LAS VEGAS (AP) Lamar Odom has regained consciousness, and he is communicating – speaking and even giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed – just days after being found in extremely critical condition at a Nevada brothel, loved ones said.
It’s the first significant update on Odom’s health since he was found unconscious and facedown at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, on Tuesday afternoon.
Odom spoke a greeting and gave a thumbs-up Friday morning, his first communication since being hospitalized in Las Vegas, said Alvina Alston, publicist for JaNean Mercer, Odom’s maternal aunt and godmother.
“He woke up, and he spoke,” Alston said.
A person who is close to estranged wife Khloe Kardashian, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to release details of Odom’s condition to the press, also said that he was able to say hi to Kardashian.
His former coach Jim Harrick in Los Angeles, who said Odom sounded upbeat on a call just a few weeks ago, said Kardashian told him that Odom is now off dialysis, and that he showed a response when she reached down to say “Lamar, I love you.”
“Khloe has promised me she’s going to stay by his bedside until she and him can walk out of the hospital together,” Harrick said.
Authorities are still retracing Odom’s $75,000, three-day visit to the brothel that started late afternoon Saturday, with blood-test results to determine what caused his medical episode still pending.
The brothel’s owner and spokesman have said that he chose two women to accompany him in a VIP suite on his first visit to the ranch. Odom had said that he had done cocaine before his arrival, and the brothel said they saw him drink alcohol and take as many as 10 supplements sold as “herbal Viagra.” One brand that he took, Reload, was the subject of a 2013 warning from the Food and Drug Administration, which said the pill contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in prescription Viagra.
The brothel also said he became upset Sunday following a phone call where his ex’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” show was mentioned. But he was generally in a good mood, even suggesting that he stay an entire week at the brothel in the rural community.
Odom was then found unconscious there Tuesday with white and reddish substances coming from his nose and mouth. He was breathing and taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas.
Kardashian rushed to his side that night and since then, friends, teammates and loved ones, including his two children, have visited and posted messages on social media asking for prayers. On Wednesday at the hospital, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Odom was on life support.
Harrick also praised Kardashian for sticking by his side as a frenzy of people – well-wishers inside and media outside – crowded the hospital.
Friday’s latest update on Odom’s health condition comes as Mercer and Kardashian just hours earlier started speaking out to thank fans.
Kardashian had said her family won’t be posting content on their apps while attending to his health crisis. The online message read: “As a family, we’ve decided to hold off on publishing content across our apps while we continue to support and pray for Lamar.”
She also thanked fans for their kindness and understanding. The message was addressed to fans as a note from Kardashian on her blog-like app. Announcing a posting black-out is a rarity for the family, who meticulously document their lives on various social media channels and on the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” television show.
Meanwhile, Mercer had issued her own statement Friday to thank the public for its support, saying they’re family was focused on Odom’s “complete healing.”
“No words can express the overwhelming gratitude we feel for the outpouring of support from around the world,” the statement issued Friday said.
Alston said Mercer is the sister of Odom’s late mother who helped raise him in New York, where she still lives. Mercer and other family members are now in Las Vegas. The statement said: “His complete healing is paramount and our primary focus.”
The former NBA star had been a beloved member of the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two championships with the team and enjoying widespread fame as a reality TV star himself before his recent downward spiral, which included leaving pro basketball, a pending divorce with Kardashian and a DUI arrest.
“He’s one of the most wonderful, kind, humble and generous human beings you’d ever want to meet,” Harrick said.
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Harris reported from Los Angeles.
Shibutani siblings elected to U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Olympic ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani along with Paul E. George, who served as the director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, were elected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
The trio will be inducted Jan. 28 during the U.S. figure skating championships in San Jose, California.
The Shibutani siblings were two-time Olympians who won a pair of bronze medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games before stepping away from the sport in their prime. They also were three-time world medalists, earned medals at each of their 14 national championships and were two-time senior U.S. champions.
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, who is three years older than his sister, became the first U.S. ice dancers to medal at the world debut in 2011, and the second-youngest team to medal at worlds. She was 16 and he was 19 at the time.
George was the Chef de Mission of the U.S. delegation to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. The longtime member of the Skating Club of Boston, George also was director of the U.S. Figure Skating Association in the late 1980s and early ’90s and later served as president and trustee of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation.
Father’s Day Gifts 2022: Best ideas for the Sports Fan Dad from Golf to Electronics
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Father’s Day is just days away and as the thinking goes, the Dads of the family are often the hardest to shop for. But with the weather getting warmer, there’s countless opportunities to get outside, whether for sports or relaxation, and that means countless opportunities to find the perfect gift to make Father’s Day brighter for the Dads who love sports in any and all forms.
To help you in the gift selection process (even if you’ve left it up to the last minute!), the team at NBC Sports has sourced great options from across the internet for sporting Dads of all kinds. Whether the person you’re shopping for is up before dawn to get in a workout, more inclined to take in sports from the couch, or the consummate host planning summer’s best tailgate, there’s a great choice on this list across a variety of price ranges. Below are our ideas separated into categories:
A perfect way to perfect your chipping skills before heading out for a tee time. The net is portable and includes all the pieces needed for a full-scale practice at-home or on the go.
This experience is a must for any dad looking to elevate their game. Per the PGA Tour Super Store site, fittings combine “game-changing technology and manufacturer-specific equipment with the personal attention of our certified fitters to deliver a fully immersive fitting session.” Golfers will leave the one-on-one session with specs for perfectly fitted custom clubs that will be built and shipped to you.
Give your Dad an extra boost of confidence in his golf swing with a pair of Adidas Spikeless golf shoes. Not only are they comfortable, but the shoes are lightweight, stylish, and affordable.
Another great option for Dad that will scratch his golf itch! With this indoor or outdoor putting green mat, the ball will automatically roll back to the golfer after he putts it into the hole.
Help Dad perfect his golf skills right at home with this practice golf net. Just like the pop-up chipping net, this gift option is lightweight and portable and will allow Dad to hit golf balls right in the backyard.
This bag is lightweight with multiple pockets and perfect for the Dad trying to fit in a workout. It’s available in multiple colors, has waterproof storage for swim gear or sweaty apparel post-gym and doubles as the perfect bag for a quick weekend trip.
Whether it’s for early morning workouts or coaching the 8am Little League game on Saturday morning, a Yeti mug is a great accessory to keep coffee piping hot. Tumblers come in various shapes and sizes to indulge all varieties of pre-game caffeine habits.
The weather is getting warmer, making it the perfect time to give your Dad these comfortable and colorful shoes for the road. The shoes have a quick drying mesh material that will provide the ultimate in efficiency and comfort.
Invented in 1965 and combining elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong, pickleball is the latest rec sport sensation sweeping the nation. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, it’s one of America’s fastest growing sports, picking up corporate sponsorships and avid enthusiasts nationwide. If Dad is a paddle sport enthusiast looking to indulge their competitive streak, this paddle set is the perfect way to get started.
Garmin is one of the most trusted names in GPS watches and enables you to monitor and track your fitness endeavors while streamlining your training. Whether it’s for the Dad training for their 10th marathon or just getting started in running and biking, a Garmin Forerunner is a great option to level-up your exercise.
This 28-piece set of BBQ accessories is the perfect gift for a Dad that loves to cook for everyone. This versatile set has everything you need: a spatula, fork, 2 barbecue mats, tongs, basting brush, grill brush, extra brush head, meat thermometer, 2 steak knives and forks, 2 shakers, 8 corn holders, 4 skewers and an aluminum case.
Help Dad rep his favorite team at the beach or a tailgate with this NFL branded folding chair. The carry strap attached to the chair helps make this portable chair a must-have for any Dad on the go!
The Meater is the perfect kitchen gadget for a Dad who loves to cook meat-forward meals for a big group. It’s a smart thermometer that allows you to monitor the temperature of the meat you’re cooking up to 33 feet away from the grill, oven or rotisserie. Just download the free app and you’re all set!
Keep guests entertained all summer long with the perfect tailgate companion – a cornhole set! This set is perfect for any Dad who wants to rep his favorite NFL team.
This cooler has a capacity of 52 quarts and is the perfect option to keep the drinks cold and the tailgate guests happy. Available in multiple colors, it’s a heavy-duty option for all pregame festivity needs.
This cell phone armband case is perfect for any Dad who likes to go on walks or runs outside. His phone will stay secure and safe, and the case comes with an adjustable strap, key pocket and headphone cord holder.
Give your Dad the gift of Amazon Prime! Not only will he get access to Prime Video which will allow him to live stream his favorite sports, but he can enjoy the convenience of a fast and free delivery for online orders.
Make it feel as if your Dad is actually watching the game from the stadium of his favorite sports team. This TV Soundbar speaker will give your Dad a natural HiFi sound experience — perfect for NFL Sundays and also for family movie nights.
Give Dad the gift of wireless, high quality sound. Whether he’s working out at the gym, listening to a podcast, talking on the phone, or listening to the game, Air Pods Pro are the way to go.
Have Dad keep track of his health and fitness, and get notifications from all of his favorite sports teams with the flick of a wrist. The Apple Watch is the perfect gift for the Dads who are constantly on the go.
The Theragun is the perfect gift for the fitness loving father figure in your life. It’s compact with long lasting battery life and best of all, you can connect it to your smartphone and customize its features.
Daniel James Brown’s “The Boys in the Boat” is the true story of the American rowing team that competed at the 1936 Olympics and came away with a stunning gold. Made up of largely working-class athletes from the University of Washington, the U.S. team were some of the ultimate underdogs, making for an incredible story of human achievement.
Jackie Robinson is one of the most legendary and trailblazing figures in baseball, but his autobiography talks about so much more than his career on the field. From his time in the army to his family life to his involvement in American politics, “I Never Had It Made” gives the reader an in-depth look into one of the most famous athletes in baseball and in American history.
The perfect accessory for the MLB enthusiast looking to level-up his viewing experience. Help Dad keep the couch clean, comfy, and in style while he’s rooting for his favorite sports team.
Get the baseball ban fan in your life a mug so unique that everyone will ask him about it! This mug was handcrafted from a wooden baseball bat barrel and you can choose a design for any MLB team. Choose Dad’s favorite team and he’ll be sure to love it!
This soft fleece full zip jacket is the perfect gift for the Dad who’s a big fan of a team in the NBA. No matter what team he supports, there’s a comfortable and stylish jacket to fit his needs.
Foosball is a classic game that every Dad at any age is sure to love. This 48-inch game set is built with sturdy wood at a waist-high level and is the perfect gift for any competitive dad.
With all the blockbuster NFL trades so far in 2022, your Dad’s favorite player might be starting the season for a different team. The safest bet? A custom jersey with his name – QB1 might have left, but his loyalty to the team isn’t going anywhere, for better or worse!
