1. Steph Curry is immensely likable, so it’s no surprise he’d be a great guest on the super popular YouTube show, Hot Ones.
Curry kept referring to his famous competitiveness as he tried to get through the gantlet of hot sauces. While Curry was able to finish the mission, he did struggle at times, which led to some great facial reactions.
![](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Cw_620/MTk5NjgxNTkyOTUwNTMxNzEy/steph1.jpg)
![](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Cw_620/MTk5NjgxNTk3NTEzOTMzOTI3/steph2.jpg)
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While Curry’s mouth was on fire, he managed to share a great story about an early encounter he had with Kobe Bryant.
“We were playing in a preseason game, and he’s doing that Mamba Mentality thing where he’s picking me up full court in a preseason game in the first quarter,” Curry explained. “You turn around, and he’s like this standing there doing defensive slides, like standing in front of me. I’m like, what is happening right now? This is freakin’ Kobe Bryant.
“So he stays with me for four or five slides and then he bumps me, and I kinda fall off balance. I’m actually gassed at this point; I’m tired, trying to get in shape in a preseason game, and he’s just going all out on the defensive pressure and he’s way bigger and way stronger than me, he’s bumping me and doing all that.
“So after I fall, I got no option. I’m like, I’m just gonna shoot it and live with it. I shot it from probably 30 feet and made it and then I act like nothing happened. It was the biggest ‘keep your cool’ kinda moment in your life. It’s friggin’ Kobe; you’re trying to be super chill. I just drained one from 30 after he picked me up, and he gave me a little ass tap on the way back and I couldn’t even acknowledge that, either. I just knocked him off, acted like I was playing on defense. I went right back in at halftime and was like. ‘I need that clip. Bring me that. I gotta save that on my phone.’”
Hot Ones host Sean Evans also asked Curry whether he remembered the first time he attempted one of his classic 40-foot jump shots.
“I did it in high school,” said. Curry. “I know I missed and thankfully my dad was on the sidelines. He was the assistant coach, so my head coach couldn’t really overstep and chastise me in the middle game, but I definitely got an earful when I got in the car on the way home.”
Check out Curry’s full appearance to hear more stories and see how he handled the various sauces.
2. Joe Burrow better be O.K. if the Bengals’ social media team is cracking jokes about the calf injury he suffered during Thursday’s practice.
Everyone, please stop calling and offering us your calf muscles... it doesn't work like that!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 28, 2023
Joey will be back.
3. For some unknown reason, Fox is expected to sign Alex Rodriguez to a new contract, per The Hollywood Reporter. The deal would make him an exclusive property of the network, thus putting an end to ESPN’s periodic Sunday Night Baseball alternative KayRod cast.
Alex Rodriguez Closes in on Contract Extension With Fox Sports (Exclusive) https://t.co/T3cUXptzXP
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 28, 2023
4. The U.S. Women’s World Cup team generated a lot of eyeballs on Fox on Wednesday night (6.429,000) and set a new viewership record.
The @USWNT's 1-1 @FIFAWWC draw with Netherlands delivered 6,429,000 million viewers on FOX, making it the most-watched Group Stage match ever on U.S. English language television⚽️🏆
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) July 27, 2023
⛰️Match peaked at 8,451,000 viewers
📈 Most-streamed Group Stage match in @FOXSports history… pic.twitter.com/VogjnzP277
5. Bill Belichick is the only coach in the NFL who would be on top of how a new scoreboard will affect his kickers.
According to the Patriots’ head coach, the new scoreboard is going to change wind patterns. Classic Belichick.
Bill Belichick: Gillette Stadium's giant new video board changes wind patterns, affects kickers. https://t.co/F3QEKfAyAA
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 28, 2023
6. I dropped two podcasts this week for your listening pleasure. One podcast features an interview with longtime sports columnist Bob Kravitz, who was laid off from The Athletic last month and then wrote a scathing takedown of the company. Among Kravitz’s revelations was that The Athletic told him he had to generate 395 subscriptions in a three-month period while he was recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.
He expounded on the claims he made in his column while also revealing many other things about working at The Athletic. He also talked about why he wrote the piece and whether he regretted it. He also shared his opinions on the state of sports media.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google or watch it on YouTube.
WWE superstar Cody Rhodes also stopped by SI Media With Jimmy Traina this week.
Some of the topics covered include the new documentary about his life, his WrestleMania loss to Roman Reigns, a possible story line with Triple H, his midlife crisis, fast-food talk, why he loves suits, why he won’t show his feet, his rule for joining TikTok and much more.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google or watch it on YouTube.