Celebrity
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
The organization announced on Sunday night the passing of Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center dubbed “Mr. Raider” for his resilience in the face of several injuries. It was his 86th birthday.
It took some time to determine the cause of death.
“The Original Raider,” the team declared in a statement shared on the social media site X. Jim’s impact on the American Football League and professional football in general is impossible to overestimate, as he personifies consistency. His leadership and perseverance distinguished the successful Raider teams of the 1960s and 1970s.
Otto continued to be associated with the Raiders following their 2020 relocation to Las Vegas. After the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 27-14 in January to close the season, he was one of numerous former players in the locker room.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
The defense ended with the Las Vegas Raiders. Otto was a “complete legend & incredible person,” according to a post made by Maxx Crosby on X.
In 1960, Jim joined the Raiders during their initial season in the American Football League and remained a regular for the following fifteen years.
He had nine knee surgeries during his playing career, although he never missed a game due to an injury. He participated in 210 straight regular-season games and 308 straight overall. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.
Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon famously remarked, “He’s a warrior.” “Jim comes to mind when you think of the rugged, vintage Raider.”
Considered one of the AFL’s all-time greats, Jim was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said, “Jim personified the aura and mystique of the Raiders.” He was known as “The Original Raider,” guiding a brand-new franchise from its birth through its initial golden age in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His renowned dependability—210 straight starts in the AFL and NFL—and the honors he has received bear witness to his commitment to the team and the sport.
Otto had reportedly undergone more than fifty surgeries, most of them for wounds sustained playing football. Those suffered from crippling neck and back issues, arthritis, and repeated joint replacements. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.
After his career, Jim also experienced two significant infections and prostate cancer.
He declared, “I can tolerate any kind of surgery in the world, with the exception of internal procedures.” Correcting your nose, knee, elbows, or anything else is insignificant if it is purely cosmetic.
Otto participated in nine AFL All-Star games and the first three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls while donning his renowned No. 00 jersey, a play on his name, “Aught-oh.” Jim was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
“I always tried to stay one step ahead of everyone else in my career,” Otto once remarked. “I was the best center every day that I trotted onto the field. I desired to be that way. I kept playing at that caliber and according to those standards.
Otto played a crucial role as the Raiders rose to prominence as one of the top teams in the NFL. After losing to Green Bay in the 1967 Super Bowl, the squad finished with seven division victories in his remaining eight seasons.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
He played offensive line alongside fellow Hall of Famers Gene Upshaw and Art Shell during his last seasons. Those Raiders dominated their opponents on the physical level.
“Some intimidation was present,” he claimed. “The football team and Oakland’s fan base made it difficult for teams to visit.
The Raiders were known for their intense partying and impressive play. Players would reportedly arrive before bed check at 11 p.m. and then leave again.
Otto was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on January 5, 1938. He was raised in extreme poverty and briefly lived with his family in a chicken coop. He departed to play football at the University of Miami, where he excelled as a linebacker and center.
In 1959, he was not selected by the NFL, but instead, he signed with the Raiders of the newly formed AFL the following year. Of the players who participated in the AFL for all ten years, he was one of only twenty.
Otto most recently served as the group’s director of special projects. In addition to making public appearances for the team, he arranged get-togethers for past players and fan gatherings in the luxury boxes.
Jim Otto | AP News Image
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86
He also significantly impacted the negotiations to return the franchise to Oakland from Los Angeles prior to the 1995 campaign. In 2020, the Raiders moved from the Bay Area to Las Vegas.
My wife Sally, son Jim Jr., daughter-in-law Leah, and fourteen grandchildren (Alice, Sarah, Amy, Amanda, Josiah, Hannah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jennifer, Avery, Noah, Aiden, Roman, and Ellie) survive Otto.
SOURCE – (AP)
Entertainment
Vanessa Hudgens ‘Disappointed’ Her Privacy Was Invaded With Paparazzi Pictures Of Her New Baby
Vanessa Hudgens is thrilled to be a new mother but wishes she had more say over how the news was announced.
Vanessa Hudgens | People Image
Vanessa Hudgens ‘Disappointed’ Her Privacy Was Invaded With Paparazzi Pictures Of Her New Baby
The “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” star wrote in an Instagram post Thursday, “We’re disappointed that our family’s privacy was violated and exploited during this very special time due to the greed of a long-lens camera feeding the media.” Despite this, Mom, Dad, and Baby are happy and healthy.
Vanessa was alluding to reports published earlier this week that showed her leaving a hospital with her infant.
While the circumstances surrounding the announcement were not ideal, the singer and actor’s Instagram message served as her first confirmation that she had given birth to her kid, her first child with husband Cole Tucker.
CNN has contacted Hudgens’ agents to see if she has more comments.
On Oscar night in March, Vanessa disclosed that she and the Major League Baseball outfielder were expecting their first child.
Vanessa Hudgens | CNN Image
Vanessa Hudgens ‘Disappointed’ Her Privacy Was Invaded With Paparazzi Pictures Of Her New Baby
Vanessa and Tucker reportedly married in December in Tulum, Mexico, after announcing their engagement early last year.
Vanessa and Tucker were initially linked in 2020 when she tweeted a selfie of herself titled “date night” and was caught holding hands later that evening.
SOURCE – CNN
Entertainment
For ‘Love Island USA’ Superfan Ariana Madix, Hosting The Show ‘Does Not Feel Like Work’
Before the real-life infidelity scandal known as Sandoval, there was a scene in Season 10 of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” in which Ariana Madix and her then-boyfriend Tom Sandoval admitted to not spending enough quality time together. Sandoval wanted to party like a rock star, but Madix preferred that he stay at home with her and watch her favorite TV show, “Love Island USA,” with pals.
“I do not have time to watch 50 (expletive) episodes of ‘Love Island.'” “No, I don’t.” he replied.
Ariana Madix | AP News Image
For ‘Love Island USA’ Superfan Ariana Madix, Hosting The Show ‘Does Not Feel Like Work’
After roughly a year and a half, Madix and Sandoval split. Sandoval had been cheating on Madix for almost six months with a “Vanderpump” co-star. Madix is presently the host of “Love Island USA” on Peacock, succeeding Sarah Hyland.
It’s a fitting development for Madix, whose nearly decade-long romance ended publicly. Since then, she has appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and on Broadway as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.” Her original tenure was extended due to high ticket demand, and she will return to the position next month. Madix, a former bartender, published a best-selling cocktail recipe book and launched a sandwich business called “Something About Her” in Los Angeles with “Vanderpump” co-star Katie Maloney.
Madix has spent the past month in Fiji filming “Love Island USA.” She describes the work as a dream come true for a superfan like herself.
“I love watching how this show is made,” Madix stated in a recent Zoom interview. “There’s a crew of about 400 people who work on the show to make it happen and turn these episodes around virtually in real time. It is really stunning.”
Ariana Madix | AP news image
For ‘Love Island USA’ Superfan Ariana Madix, Hosting The Show ‘Does Not Feel Like Work’
On “Love Island USA,” a group of single men and women move to an isolated villa in the hopes of finding love. The candidates form couples based on their first impressions. These relationships are put to the test. Do they have lasting chemistry? They can also make connections with others, including a constant influx of fresh singles. At various points, viewers are allowed to vote for their favorite couples. Contestants are eliminated at various points, and the public ultimately votes for the winning couple, who receives a financial award.
SOURCE – (AP)
Entertainment
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sex Trafficking And Sexual Assault In Lawsuit By Former Adult Film Actress
Adria English, a former adult video actor who claims to have worked for Sean “Diddy” Combs from 2004 to 2009, accused the music mogul of sex trafficking and sexual assault in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The 114-page complaint claims that Combs and other defendants in the case exploited English as “a sexual pawn for the pleasure and financial benefit of others” during “White Parties” at Combs’ mansions in the Hamptons, New York, and Miami, Florida. The case, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, also claims Combs compelled English to “engage in prostitution and sex work” from 2006 to 2009.
P diddy Combs | CNN Image
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sex Trafficking And Sexual Assault In Lawsuit By Former Adult Film Actress
The lawsuit is the ninth against Combs since November and the eighth expressly accusing him of sexual assault. One of the eight lawsuits filed by former girlfriend Cassie Ventura has been resolved. Another lawsuit accuses his son Christian Combs of sexual assault, while Sean Combs is accused of aiding and abetting.
“No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone,” stated Jonathan Davis, an attorney for Combs, in response to English’s claim.
“We live in a society where anyone can bring a lawsuit for any reason and without providing proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to determine the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident in his ability to succeed in court against these and other unfounded charges,” the attorney continued.
English’s claim wants a jury trial and undisclosed punitive damages.
Combs has aggressively refuted charges in many of the civil complaints but has not responded to them. In December 2023, after four lawsuits were filed against him, Combs issued a vehement denial on social media, claiming that “sickening allegations” were made by accusers “looking for a quick payday.”
He said, “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sex Trafficking And Sexual Assault In Lawsuit By Former Adult Film Actress
Federal investigators are also prepared to put Combs’ accusers before a federal grand jury, two individuals familiar with the investigation previously told CNN, indicating that the US Justice Department is considering an indictment of Combs.
Bringing those who have filed civil complaints against Combs before a grand jury would represent a significant step forward in the government’s continuing investigation into the producer and Bad Boy Records founder.
SOURCE – (CNN)
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