Bruce Springsteen Says Without Brian Wilson There'd Be No ‘Racing in the Street'
'Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony,' Springsteen wrote on Instagram. 'He was also the visionary leader of America's greatest band, the Beach Boys. If there'd been no Beach Boys, there would have been no 'Racing In The Street.' Listen to 'Summer's Gone' from the Beach Boys' last album That's Why God Made the Radio and weep. Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.'
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God Only Knows What We'd Be Without Brian Wilson
Wilson and Springsteen (who covered the Beach Boys live on a couple of rare occasions, including in 1985) performed onstage together a decade ago, when the latter was a surprise guest at the former's New Jersey concert in 2015, with the pair delivering a medley of Beach Boys hits:
Springsteen's statement echoes the many tributes that have come in following the news of Wilson's death, from Paul McCartney ('I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while') to Elton John ('the biggest influence on my songwriting ever'). When Bob Dylan heard about Wilson's death, he 'thought about all the years I've been listening to him and admiring his genius.'
Wilson's family, including his daughter Carnie and cousin/bandmate Mike Love, also wrote tender tributes on social media. There were also tributes from founding Beach Boy Al Jardine, and actor John Stamos, who gigged with the group, off and on, for the past four decades. Others have honored Wilson with renditions of his classics, like Sting's cover of 'God Only Knows.'
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USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Fans, brands, players and parties: Here's what you missed at WNBA All-Star in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — Tippy-toed kids with arms stretched over stanchions and weighed down by basketballs waited eagerly outside a hotel to catch a glimpse of their favorite players. People danced through downtown to Taylor Swift's "I'm feeling 22." A crowd gathered to shoot hoops on orange courts painted onto streets, dusty from the hum of construction all around. It was 9:30 in the morning of the WNBA All-Star Game. Caitlin Clark, larger than life in Indiana, quite literally loomed over the festivities, her image adorning high-rise buildings, posters and merchandise. The Indiana Fever guard didn't play because of an injury, but still captained the team from the sideline and made appearances throughout the weekend. The weekend. Activations galore — a Coach party, Lilly fan center with branded basketballs, Wilson pop-up with Clark selling her signature line and more. Player appearances all over town. National media descending. Three days of fan zones featuring souvenirs, swag, bounce houses, games and watch parties, culminating with fireworks after the Saturday night main event broadcasted by ABC. And, of course, the Stud Budz. Dark clouds rolled through downtown Indianapolis just hours before tipoff, but the weather cleared up in time for the game and it seemed nothing could dampen the spirits of the fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. "Amazing," said Hartley Hensler, 7, who flew in from Las Vegas with her mother, Jessica, for their third WNBA All-Star Game. "And there's a lot of posters on buildings. There's a lot of A'Ja (Wilson). She's even on buses." Who's Hensler's favorite player? 'Jackie Young. See, her name is on the back," she grinned, turning around to show the back of her jersey. More: WNBA fashion, growth on display at The Collective's All-Star party with USA TODAY Studio IX The hype and celebrations of a women's sports league reaching new heights of popularity is happening parallel to contentious negotiations over the Collective Bargaining Agreement. A CBA meeting Thursday did not go well and they took the court Saturday in warm-up shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." The players cite the league's impressive growth and trajectory while negotiating for better pay and benefits. And that growth was tangible this weekend. Sally McCracken and Debbie Heinrichs, both of Plainfield, Indiana, and Fever season ticket holders, were at their first WNBA All-Star Game since 2003 in New York City. When asked how this year's event compared, their eye widened and McCracken said, "Oh, so many more people and so much more excitement. It's amazing to see everyone get the attention they deserve. I think Caitlin has driven a lot of that, but it's not like the others weren't deserving. They've deserved it for a long time." WNBA Live, a two-day fan festival at the Indiana Convention Center, is much bigger than the previous three years it's been held. WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said there are more than 25 brand activations across 125,000 square feet this year, a more than sixfold increase since 2022, when four brands activated in Chicago for the very first WNBA Live. Among the more than 20,000 fans who attended WNBA Live was Thomas Brown of Indianapolis and his 3-year-old daughter Zora. "I bought my baby a jersey for the first time and some shoes," Brown told USA TODAY Sports during halftime of the All-Star game. "This is her first time coming to a basketball game and I thought it was very important for her to have some role models to look up to when it comes to basketball. She's loving it so far. The atmosphere is great. It's really loud, so we had to put some earphones on her, but other than that, a lot of excitement, a lot of energy from the crowd." An announced crowd of 16,988 showed up for the All-Star Game, packing the arena's three tiers of seats and cheering while lasers, lights and music filled the air. The halftime show featured a GloRilla performance and, at the close of the third quarter, there was an aerialist hanging from the ceiling. Celebrities and big names in the sports world lined the courtside seats, including comedian Leslie Jones, six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol and South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. But the loudest part of the night came after the game, when the crowd voiced its solidarity with the WNBA players fighting for more equitable pay. "Pay Them! Pay Them!" Chants rose above the voice of Engelbert as she attempted to announce Napheesa Collier MVP after she led her team to a win over Team Clark. "I see a bunch of strong women who aren't going to back down and fight for what we want," Collier said after accepting her award, the crowd's chants changing to cheers. "I couldn't do it without them."
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
All-Star Bounce swarms downtown Indy with 2,500 kids ahead of 2025 WNBA All-Star Game
Thousands of kids donned red WNBA All-Star T-shirts and grabbed free orange and white Wilson basketballs outside American Legion Mall, ready for the All-Star Bounce. The July 19 event, a half-mile dribble to the finish line at Monument Circle, sent waves of young athletes through downtown Indianapolis, cheered on by parents, volunteers, and a squad of Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders. Twelve-year-old Jillian Hawley led the pack, sprinting to the finish line well ahead of the crowd. 'It made sense I came in first,' she said, referencing the weekend dedicated to women's sports. 'And I play basketball.' Younger sister, Pippa Hawley, 10, was also dribbling her way through the course. The two were already buzzing about their next stop: the WNBA Live fan event at the Indiana Convention Center, where hands-on games, giveaways, and surprise appearances from players awaited the pair. For Addi Hanshew, 11, the Bounce was a moment to level up. 'My mom gets to take videos of me doing good, to see what I can work on,' she said. Her mom, Kara Jennett, was quick to praise her drive: 'She pushed herself all the way through.' Corey Wilson, senior vice president of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said he enjoys seeing events take place out in the Indianapolis community. 'It's good to be able to do events beyond what's happening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and allow the youth in our community to enjoy the game of basketball for WNBA All-Star weekend," Wilson said. Families funneled into Monument Circle, where the All-Star energy continued. A live DJ spun music, kids raced to shoot baskets at pop-up hoops, and others cooled off with handheld fans and water breaks. Ella Miller, 13, gasped when she saw an unexpected surprise at the city's center. 'That's Paige! That's Paige!' she and her family shouted, pointing toward Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings point guard and All-Star player, as she walked into the InterContinental Hotel. Ella and her sister, Kylie, 10, were both wearing Bueckers shirts. The two had been in the right place at the right time when they stumbled upon the basketball player walking into the hotel lobby. 'I've been watching her since third grade,' Ella said, nearly in tears. 'I'm so proud of Paige.' More than just a fan, Ella once did an entire school project on Bueckers. 'She's literally my favorite person, not even just as a player,' she said. Ella plays point guard on her basketball team and proudly calls herself an 'OG fan' of Bueckers. 'Ella introduced me to Paige,' Kylie said. 'I play soccer, but I'm so happy,' she said about the energy around women's sports right now. As she was walking back to her car, Jaimie Kennedy, 39, reflected on her morning as an All-Star Bounce volunteer. 'I really enjoy giving back,' she said. 'I love seeing those little kids' faces and asking if they had fun. When their faces lit up, it made my day.' She said it's pure joy. Kennedy's kids, now 18 and 20, grew up playing sports, and she's a fan herself. For her, Indy was the perfect place to be this weekend.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Wrestling Legend Sting Reveals How He Wanted To Retire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Wrestling legend Sting has revealed that he originally envisioned a different ending for his iconic career. While he retired in a celebrated, undefeated run, "The Icon" says he initially wanted to go out with a different persona. Speaking on the Major Figure Podcast, Sting discussed his desire to have retired as "Old Man Sting." He also commented on the constant fan requests for him to have one more match. Old Man Sting Since his official retirement match at AEW Revolution in 2024, Sting has let his signature black hair turn its natural gray and has grown out his beard. He told the podcast hosts that this look was something he wanted to incorporate into his final act. "I actually wanted to retire as Old Man Sting," he revealed (H/T to Fightful). This idea was more than just a passing thought. In January of 2025, Sting officially filed a trademark for the phrase "Old Man Sting," suggesting it was a character concept he was seriously considering for merchandise or a final run. The Legendary Career Of "The Icon" Sting's career has been defined by his incredible ability to reinvent himself. He first rose to superstardom in the NWA and WCW as the bleach-blonde, high-energy "Surfer" Sting, the colorful franchise player of the company. In 1996, he underwent one of the most groundbreaking transformations in wrestling history, adopting the silent, brooding, black-and-white "Crow" persona that would make him a global icon during the Monday Night Wars. Sting locking in the Scorpion Death Lock during his retirement match at AEW: Revolution 2024. Sting locking in the Scorpion Death Lock during his retirement match at AEW: Revolution 2024. Jeff Jones/AEW More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation After a brief and injury-shortened run in WWE, many thought his career was over. However, he shocked the world by signing with AEW in late 2020. An Undefeated Final Chapter Sting's three-year run in AEW is considered one of the most successful final acts in wrestling history. Teaming with his protégé, Darby Allin, Sting competed in 28 matches and remained undefeated. He and Allin captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships, and he successfully retired as champion, defeating The Young Bucks in a brutal and emotional final match at AEW Revolution 2024. Despite this storybook ending, fans still want more. Sting acknowledged the constant calls for his return. "I've got enough fans going, 'One more. Just one more.' Right, one more match," he said, before adding, "I'm 66 now, enough is enough." His post-retirement appearance at AEW All In 2024, where he came to the aid of Darby Allin, has only fueled that speculation. However, Sting seems content, noting that 2025 will be his final year of doing conventions in his full gear, signaling the true end of an era. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
