Pop-culture references to Spider-Man turned up in two very different headlines this week: Alabama guard Labaron Philon celebrated big shots with a web‑shooting gesture inspired by the movies, while Houston police arrested a suspect nicknamed the “Spiderman from Hell” after surveillance showed a burglar squeezing through a dog door.
Labaron Philon’s web-slinging celebration
On March 21, 2026, Sports Illustrated highlighted Alabama sophomore guard Labaron Philon after a standout performance in the NCAA Tournament first round that helped the Crimson Tide reach the Round of 32. Philon, who has improved into a three-level scorer and is shooting 40% from long range this season, has added a pop-culture flourish to his game: a Spider-Man–style wrist gesture after big buckets.
“Yeah, just a really big movie guy,” Philon said when asked about the salute, naming Spider-Man: No Way Home as one of his favorites. The gesture began as a bit of locker-room play — coach Preston Murphy started shooting webs in prepractice 3‑point contests — and quickly stuck.
Murphy described the warmups as friendly competition to get players loose and competitive. Teammates say the contests include some good-natured trash talk and, occasionally, counting disputes. Philon and others have embraced the Spider-Man nod as part of their on-court personality, a small example of how blockbuster movies continue to shape athlete celebrations.
Why it matters
A gesture like Philon’s matters because it shows how mainstream film franchises bleed into everyday moments — from warmups to national TV games. Celebrations can amplify a player’s profile, spark social‑media clips, and give fans a quick, relatable hook during the tournament.
‘Spiderman from Hell’: Houston arrest after dog‑door break‑ins
In Houston, authorities announced the arrest of 56‑year‑old Bobby John Henry, accused of a series of burglaries that earned him the nickname “Spiderman from Hell.” Local station coverage showed surveillance of a suspect squeezing through a tiny doggy door in a Montrose home before taking items from inside.
Police charged Henry with multiple felony counts of burglary. Constable Alan Rosen had publicly identified Henry as a suspect on March 6; police confirmed the arrest in a statement issued the following Saturday. The surveillance video and the suspect’s method of entry helped fuel the informal nickname used in local reporting and online discussions.
Public reaction and next steps
Both stories attracted attention for different reasons: Philon’s salute circulated among college basketball fans and highlights packages, while the Houston case drew scrutiny and alarm because of home invasions. Authorities say Henry has a criminal history dating back decades; formal court proceedings are expected but specific dates haven’t been released.
Whether it’s a celebratory gesture on a basketball court or a lurid nickname attached to a crime, Spider-Man references continue to surface across news cycles — a reminder that pop‑culture icons can appear in surprisingly different headlines.