AR (KATV) — The fate of a multi-million dollar project in Bryant now rests with voters and concerts will be constructed off Highway 5 in Bryant if approved "There's nothing like this in the state of Arkansas," said Treat The project requires voter approval on two issues in the upcoming May 13 election The first is the reallocation of $14 million in bonds originally issued in 2016 The second is the approval of an additional $33 million in bonds Treat emphasized that this initiative would not impose additional costs on taxpayers but would instead serve as an investment in the city "This 30 million over the next 50-60 years is going to create a lot of sales tax revenue for the city that can then be put into the police The event center is planned for a 15-acre commercial-zoned site off Highway 5 directly across from Emily Welch's Willow and Grace Boutique especially since they're planning on widening Highway 5 and there are so many different ways to get to this area," she said Mayor Treat added that if the proposal passes there is already a list of developers eager to bring businesses to Bryant The half-cent sales tax associated with the project will remain in effect until 2028 When the Denver Broncos selected Pat Bryant in the third round of last month’s NFL Draft head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton zipped through the attributes that attracted them to the wide receiver from Illinois They talked about his big hands and how aggressively he attacked the ball down the field They lauded his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and his physicality in the run game They gushed over the leadership intangibles Payton even compared some of Bryant’s receiving traits to Michael Thomas the former All-Pro wide receiver with the New Orleans Saints there was perhaps the most appealing aspect of studying Bryant in the pre-draft process Three were game-winning receptions made in overtime or the dying seconds of regulation Digging deeper into the situations surrounding each grab gives a better understanding of why the Broncos made multiple trades on Day 2 with an eye on landing the receiver “He understands situational football,” The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote of Bryant before the draft words that may as well have been music dancing in Payton’s ears man,” Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp said in a recent phone conversation Bryant had already caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the Big Ten opener at Nebraska last September when he exited an overtime huddle and headed to an unfamiliar spot 205-pound receiver crouched his frame as he slinked toward the line of scrimmage then dropped into a three-point stance as a fullback smoothly navigated around a defender trying to set the edge and found himself wide open in the flat for a game-winning ¡ILLINOIS TOMA LA DELANTERA! 🏈🔥 Pat Bryant con un touchdown que adelanta a los Illinois Fighting Illini 31-24 sobre los Nebraska Cornhuskers. #CFBenFOX pic.twitter.com/DbqxlexFy6 — FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) September 21, 2024 but he almost made it clear to the coaching staff that he’d be willing to fulfill a fullback’s more foundational duty — paving the way through a hole for a running back — if he ever needed to serve as a decoy “I think the trait of any great receiver is being unselfish,” Stepp said but there were times where he didn’t touch it for a few drives we need you to go in and crack a safety and block a linebacker.’ He never said one word about it Something he took a lot of pride in this year was taking his blocking to another level.” who will take the field with the Broncos for the first time during a rookie minicamp later this week: “My motto was always you get the rock.’ So my main focus was just using my physicality both in the pass game as well as the run game just helping my running backs get to the end zone.” The second game-winning play for Bryant came three weeks later in another overtime thriller Illinois trailed by three points and faced a second-and-10 from its 27-yard line with only 35 seconds left in regulation made a subtle shake at the line of scrimmage that gave him the room to burst past his defender and haul in a 32-yard catch near the sideline that helped Illinois get in range for a game-tying field goal “We’re in the huddle and we’ve got the ball first to start overtime ‘Scissors!’ which is one of the play calls,” Stepp said “Coach Lunney looks at (quarterback) Luke (Altmyer) and goes let’s run it.’ So Pat essentially called the play in overtime.” The play had Bryant lined up in a tight alignment on the right side of the formation he slithered past the linebacker trying to jam him off the line of scrimmage then navigated between two defensive backs to find just enough real estate in the end zone to haul in a 25-yard “My main focus when the ball is in the air is and I’m better than the man that’s in front of me,’” Bryant said Stepp could feel Bryant’s self-assuredness since he became his new position coach last year “He’s just like Courtland,” the coach said Stepp coached star Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton at SMU for three seasons before he became Denver’s second-round pick in 2018 Sutton made such an impression on his coach during that time that Stepp and his wife named their now 7-year-old son Courtland What the two now teammates in Denver share is a humility that belies a sturdy confidence in who they are — and “I remember during the pre-draft process with Courtland he has an unbelievable confidence to him.’ Pat is the same way He knows his strengths and he knows his weaknesses.” Never did that confidence come more to the surface for Bryant than during the top highlight of his career — an improbable touchdown catch against Rutgers that ended what Stepp called “one of the craziest games I’ve ever been a part of.” began the game’s final drive from its 25-yard line with 68 seconds left Bryant caught a 21-yard pass from Altmyer early in the drive and then drew a 10-yard holding penalty helping to push the Illini into Rutgers territory But things still looked bleak for Illinois as it approached a fourth-and-13 from the 40-yard line with 14 seconds left Head coach Bret Bielema decided to trot out kicker David Olano for a potential game-winning Rutgers coach Greg Schiano called a timeout to freeze Olano and it barely reached the same zip code as the uprights When the ensuing play was called on the sideline So Bryant moved to the left of a trips formation As the two receivers to his right pushed up the field in a pair of go routes Bryant darted underneath into the vacated space He caught he ball at the 22-yard line with 9 seconds left Bryant had enough for a first down and put Illinois in more manageable field-goal range But there were five defenders in his vicinity PAT BRYANT SCORES THE GAME-WINNING TD ON 4TH DOWN! 😱@IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/ndso5u3X8B — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 23, 2024 “If you go back and watch that play and watch the sideline ‘Get down!’ because I thought we were going to get down and kick a field goal,” Stepp said Bryant made a juke to get around the nearest defensive back darted to the outside and sprinted into the end zone to complete a stunning The 22-year-old was pegged as a fifth- or sixth-round prospect by numerous draft evaluators largely because he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February Only one wide receiver prospect at the event posted a slower time But on the game-winning play against Rutgers It’s why Bryant never sweated his lackluster 40 time in Indianapolis He passed up a chance to improve it at his pro day Everything teams needed to know about his speed could be found on his film — in snapshots like the one on that memorable November day in New Jersey “That’s the confidence he had,” Stepp said Stepp and Bielema were with Bryant last month in Orlando as he gathered with family and friends during the second day of the draft The coaches planned to be there through Saturday before beginning a recruiting trip But shortly before the Broncos were on the clock with their third-round pick When the Broncos selected Bryant with the 74th pick Stepp pulled his phone out of his pocket and texted Sutton The two have maintained consistent contact since Sutton entered the NFL seven years ago Stepp was working in his office when he came across film of some of Sutton’s one-on-one matchups from SMU He recorded videos and sent them to the wide receiver Sutton responded that he had recently been watching film alongside Bo Nix “I literally couldn’t think of a better place for Pat to go,” Stepp texted Sutton after Denver picked Bryant “I know you’re going to take care of him.” Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant ran a 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds at the NFL combine and his best year of college production was 984 receiving yards and five touchdowns last fall which is perhaps why many draft pundits had Bryant ranked lower than a third-round prospect The Denver Broncos, though, used a third-round pick to select Bryant last week. So, what did the Broncos see Bryant is 6-2 and 204 pounds (good size for a receiver) he only had one drop on 78 targets last fall and he's a willing blocker Those are all traits that coach Sean Payton covets “That’s how I am as a receiver," Bryant said of posting just one drop in 2024 "My main focus when the ball is in the air is [that] it’s mine and I’m better than the man that’s in front of me.” Bryant has an excellent motto that undoubtedly impressed Payton and the team's entire staff "So my main focus was just using my physicality both in the pass game as well as the run game Payton has given massive praise to Bryant, comparing the rookie's traits to those of Michael Thomas what kind of role does Bryant expect to have in Year 1 “They know all my attributes," Bryant said His speed and college production were underwhelming and the Broncos believe they can help him reach the next level with development and better quarterback play Bryant will make his on-field NFL debut when Denver kicks off preseason in August Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans The combine takes place May 11-18 in Chicago from the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis. Select players were invited including Bryant, Ace Bailey of Rutgers, Johni Broome from Auburn, Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida and expected top pick Cooper Flagg of Duke. Bryant recently completed his freshman season with the Wildcats, averaging 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 McDonald’s All-American has kept open his eligibility to return to college and Arizona if he decides to. That decision will come following the upcoming combine, and needs to take place shortly before the NBA Draft is to go down.  Bryant tallied 25 points over three NCAA Tournament games, including a high of 12 in the opening round vs. Akron. He finished with eight points and three rebounds to go along with two steals vs. Duke. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER 2024: Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) picks up yards after his catch during a NCAA football game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium in Piscataway Mike Langish/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Mike Langish/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) (Credit Image: © Mike Langish/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News PFF’s Fantasy Football Player Profile series delivers the most in-depth fantasy football analysis available for the 2025 season competition for touches and how teammates and coaching staffs will impact each player's fantasy football outlook who both worked their way onto NFL rosters in 2024 he landed at the top of the depth chart in 2024 His 86.0 receiving grade was the best for an Illinois wide receiver in a season in PFF’s history His target rate remained relatively low for a clear top receiver but that didn’t stop him from posting 2.83 yards per route run Bryant measured at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds at the combine His situational stats suggest he’d be an X receiver in the NFL and he played better as an outside receiver He similarly played better against man coverage Both rank among the top-12 wide receivers in run-blocking grade over the past three seasons among those who ran at least 1,000 routes so Sherfield appeared to be a direct replacement for Humphrey While Bryant’s size and skill set suggest he should be an X receiver the Broncos have had no problem putting taller wide receivers in different positions Denver gave 136 targets to wide receivers 6-foot-4 or taller while they lined up off the line of scrimmage This makes Bryant on the short side for a Broncos wide receiver It’s possible that Bryant could be Sutton’s backup or compete with Sherfield for early-down snaps thanks to his blocking ability It’s entirely possible he can overtake Franklin on the depth chart and be part of the wide receiver rotation on usual passing downs Bryant is similar to Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden in that if he exceeds expectations he could become the top wide receiver on his team’s depth chart as a rookie Everyone on the depth chart has been a role player outside of Sutton yet Sutton’s grades indicate he is better suited as a No There are a lot of scenarios where Bryant is just a rotational player while Sutton is the only one with fantasy value the higher-end scenarios for Bryant are better than the higher-end scenarios for other wide receivers who were also drafted in the third round This means Bryant will likely need to surpass Sutton on the depth chart at some point to be fantasy-relevant The good news is that if he can overtake Sutton, he would get paired with quarterback Bo Nix for the foreseeable future Nix’s 72.8 passing grade ranks seventh-best among rookie quarterbacks of the past decade among those with at least 500 dropbacks who will need accurate passes if he’s not getting much separation Bryant’s most likely scenario is that he joins a crowded Broncos wide receiver room and takes part in a heavy rotation that Sean Payton is known for Payton’s top wide receiver tends to have a lot of fantasy value and it’s at least possible that Bryant can eventually overtake Sutton as Denver’s top receiver NBA scouts already have a good idea of what Carter Bryant could bring to the league But they’ll get another up-close opportunity to see Arizona’s freshman forward as part of his evaluation process Bryant is one of 75 players who have been invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine The event will involve official player measurements drills and scrimmages involving most of the top prospects for the upcoming draft one of two UA players among the list of 106 draft early entrants along with guard Jaden Bradley averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 37 games (five starts) in 2024-25 shooting 46 percent overall and 37.1 percent from 3 Bryant and Bradley—who had previously been announced as re-signing with Arizona for 2025-26—have until May 28 to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility while Bryant’s future will depend on where scouts expect him to get picked Many mock drafts have him going in the first round in June, with The Ringer projecting him to go 9th overall to the Houston Rockets Bryant has signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Arizona but he’s unlikely to come back if he has a chance to be a lottery pick Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here even though the lease for the space expired on April 30 A new lease was awarded to the restaurant chain controlled by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten Ark Restaurants—which has run the grill since 1995—are in the midst of suing the Bryant Park Corporation for evicting him as a tenant arguing that a bidding process that favored Jean-Georges for the space was “defective” and “violated applicable law.” Although the lease expired on April 30 Weinstein says that he will continue running the Grill while litigation remains ongoing operations were continuing on May 2 when Straus News stopped by for a visit A New York state judge has already denied Ark’s plea to impose a temporary injunction blocking the pending eviction by Bryant Park Corporation Weinstein and Ark are appealing that ruling while continue to operate had not returned an email seeking comment by press time Bryant Park CEO Daniel Biederman has justified the decision to bounce the longtime lessee by citing an estimate that Jean-Georges would generate more rental income for the public-private Midtown park than the Grill has traditionally rung up arguing that Ark’s “bid is speculative and offers at least $1 million in lower guaranteed annual rent than Plaintiffs’ bids The Plaintiff has never missed a rent payment in 30 years while turning it into a popular mid-town destination And the corporation would suffer a huge loss of income because a changeover in operators would require “renovations that would shutter the restaurant for a year or more.” Ark is also arguing that the Bryant Park Corp (BPC) violated their lease terms in the process of giving Seaport the Jean-Georges chain’s prominent outpost citing a clause that stipulates a “right to first lease.” They say that the BPC “failed to provide a “Landlord’s Notice,” and didn’t provide notice of proposed terms of the successor lease “The question of who should operate the Park restaurant is far from a private ‘landlord-tenant’ dispute as Biederman characterized it,” the suit reads “It is a matter of public concern about an important public amenity.” The decision to grant Jean-Georges the lease was announced by Biederman in late January “We think they present the best combination of operating record creative talent in the food and design field Biederman had already essentially dropped strong hints at what his decision would be at another CB5 meeting last December where he revealed that Bryant Park Grill had provided $28 million worth of rent in its 30 years of operation would be estimated to provide $40 million over a comparable timeframe They pointed out that around 250 employees will be out of a job if and when Bryant Park Grill does close its doors with Jean-Georges seemingly not promising to rehire them; instead the Jean-Georges group suggested that they can merely re-apply some of whom are hired based on “seasonal needs” and have “been on board for a decade or more”; these include “chefs Bryant Park Corporation did not return comment as of press time has joined Allen Insurance and Financial as a commercial lines account manager Allen Insurance and Financial is an employee-owned insurance employee benefits and financial services company with offices in Rockland Thanks to our readers and especially our supporters who help to keep PenBayPilot.com an open and accessible community hub Your support is even more critical during rapidly changing times While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community We are grateful to those who already participate Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone X Savannah native Bakari Bryant, who won a state basketball title as a player at Savannah High in 1998 under Tim Jordan, and went on to coach a state championship squad at Jenkins, is returning home to take over the New Hampstead boys basketball program where his squad lost to Johnson in the semis at Savannah State He coached at Jenkins from 2011 through 2018 and led the Warriors to the Class 3A state crown in 2015 and to state runnerup finishes in 2016 and 2018 "I can tell you that was part of it — coming back home to coach in those games and having fans and fellow coaches coming up to me and saying 'We need you back,' " Bryant said "I grew up in the Savannah basketball community and it helped make me into the man I am today — and to have that kind of support after I left meant a lot." and everyone in the family thought it would be good to come home," Bryant said "I admit I was frustrated at the end of my time at Jenkins and I felt like I need to move to Atlanta and spread my wings and grow professionally This is going to be our last move — we hope to settle in until we retire "I think New Hampstead is a gold mine with the talented athletes they have," Bryant said I believe God takes me to the places I need to be The job at Dougherty didn't end up working out but I believe good people always land on their feet I'm very excited to get started at New Hampstead meet the kids and get going with summer basketball." who went 13-16 in his one season at the helm of the Phoenix program New Hampstead lost in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs this year The Savannah basketball community is ready to embrace Bryant's return I truly believe that — and Coach Jordan is a big part of that for me," Bryant said I love coaching because I love people and it's my safe haven and I'm ready to get started." Jordan said he is excited about having Bryant Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN fans have to be wondering if they’ll ever see Kris Bryant again Even though he has never been able to gain any traction since signing with the Rockies Proclaiming he was as healthy as he’s been in years in spring training Bryant went on the 10-day Injured List just two weeks into he regular season the Rockies haven’t seen him on the diamond since He was hitting .154 as Colorado’s full-time DH and that kind of production wasn’t sustainable it wasn’t sustainable anyway because Bryant once again visited the IL it was supposed to be to rest his ailing back Bryant has recently undergone more testing for a lumbar degenerative disc disease that sounds like something Bryant may not be able to play baseball with anymore he clearly still wants to play baseball and live up to the contract the Rockies gave him so you don't feel like you can just roll out of bed and be Superman," Bryant said to reporters back on April 20 I feel like I've done everything I can I've worked extremely hard in the offseason and continued it through spring training and in the season Just want something to kind of fall my way.” Is Bryant too far past his prime to be a meaningful major leaguer anymore let alone help a struggling franchise like the Rockies And that answer will answer another question Will we ever see Kris Bryant play for the Rockies again Kris Bryant is headed to the IL pic.twitter.com/yfXE6oWbte © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"63","src":"64","url":"65"},{"type":"62","value":"66"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"69","url":"6a"},{"type":"68","value":"6b"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Kris Bryant is headed to the IL pic.twitter.com/yfXE6oWbte Back disease forcing Bryant off the field yet again The NBA Draft Lottery is just one week away and that means we almost know where Cooper Flagg will end up once the ping–pong balls determine who has the No here's a pre-lottery and pre-combine mock taking into account team needs which we will do more as we get deeper into the draft and received a heartwarming birthday wish with an amazing throwback photo from her and Kobe Bryant’s oldest daughter Natalia RELATED: Natalia Bryant has tearjerking post for sister Gigi’s would-be 19th birthday Natalia and Vanessa at a USC women’s basketball game earlier this year. / USC Women’s Basketball/InstagramAfter honoring Gigi Bryant with what would have been her 19th birthday on May 2 where Vanessa wrote a tearjerking message for her lost daughter Natalia made sure her mom felt special for 43 with this amazing throwback photo she posted on her Instagram Stories with her as a baby in Vanessa’s arms Natalia Bryant/InstagramRELATED: Vanessa Bryant honors daughter Gigi with amazing gift to Pau Gasol, wife Catherine Vanessa was rocking that Lakers fit as well as young dad Kobe was playing back then Natalia also shared a photo of Vanessa on the aforementioned ski trip and wrote Natalia Bryant/InstagramVanessa still looks amazing now in her 40s What a sweet memory and happy birthday to Vanessa Bryant — may it be a day full of smiles surrounded by family The Bryant girls. / Vanessa Bryant/Instagram— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI — Chill vibes: Shedeur Sanders arrives at Browns facility in ‘Legendary’ casual fit Who dat?: Jordan Chiles unrecognizable with new hairstyle after UCLA season First-place fit: ESPN’s Molly Qerim rocks springtime NYC miniskirt fit in the city BeyHive VIP: Vanessa Bryant rocks cowboy hat with Beyoncé’s mom at concert Last hoorah: Livvy Dunne’s ‘officially retired’ dress wows on LSU’s girls night out The Maine Black Bears were swept by the Bryant Bulldogs on Sunday losing 9-2 on Sunday afternoon in Rhode Island He went 6.0 innings allowing 12 hits and 4 runs Jason Libby retired 1 batter but allowed 3 runs Jack Donlin didn't retire a batter and was charged with 2 runs pitching the final 1.2 innings allowing a hit and striking out 3 Aidan Bardi and Chris Bear each had 2 hits for Maine Maine is now 19-25 while Bryant is 26-16-1 Bryant is in 1st place in the America East Standings Maine will play their last regular season home games this coming weekend May 9-11 against Binghamton will be broadcast on 92.9 The Ticket with the pregame beginning at 2:30 p.m Maine will host the America East Championships at Mahaney Diamong Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna The Maine Black Bears were swept by the Bryant Bulldogs on Sunday, losing 9-2 on Sunday afternoon in Rhode Island.\nRead More The hotly contested takeover of prized Midtown restaurant space comes to a head  “We are here for the indefinite future. There’s no end date right now. It’s tied up in courts but we’re here for now, operating as normal,” a Bryant Park Grill employee told Eater by phone on Tuesday night. Resy still shows availability for bookings The release also asserts that nonprofit landlord Bryant Park Corp has allegedly offered “$2 million to Seaport for capital improvements and over a year of free rent — giveaways not offered to Bryant Park Grill or the other finalists.” Last fall, it came to light that the nearly 30-year-old Bryant Park Grill was being pushed out by Bryant Park Corp. The glass-enclosed restaurant with two outdoor cafes and a huge seasonal rooftop hit the bidding block last year ahead of Bryant Park Grill’s lease expiration date. Jean-Georges Restaurants was the chosen new operator out of 11 candidates Bryant Park Grill is the crown jewel of Ark Restaurants, a publicly traded hospitality group behind oyster bars in Alabama, burger places in Vegas, and seafood spots in Florida. Ark launched a “Help Save Bryant Park Grill” campaign last fall to salvage its tony restaurant that employs 250 A December community board battle shed light on the internal drama with the nonprofit’s executive director Dan Biederman saying Bryant Park Grill has “gotten a little tired” and “this is a business decision.” As a result Bryant Park Grill’s owner Michael Weinstein sued the park Seaport Entertainment Group (Vongerichten’s management company) and other affiliated entities in state Supreme Court claiming the selection process was “flawed.” Ark’s separate request for an injunction to block an eviction was denied by a judge — giving the landlord the runway to exercise its legal right to do so Which it will; per an email to Eater on Wednesday Biederman says: “Bryant Park Corporation intends to abide by the court decision issued last week and will exercise its rights at the conclusion of the current operator’s lease.” the Parisian-styled standby next to the iconic New York Public Library since 1995 helped revitalize Midtown park in a big way over the years It’s allegedly one of the nation’s highest-grossing restaurants A new restaurant led by a famous chef with Michelin-starred credentials could generate up to $40 million in sales which gets zero dollars from Manhattan itself April 30 1:25 p.m.: This article was updated to include additional details All the new restaurant openings in New York this month The game was noteworthy not just for the final score and the fact that it ended the Rockets' season but also for the performance of former top five pick Jalen Green who scored 13 points below his regular season average with just eight points The 23-year-old Green faced a backlash among NBA fans shortly after his disappointing performance "First playoff isn't an excuse."  ex-Clippers star and former Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams came to Green's defense as he shared his unfiltered thoughts live on camera.  Jalen Green shots over a GSW defender at the Toyota Center in Houston on Sunday.  He was asked by Michelle Beadle on 'Run It Back' from FanDuel TV about Green's future with Ime Udoka's team "I've heard the talks about them moving him...Only way you consider moving a guy like Jalen Green is if you have a real chance at going and getting a Ja Morant or Kevin Durant or one of these guys who are obvious franchise changers," Williams said.  you go out there and you can't score the basketball Williams called for patience around the league as situations similar to Green's involving young players continue to unfold.  Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 7:57:00 PM Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 5/4/2025 5:14:00 PM | Alyssa French-Graham Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Softball | 5/3/2025 2:38:00 PM Thanks for visiting and while teams have their respective big boards the Broncos taking him in the third was a bit of a concern especially with his 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds and his hands were among the best in the class He struggled with that at the collegiate level and it's only going to get harder to separate at the NFL level as the game gets faster how concerning is Bryant's 40-yard dash time 22 wide receivers have been drafted after running a 4.6-second 40 or slower but since those two rookies haven’t played in the NFL yet only four were drafted in the first three rounds there could be more receivers who would run in 4.6 or worse but there isn’t an official Combine 40 time known for them Let’s take examine these 4.6 receivers and how they've fared in the NFL There's a long list of players drafted after the first three rounds who haven’t panned out or were a flash in the pan Kelvin Harmon had a flash-in-the-pan rookie season in 2019 as he suffered an ACL injury prior to the 2020 season Auden Tate had a four-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals as a 253rd overall pick and had a 40-catch but let’s look at those picks in the top-three rounds What happens next on the Broncos beat? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily! David Bell was the Cleveland Browns' 99th overall pick in 2022 It's safe to say that Bell hasn’t worked out for the Browns A big issue has been his inability to get open Devin Funchess was a second-round pick and had a promising start to his career he had 54 catches for 844 yards before emerging in Year 3 with 63 catches for 849 yards and helping the Carolina Panthers make the playoffs and then he left for Indianapolis in free agency where he broke his collarbone and missed the season He bounced around for a while and is now out of the NFL Keon Coleman was the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 second round and is poised for a bigger step forward in 2025 as the Buffalo Bills' top receiver The final receiver is the most significant exception in the last 10 years with Cooper Kupp He was one of the NFL's best receivers for years including two seasons over 1,000 yards and nearly hitting 2,000 yards in one of them Kupp measured at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds at the NFL Combine but when you read their respective scouting reports Kupp and Bryant's strengths and weaknesses are similar the recent history of receivers with a 4.6-second or slower 40 time isn’t great and one great receiver over the last decade There's reason to be concerned about Bryant due to this aspect of his game he has something those other receivers did not: Sean Payton who has shown time and time again that he knows how to maximize his players ERICK TRICKELErick Trickel is the Senior Draft Analyst for Mile High Huddle, has covered the Denver Broncos, NFL, and NFL Draft for the site since 2014.  Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Softball | 5/2/2025 8:44:00 PM Thanks for visiting while the second-seeded Rockets are on the wrong end of a series upset Former Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter Lou Williams spoke on the reactions to Green’s disappointing playoff run “I’ve heard the talks about them moving him,” Williams said on FanDuel TV’s ‘Run It Back.’ “The only way you consider moving a guy like Jalen Green is if you have a real chance at going and getting a Ja Morant or a Kevin Durant One of these guys who are an obvious franchise changer "Imagine if the Lakers turned their back on Kobe when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player...there's not a lot of Jalen Green's laying around."@TeamLou23 says the Rockets should NOT trade Green...unless it's for KD or Ja Morant 👀 pic.twitter.com/zaVmWSwmHN This year, Green played all 82 games for the second season in a row. He posted averages of 21 points, three assists, and five rebounds, while hitting on 42 percent of his field goals and 35 percent of his threes. When Green competed in his first playoff series, his numbers took a dip. The Rockets' standout averaged 13 points per game on just 37 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent shooting from three. The public’s initial reaction is that the Rockets should upgrade by moving on from Green immediately. Williams points to the NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, using him as an example to encourage the Rockets to remain patient. “You have a nice, young nucleus. Granted, he did struggle in these playoffs, but it was his first introduction,” Williams continued. “Imagine if the Lakers turned their backs on Kobe [Bryant] when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player. You go out there, have your experiences, have your ups and downs, and you wipe yourself off and you go in the summer and make adjustments on how you can be a better basketball player.” A lot of pressure comes from being the second-overall pick. Being that Green was “the other top guy” in the draft that was heavily focused on Victor Wembanyama, the expectations for Green’s NBA run were high. He’s done well enough for himself to earn a $105 million contract, but he doesn’t have a postseason series win under his belt. In a league that’s become less patient with homegrown players, Green becomes one of the latest high-end lottery picks to potentially find himself in the trade rumor mill this offseason. wished her mom a happy birthday with a touching tribute Sharing a sweet throwback photo of herself as a toddler swaddled in Vanessa’s arms to her Instagram story, she wrote, “Happy Birthday Mommy.” In the photo, Vanessa dons a vintage LA Lakers fitted jersey, while Natalia rocks a fluffy pink headband and a yellow flower dress.  At 22, Natalia is the eldest of the couple’s four daughters, including, Bianka, 8, Capri, 5, and Gianna, who was just 13 years old when she and her father, NBA legend Kobe Bryant were killed, along with seven others after their helicopter went down over Calabasas, California, on Jan 26, 2020. An accomplished volleyball player in high school, Natalia now attends the University of Southern California where she’s studying film and media. she signed with IMG Models and has appeared in various campaigns and magazine features has become a symbol of resilience and inspiration as she continues to lead the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation supporting young athletes and preserving Kobe and Gianna's legacy Vanessa's Instagram account often highlights her close-knit family moments and tributes to her late husband Just days ago, Vanessa offered a birthday tribute on Instagram to Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express Jennifer Torres is a freelance writer with The Sporting News crime and entertainment for more than a decade with work that has appeared in a variety of outlets Runway Magazine, Heavy and Distractify Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida Game Recap: Baseball | 5/2/2025 6:01:00 PM Thanks for visiting a tribute that ties directly to the legacy of Gigi Bryant The reality star and media personality took to Instagram to thank Vanessa Bryant for gifting her a pair of Nike’s exclusive “Mambacita” sneakers, a limited-edition design honoring the late daughter of NBA legend Kobe Bryant Kardashian posted the photo of the sneakers to her Instagram Story tagging both Vanessa Bryant and the Mambacita Sports Foundation Alongside the image, she simply wrote “Forever” with two black heart emojis. The touching tribute didn’t go unnoticed—Vanessa Bryant quickly reshared Kardashian’s post on her own story adding another layer of appreciation between the two close friends The gesture came just days after what would have been Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s 19th birthday Vanessa Bryant had already shared an emotional tribute to her daughter on Thursday posting a photo of Gigi Bryant in her Mamba Sports Academy gear Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express,” she wrote Nike released the Kobe 9 Protro “Mambacita” sneakers in celebration of Gigi Bryant’s impact on basketball designed with a black-and-white gradient and accented in gold feature Gigi Bryant’s jersey number “2” and personalized branding Released exclusively through the Nike SNKRS app making the pair gifted to Kardashian especially meaningful Kobe Bryant is pictured with his daughter Gianna at the WNBA All Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center The design reflects Gigi Bryant’s time with the Mamba Sports Academy and symbolizes her growing influence in women’s sports Vanessa Bryant and Kardashian’s friendship has deepened over the years particularly since the tragic 2020 helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant Public displays of support between them have become familiar Kardashian sent Vanessa Bryant a custom gingerbread house as a tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant with their names and angel wings carefully placed on the rooftop Vanessa Bryant posted a thank-you note on Instagram at the time Vanessa Bryant’s mission to honor her daughter’s legacy reaches far beyond the basketball court team reporter Elisa Hernandez and lead writer Aric DiLalla break down how the Denver Broncos' trades allowed them to secure key offensive weapons — and an intriguing defensive talent they look ahead to the final day of the draft and more — It wasn't Pat Bryant's jersey number that stirred the comparison the 74th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft 13 in college as he tied an Illinois single-season record with 10 touchdown grabs in 2024 But as Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton looked for comps to Bryant in the evaluation process there was much more to evaluate than just the fact that Bryant's jersey matched the No 13 that former Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas wore in New Orleans for seven years 'Who does he remind [you of]?'" Payton said Friday There were so many things about his game that reminded me of Mike Thomas." Payton drafted Thomas in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and the Ohio State product went on to make three Pro Bowls and notch two first-team All-Pro appearances His 149 catches in 2019 remain the most in a single season in league history and he averaged more than 100 yards per game that season That's why Payton's comparison isn't a projection or a prediction — it's merely an acknowledgment of two draft prospects with similar traits You don't ever want to put pressure on a rookie like that; we're just talking about traits." still stood out in a way that made the sure-handed receiver — he had one drop on 78 targets in 2024 — appeal to the Broncos "[He's] really explosive off the line of scrimmage "We mentioned this yesterday: Periodically [Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach] Jim Leonhard worked at Illinois the year before we hired him Jim had insight to the makeup [and] toughness I really think [highly of] the body of work and all the additional film study but his size and his hands are outstanding." Payton also pointed out Bryant's competitiveness and knack for making plays in big moments Bryant posted three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime last year and nearly 80 percent of his catches resulted in a first down or touchdown "He was just a player that excelled in crunch time," Payton said "I think he had a walk-off [or] a couple of these big plays he's physical but the player comp for me — forget the jersey number — [was] just of a lot of traits that Mike had Following an eventful Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton recap the team's draft-day decisions for Round 2 and 3 The Broncos jumped back into the end of the third round to draft LSU defensive end Sai'vion Jones and General Manager George Paton said the 6-foot-5 280-pound player "kind of fits our mold of defensive line." Jones recorded more pressures in 2024 (43) than he did his previous three years combined and his ascension has the Broncos hoping he can continue to develop "We feel like he can continue to grow in the that role," Paton said but he has flexibility down the line of scrimmage He's strong [and] plays with really good leverage We thought he had a really good week and played really well in the game [Defensive Line Coach] Jamar Cain has coached him we had insight on him like we did some of the others "I think what sticks out with him is just how hard he plays He was also a player the Broncos weren't sure they were going to be able to acquire "I think that both George and I felt like 14 picks earlier that was going to be a hard [player] to get," Payton said "We just felt like that player was going to come off the board "You kind of wait your whole life to just hear you name called," Robinson said I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it I always had the confidence and the support behind me to know I could." Combined with an active free agency period Denver has added a slew of talent to its roster as the team looks to build on a playoff berth from a season ago Head Coach Sean Payton speaks about adding the right players to the Broncos' roster then we'd be real excited," Head Coach Sean Payton said in reference to former All-Pro Jimmy Graham Here's a look at who the Broncos added to their roster during the 2025 NFL Draft 250-pound player began playing football in 2024 and caught four passes — which all went for touchdowns — and a two-point conversion Crawshaw averaged 45.8 yards per punt and had 25 of his 59 punts fall within the 20-yard line The Broncos have added to their edge rushing group on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft "We felt like moving back would set the tone for the day [and] would give us flexibility to do what we want to do for the day — and it did," General Manager George Paton said "His running style — we feel he's dynamic," General Manager George Paton said We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft." Game Recap: Baseball | 5/3/2025 8:37:00 PM Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. less than a day after news broke that the artwork had been vandalized On Tuesday morning, Lakers star Luka Doncic’s foundation donated $5,000 to a fundraiser to help restore the art piece, located on a building at 14th and Main streets. “Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization and to me personally,” Doncic said Tuesday through a representative. “I’m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.” Sports “Mambas Forever” is painted in purple and gold Now the mural has been vandalized with giant bubble letters outlined in black and filled in with white, similar to street tagging visible throughout the city “Unfortunately one of the first Kobe and Gigi murals has been vandalized in Downtown Los Angeles,” said the image caption. “We’re sharing to bring awareness to the community of fans here in LA, and around the world, who respect and appreciate artists and their mural tributes.” Sports Vanessa Bryant is writing a book highlighting 100-plus murals that honor her husband who died in a helicopter crash five years ago Sunday The caption directs fans to a GoFundMe account to help with restoring the mural Artist Louie “Sloe” Motions said that until the recent vandalism, the mural had been untouched since he finished it in 2020. He plans to place a protective paint coat on the mural with the proceeds from donations. “As in life, unfortunate situations will always arise and is expected but it’s all about how we rebound from those situations,” he wrote in a message to The Times. When he learned of Doncic’s gift for the mural’s restoration, Motions said he was shocked and had a message for the Lakers’ recently acquired star. Lakers Video game company 2K Games says it made a donation to help keep a Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural on the wall of Hardcore Fitness in downtown L.A “I’d like to say thank you to Luka and I’m proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles and I know Kobe is proud,” Motions said “I’m sure this alone will have him in the hearts of everyone in Los Angeles Times staff writer Dan Woike contributed to this report. Joseph Serna is a deputy editor on the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times and helps oversee daily breaking news coverage. Nathan Solis reports on breaking news with the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times. World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Thanks for visiting Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application There are many ways you could measure Peggy’s life: in years in how many trips she took to Gatlinburg with her family or in the number of homemade biscuits she made for those she loved one thing remains the same: Peggy lived a long life full of service to those she held most dear The greatest joy in Peggy’s life came when she married Leon Bryant and if they weren’t together in a moment it wouldn’t take long for you to hear her ask “Where’s Leon?” Their closeness to one another over the last 68 years is a testament to the sweetest love And if Peggy’s greatest joy in life came from marrying Leon her greatest purpose came less than 10 months later when she became a mom to Tony Lee Bryant and soon after had six more Peggy was designed by God to be a mom - the best mom For every child who has been comforted in her care For every person who received one of her intentional (and frequent) phone calls For every person who sat near her at an Elbert County Blue Devil game And for every one of us who has had the privilege to hear her tell a story about those she loved or her life in Elberton you probably know she would often refer to Elberton as “God’s Country.” And we imagine as she took her last breath and ascended to heaven she was met by our wonderful Jesus who said she is survived by her children: Pam (Louie) of Anderson and Dane (Chelsey); twelve great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces Peggy is preceded in death by her beloved son The last surviving member of her immediate family Peggy is also preceded in death by her parents Enos Roscoe “Bud” Daniel and Jessie Minerva Stratton Daniel who she regularly said were the best mama and daddy in the world; and siblings: Everett Daniel Peggy’s family will receive friends at Dewy Rose Baptist Church in Dewy Rose and her celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. Burial will be in the cemetery at Harmony Baptist Church Leon Bryant and family will be at his home place from Thursday and contributions may be made in her memory to Dewy Rose Baptist Church or the Rainey Hospice House at 1835 Rogers Road Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton GA is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mrs Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors During his time in the Purple and Gold, Randle had a superb mentor. His veteran was the iconic Kobe Bryant,  one of basketball's greatest players he has continued to show appreciation for his veterans The Timberwolves have some fantastic veterans, including Randle, Rudy Gobert They are seen as part of the leadership group because of their experience and on-court production All the veterans were once rookies who they learned from he had arguably the best player out of everyone on the Timberwolves roster with Kobe Randle has always cherished those two years playing in Los Angeles with Bryant It was a fantastic organization with an illustrious history He also had the opportunity to play with and learn from a legend like Kobe.  his rookie season got off to a tragic start when he suffered a long-term injury in his first game he had a strong support system on the Lakers Randle respected Bryant even more for helping Julius and other young players throughout his 20-season career.  "The things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him. It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense," Randle said in practice ahead of the second round "I used to be like what is this dude talking about hold on to those things and I think the true blessing is being able to pass those things on to other." Randle Is Doing His Best To Be A Leader For The TimberwolvesThe Timberwolves are an intriguing team in the 2025 Playoffs. Anthony Edwards is the clear superstar, but he has a superb supporting cast that includes Randle.  Julius is the second-best player on the team. Coach Chris Finch trusts him to make the big plays when Edwards has a bad shooting night, or he has a tremendous mismatch.  Outside the court, Randle is a commanding voice in the locker room. Most people would follow Edwards or Conley, but Randle is also a respected leader. He might have had a slow start to his stint in Minnesota, but he has bounced back tremendously. Randle is now one of the most beloved players on the team, and he is a fantastic veteran to have for the young players, akin to what Kobe did for him. By Cholo Martin Magsino covers the Minnesota Timberwolves for Athlon Sports Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 5/3/2025 5:02:00 PM Thanks for visiting ! For 20 years, the Los Angeles Lakers had the services of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant the Mamba helped the Lakers win five NBA Championships However, during the twilight years of his career, Bryant shifted into a mentor role and tried to pass on his learning to the then-young core of the Purple and Gold The core featured a young Julius Randle who was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft Over the years, Randle has grown into a solid star in the NBA He truly broke out as a star during his stint with the New York Knicks Randle has carried that form into his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the team eliminating the Lakers in the first round, Randle recently revealed where he stands on Bryant’s teachings the things that I learned from him [Kobe Bryant],” Randle told reporters He added: “It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense.” it isn’t just about personal growth for Randle he is now at a stage in his career where the young players on the roster look up to him as a veteran Julius Randle speaks on his appreciation of Kobe Bryant growing with age“The things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him. It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense(smiling). I used to be like… pic.twitter.com/LJzPCRkT6W Part of being a good veteran is to ensure that the next generation of basketball players learn from their mistakes Randle mentioned that he has grown as a player thanks to Bryant’s teachings he is passing them on to the next generation of hoopers “I used to be like what is this dude talking about hold on to those things and I think the true blessing is being able to pass those things on to other,” he concluded which is a great sign as the road to the 2025 NBA Finals won’t be easy for the Timberwolves Next, they will face off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors a team full of veterans and stars who have an abundance of playoff experience Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Baseball | 5/2/2025 9:26:00 PM Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 5/2/2025 8:14:00 PM | Alyssa French-Graham Thanks for visiting Bryant is the seventh Illini drafted by Denver and the first since T Jim Juriga in 1986 GREEN BAY, Wis. — Pat Bryant is headed to Denver one of the all-time great Illinois wide receivers was selected Friday in the third round (#74 overall pick) of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos Bryant is the sixth Illini drafted by Denver and the first since T Jim Juriga in 1986 Bryant will reconnect with former Illini teammate Alex Palczewski who is an offensive lineman for the Broncos Bryant totaled 2,095 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns during his four-year Illinois career including 984 receiving yards and a program-record-tying 10 receiving touchdowns in 2024 He was named to the 2024 AP All-Big Ten First Team and 2024 Phil Steele All-America Second Team Bryant tied for the Big Ten lead in receiving touchdowns (10) and finished second in receiving yards (984) during last year's regular season One of the most clutch players in this year's Draft Bryant was the only player in the nation with three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes or overtime last year with winners against Nebraska One of the stars of Illinois' rise under Bret Bielema Bryant helped Illinois to a program-record-tying 10 wins in 2024 He leaves Champaign with school records in single-season receiving touchdowns Memorial Stadium single-season receiving touchdowns (6) and Memorial Stadium career receiving touchdowns (13) Bryant is the 258th NFL Draft pick in Illinois history and the 56th NFL Draft pick of Bret Bielema's 16-year head coaching career Bielema had the eighth-most picks among active head coaches Bryant is the Illini's eighth top-100 pick among the 12 NFL Draft selections during Bielema's four years at Illinois Bielema has the most top-100 picks of any coach in Illini history during their first four seasons as head coach There are currently no upcoming BIG+ streams Thanks for visiting BOSTON — A certain type of pressure is off Mickey Gasper’s shoulders on this return trip to Fenway Park His first hit in the big leagues is already in the bank. The former standout at Bryant University got it out of the way in his Minnesota Twins debut against the St. Louis Cardinals It was an achievement that eluded Gasper through 13 games and 23 plate appearances with the Red Sox at the close of 2024 An offseason trade brought a fresh opportunity one that continued into the Friday opener of this three-game series “It’s always a good feeling to be back in Boston,” Gasper said To get an opportunity to play at Fenway Park is always pretty special.” Gasper legged out a grounder to deep short in a March 29 loss at Busch Stadium a single in front of parents Mick and Livia That was a little longer trip from their native New Hampshire than the one on tap this weekend Gasper expects to leave tickets for family friends and fellow Bulldogs alums while Minnesota stays here through Sunday afternoon “It was special to have my parents in the stands,” Gasper said The team came in and congratulated me even after a tough loss Gasper was traded on Christmas Eve for Twins left-hander Jovani Moran who remains on the injured list after missing all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery He pitched in 79 games out of the bullpen for Minnesota over three seasons from 2021-23 Boston elected to bolster its relief corps in exchange for a player who sizzled his way through the minor leagues in 2024 “I’ve never got too many phone calls on Christmas Eve – especially at dinner That’s why we get to live the lifestyle that we do It’s a tough business and everyone is trying to get better.” “He’s ready to work every single day and giving it everything he’s got to get us better and have us prepared,” Gasper said “It’s nice having somebody familiar with where you’re from and where you came up.” Gasper figures to have his chance to make an impact with multiple projected regulars on the injured list Matt Wallner and Luke Keaschall are all currently sidelined opening up potential playing time at second base Gasper was primarily a catcher with Bryant but has seen time at five different positions thus far in 2025 “When you get traded 1-for-1 that means the other organization saw you and appreciated how you play,” Gasper said “They see things in you and see how you can improve It’s never been an easy journey and I wasn’t expecting to sign a 10-year contract with the Sox I was just ready for whatever team needed me Whether it was Triple-A or the big leagues – whatever “It was just a matter of doing my job when my number is called.” bkoch@providencejournal.com Bryant not ready to 'give up' yet despite injuriesApril 20th DENVER -- Rockies designated hitter was sick and tired of his chronic back injury -- officially lumbar degenerative disc disease He was understandably tired of the debilitating pain -- sometimes arriving a couple days apart placed on the 10-day injured list last Monday and uncertain when he will feel good enough to return “the doctors aren’t there yet,” he said ahead of Colorado's doubleheader vs 1 RBI) in 11 games he played in various levels of back misery the two anti-inflammatory shots he received on Tuesday and every rehab method but surgery are all tiring which was the situation today,” Bryant said on Sunday after trudging through his back exercise program on Saturday is in the fourth unhealthy year of a seven-year $182 million contract the Rockies signed him to with the idea of having a star to keep the team competitive while it switched to a younger roster Bryant’s unavailability isn’t the sole reason for 100-plus loss seasons the last two years and a club-record worst 3-16 record going into Sunday’s doubleheader The roster is mostly inexperienced players and -- especially with shortstop Ezequiel Tovar on the 10-day injured list with a left hip contusion and center fielder Brenton Doyle away on bereavement leave -- devoid of a player who is bursting onto the scene the way Bryant did many seasons back with the Cubs Given the choice between his current plight and going through the hard times on the field “Baseball is such a funny game where you almost have to enjoy the struggles if you continue to beat yourself up and get down when you are struggling it’s hard to pull yourself back up out of that hole But just enjoy the fact that we’re able to be on a baseball field and put on a costume every day Manager Bud Black monitors Bryant’s struggle and offers positive words “I’m going to remain optimistic that KB is going to return and hopefully he comes back healthy and ready to contribute,” Black said “I still think there’s a hitter in there -- the hit tool and an on-base component.” Bryant just has to get to the on-the-field component Asked if he was thinking of leaving the sport Bryant was the potential go-ahead run with two out in the ninth at San Diego last Sunday He hit a line drive to deep right field that ended up the final out of a 2-0 loss sometimes even taking a lead off first base All have had their moments of clinching lower-back pain “It’s more the recovery part,” Bryant said “I get through two at-bats and then I get to the third at-bat and I’m like this isn’t good.’ And then the fourth at-bat ‘I just got to get this at-bat over within the first couple of swings.’ And that’s not a great spot to be “I’m not doing myself or the team any good service if I don’t speak up Then the next day you get up and it’s like EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Luka Doncic has stepped up to pay the entire expected cost of restoring a vandalized mural depicting Kobe and Gigi Bryant in downtown Los Angeles The Los Angeles Lakers guard made a $5,000 donation Tuesday to cover the entire goal of a GoFundMe page created by artist Louie Palsino titled "Mambas Forever," at 14th and Main streets "It was always important to give back to the community," Doncic said after practice at the Lakers' training complex Artist Louie Palsino created a mural depicting Kobe and Gigi Bryant as a tribute after they died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Michael Tullberg/Getty ImagesUpon learning of the donation Palsino told the Los Angeles Times that he was grateful adding that Doncic was "representing us the right way." "I'd like to say thank you to Luka and I'm proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles and I know Kobe is proud," he told the Times "I'm sure this alone will have him in the hearts of everyone in Los Angeles." Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers winning five championships and becoming the top scorer in franchise history After Kobe and Gigi Bryant died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 hundreds of murals and public art projects honoring them sprung up around Southern California The Associated Press contributed to this report Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Owned and operated by the Atchley family since 1920 we proudly serve the families of our community with care and professionalism.For generations the Atchley family and the staff have strived to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of the families we have had the honor to serve We are a family-owned funeral home with the 3rd and 4th generations working together to continue our tradition of serving our community Atchley Funeral Home also has the only crematory in the county ensuring that your loved one never leaves our care We hope you find our site helpful and informative and we also welcome your calls and visits if you would like further assistance.Atchley Funeral Home - a strong traditional heritage combined with contemporary ideas and modern facilities to enable us to provide the most caring service available Atchley Funeral Home - Seymour Memory Gardens Atchley's Smoky Mountain Chapel & Memory Gardens Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. "No Eminem for us," the 'Real Housewives of Potomac' star tells PEOPLE and other lifestyle content for over fifteen years Bryan Steffy/Bravo via Getty; Dave J Hogan/Getty The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has received a $250,000 pledge from Bryant Bank to support its Athletics program over the next five years The commitment adds to the bank’s ongoing support of the university which has included contributions to the Colleges of Nursing and Business as well as previous donations to UAH Athletics “We are so honored and humbled that Bryant Bank would choose to make such a long-term investment in our athletic department,” said UAH Director of Athletics Dr and this just further cements their impact upon UAH Athletics All of these funds will make a significant impact on the experience for our student-athletes and our staff members We could not be more thankful for their partnership!” North Alabama Market Leader for Bryant Bank said the bank’s contributions to UAH align with its broader mission of community investment and support Watson describes Bryant Bank’s involvement with UAH as a way of “manifesting continuity” – demonstrating their long-term commitment to their customers their community and the institutions that help the community thrive “Bryant Bank will be here as long as UAH is here,” Watson said “Both UAH and Bryant Bank are invested in Huntsville It is our focus to create the next generation of leaders in our community There’s no better way to do that than to invest in the students and programs here at UAH.” “These student-athletes are outstanding,” Johnston noted “The line of 4.0 students – that’s just amazing They’ve been so successful in the classroom and in competition Our support for the university will continue to be unwavering moving forward The latest gift from Bryant Bank is directed to the UAH Athletics Excellence Fund continuing the bank’s support of the university’s intercollegiate athletic program which began with annual contributions in 2019 Bryant Bank pledged $3 million in 2014 to the UAH College of Nursing over a 30-year period That commitment funds the Early Promotion into UAH Nursing Program (EPNP) a non-endowed scholarship initiative for highly qualified freshmen who declare nursing as their major and are accepted into the college’s honors program the Bryant Bank Scholarship has invested in 150 nursing students who have become registered nurses working in our North Alabama community,” said Dr “I thank Bryant Bank for investing in Alabamians to empower their potential which is one of the core values of Bryant Bank.” Bryant Bank further diversified its UAH support in 2021 when the bank made a 15-year $1.5 million commitment to the College of Business to help fund the Bryant Bank UAH Business Scholarships a non-endowed fund designed to benefit business students “We are tremendously grateful for the impact that Bryant Bank has on UAH “Their generous gifts will open doors for countless aspiring business professionals Thanks to their leadership and commitment to their community UAH students can focus on achieving their full potential as they earn their college degrees and launch their careers.” is focused on long-term growth and strategic planning – not just for the next quarter but for the next 25 years including two in Huntsville and one in Athens Subscriber Login My Account Become a Subscriber Sign Up For Newsletter UAlbany is the America East men’s lacrosse champion The third-seeded Great Danes led 6-0 at the half and held off a second-half charge on its way to a 12-7 victory over No UAlbany led 5-0 after one period and 6-0 at the half but Bryant responded with five third-quarter goals to make it a contest The Great Danes responded with four straight and didn’t led the lead drop below four over the final 15 minutes of action Goalkeeper Brady Smith was named Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 13 saves including five in a shutout first-half effort He was joined on the All-Championship Team by Max Neeson Dawson Rielly and Brian Russell were also selected to the All-Championship Team Binghamton had Colin Delay and Nolan Sharkey honored while UMBC’s Jordan Galloway and Connor McMahon were recognized on the All-Championship Team as well The Great Danes will learn their NCAA draw during the selection show on Sunday at 9:30 p.m #AEMLAX teams have combined to win 16 games all time including UAlbany advancing to Championship Weekend in 2018 UAlbany scored five times in the first quarter as Dan Kesselring started the scoring 2:42 into the contest Richmond capped the quarter with a blast from the slot with 3:19 left The added a sixth goals in the second quarter Bryant stormed back in the third with three goals in the first five minutes and then trimmed it to just 6-5 with 8:03 left UAlbany added one more goal in the final 20 seconds of the period and Max Neeson put the game out of reach Ryan Doherty had a team-high five points on three goals and two assists while Neeson was all over the field with two long pole goals a junior majoring in managerial accounting and finance earned the men’s lacrosse Elite 18 award for having the highest cumulative GPA among qualifying players