Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's top lineup picks (and benches) for Week 1

Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's top lineup picks (and benches) for Week 1

Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench. [It's not too late — join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] For the rest of your lineup and roster decisions, consult hisWeek 1 RankingsandTrade Value Charts. at Falcons Mayfield threw for three touchdowns in each of his games against the Falcons in 2024, including a 330-yard outing in their last encounter. That's not surprising since the Falcons gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks a year ago and I don't see enough changes on their defense to think that's going to improve significantly. The Bucs-Falcons game also has one of the higher projected point totals on the week at 47.5 and the Bucs have one of the highest implied point totals at 25. With Emeka Egbuka showing up and filling in for Chris Godwin, Mayfield has more than enough firepower to throw it all over the yard again as a strong QB1 in the opening week. Other QBs to start: Trevor Lawrence vs. Panthers Drake Maye vs. Raiders at Saints Each offseason, I feel the need to jog everyone's memory when it comes to Conner being a top-15 fantasy back on a per-game basis ever since arriving in Arizona. Any concerns about the 30-year-old's durability are also not as prevalent at the start of the season, so there should be no reason to question Conner's fantasy outlook in Week 1. The matchup with the Saints is a friendly one, after New Orleans was the fifth-easiest opponent for fantasy backs in 2024. With the Cardinals entering the game as 6.5-point favorites, Conner should have plenty of opportunities to rack up points as a top-12 RB option this week. Other RBs to start: TreVeyon Henderson vs. Raiders Aaron Jones Sr. at Bears at Jaguars Trusting rookies in their NFL debut might feel risky, but it all depends on which first-year player you're thinking about starting. McMillan is a top-10 pick who profiles as a true No. 1 receiver in the Panthers offense. He was a big-time target earner in college, with stat lines of 90-1,402-10 and 84-1,319-8 in his final two seasons. With Adam Thielen traded away and Jalen Coker on injured reserve, there will be more than enough volume for McMillan to be a fantasy WR2 right out of the gate. It doesn't hurt that his first opponent is the Jaguars, who have one of the more suspect secondaries in the league and allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wideouts last season. Other WRs to start: Emeka Egbuka at Falcons Travis Hunter vs. Panthers at Bears Hockenson missed the first eight weeks last season as he recovered from ACL and MCL tears suffered in 2023. When he returned to the lineup, it was clear he wasn't completely back to form and his production reflected that. Even so, Hockenson still managed a pair of strong performances against the Bears, with 12 receptions and 166 yards over their two meetings. Jordan Addison is suspended for three games and Thielen just arrived back in Minnesota, so the Vikings' passing attack will revolve around Justin Jefferson and Hockenson in Week 1. A healthy Hockenson is one of the five best tight ends in the NFL and he's going to remind people of that fact this season. Other TEs to start: David Njoku vs. Bengals Tyler Warren vs. Dolphins at Packers We know Goff lost his star playcaller in Ben Johnson and some key pieces on the interior of his offensive line with Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler departing. We should also be aware by now that Goff has generally been a much more productive quarterback when playing in a domed environment like the one at Ford Field. Unfortunately for him, he's heading to Green Bay, where he's struggled in the past. Despite all his success in recent years, Goff was held to just 145 yards and a touchdown on the road against the Packers in 2024 and 210 yards, a TD and an interception in 2023. He finished outside the top-20 fantasy QBs in both of those games. To make matters worse, Micah Parsons has joined the Packers' pass rush. This isn't the week to start Goff. Other QBs to sit: Justin Fields vs. Steelers C.J. Stroud at Rams vs. Vikings Swift held onto his starting job in Chicago almost by default this offseason after the Bears just barely missed out on several early-round rookie running backs. In the end, they drafted Kyle Monangai late, but he showed enough in training camp and the preseason to earn a role. It could be a slow first couple weeks for everyone in this backfield, given their tough divisional games against the Vikings and Lions, who were bottom five in rushing yards and fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2024. That makes Swift more of a risky fantasy RB3 for his Week 1 matchup with Minnesota, so consider your other options before you play him. And be prepared for his name to show up on this list next week on the road in Detroit. Other RBs to sit: Breece Hall vs. Steelers Nick Chubb at Rams at Broncos Ridley has a lot of things working in his favor this season with the arrival of quarterback Cam Ward providing the biggest upgrade for his fantasy outlook. The lack of target competition will lead to huge volume that should make Ridley an easy fantasy start most weeks — just not this time around. The Broncos boast one of the best defenses and their crown jewel is shutdown cornerback Pat Surtain II. Expect the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to cover Ridley on the majority of his routes this week, turning the Titans' top wideout into a fantasy WR3. However, you can already pencil in Ridley's name as a buy-low option prior to Week 2. Other WRs to sit: DK Metcalf at Jets Cooper Kupp vs. 49ers vs. Titans Engram has been a productive fantasy player in the past, but we still don't know what kind of ceiling his role in Denver will offer. When asked, Sean Payton was quick tocall him a potential "Joker"in his scheme, but some cold water was thrown on Engram's outlook when he split snaps with Adam Trautman in the preseason. This also doesn't look like a boom week for him against a Titans defense that gave up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last year. You might not have a better option at a one-off position like tight end, just know that Engram profiles as a risky low-end starter for fantasy in Week 1. Other TEs to sit: Colston Loveland vs. Vikings Zach Ertz vs. Giants

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's top lineup picks (and benches) for Week 1

Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's top lineup picks (and benches) for Week 1 Justin Boone provides a weekly look...

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Eagles' Jalen Carter on spitting incident: 'It was a mistake'

Eagles' Jalen Carter on spitting incident: 'It was a mistake'

Philadelphia Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter owned up to his "mistake" after he was ejected from Thursday's 24-20 season-opening victory over the visiting Cowboys after spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Carter was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct after he spat at Prescott after the two exchanged words while there was a stoppage in play following the opening kickoff. "You know it was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won't happen again," Carter said. "I feel bad for just my teammates and the fans out there. You know, I'm doing it for them. I'm doing it for my family also but the fans, they show the most love. You heard them out there and not being able to start the game to finish the game just (expletive) me up, but it won't happen again." Just before halftime, NBC reported that Carter could face additional discipline, possibly including a suspension. While not specifically mentioning spitting, the NFL told teams this offseason that respect for opponents will be a bigger emphasis this season. NBC reported that Carter's actions could fall under this emphasis. "If I get that text or that call and have that conversation, we will handle it," Carter said. Prescott also found himself on the defensive after video replays showed the quarterback spitting in the direction of Carter prior to the incident. "I was just looking at him and I was right here in between two linemen," Prescott said. "I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn't going to spit on my linemen, so I just spit ahead. "He asked or goes, 'Are you trying to spit on me?' At that point, I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn't spit on somebody and I'm damn sure not trying to spit on you. We're trying to play a game and I'm wondering why you're trying to mess with the rookie (Tyler Booker). I step through and say the words, 'Why the hell,' excuse me probably even more colorful but 'why would I spit on you for?' He just spit on me in that moment, and it was more of a surprise than anything. The refs obviously saw it and threw a flag. I was like, 'Hell yeah, we get 15 yards to start the game off.' I didn't realize he was getting ejected. Unfortunate that he did and hell of a player." Carter, 24, was a Pro Bowler last season after racking up 4.5 sacks among his 12 tackles for loss, plus six pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He slid to ninth overall in the NFL Draft in 2023 after legal troubles cropped up around the time of the NFL scouting combine. While in college at Georgia, Carter was involved in a street racing crash that took the lives of a player and a staff member. He turned himself in and later pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and street racing. --Field Level Media

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Eagles' Jalen Carter on spitting incident: 'It was a mistake'

Eagles' Jalen Carter on spitting incident: 'It was a mistake' Philadelphia Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter owned up to...

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Kelly Clarkson Breaks Her Silence After Ex-Husband’s Death – Fans React

Kelly Clarkson Breaks Her Silence After Ex-Husband's Death – Fans React

Kelly Clarksonhas kept a low profile since thedeath of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, on August 7, but she returned to social media for the first time in a month to mark a special anniversary. On Thursday (September 4), the "Since U Been Gone" singer took to her Instagram page to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of her winning the first season ofAmerican Idol, sharing her thanks to all those who have continued to support her over the years. "To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you WinningAmerican Idolchanged my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years," she wrote. "It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always." Clarkson wrote the sweet comment alongside a photo of her winning moment on the hit reality competition series, showing her surrounded by her fellow contestants while confetti rained down. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) Before the new post, the daytime talk show host'slast Instagram updatecame on August 6, where she announced she was canceling the remaining August Studio Session dates of her Las Vegas residency. "While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them," she wrote at the time. Although Clarkson has not publicly addressed the death of her ex, a source reportedly toldPeoplemagazine that she was "devastated" over the loss. Blackstock, who was married to Clarkson from 2013 to 2020 and shared two children with her, died on August 7 after a private three-year battle with cancer. He was 48 years old. Fans and friends flooded the comments on Clarkson'sIdolanniversary post, including Season 6 championJordin Sparks, who wrote, "THE OG!! I remember watching you win and saying to my parents, "I want to do that!" Thank you for inspiring me and so many countless others! " The officialAmerican Idolaccount also commented, writing, "THIS is what it's all about. You were an icon from the start. ." Selling SunsetstarChrishell Stausequipped, "I take my elections seriously. Love that we got this so right ." Singer Gina Naomi Baez added, "ALL HAIL THE ROYALTY THAT IS KELLY CLARKSON ." "Best season and voting experience ever!" added another. "You had me at "cool beans" before the audition even started," one fan recalled "And then… you sang, and I remember thinking "that girl don't need a backup plan" you're still the best!" "Wow, crazy 23 years. I used to beg my father every week for 15 minutes of internet so I could catch up with your performances," said another. Another wrote, "From the first audition to this very post, watching your dreams become a reality has been an honor! There is no person, no vocalist more deserving. Here's to decades and decades more." "Girl. I used EVERY vote on you and I would do it again ," said one fan. "Probably the last time that I believed that voting made a difference," wrote another. Another added, "You are THE American Idol. A gift to us all." Read the latest entertainment news onTV Insider.

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Kelly Clarkson Breaks Her Silence After Ex-Husband’s Death – Fans React

Kelly Clarkson Breaks Her Silence After Ex-Husband's Death – Fans React Kelly Clarksonhas kept a low profile since thedeath of her ex-hu...

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Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards Reunite on the Red Carpet for the First Time Since Their 2006 Divorce

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards Reunite on the Red Carpet for the First Time Since Their 2006 Divorce

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards walked their first red carpet together in 20 years as they attended the premiere of his new Netflix documentary,aka Charlie Sheen, on Thursday, Sept 4 The exes, who were married from 2002-2006, share daughters Lola, 20, and Sami, 21 aka Charlie Sheenstreams on Netflix starting Sept. 10 Charlie SheenandDenise Richardsare back on the red carpet! Nearly 20 years after their tumultuous2006 divorce, the former couple attended the Los Angeles premiere of Sheen's new Netflix documentary,aka Charlie Sheen, on Thursday, Sept. 4. The two-part doc — in which Sheen, 60, candidly tells the story of his career and his journey to sobriety — features interviews from his ex-wife Richards, 54, along with his third wife,Brooke Mueller, hisTwo and a Half MencostarJon Cryer, his former bossChuck Lorreand even his former drug dealer Marco. Sheen and actress Richards posed for photos together on the red carpet and were snapped sharing a hug, as well as posing with the documentary's director, Andrew Renzi. While Sheen wore a black tartan suit jacket, crisp white shirt and blue jeans, Richards sparkled in a sequin bandeau top and flared satin pants. Unique Nicole/Getty The actor and Richards, who weremarried from 2002-2006, last walked the red carpet together in 2005. During their relationship they were no strangers to the red carpet, attending the likes of the 2002 Golden Globes, the 2003 premiere ofScary Movie 3and the 2005 SAG Awards. More recently, they were last spotted together publicly when Sheen made an appearance on the April 1 episode of Richards' Bravo reality show,Denise Richards & Her Wild Things. Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty The exes reunited for a dinner with their 20-year-old daughterLola(the pair also share daughterSami, 21), and offered a rare glimpse into their dynamic. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "You know what's so funny?" Lola told her parents on the show. "I could never picture you guys being married. Like, sometimes I think about if you were still married and we all lived in the same house." Sami Sheen/instagram "We would have had fun!" Richards replied, before tapping Sheen on the shoulder. "Right, Charles? We would've." "Sure, we would have," Sheen agreed. "I'm so glad we all had dinner. We should do it more often," Richards later said, jokingly adding, "People would think we're f------ nuts saying that." Gregg DeGuire/WireImage The release of Sheen's documentary is coinciding with the publication of his memoir,The Book of Sheen(out Sept. 9). "It's not about me setting the record straight or righting all the wrongs of my past," Sheenexclusively told PEOPLEof releasing both projects at once, adding that it was something that just happened coincidentally. Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty "Most of my 50s were spent apologizing to the people I hurt. I also didn't want to write from the place of being a victim. I wasn't, and I own everything I did. It's just me, finally telling the stories in the way they actually happened," he continued, joking, "The stories I can remember, anyway." aka Charlie Sheenstreams on Netflix starting Sept. 10. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards Reunite on the Red Carpet for the First Time Since Their 2006 Divorce

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards Reunite on the Red Carpet for the First Time Since Their 2006 Divorce Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards wa...

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Michigan, Oklahoma have lot on line in clash with College Football Playoff implications

Michigan, Oklahoma have lot on line in clash with College Football Playoff implications

The last and only meeting between Oklahoma and Michigan had a national championship on the line, though that wasn't known until right before kickoff. Not long before the start of the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day 1976, Oklahoma learned that UCLA - as a two-touchdown underdog - had polished off top-ranked Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Combined with a Texas A&M loss to Southern California at the Liberty Bowl in late December, theSoonerssuddenly had a path to back-to-back championships under coach Barry Switzer. Oklahoma beat Michigan 14-6 behind 282 rushing yards and a combined 23 tackles by brothers Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon. Almost a half-century later, the Sooners andWolverinesmeet on Saturday with lower national stakes — you can't win a championship in September, though you can lose your shot at one. But the fallout from the game in Norman has the potential to shape the College Football Playoff, especially in determining which and how many teams the Big Ten and SEC place in the postseason field. "It's going to be a really cool matchup," said Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. "Two incredible programs that represent all the excellence in college football." With many top playoff contenders taking on Group of Five or Championship Subdivision competition, the matchup will have the nation's attention as the only ranked pairing on Saturday's schedule. These are the factors at play: There's no doubt the result on Saturday will eventually be used as an influential data point for the playoff when comparing the SEC and Big Ten. The two power leagues placedseven teams in last year's debut 12-team fieldand should have at least that many in this season's bracket. After some controversy stemming from the initial model, the playoff has moved to a straight-seeding model that issues a bye to the four highest-ranked teams rather than the highest-ranked conference champions. Should the SEC and Big Ten have multiple teams in contention for the top four spots, as expected, what happens on Saturday could be used as a tiebreaker of sorts for the playoff selection committee. For example, consider a scenario where Michigan beats Oklahoma on the road. Should Ohio State and Georgia finish as conference champions with identical records, an Ohio State win against the Wolverines — this has actually happened before, believe it or not — could be the final piece that gives theBuckeyesthe top seed and an easier matchup in the quarterfinals. When it comes to Michigan and Oklahoma in particular, the victor could have a season-long advantage in the race for an at-large playoff berth, as long as the loser doesn't flop in conference play. The pressure on Venables is obvious. After going 6-7 last year, the former Clemson defensive coordinator is one of two Oklahoma coaches in the past century to have two losing seasons. "I've been incredibly disappointed that we haven't been able to give more reason for celebrating and excitement with our end product," Venables said. "But I'm motivated by that." This year's team seems vastly improved offensively after two major offseason additions, both from Washington State: quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Mateer had over 400 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in the 35-3 win against Illinois State to open the season. Saturday will be the first of seven matchups for Oklahoma against teams inthis week's US LBM Coaches Poll. Taking four of these games should make the Sooners a valid at-large option for the playoff; winning five would make them a virtual lock. The Wolverines are currently slated to take on just two ranked teams in Oklahoma and Ohio State. But that could make Saturday even more important: Michigan won't have the same opportunities to make up ground in the playoff race and would need to avoid any slipups against a series of second-tier Big Ten teams. "It's why you come to Michigan," Moore said. "It's probably why you go to Oklahoma, right? I mean, those are the type of games that you want to be a part of and games you remember. Obviously, every game is important. But yeah, playing against Oklahoma, one of the winningest programs in college football, is huge to us." And while his job security is more secure compared to Venables, second-year coach Sherrone Moore is still under scrutiny for his part inthe sign-stealing scandal that recently drew a hefty fine and penalties from the NCAA. He's set to take a two-game suspension after the Oklahoma game, spanning matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska. To lose on Saturday and then be sidelined for two weeks would open Moore to heavy criticism inside and out of Ann Arbor. These are two quarterbacks with dramatically different paths to Saturday night. Mateer was a lightly recruited prospect who was picked out of relative obscurity by former Washington State assistant Eric Morris, who is now the head coach at North Texas. After serving as the backup in 2023, Mateer exploded onto the national scene last year with nearly 4,000 yards of total offense and 44 touchdowns, the most by any Bowl Subdivision quarterback. Mateer is "a gunslinger," said Moore. On the other hand, Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood was the top-ranked quarterback in the past recruiting cycle. A former verbal commitment to LSU, he flipped to the Wolverines last November and then won the starting job over transfer Mikey Keene during preseason camp. In his debut, Underwood completed 21 of 31 throws for 251 yards and a touchdown without an interception in the Wolverines' 34-17 win against New Mexico. The Lobos probably aren't a good barometer for what to expect against the Sooners, who gave up just 34 passing yards on 1.7 yards per attempt in the season opener. The Sooners and Wolverines have earned plenty of off-the-radar hype as legitimate playoff contenders, though this faith is tempered by a wait-and-see approach for two teams that have yet to prove themselves against elite competition. That makes Saturday a type of buy-in game that alters the national perception of both teams — potentially skyrocketing the winner up the rankings while knocking the loser out of the Top 25 entirely. The hesitancy to jump on the Sooners' bandwagon stems from the program's thud of an SEC debut. That Michigan is currently seen as no better than the fourth-best team in the Big Ten can be attributed to Moore's uneven first year and the lack of experience under center. But the conversation around the Sooners and Wolverines will change after Saturday night. The Sooners have to "focus on each other," Mateer said. "Just stay off the phone because they'll say a lot of good and say a lot of bad and you've just got to focus like it's any week. And it's awesome. Like, embrace how cool it is because you only get so many opportunities. But also know you've got to play the game." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MIchigan-Oklahoma clash has CFP and SEC, Big Ten implications

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Michigan, Oklahoma have lot on line in clash with College Football Playoff implications

Michigan, Oklahoma have lot on line in clash with College Football Playoff implications The last and only meeting between Oklahoma and Michi...

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Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035

Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035

MONACO (AP) — Formula 1 extended its contract with the Monaco Grand Prix for four more years on Friday, keeping one of the sport's most iconic races on the calendar until 2035. It is the second contract renewal in less than 12 months for Monaco, whichsigned a six-year extensionto 2031 last November. Monaco was first raced in 1929 and held the second official Formula 1 World Championship race on its twisty streets back in 1950. It has been part of the F1 calendar since 1955, excluding the COVID-hit 2020 season. "The renewal of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035 is in keeping with a sporting and historical tradition to which the principality remains deeply attached," Monaco's head of state Prince Albert II said. "I can only welcome this renewed commitment, which is testament to our collective success, the excellence of our collaboration with Formula 1, and the unique place that Monaco occupies in the international motorsport landscape." With old-school glamour and a harbor filled with luxury yachts, Monaco is known as "the jewel in the crown" of F1, but it's by far the slowest circuit of the year. Tight, twisty and not really suited to modern F1 cars, Monaco is a throwback to the series origins in the 1950s. Overtaking is so difficult that Saturday's qualifying session is arguably more important than the race. With barriers close to the track, even the smallest mistake can mean a crash. "The streets of Monaco have been echoing with the sound of Formula 1 since the earliest days of the sport, so I'm delighted to announce the extension of this fantastic event to 2035," F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said. "It is an iconic race that is loved by all drivers and fans, with a unique vibe thanks to its location on the world's most glamorous principality." ___ AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035

Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035 MONACO (AP) — Formula 1 extended its contract with the Monaco Grand Prix for four mo...

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Kylie Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Engagement News and Shares What Her 4 Daughters Think

Kylie Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Engagement News and Shares What Her 4 Daughters Think

STEFANO TROVATI/Shutterstock; Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Kylie Kelce is reacting to news that Taylor Swift will soon be her sister-in-law Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their engagement on Tuesday, Aug. 26, after two years of dating During a segment on the Sept. 5 episode ofGood Morning America, Jason Kelce's wife said that she and her four daughters are "thrilled" to welcome Swift to the family Kylie Kelceis looking forward to officially welcomingTaylor Swiftinto the family. The podcaster and mom, 33, celebrated the news that her brother-in-law,Travis Kelce, and the songwriter are engaged in an interview that aired during the Friday, Sept. 5 episode ofGood Morning America. She even shared what her and husbandJason Kelce's four daughters — Wyatt, 5, Elliotte, 4, Bennett, 2, and Finn, 4 months — think about having Swift as an aunt. "The girls are thrilled. They're so excited they're getting another aunt. And we could not be more excited for them and what the future holds. We love love, and we love Taylor and Trav," she gushed. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. TheStewartofNY/GC Images; Lisa Lake/Getty The interview aired during GMA's recurring Play of the Day segment, which highlighted the Philadelphia Eagles' first game of the 2025 NFL season. Kylie attended the game and spent time during it hanging out with a 5-year-old boy named Billy who she met through the Eagles Autism Foundation and brought out onto the field for a special experience. "The Eagles organization is synonymous with Eagles Autism Foundation and the work that they're doing. Putting funds behind projects that are impacting the autism community every single day," she said. Though Kylie has stayed mostly mum on the romance between the NFL player and the singer, both 35, she did give a nod to Swift's recent Internet-breaking appearance on theNew Heightspodcast on Aug. 13. On herNot Gonna Liepodcast on Aug. 14, she quickly addressed the major moment by sharing, "Officially no longer the record holder for the most watched episode of the other podcast. There's no way it's even close, and I love that for me." Throughout the "So High School" singer's lengthy episode, Swift referenced spending time with Kylie as well as her and Jason'sfour girls. Kylie Kelce/Instagram "You're exactly as I thought you would be. Kylie is exactly as I thought she would be, just like the realest, the smartest, the coolest. You're fantastic. Obviously, you know that," Swift told Jason, 37, during the episode. She also referenced Jason's daughters while discussing her newfound love of baking sourdough bread. "This one I've been workshopping for the girls because they love everything rainbow — funfetti sourdough," she added. "Because they love sprinkles. Like, we put, you know, we put sprinkles in everything when we hang out." Gabriella Ricciardi/MLB Photos/Getty Swift also shared a story about how Kylie andJason Kelce's four daughters met her cats after their dad had told them "cats are poisonous." "It was actually really a great challenge because as soon as I got the kids around the cats, it was my goal to prove to them that they weren't poisonous," Swift said, referencing her three cats — Meredith, Olivia and Benjamin. "And there's no better way to prove that than to just hand them Benjamin, my ragdoll cat, who lets humans hold him like he's a baby. And, I mean, like, my favorite thing ever is just like when Benny will come up to me and just go, 'I find Benjamin. I find him.' And she's just, like, over there just, like, laying with him and petting him and holding him." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Kylie Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Engagement News and Shares What Her 4 Daughters Think

Kylie Kelce Reacts to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Engagement News and Shares What Her 4 Daughters Think STEFANO TROVATI/Shutterstock...

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The never-before-told stories of the 2000 MTV VMAs: 'Everything we did was live, live, live'

The never-before-told stories of the 2000 MTV VMAs: 'Everything we did was live, live, live'

It was one of those nights when live television was electric, unpredictable and completely unforgettable. Britney Spears made pop history with her performance of "Oops!… I Did It Again." Fred Durst jumped onstage with Christina Aguilera and fueled tabloid rumors in real time. The evening's wildest surprise came when Rage Against the Machine's Tim Commerford scaled a massive set piece and refused to come down after Limp Bizkit snagged Best Rock Video, sending producers panicking. Add in J.Lo and Diddy's red carpet arrival (and the chaos that followed), and it's no wonder the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards are still considered perhaps the most memorable in the network's awards show history. Salli Frattini, one of the show's executive producers, was the nerve center for all the mayhem, wrangling stars, crafting surprises and keeping the event from going off the rails. "When I went back and scrolled through the show again [before our conversation], I was like, 'Holy shit, all this happened at the same time,'" she says with a laugh to Yahoo. Here's the untold story of a night that lives in pop culture infamy. Before the broadcast even started on Sept. 7, 2000, the energy outside Radio City Music Hall in New York City was intoxicating. This was the height of theTotal Request Liveera, when pop stars and boy bands ruled MTV's airwaves. Frattini says it was no surprise that Spears and NSync garnered the most screams from onlookers who swarmed outside the venue to get a glimpse of their favorite artists. But that year,no entrance turned heads quite like Jennifer Lopez and Sean "Diddy" Combs. "As we're booking talent to come to the show, we very much deliberately would try to go after some of the trending couples. Obviously, J.Lo and Diddy dating at the time was a big one," she says. "They just both loved the press." Their red carpet appearance was orchestrated for maximum buzz. "We tried to really time their arrival so the majority of the press was there," Frattini says, recalling "a lot of discussion with their PR people" prior to the show about what they would and wouldn't do on the red carpet. When they stepped out of the car together, J.Lo and Diddystopped and turnedto a crowd of fans who were screaming from bleachers across the street. The couple posed for photographers and walked hand in hand into the venue. Of course, the most impressive entrances didn't end on the carpet. Eminem made sure of that when he performed "The Real Slim Shady," parading 125 look-alikes from the street to inside the theater. While it looked effortless on TV, it was also a logistical miracle. "A lot of what I had to deal with was shutting down Sixth Avenue, the busiest avenue in Manhattan. We were [airing] live, so it had to be very specific and coordinated — shutting down at this time, then reopening, trying to get the fans outside," Frattini says. "And technically, 20 years ago, we weren't where we are now with technology." Eminem, for his part, was all business. "He was always really professional. He would show up, do his job. He's no nonsense. He wasn't a chitchatter, like some other people. Just, 'Tell me what you need me to do,'" she says. This was also when Eminem was feuding with Spears and Christina Aguilera, both of whom were performing that night. When asked if she had to stagger rehearsals so they wouldn't run into each other, Frattini says it was never that deep. "You know what? We didn't," she says. "There definitely were some requests that would come in for management about 'personality sensitivities.' So we were trying to be conscious of that. I don't think we deliberately set up a sabotage moment. They [all] knew everybody would be there." Producers made sure to get a reaction shot of both Carson Daly and Fred Durst when Eminem rapped the song's verse about their supposed love triangle with Aguilera. That, she says, is just show business. "We strategically had to seat people so we could show [their faces] when [Eminem] would walk by," Frattini says. "It was great." Aguilera had more than just a cameo in Eminem's lyrics — she was about to make headlines herself, teaming up with Durst for a moment that was as unplanned as it was captivating. When Aguilera finished her performance of "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)," all of a sudden, Durst rose from his seat in the audience and swaggered onstage, rapping Limp Bizkit's "Livin' It Up" whileshe sauntered around him. The two had already sparked hookup rumors in real life, and their collaboration came together at the eleventh hour, at Aguilera's suggestion. "That was [Christina's] idea, actually," Frattini recalls. "She said, 'Why don't we have him come up?'" Frattini says it was "barely rehearsed." "Fred's like, 'Yeah, sure, I'll do it,'" she continues. "The crowd went wild." In an era before everything leaked on social media, this kind of genuine shock was rare and priceless. "We were trying to make it a surprise — back then, thingsreallywere surprises," Frattini says. It was the kind of pandemonium Frattini and her team secretly loved: a little risky and the sort of live TV magic that turned the VMAs into appointment viewing, as Aguilera and Durst's onstage chemistry fed gossip columns for months to come. Aguilera wasn't the only pop princess who gave viewers something to talk about. With the world watching, Spears kicked off her performance with a medley of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" into "Oops!.. I Did It Again" as she shed her black tuxedo to reveal a sparkly nude bikini top and tight pants with her abs on full display. Frattini says the stunt was carefully planned from the start. "We knew that was happening. That was intentional," she says. "We knew that was going to get a lot of eyeballs." Frattini says they ran the performance and Spears's wardrobe-shedding past legal and got the proper clearances. "She didn't expose any body parts," she says. Spears knew how to keep the audience's attention that night. She also teamed up with Aguilera to introduce Whitney Houston to the stage, a move that seemed impossible given their very public rivalry. For fans, it was a fever dream: the two reigning pop princesses, side by side under the spotlight, putting feud rumors aside, at least for the cameras. Pulling off that moment took some finessing behind the scenes, though Frattini insists it was never about orchestrating drama. "When we asked Christina and Britney to present together, that was a big idea," she says. The producers thought it was a long shot, but both stars were into it. "No one thought it could happen because there really was a little bit of a rivalry, but they did it, and it was fantastic," Frattini says. The reaction from the crowd was deafening, a moment that sticks with her today. The best VMAs moments are the ones you can't script. The biggest "did that really just happen?" highlight of the evening came courtesy of Rage Against the Machine's Tim Commerford. After Limp Bizkit won for Best Rock Video, the band's bassist scaled the 15-foot scaffolding on the stage in protest, where he dangled for several minutes. "That set was not designed for anyone to climb on. There was such a panic that the whole wall was going to come crashing down," Frattini remembers. "We were getting security in front of the stage to make sure nobody was under it, and we couldn't get him down. It messed up the next award." Frattini called an audible and had someone scramble and find Daly, who wasTRL's host at the time. "I was like, 'GET CARSON!'" she says. "He was always our contingency person." They put a camera on Daly to give viewers at home an update about what was going on. Commerfordwas later arrested. "When people watch all this on TV, they go, 'Oh, that looked easy,'" she says. "No. I know better." For Frattini, the show's enduring power comes down to authenticity and unpredictability, qualities she believes are increasingly rare now in live television. "Everything we did was live, live, live. Because of that, we made mistakes, and because of that, moments happened," she says. But for anyone who watched at the time, the 2000 show remains a master class in how thrilling an awards show can be. "Some of these performances, when you put them up, people are always blown away," Frattini says. It was a time when "everything felt so much more genuine to me and authentic." Over her career, Frattini would go on to executive produce several more VMAs — including the shows in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. But nothing ever quite matched the fun chaos of that singular night in 2000. Now, 25 years later, as the MTV VMAs return on Sept. 7, 2025, Frattini still finds herself nostalgic for the era when anything could — and absolutely did — happen.

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

The never-before-told stories of the 2000 MTV VMAs: 'Everything we did was live, live, live'

The never-before-told stories of the 2000 MTV VMAs: 'Everything we did was live, live, live' It was one of those nights when live te...

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Conor McGregor Wants to Be Ireland’s Next President. First He’ll Need to Get on the Ballot

Conor McGregor Wants to Be Ireland's Next President. First He'll Need to Get on the Ballot

Conor McGregor speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2025. Credit - Jim Lo Scalzo—EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images Conor McGregor, who has in recent years gone from brawling in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to fighting multiple allegations of sexual abuse, is now looking to enter the arena to be Ireland's next President. But the 37-year-old who has become a popular figure of the far-right, allying himself with U.S. President Donald Trump and promoting anti-immigration views to his more than 46 million followers on Instagram and 10 million followers on X, is running up against a Sept. 24 deadline to receive backing from at least 20 of 234 members of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament) or four of 31 local authorities (county or city councils)in order to be nominated. McGregor posted on social media on Sept. 4 with a plea for his supporters to "contact your local county councillors today and ask them to nominate me." Citizens of Ireland, the time for real change is now!As President, I will not sign any bill in law until it goes back to the people first!If you want to see my name on the ballot for the Presidency, I urge you to contact your local county councillors today and ask them to…pic.twitter.com/LGDCSGN9vr — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA)September 4, 2025 "We have seen the homelessness of Irish children risen to levels unprecedented, proving this Government's refusal to abide by and respect our proclamation where all children of Ireland are to be cherished. Instead, our children abandoned," McGregor said in a video as he stood in front of the gates of the Department of the Taoiseach in Dublin. "This incompetent failure of future generations has been accompanied with an intense influx of mass migration into an already severed system." "If you want to see my name on the ballot for the presidency, I urge you to contact your local county councillors today and ask them to nominate me," McGregor wrote in the post. He called himself a "master of martial combat" and a "solution driven man." The Irishpresidencyis mostly ceremonial and is directly elected every seven years. Any citizen over the age of 35 can seek a nomination. There areonly two confirmed candidates so farto succeed outgoing President Michael D. Higgins, apopular leftistwho was first elected in 2011. Voters are set to go to the polls on Oct. 24. McGregor, one of the UFC's most famous stars, became the first fighter to hold two of the championship's belts simultaneously in November 2016 and holds a 22-6 career record. He was the world's highest paid sports star in 2021. But he hasn't fought in the UFC since then, after back-to-back defeats and mounting abuse allegations. In December 2024, a Dublin juryfound McGregor civilly liablefor battery and assault and ordered him to pay nearly 250,000 euros in a civil lawsuit brought by Nikita Hand alleging that he and another man, James Lawrence, raped her in 2018. He appealed the verdict, but the appeal was dismissed in July 2025. In January 2024, another woman filed an ongoing civil lawsuit in Florida against McGregor alleging that he sexually assaulted her during the 2023 NBA finals. McGregor also pleaded guilty to assault for punching an elderly man in a pub in Dublin in 2019, and was banned from driving in Ireland for two years over six driving offences in 2022. McGregor began publicly expressing anti-immigration and anti-asylum seeker views in 2022 after his career in fighting seemed to be receding and around the same time that far-right ethno-nationalism was rising in Ireland. He has repeatedly drawn on one of his UFC slogans, "If one of us goes to war, we all go to war," in anti-immigration comments, including aNov. 22, 2023, postthat read, "Ireland, we are at war." Members of the Irish far-right have promoted McGregor as a face of their movement. "When he first came to prominence in 2012, he got attention by acting like a clown—and people received him well," sports journalist Ewan MacKenna, who wrote the book, "Chaos is a Friend of Mine: The Life and Crimes of Conor McGregor," toldCNNlast year. "He will become whatever the crowd wants him to be and he molds himself into whatever brings him the most attention, and with politics, it would be similar." McGregor first announced his presidential bid in March after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on St. Patrick's Day. "Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness," McGregor said at the meeting with Trump in March, claiming that Irish towns were overrun by migrants. Immigration to Ireland has gone up over the years, with 149,200 people moving to Ireland in the year leading up to April 2024, a17-year high. Emigration out of Ireland has also risen, and is a big part of Irish history and identity. An independent poll by Migrant Rights Centre Ireland last yearfoundthat a vast majority of the Irish public support welcoming policies to migrants. Whilesome anti-immigration riotsoccurred in Ireland in 2023, observers said they represented the views of a minority, and housing and healthcare remain higher priorities for most ahead of this year's election. Irish leader Micheál Martin denounced McGregor's comments at the White House, saying that they "did not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, or the views of the people of Ireland." As part of his campaign platform, McGregor has opposed a European Union migration pact that would more evenly distribute the processing of asylum seekers across the bloc. "Who else will stand up to Government and oppose this bill?" hepostedon X in March. "Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!" But McGregor faces a steep challenge in making it onto the ballot. Many Irish lawmakers have criticized McGregor for his anti-immigrant stance and for the sexual assault allegations against him. His eleventh hour appeal to his supporters struck a different tone from just a week earlier, when hepostedon X: "I have it secured. ​​I have councils on board. TD's. Senators." In March,Sky News surveyedlawmakers, and of the 134 respondents, not a single Teachta Dála (member of the lower house) or senator said they would support or even maybe support McGregor's nomination. Some wrote in responses calling him "a tacky, moronic vulgarian," "a misogynist and a thug," and "a populist buffoon." "I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position," said one senator. TheIrish Timesfound similarnear-unanimous rejectionin a survey of local councillors, too. Contact usatletters@time.com.

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Conor McGregor Wants to Be Ireland’s Next President. First He’ll Need to Get on the Ballot

Conor McGregor Wants to Be Ireland's Next President. First He'll Need to Get on the Ballot Conor McGregor speaks at the White House ...

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Roy Jones Jr. receives Olympic gold from opponent, more than three decades after controversial decision saw him miss out

Roy Jones Jr. receives Olympic gold from opponent, more than three decades after controversial decision saw him miss out

One of the most controversial moments inOlympichistory has taken a surprise twist with former South Korean boxer Park Si-hun handing his gold medal over toRoy Jones Jr. Park defeated Jones Jr. by a 3-2 decision at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, even though the American dominated the light-middleweight title fight and was widely believed to be the rightful champion. Among those to doubt the decision were Park himself, who has long held that he didn't deserve to win the gold medal. And now, more than three decades after the fight, he has given the prize to his opponent. In a touchingvideoposted on Jones Jr.'s YouTube channel this week, the pair are seen meeting at the 56-year-old's ranch in Pensacola, Florida to exchange the medal. "He won the gold at the time, he had the gold, but he wants to give it back to you," Park's son explains in the video. "It belongs to you." The two former fighters stand hand-in-hand in a boxing ring as a clearly emotional Jones Jr. is told that he is receiving the medal, then adds: "Wow. That is crazy." "In 1988, I was robbed of the gold medal in what became one of the biggest controversies in boxing history," Jones Jr.wroteon Instagram on Thursday. "By the grace of God, a couple of years ago, the man who won that medal made the trip from South Korea to my home to return it to me, feeling it was rightfully mine. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did." According tothe Associated Press, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concluded in 1997 that it had found no evidence to support the bribery allegations made against the judges during the 1988 gold-medal bout. Jones Jr. was nevertheless awarded the Val Barker Trophy for the best boxer across all weight divisions at the Olympics. He went on to become one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time, winning a world title in four divisions. As for Park, who became a teacher and then a boxing coach, he has always maintained that he didn't deserve to win the fight against Jones Jr. "There's hardened resentment built up in me that I will probably carry for the rest of my life," hetold APin 2020. "I didn't want my hand to be raised (after the fight), but it did go up, and my life became gloomy because of that." For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byLiam Oneel

in

September 05, 2025

Roy Jones Jr. receives Olympic gold from opponent, more than three decades after controversial decision saw him miss out

Roy Jones Jr. receives Olympic gold from opponent, more than three decades after controversial decision saw him miss out One of the most con...

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