Month: June 2026

Personally speaking, I’m starting to believe that people are actively searching for reasons to voice discontent with LeBron James. Numbers don’t lie, and statistically speaking, James is one of the best to ever dribble a ball on a basketball court and is absolutely deserving to be mentioned in the GOAT conversations. Heck, even as the oldest active player in the league, he’s doing things counterparts half his age simply can’t. 

With that being said, the Ohio native has his fair share of people who would by all considerations be called “haters.” Famous sports analyst Skip Bayless has long fit the bill, but he’s not alone. Case in point, former NBA player Rashad McCants. 

McCants on James’ Career: “This is like ‘Fast and the Furious’”

On a recent episode of Gil’s Arena Cast, hosts Josiah Johnson, Brandon Jennings, Nick Young, Bayless, and McCants were discussing current events in the NBA, and the topic came up of James not being mentioned on this year’s All-NBA Team list, snapping his 21-year streak. Johnson asked his co-hosts for their thoughts, and eventually McCants was nudged to express his opinion. He first stated, “Let me think. Do I want motha f*ckas to attack me after this show or not?” That didn’t necessarily lead me to believe compliments about James were about to start falling out of McCants’ mouth. But then McCants continued on with: 

“He [James] is impressive… Listen, it’s historic, man. We ain’t seen nothing else like this since the other guys who’ve done it before him were Kobe, Kareem, and who as the other guy… Tim Duncan… Why not join the Mount Rushmore? I think that’s where he belongs. He’s put in the work. He’s done all the things we thought he couldn’t do. Made it to the finals 10 times and won four of them. And what more can you ask for?”

Then came the slight backhanded compliment. McCants noted, “He definitely deserves everything, man. I’m just waiting for this shit to be over with. I’m waiting for this shit to be over with. This is like Fast and the Furious. [Laughing] It’s like G*d d*mn, we got another one, Vin Diesel? That car still moving, Vin Diesel?”

All in all, while McCants was overall complimentary of James, it sounds like he may have a bit of James-induced fatigue. Oh, and for clarity’s sake, by the time Fast Forever airs in 2028, that will mark 11 films of the movie franchise. Check out the full episode of Gil’s Arena Cast below:

Related: Odell Beckham Jr. Reunites with the New York Giants, but Has More to Prove than Ever

David Bowie and Frank Sinatra aren’t necessarily two artists that come to mind as natural musical collaborators, but Bowie’s act of revenge against the crooner’s rejection of his work helped birth one of his signature songs.

In 1968, a 21-year-old Bowie, still establishing himself as an artist, was hired to write an English lyric translation to the then-recent French-language hit, “Comme d’habitude,” reworked by the young musician as “Even a Fool Learns to Love.” Bowie’s take was ultimately rejected, said to be due to the emerging musician not being a big enough name to make his version a worthy endeavour.

Later, as Bowie recalled to host Michael Parkinson on the show Parkinson, he later discovered a much bigger name at the time, hitmaker Paul Anka, and his translation, titled “My Way,” had been picked up and ultimately sold to Sinatra.

“I sent it back again and I thought that will be the last I hear of that,” Bowie said of the English-language translation (via ABC News).

“Then, I hear it on the radio, and I thought ‘That’s that tune, it must be my song … but hang on, these are different lyrics’, and it was Sinatra singing ‘My Way’.”

“That really made me angry for so long — for about a year,” Bowie recalled. “Eventually I thought, ‘I can write something as big as that, and I’ll write one that sounds a bit like it’.

From there, “Life on Mars?”, an intergalactic glam rock ballad, took flight. Initially a non-single from the 1971 album Hunky Dory, the track hit the #3 spot on the UK charts, beating Sinatra’s “My Way,” which only reached #5 in the country.

“There was a sense of revenge in that because I was so angry that Paul Anka had done My Way that I thought, ‘right, I’ll do my own version,'” Bowie told BBC Radio 2 in 2008. “And it basically was my kind of modern take on ‘My Way’…there are clutches of melody in it that were definite parodies of ‘My Way.'”

With lyrics detailing one mousy-haired woman, along with her “sunken dream” finding escapism in Hollywood movies, perhaps “Life on Mars?” was partly inspired by a young Bowie’s initially shattered hopes of breaking America and the allure of Hollywood glamour, one that resonated with listeners in his home country in a period of ’70s economic turmoil.

Rick Wakeman, a fellow Brit who would achieve his own success as a member of the progressive rock band Yes, played the piano on the track, the same one used on The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. Like The Beatles, Bowie’s talents and ambition in his songwriting, bolstered by a team of talented musicians, including Wakeman on piano and Mick Ronson on guitar, helped “Life on Mars?” reach for the future, and in return, become immortal, despite its origins in dashed dreams of chart success.

Two days after Bowie’s death in January 2016, Wakeman told BBC Radio 2 about his time working on the classic, later named No. 3 on Q Magazine’s “10 Most Perfect Songs Ever.”

“I remember leaving [the studio] and saying to a couple of friends that I met that evening in a local pub that I’d just played on the best song that I’d ever had the privilege to work on,”
the prog rock legend said.

Summer officially starts this month, but the festivities have already begun! Pool days, beachside vacations, and BBQ cookouts are just a few of the season’s staples, often accompanied by delicious meals shared with loved ones. For those of us trying to stay more balanced when it comes to our diet, the summer months can really test us. Rather than cutting out all of the meals you love cold turkey, consider smarter swaps to cut down on added sugars, excess calories, and inflammatory ingredients.

“Store-bought BBQ sauce has 15 to 20 grams of sugar per two tablespoons,” says Chef Joel Gamoran, Virta Health partner. “Most marinades are basically candy syrup on protein. Once you know where the sugar is hiding, you can replace it with things that actually taste better anyway: dry rubs, herb butters, hand-chopped Chimichurri, whipped feta. Real ingredients, real technique. That’s it.”

Below, Chef Gamoran shares healthier swaps you can make all summer long.

Related: The Simple Changes This 56-Year-Old Used to Lose 311 Pounds and Break Free From Years of Emotional Eating

Healthy Summer Swaps

Bottled BBQ Sauce → Dry Rub & Compound Butter

As mentioned, store-bought BBQ sauce can have 15 to 20g of sugar per two tablespoons. And if you’re a true BBQ sauce lover, you know that’s not a very large portion. Consider swapping the sauce for a good dry rub, which you can put together yourself or buy pre-mixed at the store. Finish if off with herb butter melting into the meat at the table for a flavorful, sugar-free swap.

Burger Bun → Butter Lettuce Double Wrap

If you’re already rolling your eyes at this one, hear us out! Two leaves nested together, cold from the fridge, with the right condiments, can actually pack much more flavor than a burger bun ever could. The reason most lettuce wraps feel sad is they’re done wrong, Chef Gamoran says. Double wrap it for a better bite.

Store-Bought Marinade → 5-Minute Herb Marinade

Most store-bought marinades like teriyaki, honey garlic, or anything glazed are basically just candy syrup on protein. Chef Gamoran’s 5-minute marinade consists of olive oil, smashed garlic, fresh herbs, citrus zest, and acid. Not only will it take minimal time, but it’s sugar-free, and you can likely concoct it with ingredients you already have on hand.

Potato Salad → Cauliflower Salad

“The key is roasting the cauliflower first, so it has texture and char, not just boiling it,” Chef Gamoran says. “Then, dress it like a real potato salad with good mayo, celery, dijon, and fresh herbs.”

Corn on the Cob → Grilled Zucchini Elote

Corn is starchy and can be tough on the digestive system. Grilled zucchini topped with cotija, chili, lime, and a touch of mayo delivers all the smoky flavors of elote with a fraction of the carbs. It’s the kind of unexpected swap that feels less like a restriction and more like a chef-inspired upgrade.

Related: The Easy Hack That Finally Makes Smoked Wings Crispy

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Men’s Journal and ShopHQ are both owned by the same parent company. Featured products are selected independently by the editorial team at Men’s Journal.

Sure, a watch or a new shirt is a nice gift, but why not mix things up this Father’s Day with something your dad may not be expecting. With America’s 250th anniversary weeks away, dads who love American history might appreciate something a little more sentimental. Coin sets that capture major U.S. milestones can meet that mark, even if your dad isn’t a coin collector. Take, for example, this Four Most Famous American Coin Collection with Display Case. It’s a set of four of the most historic coins in American history, and it’s just $20 on ShopHQ. Plus, you can get it with $5 shipping for a limited time when you use the code FREERETURN. 

Four Most Famous American Coin Collection with Display Case, $20 at ShopHQ

The coin set comes complete with four dual-sided coins. The bicentennial half dollar, with an image of president John F. Kennedy on one side and Independence Hall on the other. The bicentennial Washington quarter with imagery of a Colonial minuteman drummer on the back that represents the soldiers of the American Revolution, along with 13 stars and a torch that serve as symbols of liberty and independence, according to the United States Mint website. 

The Buffalo nickel has a Native American figure on one side and a buffalo on the other, dated 1913 – 1938, and the Indian Head Penny, minted from 1859 – 1909, depicts Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress.  In addition to the coins being over 100 years old, they also bring together some of the most famous U.S. coin designs in American history. One shopper who purchased the set gave it a five-star review, writing, “Nice coins!” 

Use Code FREERETURN on Shop HQ to unlock $5 off shipping for a limited time.

Each one of these coins is a genuine U.S. Coin, meaning they are authentic and produced in the United States. Even better, the set comes gift-ready thanks to its sealed acrylic display case. The set itself is 5.4 inches long, 4.4 inches wide, and less than an inch thick, while the packaging is nine inches long, five inches wide, and two inches thick. 

Related: Give Your Dad a Piece of American History for Father’s Day With a $40 Historic Coin Set

The packaging of the set and the case are both compact, so if you or the giftee decides to keep it in the packaging, they can still display it nearly anywhere in your home. Bookshelves, office desks, mantels, or display tables would be the best bet. The set is also sealed in a protective polymer case to help prevent accidental damage, and it comes complete with a certificate of authenticity and a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. 

Shop More Deals

• Brilliant Uncirculated United States Semiquincentennial 250th Anniversary Coin Set, $40 at ShopHQ
• 1776-2026 Liberty Semiquincentennial Half Dollar, $30 at ShopHQ
• Three Centuries of U.S. Pennies & Nickels Collection, $30 at ShopHQ

This American four-coin set is the perfect present for yourself or your dad for Father’s Day, and at just $20, we don’t expect it to last long. It’s also a great way to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

Mikolo fitness equipment is among the best offered at Walmart in terms of value for your dollar. The brand makes everything from robust home gyms to compact cable machines, and it even offers bundle deals with all the necessary accessories to help you save more money when building your at-home fitness space. If there’s one piece of equipment we’d recommend for a smaller home gym, it’s the brand’s adjustable weight bench, and right now, it’s almost 50% off.

The Mikolo 6-in-1 Adjustable Weight Bench is on sale for $156, a massive 48% off its usual price of $300. Walmart shoppers have given it almost 300 five-star ratings and have called it an “excellent weight bench for home use” because it comes with a built-in cable machine that amplifies its versatility, allowing you to do lat pulls, bench presses, and more. It doesn’t come with weight plates, but Walmart has a great deal on a 160-pound set that would work perfectly for this setup.

Mikolo 6-in-1 Adjustable Weight Bench, $156 (was $300) at Walmart

Pros

• Hyper-versatile, thanks to the built-in cable machine and barbell rack
• Backrest inclines and declines
• Value—you get a lot here for the price
• Easy to put together

Cons

• Weights and barbell are not included

This folding weight bench takes up just 8.6 square feet of floor space, but it offers incredible capability: It’s like having six weight machines in one. The adjustable bench can be used for both horizontal, decline, and incline bench presses, and extensions on either side allow you to do chest flies as well. You can also set the bench up for preacher curls to work your arms, the lat pulldown system allows you to work your back, and you can use the leg holder to blast your quads and hamstrings with leg extensions and leg curls.

Mikolo’s thick steel frame can support up to 800 pounds, and the foam pads and rollers make it comfortable to use—even when you’re really pushing your limits.

Unfortunately, this setup doesn’t include weight plates or a barbell. You don’t necessarily need the latter, but you will need the former to get use out of this.

Related: Runners Say This Shoe Could Be Asics’ Best One Yet, and Now You Can Get It for $60 Off

What Users Are Saying

It might be hard to imagine getting a quality piece of gym equipment for such a low price, but Walmart shoppers say the Mikolo weight bench isn’t a dud—it’s well-made and really works. One shopper said it’s “fantastic,” noting that it’s “simple to use and versatile for exercises.”

“Outstanding starter bench,” another shopper said. “This is the bench to purchase if you want a high-quality bench without spending a significant amount of money. One of the reasons I purchased this for my garage gym was that it was effortless to assemble and was easy to store. Additionally, it is not excessively weighty.”

A proper home gym demands equipment that’s highly versatile and easy to use, and the Mikolo Adjustable Weight Bench fits the bill. Normally $300, you can score this 6-in-1 machine for just $156—you don’t need us to tell you that’s an amazing deal.