From another season with NBA King LeBron James to the return of gymnastics royalty, here's what's happening in entertainment.

The King's Return

The 2023 ESPY Awards went down in Los Angeles last night and, as expected, it was a star-studded affair that paid tribute to the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, honored Damar Hamlin and the Buffalo Bills medical crew that saved his life, and included a major announcement from LeBron James.

After receiving the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance, honoring the NBA star's rise to all-time leading scorer, he confirmed that he will be returning to the floor for his 21st season.

"I love this game. I love the game of basketball," he said. "I don't care how many more points I score or what I can or cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is 'Can I play without cheating this game?' The day I can't give the game everything on the floor is the day I'll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today."

James confirmed that he has "a lot left" in the tank so we should expect to see him playing for years to come. 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YonmfL9GvOw[youtube]

Sha'Carri Has a Question

Fresh off of her first U.S national title win in the 100 meter final last weekend, Sha'Carri Richardson questioned why she was not invited to this year's ESPY Awards.

"The ESPYS invited me when my life was in shambles as if I was a charity case. The disrespect that track & field receives in the USA alone is nasty. Half of the athletes there now could not do what we do on our WORST day," she said in a tweet.

Richardson was referring to her 2021 season, when she won the 100 meter final to advance to the Tokyo Olympics, but was later disqualified after testing positive for marijuana. In recent weeks, she has been campaigning for track and field sprinters to unionize to address low pay and called for a meeting of athletes ahead of the national competition. It is likely she sought to use the ESPYs platform to bring even more attention to her cause – particularly as she continues to dominate in the sport.

[twitter]https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1679293054295867393[twitter]

Team USA Gymnastics Paris 2024

Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas has announced she's ready to get back into competition. 

Douglas' last competition was the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. After that, she announced she was stepping back to focus on her mental health. In 2017 the world learned about the abuse many top gymnasts, including Douglas, suffered while in the care of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Former teammates Simone Biles and Suni Lee have also indicated they want to compete in Paris, so a reunion of heavy-hitters could be on the horizon. 

[instagram]https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuo-xwfLpV2/?img_index=1[instagram]

Share:
More In Sports
New York's Tax Rate Poses Potential Challenge to Mobile Sportsbooks
Earlier this week, New York's gaming commission approved nine mobile sports platforms to operate in the market, but each respective sportsbooks' revenue will be taxed at 51%, tied for the steepest rate in the country. Eben Novy-Williams, sports business reporter for Sportico, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell where he breaks down the challenge sportsbooks face to be profitable in the region.
Data Helping the Seattle Seahawks Win Off the Field
One NFL team says it is using data to help it win off the field. The Seattle Seahawks say they want to be a source of inspiration for other organizations that want to reap the rewards of a data-driven culture and aim to show the unlikely role data can play in professional sports operations. Seattle Seahawks Director of Business Strategy and Analytics Paimon Jaberi joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Another Week of College Football Playoff Shakeups
Mark Drumheller, Betting Analyst for the Sharp App, tells viewers who to back in a pair of key college football matchups and shares who to put your Heisman bets in for before it's too late. Sponsored by BetMGM
NFL Mid-Season Awards
Martin Weiss, Extra Points Podcast Network Host and Gambling Personality, provides his betting insight on what to expect for the remainder of the NFL season and doles out some NFL Mid-Season Awards. Sponsored by BetMGM
Betting a Big Week in the AFC
BetMGM host Olivia Harlan Dekker joins Cheddar Bets to break down a week with massive implications for the AFC Playoff picture. Plus: the debut of Olivia's Weekend Portfolio. Sponsored by BetMGM
Load More