Tag Archives: Football Star

Entertainment

Ben Affleck Jokingly Defends Taking His Shirt Off ‘For No Reason’ in ‘The Rip’

Maravi Post Reporter

Ben Affleck is not shy about stripping off in new movie The Rip, which he stars in alongside his longtime best friend, Matt Damon.

However, the actor, 53, isn’t taking his shirtless scene too seriously as he defended showing off his body in the film “for no reason” during an interview with The Fox 101.9’s “Fifi, Fev & Nick” on Thursday, January 15.

Australian Rules football star turned radio host, Brendan Fevola, 44, jokingly accused the actor of unnecessarily shedding clothes as he asked him, “Now who would win in a fight? Because Ben, when you took your top off at the start of the show for no reason… Geez, you’re ripped up.”

Damon, 55, erupted in fits of laughter at the comment before Affleck clapped back in good humor.

Ben Affleck’s Kids Were Excited to Visit ‘The Odyssey’ Set — Unlike His Own

“There was a reason! I want people to see it. I don’t go to the gym for nothing,” he joked. “I’m middle-aged, I’ll take all the…you know. It’s going away. I want it memorialized before it’s gone.”

Damon had another theory as to why his Good Will Hunting collaborator got near-naked on screen, joking, “It’s called actor vanity.”

The pair also touched on the shirtless scene in an interview with Entertainment Tonight the same day as Damon roasted his friend yet again.

“He changed his shirt for a scene in this movie and boy, did they tweak the lighting for a long time on that bathroom, just shadows, just getting everything just perfect for him,” Damon said.

Seeing the funny side of the scene, Affleck joked it was a crucial plot point that added to his character’s development.

“I think it was important to see the character change,” he teased. “I think that’s what made the part dramatically interesting there was that he had a shirt that was dirty and then he had to put a clean one on.”

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Damon sarcastically added, “Makes total sense in the middle of the day.”

Affleck went on to explain that he didn’t take cues from Damon, who also showcased his ripped body for his  2026 film The Odyssey, when it came to dieting.

Damon previously revealed he followed a gluten-free diet to get in shape for the film, but Affleck revealed in the ET interview that he opted to go in a different direction to achieve his chiseled physique.

“To be honest, I can’t do the gluten-free thing. I feel like the one thing I can’t live without is bread, like rolls, you know? Maybe it just makes me a caveman but that’s really hard,” he told the outlet.

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Although they enjoy taking jabs at one another in good fun, Affleck and Damon have a solid bond thanks to their decades of friendship, which began when they grew up together.

Speaking to Us Weekly at the premiere of The Rip on Tuesday, January 13 in New York, the best friends said they’re still continually learning things about one another.

“I keep relearning things about Matt that I already knew and I forget them,” Affleck joked to Us exclusively before speaking seriously about their friendship. “Honestly, I am continually reminded of what a good father he is and what a fabulous actor he is.”

Affleck added that it’s “fun” he and Damon get to navigate their careers together. “You’re really lucky if you can do this for a living,” he said, “and you’re exceptionally lucky if you can do it with people you love and care about.”

Entertainment

Joe Burrow Returns After Missing 9 Bengals Games: What Exactly Is Turf Toe?

Maravi Post Reporter

Joe Burrow is back in action with the Cincinnati Bengals after missing nine games due to a turf toe injury.

The quarterback, 28, returned to the football field at M&T Bank Stadium in Maryland for the Bengals’ Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, November 27.

The Bengals ultimately beat the Ravens in the Thanksgiving game, winning 32-14 as the football star made his long-awaited return.

Burrow was sidelined after a week 2 turf toe injury — which occurred during the Bengals’ September 14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars — that required surgery.

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According to Cleveland Clinic, turf toe is “an injury in [the] big toe joint when ligaments, tendons and soft tissues in the joint stretch or tear.” It is a common problem for football players and other athletes who frequently sprint or jump while playing sports. Turf toe can be treated with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain medicine, but severe forms of the injury can necessitate surgery.

Amid the Bengals’ 3-8 record for the 2025-2026 NFL season, head coach Zac Taylor teased Burrow’s return on Monday, November 24. That same day, Burrow confirmed the news in an Instagram Story post of a mirror selfie he first shared via Snapchat in 2014 to celebrate LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after a four-year stint with the Miami Heat. In the photo, the Cavaliers fan wore a fitted No. 23 jersey from his childhood, adding the caption, “He’s back.”

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Joe Burrow. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Burrow hinted at his plans to play in the Thanksgiving game, which he described as “meaningful.”

He also noted that he struggled to watch from the sideline as his teammates lost games, calling the experience “lonely.” (The Bengals held a 1-8 record in Burrow’s absence.)

“You try to do what you can and just grind by yourself in the weight room and in the training room when trying to get right,” he told reporters in a November 10 press conference. “There’s not much more you can do. You’re not out there with the guys, you’re not at practice, so return from injury is pretty lonely.”

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Meanwhile, Taylor, 42, assured fans that Burrow was “in good shape” and “ready to go” leading into Thursday’s game.

“He’s worked really hard to get himself back,” Taylor told the media of Burrow on Sunday, November 23. “He’s a football player. He wants to play football. We want to win football games, so that will lead into that decision.”

Taylor noted that Joe Flacco would serve as Burrow’s backup quarterback when he returned to the field.

“There’s a balance there of obviously him coming off of injury,” he said. “You want to be very mindful of that. And a lot of that will be up to him as he feels his pocket movement and his play style. Those are decisions that he’s gonna have to feel out as he goes forward. Sure, I’d love to say let’s be productive and not put him in an environment where that’s gonna happen. You get out there on the football field and that’s the way it’s gonna take shape. … It’s the NFL. You can’t go out there with kid gloves on and say we’re never gonna let this happen. Some things are gonna happen naturally. It’ll be in his hands to take care of it if he’s out there.”

Since being drafted by the Bengals in 2020, Burrow has missed a handful of games due to injuries. In 2020, he suffered a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus that required surgery. Three years later, Burrow tore his wrist ligament in 2023 and was out for the rest of the season as he recovered from an operation to fix the problem.

Entertainment

Marshawn Kneeland’s Girlfriend Breaks Her Silence Over Cowboys Star’s Death

Maravi Post Reporter

The girlfriend of late Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland broke her silence after the NFL star’s sudden death.

“I’m grieving hard right now,” Catalina Mancera told the Daily Mail on Monday, November 10. “It will be a long time before I’ll feel ready to talk at any length.”

Mancera, 22, called the police the night before Kneeland’s death on the morning of Thursday, November 6. She expressed concern over Kneeland’s well-being, telling authorities her boyfriend had “a history of mental illness.”

After a brief police chase, Kneeland was found near his abandoned car on the Dallas Parkway, dead of an apparent suicide. He was 24 years old. 

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“We’re still in the early stages of everything,” Mancera added. “We are working on the funeral arrangements. I don’t know where it’s going to be yet.”

Kneeland was also survived by his father, Shawn, who is currently incarcerated in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and his three siblings: brothers, AJ and Shawn Jr., and sister, Yahmya. 

The football star’s mother, Wendy, died in February 2024, just two months before he was selected in the second round by the Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Mancera, a fashion designer, has been staying at the Plano, Texas, apartment where Kneeland lived prior to his death. 

Marshawn Kneelands Girlfriend Breaks Her Silence Over Cowboys Stars Death
Courtesy of Catalina Mancera/Facebook

Nicole Kneeland-Woods, Marshawn’s cousin, told the Daily Mail that the NFL player started dating Mancera while he was a student-athlete at Western Michigan University. 

“Marshawn shared a very special relationship with Catalina, whom he had been with since his sophomore year of college,” she said. “They supported each other through many stages of life. Catalina is an important part of our family and she’s hurting deeply too.”

Despite what 911 dispatchers allege Catalina told them, Nicole said, “There were no previous signs or indications that Marshawn was dealing with mental issues.”

“Marshawn was a strong, loving person who cared deeply about his family and everyone around him,” Nicole added.

In addition to the death of his mother, Marshawn also lost his grandfather in 2023, which Nicole said was “was incredibly hard for him.”

“But beyond that grief, Marshawn didn’t show signs of depression or mental health issues,” Nicole explained. “Our family is devastated and still trying to process something that feels unimaginable. We want people to remember Marshawn for his kindness, his sense of humor and his drive. He was loved deeply and that love will always be his legacy.”

Former Coach of Marshawn Kneeland Recalls Final Chat Days Before His Death

Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, broke his silence about Marshawn’s death on Tuesday, November 11. 

“I think we all have unfettered feelings about the people we love, people we work with, and this is just a time when you acknowledge that there’s no answers,” Jones, 83, said on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan. “It makes you want to live life to the fullest. It makes you want to look for the very best in what we have for each other. And in some way make sense out of these times in terms of what they can mean from helping those that are here on earth right now.”

Jones added, “All of those things are very natural, come to mind, but his death is such a national awareness thing that it takes on some of that light when we think about how we go forward.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Sports

Manchester United Knocks Chelsea Out Of FA Cup

Maravi Post Reporter
Man United
Man Utd knock Chelsea out of FA Cup

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If you enjoy football, then you know it; the match between Manchester Untied and Chelsea proved to be one of the most thrilling and most awaited matches of FA Cup!
The crowd was cheering! Manchester United’s Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba dashed to the front for the first half goals, leaving the game on a 2-0 win. That dumped the FA Cup holders, Chelsea, out of the competition and secured a place in the quarterfinals for Man U.
Spaniard Herrera’s finishing move was epic! It was a measure of revenge for Manchester United since they lost to the team in last May’s Wembley Finals. They were under their former boss, Jose Mourinho at that time. Manchester United is set to face the Wolverhampton Wanderers for the quarterfinals. Catch them live in action on March 15 to 18.
The defeat was pressure for Chelsea’s coach, Maurizio Sarri. Last time, they were knocked out of the Premier League by Manchester City, after a humiliating 6-0 score! No wonder, fans began predicting that Sarri would be sacked the next morning! The Italian was greatly criticised for stubbornly sticking to tactics and failure to adapt to changing games.
Manchester United versus Chelsea came with some thrilling moments. Throughout the first fifteen minutes, Rashford kept Chelsea under pressure with his struggles to break the defence of the team. The defence was indeed fragile and split when Pogba dashed through the field to score!
Chelsea’s hopes were crushed moments before half time. Rashford headed powerfully home between the defenders, Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger! United managed to shift quickly from offensive plays to defensive, and their confidence kept increasing their threat!
The home’s side best moment came in the 63-minute mark when Eden Hazard went close to defender Victor Lindelöf of Manchester United. The latter expertly diverted the shot and left the audience in total amazement!
Manchester United played as if they were on a mission! They played for the glory of their team. They wanted to achieve! Sports News bombarded social media with articles commending the confidence of the team and how they managed to turn the tables from a previous enemy.
Chelsea was greeted with some boos! They clearly did not appreciate the performance. The defeat by the hands of Manchester United became more than humiliating after losing to the team’s rivals during the Premier League.
Manchester Untied will be facing his opponent at Molineux. Let’s see if they make it to the semi-finals!