The question came almost as a statement.

“You were on the display, weren’t you?” Even in a Liverpool pub, Dominic and Nathan Wealleans are instantly recognisable.

It has been a whirlwind week for the two brothers from Rainhill, a village in St Helens, Merseyside. Before kick off at the FA Cup final, a picture of the pair embracing was used in the Crystal Palace tifo at the west end of Wembley. It went viral.

That display, spread across the central block of the lower tier in the Palace end, had been the iconic image from celebrations with their dad Mark after Darren Ambrose’s incredible 40-yard goal in the League Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2011. Mark passed away in February 2017, aged just 49, five months after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A picture, taken from a supporter in the row behind who recognised the brothers was picked up across social media, and the days that followed the team’s victory were spent dashing from one television studio to another, onto local and national radio, and then back north for Palace’s final game of the season at Liverpool.

They followed that by being invited as VIP guests to the winners’ party and parade at Selhurst Park on Monday.

The Athletic joined them in the away end at Anfield as they explained how Palace’s success and the tifo paved the way for a reconciliation.

The Scouse accents in the lower tier of the Anfield Road end might have drawn suspicious looks, but the Palace shirts were sufficient to allay any fears that the pair should have been among the home contingent.

Nathan is usually more animated, but when Ismaila Sarr puts Palace ahead after nine minutes, they both explode into life. Several opportunities look promising for Palace on the attack in the first half, and they both watch on in anticipation of a second goal.

Dominic (left) and Nathan Wealleans (Matt Woosnam/The Athletic)

Dean Henderson saves well from Luis Diaz. Dominic has to stretch to see over the heads of those in front of him before they join in with the chant of “England’s No 1”. 

At half-time they head down to the concourse. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the week. “It’s been incredible,” Nathan says.

“Any time I talk to my friends, I finish the conversation with: ‘We’ve just won the FA Cup though, so it doesn’t matter,’” says Dominic. “When we have our own kids, the fact that we can show them a key part of Palace history and they’ll recognise the faces on it makes me so proud and happy.”

Nathan describes feeling “every emotion all at once”. “It was sadness from realising what’s happened and also just a massive feeling of joy like that he (their dad) is still cared about, not just by us, but also by a lot of fans. To win it (the FA Cup) just solidifies us in Palace history.”

They were unaware before the game that the tifo would depict them and, due to the balloons and flags, it was only when they had a tap on the shoulder and were asked, ‘Is this you?’ that it struck them.

“It felt like he was there with us,” Nathan says. “We could feel him in the crowd celebrating every corner, every free kick. It was a good feeling that I’ve not had in a long, long time.”

Back at Anfield for the second half, Nathan explains how he likes to watch games from a more analytical perspective, despite his brother being the football coach of the pair, but also how it becomes impossible not to throw himself into the emotional side of things and sing, chant and shout. 

He joins in as the Palace fans sing ‘Pride of south London’, and bellows “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom” after Jean-Philippe Mateta is substituted. When Ryan Gravenberch fouls Daichi Kamada, they both vehemently demand his sending off, waving imaginary red cards, and referee Darren England obliges.

Dominic, who cheered mockingly minutes earlier as Gravenberch was booked for simulation, switches into coaching mode — he is in charge of an under-14 side — and analyses how the substitutions from Liverpool manager Arne Slot meant Gravenberch was isolated, while Nathan excitedly asks whether the Liverpool midfielder will miss the opening game of the season.

When Eddie Nketiah goes down deep into Liverpool’s half, Nathan is insistent that it is a foul. Dominic, on the other hand, appeals in the knowledge that it would be soft at best. Nothing is awarded.

They taunt Trent Alexander-Arnold with a rendition of “You’re just a s*** Joel Ward”, with Dominic saying he would like to see the departing Palace veteran on the pitch. A heavy touch from Sarr breaks down a Palace attack, which prompts Nathan to point out that, although he’s had an outstanding season, this issue can, on occasion, let him down. 

Sarr celebrates his goal with Kamada (Michael Regan/Getty Images For The Premier League)

When Mohamed Salah equalises and the home support burst into life for the first time in the game, Nathan choruses: “We forgot you were here”.

There is frustration from Dominic as Nketiah fails to throw himself at a dangerous cross, while Kamada’s overhit pass prompts the same response from Nathan. 

“He’s just run out of juice,” says Dominic as Daniel Munoz fails to drive on with a minute remaining. He sings Matheus Franca’s song as the Brazilian carries the ball forward, only to shoot at goalkeeper Alisson, with Nathan having put his hand to his mouth in anticipation. 

They serenade the Palace players at the final whistle and make their way out of the ground in preparation for another long trip down to London for the parade and celebrations, where they were introduced to supporters as VIP guests for the final part of the afternoon.

Palace supporting actor and comedian Ben Bailey-Smith welcomed them on stage, discussed how he could relate to their story after losing his own father, asked them to describe how they were feeling and then led them to sing the Elvis Presley song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’. Retreat a little over a week and all that would have felt nothing more than a fanciful dream.

“I don’t think Palace has ever made me feel that good,” Dominic says of the cup victory. “Dad would have celebrated so hard. We would have spent the evening in a pub as a family, and he would not have been able to remove the smile from his face for the rest of his life.”

In the 2013 Championship play-off final win over Watford, Dominic explains how their dad could not bear to watch when Kevin Phillips stepped up to take the winning penalty. “I always thought I’d never understand how you couldn’t watch that moment,” he says. “But at 1-0 in the later stages of the game (against City), I felt like I didn’t want to watch it.”

Palace celebrating winning the FA Cup (Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Nathan chose not to watch Mateta’s penalty in the semi-final and was unable to bring himself to watch Omar Marmoush step up for City’s spot kick in the final.

Their social media feeds have inevitably blown up. “I’d never seen so many photos of myself,” Dominic admits, while Nathan says people have messaged him saying, ‘I’m not even a Palace fan, but this story’s really put a lump in my throat’.

“The reason it’s gone viral is because so many people watched it without someone. We’re just the lucky ones. When Ambrose scored, the camera cut to us.”

“He’d love the fact that he was the face of the tifo,” says Dominic, who had been to his dad’s grave on the morning of the final. “It would have been everywhere. He would have probably had it printed.”

They disagree over whether they would have wanted the tifo to be the same even if their dad was still alive. “Even though our story is because he isn’t here, if he was it’d be better if it were someone else who’s had a similar story to show the Palace spirit,” Nathan says.

“I’d want the tifo still because that clip went viral when he was still here,” counters Dominic. “I would have loved to have the moment and feeling with him. I wouldn’t swap it for anything.”

Their story has captured the imagination of people across the world. It now resonates even more. The pair had drifted apart after their dad died with life stepping in the way; university, travelling. Emotionally and physically, they were distant. But after one special day at Wembley, they are together again.

“Being the only two Palace fans I know from Liverpool,” Dominic says, “growing up with our dad, going to games… there’s no one else I’d rather watch that final with (than Nathan). Absolutely not.”

Palace’s Wembley tifo (Justin Setterfield – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

“It was rocky because we’ve had our differences throughout the years,” Nathan says when asked what it means to have shared this moment with his brother. “We’ve had a lot of downs, some ups, but once we saw each other, it was just pretty much: ‘Whatever happened in the past, this is Wembley, this is our day, let’s enjoy it as much as we can’. 

“Then, when the tifo (was revealed), we celebrated together because it’s… it is us. We have to celebrate that together, that doesn’t happen to an average person, ever.

“Mum’s probably fuming because she’s spent the past eight years trying to get us to be friends with each other, and dad just does it in one game. He has probably somehow managed to get us closer just through his powerful ways. It was the only way I think we could have ever got closer.”

The future of the tifo, they say, is subject to discussions with the Holmesdale Fanatics (the Crystal Palace ultras group). But, rest assured, they are desperately trying to persuade the Fanatics to hand it over.

That would be the ultimate memento.

(Top photo: Getty Images and Matt Woosnam/The Athletic)

The New York Knicks have a stellar roster featuring Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and several star players. The bench is also well constructed, which means collectively, head coach Tom Thibodeau can call upon whoever he wants to help in certain situations.

However, that has not panned out as Thibodeau has often been labelled as a coach who runs his starters into the ground. He has done it in the past with the Chicago Bulls and did the same last season. This year, the trend continued as only 9 out of 15 players have had a chance to play in the playoffs.

On the contrary, the Indiana Pacers use at least 2 or 3 players more, depending on the situation. In Game 3, the Knicks continued that trend in the first half, and the starters struggled to hang in with the Pacers. They were down by 20 points with three minutes left, and it seemed as if the Knicks were about to lose again.

During the halftime show, the Inside the NBA crew discussed how the New York Knicks lacked energy. Hearing this, two-time champion Kenny Smith summed up how Knicks coach has a tendency to deploy his players.

Thibodeau wouldn’t play nine guys in a baseball game.

Kenny Smith said

Smith’s reference went viral, as in a baseball game, each side of a team consists of nine players. The North Carolina alum believes going by Tom Thibodeau‘s methods, he might not field nine players in a baseball game, even though if it is mandated.

Austin Rivers explains why Tom Thibodeau does not field many players in the playoffs

Kenny Smith’s troll was a fitting summation of how Tom Thibodeau uses his players. Even though he has 15 players at his disposal, he only uses those he wants. It is a matter of trust, as former understudy Austin Rivers explained on X.

Best way I can describe playing for Thibs… is like being son in law to Jack Byrnes. Can be a great thing…. But you gotta be in the circle of trust lol. And that can be a hard thing to do. Only so many get in.

Austin Rivers wrote

He has played under Tom Thibodeau for a while and knows how the 67-year-old head coach operates. This means Connecticut native only fields those who are part of his inner circle. That is both a blessing and a curse.

It is a blessing when players understand their head coach trusts them enough to deploy them in crucial playoff moments. It is also a curse, as this could deter other players from wanting to work at Madison Square Garden. But thankfully, Thibodeau did not commit the same mistake later in Game 3.

Knicks’ bench helps them overcome 20-point deficit

At halftime, the New York Knicks were staring at another loss to the Indiana Pacers. But then slowly, they started to chip away at the lead. In the fourth quarter, they exploded behind Karl-Anthony Towns’ 20-point performance.

But he was not the lone player to provide the spark. Bench players, Miles McBride, Delon Wright, and Landry Shamet might not have the offense to prove that they helped. But it was defensive intensity that helped the Knicks keep the Pacers in check.

That defense helped the Knicks mount their third 20-point comeback win of this playoffs. No matter how this series ends, tonight’s performances from those bench players should give Tom Thibodeau some insight on how they can help the team.

The Knicks have to win three more games to complete the upset. That goal, along with the need to keep his starters healthy for the NBA Finals, should coax Thibodeau to continue the new trend he started in game 3.

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) –

Amid the conversations surrounding Becky Pepper Jackson, the transgender athlete from Bridgeport High School who competed in this year’s state track and field meet. One of our other local student athletes has gone viral for her take on this situation.

Grafton High School track and field athlete Hadley Horne was pictured on the podium after winning a gold medal in the Girl’s 300m hurdles wearing a shirt that reads “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.”

The WVSSAC has posted the winners in every event from Friday and Saturdays’ Track Championships, and this post has now gone viral on multiple social media sites over the last 24 hours of the post being online.

Hadley, the Gold Medal winner from Grafton took to her own social media account on Monday afternoon, sharing the post before the WVSSAC saying:

“Since the WVSSAC has yet to post it on their page (I am assuming because of my shirt) I will post it on mine for all my people to see!!! I am so Blessed!!”

That post has reached nearly 5,000 likes, over 460 comments and 2,000 shares and counting.

This comes amid an ongoing statewide conversation about if transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in girl’s and women’s sports in Vest Virginia.

Becky Pepper Jackson, a transgender athlete from nearby Bridgeport High School, also competed during the meet last weekend.

She was involved in the shot put and discus events, and did not compete directly with Horne.

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Travis Kelce covered up his burly bod just one day after his hairy back took the internet by storm.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was seen flaunting his muscular biceps in a Nike navy muscle tee after playing a game of padel in Florida last Tuesday.

Kelce paired the dark tank with black athletic shorts that showed off his toned calves as he toted a black and white gym bag.

The athlete, 35, accessorized with white slides and a silver chain around his neck.

Kelce was spotted looking sweaty from his fitness session and had tousled hair as he made his way to his black SUV.

The “New Heights” co-host kept his body concealed from onlookers nearly 24 hours after photos of his hairy back went viral.

Last Tuesday, Kelce was seen taking off his shirt after hitting the gym with some friends in Miami.

Fans were quick to notice some very thick body hair on Kelce’s back, shoulders and chest.

Kelce’s unshaven stature even prompted fellow NFL player Kirk Cousins to poke fun at him.

“God bless Taylor Swift for being good with that,” the Atlanta Falcons quarterback told E! News last week of Kelce’s pop star girlfriend being OK with Kelce’s body hair.

The football player added, “That’s awesome. Good for her.”

Kelce has made light of his hairy physique in the past — admitting that his hair earned him the nickname “Big Yeti.”

Chatting with his brother, Jason Kelce, on their podcast in February 2024, the retired Philadelphia Eagles player recalled Travis’ days of playing basketball with friends when he was a student at the University of Cincinnati.

“When Trav was at Cincinnati, he would play basketball in the playground quite a bit,” the former athlete said. “And anyone who has ever played pickup basketball, you know there’s shirts and skins.”

Travis explained that at the time he had a “big beard,” “long hair” and “chest hair, back hair, arm hair, leg hair.”

“It’s just a big ole Yeti out there, man,” Travis joked. “All the homies on the court were calling me ‘Big Yeti.’”

Last week, Travis addressed the existence of his prominent back hair, admitting on his Wondery+ show that he is a “furry son of the bitch.”

(Jacquelyn Martin/Rich Pedroncelli/AP photos)

President Donald Trump fired off a scathing social media post against California Gov. Gavin Newsom after a transgender athlete won big at a girls track meet in the state over the weekend.

Trump spoke out on Truth Social after a transgender female came in first place in the long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Track Championship Masters Qualifiers, advancing to the state championship next weekend.

California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow “MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.” This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won “everything,” and is now qualified to compete in the “State Finals” next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is “UNFAIR.” I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!

The track meet, held at Yorba Linda High School, was the scene of protests against the CIF for allowing the transgender athlete to compete, according to Fox News.

Trump’s comments would appear to put pressure on Newsom to put his money where his mouth is after the governor rhetorically pivoted to the center on the issue earlier this year.

When asked about transgender athletes by Charlie Kirk during the inaugural episode of his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, the rumored 2028 presidential candidate said he believed competitors born male should not be taking part in sports with females, calling it “deeply unfair.”

“Well, I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness, it’s deeply unfair. I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you,” Newsom told Kirk.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey was not the only person to make a public statement about the currently unenforceable Save Women’s Sports Act over the weekend.

During the West Virginia State Track Meet over the weekend, Hadley Horne, a senior from Grafton High School, became a repeat West Virginia state champion in the Class AA girls 300 meter hurdles, with a time of 45.41, more than a second faster than second place and the third fastest time across all three classifications.

During her award ceremony, Horne chose to wear a shirt that said “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.” A photo of the ceremony is going viral on social media, with thousands of people voicing their opinions on the Save Women’s Sports Act, the West Virginia law that says student athletes must compete based on the sex they were assigned at birth. The law was deemed unconstitutional by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals last year and is not currently enforceable.

Horne’s shirt was likely in response to transgender athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson competing in the girls AAA discus and shot put at the championship meet. Pepper-Jackson, who was assigned male at birth and competed as a freshman for Bridgeport High School, finished 3rd place in the girls discus throw and 8th place in the girls shot put, scoring a total of seven points for Bridgeport’s girls team.

The case of Becky Pepper-Jackson (B.P.J.) vs the West Virginia Board of Education regarding West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act has been ongoing since 2021.

Gov. Morrisey, who has been trying to get the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, said on Saturday that he is “urging officials to keep separate scores so that the true winners can be awarded once we win in court,” calling Pepper-Jackson competing on the girls’ side “wrong and unfair.”