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College football player goes viral with weird name (which mom didn't approve)

A college football player became one of the most-talked about NCAA athletes over the weekend, but not because of his stats. Bowling Green University linebacker Gideon Lampron went viral on social media after fans learned his legal middle name is ESPN. His family pronounces it “Ess-pen,” but his dad admits he chose the unusual name […]

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College football player goes viral with weird name (which mom didn't approve)

A college football player became one of the most-talked about NCAA athletes over the weekend, but not because of his stats.

Bowling Green University linebacker Gideon Lampron went viral on social media after fans learned his legal middle name is ESPN. His family pronounces it “Ess-pen,” but his dad admits he chose the unusual name (written in all capital letters) as a tribute to the Disney-owned sports channel (originally named the Entertainment Sports Programming Network).

Gideon’s father, Marty Lampron, told the Dayton Daily News that he chose “ESPN” because he’s a big sports fan. However, he didn’t get his wife’s approval when he put the name on Gideon’s birth certificate — she wanted the middle name to be Xavier and said “no” when Marty suggested ESPN.

“I grew up in Boston. I went for months trying to talk my wife into letting me name him Larry Bird. It didn’t go well,” Marty told the Dayton Daily News in September.

“Then she delivers Gideon, and she’s out of it and the nurse comes for me to sign the birth certificate. When I signed it, I literally printed ‘ESPN’ in capital letters. She was out cold when I did it. When she woke up, I told her I did it, and she said, ‘No, you didn’t.’ She didn’t realize I did it. She wasn’t happy with me.”

Gideon ESPN Lampron, a junior LB from Keystone, Ohio, transferred to Bowling Green this spring after spending the past three years at the University of Dayton. According to Total Pro Sports, he started as a zero-star recruit in FCS and redshirted the 2022 season, but made 51 tackles in 2023 despite only starting once. He finished the 2024 season with 99 total tackles, including 56 solo, plus 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning him Football Championship Subdivision All-American First Team honors and offers from FBS schools, including Kent State, UTEP, Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Bowling Green.

Lampron’s weird middle name got attention from Yahoo Sports, Barstool Sports, and other publications, but he’s hoping he can live up to his lifelong association with “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.”

“I want to make my dad proud, because him making my middle name ‘ESPN,’ it has set some expectations. I am just trying to deliver,” Gideon told The Morning Journal in September. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Some of my friends would laugh. I never really hid it, I just never talked about it ever. Now, this is something that my friends are finding out. I have it on my Instagram and (X). I love (my middle name).”

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Quarterback Caitlin Clark goes viral before her injury return

The post Quarterback Caitlin Clark goes viral before her injury return appeared first on ClutchPoints. Caitlin Clark is confirmed to finally return from injury in the Indiana Fever’s Wednesday contest against the Golden State Valkyries. In preparation for her return, the phenom point guard was spotted showcasing her quarterback skills. During the Fever’s practice on […]

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Quarterback Caitlin Clark goes viral before her injury return

The post Quarterback Caitlin Clark goes viral before her injury return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Caitlin Clark is confirmed to finally return from injury in the Indiana Fever’s Wednesday contest against the Golden State Valkyries. In preparation for her return, the phenom point guard was spotted showcasing her quarterback skills.

During the Fever’s practice on Tuesday, the 23-year-old guard was tossing around a football with a kid, possibly the son of a coach, per Andrew Chernoff of WISH TV. You can see her put the ball right on the money as Caitlin Clark casually plays catch.

The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year certainly turned heads with her pass, as numerous fans jumped on social media to share their reactions to Caitlin Clark throwing a football. Some claimed they were impressed, while others made jokes about which NFL players she might be better than.

“Caitlin can play anything and dominate,” said one individual.

Another user claimed, “Daniel Jones needs to pay attention.”

“Los Angeles Olympics dual gold medalist? Point guard for the basketball team and QB of the flag football team? Just saying,” admitted one fan.

One person explained, “There’s a lot of good basketball players, but there aren’t a lot of true athletes. She’s an athlete. Golf, soccer, passing, I’d imagine any sport, she could excel at.”

“Could be QB1 in Indy. Give me CC over Anthony Richardson,” said another fan.

Caitlin Clark’s return from injury will be her first appearance after missing five games. The last time she took the court was in Indiana’s 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm on June 24. Injuries have been the tale this season, as Clark has missed 10 games so far.

Despite that, the former No. 1 pick has been brilliant more often than not when she is available. In the nine games she’s played so far this season, Caitlin Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game. She also owns a 39.0% field goal percentage and is shooting 29.5% from beyond the three-point line.

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Related: Caitlin Clark’s injury status for Fever vs. Valkyries gets update

Related: Caitlin Clark’s teammate drops harsh reality for Fever after ninth loss

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Sexy influencer takes Wimbledon by storm, leaves athletes drooling — but there's a big catch

She’s too good to be true. After threatening to replace humans in seemingly every sector from law to academia, artificial intelligence is now going after our influencer gigs as well. Meet Mia Zelu, an AI-powered social media star who has amassed over 150,000 Instagram followers by sharing sexy pics of herself at various tennis events […]

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Sexy influencer takes Wimbledon by storm, leaves athletes drooling — but there's a big catch

She’s too good to be true.

After threatening to replace humans in seemingly every sector from law to academia, artificial intelligence is now going after our influencer gigs as well.

Meet Mia Zelu, an AI-powered social media star who has amassed over 150,000 Instagram followers by sharing sexy pics of herself at various tennis events and elsewhere.

In a recent Insta post, the hyperrealistic blond bombshell is seen sitting courtside at the All England Club during Wimbledon while drinking Pimm’s, a drink that’s associated with the tournament.

Mia Zelu poses in the stands at a tennis match. Instagram / @miazelu

“Still not over the event… but the party’s a whole other game,” Zelu, who bills herself as a “digital storyteller” captioned the pic. “Which Wimbledon match was your fave?”

Another showed the tennis influencer — whose creator is unclear — in the stands during a match.

Her photos aren’t the only things that are super naturalistic — Zelu also “uploads” surprisingly heartfelt and human-seeming messages as well.

“Still not over the event… but the party’s a whole other game,” Zelu, who bills herself as a “digital storyteller” captioned the above pic. “Which Wimbledon match was your fave?” Instagram / @miazelu

“You know what’s exhausting? Pretending you’re okay while you’re slowly burning out,” the fictitious content creator declared in one post alongside a pic of her rocking jean shorts at a cafe. “Smiling in messages, staying ‘productive,’ answering ‘all good!’ while everything feels off.”

She added, “We’ve all done it. Some of us are still doing it. Because being honest feels risky. Because we don’t want to seem weak or dramatic. Because it’s just easier.”

Zelu has amassed over 150,000 Instagram followers by sharing stunning snaps. Instagram / @miazelu

Zelu even has a “sister” named Ana, who’s brunette and has amassed 266,000 followers on the platform by posting similarly glamorous snaps.

Despite the fact that Zelu discloses that she’s “AI” in her Insta profile, thousands of admirers liked her post and even posted fawning replies such as “you look stunning” and “will you marry me.”

Some even inquired about her “skin care routine,” although its yet unclear how many of these replies were posted in jest.

Zelu is one of many AI influencers on the market. Instagram / @miazelu

However, some hawk-eyed viewers noticed that Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant had liked many of her posts, leading them to believe that he’d been “catfished.”

“Rishabh Pant thinks he’s interacting with a real girl, totally oblivious to the fact that it’s an AI,” criticized one, while another scoffed, “Someone should probably tell Rishabh Pant that this is an AI account…’

Coincidentally, Pant’s likes of Velu’s posts are no longer visible on Instagram and he has yet to weigh in on the backlash, the Daily Mail reported.

Zelu is one of a growing roster of AI-nfluencers flooding the market. Last year, virtual influencer Alba Renai went viral after getting hired as the first non-human host on a weekly special segment of “Survivor” in Spain.

While the trend might seem harmless, there are plenty of dangers to the proliferation of AI doppelgangers — beyond just leaving a certain cricketer with a red face.

Last year, a UK woman who fell for a “US army colonel” she met on Tinder discovered later that he was a romance scammer after he swindled her out of over $20,000 by deploying hyperrealistic AI videos.

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Caster Semenya Court Victory

Caster Semenya has stated that her legal battle is about equality and inclusivity in sport (Photo: Commission for Gender Equality) Queer two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says her partial victory in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) marks a step forward in recognising and respecting the rights of all female athletes. On Thursday, the […]

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Caster Semenya Court Victory

A photo of Caster Semenya speaking at press conference in 2024

Caster Semenya has stated that her legal battle is about equality and inclusivity in sport (Photo: Commission for Gender Equality)

Queer two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says her partial victory in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) marks a step forward in recognising and respecting the rights of all female athletes.

On Thursday, the ECHR ruled that Semenya had not received a fair hearing in Switzerland in her long-standing battle against World Athletics over its regulations that restrict female athletes with naturally high testosterone levels from competing.

Switzerland Ordered to Pay Costs

The court found that “the review carried out by the [Swiss] Federal Supreme Court had not reached the required level of rigour.” Switzerland was also ordered to pay Semenya €80,000 in costs and expenses.

“I have waited 15 long years for this judgment,” said Semenya in a statement.

“Today, my patience in this journey has been rewarded with a result that will pave the way for all athletes’ human rights to be protected. I have given up what I wanted in the hope that others may have what they need. I hope this victory will inspire young women to be and to accept themselves in all their diversity.”

A Win for Equality and Bodily Autonomy

Gregory Nott of Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa, who is Semenya’s lead counsel, hailed the ruling as “a resounding victory not only for Caster but for the principles of equality, fairness, and bodily autonomy in international sport.”

He said the decision highlighted the imbalance athletes like Semenya face when taking on powerful sporting bodies.

“It is a reminder that all sportspeople are entitled to fundamental human rights, and those rights must be protected,” he added.

Some Claims Dismissed

However, the court dismissed Semenya’s other claims — including the right to respect for private life, the right to an effective remedy, and the prohibition of discrimination — ruling they were inadmissible as she does not fall within Switzerland’s jurisdiction.

The decision does not directly address the substance of Semenya’s case or overturn World Athletics’ current regulations and will not impact her competitive career, as she is now focusing on coaching.

It remains unclear if Semenya will take her case back to the Swiss courts.

A Precedent for Human Rights in Sport

Nott believes the judgment sets an important precedent for athletes’ rights globally, particularly where the governance of sport intersects with international human rights obligations.

Caster Semenya has consistently stated that her fight is not for personal gain but for the dignity, equality, and rights of women in sport.

The Controversial Regulations

World Athletics’ 2018 policy requires athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) — such as Semenya — to artificially suppress their naturally high testosterone levels to compete in certain events.

Semenya’s refusal to comply with these regulations resulted in her being barred from international competition.

International human rights organisations, including the South African Human Rights Commission, have criticised the rules as discriminatory and harmful, arguing they violate the human rights of affected female athletes.

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Eight of Exeter's 'most impressive' rugby players to represent their countries in 2025 tournaments

They will be competing against 12 of the world’s best teams Eight of Exeter’s rugby players will be playing for their national teams in major 2025 tournaments. A large group from the men’s firsts team and one student from the women’s team will be competing against 12 of the World’s best teams. The players from […]

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Eight of Exeter's 'most impressive' rugby players to represent their countries in 2025 tournaments

They will be competing against 12 of the world’s best teams

Eight of Exeter’s rugby players will be playing for their national teams in major 2025 tournaments.

A large group from the men’s firsts team and one student from the women’s team will be competing against 12 of the World’s best teams.

The players from the university will be representing England and Scotland.

A representative from the performance team at University of Exeter Sport said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see eight of our students representing their respective nations.

“Their performances on the field for BUCS Super Rugby, Exeter Chiefs and international age-grade sides have not gone unnoticed, and we are pleased that they will showcase their talent again on the international stage.”

Six men from the university’s team will represent England, including some who helped win past championships.

Jed Findlay, member of the Exeter Chiefs academy, will represent Scotland after training with the Scotland U20s.

Lilly Plowman, a University of Exeter student, will play in the U20 Women’s squad for the 2025 U20’s Six Nations Summer Series.

All of the players started at Exeter College or the university’s rugby programmes.

The University of Exeter is “proud that Exeter continues to demonstrate its strength and depth across our rugby programmes, supporting students to progress both academically and within their sporting journeys.”

The university wishes all the students the best of luck and looks forward to welcoming them back in September.

Featured image via University of Exeter

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King's names Orlowski executive director of athletics and recreation

After spending 20 years as men’s lacrosse head coach at King’s College, Andy Orlowski took a step back and traveled down a new path at Misericordia University on the administrative side of college athletics following the 2022 season. In just short two years, Orlowski discovered the opportunity to help student-athletes and coaches turned out to […]

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King's names Orlowski executive director of athletics and recreation

After spending 20 years as men’s lacrosse head coach at King’s College, Andy Orlowski took a step back and traveled down a new path at Misericordia University on the administrative side of college athletics following the 2022 season.

In just short two years, Orlowski discovered the opportunity to help student-athletes and coaches turned out to be something he enjoyed immensely. He had the opportunity work with and along side student-athletes across all sports, not just one.

With that in mind, he returned to King’s for the 2024-25 school year as the assistant athletic director. On Wednesday he was named Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation.

“Just to make a difference in helping student-athletes increase their experience,” Orlowski said. “I was confident I could do that. If I didn’t feel confident I wasn’t going to apply for the job.”

Orlowski takes over for Cheryl Ish, who after 31 years in the athletic department transitioned to a role in the Sports Management program. Ish joined King’s in 1994 as field hockey head coach and assistant athletic director. She is also credited with starting the women’s lacrosse team where she was head coach from 1996-2001. From there, Ish became the school’s associate director of athletics in 2004 and director of athletics in 2005.

During her tenure as athletic director, Ish was responsible for adding eight varsity programs, including men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s volleyball and women’s golf.

“I was able to work as the assistant athletic director this year and had a lot of responsibility,” Orlowski said. “There are coaches in the department that I’ve had a 20-year relationship with and coaches that I can talk with on deeper levels than I normally would as assistant athletic director. I realized I could make a difference in even a little way with all the teams here.”

While at Misericordia, Orlowski assisted the athletic director in budgeting, purchasing and inventory at the university. He also served on NCAA championship host committees and strategic planning committees.

“I had no aspirations when I went to Misericordia,” Orlowski said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to continue coaching or take another career path. I was fortunate enough to be there when the (Misericordia) baseball team won the World Series and the women’s soccer team was ranked No. 1. I was just curious and asked the coaches how they are doing it. I was able to sit and learn. Their athletes didn’t look different than ours. They paid attention to the small details.”

In his new role, Orlowski will oversee 28 varsity sports as well as an intramural and recreation program. His responsibilities will also cover strategic planning, operations and community engagement along with an approach to student-athlete and coaching development.

“I think nobody is happy where we are, we all want to be better,” Orlowski said. “The fun part is I’m the head coach of a new team and get to build them up and work them up and figure out a way to get across the finish line. There are a lot of coaches who have been here a long time. We have some newer coaches that I happened to have the opportunity to higher four of. I’m excited about the direction of the new hires and our younger coaches are here learning. There is a lot to be excited about.”

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Cyclone and Hawkeye athletes to star at Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend

NEWTON, Iowa — Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend is launching a new partnership to bring the excitement of college sports to Iowa Speedway. This collaboration involves “We Will,” Iowa State’s Name, Image, and Likeness collective, and “The Swarm Collective,” supporting University of Iowa athletes. The partnership will feature student athletes from both universities during the NTT […]

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Cyclone and Hawkeye athletes to star at Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend

NEWTON, Iowa — Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend is launching a new partnership to bring the excitement of college sports to Iowa Speedway.
This collaboration involves “We Will,” Iowa State’s Name, Image, and Likeness collective, and “The Swarm Collective,” supporting University of Iowa athletes.
The partnership will feature student athletes from both universities during the NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader this weekend.
Joshua Jefferson, a standout from Iowa State’s men’s basketball team, will serve as Grand Marshal on Saturday. Jefferson, recognized for his impressive performance in the 2024–25 season, will give the command to start the engines at 4:00 PM.
On Sunday, former Iowa All-American linebacker Jay Higgins will be the Grand Marshal. Higgins, who recently signed with the Baltimore Ravens, will lead the command before the race at 12:00 PM.
Fans will have the opportunity to meet athletes from both universities during autograph sessions at Iowa Speedway. Iowa State stars and Iowa Hawkeye players will be available for fan interactions on both Saturday and Sunday.
“What a perfect way to add even more excitement to Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend by welcoming some of the top collegiate athletes in the state to Iowa Speedway this weekend,” said Kristin Stepinski, General Manager of Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend. “Whether you are a fan of Iowa State or you root for the Iowa Hawkeyes, this is your chance to show support for your team, meet some of your favorite players, enjoy great INDYCAR racing and a weekend full of excitement here in Central Iowa.” 
Special ticket offers are available, allowing fans to support their teams and benefit university collectives. More information and ticket purchases can be made at www.indycaratiowa.com.

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