Humor

What's better than a night at the ballgame with your teammates? Finding out the coaching staff decided to make you a scholarship player at the game.

Four lucky University of Kansas football players found out just that on Friday night, as the Royals surprised the players with the news that they had each been awarded a scholarships by the KU coaching staff during the fifth inning.

Mazin Aql, Beau Lawrence, Cole Moos and Reese Randall, all former walk-ons for the program, were shocked to discover their names on the stadium's screen with the news that they'd be scholarship players. 

The result? Emotional reactions and congratulatory hugs and support from their teammates. 

The Cornhuskers were treated to a big gift from head coach Mike Riley on Friday. 

Just after completing their third full week of training camp, the Huskers were given tickets to the Kendrick Lamar concert at Lincoln's Pinnacle Bank Arena, courtesy of Coach Riley. 

Riley tweeted out the big surprise, letting his players know their hard work so far has paid off:

They seemed pretty excited about their big night out:

Lonzo Ball's list of celebrity supporters just keeps growing and growing. 

Now, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie's shoe brand has a glowing endorsement from hip-hop royalty.

While appearing on Part 1 of an exclusive Rap Radar Podcast interview broadcast on his music service, Tidal, Jay-Z told interviewer Elliott Wilson that he purchased three pairs of BBB shoes. 

He explained that despite LaVar Ball's loud antics, he supports his vision to start his own brand for his son. 

"He may go about things wrong, he may have a big mouth...but I bought three pairs. I didn't get them, but that man has a vision of his own.

"Why wouldn't I support him? He feels like he can move culture and his son got a big enough name and a big enough brand that they can do it.

"... Why do we (African Americans) get so upset when we—us, as a culture—wanna start our own s--t? That s--t is puzzling to me."

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is used to protecting the rim on the basketball court, but during the offseason, he's busy defending animals from harm's way. 

Whiteside found a dead parrot outside of his home in Miami on Saturday night and began what he called "CSI work" to find out how it ended up at his doorstep.

From forensic work to investigative interviews with inanimate objects, it's impossible to know whether Whiteside will ever crack the case. The investigation is still ongoing.

Watch out, koi fish. Whiteside is coming for you.

The St. Louis Cardinals' lucky charm is getting its own appreciation day. 

The Cardinals announced they will be hosting the first-ever Rally Cat Appreciation Day at Busch Stadium on September 10, when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"Rally Cat," as he's become known, became an unofficial mascot for St. Louis after wandering on the field moments before Yadier Molina hit a grand slam during Wednesday's game.

Proceeds from the game honoring the stray kitten will go to the Animal Rescue Foundation to benefit feral animals just like him. 

Lonzo Ball wasn't too pleased with the latest teaser for NBA 2K18. 

The game released a first look at Hawks forward John Collins' overall game rating, featuring an image of him slamming over the Lakers' Brandon Ingram.  

Supporting his teammate, Lonzo jokingly threatened that the game would lose a player if things weren't tightened up with its image choices: 

J.J. Watt is giving his little brother a warm welcome to the NFL. 

T.J. Watt made his debut with the Steelers on Friday, and he put his skills on display early in the game, landing three tackles and two sacks in the first half.   

Elder bro J.J. showed his pride in T.J.'s impressive first go-round in the league with a tweet to let everyone know he has his eyes on him: 

Donald De La Haye was deemed ineligible to participate in NCAA football due to his popular YouTube videos, and like a true YouTuber, he has a few things to say about it. 

The former University of Central Florida kicker enjoys moderate web popularity, with over 90,000 followers garnering him millions of clicks on his videos, including those relating to his involvement in college athletics, which violates NCAA rules.

When De La Haye declined to move his sports-related videos to a non-monetized account, UCF took away his eligibility.

And in turn, De La Haye made more monetized clips about the situation at hand, including this diss track, set to the tune of rapper XXXTentacion's viral hit "Look At Me!"

At least the former player seems pleased with his decision. 

Persistence definitely pays off, as one fan found out on the streets of New York City on Monday in a daring fashion. 

A young Dodgers fan threw caution to the wind as he chased down Yasiel Puig's taxi with baseballs and a pen in hand. 

The young man's potentially dangerous pursuit of the star's cab yielded him not just one, but two autographed balls once he was finally able to close in on Puig's passenger window. 

[Instagram]