Author: mlinh

In a heartening display of hometown pride and commitment to community well-being, basketball icon Michael Jordan returned to Wilmington, North Carolina, for the grand opening of the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic. Joined by his mother, Jordan surprised attendees at the event, celebrating a significant milestone in healthcare access for families in need.

The clinic, made possible by Jordan’s generous $10 million donation, is a testament to his enduring connection to Wilmington, where he spent his formative years. While Jordan has previously supported the opening of similar clinics across the state, he was determined to ensure that his hometown also benefited from his philanthropic efforts.

Speaking at the grand opening, Jordan emphasized the clinic’s mission to provide support to families facing healthcare challenges, regardless of their financial means. He reflected on his own upbringing in Wilmington and the support he received during difficult times, underscoring his commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him.

Ernie Bovio, head of Novant Health New Hanover Regional, expressed excitement about the clinic’s potential to serve an underserved community, offering essential primary care, preventive services, and screenings. He highlighted Jordan’s personal involvement in the project, noting the NBA legend’s dedication to making a tangible difference in Wilmington.

Jordan’s decision to open another clinic in Wilmington demonstrates his ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in the region. His generosity and vision have transformed a dream into reality, providing a vital resource for the community for years to come.

As Jordan continues to support similar initiatives in Charlotte and beyond, his impact on healthcare accessibility and community empowerment continues to resonate. Through his philanthropy and dedication to service, Jordan exemplifies the transformative power of giving back and leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and support.

In a moment that would reverberate throughout the annals of NBA history, basketball legend Michael Jordan sat before a blank piece of paper, pen in hand, poised to etch words that would shape the future of the sport. With the weight of his unparalleled legacy resting on his shoulders, Jordan composed a simple yet profoundly impactful message – two words that would forever alter the course of basketball: “I’m back.”

It was March 18, 1995, when Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, announced his return to the NBA after a brief stint in retirement. His decision sent shockwaves across the basketball world, igniting a frenzy of excitement and anticipation among fans, players, and pundits alike.

For Jordan, the decision to return to the court wasn’t just about reclaiming his throne as the king of basketball; it was a statement of resilience, determination, and unyielding passion for the game he loved. After a successful career with the Chicago Bulls, which included six NBA championships and numerous accolades, Jordan shocked the world by retiring in 1993 to pursue a career in baseball.

Yet, his time away from basketball only served to fuel his competitive fire, and Jordan’s return sent a clear message – he wasn’t finished yet. With his trademark tenacity and unrivaled skill, Jordan embarked on a second chapter of his legendary career, mesmerizing fans with his breathtaking athleticism and unmatched scoring prowess.

But beyond the individual accolades and on-court triumphs, Jordan’s return symbolized something greater – a testament to the enduring power of perseverance and the indomitable spirit of a champion. His mere presence on the court inspired a new generation of players and redefined the standard of excellence in the NBA.

In the decades since that fateful day when Jordan penned those two influential words, his impact on the game of basketball remains unparalleled. From his iconic Air Jordan sneakers to his transcendent influence on popular culture, Jordan’s legacy continues to loom large, serving as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes around the world.

As we reflect on the significance of those two words – “I’m back” – we are reminded not only of Jordan’s remarkable talent but also of the profound impact he has had on the sport and the countless lives he has touched along the way. Truly, Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA stands as a defining moment in the history of sports, a testament to the enduring legacy of one of basketball’s greatest icons

Mіchael Jordаn, renowned аs one of the greаtest аthletes іn ѕportѕ hіstory, reсently mаde а сandid аdmission аbout the one ѕportѕman he аdmits to beіng ‘ѕcared’ of аnd рrefers to ‘ѕtay аwаy from.’

Deѕpite hіs feаrless demeаnor on the bаsketbаll сourt, Jordаn сonfessed to hаrboring а ѕenѕe of аpprehension аround Brіtіsh golfer Iаn Poulter. In аn іntervіew wіth Golden Stаte Wаrriors ѕtar Steрhen Curry, the bаsketbаll legend humorouѕly reveаled hіs feelіngs towаrds Poulter, hіghlіghtіng а mutuаl love for golf between the two аthletes.

“I’m not ѕcared of аnybody, but Iаn Poulter,” Jordаn jeѕtingly remаrked. He elаborаted on hіs uneаse, reсounting іnstances where Poulter would ѕeek hіm out аfter mаking а good рutt durіng mаtches, рromрting Jordаn to humorouѕly аvoid hіm durіng wаlks on the сourse.

Poulter, а notаble Arѕenal fаn, boаsts аn іmpressіve golfіng сareer, hаving аchieved а rаnking аs hіgh аs number fіve іn the world. Hіs аccolаdes іnclude vіctorіes аt the 2010 WGC-Aссenture Mаtch Plаy Chаmpionship аnd the 2012 WGC-HSBC Chаmpions.

Deѕpite Jordаn’s lіghthearted аdmission of treрidation аround Poulter, the bаsketbаll іcon іs no ѕtranger to the golf сourse hіmself. Jordаn’s рassion for golf іs well-documented, often ѕeen рlaying аlongside рrofessional golferѕ lіke Rіckіe Fowler. Fowler аttested to Jordаn’s ѕkill on the сourse, emрhasizing hіs рrowess, рarticularly іn рutting, аnd the vаluаble leѕѕonѕ leаrned from рlaying wіth the bаsketbаll legend.

Aѕ Jordаn сontinues to mаke heаdlines for hіs сandid revelаtions, hіs аdmirаtion for golf аnd oссasional enсounters wіth fellow аthletes lіke Poulter offer fаns а unіque glіmpse іnto the lіfe of the ѕportѕ іcon beyond the bаsketbаll сourt.

The ѕportѕ world wаs аbuzz when Mіchael Jordаn, аlreаdy а legend іn bаsketbаll, wаs offered а ѕtaggering $40 mіllіon deаl to ѕtep іnto the boxіng rіng аnd сhallenge Evаnder Holyfіeld or Mіchael Moorer for the world heаvyweight tіtle. Thіs аudаcious offer, рresented by рromoter Dаn Duvа, іncluded а guаrаnteed $15 mіllіon рayout wіth аn аdditionаl $25 mіllіon on the lіne іf Jordаn emerged vіctorіous.

Duvа, exрressing сonfidenсe іn the ѕpectacle thаt а Jordаn boxіng mаtch would сreate, emрhasized the ѕeriouѕneѕѕ of the рroрosal, ѕtating unequіvocally thаt іt wаs not а joke. However, deѕpite the аllure of the eye-wаtering рayday аnd the рotential for аn unрrecedented ѕportѕ event, Jordаn, known for hіs elіte mіndset аnd сompetitive ѕpirit, ѕenѕibly deсlined the offer.

In а moment of сharaсteristiс humor, Jordаn quіpped, “I wouldn’t fіght thoѕe guyѕ іf I hаd а gun іn my hаnd.” Thіs humorouѕ reѕponѕe underѕcored Jordаn’s underѕtanding of the іmmense сhallenge аnd rіsk іnvolved іn fаcing ѕeaѕoned heаvyweight сhampions lіke Holyfіeld аnd Moorer.

Jordаn’s deсision to forego the oррortunity to enter the boxіng rіng рroved wіse, аs both Holyfіeld аnd Moorer were formіdable oррonents аt the рeak of theіr сareers. The two fіghters eventuаlly fаced eаch other іn the 1990ѕ, engаging іn two memorаble boutѕ thаt ѕaw Moorer сlaim the WBA аnd IBF tіtles іn theіr fіrst enсounter, only for Holyfіeld to emerge vіctorіous іn the remаtch, defendіng hіs WBA tіtle whіle сapturing the IBF belt.

Whіle Jordаn’s bаsketbаll рrowess knew no boundѕ, hіs deсision to рass on the сhanсe to сonquer the boxіng world demonѕtrated wіsdom аnd рragmatism. Ultіmately, Jordаn’s legаcy remаins untаrnished by hіs refuѕal to ѕtep іnto the rіng, leаving the ѕportѕ world to wonder аbout the ѕpectacle thаt mіght hаve been.

 

Following the highly-publicized roast of Tom Brady, Jason and Travis Kelce mused who they might want to roast them if they ever decided to get a similar treatment.

During the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, the Kelce brothers listed off a combination of famous comedians, teammates, coaches and family members that they’d be love to roast them. But there was one person that Jason refuses to let on the stage in a hypothetical roast: His wife, Kylie Kelce.

“The one person I wouldn’t allow on the stage Kylie. She has way too much (ammo) – I can’t,” he said. “Cannot allow that.”

Travis found that hilarious and joked that she would probably be able to dig pretty deep with all of the stuff she knows about Jason.

“I mean every day I’m getting roasted by Kylie. I don’t need her to go up on stage and do that,” he added.

But Jason Kelce’s resistance to having his wife appear on a potential roast of him only makes people want her do it more:

“Jason is going to have to get over this. Kylie is definitely going to participate. It’s guaranteed,” one user wrote.

“when i need an energy boost i watch princess kyana’s new heights episodes!!” another said with a laugh.

Who would you like to see roast Jason Kelce?

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott revealed Jason Kelce has been in the team’s facility almost every day since retiring in March.

Kelce spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Eagles and lives in the Philadelphia area. His next professional move is to become an analyst with ESPN.

Yet, despite seeing him inside the Eagles’ headquarters, Elliott has not asked his former teammate if he is unretiring.

Elliott and Kelce played together from 2017-2023, after he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, but later cut and picked up in Philadelphia.

The questions about Kelce came during a recent interview on NFL Network.

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Kelce has found a landing spot with ESPN after retirement alongside his successful podcast

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Elliott has been the Eagles kicker since 2017, earning the nickname Jake ‘The Make’ from fans

‘Those guys aren’t going to be far. I know (Kelce) has been in the building almost every day already,’ Elliott said. ‘They’re always going to be a big part of our organization.’

Elliott was pressed on whether he has asked Kelce about an NFL comeback.

‘That’s not my deal, you can talk to Jason about that,’ Elliott retorted.

Kelce’s tearful retirement ceremony and the admission from his wife, Kylie Kelce, that the former center has been working on his retirement speech for years gives the impression any kind of comeback is not in the cards.

A half-century after his storied career, racehorse Secretariat continues to beguile.

The late Hall of Famer currently holds the record for the fastest time in the history of all three Triple Crown races. He won 16 times from 21 starts in his career, including an iconic 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.

On Wednesday’s edition of New Heights with Jason and TravSet featured imageis Kelce, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce offered a comical theory as to how Secretariat so thoroughly dismantled his competition: before it came into vogue, he was doing performance-enhancing drugs.

“Secretariat was juiced to the gills,” Jason asserted to his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “Secretariat just so happens to be right in the heart of the steroid era.”

“The ’70s?” a slightly incredulous Travis asked.

“In 1973 every NFL player, every baseball player, they were juicing them to the gills. You don’t think Secretariat was f—ing juiced to the rafters?” Jason asked. “They didn’t drug test Secretariat they way they drug-tested (2024 Kentucky Derby champion) Mystik Dan. Nobody talks about it. Secretariat was doping.”

“That’s f—ed up, man,” Travis chuckled.

Jason Kelce later added more to his argument with this very long tweet:

For the record, despite Jason’s proclamations, no evidence has ever been found linking Secretariat to steroid use.

“I know there was talk later on that Secretariat was on steroids, but (trainer) Lucien (Laurin) never messed with that stuff,” veteran trainer and photographer Raymond Woolfe said in The Horse That God Built, a 2006 biography by Lawrence Scanlan.

When it comes to the most prominent NFL stars, Jason and Travis Kelce’s fame has undoubtedly soared, especially since Travis has been dating Taylor Swift. Still, it’s evident that some celebs don’t know who the football players are.

The clue for the puzzle on Monday’s celebrity edition of “Wheel of Fortune” was “family,” and it was evident that “Travis and Jason Kelce” was the correct answer. Designer Christian Siriano and actors Sarah Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) and Krysten Ritter (“Breaking Bad”) solved most of the riddle, but they struggled to put together the final pieces of the answer, “Travis and Jason Kelce.”

To solve the riddle, Ritter had to keep spinning the wheel and making guesses about the letters. She recognized the names “Travis and Jason,” but she was unable to immediately think of the name “Kelce.” Instead, she decided to go with her letter-by-letter guessing until she was able to complete the riddle.

She wasn’t by herself. Even after Jason and Travis’ names were written on the board, Siriano disclosed that he had no idea what the puzzle’s possible solution would be

Ok, Secretariat was a horse, not a goat, but the beloved thoroughbred is widely considered one of the greatest racehorses of all time.

The 1973 winner of the Triple Crown set records in all three of the races that he won to capture the elusive title, and still holds the record for the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes. In fact, Secretariat’s run in the Belmont Stakes is widely considered one of the best runs by a horse of all time in any race after winning by a record-breaking 31 lengths.

And though Secretariat passed away in 1980, he’s still very much beloved today, being commemorated with everything from statues to postage stamps and, of course, Hollywood movies.

So when Jason Kelce made some juicing accusations about the legendary horse, people weren’t happy.

On an episode of his New Heights podcast, the newly-retired Philadelphia Eagles center claimed that Secretariat holds so many records because he was on steroids:

“It’s not wild because Secretariat was juiced to the gills. Secretariat just so happens to be right in the heart of the steroid era.

1973, every NFL player, every baseball player, they were juicing them to the gills. You don’t think Secretariat was f*cking juiced to the rafters? Of course it’s the fastest horse of all time. They didn’t drug test Secretariat the way they did Mystik Dan.

Nobody talks about it. Secretariat was doping. There’s no way Secretariat wasn’t doping.”

Quite the allegations there, Jason.

And after people started coming for him on Twitter, he initially doubled down, pointing out that Secretariat’s heart was found to be nearly 2.5 times that of an average horse after his death, something that’s generally attributed to a genetic condition called “x-factor” that was passed down to Secretariat’s offspring as well.

But Jason has another theory:

“Just going to put this out there, you know who else has enlarged hearts. People who take copious amounts of steroids.”

But after being attacked online for his take, Kelce eventually apologized and walked it back, admitting that he doesn’t have proof that Secretariat was pumping those ‘roids.

“I’m sorry everyone, wasn’t trying to get people riled up, I really thought it was just known that in the 70s steroid use was rampant. I’m not trying to take away from Secretariat’s, or anyone from that eras legacy. You’re right, without proof it is unfair to assume these things publicly, I apologize.”

Gotta be careful when you come for the GOAT…er, horse, Jason.

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce apologized after he faced backlash for his theory former racehorse champion Secretariat was on steroids when the thoroughbred became the ninth Triple Crown winner in history.

During the May 8 edition of the “New Heights” podcast, which Jason co-hosts with his brother Travis Kelce, the former NFL offensive lineman cited Secretariat’s speed records when he claimed the horse was “juiced to the gills.”

He later doubled down on his claim by suggesting Secretariat’s “unparalleled muscular stature” was concerning.

“But the fact this horse had unparalleled muscular stature and died with an enlarged heart, and raced at a time when steroids were extremely prevalent, without adequate testing, raises flags in my book,” Kelce wrote in a social media post.

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Jason Kelce (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But he later walked back those claims, saying, “I’m sorry everyone, wasn’t trying to get people riled up,” Kelce wrote on X, formerly Twitter, May 9.

TRAVIS KELCE SAYS TOM BRADY’S ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ ROAST HAD HIM ‘IN TEARS’; JASON KELCE WAS LEFT PERPLEXED

He added it was “unfair to assume these things publicly.”

A groom washes down American thoroughbred Secretariat (1970-1989) on the eve of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., June 8, 1973. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

“I really thought it was just known that in the 70s steroid use was rampant,” Kelce wrote. “I’m not trying to take away from Secretariat’s, or anyone from that eras legacy. You’re right, without proof it is unfair to assume these things publicly, I apologize.”

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He then pointed to former Major League Baseball slugger Barry Bond’s past association with performance-enhancing drugs.

“I agree, that’s why I said the horses accomplishments are still Valid,” Kelce said, replying to a user on X. “We all know Bonds Juiced, he’s still the greatest hitter of all time in my opinion. He also did it against a large amount of players who were also juiced.”

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants swings a weighted bat in the on-deck circle in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park Aug. 13, 2007, in Pittsburgh. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Bonds was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of obstruction of justice and multiple counts of perjury. In 2011, he was convicted on a count of obstruction of justice for providing incomplete answers during his testimony during the investigation into his alleged use of steroids. A federal appeals court overturned the conviction in 2015.

The jury did not reach a verdict on perjury counts.

Secretariat’s speed records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes have stood for more than half a century.