Brandon Santomauro
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Articles by Brandon Santomauro
Top 5 NBA Players Who Returned Back To Their Former Teams
Left team: Trail Blazers (2023) —- Milwaukee Bucks Returned: 2025 Impact: Lillard was traded after playing 11 seasons in Portland, yet his departure to Milwaukee only lasted two seasons. That is, upon being released by the Bucks, Lillard recently decided to return to the Blazers on a three-year/$45 million deal.
Commanders Star Terry McLaurin Requests Trade From Team Amid Contract Negotiations
Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin has requested a trade on Thursday after contract negotiations have become stagnant, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Terry McLaurin requested a trade, as @Schultz_Report also reported. pic.twitter.com/USLMPGiPwt — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2025 In view of a potential deal, both sides seem to be far apart. That is, McLaurin already held out for the first four days of training camp before reporting Sunday.
Shannon Sharpe Fired By ESPN Weeks After Settling $50 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit
NFL Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe has been let go by ESPN, and will no longer appear on the network's top-rated show "First Take," two weeks after he settled a $50 million lawsuit with an ex-girlfriend. BREAKING: ESPN has fired Shannon Sharpe, per @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/qN3lnVoGeV — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 30, 2025 Despite Sharpe's claims of his relationship being "100% consensual," the sexual assault and battery allegations may have cost him his career at ESPN.
Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Operating Illegal Gambling Business
Former NBA superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on Wednesday for his connection with a federal indictment that alleges the three-time All-Star hosted illegal high-stakes poker games at his mansion in Encino, California, per United States Attorney's Office of Central California.
NYC Shooter Revealed As Ex-Football Player Targeting NFL Headquarters, Left Note Mentioning CTE
A 27-year-old man, identified as Shane Tamura, killed four people and wounded a fifth person after opening fire at the NFL headquarters 345 Park Avenue building in New York City on Monday. According to police, after discovering a suicide note on the mass shooter, it is now revealed that he claimed to suffer from CTE and had an alleged vendetta against the NFL.
MLB Hall Of Famer Ryne Sandberg Passes Away At 65 After Battle With Cancer
The Chicago Cubs organization announced that beloved second baseman Ryne Sandberg has passed away at the age of 65, following a battle with prostate cancer. With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today. pic.twitter.com/LJJ0jGqSy5 — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 29, 2025 In January 2024, Sandberg first announced his diagnosis, while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Damian Lillard Returns Home To Portland, Agrees To Deal With Blazers In Storybook Fashion
After 11 seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers (2012-2023), 9x All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a deal to return to his former team in the aftermath of the the Milwaukee Bucks waiving him earlier this month. BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old.
Shane Gillis Under Fire For Unhinged Jokes In Controversial ESPYS Host Performance
Comedian Shane Gillis was front and center on stage while hosting the annual ESPYS award show, with the best athletes across all sports seated in the audience. That is, there seemed to be ambivalent reactions from the crowd, as Gillis certainly didn't hold back when handing out roasts and pushing some boundaries with personal shots and political jokes. Shane Gillis’s full ESPYS monologue What was your favorite joke?
Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Arrested By ICE, Set To Be Deported Days After Fight With Jake Paul
LOS ANGELES —- Days after famous boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. lost his high-profile match to Jake Paul, he was arrested for illegal stay in the U.S., and is set to be deported back to his home country Mexico, where he also faces organized crime charges for his affiliation with the Sinaloa cartel (per Homeland Security). Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested by ICE in Studio City, CA, days after his fight against Jake Paul.
Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz Placed On Leave Due To MLB Investigation Over Suspicious Wild Pitches
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz is currently under investigation by Major League Baseball after a betting-integrity firm flagged unusual betting activity on a pair of wild pitches thrown this season.
Top 10 Professional Athletes Who Achieved Success After Being ‘Cut’
Cut/Waived by: Golden State Warriors & Houston Rockets (2011) Later: Signed with New York Knicks and sparked "Linsanity," which was a 9-11 game stretch during the 2011-2012 season, where Lin helped lead the Knicks to a seven-game win streak with heroic game-winning performances. Also, Lin went on to win the 2019 NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors.
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Not Happy’ With Team Waiving Co-Star Damian Lillard
The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the NBA world with one of the more surprising offseason moves, as they have now announced they're parting ways with their 9x All-Star Damian Lillard, in order to make cap space room for newly acquired Myles Turner (four-year/$107 million). Just in: The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner, sources tell ESPN.
Top 5 Most Infamous Gambling Sports Figures
Throughout history there have been quite a few players famously associated with gambling, whether that be through scandals, suspensions, or off-the-field habits. 5.) Calvin Ridley (NFL) Scandal: In the 2021 season, Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Ridley was on the team's "Non-Football Illness list" to address his mental health, and during this time it was found out that he had placed multiple parlay bets on NFL games. Notably, this entailed doing picks on his own team.
Fans React To Malik Beasley Being Investigated In Sports Gambling Probe
Veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley was in serious talks with the Detroit Pistons to sign a three-year/$42 million deal in free agency this offseason, yet that is now being put on hold.
Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte Reveals What Banned White Sox Fan Said To Him About His Late Mother
During the 7th inning of Tuesday night's game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox, a heckler appeared to cross the line by yelling something at second baseman Ketel Marte about his mother which brought the 2x All-Star to tears. The heckler of Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte at the White Sox game Tuesday night has been identified as Chad Wilson of Naperville, IL — seen wearing a Bears jersey during the incident.
Top 7 NBA Draft Surprises Of All-Time
Surprise reason: Draft pick happened during a Taco Bell commercial, and Jokic admitted to being asleep when he was drafted. Never forget when Nikola Jokic got drafted during a Taco Bell commercial. 🌮🤣pic.twitter.com/rv23PcBFPQ — NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 27, 2025 Result: The Serbian big man developed into a 3x MVP, Finals MVP, and will likely go down as the best second-round pick ever.
Portland Trail Blazers Shock The NBA With Surprising First-Round Draft Selection, Yang Hansen, 7-Foot Star From China
The Portland Trail Blazers made some noise at the 2025 NBA Draft as they selected Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16 overall (acquiring his rights via the Memphis Grizzlies). To note, Yang was projected as a late first round or second-round pick, so this certainly was a bit unexpected. So much so, that the 7-footer was sitting in the crowd when he heard his name called.
Ace Bailey’s Viral Reaction After Being Drafted By The Utah Jazz Has Fans Concerned
Leading up to the draft, Rutgers star Ace Bailey surprised many throughout the league when he purposefully held out of workouts in hopes of not being drafted in the Top 5. Ace Bailey’s camp has also let it be known they do not want to be drafted by the Hornets or Jazz, per @DraftExpress (https://t.co/nvRFSaRnUL). Bailey is trying to force his way to a preferred destination outside the top-five.
Kevin Durant Finds Out He’s Been Traded While On Stage At Fanatics Fest
A blockbuster NBA trade went down on Sunday, as 15x All-Star Kevin Durant discovered he was traded to the Houston Rockets while onstage at the Fanatics Fest event in New York City. When fielding questions from reporter Taylor Rooks during a panel discussion, multiple fans started yelling out the breaking news. Kevin Durant is on stage at @FanaticsFest finding out that he was traded to the Houston Rockets... Unreal.
NBA Champion Thunder Have Delayed Celebration After Players Struggle To Pop Champagne Bottles
The Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, to give the franchise its first ever championship. Yet, during the postgame celebrations, the young age of the players showed as multiple players had called on former 2020 NBA champ Alex Caruso, 31, to give a tutorial on how to pop champagne bottles. This is how young the Thunder are.
Fans Shocked By Pacers’ Pascal Siakam After Appearing ‘Possessed’ During Pregame Ritual
Prior to tip-off of NBA Finals Game 6, cameras captured an unexplainable moment as Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam joined his team in a pre-game huddle.
Top 10 Most Expensive Sports Franchise Sales In History
In the last half century, sports franchise valuations have skyrocketed, largely due in part due to lucrative media rights and global marketing. In view of the most expensive deals ever recorded in sports history, here are the Top 10: 10.) Carolina Panthers ($2.275 billion, 2018): David Tepper, a hedge fund billionaire and minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, purchased the franchise from team founder, Jerry Richardson.
Browns Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders In Hot Water After Being Cited For Speeding 100+ MPH
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was caught speeding in northeast Ohio, as a police officer clocked the 23-year-old traveling at 101 mph just after midnight on Tuesday. The vehicle was identified as a Dodge TRX truck and was going 41 miles per hour over the 60 mph zone limit, while traveling northbound Interstate 71 near Cleveland at the time, per FOX 8.
Fans React To Jeanie Buss Selling Lakers For Record-Breaking $10 Billion
Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers franchise for $67.5 million in 1979, and now 46 years later the team is being sold for $10 billion, per ESPN's Shams Charania. To note, this is the biggest sale for an American sports team ever recorded in history. BREAKING: The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, sources tell ESPN.
Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Jersey To President Donald Trump With Interesting Personalized Message Amid Rumors Of War
Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss political affairs on Monday, and on behalf of international star Cristiano Ronaldo, there was a special gift presented. π¨ USA president Donald Trump has received a signed Portugal kit from Cristiano Ronaldo. πΊπΈπ΅πΉpic.twitter.com/kcok6Fz9Lu — The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) June 16, 2025 Upon receiving the autographed jersey, Trump noticed there was a personalized note written.
Arkansas’ Gage Wood Has Surprising Six-Letter Response To Throwing 19 Strikeouts In Historical No-Hitter
During the single elimination matchup between Arkansas and Murray St., pitcher Gage Wood became the first pitcher since 1960 to throw a no-hitter in the College World Series. That is, Wood threw 19 K's and 120 pitches en route to a 3-0 victory. GAGE WOOD 19 Ks, 9IP, no hitter, 119 pitches. Greatest performance in CWS history.
Top 10 Greatest MLB Blockbuster Trades Of All-Time
Teams: Oakland A's trade to the St. Louis Cardinals Deal: McGwire for 3 minor leaguers Result: Hits 70 HR in 1998 and revitalized the franchise post-strike. Teams: Washington Nationals trade to the San Diego Padres Deal: Soto & Bell for Abrams, Gore, Wood, Hassell, Susana, Voit Result: The prospects the Nationals received was a large haul for a generational slugger.
The San Francisco Giants have acquired 2x Silver Slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitchers Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, along with prospects James Tibbs and Jose Bello.
ESPN Co-Hosts Molly Qerim And Stephen A. Smith Have Live On-Air Awkward Exchange Over Laptop Exposure: ‘It’s All On TV!’
On Friday's episode of First Take, co-hosts Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith had a heated back-and-forth exchange. As Smith was talking about the future of the Phoenix Suns, ESPN cameras panned over to his laptop, which appeared to have some emails appearing on the screen. Molly Qerim tried telling Stephen A. Smith to close his laptop after ESPN flashed the screen on camera, but he was not having it...
Details Revealed About Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Secret Wife’
After recently signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was seen at a press conference on Wednesday (June 10) wearing a wedding band on his ring finger.
Details Revealed About Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Secret Wife’
21 hours ago Aaron Rodgers Makes Vow to Steelers Rookie QB Aaron Rodgers is already forming a close bond with the Steelers' rookie quarterback.
DeMarcus Cousins Gets Into Physical Altercation With Courtside Fan In Puerto Rico, Leads To Near ‘Malice At The Palace’ Incident
A Puerto Rican basketball game between Vaqueros de Bayamon and Mets de Guaynabo escalated into near "Malice at the Palace" situation, after former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins physically engaged with a fan mid-game. That is, during the fourth quarter, the 4x All-Star demonstrated an obscene gesture, before putting his hands on a heckling fan who was sitting courtside. DeMarcus Cousins and a fan sitting courtside get into an altercation.
Mariners Call Up Outfielder Dominic Canzone From Minors, Hits Clutch 9th Inning 450-Foot Home Run In Wild Revenge Game Ending Vs. Diamondbacks, Who Answer With Walk-Off Grand Slam
Top of the 9th inning with two outs, the Seattle Mariners were trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 and were down to their last chance of the game. In storybook fashion, it was former Diamondbacks outfielder Dominic Canzone (traded to Seattle in 2023) who was at the plate, representing the tying run, with a perfect revenge-narrative opportunity just hours after getting called up from his recent stint in the minors.
Fan Exactly Predicts Unimaginable NBA Finals Game 1 Outcome With Haliburton’s Game-Winning Shot
During Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder were tied or leading for 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds, however, with .3 left on the clock, Tyrese Haliburton made the deciding game-winning shot to give the Indiana Pacers a 111-110 victory.
Top 5 MLB Ballparks Ranked
Opened: 1912 Capacity: 37,755 Notable features: The oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, contains the legendary left-field "Green Monster" wall, which has been a part of baseball lore throughout history. In addition, Pesky's pole (named after Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky) is located in right field, and at 302 feet from home plate it is the shortest distance for a home run in the MLB.
John Brenkus, Founder Of Emmy-Winning Show ‘Sports Science,’ Passes Away After Long Battle With Depression
John Brenkus, the co-creator and host of ESPN's Sports Science, has died at the age of 54, Brinx TV announced in a statement Sunday. pic.twitter.com/n0OSXYKDUZ — ESPN (@espn) June 2, 2025 In the past Brenkus spoke on how he had thoughts of taking his own life. That is, around two years ago Brenkus appeared on Marcellus Wiley's YouTube channel, in which he recounted the story of the time his dog Zepplin saved him from his own suicide attempt.
Top 3 Biggest Mismatches In NBA Finals History
The NBA Finals includes the top Eastern Conference team vs. the top Western Conference, however, in view of historical matchups a few different ones have proven to be lopsided mismatches, such as the following: Result: Spurs swept 4-0 A 22-year-old LeBron James carried his 50-32 Cavs team to the NBA Finals, yet they had to go up against the Spurs dynasty that included prime Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.
Top 5 Worst Umpire Blown Calls In MLB History
Umpire: Sam Holbrook Game: Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals (October 5, 2012) What happened: In the bottom of the 8th inning, there were two runners on base, and a short pop-up to shallow left field was ruled "an infield fly" (automatic out). This had many scratching their heads as it landed nowhere near the infield and the shortstop wasn't positioned under it. Braves fans started throwing trash on the field, as the umpire's interpretation of the rules was confusing to say the least.
Pelicans’ Zion Williamson In Hot Water Following Rape, Abuse Allegations From Ex-Girlfriend
New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson is facing career-threatening allegations, as he has been accused of rape by an anonymous woman. The former girlfriend of the 2x All-Star, Jane Doe, claims to be the victim of rape and physical abuse during their relationship (2018-2023), and has filed a civil lawsuit.
Controversial Indy Star Reporter Under Fire Yet Again After Heated Back-And-Forth With Pascal Siakam: ‘Who Is This Guy?’
After a Game 5 111-94 loss to the New York Knicks, Indianapolis Pacers star Pascal Siakam got into an awkward postgame interview exchange with a reporter. Pascal Siakam went back and forth with a reporter after Siakam said he believed the Knicks played harder than the Pacers in Game 5 "It's okay. We played hard, they played harder. What's your point, I don't get it? You good bro?
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel Speaks On Controversial Stefon Diggs Viral Boat Video
While many NFL teams are starting to gear up for the 2025 season by holding voluntary OTA practices, some players are still living the high life off the field this offseason. That is, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs was spotted on a boat this week in Miami, Florida with his new girlfriend, rapper Cardi B. However, the four-time Pro Bowler made headlines for his flirty interaction with three girls, that has now since gone viral.
Top 3 Worst MLB Teams Of All-Time
The long MLB season often showcases teams underperforming, as there are a few organizations that will forever be known as the "worst teams in baseball history." Record: 40-120 (.250 winning percentage) During the expansion team New York Mets' inaugural season, they had nothing but struggles. To note, they set a record with 210 errors, while their pitching staff put up a 5.04 ERA.
Fans Concerned For Travis Hunter After Recent Marriage Reveal
Jacksonville Jaguars No. 2 overall draft pick Travis Hunter and his longtime girlfriend Leanna Lenee have recently tied the knot, yet some fans are not ready to celebrate this decision. That is, considering Lenee's history with causing some drama with Hunter, there are those worried for the Heisman trophy winner's future.
The Most Popular Athlete ‘You Never Heard Of’ Announces Retirement
One of the most popular athletes of all-time may not be a household name in the West, drawing a billion fans, many know India's Virat Kohli, as the Michael Jordan of cricket. That is, the legendary player has now announced his retirement at the age of 36 via Instagram. "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on.
Indiana Pacers Complete Historic Comeback Drawing Inspiration From Late Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay’s Last Words Of Encouragement
May 21, 2025 will forever be cemented in Indiana sports history, as Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay tragically passed away at the age of 65. That is, the legendary owner's last words were of encouragement for the Pacers franchise, who were competing in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals the night of Irsay's death.
Fired Nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone Takes Alleged Shots At His Former Star Player Nikola Jokic With Updated MVP Take
Just ahead of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets made the decision to fire championship head coach Mike Malone, and since his departure he landed a gig on ESPN. Michael Malone on ESPN?!?! pic.twitter.com/2xeH7L5igs — Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 21, 2025 That is, on his first day as a broadcaster, it didn't take long for Malone to get settled in before he shocked fans with his take on the MVP race.
Top 3 Win-Win Trades In NBA History
While there have been plenty of lopsided deals made throughout the NBA over the years, every once in awhile a mutually beneficial trade takes place where front offices of different organizations can claim what is referred to as a "win-win." In 1988, the Bulls and Knicks made a blockbuster trade that sent center Charles Oakley to New York and Bill Cartwright to Chicago.
Fans Concerned Over Bill Belichick’s Rumored Engagement With 24-Year-Old Jordon Hudson After Shocking Reveal
North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick, 73, has been in the headlines recently regarding his relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson, 24, who is 49 years younger than him. That is, around this time last year, news first broke that the 8x Super Bowl winning coach had a romantic relationship with Hudson, as they reportedly met on a plane back in 2021.
Timberwolves Fan Caught On Jumbotron Snorting Unknown Substance
During the Timberwolves' Game 5 win over the Warriors in Minnesota on Wednesday night, it was a "white out" in the Target Center crowd, as cameras panned over to a guy who appeared on the Jumbotron allegedly snorting something into his nose. Nah man they caught a Minnesota Timberwolves fan snorting a bump on the Jumbotron ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/OiOaC0pfyO — Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 15, 2025 When this happened, some fans couldn't believe what their eyes saw.
Draymond Green Fined $50k For Referencing Betting Points Spread During Playoff Game
During Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Draymond Green was caught on camera referencing the Vegas points spread of the game (+5.5 differential). This was viewed as the 12-year vet questioning the integrity of the refs. "5.5. I know what y'all doing," Green was heard saying. To note, at the very end Jonathan Kuminga ended up hitting a three-pointer to cover the spread, as the final score ended up being 102-97.
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