Rafael Nadal Grabbed The Bull By The Horns

The Nova Knicks were supposed to be a sensation, but the band broke up before the season could start. Sorry to the narrative lovers, but Donte DiVencenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns is a swap every Knicks fan would make.

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The Arnault family, owners of luxury conglomerate LVMH, looks set to buy into second-tier soccer club Paris FC along with Red Bull. PSG watch out—there’s a new team gunning for your fashion crown.

Gronk is going Hollywood, starring alongside Mickey Rourke in the upcoming sports comedy “The Roaring Game.” If you were looking for a feel-good curling movie, who better to lead it?

In the world of celeb sports fans, Jack Nicholson stands alone. Now his courtside presence at Lakers games will be honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame, along with a few superfans like Spike Lee and Billy Crystal.

One of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen is hanging up his tennis shoes. On Thursday, Rafael Nadal announced he would be calling time on his trophy-laden, 24-year career in November. Notes of appreciation, congratulations, and thanks poured in from across the sport, including from some of Nadal’s biggest rivals on the court.

With 14 wins at Roland-Garros in his career, Nadal earned his “King of Clay” moniker, but it was at Wimbledon where he authored his most iconic moment, taking down Roger Federer in the 2008 final in what many consider the greatest tennis match ever played.

@wimbledon

Federer vs Nadal. Wimbledon title on the line. The tie-break seen around the world 🔥

Nadal’s sporting legacy was matched only by his cultural impact. He became an unsuspecting style icon when he broke onto the scene as a mere teenager, wearing his iconic headband, sleeveless shirts and three-quarter length shorts as he ripped and roared across the clay.

@atpellie

absolutely iconic #tennis #tennisplayer #sports #fyp #rafanadal #rafaelnadal #usopen #33333

Nike built entire tennis collections around him and his signature bullhorn logo. Earlier this year, Louis Vuitton picked him and Roger Federer to star in a dramatic campaign shot high up in the French Alps—immortalizing one of sport’s greatest ever rivalries. 

That dual legacy is in good hands, as his fellow countryman—and newly minted Louis Vuitton ambassador—Carlos Alcaraz won the 2024 French Open and looks set to take the clay crown for years to come. The duo teamed up on the court this year at the Olympics in a memorable doubles run.

Nadal still has one chapter on the court before closing his career—taking part in the Davis Cup in November, where he will get to represent Spain one final time, alongside Alcaraz.

@atlantafalcons

Kirk Cousins, are you ready to get slimed?!? #nickelodeon #nvp #funny #nfl

SNL is an undeniable cultural touchstone—a time capsule for the period within which any given episode exists. And for its 50 year history, the show has been a legacy-maker for athletes. Landing a guest hosting spot on SNL meant an athlete’s cultural footprint had gone well beyond the field. 

Fittingly. Travis Kelce got the call last year. He hit his marks, and mocked his old dating reality show, but his real star turn came while playing Bowen Yang’s Straight Male Friend.

Before Kelce came plenty of other greats—Charles Barkley chief among them. His best moment came when he got the chance to play his fellow “Inside the NBA” panelist Shaq, while Kenan Thompson played Barkley.

For athletes, a week on SNL meant a chance to show off talents and personality that would never get seen in their day job. Peyton Manning’s hosting duties showed he had real comedic chops, and helped serve as a starting point for the media empire he’s built since retiring from the NFL. The United Way short might be the best athlete performance the show has ever seen.

SNL also leans into the sports world for hit sketches all the time. From Kenan Thompson’s impressions of David Ortiz and LaVar Ball, to legendary alt-sports broadcasters Greg Stink and Pete Twinkle, to classics like Hanz and Franz and Bill Swerski’s Super Fans, there are too many iconic sports moments to count in the show’s history.