off on champagne later (to keep your buzzes going), you and Bela walked out of the shop with a bag each and a receipt ensuring Bela would be back in the morning for the alterations on the remaining garments.

“Well, I’d say that was a successful outing,” Bela said with pride, the pink in her cheeks the only hint of her lingering inebriation.

“I’d say,” you agreed, opening the back door of her pre-ordered ride. “I still can’t believe they had something that would work for me for New Year’s.”

Bela waited on the curb until she could slide in the other side, but continued your trail of thought. “Anael is good people, if she likes something, she carries it. Doesn’t matter the size or price, she is all about how an outfit makes you feel,” Bela explained.

“Well, it worked, because I just spent more on myself than I have the entire year because of how good it felt on, so I get it,” you said, patting the bag at your feet.

Bela confirmed your address with the driver and then hers, thanking them for going out of their way in a way that she wasn’t actually apologizing for being a burden.

“You got eyes on you lady,” the driver warned, pointing towards the corner where a camera lens was trained on the car.

“Ignore them, they’ll find someone else before they follow us very far,” Bela promised and you could see her almost glaring at the rearview mirror for the driver to get the lead out.

You sat on the couch in your robe and sleep pants, hair still wet and wrapped on top of your head. You had crashed for a late afternoon nap after shopping and had rebounded with a blissfully long shower and skincare treatment. Now you watched mind numbing television and plotted out your schedule for the coming week. Even though it was cut short with holiday travels, it was full-to-bursting with things to get done.

You sighed and dragged out your suitcase from under your bed, dropped it on the couch and unzipped it to start packing. At least you could watch something while you organized.

Just after ten your phone buzzed with a text message. You ignored it for a minute until you could find the remote beneath your pile of socks and paused your Lord of the Rings rewatch.

You stared at the conversation with the movie still paused, dumbfounded. One, that Dean sent you a goodnight text of all things and secondly that he was going to willingly give Bela his phone to post on social media about them. Because it’s not official until they’re both posting each other, or so they say. This was going to be big for the fan girls. You already knew Becky would be emailing you the second she saw it. But as far as fanclub presidents went, she wasn’t the worst. Then again, she would be more than a little bitter if Sam and Madison were the ones flaunting their relationship.

You put a reminder in your calendar to cover an extra sweep of SM while you were waiting out Dean’s interview Tuesday morning and then you tossed your phone back amongst your clothes. You were done for the night and so you shoved your half-packed suitcase on the floor and restarted the movie.

Tagging:

@deans-spinster-witch

@mrswhozeewhatsis

@cosicas-cuquis

@fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like

@suckitands33

@ladysparkles78

@deans-baby-momma

@stoneyggirl2

@sassy-pelican

@leigh70

@globetrotter28

@winharry

@lastactiontricia

@rockhoochie

Chapter Twelve: Hook

#spotless series #dean winchester fanfiction #dean/reader #dean/bela #slow burn #rockstar au #fake dating

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reality-detective · 4 months

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Did you know that the Los Angeles Lakers gave fans a toy Kobe Bryant helicopter for his last game in 2016.

Kobe Bryant passed away on January 26, 2020 from a helicopter crash.

What a strange coincidence huh? 🤔

#pay attention #educate yourselves #educate yourself #knowledge is power #reeducate yourself #reeducate yourselves #think about it #think for yourselves #think for yourself #do your homework #do some research #do your own research #ask yourself questions #question everything #kobe bryant #stranger than fiction #stranger things #coincidence

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stumbleonhometomycats · 10 months

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Lmao I am unfortunately one of those people who did not know that please tell me the full story so I can also hate the la kings

okay on the 1989 tour at Staples Center Kobe Bryant came out during Style and surprised Taylor with a banner for the most sold out performances (I believe it was 16?)

Then a few years later the baby bitch LA Kings and their fans complained that the banner was JINXED? I s2g they really thought that (x).

They started covering it for home games in 2019 and then they had it fully removed in 2020, I believe.

Anyway, since the banner came down their luck has certainly not changed :) in the last 5 seasons they've only made the playoffs twice and those two years they DID make the playoffs they lost in the first round :).

AND THATS ON FUCK THE LA KINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also shout out to the Hurricanes Social Media Manager who tweeted this after they kicked their asses at home after the banner started to be covered.

#FUCK THE LA KINGS

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jasonpogi2 · 6 months

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my idol kobe had a triple double in his last NBA game...

my memories of my idol kobe bryant we will miss you..

Everything Negative

Presurre, challenges

Is all An opportunity For me

To Rise

-Kobe bryant

#Black mamba

#The Goat

#Mamba mentality

#1st blog #EMTECH

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getbettermedia · 1 year

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Spike Lee followed Kobe Bryant the day he and the Lakers were playing the San Antonio Spurs.

At that time, Kobe was well known as the “best player in the NBA” and had a lot a pressure on his shoulders.

Spike Lee gives us an interesting insight into the mental and physical preparation before a game as we follow Kobe around his day. The movie didn’t have a huge impact when it came out in 2009 since it looks more like a home-movie than a real documentary. But Spike and his team really took the time to edit the movie, so it stays interesting during the whole game. They used pictures from the game, had multiple cameras to film from different angles, just as if we were watching the game on ESPN, which I think is a very interesting choice. Indeed, Spike doesn’t intervene at all during the movie. We only hear Kobe Bryant’s voice as he is commenting on the game at the same time as we are watching it. He is saying what kind of plays he likes, which players are hard to dribble against, what he thinks when he is playing one of the most important games of the year. During my research, I found out that they used 30 cameras to shoot the movie to make sure they didn’t miss a beat. They also velcroed a microphone to Bryant’s jersey during the all game. They actually worked with the ESPN filming crew to share archives from the game.

The last shot of the movie is Kobe leaving the Staple Stadium with his family, dancing the Thriller dance with his baby daughter. To be honest, I don’t know much about basketball and from time to time, I was on my phone while watching the movie, but I wanted to bring it up on my blog because I think Spike Lee chose a very simple yet original angle to present Kobe to the public. The classic sport documentary director could have interviewed his teammates, friends and family, would have followed Kobe for a year or so, trying to film key moments of his career or personal life. But at the end, we can also learn from an athlete if we just ask him to comment, sincerely, his most important game of his career.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this documentary, because it is different and has a raw vibe to it. It is hurtful watching the documentary, knowing how Kobe died tragically with his daughter, but the movie ends up being a touching tribute to Kobe and his mamba mentality.

Fun fact : Lee had the idea of this documentary after watching a soccer film on Zinedine Zidane (« Zidane : A 21st Century Portrait)

link to the full documentary : Kobe Doin' Work - YouTube

Spike Lee talks about his love for basketball, filmmaking and Kobe for the Time Magazine (2009) : Q&A: Spike Lee on Kobe Bryant - TIME

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dominicpowers · 1 year

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BASICS:

Full Name: Dominic James Powers

Nicknames: Dom, DJ, Sweet Feet

Age: 34

Date of Birth: July 23rd - Leo

Hometown: Aurora Bay, California

Current Location: Aurora Bay, California

Gender: CIS-Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Religion: Christian

Occupation: NBA Player (Golden State Warrior Point/Shooting Guard)

Living Arrangements: Living in a house in Aurora Bay Drive

Language(s) Spoken: English

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Faceclaim: Michael B. Jordan

Height: 6'3

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Black

Piercings: A stud in each ear

Tattoos: Two - each arm covered in a biomechanical design. His left arm looks like a robotic arm while the right arm is the same, except there are cut outs that show gears inside - a play on the fact that his teammates playfully call him a machine for how often he works out.

Noticeable Features: Brilliant eyes and charming smile

Fashion Style: Classic, Sporty, Preppy

FAMILY:

Parents: James Powers, Veronica Powers nee Lawson

Siblings: Hilary Gregory nee Powers (sister, age 29), Violet Powers (sister, age 27), Brandon Powers (brother, age 23)

Cousin: Amaya Powers

Pets: Two dogs - Champ, a three year old Golden Retriever, and Honey, a four-year old Rottweiler. Honey is currently pregnant.

BIOGRAPHY:

Ever since Dominic had been born, his father had made sure to tell him an important fact about life - that it was going to be harder for him than it would be for anyone else. That he would have to work twice as hard to get only half the credit, and that was something that stuck with Dominic. No matter what he did, he made sure to give everything a hundred and ten percent - and that was precisely what he did. But one thing he found was that while he was good with numbers, he was better with athletics.

Between peewee football and little league baseball, he proved from an early age that he is quite the athlete but there hadn’t been a sport he loved more than the game of basketball. It was a sport that was more fast paced, one that put you on the spot and made you have to think on your feet. And though he knew it would be difficult, he could see himself having a future in it - and though he had worried how his father would take to his wanting to try and play the sport professionally, he was surprised that his father was supportive. As long as he had a decent backup plan, that was, and Dominic knew that that meant he’d have to go to college.

Of course, he wound up getting his pick of colleges. With his prowess in basketball, a guard that could alternate between the point and the two, he was recruited by many of the top names in the NCAA - UNC, Duke, Ohio State, Michigan State, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, South Carolina, LSU (just to name a few) - and with a scholarship offered by more than half of them, the decision was a tough one. Eventually, though, Dominic opted to go for a college that wasn’t just a one-and-done, and with a decent business school, he chose the University of North Carolina. And that turned out to be a good thing, because he wound up leading the team to the 2009 NCAA Division his last year of college and with a collegiate championship under his belt, it was easy for him to be drafted to the NBA.

Drafted by the Golden State Warriors alongside Steph Curry in May 2009, Dominic was determined to make his name be one that would ring in infamy - a name much like Michael Jordan, Shaqueille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, LeBron James and the late, great Kobe Bryant - and it wasn’t long before Dom and Steph wound up becoming the Golden State Warriors’ greatest weapon. Nicknamed the dynamic duo, they were hard to guard because the other team never knew what position they were playing since they could both switch from the point to the two and they became such a well-oiled machine that they helped them win 5 of their 12 conference titles, 5 of their 6 division wins, and 3 of their six national championships.

Of course, Dominic was well aware that he wasn’t getting any younger and that his days in the NBA would eventually come to an end, so he decided to move back home to Aurora Bay and with his money - and his love of animals - has donated enough to the Seaside Pet Rescue that they don't have to worry about funding for whatever might come their way. And though Dominic likes being seen as the eligible bachelor that everyone knows him as, part of him yearns to find that perfect someone and settle down.

Until then, though? He’s totally going to enjoy his status as an eligible bachelor as long as possible.

#aurorabay.intro

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bongaboi · 1 year

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Utah: 2022 Pac-12 Football Champions

LAS VEGAS -- The only blemish in USC's 11-win regular season had been a one-point loss to Utah in October. Thanks to the Pac-12's decision to turn its championship game into a matchup between its two best teams instead of division winners, the Trojans had an opportunity to make that loss moot and advance to their first College Football Playoff appearance in Lincoln Riley's first season as head coach.

But one blemish turned into two on Friday night, as No. 11 Utah played spoiler and proved it has USC's number this season.

The Utes scored 24 straight points at one point and went on to dominate No. 4 USC 47-24 to win their second straight Pac-12 title and likely keep the Trojans out of the fourth playoff spot.

"You come as far as this team has come and this program has come in the last 12 months, and obviously to not get it done, it's a tough pill to swallow," Riley said after the game. "They were definitely the better team tonight. They deserved it."

"Our players never stopped believing," Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We had a chip on our shoulder. We got the message loud and clear that people were underestimating us."

In what felt like a tangential version of the matchup between the teams earlier this season, the Utes' slow start did not hold them back. USC dominated the first quarter and raced to a 17-3 lead early thanks to a few more Heisman-worthy plays by quarterback Caleb Williams, who finished the game with 363 passing yards, 21 rushing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

But it all unraveled in a hurry for USC. After pulling off a miraculous 59-yard run that had him gasping for air and walking gingerly, Williams never quite looked the same.

Afterward, Riley said that Williams "popped" his hamstring on that long first-quarter run.

"I asked him at one point, I was like, 'Are you 50 percent?'" Riley said. "And I mean, he was not even close to 50 percent. I definitely thought about taking him out. … He wouldn't have let me. He wouldn't even let me take him out at the end."

Riley called the performance one of the gutsiest he has witnessed. Williams, meanwhile, described the feeling of his injury as that of an old rubber band.

"The rest of the game I felt it," Williams said. "But a person that I admire is Kobe [Bryant], and he always said the game is bigger than what you're feeling."

As Williams was nursing the injury, Utah was settling in. During the second quarter, quarterback Cameron Rising put together two touchdown drives at the end of the half to tie the score at 17.

In the second half, it became clear Williams was hurt. He favored his left side and was visibly limping. He showed some hesitation as he dropped back, and when the USC defense was on the field, he rode the stationary bike on the sideline to stay loose. At one point, backup quarterback Miller Moss grabbed his helmet and appeared to warm up, but Williams remained under center.

Though Williams stayed in the game, he was no longer the player that spearheaded one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Having been unable to establish the run early, a hobbled Williams looked frozen in the pocket, and it all but sapped USC's scoring prowess. Williams was uncharacteristically sacked four times, and his throws lacked the pinpoint accuracy and strength they have had all season.

The Utes took advantage. Whittingham said postgame that Utah "smelled blood in the water" when the team noticed Williams was hurt in the third quarter and made a concerted effort to bring more pressure.

Utah not only pressured Williams plenty, but on offense it went back to its most reliable option against the USC defense: tight ends. Dalton Kincaid and Thomas Yassmin combined for 121 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass from Rising to Yassmin that pushed the lead back to 10 after USC had cut it to three in the fourth quarter.

By the time running back Ja'Quinden Jackson broke off a 53-yard touchdown run to put the Utes up by 16, the result was all but set in stone.

"I felt we took it a little personal," Rising said. "We saw all that as disrespect. We wanted to go out and prove a point."

Rising, a senior, finished with 310 yards passing to six receivers and three touchdowns. He continued to have success against USC and was selected the game's most valuable player postgame as the Utes once again did what no other team could all season: outscore and outgain the Trojans. Utah finished with 533 total yards to USC's 411. The Utes also finished with a title that Rising leaned into during the postgame ceremony: "Trojan killers."

The win sends the Utes back to the Rose Bowl. The Trojans, meanwhile, were left with not just two losses to the same team, but a hurt quarterback and no title to show for their turnaround season.

"We're not going to walk around like this is some funeral. We made a lot of progress to get to this point," Riley said. "Part of it is when you get to these moments, these big games, is groups that have been there before. [Utah] certainly have. A lot of our team has not."

The prevailing sentiment from Riley after the game was that the Trojans had run into a team that not only outplayed them, but also had more experience. The Utes indeed provide a stark contrast to USC's roster makeup. The transfer portal has defined Riley's first year at USC, and it's evident that Utah's continuity is its strength.

Yet as Riley debriefed on the loss and talked about preparing for USC's bowl game, he was sure to look ahead toward next season, when the Trojans might have some continuity but won't shy away from using change to gain an edge.

"There's going to be a lot of changes. That's college football in this day and age," Riley said. "We know what our mission is -- to be in that same locker room and feeling a whole helluva lot different than we do right now. We'll bring in a couple pieces who will help us on that journey."

#2022 #utah utes #pac-12 #college football

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heavenforblog1111 · 5 days

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Alright, so Kawhi Leonard is an intriguing presence in the NBA. He is a 2 time NBA champion and 2x Finals MVP. Yet, for some reason he doesn't draw much attention despite being a superstar. So, Can Kawhi Leonard win another title? 3 years back he won the championship and the Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors and left the franchise to play for LA Clippers, LA being his hometown. Currently, he is recovering from an ACL tear and we expect him to come back this season after he missed the last season. Kawhi and the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs in 2020. In 2021 playoffs, Kawhi suffered the ACL injury playing against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers were able to win the rest of the series without him and were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Kawhi is not the type of player to pile up stats. One may look at his stats and dismiss him if they hadn't seen him play before. Kawhi is the type of player who does what is required to win. He will get your team to win when you need it the most. Of course, there are certain exceptions where in he has not performed as expected for example his performance in 2020 playoffs when the Clippers lost despite having a 3-1 lead. Can Kawhi Leonard win another title? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHOConM6RQE Kawhi's style of play has derived comparisons from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Kawhi has several skills in his arsenal. He is a defensive monster while also possessing an offensive skillset. His foot work, ability to create his own shots, fade-away jumpers etc are amazing. He has a great legacy too. He is 2-time NBA champion and 2x Finals MVP. He has yet to win a regular season MVP though I believe that is not really his goal. His 2019 run was notably the greatest run in his career(at least till now) when he defeated the Golden State Warriors. Who would've thought that the Golden State dynasty would come an end to like that. Kevin Durant suffered an Achilles tear in the only game that he played against the Raptors. Meanwhile, it was in the same series that Klay Thompson tore his ACL too. Kawhi has one of the most interesting stories in the NBA. He was part of the San Antonio Spurs squad back in 2017. They were facing the Golden State Warriors(fully stacked at that time) and were winning the Game 1 against them. Kawhi, being the star of his team ended up with an injury and was taken out of the game. San Antonio lost the game and the series. Meanwhile Kawhi was out for the series, and he only played 9 games the next season. Later on, he came back to avenge is loss against Golden State and won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors. Do I think Kawhi can win a championship again? I think that is an interesting question. I really do hope he wins another title. He is 31 years of age as of now. He has great teammates in Paul George and John Wall. I think it will be interesting if they contend for a title. Knowing Kawhi, he is definitely not done yet. I know he plays hard to win and he is definitely serious about winning more titles in his career. I hope he is back healthy and I think it will be interesting to see the Clippers contend for a title. Let me know your opinion in the comment section. Do you guys think the Clippers can win a title?

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theultimatefan · 9 days

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Hall of Fame Pitcher Walter Johnson’s 104-Year-Old Photo-Matched Jersey Brings the Heat at Heritage Auctions in May

Countless offerings among the almost 3,200 available in Heritage’s May 16-18 Spring Sports Catalog Auction could serve as its centerpiece, its highlight — that one thing that belongs in a museum, if not a Hall of Fame. Like, say, the road New York Yankees jersey worn by Mickey Mantle during his final season in 1968, then signed and inscribed to a Yanks batboy. Or the photo-matched road Brooklyn Dodgers jersey Sandy Koufax wore during his rookie season in 1955 when he was not yet known as The Left Hand of God. Or the bat Ty Cobb used in 1922, his third — and final — season as a .400 hitter.

The list of must-sees and must-owns is seemingly endless, whether it’s a box of unopened Fleer basketball cards from 1961-62 or the pair of Adidas Crazy 8’s photo-matched to Kobe Bryant’s first All-Star Game in 1998. As has become tradition, the Spring Sports Catalog Event brims with the jerseys, sneakers, gloves, bats and helmets worn and used by some of sports’ most towering titans, from Willie Mays to Lionel Messi, Reggie Jackson to Gale Sayers, Warren Spahn to Tom Brady, Hank Aaron to Jim Plunkett, Carl Hubbell to Terry Bradshaw. The abundance of photo-matched jerseys in this auction alone qualifies it as historic, as do the cards featured throughout, among them a near-mint 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, a gem-mint Ty Cobb from the fabled Black Swamp find and the only known Elgin Baylor Topps card from 1969 graded a perfect 10.

But to begin, the relatively plain flannel jersey in this auction — gray, pinstriped, a small “W” stitched into each short sleeve — draws the eye first. It’s also a century-old jersey that still has tales to tell.

Collectors have always known who wore it: Walter Johnson, who spent all of his 21 seasons in the sun as the right-handed hurler for the Washington Senators. Johnson’s name is stitched into the collar in red cursive, just below the A.G. Spalding & Bros. label. We’ve always known, too, when Johnson wore it: during the 1919-1922 seasons, when the man sportswriter Grantland Rice called “The Big Train” was teammates with another right-handed pitcher, Eric “Swat” Erickson, to whom Johnson gifted the jersey upon Erickson’s retirement from the big leagues following his 1919-1922 stint with Washington.

Only days before this auction opened, Resolution Photomatching determined that the “one-time king of pitchers” — as Johnson was called in 1933’s Who’s Who in Baseball – wore this very jersey on April 29, 1920. That’s when the Nationals downed the New York Yankees 2-1 in front of 5,000 at the hallowed Polo Grounds.

Johnson recorded eight strikeouts that spring afternoon in New York, two coming against a newly minted Yankee right fielder named Babe Ruth, who recorded just a single hit (and RBI) against Johnson. The Big Train, who batted last in the Nats’ lineup, also got a hit that afternoon — a triple. In his 1920 book The Home-Run King, Ruth wrote that Johnson was “the best of them all.”

Earlier this month, Resolution photo-matched the jersey to a photo distributed by news agency Underwood & Underwood, whose caption heralds Johnson as “the unsurpassable speed twirler of the Nationals.” The photo also notes that Johnson’s “remarkable speed ball aroused all balldom several years ago” and that he pitched against the Yankees that April afternoon “with the same ‘pep’ that characterized his name.”

Two known Johnson jerseys have survived his storied career, during which The Big Train recorded 3,509 strikeouts (putting him at ninth on the all-time list), 417 wins (the most all-time behind only Cy Young’s 511 victories) and 110 shutout wins (still the record). One, from 1927, is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The other is in this auction.

“We have had the opportunity at Heritage Auctions to offer some incredible and museum-worthy jerseys over the decades,” says Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “But this Walter Johnson example, photo-matched to his first dual with the great Babe Ruth in Yankees pinstripes, certainly qualifies it as a cream-of-the-crop rarity.”

#baseball #auction #mantle #walter johnson

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bestnbajerseyscheap · 11 days

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Exploring Orlando Magic's Fiercest Competitors on the Court

The essence of any sports narrative often lies in the intensity of its rivalries, the sort that fills arenas and fuels fan loyalty. A question that echoes among the bleachers is: does the Orlando Magic have any rivals that bring that extra spark to the hardwood? In their home state of Florida, the Magic entertain a number of contests that stand out in the memories of Orlando residents and basketball aficionados alike.

The Orlando Magic's Notable NBA Rivalries Since their inception in the heart of Orlando, Florida, the Magic have carved out their place within the NBA, cultivating rivalries that often crescendo during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. While some may argue that the Magic's clashes with teams don’t always echo the perennial intensity found in other NBA rivalries, certain matchups have historically brought out the best—and the most contentious—basketball in Orlando.

Magic’s Eastern Conference Showdowns The Magic's biggest rival has often been debated, but the Detroit Pistons stand out with a series of intense playoff series encounters. Dating back to the late '90s and early 2000s, the rivalry dates to when the Magic played preeminent basketball, vying for dominance in the conference. These matchups were especially significant during the years when the Pistons themselves reached consecutive NBA Finals, adding another layer of drama to each confrontation.

Competition Beyond Conference Lines It is not just Eastern Conference teams that have posed as formidable opponents for the Orlando Magic. Across the court, Western powerhouses like the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies have provided thrilling contests that often test the Magic's resilience and skill. In these cross-conference battles, the Orlando crowd eagerly anticipates the challenge these celebrated teams bring to Orlando's Amway Center.

Southern Turf Wars A discussion of the Magic's rivalries wouldn't be complete without mentioning the Miami Heat. The in-state contention between Dwyane Wade's iconic presence for the Heat and the Magic's lineup, historically led by stars like Penny Hardaway, has always added an electric atmosphere to the game. Be it in Orlando, Florida, or at the Heat's own arena, these games invigorate fans from both sides to rally behind their teams fervently.

Fabled Face-offs One cannot overlook the Orlando Magic’s playoff rounds against the Boston Celtics or the dramatic NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The duels with Boston often feature strategy at the fore, while the 2009 finals against a legendary Lakers team anchored by Kobe Bryant offered the Orlando Magic a stage to battle for the ultimate NBA crown.

Looking for Rivalry News? For those interested in reading more about Orlando Magic and their rivalries, seeking out information from various platforms is key. Websites such as bvmsports.com or newslocker.com are excellent sources to gain deeper insights into the Orlando Magic and the plight of the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and the Toronto Raptors—the only team from outside the U.S. to win an NBA title in the last decade.

Conclusion Rivalries invigorate teams and communities alike, and in the case of the Orlando Magic, they underscore the competitive spirit that makes the NBA thrilling to watch. To those tracking Magic's every play, these games against seasoned contenders elevate the sport beyond just a match—it's a chance to witness the Magic play for pride, prowess, and the joy of the game.

For any publishers or outlets covering sports, linking back to engaging discussions on sammyboy.com is a great way to enhance coverage and offer readers diverse viewpoints on the electrifying world of NBA rivalries.

In crafting this article, the primary keyword "does the Orlando Magic have any rivals" was strategically used to answer the query and woven into a broader narrative detailing the team's most compelling matchups. Semantic keywords were interspersed to enrich the content contextually and maintain relevancy. The recommended text length of approximately 538 words was targeted to ensure a focused and engaging read.

#nba jerseys

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jcmarchi · 14 days

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NBA 2K24 Removes Collector Level Reward Kobe Bryant At Last Second Sparking Fan Outcry

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/nba-2k24-removes-collector-level-reward-kobe-bryant-at-last-second-sparking-fan-outcry/

NBA 2K24 Removes Collector Level Reward Kobe Bryant At Last Second Sparking Fan Outcry

The late legend Kobe Bryant has served as the cover star for NBA 2K24 and, for many, a strong incentive to reach the top Collector Level in the game’s MyTeam mode. As the NBA playoffs’ first round wraps up, many fans are more disappointed than excited with the most recent NBA 2K title, as developer Visual Concepts has pulled back on a promise made prior to launch.

In the lead-up to the game’s release date, the NBA 2K24 developer Visual Concepts released a blog post running down the features of its card-collection mode, MyTeam. In that blog post, the developer laid out several features and rewards for the then-upcoming title. It took special care to devote a section to an upcoming Collector Level reward, Kobe Bryant.

In that post, the developer highlights just how crucial Collector Level rewards are to the overall MyTeam experience. “Collector level rewards have always been important in MyTEAM, and last year the rewards came as surprises with a hidden end goal,” the blog post from prior to launch stated. “So let’s look forward a few months and reveal that Kobe Bryant will be the top reward in the Collector Level, and this reward will be available in April, during Season 6.”

First reported by The Washington Post‘s Herb Scribner, with further reporting done by Forbes’ Paul Tassi, NBA 2K24 has changed its top Collector Level reward to not include Kobe Bryant. Instead, players can now choose from two previously released 100-overall cards. However, according to multiple community members, the most recent 100-overall card, Yao Ming, is not an option for players to choose from.

Centering a Collector Level reward around such an iconic and beloved player likely encouraged many to grind (or spend) to achieve the top Collector Level and obtain the reward. Many players have taken to social media and the NBA 2K Community Discord server to voice their displeasure. As of this writing, neither the official NBA 2K nor NBA 2K MyTeam account has posted anything regarding the situation, and the “developer-supported and community-run” NBA 2K Subreddit contains zero posts about the missing reward. However, the MyTeam Subreddit has multiple player-posted threads regarding the problem.

The only community-facing comment from the NBA 2K team that I have found was posted on the official NBA 2K Community Discord. That comment matches the comment provided to me by a 2K spokesperson when I requested comment from the publisher. You can read the entire statement provided by a 2K spokesperson below.

2K strives to deliver the very best NBA 2K24 MyTEAM experience to the community. Please note that a change to a reward has occurred. Players who achieve a top Collector Level will now receive an Option Pack for two picks out of ten previously released 100 OVR Cards. We appreciate that players have dedicated time and effort throughout the year to achieve this reward and 2K is committed to ensuring players continue to earn valuable content as their reward.

I followed up requesting additional information on why the change was made, but the spokesperson declined to comment further. Some online speculation has posited that licensing issues are to blame, but there is no confirmation or evidence to support that theory outside of 2K’s unwillingness to comment further at this time.

NBA 2K24 arrived on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on September 8, 2023. While the gameplay is one of the stronger elements of the title, among our reviewer’s chief complaints involved the increasingly intrusive microtransactions that permeate multiple long-term modes within the game. This controversy surrounding one of the most monetized modes does little to refute that criticism. You can read our full review here.

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dan6085 · 19 days

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List of the top 20 sports personalities of all time, along with explanations for their inclusion:

1. Kobe Bryant - Legendary NBA player, known for his competitive drive, impact on the game, and advocacy for women's basketball[1].

2. Hulk Hogan - Iconic professional wrestler, one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of wrestling[1].

3. Shaquille O'Neal - Dominant NBA player, renowned for his physical dominance, charisma, and successful post-playing career[1].

4. LeBron James - Superstar NBA player, considered one of the greatest of all time, with a massive global influence[1].

5. Muhammad Ali - Legendary boxer, renowned for his skill, showmanship, and social activism[1].

6. Michael Jordan - Basketball icon, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, with unparalleled success and influence[1].

7. Tiger Woods - Legendary golfer, who revolutionized the sport and achieved unprecedented success[1].

8. Serena Williams - Dominant tennis player, one of the most successful and influential athletes in the world[1].

9. Mike Tyson - Iconic boxer, known for his ferocious fighting style and larger-than-life persona[1].

10. Babe Ruth - Baseball legend, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history[1].

11. Magic Johnson - Iconic NBA player, renowned for his leadership, passing ability, and impact on the game[1].

12. Peyton Manning - Legendary NFL quarterback, known for his intelligence, leadership, and success on the field[1].

13. Michael Phelps - Dominant swimmer, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals[1].

14. Venus Williams - Pioneering tennis player, who along with her sister Serena, transformed the sport[1].

15. Lance Armstrong - Controversial cyclist, who won the Tour de France a record seven times[1].

16. George Foreman - Legendary boxer, known for his powerful punching and successful comeback later in life[1].

17. Tom Brady - Iconic NFL quarterback, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history[1].

18. Jackie Robinson - Groundbreaking baseball player, who broke the color barrier and paved the way for integration[1].

19. Joe DiMaggio - Baseball legend, known for his record-setting hitting streak and iconic status[1].

20. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Successful NASCAR driver, who carried on his father's legacy and became a fan favorite[1].

These sports personalities have been included in the list due to their exceptional achievements, impact on their respective sports, global recognition, and lasting influence on the world of sports and popular culture.

Sources

[1] The Most Famous All-time Sports Personalities (Q1 2024) - YouGov https://today.yougov.com/ratings/sports/fame/all-time-sports-personalities/all

[2] The Power List 2023: The 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2023/07/13/the-power-list-50-most-influential-figures-in-sports

[3] The 15 most popular athletes of all time have been ranked - GiveMeSport https://www.givemesport.com/most-popular-athletes-of-all-time/

[4] Top 20 Greatest Actors of All Time (The Ultimate List) - IMDb https://www.imdb.com/list/ls057029165/

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