The New York Knicks championship run brings back memories to Villanova’s glory days
Story by
It’s parade day in New York City.
The New York Knicks are celebrating something that will live forever in that city and around the fanbase — an NBA Championship.
As a fan of both the Knicks and Villanova, this was a special year for me personally. June 13th, 2026 is a day that will be remembered forever and it began in the morning on the college side.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAs I sat there waiting for Game 5 of the NBA Finals in hopes of closing it out, Villanova received the news that Italian big man Luigi Suigo decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and commit to the Wildcats. The inevitable became reality after Suigo made this decision on deadline day.
Suigo brings incredible size at 7-foot-3 and versatility as he can handle the ball on the perimeter and score from all three levels. With the combination of Kwame Evans in the frontcourt and Devin Royal at the three, Villanova now has one of the best rosters in the nation.
So, the day began with this commitment that will have Villanova in the Top 25 rankings to begin the season. We got to enjoy the news and picture the Wildcats back in the NCAA Tournament competing for a Final Four appearance.
Of course, this is something we saw three times in six years with two National Championships. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were freshmen in 2016 as Josh Hart led Villanova to a title. That year, the Knicks were a 32-win team looking for answers. It would only get worse in New York as win totals dropped to 31 the next year and 29 in 2018 as Villanova was celebrating another championship.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Villanova trio would go on to enter the NBA as the Knicks remained in the cellar with 38 wins over the next two years.
In 2022, Brunson signed a four-year deal with the Knicks and this began the rise, but not right away. The signing of Brunson was criticized. New York struggled to find a point guard for years and at first, Brunson was not viewed as the savior. Over the next two years, the Knicks would make moves to acquire Hart (2023) and Bridges (2024), both who signed deals to remain in New York.
Let’s not forget about Donte DiVincenzo, who joined Brunson in New York as a free agent. He was sent to Minnesota in the deal that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple. DiVincenzo still has one of the most memorable shots in recent memory against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two at Madison Square Garden.
Once the Villanova trio was brought to town with OG Anunoby and eventually Towns to complete the starting lineup, the Knicks were ready to compete for a title. Injuries took over in 2024 as the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semis before they were knocked out in the conference finals last year by the same Pacers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAs a fan of Villanova, it has been incredible to watch the trio in New York bringing the Knicks back to the top of the league. While I saw them win titles at Villanova, it was impossible to visualize the Knicks holding up the Larry O’Brien at the end of the playoffs.
It was done in an epic way. The Knicks logged the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 after being down 29 points. Brunson would then scored 45 points in the closeout game on the road. When the clock hit zeros, the Villanova trio had won an NBA title and proved to be the ultimate winners.
It has been a surreal week celebrating the New York Knicks being NBA Champions, but I have also thought about Villanova each day. Jay Wright has also been featured in many interviews discussing how this group has been able to get it done at every level. It brought back visions of Villanova on the stage at the end of the NCAA Tournament celebrating championships. It did not take long for Kevin Willard to bring the Wildcats back to the tournament and now, he has built one of the top rosters in the nation in the transfer portal.
Saturday brought it all full circle. The day began with Suigo and it ended with three Wildcat legends becoming NBA Champions.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
