Here is the unlikely crossover story between an expensive piece of Super Bowl memorabilia and the President of Russia.
As the owner of the New England Patriots, businessman Robert Kraft is no stranger to success – with his side being six-time winners of the Super Bowl. However, the 83-year-old only has five Super Bowl winning rings to show for six wins.
The other ring is hanging out in Russia, allegedly in the possession of none other than Vladimir Putin. But how did this happen?
An example of a Super Bowl ring, worn by Tom Brady (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Did Vladimir Putin really ‘steal’ Robert Kraft’s Super Bowl ring?
If you’re like me, you may have seen this story and wondered ‘What on Earth is a Super Bowl ring?’… so let’s explain.
Rather than receiving a boring old medal, players on the winning team at the Super Bowl get a gold ring which features their team logo and a hell of a lot of diamonds.
It’s estimated the rings can cost around $30,000 (£24,000) to $50,000 (£40,000), because it’s America and things can never be done in halves over there.
Now, given the current political climate, the idea of an official NFL memorabilia making the journey east would seem very unlikely these days. However, the US and Russia formerly had better relations during the early to mid 2000s.
Vladimir Putin and Robert Kraft seen together, centre left (ALEXANDER NIKOLAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s during this period that Kraft visited Russia alongside a number of business associates. Fresh of the back of winning his third Super Bowl in 2005, Kraft was donning his winners ring for all to see – with the $25,000 (£19,950) piece of jewellery capturing the attention of Putin.
Reports of what happened next has varied over the years, however, Kraft states the interaction went as follows: Putin tries the ring on, gave a chilling assessment of its capabilities and then pocketed the item for good measure.
Recalling the incident in a 2013, Kraft said: “I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin]. And he put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring’.
“I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”
The whereabouts of the ring and its exchange has resurfaced numerous times over the years, with Kraft later being told it was in the best interest of US and Russian relations for the ring to stay in Moscow as a gift.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has also weighed in on the subject, offering to purchase Kraft a replacement after his 2013 comments.
The last time Kraft addressed the topic was during Netflix’s The Roast of Tom Brady in 2024, where he said: “And one more thing. In case, Vladimir Putin, you’re watching, give me my f**king ring back, will you?”
Featured Image Credit: ALEXANDER NIKOLAYEV/AFP via Getty Images
An ex-NFL star has promised to give up three of the most important things in his life – including his wife – if his Super Bowl prediction goes wrong tonight.
The Super Bowl final is slated to start this evening (11 February) into the early hours of Monday (12 February) as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Eight-time Grammy winner Usher is set to eadline this year’s half-time show as fans speculate over which ‘special guests’ will be appearing.
David Becker – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Fans of the R&B singer reckon anyone from Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Beyonce, and Justin Bieber, could make an appearance tonight.
We’re also expecting Taylor Swift to appear at the game in support of her boyfriend Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
While the Super Bowl is usually the most popular time to bet in the US, it seems that Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Johnson has made the most outlandish bet of all.
The 46-year-old is so confident about his pick for the big game that he’s willing to risk giving up three of the most important things in his life – McDonald’s, his wife and sex – in no particular order.
The six-time Pro Bowler was asked by Bleacher Report Betting who he thought was going to win and how much he would be willing to bet.
Ian Maule/Getty Images
Johnson said there is zero chance the Kansas City Chiefs will lose, adding: “If the Chiefs lose, I won’t eat McDonald’s anymore. Ever.
“Matter fact, if the Chiefs lose, I’ll divorce my wife and no more sex for the rest of the year.
“That’s how confident I am.”
I’m sure the fast food chain won’t be able to sit still until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, rapper and media personality Cam’ron told Complex that he thinks Johnson is just click baiting.
“He looking for clickbait,” Cam said on the latest episode of It Is What It Is.
Co-host Mase added: “I could be wrong.
“But you know damn well you’re not divorcing your wife.
“I don’t know how much you eat McDonald’s…
“I don’t what his sex life about, pause, I ain’t into all that, but I know you’re not divorcing your wife, so you reaching.”
I guess we’ll have to wait and find out as the 2024 Super Bowl is set to take place this evening at around 11:30pm UK time, which is 3:30pm local time and 6:30pm ET.
Featured Image Credit: David Becker – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images/Ian Maule/Getty Images
A clip of a devastated supporter is currently making the rounds on the internet.
The video shows the man watching the final moments of the narrow 38-35 defeat after Patrick Mahomes overcame a niggling injury to lead his team to victory.
As Harrison Butker scores the winning field goal in the final seconds of the game, the fan is captured seething before throwing his beverage at the flat-screen TV.
And if you thought that might be a slip of the hand, you’re sadly mistaken.
The YouTuber and comedian hurled himself in front of the TV, throwing punches and cracking the screen almost instantly.
The Eagles supporter continued to throw his jacket, swinging it to the ground as his friends attempted to hold him back.
One friend is overheard yelling: “It’s just a game.”
But a few words of wisdom wasn’t enough to calm this man down as he threw his fists at the TV again.
The video has left many shocked, as one person wrote: “Dudes a grown man and we still acting like this is so cool. Way to go Disney/ESPN.”
Another said: “At that point… packing up my wings and spinach dip, and I’m sliding out.”
While another shared: “Don’t bet money you can’t afford to lose. He dressed like he had money to lose though. I guess he has to sell that outfit.”
However, many viewers have accused the group of men staging the video after it was revealed that the man in the video was a comedian and Streamy Awards nominee FunnyMike, as per TMZ.
One person commented: “$299 for a chance to go viral. Seems good actually. The acting has to be better. The tv has to be mounted. And the script gotta be wittier.”
Another said: “Anything for likes smh.”
A third wrote: “He did that for views lol cowboys fan did that out of anger.”
The clip has been viewed 3.4 million times, has received half a million likes and 26,000 comments, so it’s definitely a viral clip.
FunnyMike has his own YouTube channel, where he frequently films funny sketches and pranks.
He has over 8.5 million subscribers and is even the creator of the YouTube series Abc Babies- Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes.
I mean, from nursery rhymes to throwing fists, it’s quite the leap.
Featured Image Credit: funnymike/Instagram.
Vladimir Putin appeared to pretend to be asleep as the Ukrainian Winter Olympic team entered the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing during the opening ceremony of the games.
The Russian President, who currently has a large military force gathered on the border with Ukraine, closed his eyes and sat with his arms folded across his lap whilst the team from Russia’s neighbour entered the arena.
Putin was also pictured not wearing a mask, despite every other person in the VIP area covering their face.
BBC
The Winter Olympics in Beijing, the first city to stage both a summer and winter edition of the games, have been plagued by controversy, but until now it had largely centred on the country hosting the event.
Despite the criticism China has faced from human rights groups and other countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping was unsurprisingly given a standing ovation as he entered the arena ahead of the ceremony, during which around 3,000 performers took part.
Alamy
Xi has been one of few world leaders to defend Putin’s actions over the conflict with Ukraine.
He signed a document that condemned America for its perceived influence in Europe, the expansion of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the US government’s ‘negative impact on peace and stability’ in the Asia-Pacific region.
There was more controversy as the athletes competing from Taiwan were announced in the stadium as ‘Chinese Taipei’.
Taiwan has long held itself to be a self-governing and sovereign nation, but China views the small Asian country as a breakaway state and has threatened to ‘unify’ Taiwan with China through military force.
Alamy
Putin was amongst a small handful of foreign dignitaries and world leaders that attended the impressive opening ceremony, with most staying away due to concerns over China’s record on human rights, as well as their persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the eastern province of Xinjiang.
Athletes from the countries with leaders that have boycotted have still attended the games.
A ‘select’ group of supporters and guests were allowed into the stadium for the opening ceremony due to strict Covid-19 restrictions, as China is still pursuing a ‘zero Covid’ strategy.
The general public in China are subject to heavy fines and even arrests for failure to wear a mask, and nearly 100 percent of people obey that rule.
Even President Xi was seen wearing a face covering as he watched the ceremony.
The games will unfold over the next 17 days, with 109 gold medals set to be handed out.
