GRUNGECAKE

Category: Sports

  • Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement after nearly a decade together

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    In an Instagram post dated August 11, 2025, Georgina Rodríguez confirmed her engagement to football icon Cristiano Ronaldo with a touching caption: 

    “Yes I do. In this life and in all my lives.”

    The dazzling engagement ring quickly became the subject of global fascination. Experts estimate the oval-cut centre diamond to weigh anywhere between 15 and 35 carats, with side stones contributing to a total of around thirty-seven carats. Its price tag? Estimates range from $2 million to $5 million, depending on the diamond’s quality and craftsmanship. Laura Taylor of Lorel Diamonds calls it “extraordinary”, while social-media jewellery critic Julia Chafe humorously compared its weight to that of a kettlebell.

    The couple first met in 2016 at a Gucci store in Madrid, where Georgina was working. Their relationship became public in 2017, and over the years, they have built a close-knit blended family. They share daughters Alana and Bella, twins Eva and Mateo, and Ronaldo’s son Cristiano Jr. The couple also tragically endured the loss of a newborn son, Ángel, in 2022.

    Currently based in Riyadh, where Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr, the announcement marks a new chapter in their high-profile partnership. Fans and celebrities flooded social media with congratulations, describing the post as social-media gold. Though details about the wedding—such as timing or venue—haven’t been released, expectations are high that it will be a grand, globally watched affair.

  • Sha’Carri Richardson arrested on domestic violence charge ahead of USA Track & Field Championships 2025

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    Olympic and world champion sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, 25, was arrested on July 27, 2025, at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, facing a fourth‑degree domestic violence assault charge following an altercation with her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman. According to police reports, Richardson and Coleman engaged in a heated verbal argument after passing through TSA security. An arresting officer and airport footage showed Richardson allegedly pushing Coleman multiple times, causing him to fall into a column. She also reportedly threw a pair of headphones at him.

    Coleman declined to press charges or cooperate further, stating he did not wish to be officially identified as a victim. Despite his refusal, Richardson was booked at the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, on the evening of July 27 and released the following afternoon, July 28. Just days after the incident, she appeared at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Richardson advanced through the preliminary round of the women’s 100 metres, clocking 11.07 seconds to finish second in her heat. However, she later withdrew from the semifinals, as well as the 200 metre event.

    Richardson holds an automatic berth in the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, thanks to her win as world 100 metre champion in 2023. USA Track & Field acknowledged being aware of the incident but has issued no formal comment thus far. Richardson’s rising star continues to navigate turbulence off the track—from Olympic medals in Paris 2024 (silver in the 100 m, gold in the 4×100 m relay) to fallout from her airport arrest. The legal outcome and her future competition status remain uncertain as the investigation proceeds.

  • Deion Sanders overcomes bladder cancer, sparks rumours with Karrueche Tran

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    On July 28, 2025, NFL legend and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders publicly revealed his recent battle with aggressive bladder cancer. The diagnosis came during a routine scan prompted by recurring blood clot issues. Sanders underwent surgery to remove his bladder and had a reconstructed organ built using a segment of his small intestine. According to Dr Janet Kukreja and his medical team, he is now officially cancer‑free.

    Sanders described the ordeal as physically and emotionally grueling yet optimistic, having lost about twenty-five pounds during the process. He candidly discussed major lifestyle changes post‑surgery, including unpredictable bladder control and the need for adult incontinence wear. Despite these challenges—and with a trademark sense of humor—he joked about needing a portable toilet on the sideline during games.

    In a surprising new development, footage surfaced of actress Karrueche Tran by Sanders’ hospital bedside during surgery. In the video, Tran is visibly emotional as she describes the bladder reconstruction process, fueling speculation of a deeper personal connection between them. TMZ reported that this appearance, alongside prior sightings and a lunch date, has intensified dating rumors—even though neither Sanders nor Tran has officially commented on the nature of their relationship.

    Throughout the press conference, Coach Prime emphasised the importance of early health screenings, encouraging all men to get evaluated and not ignore warning signs. The truth of his diagnosis remained private from his sons to avoid distraction, as he revealed that they were told the issue was a foot problem instead. Now entering his third season with the Buffaloes—fresh off a 9‑4 record and bowl appearance—Sanders is committed to leading the team forward on and off the field. Sanders’ recovery and message of resilience shine through his health saga—and whether the romance rumours hold water or not, people are paying attention.

  • Philadelphia 76ers select VJ Edgecombe with third overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

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    VJ Edgecombe, 19, was named the 2024-25 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honours after producing 15.0 points on 43.6-percent shooting (34.0% 3FG, 78.2% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals, and 32.7 minutes in thirty-three games during his lone collegiate season. His sixty-eight steals last season were tied for the fourth-most throughout the conference and set the all-time record by a freshman in programme history.

    The Baylor product led all Big 12 freshmen in scoring whilst also ranking third in both rebounds and assists among the conference’s freshmen class. He produced six games of at least twenty points at the collegiate ranks, including a career-best thirty points on 8-of-13 shooting (11-12 FT) against Kansas State on January 22. Edgecombe also had at least three makes from beyond arc on seven occasions last season, shooting at least 50.0-percent from deep in five of those contests.

    Edgecombe’s versatility was on full display at the college ranks, having finished the 2024-25 campaign as one of seven players nationwide – and one of only two freshmen – to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals.

    A member of the Bahamian National Team at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Edgecombe reached the 20-point mark in two of the team’s four games, averaging 16.5 points on 57.1-percent shooting (38.5% 3FG) and 2.0 steals in FIBA competition. He was also named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year in consecutive years from 2022-24, in addition to being selected as a 2024 McDonald’s All-American prior to attending Baylor.

  • Simone Biles retreats from X after heated feud with Riley Gaines

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    In a dramatic twist to a high-profile social media clash, Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in Olympic history, has deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account following an intense feud with former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports activist Riley Gaines.

    The spark

    It all ignited in early June, when Gaines criticized Champlin Park High School in Minnesota for featuring a transgender athlete—a girl born male—in their state championship-winning softball team. Gaines’s post read, “To be expected when your star player is a boy”, which Biles—an outspoken advocate—saw as public shaming and bullying.

    Biles responded with fire, tweeting that Gaines was “truly sick… straight up a sore loser”, referencing a tie with trans swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022. She added: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

    Backlash and apology

    Immediate backlash followed. Critics argued Biles had veered into body shaming and personal attacks. Within days, Biles issued a public apology: she acknowledged she had let emotion override empathy and emphasised her goal was not to politicise trans participation, but to defend kids—especially trans kids—from being singled out unfairly.

    The exit from X

    Then, quietly yet decisively, her X account disappeared. TMZ reported the deletion came shortly after the conflict escalated—Gaines even suggested it was a reaction to overwhelming ridicule.

    Gaines confirmed the move on X, saying: “Sad to see such a phenom go down like this”. Though Biles retains her presence on Instagram and Threads, her departure from X marks a rare retreat into silence.

    Reflection and resilience

    On Instagram, Biles posted a cryptic story: “Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive.” It’s a quiet testament to how public pressure and personal missteps can become crucibles for growth.

    What it all means

    This episode underscores three truths:

    1. Public figures walk a tightrope
    Biles was intent on defending trans youth, but her personal barbs eclipsed the message, drawing criticism even from her own support base.

    2. Social media can fuel both empowerment and collapse
    It allowed Biles to weigh in on a divisive issue—but also forced her into a defensive stance and ultimately off the platform.

    3. Personal reflection over public posturing
    Her apology and Instagram post suggest Biles is turning inward, seeking strength from adversity more than external validation.

    Final threads

    Simone Biles’s fall—and subtle comeback—speaks volumes about the complexity of today’s cultural battlefield. When even an Olympic champion is accused of crossing a line, it reminds us how nuanced conversations about fairness, identity, and respect have become. Her deactivation of X is not just a retreat—it’s a recalibration. The cryptic message hints at hard-earned wisdom: maybe the most powerful statement is silence.

  • Lil Wayne talks to Tony Hawk about ‘Pro Skater 3+4’, his career and more on Apple Music 1

    Lil Wayne is back with a brand-new episode of Young Money Radio on Apple Music 1. This week, legendary pro skateboarder Tony Hawk drops in to talk about his journey as one of the first celebrity skaters to break into the mainstream, the highly anticipated release of his video game Tony Hawk’s ‘Pro Skater 3 + 4’ coming this Summer, and his vision for the future of the skating world.

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    Video | Lil Wayne & Tony Hawk: Skateboarding, Video Games & Stardom | Young Money Radio

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    Tony Hawk talks to Lil Wayne about not fully living in the moment during the height of his success

    Lil Wayne: Now, were you able to actually enjoy the moment or was it all moving too fast? If you had the chance to run it back, what would you do differently?

    Tony Hawk: If I had the chance to run it back, I would enjoy the camaraderie more. I was so hyper-focused on skating, getting better.

    Lil Wayne: Getting better. Yeah.

    Tony Hawk: And then at some point, my sponsors expected the most of me from competitions because I was leading the competitive circuit. So, it just became like I was a machine and I’d go to the contest, I’d hide new tricks, practice all day. Then, I’d come in with a strategy. And even that was sucking the fun out of it. And so if I could run it back, I would’ve just took more chances and had more fun with all the people around.

    Lil Wayne: Have more fun.

    Tony Hawk: Because I do see videos of all the skaters back then, Grasso and Lance and everyone. They’re having so much fun.

    Lil Wayne: So much fun.

    Tony Hawk: And you just see me on the deck, laser focused like, “I got to make all the tricks.”

    Tony Hawk talks to Lil Wayne about becoming one of the first celebrity pro skaters and brining skating into a mainstream culture

    Tony Hawk: Things were wild, especially when our video game got released and suddenly there people just knew my name. Not just associated with skateboarding, but associated with video games. And I was getting invited to all these different events and talk shows and it was wild. And at some point, I was like, “Oh, these people don’t know anything about skateboarding.”

    Lil Wayne: Exactly.

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    Tony Hawk: And it’s up to me to explain it and to represent it realistically, fairly. It was weird because the video game was released, like you said. I was 31. I was already old for a skater in terms of what people considered skating then. And I was a vert skater, so it was like, “This dude? This old vert skater is going to represent us?” And I felt that, but at the same time I was happy to, because I embraced skating for all of it.

    Lil Wayne: Every piece of it.

    Tony Hawk: Hopping fences and for the renegade aspect. I did it because it set me apart from my schoolmates and my peers and people who played traditional sports. And I love that, that’s what it was. And it was the culture and the music and everything else. And so when I had a chance to be a spokesperson, I embraced it.

    Tony Hawk talks to Lil Wayne about the upcoming release of Tony Hawk’s ‘Pro Skater 3 + 4’ and what fans can expect from the new game

    Lil Wayne: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 drops this summer. Wait, it’s 3 + 4. What that mean?

    Tony Hawk: It’s a remake of 3 and 4. With some new surprises in there.

    Lil Wayne: Okay. Now, what are you most excited for in this release? What are some of the new features and surprises fans should watch for?

    Tony Hawk: Oh, man. Well, I’m just excited that we even still get to do video games, to be honest. And once we released 1 + 2, that was in 2020, it didn’t seem like 3 + 4 was going to happen. There were a bunch of hurdles that we had to overcome, and the group that made 1 + 2 got disbanded, and there was just all these challenges. And then I’ll never forget, I got the call from Activision head and it’s like, “I think we found the studio to do 3 + 4. And I was like, “We’re really doing it?

    Lil Wayne: Fuck yeah.

    Tony Hawk: Amazing. Yeah. And now we’re pretty close. It’s going to be released this Summer. I can’t say much about it, but it’s the best of three, it’s the best of four and new stuff that I think people were going to be pleasantly surprised about.

    Tony Hawk talks to Lil Wayne about the challenges of becoming pro skater then vs now and the future of skateboarding

    Lil Wayne: Well, now what does it take to go pro now compared to when you were coming up and what new challenges do today’s skaters face that you didn’t?

    Tony Hawk: Well, it’s just a sea of talent. So to rise above it, you got to do something truly special.

    Lil Wayne: Yeah. Social media.

    Tony Hawk: Either through competition or through social media. You could be as much of a personality as you are a good skater, and that could cut through the noise. I think it’s just you got to have a brand. I hate that whole idea, you got to be an influencer, you got to have a brand, but you can have a very specific style of skating, and if no one else can really touch it, that’ll rise above.

    Lil Wayne: When you say that, it makes me think of… It made me think of little Ayssa.

    Tony Hawk: Oh, Rayssa. Yeah, amazing.

    Lil Wayne: Yeah, I remember she-

    Tony Hawk: Her whole thing started with the heel flip in a tutu.

    Lil Wayne: With the tutu.

    Tony Hawk: Yeah.

    Lil Wayne: That’s exactly what I was saying.

    Tony Hawk: That was it. I didn’t know her name, but I reposted it myself. I was like, “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I love it.”

    Lil Wayne: Look, that’s beautiful. Exactly.

    Tony Hawk: Now, she’s the best female street skater.

    Tony Hawk talks to Lil Wayne about Stacy Peralta pioneering skateboarding content with Bones Brigade videos

    Lil Wayne: Now, before there was YouTube, the Bones Brigade videos gave Skateboard fans a better looking to the world you guys created. Do you think you guys pioneered a lot of the sports content creating now?

    Tony Hawk: I would credit Stacey Peralta with that.

    Lil Wayne: Okay.

    Tony Hawk: Stacy Peralta was the one who wanted to make skate videos. Right. When videotapes came out, when home videos just started, he started making skate videos.

    Lil Wayne: Skate videos.

    Tony Hawk: And people started buying them for VCRs. He was a pioneer in that whole movement. So, I credit him. And also the idea that he wanted to create this feature length movie about us chasing this mythical character. We didn’t get it. We were in because we trusted Stacy, but we didn’t know. We’re not actors, we’re skaters.

    Lil Wayne: You didn’t know that it was going to be what it became?

    Tony Hawk: Oh, no. I never knew that it would be endlessly quoted.

    Lil Wayne: Yeah. It’s still the Holy Grail. Just so you know.

    Tony Hawk: I look at it, it’s fun. And I’m still skating with those guys. It’s crazy. Cab McGill are at my ramp all the time. Lance is still skating backyard pools. Rodney is still skating at midnight. Tommy’s still cruising. It’s wild.

  • Meet Starter’s Beasts of the Big East collection star players today at Macy’s Herald Square

    Today at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City from 4-7 PM EST, Starter fans will get to celebrate Starter’s Beasts of the Big East collection! During the event, fans would enjoy a special live broadcast of the Big East Rewind Podcast starring Chuck Everson and Sonny Spera with special guest Carl Banks and surprise player appearances.

    The Starter Beasts of the Big East campaign was shot at teams home courts, bringing the collection to life with star players like St John’s RJ Lewis, Kadary Richmond, Seton Hall’s Jahseem Felton, Providence’s Bryce Hopkins and many more repping their school’s capsule in a celebration of team pride and tradition. Shot against the backdrop of game-day energy, it captures the unstoppable spirit of this fan-favorite conference. Carl can share what the players’ energy is like going into the tournament.

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    The Beasts of the East collect spotlights legendary teams like St John’s, UCONN, Providence, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette, Creighton, DePaul, Butler, Seton Hall, and Xavier with bold, retro-inspired designs that honour their iconic legacies and electrify fan culture. Exclusively available at Macy’s Herald Square and Lid’s on 42nd Street, whilst supplies last.

    Starter is one of the most innovative and authentic sports apparel companies in the world.

  • Senegal prepares to host Africa’s first Olympic event: the Youth Olympic Games 2026

    Thirty-five International Federations (IFs) will be involved in these Games, with 25 sports featuring on the competition programme and 10 to be part of the engagement programme

    Senegal will welcome the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil. Dakar 2026 will take place over two weeks from October 31, 2026, bringing together 2,700 of the best young athletes from around the world.

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    The YOG will be held in three host sites (Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly), and are envisioned to serve as a catalyst to transform Senegal through sport, whilst also aiming to inspire new hope, opportunities and confidence among young people across Africa and become a blueprint for future YOG hosts. This approach is embodied in the Games’ motto, “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates”, which underscores the uniqueness of this YOG edition: Senegal is the first African country to host an Olympic sports event. The Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) emphasises that the YOG will be an event for the entire African continent.

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    In creating the motto, Dakar 2026 showed its desire to develop a brand that highlights its unique vision for the YOG, seeking to create an event that combines the Senegalese Teranga — the host nation’s generosity of spirit and hospitality – with sport, youth, hope and celebration.

    Thirty-five International Federations (IFs) will be involved in these Games, with twenty-five sports featuring on the competition programme and ten to be part of the engagement programme. Dakar 2026 will showcase one discipline from each of the twenty-five sports on the competition programme. These are athletics (track and field), aquatics (swimming), archery, badminton, baseball (Baseball5), basketball (3×3), boxing, breaking, cycling (road cycling), equestrian (jumping), fencing, football (futsal), gymnastics (artistic), handball (beach handball), judo, rowing (coastal rowing), rugby (rugby sevens), sailing, skateboarding (street), table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball (beach volleyball), wrestling (beach wrestling) and wushu.

    Additionally, Dakar 2026 will feature an engagement programme showcasing ten sports: canoe-kayak, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, shooting, sport climbing, surfing, tennis and weightlifting. These will not feature in the competition programme but will be promoted through interactive activities on site and via digital platforms, emphasising their role as integral components and an official part of the YOG.

    In total, the Games will feature one hundred fifty one events – split equally between men and women, with seventy-two events for each, alongside seven mixed-gender events. For the first time in the history of the Summer YOG, full gender equality will be achieved – not only in the overall athlete quota but also across every sport, discipline and event.

  • 2025 Basketball Africa League Combine to be held January 10-12 in Rabat, Morocco

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    The Basketball Africa League will host a Combine in Rabat for a second consecutive year from Friday, January 10 – Sunday, January 12. The three-day scouting event, which will be held at the Ibn Yassine Omnisports Hall, will feature more than thirty aspiring players from Africa, Europe, the United States, and around the world taking part in anthropometric and athletic testing, positional skill development, and 5-on-5 games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts. Six coaches who took part in the Africa Coaches Program at the NBA 2K25 Summer League last July in Las Vegas: Ahmed Salam (Algeria), Francois Enyegue (Cameroon), Leonel Manhique (Mozambique), Mohamed Lamine Kriedeche (Algeria), Ruth Glenna (Gabon) and Victor Samnick (Cameroon) will be part of the coaching staff.

    As part of the Combine, the league will host a BAL4HER women’s camp on January 10 to empower and develop talented young female athletes. The one-day camp will bring together twenty U-23 prospects from local communities around Rabat for an on-court development session. BAL4HER is the league’s platform for advancing gender equity in the African sports ecosystem and celebrating women in the sports industry who serve as role models to young women across the continent. The league will also host a coaching clinic for one-hundred local coaches.

    The BAL’s milestone fifth season will tip off on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco and culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, marking the first BAL games in Morocco and the first time the BAL Finals will be held in South Africa. The 2025 BAL season will feature the top twelve club teams from twelve African countries playing forty-eight games in Rabat; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda; and Pretoria.

    The twelve teams will once again be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a twelve-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. The Kalahari Conference group phase will take place from April 5 – Sunday, April 13 in Rabat. The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, May 4 at the Dakar Arena in Senegal. The Nile Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 25 at BK Arena in Kigali. Eight teams from across the three conferences will qualify for the Playoffs in Pretoria, which will tip off on Friday, June 6 and culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14. Fans can register their interest in tickets to games in all four markets at this link.

  • TIME names WNBA star player Caitlin Clark TIME 100’s ‘Athlete of the Year’

    Caitlin Clark has been named “TIME 100’s Athlete of the Year for 2024”, a testament to her transformative impact on women’s basketball and sports culture. The twenty-two-year-old phenom has shattered records and redefined the fan experience during her illustrious career at the University of Iowa and now in the WNBA. Clark’s electrifying performances have captivated audiences, setting attendance and viewership records. She led Iowa to the 2023 NCAA Championship game, during which nearly ten million viewers tuned in—a milestone for women’s college basketball viewership. Her unparalleled scoring ability, including a record-breaking 191 points in the 2023 NCAA tournament, solidifies her as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

    Beyond statistics, Clark’s influence extends to boosting the sport’s visibility. Her games consistently draw massive live audiences, and she’s been credited with bringing newfound attention and respect to women’s basketball. TIME’s recognition celebrates her not just as an athlete, but as a cultural icon who has elevated women’s sports to unprecedented levels.

    From her collegiate stardom to her professional journey, Caitlin Clark continues to inspire young athletes while breaking barriers in sports. This accolade cements her place in history as a trailblazer redefining what’s possible on and off the court.