Daily News 19

Tag: 2024 Paris Olympics

  • Gregg Popovich Marries Ex-Wife of Former Assistant Coach Mike Budenholzer

    Gregg Popovich Marries Ex-Wife of Former Assistant Coach Mike Budenholzer

    Key Highlights

    • NBA coaching legend Gregg Popovich has remarried, according to a marriage license obtained by TMZ.
    • The bride is identified as the former partner of one of Popovich’s longtime assistant coaches on the San Antonio Spurs staff.
    • The development adds a notable personal chapter to the retired head coach’s life after his 2023 departure from the Spurs bench.

    Popovich’s Unexpected Personal Development

    Gregg Popovich, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, has entered a new marriage that intersects directly with his decades-long professional inner circle. TMZ reports that the five-time NBA champion and former San Antonio Spurs head coach has legally remarried, citing a marriage license obtained by the outlet. While Popovich has largely maintained a private personal life despite his immense public profile in the basketball world, this union draws immediate attention due to the identity of his new spouse: the ex-partner of a former member of his coaching staff.

    Details from the Marriage License

    The marriage license, secured by TMZ, serves as the primary documentation confirming the union. The license establishes the legal reality of the marriage but does not disclose the specific date of the ceremony or the location where it was filed. Popovich, 75, stepped down from his role as Spurs head coach in 2023, transitioning into a front-office position as president of basketball operations before eventually departing the organization entirely. This marriage marks his first since the passing of his beloved wife, Erin, in 2018 after a prolonged illness. The couple had been married for nearly four decades and shared two children.

    Coaching Connections and Personal Boundaries

    The revelation that Popovich’s new spouse was previously in a relationship with one of his own assistant coaches introduces a complex dynamic into the lore of the Spurs’ legendary “family” culture. Popovich’s coaching tree is among the most prolific in sports history, having produced numerous NBA head coaches and general managers who often refer to the organization’s environment as a tight-knit brotherhood. The identity of the specific assistant coach involved has not been disclosed in the initial reporting. However, the situation inevitably raises questions about the navigation of personal and professional boundaries within a fraternity known for its emphasis on loyalty, discretion, and mutual respect—values Popovich himself instilled over 27 seasons on the San Antonio sideline.

    Life After the Spurs Bench

    Since leaving the day-to-day grind of the NBA, Popovich has remained a towering figure in the sport, most recently serving as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he led a star-studded roster to a gold medal. His post-Spurs life has been characterized by a lower public profile, focused on family and selective basketball engagements. This remarriage signals a significant personal milestone for a man who dedicated his adult life to the franchise, suggesting a new chapter of personal companionship following years of profound loss and professional transition.

    Why This Matters

    Gregg Popovich’s influence on the NBA extends far beyond his 1,388 regular-season victories and five championships. He defined an era of player empowerment, international scouting, and organizational stability. His coaching tree—including figures like Steve Kerr, Monty Williams, Ime Udoka, and Taylor Jenkins—shapes the modern league. News of his personal life intersecting so closely with that professional lineage captivates the basketball world because it humanizes an icon often viewed through the singular lens of competitive excellence. It also tests the durability of the “Spurs family” ethos he cultivated, where personal conduct off the court was often held to the same standard as execution on it. As the NBA enters a new season, the story serves as a reminder that the league’s most revered architect is navigating the same complex human realities as the players and coaches he mentored.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is Gregg Popovich’s new wife?
    According to TMZ, Popovich’s new spouse is the former partner of one of his former assistant coaches on the San Antonio Spurs staff. Her name and the identity of the specific assistant coach have not been publicly disclosed in the initial reporting.
    When did Gregg Popovich remarry?
    The exact date of the marriage ceremony has not been released. The news broke after TMZ obtained a marriage license confirming the legal union.
    Is Gregg Popovich still involved with the San Antonio Spurs or the NBA?
    Popovich stepped down as Spurs head coach in 2023 and later left his front-office role as president of basketball operations. He most recently coached the USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics but currently holds no official position with an NBA team.
  • Raygun Addresses Olympic Conspiracy Theories in First Late-Night Interview on The Tonight Show

    Raygun Addresses Olympic Conspiracy Theories in First Late-Night Interview on The Tonight Show

    Key Highlights

    • Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn appeared on The Tonight Show two years after her viral 2024 Olympic performance, describing the initial backlash as “pretty devastating” but the overall experience as “surreal.”
    • Gunn addressed internet conspiracy theories about her Olympic qualification and broke down her upcoming Netflix documentary, Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly, during the interview with host Jimmy Fallon.
    • The segment concluded with a lighthearted cultural exchange as Gunn shared a spoonful of Vegemite with Fallon, who reacted with notably limited enthusiasm for the Australian staple.

    From Viral Backlash to Late-Night Redemption

    Two years after her unconventional breaking routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics ignited a firestorm of global mockery and scrutiny, Australian athlete and academic Rachael “Raygun” Gunn sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to reclaim her narrative. The interview marked a significant pivot from the height of the controversy, where the reaction—which Gunn characterized as a combination of jokes and hate, both online and off—was “pretty devastating.” In the studio, however, the tone shifted. Gunn reflected on the whirlwind period with a sense of perspective, telling Fallon the entire chapter felt “surreal.”

    Confronting the Conspiracy Theories

    A central focus of the conversation was the torrent of misinformation that followed Gunn’s Olympic debut. The internet erupted with unfounded theories regarding her selection process and the authenticity of her performance, speculation that the breaker addressed directly on air. While the specific claims were not itemized in the segment, Gunn used the platform to dismantle the narratives questioning her legitimacy, offering a rare, unfiltered look at the mechanics of Olympic qualification and the disconnect between viral clips and competitive reality. The discussion served as a corrective to a digital discourse that often prioritized caricature over context.

    A Documentary and a Taste of Home

    Looking forward, Gunn provided details on her upcoming Netflix documentary, Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly, which promises to chronicle the aftermath of her sudden infamy. The project aims to explore the human cost of viral notoriety and the resilience required to navigate a global pile-on. The interview concluded on a lighter, distinctly Australian note when Gunn produced a jar of Vegemite. In a moment of culinary diplomacy, she shared a spoonful with the host; Fallon gamely participated but was visibly “less than enthusiastic” about the intense, salty spread, providing a moment of levity to close a segment defined by heavy reflection.

    Why This Matters

    Gunn’s appearance on The Tonight Show illustrates the evolving lifecycle of internet infamy in the streaming era. Where viral moments once faded into obscurity or resulted in quiet retreat, figures like Gunn are now leveraging major media platforms and documentary deals to author their own epilogues. The segment highlights the tension between breaking’s Olympic debut—a milestone for the sport—and the subjective nature of artistic judging that fueled the controversy. Furthermore, the Netflix project signals a growing appetite for “behind-the-meme” storytelling, where the subjects of viral ridicule are centered as complex protagonists rather than punchlines. For the breaking community, the documentary represents a chance to educate a massive global audience on the culture and technicality of the discipline beyond a single, polarizing routine.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the public reaction to Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s 2024 Olympic performance?

    The reaction was a massive combination of jokes and hate directed at Gunn both online and offline. She described the immediate aftermath as “pretty devastating,” though she now views the entire experience as “surreal.”

    What is the title of Rachael Gunn’s upcoming Netflix documentary?

    The documentary is titled Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly. It is expected to cover the fallout from her viral Olympic moment and the surrounding conspiracy theories regarding her qualification.

    Did Jimmy Fallon previously mock Rachael Gunn?

    Yes. The source notes that Fallon “ran a skit about Raygun at the time” of the 2024 Olympics. His subsequent interview with her two years later provided a platform for her to respond to that period directly.

  • Jonathan Owens Makes Colts Roster: What to Know About Simone Biles’ Husband

    Simone Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is joining a new NFL team, meaning the Olympic gymnast could soon be seen on the sidelines in Indianapolis.

    On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Indianapolis Colts unveiled their 53-man roster and included Owens, a safety who has been married to Biles since 2023.

    Owens, 31, is entering his ninth NFL season. He spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears and previously played for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.

    Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ relationship timeline

    Owens and Biles met on the exclusive dating app Raya in 2020, became engaged in 2022 and married in 2023. During a podcast appearance in late 2023, Owens said he did not know who Biles was when she first messaged him because he could not watch the Olympics on television.

    “When she won the Olympics, I was in college and we didn’t have NBC. We didn’t have the Olympics channels and were in training camp,” Owens said on ‘The Pivot.’

    Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, with 30 world championship medals and 11 Olympic medals. During the 2024 Summer Games, Owens took time away from Bears training camp to watch Biles compete in Paris, where she won three gold medals and one silver medal.

    Owens played NCAA Division II football at Missouri Western State University. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent after signing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

    Simone Biles’ NFL gameday outfits

    Biles has regularly attended Owens’ NFL games, and Colts fans can expect to see her supporting her husband on the sidelines during gamedays.

    The Olympic gymnast often wears eye-catching outfits featuring Owens’ name and jersey number. On Aug. 22, she attended the Colts’ preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons wearing a cropped Colts tank top.

    Biles and Owens share a home in Spring, Texas, the Houston suburb where Biles grew up and where World Champions Centre, the gymnastics facility founded by Biles’ mother, is located.

    Biles has not competed since the Paris Olympics and has not said whether she will compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would be her fourth Olympic Games.