Category: Flops

(Fix Attitude, Find Opportunity).

When Emotion Costs You Millions

There’s a painful lesson in the stunning draft slide of former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

A year ago, Pavia looked like a football folk hero. He was a Heisman runner-up. He threw for more than 3,500 yards, rushed for nearly 900 more, accounted for 39 touchdowns, and led Vanderbilt to a 10-win season few saw coming.

And yet…257 names were called in the 2026 NFL Draft.

His wasn’t one of them.

On the surface, some will point to size. At under 6 feet—closer to 5-foot-10—scouts questioned whether he fit the traditional NFL quarterback mold.

But we’ve seen smaller quarterbacks thrive.

Kyler Murray proved height isn’t a deal-breaker. Bryce Young entered the league with similar concerns. In today’s NFL, playmakers can overcome measurables. So maybe this wasn’t just about height. Maybe it was about judgment.

After finishing second in the Heisman race, Pavia reportedly posted an expletive-laced message aimed at voters. Then came video of him at a club flashing his middle finger at a sign mocking Indiana. The court of public opinion went nuts! And even after the draft, go to any social media platform, and you’ll find the football crowd filled with “I told you so’s”

Maybe it was emotion. Maybe frustration. Maybe youth. But in a profession where front offices study everything—from arm angles to body language—that stuff gets logged.

And remembered.

That’s the part many young athletes miss. Scouts don’t just evaluate talent. They evaluate temperament. Decision-makers don’t just ask, Can he play? They ask, Can we trust him?

And trust… can evaporate with one reckless post. One bad clip. One emotional outburst. One moment.

That’s why we’ve said it before at Next Tally: One tweet can cost you millions. Or in this case… Maybe one reaction. One gesture. One bad optic.

And here’s what stings most: Pavia may have had the ability.But perception may have beaten production.

For athletes chasing the next level, this isn’t just a draft story.It’s a warning. Because sometimes the flop isn’t what happens on the field—It’s what happens when emotions go public.And public mistakes have private consequences.

Diego Pavia may still get his shot as a free agent.Many hope he does. But this week, when it counted the most, he’s left on the bench…

Not because of a missed throw—

But because talent alone doesn’t protect you from self-inflicted damage.

Talent gets you noticed. Character and control keep you in the game.

And that lesson?

Never goes undrafted.

“Unk”

There was a time when Luther Davis was known for making headlines the right way.

A highly touted defensive tackle, ranked among the nation’s best coming out of high school (he was the pride of West Monroe, Louisiana high)… he created a recruiting shockwave when he flipped from the LSU Tigers to join Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban… and ultimately, a contributor to Alabama’s 2009 national championship run. To each his own. Young men change their minds. Okay so it eventually paid off for him. Or did it?

That was the platform.

That was the launchpad.

But somewhere along the way… the vision changed.

And not for the better.

This isn’t the first time Davis flirted with controversy. Back in 2013, reports surfaced that he had violated NCAA amateurism rules—allegedly acting as a sports agent and providing benefits to college athletes.

Even then, the warning signs were there. Shortcuts. Blurring lines.Testing the boundaries of what’s allowed.

Fast forward to today—and those same tendencies have now escalated into something far more serious.

Federal authorities say Davis wasn’t just bending rules this time—he was breaking them in spectacular fashion.

Prosecutors allege he orchestrated a scheme totaling roughly $20 million in fraudulent loans.

And the method?

Disturbing.

Calculated.

And almost unbelievable.

According to investigators, Davis and an accomplice impersonated NFL players—using wigs, makeup, and disguises during video calls—to convince lenders they were legitimate high-profile borrowers.

Let that sink in.

They didn’t just fake paperwork.

They allegedly became the lie.

When lenders requested meetings, the real players never appeared. Instead, prosecutors say Davis and his co-conspirator stepped into character—complete with fake IDs and supporting documents—to push the illusion forward.

And it worked.

For a while, until it didn’t.

Authorities say over the course of more than a year, at least 13 fraudulent loans were secured. The money? Allegedly funneled into accounts they controlled… then spent on luxury cars, jewelry, and real estate.

Now, It is widely reported that Davis is expected to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft.

And just like that…

A story that once started with promise, discipline, and opportunity… now sits under the harsh glare of federal prosecution.

This isn’t just about fraud.

It’s about identity.

Not the fake kind used in a scheme—but the real one athletes build every day.

Because here’s the truth:

Your reputation is your currency long before money ever hits your account.

Davis had access.

He had exposure.

He had a network most people would never even sniff.

And instead of leveraging that for long-term opportunity… he appears to have chosen short-term deception.

And deception always collects.

With interest.

That’s why Next Tally preaches–Talent might open the first door.

But character decides how long you stay in the building.

This week’s Flop of the Week isn’t just a cautionary tale…

It’s a reminder:

You don’t need a disguise to succeed.

But the moment you start wearing one—

You’ve already lost.

-Next Tally

There was a time when Ja Morant was the story the NBA loved to tell.

High-flying. Electric. Must-see TV.

But lately… he’s become the story the league watches carefully.

This week’s moment may seem small on the surface—failing to participate in a fan appreciation tradition after the Grizzlies’ final home game. A simple gesture: hand your jersey to a fan, say thank you, close the season with connection.

Instead, confusion. No jersey given. Reports say he may not have been issued one to present. Another report says the team advised him just before tip-off that he wouldn’t be participating. In all fairness, how was he supposed to feel? Previous controversies aside…he’s still human. I get that. His teammates are sharing with fans while he stands there just watching–I presume, I wasn’t there.

But here’s the problem: when your track record is clean, people give you the benefit of the doubt.

When it’s not… everything gets questioned.

And that’s where Ja Morant now lives.

See, this isn’t about one moment.

It’s about moments stacking up.

The off-the-court incidents.
The social media missteps.
The Instagram firearm-related incidents–controversies that forced the league to step in. He had to sit out the game he loves for more than two dozen nights.

At some point, it stops being “learning experiences”… and starts becoming a pattern.

And in professional sports, patterns don’t just follow you—they define you.

The League is watching. Closely.

And make no mistake: Ja Morant has changed the temperature across the entire NBA.

Players are paying attention.
Teams are paying attention.
Front offices are tightening the margins on what they will tolerate.

Because if a superstar—a franchise face—can find himself under this level of scrutiny, anyone can.

The message is clear now: Talent may get you drafted. But discipline determines how long you stay embraced.

This young brother went from Untouchable to Uncertain.

Yes…there was a time when Ja Morant was considered untouchable.

Now?

There are whispers.

Trade speculation.
Questions about long-term fit.
Concerns about whether the off-court distractions outweigh the on-court brilliance.

And that’s the shift.

Not because he can’t play—he absolutely can.

But because organizations invest in more than talent.
They invest in trust.

And I won’t dig up old and buried headlines, but you can help but remember the pattern was amplified when his father got into trouble with the league as well, after some courtside antics. People remember all of this.

This isn’t about piling on.

This is about awareness.

Every athlete watching this unfold should understand:

You don’t get judged only on your highlights.

You get judged on your habits.
Your decisions.
Your consistency when nobody’s watching—and when everybody is.

Ja Morant is still one of the most gifted players in the game.

But right now?

He makes Next Tally’s Flop Blog—not for what he did on the court…

…but for the growing question of whether he can stay out of his own way. I wish I could get in his ear. Hell I’d even visit with him for free. I love this kid. I think he’s a fantastic ball player. But off the court, he truly needs media training.

I don’t know who’s in his ear right now. But they sure as hell need to give him back his money, because so far….. “crickets”.

It didn’t take long.

Day one at The Masters… and Robert MacIntyre found himself in a place no athlete wants to be—on camera, in frustration, and under the microscope.

A tough hole turned into a nightmare on 15.
Approach shot—into the water.
Penalty drop—back into the water.
Recovery—long and out of position.

From there, the emotions took over.

A club slammed earlier in the round.
Frustration spilling over on multiple holes.
And then—the moment that travels faster than any scorecard…

A gesture on the green that cameras didn’t miss.

Because they never do. Never mind the missed shot, its the alleged middle finger shot, heard and seen around the world.

And this is the thing: Augusta National isn’t just another course.

It’s tradition.
It’s discipline.
It’s expectation.

And more than anything—it’s watching.

The Masters is known for holding players to a higher standard, not just in performance, but in presentation. How you carry yourself matters just as much as how you play.

So when emotions cross the line, even for a moment, it doesn’t just stay on the course.

It becomes part of your reputation.

MacIntyre finished with an 8-over 80.

That’s a tough day. For him a really really tough day.

But the score won’t be what people remember.

It’s the reaction.
The visible frustration.
The moment that gets clipped, shared, and replayed.

And just like that—the narrative shifts.

From rising talent… to cautionary example.

And this isn’t just golf.

This is where Next Tally lives.

Because this isn’t about one golfer having a bad day.

This is about every athlete understanding: You are NEVER off-camera.

Not in golf.
Not in basketball.
Not in football.
Not anywhere.

And when frustration shows up publicly, it doesn’t just reflect emotion—it reflects control.

And the cost of losing control?

No official word yet on discipline.

But at a place like Augusta, history tells you this:

They don’t ignore moments like this.

Because the brand matters.
The image matters.
The standard matters.

And if you don’t protect it… they will.

Bad rounds happen.

Bad moments happen.

But how you handle them?

That’s what separates professionals from problems.

Robert MacIntyre is a talented golfer. That hasn’t changed.

But this week, he’s also a reminder—

That one moment of visible frustration can overshadow everything you’ve worked to build.

Not because of the score…

But because of what came with it.

And just so you know….this blog isn’t about tearing athletes down—it’s about building awareness for the next one coming up.

Unk

The Worst Headline any player could ever have: “Waived due to Conduct Detrimental to the Team”

So I begin my second life as a media consultant for young athletes, teaching them how to position themselves and carry themselves in public, so as not to torpedo their careers with comments deemed insensitive, incendiary and quite frankly “foul”.

I’m not saying the Bulls (now “former”) guard Jaden Ivey is foul, but his recent comments presented in a way that society deems as foul. I never really got to see Jaden in action. As it were, he was sidelined anyway, due to a knee injury, having played only four games with the Bulls. He was a pick-up from the Pistons. But I always try to teach young athletes, how you perform and what you do “off the court” is as important as what you do “on the court”. The minute this announcement came out, guys were calling me and saying, “Larry, this kid Ivey is the POSTER BOY for what you’re trying to do in collegiate, NIL and pro sports–teaching media crisis aversion to these players. He’s the perfect client!

Well no he’s not! I’m not trying to be a “spin doctor”–and that’s probably what it’s going to take to get this kid’s career back on track– if that’s what he wants. I’ve been trying to reach out to these career athletes to provide PROACTIVE training, to keep them out of trouble. As a Christian (first) and a journalist (second), can you imagine the things I’ve witnessed with these eyes, yet had to go on television and radio to explain to millions of consumers, without bias or insensitivity? And those who know me also know that I have a frickin’ attitude about EVERYTHING. But I also know who I am, what I do for a living and how I need to conduct myself in a way that communicates my thoughts, without disrepecting others. This is part of what Jaden Ivey allegedly wrote (or said) on his social pages. which lead to instant backlash. My understanding is that the team felt like he was lashing out at the Bulls, because of their support for Pride Month.

“The world proclaims LGBTQ right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA does too…they say, “Come and join us for Pride Month to celebrate “unrighteousness”.

Dude! In this social climate we live in, words like “unrighteous” are more of a moral judgment against people (and Teams) who support LGBTQ, and not just their ideas. The way you framed your words made you sound like you were against the group, and not just expressing how you felt personally about it. It opened the door for criticism and..frankly…dismissal. Because the Bulls (nor any team in the NBA) is trying to deal with all that right now. It’s a distraction in the business of putting butts in expensive seats, selling out arenas, selling your merch and paying you and subsequently your agent a huge paycheck. Those jobs don’t come easy. You know what it took for you get here!

Your words left no room for coexistence. That was a train wreck bruh, just waiting to happen.

If it matters to you, I think what you “meant” to say was this:

“I understand and respect what Pride Month represents to many people. My personal beliefs are a bit different and rooted in my faith, and so I see things differently—but I also believe in respecting others and treating everyone fairly.”

Period. End of Story. I can guarantee you would have become the biggest hero in that locker room. Because guess what kid? You’re not the only Christian (I assume these comments came from your belief in the doctrine) who feel like this! It’s the packaging. We all come with amazing gifts of the spirit. Our charge is to make people better and to bridge understanding while using those gifts. But that had to be the ugliest gift wrap I’ve ever seen young king. Jaden, I don’t think anybody on the planet has a mouth bigger than mine, and a bigger opinion. And if an old school cat like me can navigate the storms of controversy and tolerance (and let me stress ESPECIALLY) in these times… surely a young cat like you who probably had a salary that could have lasted you a lifetime could have been more careful.

And so, I’m giving you the Flop of the Week young buck, because this didn’t have to happen. I can’t say it enough. You need to be Next…if you’re able to find a basketball home once this blows over..”if” it blows over.

-Next Tally

So I meet this kid in New York at the Javits, for a weekend of Fanatics. He probably doesn’t remember me– Hell to him, I was an ant down on the floor. This young cat stands all of 12′ 2000″ tall. (I’ve never seen anyone like him in my life, and I used to cover big Shawn Bradley when he played for the Dallas Mavericks back in the day)….when I had a little sportscast on KCBI 90.9 Dallas/ /Ft.Worth.

Wemby arrived on this planet about 2 years ago, and immediately endeared himself to the local folks down in San Antonio, where the Spurs were eager to welcome this French phenom they had heard so much about. And Pop (Then head coach Gregg Popovich) knew right then and there, that he had a DIAMOND. He was soft-spoken (almost like the enigma of Tim Duncan, of Spurs fame). The kid didn’t say much. He was good but not “stand-out” good at the time. But did I mention, “Pop” knew he had a DIAMOND. Didn’t take long for him to catch on. And so far in this 25-26 NBA season, he’s proving it.

Well fast forward to now.

The soft-spoken, non-shit-talking enigma has stepped out. After dealing with some injuries (and not to mention “Pop” leaving the bench and moving up to the front office), Wemby has started to spread his wings. But I point him out in this blog, not because he made a media gaffe, but because he’s already showing the proper way to address the media and fans who challenge him. You know how players (particularly those who are singled out as the heir to the MVP crown) with words of humility–“Oh I appreciate it, I’m thankful that people believe in my game, but I’m just a basketball player and my goal is just to help my team win”. HAAAAAAAHHHH!!

I watched this kid in a news conference (on TV) the other morning, as he sat there and laid out three reasons– made his argument for why HE should be this years NBA MVP. He’s now 22 years old. But you’d think he had the cadence and cred of a 40 year old. He was masterful in making his case. And I think he should be singled out, for the way it’s supposed to be done.

First off, he made it clear right after the game–“My goal is to make sure that there’s no debate anymore at the end of the season”. Well damn.

And then he rattled off his game and three keys to his MVP campaign:

1. He says defense is half the game, yet it doesn’t get much attention in the MVP race. He told the reporters, in his own way, “You’re looking at the guy who plays the best “D” in the league right now.

You don’t want anybody sneaking up the middle and THIS guy is standing there. You’ll get your face knocked off (or turned backwards).

2. For the first time I can remember, NO ONE has ever claimed to have dominance over the reigning champ Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He reminded everyone, The Spurs have beaten the Thunder 4 out of their last five meet-ups.

Well?

3. And then he goes “Don’t measure my offense on scoring alone, I do other stuff”.

In the Words of the Late-Great Stuart Scott- BOOYAH!

And he laid it out in a non-boisterous voice. He wasn’t cocky or “in-your-face” nor disrespectful. But I think somebody’s in this kids ear, and teaching him (Next Tally style) how to address the media and seize the moment. I don’t think any reporter walked away from that post-game conference thinking this guy was an a–hole. I think all players should take a lesson from him. All too often, players get cocky (and reporters do too). But at the end of the day, “cocky” ends up on the sports cast and on blogs and on streams which are played millions of times. That, or loud-mouth Steven A has something to say about it. And if it sticks around long enough, guess what? And heaven forbid a bad-ass has a horrible season. Oooh the karma.

So thank you Wemby for setting the example of confidence and assuredness of one’s talent, but being cordial and an effective communicator in making your case. You will go far young man– far beyond even the basketball court. There’s a couple of folks who could use a lesson from a young cat like you, with last names like …well, THEY know who they are.

There is only one “Wemby” folks. And you’d recognize him a mile away (in the dark). Not because of his height, but because the damn guy “Glows in the dark”. I saw him. They turned down the lights in the arena for the pre-game introductions. (He didn’t think I saw him)…but he GLOWED.

Freakin’ basketball extraterrestrial. I never met an MVP from mars.

L

I know you saw it. And if you didn’t you certainly heard about it–the 83-point night had by the Miami Heat’s “Grown Man of the Night”, Bam Adebayo. 83!!! What the hell? And the NBA is asking the same question, but for a different reason. And that’s why I’m feeling a certain way and handing the league this weeks Plop Award.

You know back in the day, (when one of our buddies would kill everybody on the dirt court, or up at Hankins Park (Orlando) playing baseball or pick-up football, somebody would shout, “Dang, what the heck is “he” on?–suggesting there’s no way guys like Steve Griffin or Ron Moody or Jerome Walker (you know, the fellas) could run, jump, swing or catapult like that, without “something” in their system. And back then, hell we really didn’t “have anything” to put in our system, except Kool-aid. None of us were boy scouts, but we all knew it was just raw energy, and every now and then somebody would show out. That was then. And this is now.

So Bam has a career night! He and his boys beat Washington like they stole the lawnmower off the back porch. And for his part, Bam pulled off 83 points for the night. Or course, 43 of’em were at the gift counter. He hit 22 tre’s and the rest was clean-up. And the Heat walked out of that joint with a 150-129 win over the Wizards. But then, a funny thing happened on the way to the locker room (or maybe it was the day after, I’m not sure). But sources confirm that the league handed Bam a reward for his superhero night: a plastic cup. (Old school, don’t get excited–it wasn’t the kind of clear plastic cup with a little gin in it). It was for a urine sample. Now please note that I wasn’t there, and I use the plastic cup analogy only as a reference, because typically that’s how one is tested for drugs. But however they did it, sources say the league wanted to make sure that what they saw– what EVERYBODY saw out there on that court, was real.

I’m not a basketball player. But I felt awkward about it because it’s almost saying there’s no way you could play this good without some kind of stimulant in your system. We don’t trust you. You on some other shit. I wouldn’t be surprised if when they turned the lights off for the introductions, somebody said “Bam glowing in the dark!”. My research tells me the Yanks’ Aaron Judge wasn’t given the cup after popping 62 balls out of the ballpark in ’22. Kobe hit 81 (20 years ago) and he was never subjected to the cup (not immediately following the game, at least). Bron is 62 years old and still out there killin’ it! And far as we know, he hasn’t been subjected to a drug test immediately following a break-out game either. Nor has Tom Brady after playing lights out –game after game after game. In all fairness, those brothers have NEVER failed a drug test, which I imagine doesn’t automatically excuse them from a random test every now and then. But the request for Bam “to go see a man about a horse” seemed almost immediate. While he was celebrating his big night (he even took his WNBA Superstar girlfriend, A’ja Wilson into the post-game interviews) his post-game pee sample request was being readied. Meantime he was getting love from all over the league via text or social media– Jalen, Bron, DWade…they all gave him props. And there was Bam, in the midst of it all, enjoying the spotlight. But he didn’t complain (It was almost as if he’d gone through Next Tally training). And the Players association (as of this writing) hasn’t said anything either.

Maybe it’s just me. But if I’d just performed my ass off and had the greatest game of my life, I don’t know that I wouldn’t voice my displeasure (in a nice professional way) to someone jumping to the conclusion that I had to be “juiced up” with something to reach those heights. I can remember back in 2022 or 2023 when Dame Lillard, who was playing for Portland at the time, hit something like 70 points in a game against Houston. He got called in for a pee test. But the league said it was “random”, and that the timing just happened to be on the night Dame sank the 70-piece. He didn’t appreciate it.

The NBA rules for random testing says they’re usually conducted during team activities, including games. It says the younger cats (the rookies) sometimes get tested with more frequency, but players can be tested up to 4 times during the season and 2 or 3 more times in the off-season. It’s interesting too that they don’t really test for marijuana anymore; just the heavy stuff (PEDs, stimulants etc.). And of course, like with anything, if there’s reason to suspect that a player is “on something”, then they’ll have a cup waiting (before, after and I’ve even “during” a game sometimes).

Bam didn’t look like he was driven by anything, except a strong desire to get the heck up outta Kaseya Center and head to Brickell or Wynwood or somewhere to chow down– it had been a long day. Was this another “coincidental timing” thing? Or is it totally impossible to think that a kid like this could pull off an 83-point game against the Wizards, who are 16-48 on the season, without being jacked up on something. Hell, I could have scored at least “fitty” on the Wizards (just don’t hold me to it). Miami is 37-29. Bam just had one of those nights. I say let him celebrate, and let him keep his pee to himself. Sideshot–He’s gonna need it..if the Knicks get their stuff together. He’s gonna pee all over himself. The whole league is.

Again, “Just don’t hold me to that”.

Unk

Wouldn’t you know that it’d be a group of idiots on social media who would make the list of this weeks “bonehead, mean, cruel and a–hole moves in sports! I won’t even give them the benefit of a name (albeit most of them nameless and faceless anyway, hiding behind social media).

But this weeks Sports Flop award goes to those trolls who made fun of Texas A&M Wide Receiver MR. KC CONCEPCION! I cap his name because he responded like a real G ought to respond. It’s the thing we teach at Next Tally to young men and women athletes, who face the unexpected.

KC has a speech impediment. He stutters. But you can fully understand his message. If you’d only stop laughing and bullying and heckling; and listen. He can’t help it. But that didn’t stop the ignorant trolls who heckled him online as he spoke to reporters at the NFL combine this past weekend. It was some of the nastiest commentary I think I’ve ever read. It takes a strong person to withstand this kind of bullying. And our guy KC stood tall. What in the absolute hell have we come to?

Here’s a kid who is arguably one of the best young recruits to take the field in this potential new class of 2026. He was ALL SEC in 2025! This dude is the real deal! He just wants to realize a dream that so many young football players have: To play in the freakin’ NFL. In fact, he’s expected to go as a late round 1st pick! I don’t know him personally. I only read about him in my draft notes and as an avid fan of football. And I have some Texas A&M ties, so I keep up with the team.

Folks, there are more than 80-million Americans who have speech impediments. And men outpace women 4-1. Young males outpace girls 2-1. There is treatment and many therapies, but no absolute cure. It doesn’t make a person any smarter (or like these trolls “dumber”) than anyone else. And while there are some references to neurological factors, folks who stutter are not necessarily emotionally or physically challenged. There are giants among us who stuttered and went on to become some of the greatest achievers of our time. The late-great actor James Earl Jones comes to mind. So did the great NBA legend and Sports Announcer Bill Walton. And then there’s my friend and legendary NBA player Kenyon Martin from Dallas, who later went on to become and advocate for Americans who live with speech impediments.

And there was KC…having his day in the lights, talking with the sports media and holding his own very well. I salute this young man. I personally salute him as an individual who was put in remedial classes because of my inability to put a full sentence together. I hated when my parents put me back in a reading class (with younger kids) so I could catch up. I felt dumb. Now I REALLY feel dumb, because they had my best interests at heart. They knew what they were doing. I didn’t stutter, but I had a problem speaking, reading and composing sentences. Who knew? Edward R. Murrow, AP, NYABJ, Emmy–(for the kid with the speech impediment).

And like a true gentleman, KC took to his X account and posted this response to the trolls:

Folks, I don’t know where this young man is going to fall in the draft. It’s such a tough competition, who knows if he’ll make the cut at all. Stranger things have happened. But it sure as hell won’t be because of his speech. I’ve seen his work on the field. He speaks with his play. And he’s a bigger sportsman than any of our media idiot award-winners (and you know who you are) who heckled him. I would advise you to go online, and immediately go to STUTTERINGHELP.ORG to get more information about this disorder which affects so many Americans. And then find out what you can do to understand and then help spread awareness about speech impediments. And then the biggest ask: Starting with you, do all you can to mitigate the mocking which occurs daily to those who suffer from it.

And to you KC– Kick ass and take names son! And I’m offering Next Tally’s Media Crisis Aversion consultation to you pro bono! You deserve it! Have your parents or coaches reach out to me and we’ll make arrangements.

Unk