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R Ashwin posted a cryptic post on X after India’s loss to Australia (Images via AP, Getty Images) Three years after his iconic “leave†against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stirred social media on Wednesday with a cryptic post that fans believe carried a deeper meaning. On the same date in 2022, Ashwin had displayed remarkable composure in one of the most dramatic finishes in T20 World Cup history. With India needing two runs off the final delivery against Pakistan, the spinner calmly chose to leave a full ball from Mohammad Nawaz that drifted down the leg side.The umpire signaled a wide, levelling the scores, before Ashwin lofted the next ball over mid-off to seal a famous win for India. On Thursday, hours after India’s series defeat to Australia, Ashwin posted an image featuring Nikeâ€s iconic Swoosh logo in Indiaâ€s tricolour, with the tagline reading, “Just Leave It.†The post immediately sparked widespread discussion, with fans linking it to that unforgettable moment at the MCG. While many viewed it as a clever nod to his famous leave, others speculated that it could be a subtle dig at Team Indiaâ€s current struggles following their ODI series loss to Australia under Shubman Gillâ€s captaincy.

R Ashwin on X

Some users even suggested it might be aimed at senior players who failed to deliver in Adelaide, where India lost the second ODI by two wickets. Virat Kohli in particular, got out for a four-ball duck in Adelaide. The post, though without any caption or clarification, triggered a flood of reactions online. Several fans revisited Ashwinâ€s calmness during that 2022 thriller, sharing old clips and commentary highlights. Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle had famously said after that match, “While you celebrate the win, spare a thought for the calmness of Ashwin in playing the wide and not looking for the slog.â€

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What was your first reaction to Ashwin’s cryptic post?

Back then, social media had hailed Ashwinâ€s awareness and composure in that tense moment, with one fan noting, “2 required off 1, millions watching and the man has the audacity to leave the ball for wide!!†Whether Ashwinâ€s latest post was merely a throwback or carried a hidden message remains unclear. But much like his decisive leave at the MCG, the all-rounder has once again managed to leave everyone guessing.

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The 2025-26 NBA season tips off Tuesday, marking the beginning of on-court storylines. However, that doesn’t mean players didn’t stay busy off the court during the offseason.

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From LeBron James picking up golf as a new hobby to Nikola Jokic celebrating with his horse, the NBA’s biggest names made the most of their offseason. Unlike 2024, which had the Paris Olympics, this summer had an open schedule, meaning limited NBA action and more time to hit the road.

Here’s a look at the top offseason moments, as told by social media.

Klay hard-launches new relationship

Klay Thompson sent shockwaves across the pop culture world with his July 12 Instagram post. Captioned “Sweet Bells son,” the Dallas Mavericks guard posted a photo collage of a recent vacation, but with a twist — he seemingly posed with rapper Megan Thee Stallion in one of the pictures.

Fans quickly speculated that the two were dating, sparking rumors of the relationship. It prompted comments from Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard and Ty Jerome, who wrote: “Woah hard launch.”

The two took the red carpet in New York days later, confirming their relationship.

LeBron, Bronny hit the golf course

A viral development of the offseason centered on LeBron James discovering his love for golfing. His first post arrived July 4, his second day playing. James said: “Boy o boy it’s a mind f— to say the least! But I think I enjoy that part of it a lot.”

He opened up about it on the “360 With Speedy” podcast last month.

“It’s hard as s—,” James said. “… I wanted a challenge, man, and I like being uncomfortable. Golf is like one of the few places where I can go where I don’t get bothered as much.”

LeBron wasn’t the only one with the golf itch in the James household — his oldest son and Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Bronny, also picked up the sport. Bronny had a smooth swing for someone who began playing four months before the video was posted.

French stars own the chessboard

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s love for chess is no secret, with the center playing games in a New York City park last December. He took that affinity to another level during the offseason, hosting the “Hoops Gambit” tournament in his hometown of Le Chesnay, France.

Dozens of people competed, including Minnesota Timberwolves center and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert. The two even faced off in a game.

DEFENSE VS DEFENSE âŸï¸

Rudy Gobert pulled up to the Hoop Gambit event to play against Wemby 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/3xsRw10ivi

— Chess.com (@chesscom) July 20, 2025

A celebration heard across the world

There aren’t many things Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic loves more than his horses — and he had the celebration to prove it.

Jokic was emotionally celebrating after his horse won a race in Subotica, Serbia, in late July. He teared up before hopping the gate to meet his horse and driver, then dumped champagne on the group and himself.

Days earlier, the NBA and Nuggets also posted a photo of Jokic tending to horses while in Beijing.

Allen makes his wedding dance worth it

In a summer full of weddings and engagements, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen really nailed the execution. He made the most of his wedding with an impressively choreographed dance with his wife, Jordyn.

The couple found inspiration from the 2006 Disney film “High School Musical.” The final musical of the film is called “We’re All In This Together,” where the school joins in on a dance.

Allen and his wife performed the dance to the song at their wedding. The 6-foot-9 center also themed their wedding after the musical, captioning his wedding post on Instagram: “#We’reAllenThisTogether.”

Different continent, same demeanor

No opponent is safe from trash talk when it comes to Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards — not even a retired center.

Edwards traveled to China as part of Adidas’ “Believe That” tour with stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. During the trip, Edwards ran into Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming.

Of course, the 6-foot-4 guard had to remind the 7-foot-6 Chinese center he wouldn’t be spared from being dunked on.

Durant trade news hits at perfect time

Arguably the biggest transaction of the offseason was the Phoenix Suns trading Durant to the Houston Rockets. Reported in late June, Houston sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks for Durant.

Durant had been the subject of trade rumors since the previous NBA trade deadline. However, the news of the deal broke at a time when cameras could catch Durant’s reaction.

The two-time NBA champion was being interviewed on stage at Fanatics Fest when the deal was reported. He could only smile as the crowd went wild.

A new way of staying ready

Vacations can sometimes interrupt proper workouts, but Russell Westbrook found a way to get around it.

The current Sacramento Kings guard was vacating on his yacht when videos caught him putting shots up. Westbrook had a hoop where he practiced dribbling and put up a jumper.

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By Ella Jay

Oct. 19, 2025 11:33 am EST

John Nacion/Getty Images

Rhea Ripley is taking an unpleasant outcome in stride.

Following a successful takeover of Australia, WWE headed to Japan for a pair of live events in Tokyo. At the second one on October 18, Ripley collided with IYO SKY, Raquel Rodriguez, and Stephanie Vaquer for the latter’s WWE Women’s World Championship. Vaquer retained her title by pinning Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Ripley headed to the back with a bloody and busted nose, with SKY and a member of WWE’s medical team by her side.

Ripley showed off the damage on X, writing, “Thank you Japan [laughing emoji] I still love you!” alongside a video of her nose swollen and stuffed with gauze. Despite that, “Mami” appears to be in good spirits as she still gave a thumbs up to the camera. Ripley later joked about the injury by comparing her busted nose to that of her bull terrier named Barry.

“Twins,” she captioned the side-by-side images of herself and her dog.

Twins ðŸ˜ðŸ˜… pic.twitter.com/51IFqSmNpf

— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) October 18, 2025

Per fan footage, Ripley seems to have hurt her nose toward the end of the fatal-four-way title match, specifically when Rodriguez launched SKY into her, causing the two to fall to the floor. While Ripley and SKY remained on the outside of the ring, Vaquer finished off Rodrguez with a dragon screw leg whip and a Spiral Tap for the victory.

As of now, there is no word on if Ripley’s busted nose will keep her out of action. The “WWE Raw” brand returns to the United States tomorrow for a live broadcast in Sacramento, California. At WWE Crown Jewel in Perth, Ripley and SKY defeated the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane).

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Britt Baker hasn’t competed in an AEW ring for close to a year and questions remain about her status with the promotion. Recently, it was pointed out that Baker had removed AEW from her bio on social media, but more has come to light on this situation.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer pointed out that Baker no longer references AEW in her X bio, which now reads “Professional Wrestler. Dentist. #WeAre #HereWeGo.” Baker’s bio on Instagram also avoids mentioning AEW, but makes reference to her being a profession wrestler, dentist, and actor.

While some believe that these changes were recent, this is not the case. As previously reported, Baker removed references to AEW from both platforms in March of this year. Both profiles have not been changed since these edits seven months ago.

Bakerâ€s absence has left fans wondering as to whether her time with AEW may also be coming to an end. In January, Chris Jericho cast doubt on the idea that Baker will leave AEW, following reports of alleged heat on the former Womenâ€s World Champion.

Whether Baker returns to AEW programming or not, only time will tell. For now, the woman who was one the top star of the company’s Women’s Division remains MIA, with no sign of an imminent return.

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By Ella Jay

Oct. 16, 2025 9:51 pm EST

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

While he remains absent from AEW television, “Switchblade” Jay White has also been silent on social media, especially X. The latter changed when White returned to his timeline with a new one-word post.

“Ready?” he wrote on Thursday afternoon, with over 600 comments coming in the hours following. Most of the replies expressed excitement for what White’s post could mean, whether that be a comeback to in-ring action or something else.

White’s last post on X came in July, when he replied to a fan calling for him to win a singles championship in AEW with a winking gif. Before that, he hadn’t been active on the platform since March.

Ready?

— Switchblade Jay White (@JayWhiteNZ) October 16, 2025

White has also been sidelined from action since March 2025, when he last wrestled Kevin Knight on “AEW Collision.” Sometime after, White reportedly sustained a hand injury that would require surgery. Months later, reports indicated that White was also battling a shoulder injury, though it was unclear as to whether he’d undergo surgery for that as well.

Prior to hurting his hand, White was slated to compete in the 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. After a storyline attack at the hands of the Death Riders signaled White’s exit from television, however, Knight took his place and faced Will Ospreay in the opening round.Â

Under the AEW-ROH banner, Knight is a former AEW World Trios and ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champion. His tag partner Juice Robinson returned to the ring in July 2025 after being sidelined with an injury of his own.

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Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla says Tuesday’s pickup game between coaches and media was no laughing matter.

Clips of the game, in which media members were outscored 57-4, went viral as commenters reacted to Mazzulla’s decision to pit reporters against a team stocked with former NBA and college basketball players.

“It’ll be laughed at and joked about, but it means a lot more to humanize. We have too many interactions where it’s coach and everyone’s doing their job,” Mazzulla told reporters Thursday, per Celtics Blog’s Noa Dalzell.

Mazzulla continued, “So if anything, we have to do it more, because it humanizes the competition, and I realize how much you guys really like the game and care about it, so I hope that it doesn’t drag on as something that’s funny, it’s something that was serious.

“I meant that, and that was important that we did that yesterday. And we’ll do it again.”

In her story recounting the game, Dalzell described the dominance displayed by Mazzulla and his teammates including former NBA players Phil Pressey and Da’Sean Butler.

“To describe it as a disaster for us reporters would be an understatement,” Dalzell wrote. “The sheer gap in athleticism — speed, size, instincts, you name it — felt so insurmountable that I can hardly pinpoint what even went down.”

But Mazzulla pointed to what he described as a “shove” by Boston Sports Journal’s John Karalis on Hardwood Houdini’s Jack Simone as an example of what media members and the Celtics coaches had in common.

“It’s no different than me getting pissed at [Simone’s] question the other day,” Mazzulla said, per Dalzell. “It’s a competitive reaction to the thing that’s going on.”

According to Dalzell, Tuesday’s pickup game was originally scheduled to only be played between media members. If Mazzulla’s comments are any indication, there could now be more media-coaches matchups in the future.

Mazzulla will now turn his attention to the start of the 2025-26 regular season, which his team will be entering without injured star Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown will be set to lead the Celtics into next Wednesday’s season opener against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.

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Media covering the Boston Celtics were supposed to play a pickup game among themselves at Boston’s practice facility on Tuesday. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had other plans.

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The Celtics told reporters that they could use the Auerbach Center courts for a media game after practice. When asked about the game, Mazzulla shared news of a change.

“Don’t want to break it to you, but you’re not playing against each other. You’re playing against the coaches,” he told reporters.

The game went exactly how one would anticipate it to go. Mazzulla and his staff dominated the 12-minute game, winning 57-4.

Mazzulla’s staff includes multiple former NBA players such as 6-foot-9 forward Amile Jefferson, guard Phil Pressey, 6-7 forward Da’Sean Butler, who is Mazulla’s former college teammate, and God Shammgod. Mazzulla — a four-year player at West Virginia — suited up, too.

Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum watched from above the practice court.

“It’s hard to even describe what went down in the game. To describe it as a disaster for us reporters would be an understatement. The sheer gap in athleticism — speed, size, instincts, you name it — felt so insurmountable that I can hardly pinpoint what even went down,” Celtics on CNLS reporter Noa Dalzell wrote. “I’d love to take a look at a box score, but the amount of live-ball turnovers we accrued would probably make me sick.”

The media members eventually played their pickup game afterward. The white team defeated the green team 25-22 — a stark contrast from the earlier contest.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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Jamie Carragher faced an online backlash for his comments after Chelsea’s last-gasp victory over Liverpool on Saturday – but not from fans of his former club.

The Anfield legend said on Sky Sports that he ‘loved’ the exuberant celebrations of Blues boss Enzo Maresca following Estevao’s stoppage-time winner, which saw the Italian race down the touchline to hug his players.

You might think Liverpool fans would have grumbled at one of their own appearing to enjoy a painful defeat for their team, but the ire instead came from Arsenal supporters.

As Carragher hailed the scenes which greeted a win that sent Chelsea seventh in the Premier League, Gunners fans pointed to the Sky pundit’s comments following their side’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in February 2024.

Gunners fans accused Carragher of showing an anti-Arsenal bias for praising the scenes at Chelsea after slamming their side’s celebrations in 2024, but the 47-year-old hit back in the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.

Carragher, ranked at No.14 in FourFourTwo’s list of the best Premier League defenders of all time, said: ‘Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-1. The game was over with around 15 minutes to go, no last-minute winner and there was a bit of a celebration after the game. You were still behind Liverpool.

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‘[Against Liverpool on Saturday] Enzo Maresca reacted to a goal going in that second, in the last kick of the game in a game Chelsea thought they had no chance.

‘That’s a natural reaction at the end of the game – we’d all be like a lunatic, last-minute winner against the champions.

‘Arsenal were at a stage where you had a brilliant result, and we’re talking a few minutes after the game has finished and all the cameras are out – I was thinking ‘Woah, slow down’. It’s not a media narrative against Arsenal; it’s a last-minute winner.

Arsenal fans will hope they are the ones celebrating come May (Image credit: Getty Images)

‘I think Arsenal supporters online are a little bit touchy, with Chelsea not far behind. Arsenal have a big presence online, which is fine, there’s a huge fanbase, but you think the world is against you.’

Carragher’s comments are unlikely to appease Arsenal fans, but after the Gunners went top of the league on Saturday they will be hoping they are the ones celebrating come May.

Jamie Carragher was speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you bySky Bet

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LeBron James’ cryptic “The Second Decision” poston social media Monday sent tickets for the Los Angeles Lakers’ final home game of the 2025-26 regular season skyrocketing.

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Before James’ post, the least-expensive ticket for the April 12, 2026, game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena started at $82.

After James’ post, prices spiked, with single tickets starting at $580 each, per Vivid Seats.

For two tickets to the Jazz-Lakers matchup, the cheapest get-in price starts at $760.

The ticket-price surge occurred as fans speculated that this could be James’ last season. Despite the speculation, James downplayed retirement notions during the NBA’s media days last week.

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“I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season,” James said. “However the journey lays out this year, I’m super-invested because I don’t know when the end is. I know it’s a lot sooner than later.”

James, 40, is preparing for his NBA-record 23rd season and eighth season with the Lakers.

“It’s pretty cool to know how many miles I’ve got and still be able to play at a high level,” James said. “For me, age is kind of just a number, but it is reality, too. You look at the history of the game, there’s not been many guys at my age, especially going into Year 23, that have been able to play at a level like that. I just try not to take it for granted and just try to give the game as much as I can, inspire whoever I can.”

The Lakers will open up the season against the Golden State Warriors at home Oct. 21.

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Naomi Osaka showcased custom Labubu dolls during her US Open semi-final run in New York. (AP) Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, has completed her viral US Open Labubu collection by revealing the sixth and final member on social media this weekend. The tennis star’s collection of custom zoomorphic monster dolls gained significant attention during her run to the US Open semifinals this summer, where she showcased bedazzled keychain versions inspired by tennis legends.The former world No. 1 commissioned New York City-based artist Kerin Rose Gold of A-Morir Studio to create the sparkly Labubu dolls. Each doll was revealed after her victories at the US Open, featuring designs inspired by tennis icons like Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, and Andre Agassi.WATCH: Naomi Osaka shows off her sixth and final US Open LabubuAfter her three-set loss to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, Osaka expressed disappointment about missing the opportunity to reveal a special Labubu she had planned.”I wanted to make one of myself in last year’s outfit, and it was the green one. I would have had the bow, and I’m sick about it,” Osaka revealed through laughter. “Oh, my God, that’s, like, the worst thing. Honestly, I’m fine losing, but don’t ask me about this Labubu, man. Yeah, it would have been me.”
The unrealised design has now become reality. Osaka unveiled the green doll on Instagram, featuring the “Lolita goth”-inspired look and bow as originally planned. The reveal video was accompanied by a British voice-over discussing a “24-karat Labubu,” incorporating current trends surrounding these collectible dolls.Osaka’s Labubu collection generated substantial buzz during the US Open, matching the attention received for her impressive return to form on the court. Her tournament run marked her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance in four years.The tennis star is scheduled to continue her season at the Wuhan Open, where she will face former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in the first round on Tuesday. Spectators may spot the newest addition to her Labubu collection, “Naomi Glowsaka,” among her tennis equipment.

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