From 'The Blind Side' bombshell to an NBA star standoff, here's what's happening in entertainment.
Blind(ed) Side
Michael Oher, former NFL tackle and the focus of the hit 2009 film The Blind Side, has alleged the couple that took him in during his teenage years lied about adopting him. In a Tennessee court filing, Oher said the couple, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, did not tell the truth about his adoption status and instead tricked him into signing papers that made them his conservators.
He asked a judge to terminate the conservatorship and to require the couple to turn over a full account of money they made off of his name. Oher also requested the Tuohys face some sort of sanctions and be required to pay compensatory and punitive damages, according to the Associated Press. The filing also revealed that Oher only learned of the status of his adoption this year.
ESPN x NBA
ESPN analyst and color commentator Doris Burke will be making history come the NBA finals. She will become the first woman to serve as TV analyst during a championship final for any of the four major U.S. sports.
The network announced she'll be calling the game along with former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and long-time commentator Mike Breen. The news comes just weeks after the network cleared the house of some of its most tenured analysts, like Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.
Rivers joins the analyst team after losing his coaching job when the 76ers failed to reach the NBA finals this year.
Harden Drama
Also, in NBA news: what's beef? 76ers star James Harden is in a standoff with the team that he clearly wants to leave. Harden, who headed to Philly in 2022 after his 1-year stint on the Brooklyn Nets, wanted to head to the L.A. Clippers, but talks between the teams didn't pan out.
This weekend, during a promotional even in China, Harden called 76ers owner Daryl Morey a liar. The declaration comes after the 76ers announced that they stopped entertaining trade offers for Harden and would retain him for the upcoming season. It's unclear what happens next with training camps scheduled to start in October.
Rachel Bachman, senior sports reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where she explains how U.S. athletes have been inserted into the middle of a political debate after the country declared a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.
The future of gambling in Florida recently suffered a major setback after a federal appeals court rejected a request from the state and the Seminole Tribe to allow online sports betting in the state. Now, the tribe has been forced to stop taking bets on its Hard Rock sportsbook app. ESPN gaming writer David Purdum joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what this could mean for the future of sports betting in Florida.
The potential growth for the sports betting industry is almost unfathomable. what will the future of sports betting look like, and how did we get here? John Atkinson, director of business development at 888 Holdings, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
What began as a one-on-one fantasy baseball competition back in 2012 is now one of the biggest American daily fantasy sports contests and sports betting operators in the world. JD sat down with Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, to talk about the company's milestones and future endeavors.
Former Denver Broncos wide receiver and five-time Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas was found dead at the age of 33. Thomas officially retired from the NFL in June, ending his playing career with the New York Jets in 2019.
Carlo and Baker wrap up the week talking about the Biden economic boom that no one seems to notice, a verdict in the Jussie Smollett case, the first Starbucks union in America and the pleasures of the "dude nod."
Olivia Harlan Dekker dissects the Week 14 NFL slate and makes her picks for the week's top games, while Frank Schwab discusses the impact of bad weather on betting lines. Meanwhile, Alex Christenson dishes out his insights when it comes to betting on the NBA.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Russ Davis, Crypto Consultant and Educator at consulting firm In Russ We Trust Crypto, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains why now is a time to buy low on cryptocurrencies as investors are still reacting to the latest testimonies.
Frank Schwab, NFL and Betting Writer, Yahoo Sports, joins Cheddar Bets to break down what bettors should be wary of and opportunistic about when betting on football games featuring winter weather.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Alex Christenson, host of Brown Bag Bets, joins Cheddar Bets to break down how bettors should think about betting NBA over/unders and player props on a nightly basis.
Sponsored by BetMGM