Soap Operas Got Nothin’ On College Football

…It also does numbers in the professional basketball player circuit. Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, credits his success to the children’s book. Thunder GM Sam Presti gifted him the book when he first arrived in OKC, and it helped him get through the rough first few years. Then Sam said, “I told you so!” 

Fanatics Fest will feature a similar all-star lineup as last year with big names like Tom Brady, Travis Scott, and Kevin Hart in attendance. And the most VIP person yet…the person reading this. I mean, if you go, that is. 

Being at the party is cool, but sometimes seeing the posts that come from it is the real treat. The same goes for sporting events these days, so argues Thomas Van Schaik, of Substack “The Athete Brand Influence Insider.” He’s right. 

Keep scrolling, and you’ll find out how CFB is like a soap opera. Or click here and read a heroic story about a little engine that could — without a coach, mind you. Ole Miss has managed to drown out the college football noise and keep winning. 

Breanna Stewart says, by tomorrow’s end, aka the deadline, we’ll get a collective bargaining deal between the WNBPA and the league. I think the MVP is telling the truth. It stands for Most Veracious Player, right? The stakes, for those curious.

Now that the CW hosts college football, I like to make the joke that my alma mater, the Oregon State Beavers, and Gossip Girl are in the same cinematic universe. But at this point, it’s less of a joke, because thanks to the University of Washington’s (now former) quarterback Demond Williams Jr., we are once again living in unprecedented and very dramatic times. 

Here’s the situation: Williams says he’s staying in Seattle. He’s bought a ring and got down on one knee (he signed a contract). He’s a one-woman man. 

But then, suddenly, he posts that he’s entering the transfer portal. The ultimate betrayal, to his current lover. By the way, the dark side, and serious part of this, is that the Huskies’ head coach’s wife, Amber Fisch, pointed out he announced during the funeral of UW soccer player, Mia Hamant. I do not say that lightly, but to point out that again, we have never seen a moment like this. So then, my guy “sources” (whoever he is) starts telling reporters that Williams’ new deal with [secret team] is one of the biggest in the market. 

Everyone’s got a price. 

And would you believe who is said to be paying that price? Of course you would, because it’s Lane Kiffin’s LSU. But wait, Lane Kiffin, who has been all over your feeds for playing a similar will-he-won’t-he game, was at the ASU hoops game courting one of CFB’s brightest QBs, Sam Leavitt—WHEN THIS WAS ANNOUNCED. My head is spinning. Yours? 

(By the way, not enough people know that Sam Leavitt and Payton Pritchard are the second and third coolest people to come out of Oregon’s West Linn High School…I am the first, obviously.) 

Anyways. Sammy L is living the dream, visiting every school you can name. Who knows where that guy is gonna go if Williams ends up at LSU. What we do know is that the Big Ten is not happy. They just threw a drink in the face of Demond Williams and screamed, “You’ll never get away with this!” Which, in non-soap opera terms means, of course, that they are taking legal action. Because there was a contract. Don’t contracts among (gender neutral) gentlemen mean anything anymore? 

As my colleague Mason put it, there is basically nothing to enforce his contract, because there are no rules. So true, Mason.

He also gathered the best internet reactions on the topic. Everyone says “thank you” to Mason while you scroll.

Our resident soccer (he calls it football) expert, Dan, is here to talk his two greatest passions in the whole wide world: AFCON and fashion. Take it away, Dan. 

If you didn’t read our primer ahead of AFCON (the Africa Cup of Nations), telling everyone why it's a must-watch, and have missed out on the action so far, I’m very sorry to hear that. The tournament — heading into a blockbuster quarterfinal phase at the end of this week — has truly lived up to its billing, with last-minute comebacks, vibey choreographed team entrances, bicycle kicks, teammates falling out with each other on the pitch (looking at you, Nigeria), and even government intervention to suspend a national team after a winless showing in the group stage (looking at you, Gabon). 

For me, one of the most enjoyable things about AFCON each time around is the style. The tournament has never been short on flair and creativity on the pitch, and the same can be said for its visual identity. 

Off the pitch, the tunnel fits at this year’s tournament have raised the bar. The Comoros Islands pulled up for their opening game in tailored suiting, featuring Mandarin-collar shirts, grey trousers, and relaxed jackets. Côte d’Ivoire gave them a run for their money, though, with a custom team design by Maison Elie Kuame, which you simply have to see for yourself to appreciate its beauty.

On the pitch is where the beauty and creativity of African football collide with the beauty and creativity of African design. We’ve been blessed by an unbeatable range of jerseys for almost every team at this tournament. Nigeria’s Nike kits have long been a must-see, and they have delivered once again. Personally, I can’t look past this Mali jersey — produced by Airness — as the MVP of all AFCON fits this time around. DR Congo’s sky blue jerseys, designed by Umbro, are also high on my list. Check out all the best kits here.

There’s also been a flurry of AFCON-inspired fashion collections released by independent brands in recent weeks. Check out this drop by London-based label 99BYJMS, a personal favorite of mine. Buy one for yourself and send me one in the mail, thanks. 

Also, go read this on the money post by Estadio Communale — run by one of my favorite fashion-sports commentators out there — which makes the case for how AFCON has even made the humble training bib (I don’t know what Americans call this) a fashion item.

Rumour has it that the F in AFCON stands for Fashion. I think.