'Wheel of Fortune' co-host Vanna White reveals she works less than you might expect
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Wheel of Fortune Pat Sajak passes host job to Ryan Seacrest: Video
Pat Sajak, who stepped down as host of "Wheel of Fortune" after 41 seasons, passes the job to Ryan Seacrest, who takes over with Vanna White.
Vanna White might have a little more time off than you might think, revealing in recent interview that she only works about one month out of the calendar year.
The long-time "Wheel of Fortune" co-host sat down for an interview with Elvis Duran, host of the "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show" on March 4 to talk all things "Wheel of Fortune," including White's wacky filming schedule.
Nate Marino, executive producer of the show, asks White about her schedule close to the end of the interview, telling her that when he was a kid, he assumed White did the show live.
"I always thought you guys did the show live every night when I'm a kid sitting there watching it in my parent's living room, like, 'Boy, Vanna looks great tonight, she must have had a good day,'" Marino said. "Come to find out, you filmed that three months ago."
The 68-year-old confirmed the detail, adding that they "film about 34 days a year," much to everyone's surprise.
"That's it," White said. "Yes, but (we film) six shows a day ... C'mon, c'mon feel bad for me."
'I never looked it at that way,' Vanna White says
Marino proceeds to calculate how much time off White has in a calendar year, telling the audience on-air that it's about 331 days.
He looks to White, who then says: "Yes, I guess so. I never looked at it that way."
Duran jumps after the pause, telling White that "Wheel of Fortune" sounds like a "great job."
"And you know what, no one deserves it more than you because you're just the best," Duran said.
Americans who work a traditional five-day workweek work about 226 more days than White in a year. Without accounting for time off, there are approximately 260 working days in a year. The average American spends about 71% of the year working.
When asked what her favorite part of the job was, she replied "everything."
"It's a happy show, it's fun. We gave away lots of money, we make other people rich, and they fulfill their dreams," White said. "What could be better?"
The South Carolina native, who auditioned for the role of letter-turner alongside 200 other hopefuls, has appeared in more than 7,000 episodes of America's Game. White has revealed letters on the iconic puzzle board, cheering on contestants and dazzling in a new outfit on TV every night since 1982.
She and former "Wheel of Fortune" co-host Pat Sajak are considered American television royalty. White will continue to serve as the game show's co-host through the 2025-26 season.
How to watch 'Wheel of Fortune'
"Wheel of Fortune" airs weeknights at 7 and 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
You can search by zipcode to find your local station here. Older "Wheel of Fortune" episodes can be found on ABC's web page.
Those without cable can look to a number of streaming apps that offer live television options, including DirectTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
Contributing: Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
21 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
What was the greatest Disneyland era? We look back on 70 years at the happiest place on Earth
Happy birthday, Disneyland. The Disneyland Resort turns 70 today. What was once envisioned by Walt Disney and his team of animators, architects, engineers, horticulturalists and more, has become part of the fabric of Southern California, a landmark as recognizable to our region as beaches and palm trees. An estimated 17 million people come to Disneyland annually to dream, to play and to admire American pop art at its most optimistic. A fake world inspired by a real one that never actually existed, Disneyland is such a constant to our nation that a full unplanned, nonweather-related closure of the park is such an abnormality that it's happened just three times. The walls of the fairy-tale castle — buoyantly pink and cheerfully blue — have stood through multiple wars, civil rights movements, economic downturns and nearly every societal trend, change or tragedy. As for many who reside in the region, Disneyland has become my home away from home, not so much my 'happy place,' as it's often referred, as simply a reminder that there are consistencies through the ups and downs of life. I consider Disneyland a reassurance that possibilities, be it for a better world or just a kiss goodnight, never cease to exist. We look back at seven decades of Disneyland — its monumental launches, fascinating pivots, noteworthy blunders and where it's heading from here. A fantasy world captivates a postwar America. A vision of one man, the Chicago-born cartoonist turned animation pioneer turned entrepreneur Walt Disney, Disneyland arrived amid a post-World War II, Cold War-embroiled America. It opened on July 17, 1955, as a a $17,500,000 temple dedicated to play, a reminder of the power of imagination. To step onto its Main Street, U.S.A., was to wander into a place that conjured a vision of America that never was, an idealized fantastical world with a castle at its end. The first decade created a template, one that has seen many additions — and subtractions — but would remain so formidable that it would spawn an industry and epitomize a unique form of American storytelling, one rooted in hope and the belief that every individual deserves a happily ever after, if only for one day in Anaheim. Many key opening-year attractions still stand — Peter Pan's Flight, the Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Jungle Cruise, Autopia, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and what we know today as Snow White's Enchanted Wish and the Storybook Land Canal Boats. One could say they're timeless. 'Fantasy,' Disney once stated, 'if it's really convincing, can't become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of time.' Its initial decade was one of constant reinvention. The Matterhorn Bobsleds in 1959 would reenvision the thrill ride as one that could house a narrative. The monorail in 1959 would hint at the possibility of new transit. Audio-animatronic figurines would also debut, with the opening of the Enchanted Tiki Room in 1963. As dazzling as singing birds were, in 1965, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln would alter how theme parks bring characters to life. Not all early attractions were a hit. The Kaiser Hall of Aluminum Fame, though home to an aluminum pig, wouldn't last the decade. And before Main Street was the Disney-branded mall it is today, it once featured the intimate apparel shop, the Wizard of Bras. Rapid technological advancement helps Disney push the limits on what a theme park could be. Disneyland was born, in a way, to bring cinematic worlds to life, with Disney's team of animators helping to create a place that felt warm, inviting and just a bit mystical — a back lot where we were the star. As it evolved, however, designers began to experiment with the theme park as its own unique art form. Disneyland turned outward in 1966 with the arrival, from the New York World's Fair, of It's a Small World, a globalist approach at unity after long periods of political upheaval. Its art style referenced the whimsy, unexpected color use and the friendly-but-abstracted tone of Mary Blair, handing Disneyland its own unique take on the peace and love decade. New Orleans Square would give the park a fresh land, one that was instrumental in creating the all-surrounding, immersive approach that is so prevalent today. Pirates of the Caribbean in 1967 and the Haunted Mansion in 1969 became the templates for the so-called theme park 'dark ride,' eschewing direct plot in favor of a tableau of scenes that hinted at larger human themes, from the perils of a life of sin and gluttony to a reminder that our time here is limited and to leave moments for revelry. A remake of Tomorrowland in 1967 emphasized sleekness and opportunities via the arrival of the People Mover, which, along with the monorail, continued to advocate for a world less dependent on cars, while the Adventure Thru Inner Space and Carousel of Progress theorized the ways in which tech could touch our lives. In the early '70s, the Main Street Electrical Parade would not only extend one's day at the park, but do so while introducing the masses to electronic music. Disneyland was forced to close early on Aug. 6, 1970, due to a political protest. About 300 'Yippies,' members of the Youth International Party, a collection of radicals, pranksters and anti-Vietnam War protesters, descended upon the park and ultimately hoisted a Viet Cong flag over a fort on Tom Sawyer Island. The Walt Disney Co. may not cherish this moment, but it signified the way Disneyland had penetrated the American psyche as a representation for our values. Southern Californians are growing up. Say hello to thrills. While Disney is said to have been adamant that he didn't want his park to be a coaster haven, he could acquiesce for the right, story-driven project, as evidenced by the 1950s creation the Matterhorn. A pair of thrill rides in the late '70s would expand on that ride's legacy. The addition of two major mountains — and two adrenaline-releasing attractions — was an acknowledgment that Southern Californians were on the prowl for some more grown-up-leaning experiences. Disneyland was also feeling the effects of new and burgeoning Walt Disney World in Florida, having already lost Carousel of Progress to the East Coast (it was replaced with the patriotic America Sings). While Disney, who died in 1966, wasn't, of course, around when Space Mountain opened in 1977, the attraction dates to his time, as early concepts had the ride considered for the Tomorrowland makeover of 1967. Audiences may have seen it as a nod to the growth of sci-fi and fantasy films, but Space Mountain also tapped into the appeal of exploration, hurtling us into a darkness illuminated only by stars. Two years later in 1979, Frontierland would receive a large makeover, with Big Thunder Mountain replacing the relaxing Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland, which had existed, in various forms, since the park's beginnings. Taking heavy inspiration from Bryce Canyon National Park, Big Thunder remains a majesty of coaster design, leading us in and out of caverns to reflect nature at its most unpredictable and awe-inspiring. Then in 1983, a Fantasyland makeover updated the increasingly outdated and heavily congested Renaissance fair look with with a homey, European-style village. The Disneyland drawbridge at Sleeping Beauty Castle is today locked into place, but when New Fantastyland opened, the drawbridge was lowered for only the second time in Disneyland history. In 1980 at a Disneyland Date Night event, two young men were removed from the park for dancing together. They sued, but it would be some years yet before Disneyland allowed same-sex dancing. Let's go to the movies! The park aligns with Hollywood cinema. Disneyland starts to more intently look beyond its own borders. The park opened a ride that, arguably, would forever change the trajectory of the resort in Star Tours. Previously, a major Disneyland attraction had been the property of the Walt Disney Co., but with Star Tours, Disney recognized its audience was changing — perhaps disappearing — and it needed to partner with owners of other creative properties. Star Tours opened in 1987. Motion simulators were, at the time, a fresh and unique ride vehicle, and the opportunity to explore 'Star Wars' worlds proved so popular that Disneyland was open for 60 consecutive hours when it launched the attraction. Disney would in 1995 team up with George Lucas again for the Indiana Jones Adventure, furthering a relationship that would eventually culminate in 2012 when the Walt Disney Co. bought Lucasfilm. Like Star Tours, Indiana Jones Adventure used new technology, this one a ride vehicle that seemed to have a personality of its own to give the illusion of responding to the environment. Disney Imagineers spoke of the importance of appealing to a generation that was beginning to be weaned on interactive entertainment. You're no longer 'just drifting through as an observer,' said Tony Baxter, one of the key architects of the ride, at the time. In 1989, Disneyland opened Splash Mountain, a ride that featured about 100 audio-animatronic critters, and themed it to the animated scenes of 1946's controversial 'Song of the South,' a choice that was questioned at the time. Toontown and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin also arrived in this period, and the long-running 'Fantasmic!' began lighting up the Rivers of America. Disneyland in 1987 hosted an AIDS Project Los Angeles fundraiser as a mea culpa for once banning same-sex dancing. The company wanted to 'make a positive statement about AIDS care and also dismiss finally all the nonsense that's happened in the past,' said a Disneyland spokesperson at the time. And in 1995, women were allowed to be skippers on the Jungle Cruise for the first time. It's all about a California (and high-growth) state of mind. In a period of grand expansion, Disneyland would start to become a proper resort — a metamorphosis that, while it didn't work immediately, would be course-corrected and set up Disneyland for a new generation of growth. This era added Disney California Adventure, turning the destination into one that the Walt Disney Co. hoped would command multiday stays. A former parking lot across from Disneyland was remade into Disney California Adventure, which would open in February 2001. The long in-development project was designed to honor California culture, but was pitched initially as a West Coast answer to Walt Disney World's Epcot. The Times was kind in its opening coverage, praising the park's change of pace from Disneyland and admiring how its architecture blurred fiction and reality. The hang-gliding simulation Soarin' Over California was an instant hit, and 'Eureka! A California Parade' was Disney theatricality at its weirdest, with floats that depicted Old Town San Diego, Watts and more. But California Adventure's prevalence of amusement park-like rides failed to command the crowds of its next door neighbor. Disney's own documentary 'The Imagineering Story' took a tough-love approach to the park's early days, comparing some of its initial designs to those of a local mall. In time, however — with multiple makeovers and additions — California Adventure would become a beloved, world-class theme park, though it would stray from its initial California-centric conceit. During this era, Disneyland also added the Grand Californian Hotel and its Downtown Disney District. A luxurious take on California's Arts and Crafts movement, the Grand Californian remains the resort's signature hotel and home to its finest dining establishment, Napa Rose, under renovations at the time of writing. Disney would also add a second haunted attraction with the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2004. Over at Disneyland, Tomorrowland in 1998 would receive a transformation, one it has yet to fully recover from. The beloved People Mover would be no more, a Jules Verne-inspired art style would come and gradually go, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters would arrive in 2005. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh would in 2003 evict the Country Bears from their music hall. This era is home to two of Disneyland's shortest-lived major attractions. Superstar Limo at California Adventure was conceived as a ride in which paparazzi would chase celebs, a concept deemed in poor taste in the wake of the death of Princess Diana. It was refashioned as a sort of tour of Hollywood with heavily caricatured figurines of the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Regis Philbin, Drew Carey, Cher and more, but would close within a year. At Disneyland, People Mover's replacement Rocket Rods could never consistently operate, and the ride would last just about two years. The tracks remain. Start your engines — Disney reimagines California Adventure. Disneyland flourished for its so-called 'diamond celebration' in 2015, thanks to a refurbished California Adventure, a host of ride upgrades and a nighttime parade that served as a modern updating of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Crowds responded, as since 2015 Disneyland has often been open late into the night, regularly to midnight. Having hosted now multiple generations of guests, Disneyland had become a Southern California rite of passage. In 2012, Disney California Adventure received a makeover. The centerpiece: Cars Land. Flanked by sun-scarred, reddish rocks that look lifted from Arizona, Cars Land is a marvel of a theme park land, and arguably still Disney's most fully realized immersive creation. Nodding to Route 66, the land is a neon-lit, '50s rock leaning hub of activity with two dancing car rides — don't sleep on the joyful Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters — and the showstopping set piece Radiator Springs Racers. The park's entrance also received an overhaul as well via the creation of Buena Vista Street, a nod to Los Feliz in the 1920s, where Disney first landed after moving west from Missouri. Not as big as Main Street, U.S.A., but still full of charm. The Walt Disney Co. recognized its early missteps with California Adventure, and reimagined the park as one worthy of sitting across from Disneyland. While this era was primarily dedicated to California Adventure, there was also notable prep for Disneyland's 60th anniversary in 2015. A number of rides, especially those in Fantasyland, received upgrades — key additions were made to the Matterhorn and Alice in Wonderland, for instance. Additionally, the exuberant nighttime parade Paint the Night would make its debut. And Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage opened in 2007 — for nearly a decade before that, the lagoon served only as decoration (a ride inspired by 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' was long-rumored but never realized). The Haunted Mansion's plot thickened in 2015. This was the year the mysterious Hatbox Ghost made his return. He was there when the ride opened, then mysteriously disappeared just days later, only to return for the park's 60th anniversary. In the decades in between, he became a cult figure, one that would show up on Disney merchandise despite not having a home to call his own. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge arrives — and the rest is unwritten. Disneyland in 2025 shares two major themes with that of Disneyland in 1955. It remains in a state of flux, as in the coming year numerous construction projects are set to begin that will reshape the resort. Yet its core template is firmly in place. Disneyland is at once completely different than it was decades ago yet also uniquely the same. Sleeping Beauty Castle, the It's a Small World facade and even the mountains of Cars Land are now recognizable Southern California landmarks. In 2019, Disneyland received a largest-ever single-land expansion with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a grandly ambitious land that rewrote much of the theme park rule book. Forget charming, mini facades, as Galaxy's Edge is larger than life, its spires towering over and around guests. Spaceships are imposing, and both of its rides are experiments — Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a full-size arcade and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a nearly 20-minute mash-up of attraction styles. In California Adventure, Avengers Campus in 2021 gave Disney its first superhero-focused land anchored by Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! in the former Tower of Terror shell. The land remains a work in progress, with two attractions currently in development. Perhaps just as important, Disney began looking at its cultural representation, making changes to a number of attractions, including ridding the park of Splash Mountain's troublesome 'Song of the South' theme by remodeling it as Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The Walt Disney Co. in 2024 announced large expansion plans, which will add 'Coco' and 'Avatar' to Disney California Adventure. The opening of Galaxy's Edge was monumental — not just replacing a petting zoo and barbecue restaurant, but reshaping Disneyland's Rivers of America and taking over a whopping 14 acres. Disneyland space is at a premium, and the company bet big on 'Star Wars' continuing to shape American culture. Disneyland was tweaked tonally as well. In 2017, Disneyland at last gave women agency in its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction by removing a bridal auction scene and reimagining a female 'wench' as a pirate. In 2021, Disneyland struck, in its words, 'negative depictions of native people' from the Jungle Cruise. Disney in 2021 announced that its staff — cast members, in park parlance — would have more freedom in how they appear for work, including the ability to choose gender-inclusive costumes and hairstyles. They also no longer have to hide their body art. Such moves received some pushback from the cultural right, arguing that Disney was getting 'woke.' Yet Disney's theme parks were simply awakening to their cultural reach. The company's willingness to address outdated cultural representations are indicative of the theme park as a piece a living art.
Boston Globe
21 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Jessa Crispin's new book asks ‘What Is Wrong With Men?'
As a scion of Hollywood, and the son of legend Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas found himself increasingly playing characters whose story arcs mirror the identity crisis of American men as the Cold War era wound down, Crispin adds. 'There's just a moment of 'well, now who are we? What do we stand for if we're not fighting communism?'' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up This sense of displacement, Crispin adds, 'feeds into these stories of grievance,' the sting of lost status translating into anger at women and immigrants as seen in Douglas's lost, angry character in 1993's 'Falling Down.' Is there really a crisis in masculinity? Yes, Crispin says — 'as evidenced by addiction rates and suicide rates' — but most are looking at the wrong culprit to blame: 'There's a kind of stubbornness in men's culture [that keeps them from] really looking at what is behind these trends. It's not the fault of feminism. It's not the fault of immigration.' Advertisement Crispin has seen a photo of the actual Michael Douglas posing with the book, but she says she hopes he doesn't read it ('it's like your crush reading your diary entries about them'). But for the rest of us, she says she hopes readers will come away ready for 'a better conversation about what is going on with men. 'We really have a system of haves and have-nots, of increasing inequality not just of money but of quality of life,' she says. 'I am desperate for there to be a wider acknowledgment of that and to try to fix some of the stuff, because the effects are obvious and it causes a lot of suffering — and not just for men.' Jessa Crispin will read at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at And now for some recommendations…. Katie Yee blends comedy and heartbreak in her spare and elegant debut novel, ' In ' Advertisement If this hot summer has anything to teach us, it's that human beings can only thrive when we have access to shade, whether in the form of tree canopies or the low overhang of a building's roofline. In his new book ' Kate Tuttle edits the Globe's Books section. Kate Tuttle, a freelance writer and critic, can be reached at
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
It's the slowest time of the sports calendar. Here's something new to watch for every kind of fan
The public tunes in to sports for myriad reasons. Some are tied to specific fandom and allegiance. Others come for big-picture cosmic intrigue and cultural appreciation, and there's no shortage of interested bettors. Above all, sports give us a rare night-by-night consistency — perpetual diversions, conversation pieces or background noises. Advertisement There's a solid upcoming slate for international action. The prestigious Open Championship tees off in Northern Ireland, and women's soccer Euros are into the quarterfinal stages. This is a rather slow time for major American leagues, though. Pro basketball, hockey and football are on summer vacations, while the WNBA and MLB are in their midseason All-Star breaks. The lulls never last long, fortunately, and this is a perfect time to try out the unexamined life. Here are some interesting, if slightly out-there offerings, airing from Thursday through the weekend. This is not a comprehensive list, and we're eager to uncover new gems alongside our readership. Let us know what looks best or what we've missed in the comments below. Fox, CBS and ABC are available free over the air. ABC and ESPN programming is also available on ESPN+. Try Saratoga. This is the second week of graded stakes racing in upstate New York. Saratoga is one of the oldest sports venues in the country, currently celebrating its 162nd year of operation, and the Fox Sports networks are carrying live horse racing through Sunday. The Rick Violette Stakes goes down Thursday, with a $150,000 purse for the winner of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Friday features the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes, a $200,000 dirt track run named after the 1969 Filly Triple Crown winner. Then the weekend starts with the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, which touts a $500,000 prize. It's also the second leg of New York's historic Triple Tiara. Other races on Saturday's packed card include the Caress Stakes (G3) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2). Saratoga's placid and pastoral setting should make for a light summer watch. Try the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship. It's nowhere near the Open Championship in terms of hype and history, but Thursday is also the beginning of the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club. The reigning champion of the sun-drenched alpine tourney is Nick Dunlap, who had earlier in the year claimed the first amateur PGA win in more than three decades. Advertisement The Barracuda is played at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level and uses the Modified Stableford format. This is the only Tour event with such a scoring system, and it's a load of fun because it incentivizes aggressive play. Golfers go for the highest score here. A double eagle is worth eight points, an eagle fetches five points and a birdie gets two. Pars are a push, while bogeys deduct one point and double bogeys or worse get a minus-three mark. The tournament concludes Sunday. Here's to 'the western pools' and 'silly fools.' Try England vs. Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends. The summer action at Edgbaston starts with two historic powerhouse nations. England and Pakistan squared off in the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup championship, with Sam Curran and the English winning by five wickets. These two sides also produced a classic in the 1992 World Cup final, in which Imran Khan led Pakistan to glory. The World Championship of Legends stars retired international cricketers who still have some juice. Opening batsman and off-spin bowler Mohammad Hafeez headlines the Pakistani group; decorated left-hander Eoin Morgan captains the host country. Try Holloway vs. Poirier 3. UFC 318's main event in New Orleans showcases two top American fighters. Max Holloway (26-8-0) enters as an ever-so-slight favorite against Dustin Poirier (30-9-0). Holloway is a former featherweight champion who is now back in lightweight classification; Poirier is set to retire after this weekend's fight. The latter won each of the previous two bouts — in 2012 by triangle armbar submission, then in 2019 by judges' decision. Together, these two have grown from unknown 20-somethings to decorated fan favorites. Holloway is risking his 'BMF' title belt, an unofficial honor coined by Nate Diaz in 2019. May the 'baddest' man win in the trilogy tussle. Try The Basketball Tournament. 'TBT,' indeed. The 12th installment of this throwback bracket event celebrates regional fandom and well-worn basketball bonds. Friday pits War Ready (Auburn alumni) versus X-Rayted (a medley squad). Later in the evening, the stacked La Familia team brings back notable Kentucky products like Willie Cauley-Stein and the Harrison twins (Andrew and Aaron). Saturday gives us Indiana's Assembly Ball, featuring Yogi Ferrell and Christian Watford. The field of 64 competes for $1 million in total winnings. Or … try the BIG3. If you're more partial to NBA reminiscence, there's BIG3 matchups on CBS throughout Sunday. The first of those pits the Chicago Triplets against the Los Angeles Riot on a neutral court in Detroit. Chicago is coached by the legendary Julius Erving and has Montrezl Harrell (2020's Sixth Man of the Year). LA, meanwhile, is led by eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, former No. 4 pick Wesley Johnson and emoji enthusiast Mike Scott. The sideline strategist is … yup, it's Swaggy P! Advertisement Try SlapFIGHT. The burgeoning combat contest has its 46th card, 'Gold Rush,' coming up on Friday. Come on, let's not overthink this — it's open-handed five-finger blows until someone stumbles backward or TKOs entirely. Competitors have names like Grizzly, Raven, Biscuit, Slap Jesus and Da Crazy Hawaiian. T-Pain was a recent guest judge for the 'chest chop' challenge. All of this is patently ridiculous and wildly entertaining: Try the NFL Flag Championships. Before the NFL's preseason kicks off, youth participants repping all 32 teams go at it in flag football play. This year's venue is the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. Championship games are slated for Sunday evening across ABC-ESPN networks. The Staten Island Giants were 2024 winners on the girls' side, while the Metro Select Saints won the under-15 boys competition. This younger version of the sport is fast, creative and particularly joyous. Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Da Crazy Hawaiian: Gaelen Morse / Getty Images)
