German sprinter Alica Schmidt – regularly dubbed ‘the world’s hottest athlete’ – has put the disappointment of her Tokyo Olympics flop behind her by announcing she will be modelling at Milan fashion week.
Schmidt, 22, was part of the German track and field squad which traveled to Japan in the summer but was ultimately overlooked for a spot in the women’s and mixed 4x400m relay events.
The blonde bombshell revealed after her Olympic disappointment that she was “going to take a break” but was “looking forward to coming back feeling fresh and ready to train hard again.”
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom in Tokyo as Schmidt added a reported 400,000 followers to her Instagram account, taking her tally to a whopping 2.4 million.
The eye-catching sprinter continues to attract the attention of various sponsors – including fashion titans Hugo Boss.
As Schmidt excitedly revealed to fans this week, she has jetted off to model for the company at Milan Fashion Week, which runs from September 21 to 27.
“I’m in a great good mood and I’m already totally excited, because I’m flying to Milan today!” Schmidt said on her Instagram Stories.
“It will certainly be very, very cool days in Milan. On Thursday will be the ‘Hugo Boss Fashion Show’ and I will be a part of it!”
Schmidt shared clips of herself preparing for the trip and also arriving at Hugo Boss for a fitting.
She noted, however, that she was still set on pursuing her athletics career despite briefly swapping the track for the catwalk.
With her striking looks, athletic figure and following of millions on social media, it’s easy to see why Hugo Boss would turn to Schmidt for some promotion.
The track temptress has previously revealed that Playboy reached out to her over the possibility of a somewhat more revealing shoot, but that she would prefer to “give way to others” in that respect.
Schmidt has also been at pains to show herself already gearing up for next season, sharing a host of training clips on social media and writing “a lot of laps today” just before she set off for Italy.
The controversial taunting penalty rule brought into the NFL has already been blasted by fans, players and pundits. Yet anyone claiming it is an attempt to ‘control black bodies’ is merely guilty of race-baiting.
American football, or just football depending on where you’re from, is one of the most complex sports, comparable to chess with the exception that it is played by men with an average weight of 245lbs and height of 6ft 2in.
It evolves every season tactically to mind-boggling levels, with the ruling body of its most elite championship, the NFL, bringing in new rule changes.
Penalties for taunting are 2021’s primary offering, and have already played their part in costing the Seattle Seahawks victory in their Week Two overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Going against the thoughts of his former coach in the dynasty they built at the New England Patriots in Bill Belichick, who has dubbed taunting“poor sportsmanship”, the sport’s greatest ever player Tom Brady has joined the throng of voices against the alteration.
Yet instead of leading a movement to get the ruling scrapped, some parties such as USA Today’s Mike Freeman have argued that it is really about “control of black bodies”.
“Control of the player base, which is 70% Black, has long been the mantra of NFL ownership and some front office members,” opined the sports hack.
“Owners, mostly, don’t see the players as partners. They see them as something to dominate.
“They still see them as cattle, something stated blatantly by former Dallas Cowboys executive Tex Schramm.”
Firstly, let’s look at one of the main champions of introducing the rule: New York Giants owner John Mara.
“We get kind of sick and tired of the taunting that does go on from time to time on the field,” Mara said as his motive for getting behind the switch.
Rather than stamp out protest when taking the knee came to the forefront of the discourse thanks to Colin Kaepernick, Mara backed his players despite voicing a preference that they stand during the national anthem.
“I will support your right to do that because I believe in the first amendment and I believe in the right for people, especially players, to take a knee in silent protest,” Mara said.
“I understand the fact and accept the fact that that’s not going to be necessarily popular with certain segments of our fanbase, but I think it’s the right thing to do.”
So why then would he take such a stance that risked alienating supporters and would hit him in the pocket, only to then back a taunting penalty for supposed control of those same men he empathized with?
I partly blame John Mara for these taunting calls, just because your team has been out here getting smoked for the last 5 years and has been taunted against, doesn't mean you should take emotion out of the game for the players.
Perhaps his enthusiasm for the switch is more rooted in sore pettiness over the Giants’ dismal 18-48 record since 2017, which is the joint-worst in the NFL shared with their cross city rivals the Jets.
With just one playoff appearance since winning the Super Bowl in 2012, a first-round, Wild Card exit against the Green Bay Packers in 2016, there is certainly plenty for rival players to taunt the Giants about.
No wonder Mara is sick of it. But racism, really?
As for the Dallas Cowboys, their owner Jerry Jones even went as far as to take the knee with his players; hardly the plantation owners Freeman would have you think.
Bills have 39 wins since 2017
Jets & Giants have 36 combined wins since 2017
The Jets and Giants are tied for the worst record in the NFL since 2017 at 18-48. pic.twitter.com/aQnn8Q5zsD
One thing that plenty can agree on is that taunting is part of the sport as long as it doesn’t go over the top.
But to seemingly claim ownership of it on the behalf of the black community also doesn’t sit well.
Granted the NFL is 70% black, but taunting is carried out by players of all races, while Freeman has been pulled up on Twitter for overreaching in pushing others to conclude that white players won’t be flagged due to the color of their skin.
Known as ‘sledging’, taunting is just as much a key component of white-majority sports such as cricket, with the Ashes series played between an England team predominantly made up of posh private school boys and an Australian outfit composed of surfers, city slickers and country folk where it is most commonly found.
Jimmy Anderson laughs off reports that he hasn't received a knighthood yet due to concerns about sledging when England go to Australia for the Ashes. pic.twitter.com/HZPxi5maZe
Just like this past weekend’s #EmmysSoWhite campaign, Freeman seems to be race-baiting for the sake of it, finding problems where there aren’t any by bringing skin color into something that is a blanket rule for everyone.
Surely the energy of a race and inequality editor would be better spent on genuine issues, such as the lack of black coaches in the league and the poor execution of the Rooney Rule?
“One theory is that the league knew it might face potential backlash from conservatives over some of the social justice measures it planned to enact this season, and the taunting rule emphasis was a way to appease conservatives who don’t like the measures,” Freeman writes, before adding: “The taunting rule is a sort of social justice counterbalance.”
Nonsense, just like the overall point that somehow NFL players can be in any sense controlled.
Routinely the highest-paid players in the world of any profession, showered with endorsements, and with millions of followers on social media accounts where they often voice their views – for better or for worse – players also have the kind of financial freedom to sit out whole seasons if they wish.
Rather than make presumptions on their behalf, it might be an idea to ask them what they think about the rule.
You may well find that any criticism would be about its ridiculousness and how it hampers the balance and integrity of the game, as opposed to feeling controlled along the lines of race.
By Tom Sanderson
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe has reportedly been pulled from a celebrity boxing match, following concerns over the fight featuring fellow veteran Evander Holyfield earlier this month.
Former heavyweight king Holyfield, 58, lasted less than one round in an exhibition comeback against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in Florida on September 11, in an event organized by entertainment platform Triller which was widely condemned as a dangerous farce.
Bowe – whose only defeat in a 45-fight professional career came to Holyfield in 1993 – was slated to follow in the footsteps of his former rival as well as the likes of Mike Tyson by returning to the ring in search of a payday.
In the case of 54-year-old Bowe, that was due to come in the form of a showdown against former NBA champion Lamar Odom at James L. Knight Arena in Miami on October 2.
But according to TMZ Sports, Bowe has now been pulled out of the event and a new opponent will be sought for the 41-year-old Odom.
The decision will come as a relief for many fans and pundits who had been concerned by what transpired with Holyfield, and also by footage of Bowe looking labored in training for the bout.
The backlash and potential dangers appear to have proved too much for organizers Celebrity Boxing and founder Damon Feldman to stomach.
Here’s Riddick Bowe, in preparation for his upcoming fight, and he’s being told “good job” This makes me feel sick, another man should be no where near a boxing ring @loudibellapic.twitter.com/spPFBF85Uv
Bowe last fought professionallyin 2008, earning a unanimous decision victory in an eight-round contest with Germany’s Gene Pukall.
A former Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year, Bowe famously defeated Holyfield in two of their three fights.
Talk of his return has caused consternation, with promoter and producer Lou Di Bella tweeting that the proposed fight was “barbaric and beyond dangerous.”
“This is a human train-wreck waiting to happen,” added Di Bella.
No. Just NO!!!! This is barbaric and beyond dangerous. The fact that no regulatory body has already put the kibosh on this is shocking and unacceptable. This isn’t sport. This isn’t #boxing. This is a human train-wreck waiting to happen. WTF! pic.twitter.com/s8oUWk5RrQ
Bowe’s life has famously gone off the rails on several occasions outside the ring, including when the former heavyweight icon spent a 17-month stint in prison for kidnapping his family.
During an appeal into his sentence, Bowe’s legal team had argued that he had suffered brain damage from taking blows to the head, which impaired his decision-making.
The fighter known as ‘Big Daddy’ also endured financial woes after frittering away much of the fortune he earned inside the ring.
Former LA Lakers star Odom is one of a host of names from outside the world of boxing to cash in on the appetite for celebrity crossover fights in recent years.
He appeared in an exhibition match with singer Aaron Carter in June of this year, knocking him out in the second round in farcical scenes.
He will now await a new opponent in Miami in October.
Golf pin-up Paige Spiranac has said she wants Team US captain Steve Stricker to put together bitter rivals Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau at the upcoming Ryder Cup, claiming they would be “unstoppable”.
The ex-pro golfer and social media sensation took to Twitter to voice her wishes for the epic competition against Europe, which will be played at Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin from Friday onwards.
“Bryson/Brooks would be an unstoppable team. Pair them together. It’s what we all want,” she wrote.
As golf fans will know, Koepka and DeChambeau form one of the modern game’s fiercest rivalries.
Not just two of its most prolific winners, they share what is said to be a genuine dislike of each other.
Bryson/Brooks would be an unstoppable team. Pair them together. It’s what we all want.
More recently in May this year, while doing an interview at the PGA Championship, Koepka complained about noisy spikes on DeChambeau’s shoes as he walked behind him.
In a viral video, he told his interviewer: “I lost my train of thought, yeah. Hearing that bullsh*t.”
Though now backing their union, stunning Spiranac quipped that she would “pay an unlimited amount” to see the men physically settle their differences.
In the build-up to the sport’s most prestigious team tournament, however, Koepka has attempted to defuse the row this week.
“A lot of this social media stuff has definitely been driven by a lot of external factors, not necessarily us two,” he said.
“We had some great conversations during Tour Championship week when we had dinner. Then this week I sat down and had dinner with him last night, and it was fine.
“I think there may be something fun coming up here moving forward, but won’t speak too much more on that,” Koepka concluded.
Postponed from last year and therefore named Ryder Cup 2020 like other delayed spectacles such as the football European Championships and the Olympics this summer, this edition will be the 43rd in golfing history.
Stricker, who may not heed Spiranac’s advice, will attempt to win back the crown for the Americans after Europe won in France in 2018.
The US restored pride on home soil in Minnesota in 2016.
But this century, save for another rare American victory in Kentucky in 2008, has mostly seen European dominance with the outfit this time led by Padraig Harrington lifting the trophy seven times out of a possible nine.
Footage has emerged showing MMA fighter Dillon Danis being restrained on the ground before the Bellator star was arrested and reportedly hit with disorderly conduct charges at the weekend.
According to a report obtained by MMA Fighting, Danis was charged by police after he “created a disturbance” at the Beachcomber Bar and Grill in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
A supposed mugshot also appeared online, while a spokesperson for the Seaside Heights court confirmed the charge, with Danis set to return there on October 19 as per a summons.
After posting a defiant “you need people like me” tweet, Conor McGregor training partner Danis became the target of more mockery after more footage showing the incident began to circulate on social media on Wednesday.
In the clip, the Bellator MMA fighter is seen being held to the ground and restrained by what seems to be a security guard, although the police appear in the proximity.
“This dude is down bad,” wrote another onlooker, who shared the footage that has already been seen more than 100,000 times.
“Any wonder why Conor still has zero ground game?” a separate party posed regarding Danis’ notorious Irish training partner.
But some did leap to the 2-0 Bellator fighter’s defense.
“Or dude is probably blacked out and doesn’t want to go jail for like five years plus for resisting arrest and get a felony assault on officer…,” one theorist concluded.
That’s what I thought. I don’t like the guy much, but it’s not like this was a cage fight and he could go all out against a cop
