Men's Journal's Blog, page 30
August 4, 2025
NCAA Makes Decision on March Madness Expansion
The NCAA Tournament will stay at 68 teams.
For now, at least.
The NCAA announced Monday the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will not be expanded for the 2025-26 season, though senior vice president of basketball operations Dan Gavitt did not rule out changes after that.
From Dan Gavitt
— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) August 4, 2025
“Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships. However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.”
“Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships,” Gavitt said in a statement from the organization. “However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.”
The men’s tournament has had 68 teams since 2011, when it expanded from 65, while the women’s tournament grew to 68 from 64 in 2022 in the name of equity.
NCAA president Charlie Baker told the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., he supports adding four or eight teams to the fields, but he admitted there are logistical hurdles.
“The tournament has to start after conference championships are over and the selection (show) happens like two hours after the last championship ends, and (the tournament) has to finish by the Tuesday before the Masters,” . “There’s not a lot of room there.”
Although Baker and other college sports leaders have been talking up the idea of expanding the tournament for more than a year, they have not produced much evidence the public is anxious for more teams.
Baker also admitted to Yahoo Sports is not “a big moneymaker” for the NCAA and its members.
Under the current format, the men’s tournament begins with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, two days after the tournament field is announced while the women’s First Four is held at sites also hosting first- and second-round games.
One possibility if the tournament expands would be adding a second First Four at another site.
The men’s tournament was first held in 1939 with eight teams. It expanded multiple times before landing at 64 in 1985.
The women’s tournament was first held in 1982 with 32 teams and reached 64 tams in 1994.
Matthew Tkachuk Revealed As NHL 26 Cover Player
The year of Mathew Tkachuk continues.
The 27-year-old was one of the prominent players for the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off (despite suffering an injury) in February then helped the Florida Panthers win their second consecutive Stanley Cup in June.
Next he will be on the cover of NHL 26 from EA Sports.
The company made the announcement Monday with a picture of him holding the most famous trophy in team sports above his head in triumph.
Thank you to the ones who believed, and the ones who didn't.
— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) August 4, 2025
The full #NHL26 reveal hits August 6th:https://t.co/Iq8zn3ltK5 pic.twitter.com/07c0GGxUqH
He had 57 points in just 52 games last season then added 23 more points in 23 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For his career, Tkachuk has 636 points (240 goals and 396 assists) in 10 seasons, including seven with the Calgary Flames.
Per Wikipedia, he will be the second Panther and the first Tkachuk to appear on the cover of the video game franchise.
While Florida’s John Vanbiesbrouck was on the cover in NHL 97, Matthew’s father, Keith, and brother, Brady, have not been on the cover.
Keith Tkachuk spent 18 years in the NHL and is among the most productive American-born players in league history, having scored 538 goals and handed out 527 assists in1,201 games for the Jets, Coyotes, Blues and Thrashers.
Brady Tkachuk, 25, has spent the last seven seasons with the Ottawa Senators and has 404 career points, including 191 goals.
In a deft bit of marketing, EA revealed the cover for the next edition of its series but held off on releasing the trailer for the game, which is likely to be released this fall.
Fans who want to see the first glimpse of the game will have to wait until Wednesday.
Patagonia's Legendary Black Hole Backpacks Are 30% Off, and Shoppers Say They're Perfect for Literally Everything
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Along with Baggies shorts and Nano Puff jackets, Black Hole packs are another one of the tried-and-true pieces among the selection of Patagonia's storied outdoor gear that is seeing lower prices during the brand's summer sale. Of course, “past season” for Patagonia doesn’t mean much, as things don’t change all that much from year to year. So the chance to score a classic 25-liter Black Hole backpack for $45 less than usual is one that no hiker, traveler, or commuter in need of a reliable pack should miss.
Patagonia is selling its Black Hole Pack 25L for just $104 right now, 30% off its normal $149 price tag for teal, greyish-blue, olive green, gold, and red colorways. It’s a popular backpack that’s easy to find on trails, campuses, and airports around the world, and it’s earned 70 five-star ratings out of just over 110 total votes. Reviews say that it’s an “excellent” pack that’s “lightweight and comfortable” and “terrific for day hikes and travel.” If the color you want sells out at Patagonia, we'd recommend also checking out REI.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L, $104 (was $149) at Patagonia


Like all Black Hole bags of recent vintage, this one is made of 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a matte, weather-resistant, recycled TPU-film laminate coating. Its 25 liters of storage space is a great size for a daypack, and it has a front stash pocket, padded laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, external daisy chain, and zippered internal mesh pocket for organized storage. The breathable back panel, well-padded straps, and sternum strap make it comfortable to carry for the long haul, as does its sub-1.5-pound weight when empty.
“I was looking for a new bag to do it all—gym, work, travel, outings with my kids,” one reviewer wrote. “I was reluctant to spend this much money on a bag, but I have not regretted it once.” That’s because they say it’s “easy to clean,” well-proportioned, and well-organized. It also works well as a personal item while traveling, something lots of reviewers mentioned as a particularly great use case for this pack.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L, $104 (was $149) at Patagonia


“This backpack is excellent,” wrote another satisfied customer, because “it sits comfortably on my back and carries very well for my bicycle commute to work.” They bought this as a replacement after losing an older Patagonia backpack that “never wore out” after 10 years of daily use, but was not nearly as comfortable as this updated model.
The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L is one of the best-known products from one of the best-known outdoor brands, so the chance to pick one up for 30% off in your choice of five non-offensive colors is not to be missed.
Legendary Talk Show Host's Former Wife Dies
Johnny Carson was one of the most legendary talk show hosts in U.S. history, and many fans will remember his troubled marriage to wife, Joanna Carson.
She was his third wife, and their divorce was "fodder" for his show and jokes. It also cost him millions of dollars.
According to Extra TV, Joanna Carson died in July 2025. Her death did not receive news attention until August.
Johnny Carson's Wife Was Remembered in a TributeThe Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation remembered Carson in a tribute on July 30.
"Remembering ETAF's dear friends and supporters, Joanna Carson and Wallis Annenberg, who embodied our Founder, Elizabeth Taylor's spirit of love and support," the Facebook statement read.
Johnny Carson also had an ex-wife named Joanne Carson. Joanne Carson died in 2015.
Carson was married two other times during his life.
Johnny Carson "died in 2005 at his Los Angeles home, survived by his fourth wife, Alexis, and sons Christopher and Cory from his first marriage, to Joan 'Jody' Wolcott," according to the Kennedy Center."
Carson married Alexis in 1987.
Carson spoke openly about his difficulties with marriage, although he made the last marriage work.
“If I had given as much to marriage as I gave to The Tonight Show, I’d probably have a hell of a marriage,” he once said to People.
Joanna Carson Was Married to Johnny Carson for 10 Years
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Joanna Carson had demanded $220,000 a month in the divorce settlement and received $35,000, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Altogether, Joanna Carson received about "$20 million in cash and valuable property in the 1985 settlement" when the couple divorced, according to Extra TV.
They married in 1972 and separated 10 years later, according to the newspaper.
Hola! listed the divorce as one of the 30 most expensive celebrity divorces in U.S. history.
According to People, the former Joanna Holland was a model, and her marriage to Carson was strained by The Tonight Show's move to Los Angeles because of her affinity for New York.
Related: Loni Anderson Kept Working Despite Illness Diagnosis
August 3, 2025
New Footage of Jon Bernthal as The Punisher Surfaces Ahead of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Tom Holland's return as the beloved Marvel character Spider-Man was exciting enough for most, but the news of another fan-favorite being added to Spider-Man: Brand New Day pushed it over the top. While Jon Bernthal's portrayal of The Punisher in 2016 didn't initially result in a standalone film, he played the role for two seasons in Netflix's solo show for the character.
Now, after Bernthal stepped back into the role of Frank Castle for Daredevil: Born Again in 2023, it led to an upcoming Disney+ special and a role co-starring with Holland in the 2026 Spider-Man film.
Bernthal's New Footage as 'The Punisher' Draws Strong Fan Reactions Ahead of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'Bernthal began filming for The Punisher special presentation for Disney+ in July, just before Spider-Man: Brand New Day kicked off filming in Glasgow, Scotland, at the start of August.

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
While this sets up a busy few months of work as The Punisher for Bernthal, it also allows fans to get an early glimpse at what they can expect from the popular character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
And after a clip of Bernthal filming for The Punisher surfaced, it's safe to say that fans weren't disappointed with the first look. MCU Film News posted the clip, which features Bernthal's character taking on two people.
New look at Jon Bernthal on the set of 'THE PUNISHER'pic.twitter.com/kDvwZvu5DY
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) August 3, 2025
Even with the video being a few seconds long, it was enough to ignite excitement from Marvel fans, and the reactions poured in. While some were just thrilled to see Bernthal back as The Punisher, fans enjoyed a plethora of things from the new look.
"I'M SO HAPPY HE'S NOT WEARING HIS COSTUME," said one fan.
"Let’s goooo! Bernthal IS Frank Castle," chimed in another excitedly.
"This man going from filming Daredevil S2, to The Punisher Special to Spider-Man, what a legend," praised one viewer.
"I hope he does stuff like this in Spider-Man," read another reply.
Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland Helped Each Other Land Roles as The Punisher & Spider-ManIn a perfect full-circle moment, Bernthal joining Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes just months after the former revealed that they helped each other by reading lines before they were cast in their respective Marvel roles.
Bernthal's comments were made during an interview with IMDb in April, and The Punisher offered a rave review of his castmate.
"He's the best, he is the best. He had such drive, you know that young kid, he was like 'I am gonna get this,'" Bernthal explained.
"We actually were in a very tiny town in Ireland, making this movie in the west coast of Ireland. He read with me for Punisher and I read with him for Spider-Man and we both got cast."
Bernthal was referencing the 2017 film Pilgrimage, and it's safe to say that the backstory he has with Holland will only add to the excitement surrounding the duo's on-screen chemistry.
While filming for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is officially underway, fans will have to rely on teasers and short clips that surface until the movie officially hits theaters on July 31, 2026.
Related: Tom Holland Breaks Silence on James Bond Rumors With Honest Admission
Loni Anderson Was Married to Husband Bruce Hasselberg, a Minnesota Mayor's Son
WKRP in Cincinnati actress Loni Anderson was married four times by the time she died at the age of 79 on Aug. 3.
Her first husband, though, was Bruce Hasselberg, the son of a Minnesota mayor, and their marriage produced her only daughter, Deidra Hoffman. Anderson also had an adopted son named Quinton Reynolds with her third husband Burt Reynolds; the latter marriage ended in acrimony.
However, what is known about Anderson's first husband?
Loni Anderson married Bruce Hasselberg in 1964Anderson's marriage to Hassleberg was short-lived and dates to the 1960s.
According to the Minnesota Historical Election archive, Hasselberg was the son of Bloomington, MN, mayor Donald Hasselberg.
Bruce Hasselberg married Loni Anderson in South Dakota in 1964, according to that site.
Anderson "lost the Miss Minnesota beauty pageant to Hasselberg's sister," that site reported. She was the fourth runner-up.
His occupation is listed as an industrial and commercial realtor with Premier Realty Co. The site also says he served in the U.S. Navy as a petty officer.

Interestingly, around that time, Anderson had a chance meeting with the man who would become her fourth husband, Bob Flick. A local newspaper had asked her to pose for a photo with Flick when his folk song hit the charts, according to ABC 7. The pair reignited their romance years later, married in 2008, and were still together when Anderson died.
Loni Anderson remained close to Bruce Hasselberg's familyIn 2008, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that Anderson "attended the 90th birthday party for her first mother-in-law Phyllis Hasselberg."
"Anderson flew in with her daughter, Deidra, a California school principal, whose father is Bruce Hasselberg, a publisher of specialist directories and Phyllis' son. Phyllis is also the widow of onetime Bloomington Mayor Don Hasselberg," the Star Tribune reported.
That article quotes Bruce Hasselberg as saying, "I went out with her after the Miss Minnesota pageant and I proposed the first night, and we were married four weeks and six days later." He also said she was dating Flick at the time.
Related: Loni Anderson, Husband Bob Flick Married After Burt Reynolds' Divorce
Loni Anderson, Husband Burt Reynolds Had an Ugly Divorce Battle
WKRP in Cincinnati actress Loni Anderson was married to legendary actor Burt Reynolds for five years.
He was her third husband, and their marriage broke down in an ugly fashion, sparking rounds of tabloid headlines.
It was so bad for a time that the Los Angeles Times even called the saga the divorce "the ugly divorce that just wouldn't end." The couple married in 1988 but broke up by 1993.
Anderson would go on to marry folk singer Bob Flick in 2008, and she stayed married to him until her death. She was married twice before Reynolds. Anderson, who died on Aug. 3 at the age of 79, left behind daughter Deidra Hoffman (with her first husband) and son Quinton Reynolds, whom she adopted with Burt Reynolds.
Burt Reynolds lodged accusations against Loni Anderson
The Reynolds/Anderson marriage started well, but with a flurry of publicity.
According to the Times, Reynolds and Anderson married in a "quiet, 20-minute ceremony that belied the five media helicopters circling above his Florida ranch and the throng of reporters outside."
It didn't end well, though.
When the split occurred, Reynolds launched a series of accusations at Anderson. But she returned the accusations in kind.
Reynolds, who died in 2018, told People that marrying Anderson "was a really dumb move on my part."
"I should have known that you don't marry an actress," he told People. "It wasn't lollipops and roses."
Burt Reynolds accused Loni Anderson of buying 'everything in triplicate'
Reynolds pegged the marital problems in part to finances.
“She bought everything in triplicate, from every day dresses to jewelry to china and linens,” he wrote in his autobiography, revealing that Sally Field, not Anderson, was the love of his life, according to People. ”‘I never wear a dress after it has been photographed,’she said. 'I have to dress like a star.’ I gave her a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 credit limit. She maxed it out in half an hour.”
UPI reported at one point that lawyers for both Anderson and Reynolds agreed that the actor could not come up with the $5 million that Anderson wanted in child support and a property settlement.
According to UPI, Anderson said that Reynolds "stunned Anderson" when he served her with divorce papers "without any advance warning that anything was wrong."
Reynolds "accused his wife of having affairs -- even challenging her to a lie-detector test under truth serum -- and called her an unfit mother," UPI reported, but Anderson said those accusations were not true.
However, Anderson also had some ugly things to say about Reynolds.
Loni Anderson accused Burt Reynolds of drug abuse in her autobiography
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Anderson lodged accusations about Reynolds in her autobiography.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, she accused Burt Reynolds of taking "almost 40 pills a day," and said he threatened to take his own life because he was "fearful she would leave him."
She accused him of being addicted to prescription drugs, including "Percodan for pain from movie stunt injuries, Valium for anxiety, and Compazine to ease bad reactions from the first two. She says he kicked Valium, but replaced it with other drugs such as Halcion," the Times reported.
Anderson also accused him of going back to Sally Field briefly while he was engaged to Anderson and handing Anderson a gun and saying, "Why don't you kill yourself and do us all a favor."
According to the Times, Reynolds' spokesperson said at the time that he had no comment on her claims and "wishes her the best."
Related: Loni Anderson Was Married to Husband Bruce Hasselberg, a Minnesota Mayor's Son
Related: Loni Anderson, Husband Bob Flick Married After Burt Reynolds' Divorce
Related: Loni Anderson's Kids: Quinton Reynolds & Deidra Hoffman Today
Anta Is Selling These 'Really Cool' Basketball Shoes That Are Both 'Comfortable' and 'Supportive' for 30% Off
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Most Americans probably aren’t familiar with Anta Sports, but the China-based concern is the third biggest sportswear company in the world (behind Nike and Adidas). It counts NBA players like Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving among its sponsored athletes, and it seems there’s no combination of colors and patterns too wild for the brand. Case in point, this super fun black, green, purple, blue, and yellow pair of basketball shoes that’s discounted by nearly $40 right now.
Anta Kai 1 Speed “Electric Horizon” Basketball Shoes are just $88 at Anta Sports right now, a 30% discount off of their normal $125 price tag. They’ve received 15 five-star ratings out of 17 total, and customers call these sneakers “extremely comfortable” with “incredible traction and support” and a “really cool colorway.” They’re available in half sizes from 8 to 12 and then whole sizes all the way up to 15.
Anta Kai 1 Speed “Electric Horizon” Basketball Shoes, $88 (was $125) at Anta Sports
The “Electric Horizon” colorway is a visual cacophony of retro college basketball team colors on a black base. There’s embroidery, glow-in-the-dark soles and outsoles, and lots of different textures, shapes, and materials. Beneath the maximalist look, there’s a mesh upper, anti-slip rubber outsole, padded mesh heel counter, lateral TPU support, and full-palm nitrogen technology that ensures it attracts fans for its performance as well as its aesthetics.
One reviewer wrote that these “dope shoes feel phenomenal, have a great design, and arrived super fast.” They look so good that “my 10-year-old son is stalking my closet trying to get his hands on my new Kai 1…he can't fit them and he doesn't care...enough said!” Father and son agree that “this flavor is a classic,” and it’s hard to argue with them.
Another new Anta fan wrote that they “love the fit and feel” of these shoes. “I’ve worn them multiple times to work where I’m mostly on my feet,” and they’ve performed well. Other reviewers called out the “sick colorway,” “crazy” glow-in-the-dark soles, and “comfortable yet supportive” feel.
You’ve probably never worn shoes quite like the Anta Kai 1 Speed “Electric Horizon” Basketball Shoes, so this sale is a good chance to try them out for less. This discount is part of the brand’s Back to School sale, which ends on Aug. 11, though we should warn you that other styles are already sold out in certain sizes.
Loni Anderson's Kids: Quinton Reynolds & Deidra Hoffman Today
Loni Anderson, who died at the age of 79 on Aug. 3, was known for her tumultuous marriage to Burt Reynolds, along with her roles on television, especially WKRP in Cincinnati.
However, the troubled marriage, which ruptured in divorce in the 1990s, did produce a son named Quinton.
Anderson also had a daughter named Deidra Hoffman with her first husband Bruce Hasselberg, to whom she was married in the 1960s. She was married to fourth husband Bob Flick at the time of her death.
Loni Anderson's daughter Deidra was diagnosed with multiple sclerosisAnderson's daughter Deidra has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
In 2014, Anderson and her daughter revealed on the show The Doctors that Deidra learned she had MS five years before that.
According to ET Online, Anderson explained that Deidra "was blow-drying her hair when she suffered a mini-stroke." At the hospital, an MRI revealed the MS diagnosis.

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
"I diagnosed myself years before with just stress and I had lots of symptoms that I ignored," Deidra told The Doctors, according to ET Online. "I was busy. I was a mom, I worked full-time. I didn't have time for everything that was happening to me and the diagnosis stopped me in my tracks."
Now known as Deidra Hoffman, she has four kids of her own and is married, Anderson is also survived by "grandchildren Megan and McKenzie; stepson Adam; and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Anderson attended her daughter's paternal grandmother's birthday party in 2008, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, which reported that she met Deidra's father at a beauty pageant his sister was also participating in. That article described Deidra as a "California school principal."
Related: Loni Anderson Was Married to Husband Bruce Hasselberg, a Minnesota Mayor's Son
Loni Anderson's son Quinton Reynolds walked her down the aisle
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Anderson adopted only son Quinton Reynolds with Burt Reynolds.
However, when she married folk singer Flick in 2008 after her divorce from Reynolds some years before, it was Quinton who walked her down the aisle, according to ABC 7.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Burt Reynolds and Anderson adopted Quinton when he was an infant in 1988. When they divorced in 1993, Reynolds accused her of being "unfit to raise their son," but she lodged accusations against him as well, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
that Quinton Anderson Reynolds has worked in the camera and electrical department for several Hollywood productions.
Loni Anderson, Husband Bob Flick Married After Burt Reynolds' Divorce
Actress Loni Anderson, who has died at the age of 79, was famously married to actor Burt Reynolds. However, that marriage was not long-lived, and he was not her final husband.
Loni Anderson's final husband was Bob Flick, her fourth.
Who is Loni Anderson's final husband, Bob Flick?Flick is a musician. Anderson married him at the age of 62 in 2008, according to People.
The magazine described Flick as a "folk singer" and said he married Anderson in California.
They met "at a movie premiere in Minneapolis when Anderson was sent by a local newspaper for a fan photo op with Flick," according to People. That was in 1963, and they wouldn't marry until 2008. When they did, they put the photo on their wedding cake, People reported.

Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
Flick and his band Brothers Four had a hit named Greenfields.
ABC 7 reported that Flick's song had hit number 2 on the charts, and the newspaper sent Anderson to pose with him as a "lucky young fan," the station noted.
Anderson's son with Burt Reynolds, Quinton Reynolds, walked her down the aisle, according to ABC 7.
However, Anderson's first husband Bruce Hasselberg, with whom she had daughter Diedra, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that she was dating Flick when he met her at a beauty pageant.
His sister was also in the pageant, according to the newspaper.
"I went out with her after the Miss Minnesota pageant and I proposed the first night, and we were married four weeks and six days later," the newspaper says Hasselberg said. Anderson had flown to Minnesota with their daughter for Hasselberg's mother's birthday.
Flick has been nominated for three Grammy awards.
Loni Anderson had three other husbands, including most famously Burt Reynolds
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Reynolds was Anderson's third husband. She shared an adopted son with him, but their marriage ruptured into accusations.
She married Flick 14 years after that breakup.
Her first husband was Bruce Hasselberg, in 1964, with whom she had a daughter, Deidra, according to People.
She is survived by her two kids, in addition to her husband Flick.
In between Hasselberg and Reynolds, she was married to Ross Bickell from 1974 to 1981, People reported.
Anderson died on Aug. 3 in a hospital of an undisclosed illness.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” a family statement said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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