Alabama News

The Internet remains undefeated.

In the aftermath of the Coldplay scandal, comments and memes flood newsfeed on social media platforms.

On Saturday, Byron resigned his position with the company.

For the uninitiated, for several seconds earlier this week at a Coldplay concert, a couple was shown on the big screen. They were cuddling and smiling, his arms wrapped around her, as she leaned back into him. When they saw themselves on the big screen, her jaw dropped, her hands flew to her face and she spun away from the camera. He ducked out of the frame, as did she.

“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Martin joked.

As it turns out, it was Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and chief people officer Kristin Cabot – both married – who were in the embrace. The video went viral and the Internet hasn’t been the same since.

Since then, there has been a fake apology circulating from Byron, according to the company Friday. In a statement, Astronomer said it was launching an investigation and the two were placed on leave prior to Byron’s resignation.

In between, it has been non-stop memes.

Here are some of the more creative ones with an assortment of references to restaurants, TV shows, movies, theme parks, sports and more.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

The WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled to transpire tonight. The matchup between Team Clark and Team Collier is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

Caitlin Clark has selected a highly talented lineup for the WNBA All-Star Game tonight. She ensured to draft her teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, while simultaneously acquiring Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson. These players will be imperative to watch this evening, as Team Clark tries to take home the victory.

Notably, Wilson is the second-best scorer in the WNBA with more than 22 points per game.

Napheesa Collier also drafted a highly competitive roster for this game, as she obtained Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart. Notably, Plum and Stewart are top 5 scorers in the WNBA this year.

Collier also grabbed some young talent in the draft, as she chose rookie guard Paige Bueckers. Her elite passing will be imperative to Team Collier’s offensive success tonight.

Fans can watch the WNBA All-Star Game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The brand new drama Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story premieres on Lifetime Saturday, July 19 at 8/7c.

Those hoping to watch a story of hope and sacrifice play out on screen can stream the premiere of Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story about?

Starring Chrissy Metz, Colin Moss, Max Botha, Thomas Farham and more, Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story follows nurse Nichole Jolly as she clocks in for her shift at the local hospital in Paradise, California.

When a raging wildfire engulfs the town and forces an evacuation, Jolly risks her own life to bring her husband, children and other nearby residents to safety.

How to watch Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story

Cord cutters interested in catching the latest Lifetime movie release can stream the premiere of Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story through Philo, DirecTV or Sling.

Both Philo and DirecTV offer free trials for new subscribers to enjoy before committing to a paid plan while Sling offers those that commit to a paid subscription half off their first month.

Out of the three streaming services listed above, Philo is the cheapest at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial concludes.

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.

New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.

Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV is a top streaming service perfect for those looking to access a plethora of live TV channels and enjoy helpful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

DirecTV has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allows subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. With genre packs, users can get the channels and content they want without filler channel overload. Packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages and the new genre packs can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top-rated TV channels like Lifetime. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

A brand new episode of the latest Bravo reality dating show Kings Court premieres on the network Sunday, July 20 at 9/8c.

Cord cutters looking to check out the Queens Court spinoff series can find Kings Court available for streaming through Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial), Sling (50% off first month) and Peacock (next day).

What is Kings Court?

For those who may have missed the premiere last week, Kings Court is a spin-off of the Peacock original series Queens Court, and similarly to its predecessor, Kings Court follows three eligible bachelors in search of love as they’re introduced to successful and ready-to-love women.

Throughout the series, the men will escort the women out on fun and adventurous dates in hopes of finding their one true love.

Hosted by Hollywood power couple Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete, this season of Kings Court features three eligible bachelors including Tyson Beckford, Carlos Boozer and Thaddeus “Titus O’Neil” Bullard.

Season 1 premiere episode recap

Last week during the series premiere, the three Kings were introduced to seven out of the 22 women they’ll meet over the course of the season. Connections were made swiftly, and the bachelors pulled out all the stops when it came to date night.

Viewers tuning in saw Carlos, who immediately developed a connection with 32 year-old sales entrepreneur Jana, take her along with fellow contestant Lexi, a mother of two, out for a goat yoga session. Unfortunately for Lexi, though, the date was less than ideal.

Tyson initially made strong connections with both Briquel, a 33-year-old model, and Lilyana, a 38-year-old nurse, and invited them out for a heart-pounding skydiving adventure.

Thaddeus took to Dr. Shawana, a 37-year-old nonprofit executive, and Jasmine, a 33-year-old marketing executive, quite nicely and decided to invite the pair on an art date.

By the end of the night, though, two women departed the competition including Jenny and Jasmine.

What to expect from this week’s new episode

According to the upcoming episode’s description, things shake up this week as seven new queens join in on the competition, all vying for a chance to win over one of the three eligible bachelors.

How to watch Kings Court season 1

Those interested in streaming the Kings Court premiere live can find it available for streaming through Fubo, DirecTV or Sling.

Kings Court is also available for streaming through Peacock. New episodes will be available for viewers the day after they air on Bravo.

What is Fubo and DirecTV?

Fubo and DirecTV are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services. Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

DirecTV mirrors Fubo by offering many of the same live TV channels and useful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top-rated TV channels like Bravo. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

What is Peacock?

Peacock is one of the most popular alternatives to traditional cable. Users can stream hit movies and TV shows or explore a plethora of Peacock Originals.

Peacock currently offers two plans to choose from including their premium plan for $7.99 a month ($79.99 annually) and their premium plus plan for $13.99 a month ($139.99 annually).

The premium plan is the most popular package offering subscribers access to live sporting events, new and hit TV shows and movies, Peacock Originals and more.

Peacock’s premium plus plan comes with everything included in the premium plan along with the ability to download and watch select titles offline and the chance to stream your local NBC channels live at any time. Also, with the premium plus plan users can stream content without ad interruptions.

The Boston Red Sox play against the Chicago Cubs in an MLB game tonight. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on FOX. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Red Sox entered the All-Star break red-hot, as they won 10 consecutive games. Due to their recent hot streak, the Red Sox are only a few games behind first place in their division.

In order to win tonight’s game, the Red Sox will need to rely on their star player Jarren Duran. He currently leads the team in hits, which highlights his offensive prowess.

The Cubs are currently sitting atop the National League Central, so they will try to continue their great play tonight.

In order to win this game, the Cubs will need a great performance from their star player Seiya Suzuki. He leads the Chicago offense in home runs and RBI, so he will look to continue his offensive success this evening.

Notably, Suzuki also leads the team in doubles this season.

Fans can watch this MLB game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer who was caught in an embrace at a Coldplay concert with the company’s chief people officer Kristin Cabot, has resigned his position.

Astronomer, which is a private data infrastructure and operations company, announced the move on social media Saturday, a day after it announced both were on leave.

“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the statement read. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.

“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”

On Friday, the company announced both Byron and Cabot were placed on leave.

Byron and Cabot, who are both married were caught on camera during a Coldplay concert earlier this week in an embrace. When lead singer Chris Martin wondered out loud to the crowd if the two ducked out of the way of the camera were “having an affair or (are) just very shy,” the video went viral.

“Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,” the company statement continued. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.

“We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”

Byron became CEO of Astronomer in 2023, whereas Cabot, according to her now-defunct LinkedIn, joined Astronomer in November 2024.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

The Golden State Warriors play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League tonight. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBA TV. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Warriors enter this matchup with a 2-2 record, and they are coming off an 81-69 loss against the Toronto Raptors.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Warriors will need to rely on their guard Chris Manon. He led the team with 14 points and nine rebounds last game, so he will look to perform similarly this evening.

The Cavaliers also enter this matchup with a 2-2 record, and they are coming off a 94-86 loss against the Sacramento Kings.

In order to win tonight’s game, the Cavaliers will need a great performance from their guard Tyrese Proctor. He led the team with 35 points last game, and he shot 11-24 from the field.

Fans can watch the NBA Summer League for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Atlanta Braves play against the New York Yankees in an MLB game tonight. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network South/FanDuel Sports Network Southeast. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Braves have struggled this season, as they currently have a losing record. Notably, the team is nearly 10 games behind the final Wild Card spot.

In order to win this game, the Braves will need to rely on their star player Austin Riley. He currently leads the team in batting average and hits, so he will try to continue his offensive success this evening.

The Yankees are close to obtaining first place in their division, so they are looking to win the three-game series this weekend.

In order to win tonight’s matchup, the Yankees will need a great performance from their star player Aaron Judge. He leads the New York offense in batting average, home runs, and RBI.

Judge also leads the team in hits this season.

Fans can watch this MLB game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

Manny Pacquiao is coming out of retirement at the age of 46 in hopes of becoming the oldest world champion in the history of boxing. He’ll face 30-year old WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. Barrios was born in San Antonio and has held the title since 2024.

Pacquiao is a legend in the sport, being the only boxer to win a major world title in eight different weight classes. With that being said, he hasn’t fought since 2021, and at the age of 46, his prime is surely behind him.

For that reason, he’s a decently-sized +210 underdog against Barrios at DraftKings Sportsbook on Saturday night. Let’s get into my Pacquiao vs. Barrios predictions and best bets.

Pacquiao vs. Barrios predictions and best bets

Here are some bets that might be worth a look for the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios:

• Barrios moneyline (-230 at bet365)
• Over 10.5 rounds (-140 at DraftKings)
• Barrios by decision (+225 at bet365)

*NOTE: Odds are based on the best value our experts find as of publication; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

While taking the legendary Manny Pacquiao at plus-money is certainly intriguing, it’s sometimes best to think with our heads and not our hearts in these situations. Unfortunately, in professional sports, age is not just a number.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought since 2021 and is now 46 years old. Even if he was a few years younger, you could argue that Pacquiao would have serious issues with Barrios’ reach advantage.

While we trust that Pacquiao will come into this fight in tremendous shape and be relatively fine endurance wise, it’s hard to envision a world where he can generate much on the attack.

I think we see a lot of dancing in the ring and eventually, Barrios will feel comfortable enough to win the fight on points without feeling the need to take a risk in a fight he should control from start to finish.

Pacquiao vs. Barrios moneyline analysis

Mario Barrios is a -280 favorite to defeat Manny Pacquiao according to the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. A bet on the underdog Pacquiao would pay out at +210.

These odds suggest that Barrios has a 73.7% chance of winning the fight. When you consider the age and reach advantage he possesses, the betting odds seem about right.

Why Barrios can win as the favorite

Best odds: -230 at bet365

Standing at 6-feet tall, Mario Barrios is the tallest boxer that Manny Pacquiao has ever faced.

In addition to that, Barrios is 16 years younger than his opponent and has remained active in the boxing world.

Pacquiao was trending downwards when he decided to retire, and it’s doubtful time away helped him at this age. Barrios has just two career losses, and betting odds suggest it will stay that way.

How Pacquiao wins the fight as an underdog

Best odds: +210 at FanDuel

Look for Pacquiao to be extremely aggressive in the early stages of this fight, before potential signs of his age begin to show in later rounds. He’ll need to use his legendary hand speed and foot work to get an advantage as he tries to keep Barrios close in order to nullify his size advantage. All of this aggressiveness could unfortunately leave Pacquiao quite vulnerable.

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