From hilarious analogies to baffling meltdowns, this week in sports had it all. We saw veterans falling flat and leagues making head-scratching moves that feel straight out of a dictatorship. Throw in some bizarre fan behavior, a spicy celebrity jab at ESPN, and a few questionable takes from basketball greats, and you’ve got plenty of stories worth talking about.
👍Thumbs Up – Celtics Add Chris Boucher
The 2025–26 Celtics will have a very different look. Jayson Tatum is likely out for the year with a torn ACL, and Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis are gone—three core pieces from the 2023–24 championship team. It’s bound to be a challenging season, but Boston made an intriguing move by signing Chris Boucher. A versatile two-way player with length, energy, and defensive instincts, Boucher brings a skill set that could help steady the ship while the Celtics navigate this transition year.
👍Thumbs Up – Michelle Obama Calling Out ESPN and Stephen A. Smith
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t hold back on her podcast, comparing ESPN to The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Stephen A. Smith to one of the show’s drama-filled wives. She was pointing to the endless yelling, theatrics, and over-the-top hot takes that dominate the network’s shows. It’s a hilarious but painfully accurate observation—especially coming from someone who doesn’t exactly make a habit of roasting sports media. Take that SAS!
👎Thumbs Down – The PBA’s Three-Year Ban
The PBA just can’t help but shoot itself in the foot. In response to players signing with leagues in Korea and Japan, the board decided to impose a three-year ban on any player who rejects a “valid” PBA offer in favor of going abroad. Three years. For chasing better pay, better competition, or simply a better career path. It’s petty, insecure, and reeks of desperation. This isn’t player development—it’s player control. The whole thing screams dictatorship, the kind cooked up by clueless boomers terrified of change. Instead of adapting, the PBA is clinging to outdated thinking, and it’s embarrassing.
👎Thumbs Down – JMF laying an egg… again
June Mar Fajardo, the PBA’s 8-time MVP and arguably the GOAT of Philippine basketball, had another horrendous outing in international ball in Gilas’ loss to Chinese Taipei last Wednesday. Look, I get it. He’s 35 and the competition is different, but man oh man, that was a gigantic egg he laid in there – two points and two rebounds on 1/3 FGs, plus three travels in 19 minutes of play is unacceptable.
👎Thumbs Down – Sex Toys in WNBA Games
Four. That’s how many times in just over a month green dildos have been thrown onto the court during WNBA games. It’s not funny, it’s not clever—it’s childish and downright disrespectful to the players, the league, and the sport. Fans pulling this stunt should be ashamed of themselves. At the same time, WNBA security has to step it up. If this has happened four times, that’s four too many. This league deserves better than to have its games turned into sideshows by immature idiots.
👎Thumbs Down – Gerry Esplana Being a Crybaby
PBA great Gerry Esplana tried to defend Gilas Pilipinas after their two brutal FIBA Asia Cup losses, but his take fell flat. He basically went with the tired “non-basketball people shouldn’t talk” argument—a line that always reeks of insecurity. Sure, he may be protecting the players, but criticism isn’t suddenly invalid just because it comes from outside the coaching or scouting ranks. You don’t need to be a pro to see a bad game plan or poor execution on both ends. And what if a coach and a so-called “non-basketball person” say the same thing—does one magically have more truth? It’s a weak stance that comes off as pure crybaby energy.
