Richie1, Author at US Celeb

ERLING HAALAND celebrated New Year’s at a lavish party in Dubai with his girlfriend and Anthony Joshua.

Pep Guardiola’s side – who won the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia before Christmas – finished the year by beating Sheffield United 2-0.

But Haaland has not featured since the start of the month after picking up a foot injury.

And he appears to have been enjoying his time off as he took a trip to Dubai for the new year with his partner Isabel Haugseng.

The 23-year-old was also not involved in the matchday squad that won 2-0 at the Etihad on Saturday.

Guardiola told Amazon Prime: “Still, he’s not with the team. He feels better with his bone [in his foot] but he hasn’t had one training session with us.

“Unfortunately, December is so congested with so many games. January is a bit less congested.

“Hopefully, in January, he can come back with us.”

Haaland jetted out to Dubai to celebrate the start of the year and did so at a plush party.

It was hosted by Pretty Little Thing owner Umar Kamani with boxers Joshua and Derek Chisora also in the house.

Haaland previously visited Kamani’s mansion in Dubai last year while the Qatar World Cup was ongoing.

Joshua, 34, is still in the Middle East after his last boxing match, a win over Sweden’s Otto Wallin, 32.

He had signed to fight Deontay Wilder, 38, next but the American scuppered those blockbuster plans by losing to Joseph Parker, 31, in Saudi.

CELEB NEWS

Tiger and Charlie Woods’ golf swings still look eerily the same with in-sync videos

Charlie Woods is 14 years old, but he’s been playing with his dad Tiger at the PNC Championship for four years.

And every year, we get the same thing: Videos of the pair showing their similar mannerisms along with golf swings that are eerily similar. That’s what we’re here to focus on after a range session before the pair teed off at the 2023 edition of the tournament.

You’ll see one moment when they both tee up wedges together, and it might give you some goosebumps when you see it.

CELEB NEWS

Simone Biles Joins Novak Djokovic For Final Honour Before Entering Olympic Year

Simone Biles‘ presence on the ground has spread far and wide to gain attention across countries. Being the most decorated gymnast has brought Biles numerous awards the industry and organizations have to offer for the prowess and inspiration she yields. The 7-time Olympic medalist’s stature was honored yet again as she returned to the mats stronger and resilient.

Recently, the Global Wellness Summit celebrated Simone in her vociferous stance on mental health and well-being. Though her stand on the cause during the Olympics invited backlash, a well-backed recognition emphasized the gymnast’s right steps. Today, two months later, as the year pulls down its veneer, Biles stood to prove her excellent presence, tallying the awards’ numbers forward.

Simone Biles receives year-end honors

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS), recently announced its Athletes of the Year for the 2023 edition. Over 100 member countries of the association participated in the poll to decide the winners of the male and female categories. From a panel of 405 journalists, Simone Biles slid through to garner 353 votes and claim the first position. It was the gymnast’s 3rd time claiming the title, following previous wins in 2016 and 2019. Biles was further followed by Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s basketball star and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.

As for the men’s category, the Serbian star, Djokovic Novak swept up a total of 616 votes. Having established himself as one of the prominent players of Tennis, Novak rose to hold a record-extending eighth-year-end No. 1 finish in the Men’s singles World Tennis Ranking. Though the two athletes have nothing left to prove their excellence, they yet continue to tread the way ahead. While the United Open, Australian Cup, and more await the Tennis icon, Simone Biles has just one immediate goal for the upcoming year.

The gymnastic tryst in 2023

During the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles cut her journey short to focus on her mental health. The decision extended to encompass 2 years of Simone off the mats. While the hiatus brought along uncertainties of returning, the gymnast announced her comeback in June this year. “I will always get to do whatever I want to do after my career is over,” Biles told Olympics.com. “But I won’t be able to do my career forever.”

In August, she dominated the 2023 US Classic gymnastics. With 59.1, she won the all-around, while 14.8 secured her gold on the balance beam. Further, she clinched the eighth individual all-around title at the US Championships, followed by 5 medals at the Worlds. With continued momentum in place, Biles will look to grab a spot for the 2024 Olympics during the trials from June 27–30, 2024.

CELEB NEWS

“Wasn’t Going To Able To Afford College”: Simone Biles’ Husband Jonathan Owens Confesses Humble Beginnings Before NFL Career

For the last few weeks, things have gone south for Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens after his confession about his initial days of dating Simone Biles. However, at the onset of the Green Bay Packers’ storming into the season finale on Sunday, January 7, the remembrance of the team’s safety looked more glittery. The December 19 premiered, ‘The Pivot’ podcast highlighted several nooks and crannies of Jonathan Owens’ personal life and his humble beginnings.

Meanwhile, the Podcast was fairly engaged with NFL hobnobs like Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. All they wanted to know was the gradual transformation of the shoulders Green Bay Packers rely on. Jonathan Owens catered to them nicely.

Jonathan Owens opens up his youthhood persona

In the Pivot Podcast, Ryan ‘RC’ Clark, the former safety in Washington Commanders couldn’t hold his curiosity from the Green Bay Packers’ safety’s phantasmagoria. He threw his quest veiling in the shade of ‘starting in St. Louis and ending in Missouri Western’ wordings. Following this, Owens began reminiscing to reveal the truth. However, the extraordinary part came when he conceded: “I was trying to get a scholarship, man because I knew my mom wasn’t going to be able to afford college so they gave me a full scholarship and I had Pell grants so I was able to get a little refund check.” That left the RC and his ilks in the room stunned.

The 28-year-old safety closed the chapter with RC’s question with an affirmative, “That was all I needed at the time you know so that was that’s how that happened”.

The quagmire settling with Jonathan Owens

In the same interview, Jonathan Owens acknowledged that his ‘flappings’ were awkward since his growing up days. The reason was simple as previously Owens divulged his childhood kenspeckle. “I was a late bloomer athletically. In high school, I was a good player on the team but I hadn’t I wasn’t like totally sure of myself yet” was his version. So the journey from that not-so-obvious childhood to get a scholarship in college was nothing short of a magic run, which has been quite the case in his Green Bay Packers’ stint.

So the ethereal sangfroid culminated in Jonathan Owens is from his mother and his humble beginnings . That part was also visible in the same vicinity that claimed uproar in the last weeks.

CELEB NEWS

Watch: The video that started the Tiger Woods’ ‘Big dog’ memes

By Richie1 December 24, 2023

Last week at the PNC Championship, Tiger Woods hyped Charlie Woods’ caddie up by calling him ‘big dog’. The video was shared by the PGA Tour on social media platforms, which resulted in hundreds of hilarious memes flooding the internet in the next few days.

The PGA Tour posted the video on X (formerly known as Twitter), where the wave of amusing memes originated. In the opening of the clip, Woods greets Luke Wise, who was caddying for Charlie at the PNC Championship.

“Big Dog. Let’s go to work,” Woods tells Wise.

Woods doesn’t stop here as he proceeds to instruct Charlie to crop dust a particular cameraperson. He says:

“I’d aim right at the camera dude right there. Just crop dust him,” he says.

This leaves everyone standing around in splits. The 47-year-old golfer then sarcastically introduces himself to the person standing beside him.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods had finished T5 after shooting 19-under in two rounds. They were six strokes behind the winners, Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason Langer. They bagged $47,000 for the joint fifth-place finish at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club.

Woods was walking well without any sign of limping. He said he was working hard, which helped him recover in time. He also informed me that he had started training every day ahead of the new PGA Tour season.

Woods said, as per the New York Post:

“It’s been nice to knock off a lot of rust and some of the doubt that I’ve had because quite frankly, I haven’t hit a shot that counted in a long time.”

After making just five official starts in the last two seasons, the 15-time major champion is planning to play at least one event each month in 2024.

When did Tiger Woods last win a major championship?

Tiger Woods’ last win at the major championship was the 2019 Masters Tournament, when he shot 13-under to beat Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Xander Schauffele by a single stroke. The 2019 Masters was his 15th major championship title and his first in 11 years.

Tiger’s last win at the majors came at the 2008 US Open. This was also his fifth win at the Augusta National, placing him only behind Jack Nicklaus for the most wins here. Nicklaus has won six times at the Masters and also holds the record for most major championship triumphs.

BOXING

Is the ‘Day of Reckoning’ fight card with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder the greatest boxing event of all time?

The ‘Day of Reckoning’ fight card in Saudi Arabia is absolutely loaded with talent, even aside from both Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua competing at the top of the bill.

They will take on Otto Wallin and former champion Joseph Parker, respectively. WBA light heavyweight champion and top 10 pound-for-pound talent Dmitry Bivol is there too, as is arguably the best cruiserweight in the world in Jai Opetaia. Fellow heavyweights Daniel Dubois, Jarrell Miller, Frank Sanchez and Filip Hrgovic all feature.

The quality of names on this fight card is astounding and serves as an early Christmas gift for fight fans across the globe. The chatter surrounding the event is that it’s one of the most loaded boxing shows in the history of the sport.

WATCH: Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin, live on DAZN

Is that true? Maybe.

Due to the watered-down nature of most PPV cards where there’s rarely anything of interest outside of the main and co-main events, ‘Day of Reckoning’ certainly looks like a runaway for one of the best fight cards ever put together.

However, there have been some very solid cards in recent memory that may not have the same depth but had more than enough appeal on the undercard.

Interestingly enough, one of the most ridiculous mismatches in boxing delivered a card full of talented fighters.

Floyd Mayweather’s 2017 showdown with MMA superstar Conor McGregor featured Gervonta “Tank” Davis facing Francisco Fonseca in the co-main event, while Badou Jack squared off with Nathan Cleverly and Yordenis Ugas fought Thomas Dulorme on the prelims. There was also the professional debut of Savannah Marshall to kick off the card.

Mayweather’s clash with Miguel Cotto in 2012 featured an undercard with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez battling Shane Mosley, and also featured future champions Jesse Vargas, Keith Thurman and Omar Figueroa.

For those who enjoy the lighter weights, the first “Superfly” event that featured fights in the super flyweight division was exceptional as Srisaket Sor Rungvisai battled Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in the main event, Naoya Inoue faced Antonio Nieves and Juan Francisco Estrada took on Carlos Cuadras.

BOXING

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin: Fight Odds, Live Stream, Predictions

A heavyweight collision between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin will serve as the main event for a loaded boxing card on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The main event will come right after another big heavyweight bout featuring Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker. Wilder and Joshua should both be rooting for each other because this card is supposed to set up a massive fight between Joshua and Wilder set for March 9, 2024, per boxing insider Dan Rafael.

That puts some added pressure on Joshua to perform here. A fight against Wilder has been an object of boxing fan’s desire for years and there’s certainly a nice payday attached to it for the 34-year-old.

Wallin isn’t just going to step aside and let it happen, though. His only career loss came in a unanimous decision to Tyson Fury. He understands that this is a fight that could define his career.

Here’s a look at all the info you need to catch the fight along with the top storylines and a prediction.

Can Southpaw Wallin Give Joshua Trouble?

Anthony Joshua is obviously the more accomplished boxer and is the favorite for a reason. However, styles make fights and there are a few things that Wallin has going for him that make him a dangerous underdog.

For one, Wallin fights out of a southpaw stance. Joshua is seasoned enough to have seen that before, but Oleksandr Usyk was able to beat Joshua twice and his angles from the southpaw stance played a role in that.

There’s obviously a skill component to Joshua’s losses. Usyk is an unbeaten world champion whereas Wallin doesn’t have that kind of resume, but he really pushed Fury in the only loss of his career and left him with a bloodied face.

Wallin is a confident puncher and technical enough to make things interesting.

Can Joshua Set Up Fight Against Wilder?

When Anthony Joshua is on his game, he’s one of the best heavyweights in the world. But whether he’ll be at his best has become a question worth asking over the course of his career.

Joshua has gone through some crises of confidence throughout his career. A shocking knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. started the ball rolling on a more hesitant Joshua. Then back-to-back losses against Usyk led to an uninspiring performance against Jermaine Franklin.

Joshua won, but it was closer than you’d expect and he never looked fully in control of the bout.

A seventh-round knockout against Robert Helenius put some of that behind him, but Wallin is a step up.

Now that Joshua is just one fight away from a huge payday and opportunity against Deontay Wilder, it’s fair to wonder if he has the confidence and focus to set that match up with a win over Wallin.

Prediction

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Anthony Joshua and Otto WallinTom Dulat/Getty Images

Joshua might come out of this one with the win, but it isn’t going to be easy.

Joshua has been a tough fighter to predict since his loss to Ruiz nearly five years ago. In that time he’s been through multiple trainers who have tried to instill confidence and help him come up with a clear vision for his style.

Joshua turned to Robert Garcia when he lost to Usyk the first time around. Then he went to Derrick James for bouts against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. For this fight he made yet another switch to Ben Davison. The trainer has worked with Tyson Fury and Billy Joe Saunders as well as Josh Taylor.

All of the trainers he has worked with are great, but the switching hints at a fighter who just isn’t sure what he wants to do or who he wants to be in the ring.

That could lead to a long night. In the end, Joshua is the more talented fighter, but Davison and Joshua might have their hands full in their first fight together.

He’s still the pick, but the recipe is there for a 12-round war.

Prediction: Joshua via decision

BOXING

“I’m Here To Fight, Not Party” – Anthony Joshua Talks Tough Ahead Wallin Clash

Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is in Saudi Arabia to win ahead of his heavyweight bout with Otto Wallin.

The two boxers will lock horns at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday and Joshua was in no mood to mince word in the press conference ahead of the clash.

Joshua said: “I want to fight. I want to perform well. Put that pressure on myself.”

Joshua appeared not to be in the mood to allow any distractions in Riyadh on Saturday.

“I’m here to fight, I’m not here to party and get caught up in the glitz and glamour,” Joshua said.

“Of course I’m tense because I want to perform, I want to win. I’ve got that urge to win and I want to hurt my opponent as well.”

A win for Joshua could set up a blockbuster clash with Deontay Wilder, who is also involved in a bout with Joseph Parker in the co-main event.

Joshua added: “I can definitely window shop, I know where I’m going in my life. If I don’t get past this there is no future.”

“My first stop to getting to be three-time champion is putting in a demolishing against [Otto].

“I’m fully focused on this fight, I’m determined to win, and I’m determined to get back to my peak, if that’s what they want to call it.”

Wallin is also confident of pulling off an upset against Joshua.

“It shouldn’t even be a question,” he told TNT Sports. “Of course I’m confident, otherwise I wouldn’t take this fight.

“I feel like I’ve shown in the past that I’m a good fighter. I gave Fury a very good fight, and I take pride in my work.

“I’ve been working very hard to come to this place where I’m at now, and I’m just here ready to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

“I think he feels that he’s vulnerable…he knows that he can lose, and I feel like he’s fighting now not to lose, instead of fighting to win.”

Wallin’s only defeat came against Tyson Fury in Las Vegas in 2019.

Anthony Joshua’s last fight was in August whe he knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round.

CELEB NEWS

Jonathan Owens admits he didn’t like Simone Biles at first, says she chased him

Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens and his wife, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, recently made an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, where the NFL player admitted he didn’t like her at first and said she chased him.

Owens, 28, also said he didn’t know Biles was as famous or good as she is and realized it when a group of shaking girls asked him to take their picture with the GOAT of gymnastics. They met on a celebrity dating app.

“So literally, had been on the app for a couple of days, man, and it’s like she pops up and I’m like, ‘Let me see who this is’ … I had never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity,” Owens said. “I go do my workout and I come back and I have some likes on my Instagram. …

“‘Man, this gotta be fake. I didn’t know who she was at the time. But like, the first thing that I saw was that she just had a bunch of followers. So in my mind I’m like, ‘OK, she’s got to be good.'”

Owens also said he was the “catch” and that she eventually made him feel better about committing to a woman in his third year in the league.

Simone Biles not shy about her approach

Biles, 26, gave her side of the story and was not shy about the way she approached him, saying it was love at first swipe.

“We matched. I was just the first to message. As soon as I clicked, ‘Ooh I like him.’ It matched. So he had already liked my profile. … I wasn’t scared,” said Biles. “I know what I like and I know what I want.”

The podcast’s hosts, former NFL stars Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, called out Owens about not wanting Biles at first, but it’s all water under the bridge now.

Owens and Biles are married and she is often seen cheering on him during his NFL games, including a win against the Kansas City Chiefs.

CELEB NEWS

Is Tiger Woods signing with Grayson Clothiers? Analyzing the rumors and possibilities

If rumors are to be believed, Tiger Woods might have worn Nike for the last time, marking the end of his 27-year-old partnership with the apparel brand.

Last week, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie Woods competed at the PNC Championship. Tiger was seen sporting Nike clothes, including the iconic red polo on Sunday. Charlie, on the other hand, wore Greyson Clothiers’ apparel.

Prior to Charlie, Greyson already had deals with the likes of Justin Thomas, Erik Van Rooyen, Morgan Hoffman and LPGA star Alison Lee. According to several reports, Tiger Woods could be the next name to sign with Greyson Clothiers.

Earlier this month, the No Laying Up podcast was the first to predict the possibility of Woods splitting with Nike after the PNC Championship. No Laying Up podcast’s co-host, Tron Carter, was quoted as saying via Oregon Live:

When the 47-year-old golfer was asked about the reports of the possible split, he refused to speak much.

“I’m still wearing their product,” Woods responded, as per Sports Illustrated.

The rumors started last year when Tiger Woods was spotted wearing the Footy Joy shoes at the Masters Tournament, and he repeated wearing them at this year’s tournament as well. When asked about the reason, he said they provided better comfort to his legs, which were severely affected by the car accident in 2021.

Woods was quoted as saying, via the New Zealand Herald:

“I have very limited mobility now. Just with the rods and plates and screws that are in my leg, I needed something different, something that allowed me to be more stable. That’s what I’ve gone to.”

Tiger Woods’ relationship with Nike goes back to 1996, when he hadn’t even debuted as a professional. Since then, they have been synonymous with each other, and the golfer played a huge role in Nike’s success in the golf apparel business.

Their deal was initially worth $40 million in 1996, which shot up to $100 million in 2001, thanks to Tiger’s immense success. In 2013, he renewed the contract for $200 million.

How did Tiger Woods perform in 2023?

Tiger Woods didn’t play much in the last two seasons due to the injuries he sustained in a car accident in 2021. This season, he could only play in two official events on the PGA Tour.

Woods made his first start of the year at the Genesis Invitational, which was his first non-Major appearance in two years. He was successful in making the cut and finished T45 at 1-under.

Woods then competed at the Masters and successfully made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time. However, he pulled out on the final day due to his leg injury.

Tiger Woods underwent subtalar fusion surgery in April and remained out of action for eight months. Last month, he returned to the golf course at the Hero World Challenge, where he finished 18th. The PNC Championship was his last start of the year.