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Young gun, Taiga Nagai came out swinging in Santa Cruz Skateboards' latest video, TYPE. Whether you're already familiar with Taiga or this was your introduction to the hungry up-and-comer, he made it clear that he's on a mission. 

But the question remains—did he really backside 180 nosegrind the Hollywood High 16-stair rail first try? Press play and find out:

As we see, the answer to the question was yes! He did. And it was so proper. To say it's impressive just wouldn't be saying enough, would it? The look on his face as he rolls away is priceless. You can tell it took him a few seconds to realize what exactly just happened. 

All the raw clips that follow the back 180 nosegrind are really just the cherry on top of an incredible video part. Taiga's grit and determination are on full display here. He'll take the slams, he'll fight the battles, but most importantly, he'll secure the clip.  

There were a ton of different styles, different spots, and different vibes peppered throughout TYPE, but it was the kind of edit that keeps you watching all the way through. Wild NBDs, tons of creativity, and that contagious energy you only get when a squad like that is genuinely pushing themselves—and each other—during every session. Have you seen it yet? Tap the post above if not.

We're stoked to see what else Taiga has in store this year, along with the rest of the Santa Cruz squad. TYPE certainly set the tone. So I think we can all expect plenty of heat from the SC team in 2025. 

This article first appeared on TransWorld Skateboarding and was syndicated with permission.

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‘Swamp People’ Stars Announce Devastating Death & Fans Are Heartbroken
Entertainment

‘Swamp People’ Stars Announce Devastating Death & Fans Are Heartbroken

The cast of the History Channel reality series Swamp People are mourning the loss of one of their own. On Saturday, July 26, “Little” Willie Edwards revealed via Facebook that his grandfather, Junior Edwards, died. “Rest easy pawpaw,” he captioned a photo of Junior out on the water with “Little” Willie’s father, Willie Edwards. “I know your probably running your hoop nets or doing something crazy inside those pearly gates…you will be extremely missed pawpaw we love you more than anything!!! Until we meet again .” “Little” Willie did not share further details about his grandfather’s death, including the date and cause. Hundreds of fans offered their condolences for the TV star and his family in the post’s comments. “I’m so so sorry to hear this! Loosing a daddy is incredibly hard! Y’all are in my prayers!!!” one Facebook user wrote, while another added, “Man I hate hearing this! Prayers for your family. Such a good man.” “Prayers for your family. We loved watching your paw paw when he was on,” wrote another fan. “May he rest in Heaven. We loved watching your paw paw when he was on. May he rest in Heaven.” Rest easy pawpaw….i know your probably running your hoop nets or doing something crazy inside those pearly gates…you will be extremely missed pawpaw we love you more than anything!!! Until we meet again Posted by Lil Willie Edwards on Saturday, July 26, 2025 Offering their “deepest condolences,” one fan said Junior was one of their “favorite” stars on Swamp People. A different person shared, “NO! I loved watching your Dad and him in the swamps. Rest easy.” “Little” Willie’s costar, Ronnie Adams, reacted to Junior’s death by sharing a photo of himself with Willie and his two sons via Instagram. “Praying for the Edward’s in this time of need!!! Rest in peace Junior!!!” he wrote alongside the snap. Swamp People‘s Ashley “Deadeye” Jones also paid tribute to Junior via Instagram. “The world lost a legend! Mr Junior Edwards passed away! Please be in prayer for the family!” she captioned a selfie of the two of them on Saturday. “He was one of the greatest alligator hunters there is! He was real hardcore outdoorsman! I watched this man bring in MONSTER gators at Duffys Gas Station in Pierre Part LA. This was after a looooong day for both of us and you can tell it! Glad we took a second for a pic!” Junior was part of the original cast of Swamp People when the series premiered in 2010. The show follows groups of Louisiana natives in the Atchafalaya Basin during alligator hunting season. He was among several cast members who exited the show following Season 6 in 2015, and clarified rumors about his departure via Facebook that same year. “I see a bunch of posts saying that a certain family was saying that we asked for more money and thats why we are not on the show anymore,” he wrote at the time. “To clear up gossip and BS. We never asked for anything. Only communication we had with the production company was when we were told that we would not be on the show any more. We have made our living off the bayou all our lives. We dont need a camera stuck in our faces to do that like some people.” Junior later made his return to Swamp People during Season 12 in 2021. “Surprise… look who’s back,” he quipped in a February 2021 Facebook post.

Celtics Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Major Update on Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang Trades
NBA

Celtics Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Major Update on Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang Trades

An insider has revealed how the Boston Celtics could approach the futures of new additions Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang. The Boston Celtics have been trying to find another trade partner to reroute a couple of players they have acquired in trades this offseason, after trading both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Boston got Simons in return for Holiday, and Niang (plus a second-round pick) in return for Porzingis. It doesn't seem like the Celtics want to keep either player for the long term. The Celtics are still trying to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, so they need to shed more salary. An insider recently gave an update on their goal of trading these players away to achieve that ultimate goal. More news: Celtics Roster ‘Makes Zero Sense’ Says NBA Insider According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Celtics will likely enter the season with both Simons and Niang on their roster. He does mention that both of them could still be moved, though. "The Boston Celtics have remained active on the trade market this offseason, even after trading for Simons and Georges Niang," Siegel writes. "While they have talked with teams about both players, the Celtics will likely enter the season with these two on their roster. It is very possible that Simons and/or Niang could be flipped to cut costs at the trade deadline, depending on where Boston is in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics do want to see how Simons fits in Joe Mazzulla's system, as he is a player they are intrigued by, given his 3-point shooting prowess." Boston would actually benefit from keeping Simons on the basketball court because of his ability to score and get hot from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Celtics NBA Champion Released By West Squad Niang is also a good 3-point shooter, and the Celtics launch more 3's than any team in the NBA. Keeping both players on the roster into next year would fit their style of play. Simons is on an expiring deal, so they wouldn't have him on their cap sheet long term. Niang is also on an expiring contract, so he wouldn't be on the cap sheet after this year, either. If Boston can find suitable trade partners for them, they will likely move them. If not, they will have to keep them on the roster and shed salary elsewhere on the roster. More news: Jayson Tatum Receives Injury Advice From Former Celtics Forward For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.

Denny Hamlin suffers vicious crash in Brickyard 400 qualifying
NASCAR

Denny Hamlin suffers vicious crash in Brickyard 400 qualifying

The favorite to win Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have quite a mountain to climb. Denny Hamlin, who was fastest in practice at IMS on Saturday and is searching for his first Brickyard 400 win, suffered a vicious impact during Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session. Hamlin was the last car to make a lap during the session, but the No. 11 Toyota broke loose on the exit of turn 2. After tapping the outside wall, he spun into the grass before making hard contact with the inside wall. Hamlin did not produce a qualifying time and will be forced to go to a backup car for Sunday's race. The 58-time Cup Series winner will start last (39th) on Sunday. Hamlin did climb out of the car after the accident. Meanwhile, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, secured the pole position for Sunday's race. The top five in qualifying were swept by Toyota, with 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace joining Briscoe on the front row. The Brickyard 400 will go green shortly after 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, with coverage on TNT, the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese
WNBA

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese

Now in her second WNBA season, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily, standing at just 7-17 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 76.7 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.8 a night (12th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.

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