Anthony Gharib

I am currently a writer/editor at ESPN.com on the trending topics team, a role I began in September 2023. I am a graduate of the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in sports business and management. I spent the 2023 Summer as a sports intern at USA Today. Before USA Today, I was a Sports News Intern at ABC7 Los Angeles from August 2022 to June 2023. My previous reporting contributions were with LakersNation and 247Sports covering USC sports. I also freelanced with the Daily Breeze covering prep sports in Fall 2021. I was the sports editor of USC's independent student newspaper, the Daily Trojan, during the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.

Giants jab at Cowboys following SNF victory tops NFL Week 1 trolls

It's just Week 1 of the NFL season, but that doesn't mean the trolls are starting out slow.The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 on Sunday Night Football. New York enjoyed a wire-to-wire win behind a stellar performance from quarterback Jaxson Dart.He had 230 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, plus 54 yards rushing. Dart is the third quarterback in Giants history with three passing touchdowns and 50 rushing yards in a game, according to ESPN Research. New York's defense...

NFL Week 1 uniforms: Vikings rocking throwbacks, Bengals go orange

Week 1 of the NFL season always marks one of the best times of the year. Renewed optimism brings positive feelings and vibes around one's favorite team. But the uniforms always seem to be a little crisper, too. This year is no different.It's never too early to wear a throwback look, and the Minnesota Vikings will do exactly that in Week 1. Minnesota is rocking "The Vikings Classic" against the Green Bay Packers at home Sunday. The uniforms first debuted in Week 1 of 2023 and include a deeper hue...

NBA, Nike announces new 'Specter' uniforms for league's oldest teams

Eight of the NBA's oldest franchises will wear new "Specter" uniforms this season, the league and Nike announced at a Brooklyn event Wednesday night.The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings are the teams receiving the new threads.The uniforms include details inspired by each franchise's history, city heritage and fan culture, according to a news release. They were created specifically f...

Commanders' crab stuffed pretzel headlines new NFL 2026 foods

When it comes to the NFL, the league seems to level up each season. The same applies to foods debuting at league stadiums.Arguably the best from any team is a crab stuffed pretzel sold at Northwest Stadium, home of the Washington Commanders. The crab-shaped pretzel is filled with lemon tarragon crab dip topped with garlic butter and grated parmesan cheese created by Levy Restaurants.Here's a look at some of the top new foods at NFL stadiums this season.The iconic colors of the Steelers are repre...

The exclusive salon where US Open stars get their haircuts

NEW YORK -- Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open is home to unique intricacies.Subway noise can sometimes be heard during quiet moments of play. A massive retractable roof can turn the stadium into a sound dome. Of course, there's the capacity of over 23,000 seats, making it the largest tennis stadium in the world.But tucked away on the third floor of the players' lounge inside Arthur Ashe is the exclusive, players-only beauty salon run by Julien Farel.The renowned stylist boasts three locations i...

Miami pokes fun at Florida State's stadium power outage

Just under an hour after the lights went out at Florida State's Doak Campbell Stadium before its game against SMU on Monday night, the Seminoles' in-state rival poked fun at the dilemma with a petty social media post.After a power outage resulted in the stadium's lights going out delayed the start of Florida State-SMU, Miami took advantage of the moment.The Hurricanes posted a video of their home field at Hard Rock Stadium that, at first glance, seemed ordinary. But the video included a dark fie...

Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook vacation together after retirements

Fresh off their respective retirements, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook vacationed together in Portofino, Italy, over the past week with their wives and others.Paul and Westbrook -- who were notably swapped for one another in a 2019 trade -- chronicled their trip on various social media posts.One post showed Paul, 41, who is second in career assists, throwing a lob to Westbrook on a court stationed on a yacht. Westbrook, 37, who is fifth in assists, then returned the favor, connecting on an all...

Alex Eala's fanbase follows her everywhere -- win or lose

NEW YORK -- As Alex Eala put one foot in front of the other Saturday night, with bags on her shoulder and a country's eyes on her walk, the crowd at the largest tennis stadium in the world welcomed her as one of its own. Simply put, for many in attendance, that's exactly how they saw her.Eala's rise from unknown to star has been well documented. She is the highest-ranked Filipino tennis player of all time, and attached to each step of her journey have been passionate fans from her home country....

All the numbers behind UMass' wild Week 1 upset of Rutgers

For the first time since Oct. 26, 2024, the Massachusetts Minutemen have won a college football game.

UMass defeated Rutgers 37-21 on the road Thursday night, ringing in its latest campaign as a victor. The Minutemen fell behind 7-0 early, then scored 30 unanswered points en route to a stunning result.

UMass quarterback William "Pop" Watson III threw for 197 yards and three scores, while Curtis Kimmons IV ran for 78 yards and a touchdown. Watson is the first UMass player with three passing tou...

Naomi Osaka references Allen Iverson with US Open outfit

Naomi Osaka celebrated Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson with her outfit ahead of her US Open first-round win against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday night.Osaka walked on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York with a custom Who Decides War all-white gown that featured news clippings of her career highlights. She rocked a headband over cornrows and wore a sweatband on one arm and a sleeve on the other, similar to Iverson's trademark look from his 14-year career. The black and red colors...

Jaylen Brown receives key to city in farewell party to Boston

Jaylen Brown said farewell to Boston on Sunday in an event organized by his brand, 741 performance, and others, and highlighted by the state of Massachusetts presenting Brown with a key to the city.The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Brown in a blockbuster trade on July 1, ending the forward's 10-year tenure with the Celtics. Brown made his mark on the court, helping the Celtics win the 2024 NBA Finals and earning Finals MVP honors. He also made a strong impact in the community.Therefore, Brown deci...

Duke's Coach K Court to have sponsorship logo for first time

For the first time in program history, Coach K Court at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium will have a sponsorship logo on it, the program announced Monday.The logo of Edward Jones, a financial services firm, now appears on the opposite side of "Coach K Court." Duke's men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs all play on the court. Wrestling does, too, but mats will cover the logo.The news comes in conjunction with Edward Jones being named the wealth management partner for Duke basketball...

Aaron Donald's wife, Erica, has humorous response to Donald's return

While reports swirled in the NFL offseason that Aaron Donald might unretire and return to the Los Angeles Rams, a potential hurdle could have stood in the way of Donald's decision: his wife, Erica.

Aaron's possible return -- and Erica's involvement -- dates back to June 1, when Los Angeles acquired defensive end Myles Garrett in a blockbuster deal.

ESPN's Pat McAfee said on his show the following day he had reached out to Donald and that the trade got Donald thinking about coming back. Reports...

Rams poke fun at Miami Heat LeBron gaffe before Aaron Donald announcement

A minute before announcing the return of Aaron Donald on X, the Los Angeles Rams seemingly poked fun at an unlikely team: the Miami Heat.

Los Angeles prepared to share the news that Donald would officially be unretiring and returning to the team on a one-year, $20 million deal with incentives. But it first had to reference a gaffe by the Heat on July 21.

While awaiting the pending free agency decision by LeBron James, Miami accidentally posted a scheduled live stream link titled "LeBron James...

Blake Griffin to host new late night sports talk show

Blake Griffin is expanding his media career into late night TV. He'll host a weekly talk show titled, "The Stepback with Blake Griffin," the former NBA star shared Wednesday.Griffin is partnering with Amazon Studios, YouTube and Wondery for the new show. The six-time All-Star served as a studio analyst for Amazon's NBA coverage last season. Mortal Media, a film and television production founded by Griffin and former NFL veteran Ryan Kalil, is behind the project.The Hollywood Reporter was the fir...

NFL Rivalries uniforms 2026: Designs, debuts and details

Eight new squads unveiled their threads on Tuesday for the second edition of the NFL's Rivalries uniform series.The AFC South and NFC North teams will each wear special uniforms for a home game against a division rival. The Indianapolis Colts will be the first team to debut a Rivalries uniform this campaign when they face the Houston Texans in Week 3. The Chicago Bears are the last to do so in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers.Last season, teams from the AFC East and NFC West rang in the new...

Cooper Kupp's latest route? Opening a new coffee shop

Cooper Kupp has hauled in plenty of touchdowns across his nine-year NFL career. Now, he's looking for a score in the coffee world.

Fresh off his second Super Bowl ring, the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver is opening a coffee shop in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for his brand, Dodo Coffee. Kupp and his wife, Anna, are part of an ownership group that includes Kupp's sister-in-law and her husband, as well as Anna's parents.

Designed by esteemed architect Jeffrey Dungan, the roughly 500-square-foot bric...

Travis Kelce calls MSG wedding with Taylor Swift 'best night of my life'

Just over a month since marrying Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce shared his first public comments about the wedding on Wednesday, calling it "the best night of my life."The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end and the pop superstar wed July 3 at Madison Square Garden in front of 1,000 guests. The festivities included a star-studded list of attendees, including Patrick Mahomes, Ed Sheeran, Wayne Gretzky and Selena Gomez.Comedian and actor Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony. There were no groomsmen, wit...

Philly artist paints LeBron mural in Chinatown inspired by D-Wade assist

Countless players have set LeBron James up for a slam dunk across his two-decade-plus NBA career. But a freshly painted mural in Philadelphia has James catching a hypothetical dime from a prominent member of the city's history: William Penn.Murals have popped up in and around the city since James decided to sign with the 76ers last month. The latest one in Chinatown, by Philadelphia-based artist Chenlin Cai, depicts James jamming home a dunk while Penn celebrates below him.The mural is titled: "...

How Akron's offensive coordinator promotion came to life -- and went viral

In the ever-evolving age of college football, every day brings something new. Akron is the latest to test the waters of the sport with a fan promotion unlike any other: One season-ticket holder can be the "offensive coordinator of the game."The Zips announced the unique promotion Tuesday, in which the winner can script the opening drive of Akron's home opener against Robert Morris on Sept. 12.All current season-ticket holders are automatically entered into a random drawing for the promotion, acc...

Dallas Mavericks offer 'bounty' for Cooper Flagg 1-of-1 card

The Dallas Mavericks are offering a "bounty" to whoever unpacks Cooper Flagg's debut patch autograph card via a package similar to that of a blockbuster NBA trade.

Dallas announced the proposed trade Thursday, when the card officially hit packs, offering a plethora of items for the lucky fan who finds it.

Whoever retrieves the 1-of-1 Topps card can deliver it to the franchise for a package that includes two Mavericks season premium lower level tickets for 32 years, a signed, game-worn Flagg ro...

Why diving chess is the next frontier for the sport

SINCE THE DAYS when it was first played over 1,500 years ago, chess has garnered a wide range of enthusiasts, from King Edward I to Napoleon to former President Jimmy Carter. However, one thing is likely certain: None of those people reached checkmate while rocking goggles in a pool.American chess master Etan Ilfeld created "diving chess" in 2012 as part of the annual Mind Sports Olympiad (the competition's 30th anniversary is later this month in London). Instead of facing another player in an e...

Houston Texans' Jalen Pitre becomes first Guardian Caps signature athlete

Athletes for years have earned endorsement opportunities for in-game attire, most notably what's on their feet. Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre is adding a new item to that list: what he wears on his head.

Pitre is the first Guardian Caps signature athlete, Guardian Caps announced Monday. Pitre finished last season wearing the padded helmets, which are meant to enhance protection against head injuries, in Houston's final eight games.

The 27-year-old suffered a concussion in a Week 9 game aga...

Erling Haaland, Vozinha gain most followers on Instagram during World Cup

Spain might have gained the most on the field after winning the 2026 World Cup on Sunday. But when it comes to Instagram followers, a star on another European national team left the tournament on top: Erling Haaland.

The Norway striker gained 32.1 million followers during the 39-day tournament, according to data posted by Sportico on Monday. Haaland scored seven goals, tied with Jude Bellingham for third during the event and one fewer than Lionel Messi and two fewer than Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé. Haaland played a key role in Norway reaching the quarterfinals and winning their first-ever World Cup knockout game.

No. 2 on Sportico's list was an unlikely figure: Cape Verde goalie Vozinha. The 40-year-old player had a breakout performance against Spain in the group stage, saving seven shots and winning man of the match in a 0-0 draw. He gained 29.2 million followers, 14 million of which were gained in the four days after facing Spain. Vozinha subsequently became one of the tournament's biggest stories.

Bellingham (12 million) slotted in at No. 3, while Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (11.4 million) and Spain's Lamine Yamal (11 million) rounded out the top five. Ronaldo remains the most followed athlete on Instagram at 677 million and counting.

Two stars playing in possibly their final World Cups followed Yamal on the list, with Brazil's Neymar gaining 7.7 million and Messi acquiring 7.5 million. Messi boasts 514 million followers and counting, the second most of any athlete on Instagram.

The rest of the top 10 included 17-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora (6.6 million), France star Michael Olise (5.7 million) and Brazil winger Endrick (5.6 million).
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