The calls to fire Mike Tomlin are growing louder. But despite the growing sentiment, the Pittsburgh Steelers HC found his most vocal defender in an unlikely place. Golden State Warriors’ power forward, Draymond Green, has come out and issued a passionate defense for the 53-year-old at a time when even Steelers legends, like Ben Roethlisberger, are beginning to question the team’s direction.
To Green, the idea of moving on from Tomlin isn’t just wrong. It’s flat-out unbelievable. He couldn’t believe what he heard from Steelers fans on Sunday.
“I think it’s ridiculous that the Pittsburgh fanbase chanted ‘fire Mike Tomlin,’” Green said.
“Number one, we aren’t even an organization that’s just firing coaches. Number two, that’s like loser sh-t, man. I was very shocked by that.” Green went on to say. “Fire Mike Tomlin? That’s insanity. That’s insane. Come on. That was a little disappointing, but when Mike Tomlin has the back against the wall, he goes to Baltimore, he gets a win, rights the ship. That’s what’s happening. You can book it.”
The frustration hit a boiling point during Pittsburgh’s 26–7 loss to Buffalo. The boos were loud. The firing chants were louder. Tomlin didn’t shy away from any of it afterward, even saying he understood the fan reaction. But there’s no mistaking what this moment feels like.
Some difficult conversations may be creeping closer than anyone in that building ever imagined.
Fans can roll their eyes at Green involving himself in another sport’s drama, but his reaction wasn’t all that different from a longtime Steelers diehard, because that’s exactly who he is.
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He grew up with this franchise. He understands its identity. And that identity doesn’t include firing head coaches. Since 1969, the Steelers have had only three head coaches. That stability is their brand. And until very recently, no one would’ve believed even for a moment that Pittsburgh would entertain a coaching search.
It’s not the first time a long-tenured, successful coach has faced this kind of pressure. Tom Coughlin also faced significant scrutiny in 2015, after three consecutive losing seasons with the Giants. Eventually, he went on to resign in January 2016, marking the end of an era.
Every organization, even the most patient ones, has a threshold. There’s only so long you can sit in the middle of mediocrity, spinning your wheels, without asking where the real problem lies.
Even Ben Roethlisberger, maybe Tomlin’s strongest public defender since retiring, sounds like he’s running low on grace.
Ben Roethlisberger wants Mike Tomlin to move on
Former Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison both waded into the Mike Tomlin discussion this week, and their tone said plenty about where things stand. With speculation growing that the Steelers could finally move on from the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach after the season, Roethlisberger sounded resigned to the idea that change might be coming.
“Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time. I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, but maybe it’s best for him, too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether that’s in the pros, maybe go be Penn State’s head coach,” Roethlisberger said.
It’s jarring to hear that from him. But given Pittsburgh’s season, his sentiment is understandable. The Steelers opened the year looking organized and competitive. That version of the team has vanished. They’ve now dropped three of their last four, and Sunday’s lopsided loss to Buffalo was embarrassing.
The Bills ran for 249 yards, the most an opponent has ever put up at Acrisure Stadium. Some of this is on the roster itself. When the front office let the trade deadline pass without adding a receiver, it was clear the offense might have to survive on fumes.
But the defense was supposed to be the reliable half. Instead, it’s cracked right alongside everything else, giving up 82 points in the last three losses.
Tomlin’s resume is undeniable. A .625 career winning percentage. Nearly two decades of stability. But the Steelers haven’t won the AFC North since 2020 and haven’t won a playoff game since January 2017. Eight years without a postseason win is not how this franchise measures itself.
If the end of this season goes the way the last few weeks have gone, it’s hard to imagine those conversations in the front office won’t get uncomfortable. And if someone like Roethlisberger is quietly bracing for the worst, you have to wonder how different the organization’s internal read really is.
Draymond Green Issues Strong Statement on Mike Tomlin’s Firing After Ben Roethlisberger Turned On HC
NBA Makes Russell Westbrook Announcement for Historic Climb
Russell Westbrook continues climbing up the NBA’s all-time scoring chart.
On Wednesday night, the Sacramento Kings guard surpassed Tim Duncan, who ranked 17th with 26,496 points.
After Westbrook landed his 26,497th point, the NBA released a special announcement to recognize the guard’s move up in league history.
Now, Westbrook is chasing Dominique Wilkins, who has scored 26,668 points. With that move, Westbrook would land No, 16 on the list, chasing Oscar Robertson.
This season, Westbrook is playing on a one-year deal with the Kings. Heading into Wednesday’s action, the veteran guard had appeared in 21 games. Initially, he was set out to be a reserve, but the Kings moved Westbrook into the starting lineup. He has 15 starts for the season, seeing the court for 28.2 minutes per game.
Westbrook has made 42 percent of his shots from the field, and hit on 37 percent of his threes this year. The future Hall of Famer is posting averages of 13.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Although the Kings have struggled in the Western Conference, entering their matchup against the Houston Rockets with a 5-16 record, which places them 13th in the conference, Westbrook has been a bright spot on the team after he spent more than just the offseason as a free agent. He joined the Kings during their preseason run.
Next summer, Westbrook is likely to become a free agent once again. He’s spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and now the Kings over the past few years. Despite being a veteran who is bouncing around the league, Westbrook is still one of the most accomplished players in the game.
In year 18, he’s still showing plenty of value and will continue to garner chances to move up in the history books.
Jamal Murray Makes NBA History With 52
Despite being a game-time decision heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a right ankle sprain, Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray had one of the best performances of his career.
In a dominant 135-120 road win over the Pacers, Murray dropped 52 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 19-25 shooting from the field and 10-11 from three-point range.
With this performance, Murray has become the first player in NBA history to record 52+ points and 10+ three-pointers, while shooting 75% or better from the field, per Stathead.
Jamal Murray’s historic performance
This was the third time Murray has dropped 50+ points in a regular season game and the fifth time overall (including playoffs), though he fell just short of his career high (55). With this, however, Murray has now passed Carmelo Anthony for the most 50+ point games in Nuggets franchise history.
Murray is undoubtedly one of the best scorers in Nuggets history, and these types of performances help cement his legacy as a Denver legend. When Murray is feeling it, he is capable of practically anything, and it is an incredible sign that we are seeing this version of him early in the season.
While Murray’s performance was historic, it does remind fans of what happened in Denver’s season opener. Though Murray’s 52 points set the historic mark, who is the only other player in NBA history to drop 50+ points with ten three-pointers on 75% shooting or better? Aaron Gordon in the Nuggets’ season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The fact that two Nuggets players are capable of this type of outing, and neither is named Nikola Jokic, is a testament to this team’s depth and the three-time MVP’s improved supporting cast.
Jokic did still have another great performance himself, dropping 24 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds on 9-17 shooting. However, Murray not only outshined everybody else, but he barely needed any help in this monstrous game. Murray made more threes on Wednesday night than every other Nuggets player combined, putting the team on his back with a historic performance.
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NBA Fans In Disbelief Over Chris Paul & Blake Griffin Reunion After Years-Old Clippers Feud
Nobody expected the Chris Paul news to drop the way it did yesterday. The LA Clippers’ waiving the guard late at night sent shockwaves across the league, blindsiding everyone, even those close to the situation. A franchise legend cut loose after signing a modest veteran deal meant to close the loop on his run doesn’t make for good optics.
Now, something else has surfaced, changing the tone immediately. A screenshot posted to Paul’s Instagram story revealed the Point God smiling with two former teammates: DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. This trio, which defined the most electrifying era in Clippers history, was reunited once more, and the moment immediately reignited discussion about what could have been.
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For a team that lived in headlines and tension for six straight years, that image said more than any press conference, mainly because the end of Lob City wasn’t clean, and everybody in the league knew it.
Reports have circulated for years about the friction between Paul and Griffin, especially during their Clippers years. Even former teammates have come forward about their dynamic, including guard Austin Rivers, who, as early as 2017, indicated that significant friction existed behind the scenes.
“The dynamic with Blake and Chris was weird,” Rivers told Sports Illustrated. “No one knew who the leader was, and if you had something to say, it would turn into an argument.”
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However, in the years since, both Paul and Griffin have spoken about their improved relationship. Paul told All The Smoke hosts and former teammates Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson that he appreciated Griffin a lot more after Paul left the team.
“I think a lot of that with our team was a little blown out of proportion,” Griffin told reporters in 2022. “When you don’t win, things sort of get compounded… Obviously, we spent a lot of time together.”
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The two reuniting on a video call the same night the Clippers moved on from the face of that era feels symbolic. The moment we saw was three teammates looking back at not what separated them, but what built them: the hope, the culture, and the highlights.
Lob City might have fallen short, but what they created changed LA basketball forever.
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Fans Show Love to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s Lob City Reunion
Social media wasted no time exploding as screenshots of Chris Paul’s story were posted online. For many long-time Clippers fans, seeing the trio that put them on the map smiling together once again felt like closure to a decades long storyline. One fan wrote, “Our inner child is healing,” capturing the nostalgia flooding posts and timelines when the image surfaced.
Others leaned into humor and speculation about the team’s breakup. One comment read, “They were united by their hate for the organization 💀💀💀,” a playful jab at the well-documented circumstances of both Paul and Griffin’s exits from the organization.
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Paul demanded a trade from the team in the 2017 offseason after years of failing to make deep playoff runs as his and Griffin’s supposed beef boiled over, joining the Houston Rockets.
Griffin’s was far more egregious; after a receiving a five-year contract in the offseason as a part of a two-hour celebration in Staples Center in the celebration of his career, the team unceremoniously traded him midseason to the Detroit Pistons.
There was also surprise over how time has changed circumstances around the trio. “Who would’ve thought DeAndre Jordan would be the last one standing,” one viewer wrote, pointing out the absurdity of DeAndre Jordan still finding a spot with the New Orleans Pelicans, compared to Griffin, who now works as an analyst for Prime Video.
Nostalgia poured in as users recalled the chaotic joy of the Lob City era. “Great to see and miss this Fun 3! Clippers use to be such a trip to watch,” one observer wrote, remembering how, in the early to mid 2010s, the dominant LA team was not the Los Angeles Lakers, but the ‘little brother’ Clippers.
Naturally, regret surfaced: what could have been. “They was posed to win it all man😔,” one post read, highlighting the heartbreak that still lingers around a team widely believed to have championship talent, but not the luck, or chemistry, to finish the job.
Conor McGregor lawsuit dropped: UFC star accused of sexual assault at NBA Finals game
A sexual assault lawsuit against former UFC champion Conor McGregor has been dropped. The civil suit involving an alleged incident at a 2023 NBA Finals game was dismissed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, according to ESPN.
The female plaintiff voluntarily filed for dismissal on Tuesday. The voluntary dismissal was filed with prejudice, meaning no further litigation can be brought forward. McGregor had denied all allegations against him and no criminal charges were pursued by the Florida State Attorney’s Office in the case.
The woman, described in the lawsuit as a 49-year-old business executive, accused McGregor of sexual assault during Game 4 of the series between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets in June 2023 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The alleged assault took place in the men’s restroom near the Courtside Club inside the arena, which is the home of the Heat.
The plaintiff filed a civil suit against McGregor and the Heat in January.
Last November, a High Court jury in Ireland found McGregor civilly liable in a separate sexual assault case. McGregor was ordered to pay approximately $258,300 to Nikita Hand. Earlier this year, Ireland’s High Court dismissed McGregor’s appeal.
NASCAR Executive Returns to the Stand in High-Stakes Antitrust Trial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A top NASCAR executive returns to the stand Wednesday for a second day of testimony in the explosive antitrust case that accuses the top motorsports series in the United States of being a monopolistic bully in violation of federal antitrust laws.
NASCAR is being sued by 23XI Racing, owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by fast-food franchiser Bob Jenkins. They were the only two organizations out of 15 to refuse to sign agreements last year on new charters, which are NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used in other sports.
Front Row and 23XI contend that NASCAR is a monopoly that has handcuffed teams with a no-win revenue model. The charter agreement that took effect this year ended more than two years of bitter negotiations in which neither side budged until NASCAR presented its final offer on the eve of the 2024 playoffs and refused to negotiate any further.
The deal fell short of the requests made by all 15 teams, but 13 teams still signed under the belief they’d lose their protected status as a charter — which guarantees both entry into every race and a defined share of the purse.
The second day of testimony on Tuesday — which included nearly three hours from Hamlin — turned to Scott Prime, NASCAR executive vice president in charge of strategy. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI and Front Row, used Prime’s memos and private communications to attempt to show anticompetitive practices.
Among the exhibits shown was NASCAR’s fear of a rival stock-car series developing that would resemble the LIV golf league. To stop such a move, communications showed NASCAR executives tried to lock the tracks it competes on into exclusivity clauses that would prohibit them from hosting other events.
Kessler showed an agreement with Las Vegas Motor Speedway in which NASCAR implemented a clause in which the track could not host a rival stock car series for two years after its deal with NASCAR expires.
Kessler also showed communications between Prime, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell in which the three expressed frustration with NASCAR chairman Jim France and vice chair Lesa France Kennedy because the owners of the series refused to offer any concessions in negotiations.
Phelps wrote the current proposal at that time showed “zero wins for the teams,
NASCAR Trial Day 3: Front Row Motorsports Owner Bob Jenkins Testifies
The third day of the NASCAR Trust trial in Federal Court in Charlotte, North Carolina included more testimony by NASCAR executive Scott Prime, followed by Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.
NASCAR is being sued by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for anti-trust violations claiming it operates as a monopoly. Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing. Jenkins is the owner of Front Row Motorsports. Those were the only two organizations of the 15 in NASCAR that did not sign agreements in 2024 on new charters.
A NASCAR charter is considered a franchise in other sports leagues.
NASCAR Trial Day 3 Details With Bob Jenkins Testimony
During Wednesday’s third day of the trial, NASCAR Executive Vice President in Charge of Strategy Scott Prime was back on the stand. Jenkins followed and gave emotional testimony, according to Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press.
Jenkins testified he was “honestly very hurt” by a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer on a new charter agreement that came with a deadline of mere hours to sign the 112-page document. He said he was out to dinner with his parents and had no cell signal when the charter offer came in.
“There was a lot of passion, a lot of emotion, especially from Joe Gibbs, he felt like he had to sign it,” Jenkins testified. “Joe Gibbs felt like he let me down by signing. Not a single owner said, ‘I was happy to sign it. Not a single one.’”
Jenkins said the charter agreements arrived at 6 p.m. Friday with a midnight deadline to sign them. He felt the timing was deliberate as “no attorney on the East Coast was available to read a 112-page document” according to Fryer’s AP report.
He claimed NASCAR “knew we had to blindly sign it. Some of these owners have $500-$600 million facilities, long-term sponsors. They couldn’t walk away from that.”
Jenkins asked for and received an extension on signing but testified NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps made clear it was for review purposes only and told Jenkins, “negotiations are concluded. We are not re-opening the document,” according to AP.
“It was insulting, it went so far backward,” Jenkins testified. “NASCAR wanted to run the governance with an iron fist, it was like taxation without representation. NASCAR has the right to do whatever it wants.”
Later, Jenkins testified, “This is not about bashing the France family. They’ve made a lot of great decisions. This charter is not one of them.”
More Team Owners Prepare To Testify In NASCAR Trial
Other team owners are on the list to testify beginning Friday. Those include Heather Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing, former RFK Racing President Steve Newmark, now the Associate Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina, Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells and team owners Rick Hendrick, Roger Penske and Richard Childress.
US District Judge Kenneth D. Bell informed attorney Jeffrey Kelser, who represents 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, that he wanted the jury to hear financial details for each team. NASCAR attorney Chris Yates said the finances for Hendrick’s and Penske’s teams were in their depositions, according to Deb Williams of AutoWeek.
Bell instructed both legal teams to ask general questions regarding team finances.
“You don’t have to go line-by-line over profits and losses,” Bell told attorneys according to William’s report. “I don’t like crucial pieces of evidence being excluded from the public.”
NASCAR Trial Text Message Trail
One issue that has taken up attention was communications that showed NASCAR executives tried to lock the tracks it competes on into exclusivity clauses that would prohibit them from hosting other events, according to Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press.
In the AP report, Kessler showed an agreement with Las Vegas Motor Speedway in which NASCAR implemented a clause in which the track could not host a rival stock car series for two years after its deal with NASCAR expires.
Kessler also showed communications between Prime, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell in which the three expressed frustration with NASCAR chairman Jim France and vice chair Lesa France Kennedy because the owners of the series refused to offer any concessions in negotiations.
It was revealed the NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps worried the current charter proposal had “zero wins for the teams.” NASCAR President Steve Phelps believed the agreement would set NASCAR back to 1998 and it would go back to being a “dictatorship, redneck, Southern tiny sport.”
“From my point of view, where we landed was strong for the two teams,” Prime said.
Prime also admitted he was not familiar with sanctioning agreements and had no knowledge of the split between CART and IndyCar that began in 1996 and didn’t end until 2008. That split deeply impacted IndyCar, setting it back decades in terms of popularity.
Texts from NASCAR officials have been made public in the trial, including a meeting with NASCAR Vice Chairman Lesa France Kennedy writing, “the teams won’t get everything they want, and hopefully we can meet in the middle.”
O’Donnell’s response was, “I just asked for someone in the room to point out how any of our positions are going to grow the sport and positions us for a big rights renewal in the future.”
To that point, Phelps responded, “Productive? Insanity. Zero wins for the teams.” He also believed a charter proposal “must reflect a middle position or we are dead in the water.”
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI did not agree with the new charter the proposal and refused to sign, while the other NASCAR team organizations agreed to it. NASCAR has since taken away the charters for 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, who are operating as “Open” teams for each NASCAR race and are not protected for each NASCAR Cup Series race.
The NASCAR trial continues Thursday, December 4 and is expected to last a total of two weeks.
NASCAR Humiliated in Court as Team Owner’s $16M Loss Claim Shatters “Offensive” Calls
In the months leading up to Michael Jordan’s lawsuit against NASCAR, tensions were escalating. Many Cup Series team owners confessed to massive financial struggles due to the Next-Gen car and the charter system. They spoke collectively as part of the Race Team Alliance, and included even Rick Hendrick. However, things changed following the new charter deal in October 2024. Now, one team owner testified to jaw-dropping economic challenges.
NASCAR lawsuit reveals bitter truth
Journalist Adam Stern wrote on X, “Asked about @NASCAR’s phrasing that it originally gave charters out for free in 2016, @Team_FRM owner Bob Jenkins said it was “a little hard to swallow when I heard that,” because he says that he lost $8.5 million in the two prior years during which time FRM qualified for them.”
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On the third day of the NASCAR lawsuit’s trial, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins felt ‘offended’ by the sanctioning body’s defense. NASCAR’s attorney claimed that the Cup Series teams overspend and thereby lose money, and Jenkins was concerned about that as well. When FRM first appeared in the Cup Series in 2004, it failed to qualify for races. Stanton Barrett finally cut the following season at Bristol Motor Speedway in the No. 92 Chevrolet. However, Jenkins claimed that the team did not profit in the first ten years, as well as since the charters have come into existence.
Journalist Jeff Gluck wrote about Bob Jenkins’ testimony in the NASCAR lawsuit. “Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins is testifying now. He has revealed some numbers: — Front Row loses $6.8 million per year — He has never made a profit, nor has he even taken a salary from FRM — He had nine unsponsored races this year where he ran his own companies on the car to avoid a blank car — Pre Next Gen he spent $1.8 million per year on parts; with Next Gen he spends $4.7 million a year on parts. It costs $30k to repair a non-wrecked car each week because the nose and tail must be sent back regardless to the vendor and teams cannot repair it themselves.”
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These jaw-dropping figures may deliver a sharp blow to sport’s defense in the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit. Even Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, testified on Tuesday that he spent more than $700,000 on the series in 2022 alone. Besides these financial revelations, the monopolistic side of NASCAR was also portrayed.
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Uncovering the new deal’s conditions
The prime basis of the NASCAR lawsuit has been the charter system. And especially the new charter deal signed in October 2024, and the circumstances under which it was signed. NASCAR strategy chief Scott Prime was on the stand, and he referred to a 2024 email depicting four demands of race teams. They said that they may need to explore other options if NASCAR does not agree to those demands. This heightened concerns of a breakaway stock car series. And NASCAR had some solutions, like reducing the number of charters or presenting a take-it-or-leave-it clause.
Then-NASCAR President Steve Phelps projected his opinion in an email. “You accurately reflected our options. They are playing with fire. Lots of options, but all have the same theme: Pick a date and they can sign or lose their charters. It is that simple.” And Jeffrey Kessler, 23XI and FRM’s attorney, stated on this email: “Only a monopolist could say this. Only a monopolist has the power to say, ‘Take my offer and if you don’t take it, you will no longer be in this business, and someone else will take your place.’”
Clearly, the NASCAR lawsuit is getting raw to the bone with each passing day of trial. Let’s wait and see how it climaxes in the end.
Displeased Judge Bell Explodes on NASCAR Lawyers Caught Red-Handed In Dirty Courtroom Tactics
On Monday, Judge Kenneth D. Bell issued a warning. It marked the first day of the NASCAR lawsuit trial, and Judge Bell warned both sides of the case against ‘confrontational’ exhibits. Ever since its launch in October 2024, the lawsuit had turned bitter multiple times. From personal attacks to jaw-dropping text messages, the animosity has been no less. However, the courtroom snubbed NASCAR for attempting to continue that trend on Wednesday.
NASCAR lawsuit touches sensitive topics
Journalist Matt Weaver wrote on X, “Judge Bell admonished NASCAR’s lawyers…Twice they have violated court orders. 1) Asking Bob Jenkins about his non-NASCAR businesses when it was agreed upon in advance that it wasnt on the table and disclosing a Jeff Dickerson text message verbally when it wasnt admissible evidence. Bell said this will not be tolerated and the next time it happens, from either party, there will be significant consequences.”
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Outside of his Front Row Motorsports team, Bob Jenkins owns a fast-food franchise. His testimony at the NASCAR lawsuit was eye-opening, as he revealed dire financial crises. He said that the team has lost $16.3 million in the last three years, and approximately $70 million during the last 11 years. Besides FRM dodging profits, even Jenkins has not taken a salary from his team. Instead of running nine races without primary sponsors in 2025, he used his own brands on the cars’ liveries.
These struggles were starkly juxtaposed with NASCAR’s financial disposition. According to 23XI Racing and FRM attorney Jeffrey Kessler, the Florida-based France family earned $400 million over three years. A 2023 evaluation by Goldman Sachs found NASCAR to be worth $5 billion. The pretrial discovery process also revealed that Jim France‘s sport made more than $100 million in 2024.
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Hence, Bob Jenkins struck a sympathetic chord amongst the NASCAR lawsuit’s jury, as journalist Jeff Gluck said. The cross-examination that he faced from NASCAR’s attorneys did not sit well with the courtroom at all. A crucial avenue of financial loss for Jenkins was the Next-Gen car. FRM would spend approximately $1.8 million on parts annually before the Gen 7 car’s arrival. And that has since jumped to $4.7 million. Even if the team’s drivers emerge from races unscathed, Jenkins has to bear a $30,000 cost for each car to have its tail and nose returned to the vendor for repairs.
FRM’s dire state of affairs clearly moved the courtroom. However, that was not all, as Denny Hamlin also shared his team’s story.
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Dodging a calamitous result
“All it takes is one sponsor to go away, and all our profit is gone,” Denny Hamlin testified for the NASCAR lawsuit on Tuesday. He also continued about not signing the 2024 charter deal. “I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” he said, later adding: “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow as a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part. You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly, and I knew it wasn’t right. They were wrong, and someone needed to be held accountable.”
Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan, outlined a history of losses for his Cup Series team. Three years ago, more than $703,000 was paid to NASCAR for things like entry fees, credentials for team members to enter the track, and even access to Internet signals. Meanwhile, he and Jordan spent $100 million to build the team from scratch. The reason for 23XI’s financial success was simply Jordan’s star power as an NBA legend. Even then, the losses did not stop – the team spends $20 million per Next-Gen car.
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Clearly, the revelation of these financial facts are key to deciding the NASCAR lawsuit’s path. Let’s wait and see how it all pans out.
Front Row Motorsports’ Bob Jenkins takes the stand in NASCAR antitrust case
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins testified in a North Carolina federal court on Wednesday that he finds it “offensive” to say NASCAR teams overspend.
Jenkins, who filed a joint antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR with 23XI Racing, spent much of Wednesday’s proceedings on the witness stand. It began around 2:30 p.m. ET with one of the team’s lawyers having Jenkins introduce himself to the court through his background and how he got into the sport as a team owner. He explained that he started as a charter member of the Dale Earnhardt fan club before having the chance to sponsor through his Taco Bell franchise, and eventually founded his Cup Series team.
It was during this portion of his testimony that Jenkins admitted his organization has not made money in any year of its existence. There have been cost-cutting measures, however, and he mentioned implementing layoffs and temporary layoffs.
“Whatever we had to do,” Jenkins said.
In the two years before NASCAR awarded Jenkins two charters under the original agreement (2016), he said the organization lost $8.5 million. But he feels that Front Row has a reputation of doing more with less, and that’s where he mentioned it being offensive to say his, or any team, overspends.
“We have to have a model that works for us,” said Jenkins.
The charter system was something Jenkins favored and said it “gave us some stability.” The positives are that drivers, sponsors, and fans know they will be in the race. The guaranteed entry was also a big positive for team owners.
Jenkins insisted he does not have an issue with the system; but rather with what is in the agreement. Jenkins said he has not made a profit even with the implementation of the charter system. As such, even during the financial struggles, he has bought, sold, and leased charters over the years, seeing it as an opportunity to make money or break even.
Front Row Motorsports has lost $6.8 million annually in operating costs, and it costs approximately $20 million per year to race a car. The organization is worth $60.9 million.
Jenkins said he does not take a salary from the race team, which he said is not his day job, and stated that he’s only at the shop six to eight times a year. Jerry Freeze, the team president, handles the day-to-day operations.
The other businesses that Freeze has would become a point of contention under cross-examination by NASCAR. But before that came, Freeze continued to testify about the finances and why he didn’t sign the 2025 charter agreement.
Freeze first explained that he didn’t like the 2016 agreement but signed it in the hopes that the next one would be better. But he found that it went “virtually backwards in so many ways” and he did not sign it after consulting with his two oldest sons. The reason is that Jenkins hopes to one day pass the race team on to them, and he wanted everyone on the same page about what to do.
“It honestly hurt” when NASCAR gave the deadline to sign, and although Jenkins said he appreciated the extension for 23XI and Front Row, he stated it still felt like NASCAR “had them over a barrel” because 13 others had already signed. Jenkins, however, said no team owner told him they were happy to sign.
“This is not about bashing the France family,” Jenkins said. “This charter agreement is not one of them.”
NASCAR’s cross-examination of Jenkins began shortly before 4:00 p.m. ET. The first thing NASCAR’s lawyer did was have Jenkins acknowledge that his other business, particularly Charter Foods, is his day job. They then went on to explain that Long John Silver’s, one of the franchises Jenkins has owned, is now owned by his sons.
Long John Silver’s has appeared on the Front Row cars, a point NASCAR has made many times, noting that the organization does not get paid. NASCAR emphasized that Jenkins did not have his sons pay for the races they appeared in, yet reaped the benefits. Meanwhile, he wants the jury to award him millions of dollars.
Jenkins explained that he only puts those businesses on his cars when there is no sponsor. It was better than running a blank car, which Jenkins says doesn’t look good and doesn’t help sell sponsorship.
NASCAR then moved on to how Jenkins made deals in which a driver or partner could donate to the Lakeway Christian Schools he founded instead of paying the race team. One example was Matt Tifft, who had a contract to race for Front Row, paying $2.6 million, but his family trust could donate that to the school.
Tifft never finished the contract because he was sidelined with a medical issue, and therefore, the payment to the school was never made. It would have come from the Tifft family trust, which shared Jenkins’s beliefs.
Another example was that Jenkins had a conversation with Denny Hamlin in 2021 about merging with 23XI Racing. In those scenario, Jenkins would have sold his two charters and allowed donations to the schools instead of paying him. That proposal never came to fruition, and Jenkins used that as another way to forcefully tell NASCAR that no one has ever made a donation to the schools. But they could keep talking all day about money that didn’t go to his race team.
NASCAR also argued that Jenkins was losing money before the charter agreement and is now blaming the series and suing over it. They also brought up that, with a charter system, Jenkins wanted smaller field sizes, which would “free up” money for his team. Jenkins refuted that notion, but said he does believe in smaller fields because it would make things healthier, whereas allowing part-time teams doesn’t add value to the series.
Jenkins will continue under cross-examination on Thursday morning.
Sports fans are pumped as a popular simulation game is about to celebrate 20 years by going mobile
As a huge baseball fan, I used to love playing a baseball simulation game called Strat-O-Matic baseball. Each major league player has a card that uses percentages to capture his real-life performance. I started playing the game in 1968 and it remains popular. Those were the pre-computer days, and many serious baseball fans would play Strat-O-Matic or rival APBA baseball. In high school, I used to argue with the sports editor of the high school paper, Keth Olberman, about which game was better as he was a big fan of APBA. (As a footnote, I ended up replacing Keith as sports editor of the Hackley Dial when he graduated a year before me).
MLB: The Show is celebrating its 20th anniversary by going mobile
Then came the PC games. Ironically, they are not as statistically accurate as Strat-O-Matic is, but many prefer seeing a simulated game play out on a computer screen rather than using their imagination. One of the most popular of the computer games has been
Miguel Rojas Dodgers free-agent contract
The Dodgers and veteran infielder Miguel Rojas agreed to reunite on a one-year, $5.5 million deal on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the deal.
Rojas, who hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning of World Series Game 7 that set the table for the Dodgers to repeat as champions, has said that the 2026 season will be his last in the big leagues. He was open about his desire to return to Los Angeles, with whom he made his Major League debut in 2014, for his final year.
Primarily serving in a bench role, Rojas hit .262 and played quality defense at second base, third base and shortstop in 2025. He was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove at the utility position.
An unlikely Fall Classic hero, Rojas started the final two games of the World Series at second base after more than three weeks of not being in the starting lineup. With the Dodgers down to their final two outs, he saved the season with an improbable solo homer off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman that ultimately allowed L.A. to win in 11 innings to secure the ninth championship in franchise history.
Five MLB teams that are one move away from contending
With MLB’s winter meetings set to begin next week in Orlando, many teams are already in the middle of their quests to improve their rosters this offseason.
Some of those teams are franchises that missed out on the postseason in 2025 or made it to October but didn’t have the firepower to advance past other talented teams.
So which teams could be this year’s October darlings if they make a big move in the offseason to boost their rosters? Here are five MLB teams to keep an eye on, listed in alphabetical order.
Athletics
The Athletics finished 76-86 last season and have a lineup anchored by American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker and plenty of others who are dangerous at the plate. If the Athletics could land a true ace to lead the rotation, they could be a disruptor in a deep AL West this season.
Don’t forget the A’s finished last season with a 34-24 flourish, so the pieces are already there to have a strong 2026.
Atlanta Braves
Like the Athletics, Atlanta finished 76-86 last season. However, while the A’s might have surprised a few with that record, finishing 10 games below .500 was a big disappointment for the Braves, a team that is used to competing for the National League East title.
The Braves caught the brunt of injuries last year to key players such as Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley and Spencer Strider, so staying healthy will be a key this season for Atlanta under the eye of first-year manager Walt Weiss.
Atlanta has to get more answers at shortstop this season, and the trade for Mauricio Dubon may provide the missing link there in 2026.
Cincinnati Reds
Rumors are linking Kyle Schwarber to the Reds, and a bat with that kind of potential would do an immense amount of good for a team that was 21st in home runs and 19th in OPS last season.
Despite the lack of firepower last season, the Reds made it to the postseason. Getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the wild card round, however, showcased the need for Cincinnati to continue to improve in 2026 to compete with the deeper teams in baseball.
Detroit Tigers
Prospects Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle may help the Tigers be better in 2026, but there still needs to be a veteran presence who can do damage at the plate in order for Detroit to be taken seriously as a World Series contender.
With Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal still in the fold for this season, Detroit making that move to grab a big bat that can go alongside Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene is a must this offseason.
Kansas City Royals
Also in the American League Central, the Royals fell short of the postseason in 2025, finishing at 82-80. The talent is still there for the Royals, but Kansas City has to figure out how to get more production from its outfield to make an October appearance this season.
As this ESPN.com article points out,
Shotaro Morii returns to MLB Cup eight years after winning it
Eight years ago, A’s two-way prospect Shotaro Morii was just a 10-year-old student with a dream of playing baseball. That year, he arrived to Japan’s MLB Cup, a tournament featuring over 1,700 fourth- and fifth-grade ballplayers, where he and his team eventually won it all.
Winter Meetings Reddit AMA with reporter Mark Feinsand
Feinsand: I believe that the Reds do have a shot at signing Schwarber, though I certainly wouldn’t label them as the favorites. Cincinnati is looking for a big bat in the middle of the lineup, and if Schwarber has any interest in playing close to home (he’s from nearby Middletown, Ohio), the Reds are the only team that can offer him that. It will, in all likelihood, come down to money as it does with most free agents, but GABP is a great hitters’ park and should be attractive to a slugger such as Schwarber. Cincy is highly unlikely to be the highest bidder, but if the offer is competitive, I don’t think it’s impossible. Based on conversations I have had, I would put their chances around 15%, which is a [little bit] higher than I would have said a month ago.
Feinsand: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels dipped into both of those markets. Even with the acquisition of Grayson Rodriguez, Los Angeles still needs a frontline starter, and I have heard Gallen’s name connected to them a few times this offseason. I also think they could be in the market for either Murakami or Okamoto, as corner infield is a need.
Feinsand: I would say Bichette is the more likely candidate to sign with the Jays, as there is less competition for his services than for Tucker, who is on the radar of a number of big-market clubs. Still, I wouldn’t rule out Tucker at all. Could they sign both? Toronto certainly has enough money to do it if that’s what ownership wants to do, though that would be a pretty big commitment, especially after signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to his huge extension last year. One way or another, there’s at least one more big move coming for the defending AL champs.
Feinsand: I don’t know if it qualifies as an actual rumor, but any and all talk about Paul Skenes being traded — specifically to the Yankees — is just insane. The Pirates aren’t trading Skenes this offseason (I won’t guarantee anything beyond that), especially as we keep hearing about them spending some money in free agency. Anything you hear about Skenes being traded to the Yankees should be disregarded — at least for this winter.
Feinsand: The most logical players to look at are those who rejected the qualifying offer, as the draft-pick compensation can often slow a free agent’s market. Of the nine that rejected the QO, the one that might have an issue with this is Zac Gallen, though given the need for pitching around the league, I’m guessing he will find a solid deal anyway. Some of the players that took a long time to find deals last year — think Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman — won’t have that issue to deal with this time around.
Q: How active do you expect the Winter Meetings to be this season? Do you think we’ll see Kyle Tucker (who I think a lot of people expect to sort of “hold up” the outfield market) sign at them? Will we see any of the Japanese guys sign at them?
Feinsand: I’m expecting a pretty active Winter Meetings, actually. We’re still at Dec. 3 and we’ve already seen some notable free-agent signings (Dylan Cease, Josh Naylor, Ryan Helsley, Devin Williams and Cody Ponce), as well as three pretty big trades (Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien, Sonny Gray to Boston, Taylor Ward-GrayRod). It’s difficult to say which players might sign next week, but I could see the starting pitching market begin to move with pitchers like Michael King and Ranger Suárez. The relief market could also be active after Helsley and Williams have already signed. I don’t know if Tucker will get done next week, but the only player I think will wait for Tucker is Cody Bellinger, who is being pursued by many of the same teams. As for the three Japanese players who have been posted (Murakami, [Tatsuya] Imai and Okamoto), I would think their situations would extend deeper into December and closer to their posting deadlines, though if a team comes in strong, we could see any of them sign during the Meetings.
Q: What were the Marlins asking for Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera during the Deadline that none of them were moved? If it was so high, do you think the Marlins’ asking price might have come down this offseason? Chances Yankees moved to get Alcantara without giving any top prospect?
Feinsand: The asking price was high in terms of prospects, even while Alcantara wasn’t pitching well. That price hasn’t gone down, so I don’t think the Yankees (or any other team) will be able to acquire him without giving up a top prospect. That, of course, is assuming Alcantara is traded at all, which is no sure thing. Based on conversations with sources, the Marlins could hold both Alcantara and Cabrera this winter and reassess where they are come July.
Feinsand: Detroit continues to be connected to Alex Bregman, though pitching — both rotation and bullpen — appear to be a bigger priority for the Tigers. Michael King and Ranger Suárez are among the pitchers on Detroit’s radar. Pete Fairbanks is one of the relievers the Tigers have their eye on, but there are probably 8-10 relievers that could wind up in Detroit.
Feinsand: The fact that Imai seems unlikely to go to the Dodgers opens up the Yankees’ chances, though the Giants could be the biggest threat to New York or any other team interested in Imai. The biggest question with the Giants is whether they’re willing to spend six figures on a starter, because that seems like what it’s going to take to sign Imai. The Yankees signed Masahiro Tanaka a little more than a decade ago and made a splash with Hideki Matsui, so there is precedent for New York taking a big shot at a Japanese star.
Feinsand: I would think the Yankees would be in on Tucker if they don’t sign Bellinger, though I am also skeptical that Bellinger will sign before Tucker. Once Tucker signs, Bellinger’s leverage grows considerably, not only with the Yankees, but with other teams that are in on Tucker. Plan B, in the event that the Yankees don’t get either of them, would probably be to sign another outfielder (not on the same level as those two) unless they truly believe that Jasson Domínguez and/or Spencer Jones are ready to assume an everyday role.
Feinsand: Based on conversations I have had this offseason, the Twins appear more likely to hold Buxton, Ryan and López and try to add on the margins than to trade any or all of those three. If the first half of the season doesn’t go well, Minnesota could look to move any or all of them next summer, but if I had to guess right now, they’ll all be in Twins uniforms when Spring Training begins.
Feinsand: I do believe that the Pirates are sincere in their interest to spend money this winter, though I don’t know if they’re going to be playing in the market for someone like Schwarber. I think a more realistic option would be a guy like Eugenio Suárez, who has huge power and would make an instant impact on Pittsburgh’s lineup.
Feinsand: I think the Phillies’ window will still be open for the next two or three years, though some of that depends on how they handle their business this winter. Does Schwarber return? What about J.T. Realmuto? I would assume that No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter replaces Ranger Suárez in the rotation, but the Phillies need to build up their bullpen. There is also a belief around the league that Philly could be in the market for a third baseman (Bregman, maybe?), which would mean a trade of Alec Bohm. Bryce Harper (1B) and Trea Turner (SS) are locked into those positions, while Bryson Stott (2B) is under control for two more years. Aidan Miller, the team’s No. 2 prospect, could move to 2B or 3B at some point if the Phillies believe he’s ready to make an impact at the big-league level.
How worst MLB teams can improve in 2026
There are plenty of holes to fill on these rosters, but the Hot Stove provides plenty of opportunities to do just that. And each of these teams has positives to point toward. So here is a closer look at these six clubs: What has gone wrong, what they have going for them, what they might do to end their streak of losing seasons … and the chances that they actually will.
What has gone wrong: Well, it’s fair to say the A’s have had a tumultuous few years since their last winning season. It might be asking a lot of any team to keep a steady ship amidst all the movement and transition the A’s have been dealing with, but even as they played their first season in West Sacramento as they prepare for their eventual move to Las Vegas, the problem remains simple: Pitching. The A’s always have hitters — and they have even more than usual now — but the old
MLB Rumors: 6 Desperate Teams Could Trigger Fierce Trade War for Twins’ $100M Star Outfielder
Center field has quietly turned into the position frustrating teams the most this offseason. There aren’t many true centerfielders out there, and the demand is completely outpacing the supply. Sure, free agency has its share of solid bats, arms, and players at other positions, but center field? Not so much.
For reference, the Phillies grabbed Harrison Bader at the deadline, only to watch him walk a few months later. The Mets tried Cedric Mullins, but he turned out to be a huge disappointment. And now the remaining options are… Bader, who can hit, but he’s not exactly a lockdown defender anymore.
Cody Bellinger can play center, but at this point, he’s more of a temporary fix than a long-term answer.
And that’s why the Twins’ true, everyday centerfielder has suddenly become one of the hottest names of the entire offseason.
“Another theoretical trade option is Byron Buxton of the Twins. His contract gives him full no-trade protection through 2026, though it then drops to just a five-team no-trade list for the final two years of the deal,” MLB Trade Rumors reported.
So yes, even though teams like the Phillies, Mets, Rays, Orioles, Diamondbacks, and Royals are all chasing Byron Buxton, everything really hinges on whether the Twins are ready to move him. If you remember, he got a no-trade clause that doesn’t kick in until 2026.
However, it shrinks to a five-team list for the final two years of his deal. And with $45 million left to be paid from his $100 million deal till 2029, Buxton is a good bet for the suitors.
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And the big twist? Recent reports say Buxton is actually willing to waive his no-trade clause!!!
But what is it about Buxton that has all six suitors scrambling?
Well, he’s coming off a season where he launched 35 HRs, stole 24 bases, and put up a .264/.327/.551 line. The downside, of course, is his injury history: between 2018 and 2023, he never played more than 92 games in a season.
Still, his defense is what sets him apart. Notably, in a thin centerfield market, he wins the 2025 Jim Kaat Award and reminds everyone why he posted 23 DRS back in 2017.
But even though these six teams are leading the chase, don’t be shocked if a surprise contender swoops in for Buxton out of nowhere. Because with the scarcity at centerfield this offseason, everyone’s watching.
Another big fish is rumored to be behind Byron Buxton
And that big fish is none other than the Dodgers! Well, any big-ticket free agents without the Dodgers rumored to be involved are rare in MLB.
As reported by Tim Keown of ESPN, Twins center fielder Byron Buxton is the trade target he’d most like to see land with the Dodgers. And guess what, Buxton just played 126 games, which is encouraging, though the injury concerns are still very real. But that’s precisely why the Dodgers make so much sense… Why?
Their roster depth is unmatched, and they can absorb injuries better than anyone during the regular season.
And with the Dodgers’ Michael Conforto move backfiring in 2025, they’re suddenly back in the market for a true centerfielder.
Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernandez seem locked into the corner spots, and sliding Buxton into center would complete the picture perfectly.
And while the Twins are going to expect a strong return for him, if there’s a team willing to go big, especially with six others in the mix, the Dodgers might be the one ready to make that splash.
Blue Jays meet with Kyle Tucker
TORONTO — The Blue Jays might just be getting started. Kyle Tucker, the top player in this winter’s free-agent class, visited with the Blue Jays at their player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com.
Tucker lives in nearby Tampa, making the visit an easy one, but this still speaks to the Blue Jays’ interest in landing the 28-year-old, who could command a contract that blows past $300 million. The Blue Jays remain interested in a reunion with Bo Bichette, too, but with Bichette having spent nearly a decade with the organization, no guided tour is required there.
This all feels so similar to the Blue Jays’ pursuit of Shohei Ohtani two offseasons ago, which included a tour of the complex. This pursuit won’t come with all of the drama — including that famous Zoom call when GM Ross Atkins refused to reveal where in the world he actually was — but the stakes are still incredibly high.
This offseason had some surprise momentum from the very start when Shane Bieber picked up his $16 million player option in November, and after landing the big fish in Cease, the Blue Jays agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with right-hander Cody Ponce, who comes back from four seasons in Japan and Korea as a talent reborn. This rotation is one of the best in baseball — one of the deepest, too — but the Blue Jays need a big bat.
Tucker’s fit with the Blue Jays is obvious. Yes, a talent like Tucker fits with any organization, but he does all of the things that define “Blue Jays baseball.” That’s a new idea, forged by the 2025 team, but it’s here to stay. Tucker puts the ball in play, gets on base and does it all with some thump behind his approach, good for an .865 OPS with between 20 and 30 home runs in each of his past five seasons. Any questions about Toronto can easily be fielded by some old teammates, too, including George Springer and Myles Straw.
Toronto’s outfield needs should be a bigger storyline, too. Just as Bichette would slide in naturally to the spot he just vacated on the middle infield — whether that be second base or shortstop — Tucker fills a legitimate need beyond his talent alone.
Daulton Varsho will be a free agent after 2026. The same goes for Springer, who’s more of a DH by now, and Anthony Santander will surely take some of those DH at-bats when Springer’s time in Toronto is done. The Blue Jays have some development success stories in the outfield, from Nathan Lukes to Addison Barger and Davis Schneider, but it’s been entirely too long since this organization developed an All-Star-caliber talent in the outfield. Tucker is just that, year in and year out.
Money matters, of course. Tucker will not come close to the mega-deals signed by Juan Soto or Ohtani — even half of Ohtani’s $700 million may be tough to scratch — but any deal could push $30 million per season or more. The Blue Jays will already begin paying Vladimir Guerrero Jr. handsomely along with Cease, but their books are set up well in the coming years. As long as Rogers ownership is determined to push in, the Blue Jays are built to sustain this spending without any albatross contracts on their books and no clear season coming over the hill that will cause a financial logjam.
This isn’t new ground for the Blue Jays now. They know how it feels to reel in the big fish, and fresh off their best season in more than three decades, one that brought a love for baseball back to life across the national market in Canada, they’re hungry for more.
Giants Face Tense Rule 5 Draft with Three Top Prospects Unprotected
The San Francisco Giants have a solid farm system. But they can’t hang onto all of them, and the theory will be tested at the Rule 5 draft next week at the MLB winter meetings.
When the Rule 5 deadline passed, the Giants left three prospects unprotected that were listed among the Top 35 players that could be taken in the Rule 5 draft by Baseball America (subscription required).
Those prospects are right-handed pitcher Tyler Vogel, left-handed pitcher Jack Choate and right-handed pitcher Will Bednar.
San Francisco Giants Prospects That Could Be Picked
Vogel was a 12th round pick out of Jacksonville in 2022 and is Rule 5 eligible because he’s been a pro baseball player for four years after signing his contract after his 19th birthday. He pitched at three different affiliates, including Triple-A Sacramento, and he went a combined 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 40 relief appearances, with nine saves in nine chances. If he’s selected, he could be a future closer.
Scouts at Baseball America highlighted his 25.4% strikeout rate, his 10.2% walk rate and 45.3% ground ball rate. But he’s only pitched 18 innings at Sacramento and likely won’t be ready for the Majors until late 2026.
Choate was also a 2022 draft pick out of college, but he played at Division II Assumption. He needs more time to get to the Majors, which may keep other teams from selecting him. He went 4-6 with a 3.51 ERA in 2025, pitching mostly with Double-A Richmond. He pitched 102.1 innings in 29 games (24 starts) and struck out 123 and walked 51. He held batters to a .247 batting average.
Bednar was the Giants’ first-round pick in 2021 out of Mississippi State. He finally got to Sacramento last season, though he only pitched in two games. So, any team selecting him will probably need to give him one more year in the minors. In 38 relief appearances he went 2-3 with a 5.68 ERA with three holds and a save two chances. San Francisco sees him as a reliever now. Will that help or hurt his Rule 5 draft chances?
A prospective suitor for any of the Giants’ prospects must have an open spot on the 40-man roster. If he’s selected, that team must roster the selection on the 40-man immediately and pay the Giants $100,000.
The player must remain on the MLB roster the entire season but can be moved to the IL for legitimate injuries. If that player isn’t kept at any point in 2026, he must be put on waivers, and any team can pick him up — but that team must assume the Rule 5 responsibilities. If he clears waivers, he must be offered back to the Giants for $50,000. If the Giants don’t want him, then he becomes a free agent.
San Francisco is gambling that teams that have 40-man spots won’t want to go to the trouble of selecting any of their prospects.
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Dodgers’ Dave Roberts approves of an MLB salary cap with one caveat
Dave Roberts, the man who has managed the big-spending Dodgers, says he’s open to a salary cap in Major League Baseball — but he’d also like to see a salary floor if it ever came to it.
Roberts appeared on Sports on Prime’s “Good Sports With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson” when he was asked about the idea.
“You know what? I’m all right with that,” Roberts said after Thompson asked about it during the Tuesday night appearance. “I think the NBA has done a nice job of revenue sharing with the players and the owners. But if you’re going to kind of suppress spending at the top, I think that you got to raise the floor to make those bottom-feeders spend money, too.”
A salary cap is something MLB owners are likely hoping to see when they negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association, and it could be a big sticking point in talks.
MLBPA leadership has indicated it’s a topic they won’t even entertain.
The Dodgers, back-to-back World Series champions, have been the prime argument for those in favor of a cap, with Los Angeles’ payroll somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 million, including their luxury tax bill.
And in the offseason before the 2024 season, the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to massive contracts.
The exorbitant spending has also made the Dodgers the modern-day “Evil Empire,” with Roberts even leaning into the criticism about the team’s spending by declaring that the Dodgers would “really ruin baseball” by winning their second consecutive World Series title after defeating the Brewers to take the NL pennant.
MLB is the only North American sports league that does not have a salary cap, though with the current CBA set to expire on Dec. 1, 2026, a change could be coming.
Four iPhones will provide live footage of Saturday’s MLS Cup
Saturday’s Major League Soccer championship match between Inter Miami and the Whitecaps will incorporate footage from four iPhones. Apple previously used iPhones to capture live game footage during two Friday Night Baseball broadcasts.
MLS said that the weekend telecast will involve the league’s largest ever set of cameras, giving fans access to an unprecedented range of angles …
The league told Sports Business Journal you’ll be able to identify the iPhone footage thanks to a small on-screen Shot on iPhone graphic.
The four iPhones will be part of the league’s largest-ever camera arsenal for its championship match. With more than 30 cameras, fans will have access to an expanded range of angles, including goal robotic cameras, referee cam, dedicated isocams on coaches and players and drone coverage.
The use of the Apple devices during MLS Cup is a unique extension of the technology company’s ongoing “Shot on iPhone” marketing campaign, which seeks to demonstrate the iPhone’s ability to capture and produce high-quality content. Anytime footage from an iPhone is being shown during Saturday’s telecast, there will be a small on-screen graphic indicating the footage is being “Shot on iPhone.”
MLS exec Seth Bacon said that the initiative was one of the benefits of its partnership with Apple.
“The ability for us to integrate this and maintain that same level of integrity and quality in the pictures is really a testament to the partnership we have with Apple,” Bacon said. “Being partnered with the world’s biggest technology company, you have the ability to innovate and try new things.”
The league’s confidence in the quality of the footage is demonstrated by the fact that one key angle will be provided entirely by an iPhone.
The most ambitious use case for the iPhone during Saturday’s telecast will be as a high end zone camera. “Anytime you see a shot looking down the field from a high angle behind the goal that’s going to be shot entirely on an iPhone,” Bacon said.
The match will stream for free on Apple TV.
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Nancy leaves Columbus Crew to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Wilfried Nancy left his role as coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old Frenchman coached Crew for three years, leading the team to the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup and being named coach of the year in MLS in 2024.
Celtic is defending its title in the Scottish Premiership and, after a slow start to the season, is in second place — two points behind Hearts.
The team has won the last four top-flight titles and is on 55 overall, the same as fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.
Nancy described Celtic as “one of the world’s proper football clubs” because of its “real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for.”
“I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey,” he said. “I know what Celtic means to so many people and my No. 1 aim will be simple — to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.”
Nancy will begin his tenure on Thursday.
Since the departure of Brendan Rodgers on Oct. 27, Martin O’Neill has been in temporary charge of the team.
Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond said O’Neill had done a “wonderful job” to “bring us through these last few weeks positively.”
“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man — a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”
___
Wilfried Nancy leaves Columbus Crew to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Wilfried Nancy left his role as coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old Frenchman coached Crew for three years, leading the team to the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup and being named coach of the year in MLS in 2024.
Celtic is defending its title in the Scottish Premiership and, after a slow start to the season, is in second place — two points behind Hearts.
The team has won the last four top-flight titles and is on 55 overall, the same as fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.
Nancy described Celtic as “one of the world’s proper football clubs” because of its “real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for.”
“I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey,” he said. “I know what Celtic means to so many people and my No. 1 aim will be simple — to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.”
Nancy will begin his tenure on Thursday.
Since the departure of Brendan Rodgers on Oct. 27, Martin O’Neill has been in temporary charge of the team.
Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond said O’Neill had done a “wonderful job” to “bring us through these last few weeks positively.”
“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man — a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”
___
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Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
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Within the Big Four professional services firms — Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY— auditors are evaluated throughout the year after each client assignment.
Supervisors generally award A-to-D grades on technical competence, teamwork, leadership, and client relationships, creating a paper trail that appears — at least formally — to determine who gets promoted in the firms’
Gilbert Arenas Slams Clippers For Chris Paul Treatment, Move Back To Buffalo!
Instagram/@nochillgil
Gilbert Arenas says the Clippers might as well pack their bags and get the hell outta of Los Angeles … going OFF on the organization for disrespecting Chris Paul by sending him home during his retirement season.
The Clippers parted ways with the 12-time NBA All-Star guard in the middle of the night … and Arenas went to TikTok to go on a passionate rant on the matter on Wednesday.
Tom Aspinall Vows to Become ‘Full-Time Bully’ After Recent Loathing from MMA Community
Tom Aspinall entered UFC 321 with the biggest opportunity of his career, a moment to validate his rise from interim champion to undisputed heavyweight. The bout represented his chance to silence doubts and cement himself as the division’s true champion. However, the abrupt eye-poke ending dramatically altered the emotional tone of his journeys and shifted his outlook on fighting.
The Brit headlined UFC 321 against Ciryl Gane, and the opening round was tightly contested as both exchanged measured techniques. At 4:35 of the first round, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes, stopping the action immediately. Aspinall repeatedly told referee Jason Herzog he couldn’t see, leading to a no-contest ruling. Later updates confirmed he was dealing with blurry vision from the foul.
The ending sparked criticism from parts of the MMA world, with Chael Sonnen and Anthony Smith accusing Aspinall of quitting early. Their remarks amplified an online narrative questioning his toughness despite the clearly illegal sequence. The backlash intensified as fans compared the stoppage to past foul-related incidents. This wave of scrutiny led directly to the comments referenced in the linked coverage.
When I come back, there is no more ‘Mr. Nice Guy’, nice Tom, when it comes to MMA, is gone. And I’m going full bad guy.
Tom Aspinall via YouTube
Aspinall has long been known for his respectful, measured approach, rarely engaging in trash talk. His reactions after UFC 321 stood in sharp contrast to his usual calm persona. The frustration he showed reflected the magnitude of the moment rather than a change in character. It highlighted how deeply the controversial ending affected a fighter who typically avoids drama.
Veteran voices like Jim Miller and Matt Brown stepped in to defend Aspinall as the criticism intensified. Both argued that stricter consequences were needed for repeat foul offenders, using the Gane incident as an example. Miller even demonstrated by using a UFC glove that eye pokes can occur despite a fighter’s intentions, reinforcing Aspinall’s position.
The UFC 321 main event marked Tom Aspinall’s first title defense after being elevated from interim champion without competing. He had hoped the bout would launch a new era for heavyweight contenders and restore the division’s historic allure. Instead, the controversy left his plans temporarily halted and his future momentarily uncertain.
Tom Aspinall lashes out at UFC fans criticizing his performance at UFC 321
Tom Aspinall built a reputation for dominance from his UFC debut, finishing every heavyweight opponent he faced. He secured knockout victories over multiple fighters and also submitted veterans Alexander Volkov and Andre Arlovski. None of his UFC bouts have extended beyond the second round, which has highlighted his fast-paced and decisive fighting style.
UFC 321, Aspinall appeared evenly matched with Ciryl Gane before the fight-ending eye poke. Scorecards indicated a competitive opening round, with Gane also managing to blood Aspinall’s nose. However, many believed this was the reason the British champion quit. This prompted Aspinall to recently clarify that his approach had been strategic pacing rather than aggressive knockout attempts.
I was prepared for the toughest fight of my life. Ciryl Gane is a very, very dangerous opponent. I wasn’t trying to knock him out, I was just trying to pace myself for five rounds. My nose is all good. I’ve probably broken my nose three or four times in my life. If you hit me in the nose, it’s gonna bleed. But mate, the casual, noob, hater MMA fan who sees one bit of blood and thinks that guy’s losing a fight? It’s wild.
Tom Aspinall via The Ariel Helwani Show
Can the OKC Thunder really get to 70 wins? 74? Here’s how they can
The story of this Oklahoma City Thunder team is best told in numbers, and let’s start with this one.
Late Tuesday night, with a 124-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder improved to 21-1, becoming just the third team in NBA history to record such a start or better.
Entering the night, they led the NBA in defensive rating, allowing just 103.6 points per 100 possessions … which was 7.0 fewer than the next closest team.
Entering the night, they led the league with a net rating of 15.3.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 94th consecutive 20-point game, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain (126). SGA ranks second in the league in scoring.
They are — far and away — the most dominant team in the NBA, with stars often resting in fourth quarters because games are so out of hand. But it’s one other number that Oklahoma City is chasing: 74.
Not only are the Thunder on pace to become the first team in 10 seasons to reach 70 wins, they pose a legitimate threat to eclipse the record-setting 73 victories the Warriors achieved in 2015-16. After all, a 70-win season would represent just a modest increase over last season, when they won 68.
To that point, OKC is already superbly locked in, its roster is balanced and deep and coaches and players are almost obsessively nerdy about basketball.
When asked before Tuesday’s game about how Oklahoma City could improve even with their near-unblemished record, coach Mark Daigneault made it clear the Thunder wouldn’t settle.
“I think the first thing is — and this isn’t blowing smoke — it’s like none of that matters tonight,” Daigneault said of his team’s early success. “All the stuff that we’ve done well to this point doesn’t carry over. Tonight’s a new opportunity. The better team tonight will win. That’s the competitive challenge, and that’s one of the beauties of our players: that competitive challenge turns them on.”
Jalen Williams, 24, was a first-time All-Star last season. Recovering from a torn ligament in his right wrist, he missed the first 19 games of this season. Williams is a righty. Unable to shoot with his right hand over the offseason, he became so bored and frustrated that he worked exclusively on his left, even developing an off-hand jumper.
But the Thunder are also built to smother and overwhelm opponents. They pick up full-court pressure just as easily as they clamp down in half-court sets. They emphasize efficiency, ranking second turnover percentage (12.4%) and first in turnovers forced (17.9 per game). They don’t score in runs or bursts; they score in avalanches that squeeze the life out of opponents.
Tuesday night, the Warriors went on a third-quarter run to close the margin from 22, eventually taking a four-point lead in the fourth (103-99). Oklahoma City responded by not pressing and ripping off a 25-9 run to close the game.
Granted, the Thunder have played the NBA’s easiest schedule thus far, and have the league’s toughest remaining slate, so it won’t be an easy path. Oklahoma City will have to evade the pitfalls of complacency.
Their lone loss was an aberration, a two-point defeat on Wednesday, Nov. 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers. For the Thunder to make history, they will not be able to let up.
Tuesday night’s opposing coach, Steve Kerr, knows all about that. He orchestrated that 2015-16 team’s run to 73 wins, surpassing the 1995-96 Bulls — a team in which Kerr was a player.
“Overall a team mindset of zero agendas,” Kerr said prior to the game when asked what it takes to get to 70 victories. “Just win every night. Obviously great talent, but I think high-IQ players. The two teams you’re referring to that I was part of, both had really, really high IQs individually and as a team. That’s what I see with OKC: really, really smart players, great coach, really connected. They’re on pace to shatter the record, it’s pretty remarkable what they’re doing.”
The scary part — for the rest of the NBA, that is — is that the Thunder are the sixth-youngest team in the league, with an average age of 24.53 entering the season. They are coming off an NBA championship; they know what it takes to get there and know how they can get even better.
“They have a deeper level of confidence now that they’ve won it all,” Kerr said. “Then the continuity is so powerful. All their actions that they’re running, they’re so comfortable with. They’ve expanded their offense a little bit; they have a little more motion than they did a year ago.”
The wild card, however, is that the more the Thunder win, the greater the pressure intensifies.
“These are all things that, in my experience, happen after the championship, after the first one,” Kerr said. “You just got a little different swagger, a little different belief.
“But, yeah, next year is the harder one.”
The Harsh Reality About the OKC Thunder the NBA Isn’t Ready For
The Oklahoma City Thunder are supposed to come back to earth at some point. They haven’t. The reigning champions opened the 2025–26 season looking even stronger, racing into December at 21-1 without All-Star forward Jalen Williams for the first quarter of the year. That alone should worry the NBA. But the bigger reality surrounding Oklahoma City is far more unsettling for everyone else.
This franchise isn’t just good right now. It is structurally positioned to dominate the league for years.
Why it matters: no contender in recent memory has paired this level of present-day success with this much future draft capital and developmental efficiency.
A Championship Core That Keeps Getting Better
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is performing like a player determined to stack MVP trophies, carrying over his Finals MVP pace without hesitation. Chet Holmgren looks every bit like the league’s Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner. The Thunder sit top-5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, the golden formula for repeat champions.
And they reached this point while missing their second-best player for an entire quarter of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams give Oklahoma City three young cornerstones already operating at an elite level. But the scary part is the surrounding infrastructure. The role players are cheap, productive, and consistently overdeveloped relative to draft status.
Aaron Wiggins was the 55th pick.
Isaiah Joe was let go by Philadelphia and has become one of the league’s most efficient shooters.
Ajay Mitchell arrived as the 38th pick and already looks like a Most Improved candidate.
Cason Wallace, drafted 10th two years ago, is one of the most cost-effective defensive guards in the NBA.
Four core rotation pieces. Zero bloated contracts. All on the right timeline.
When a team produces this much value at this level of efficiency, the window doesn’t just open. It widens.
The Doomsday Scenario: Three Lottery Picks Incoming
On ESPN’s Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst laid out what might be the most alarming scenario for the rest of the league. As of now, Oklahoma City is projected to receive:
The 5th pick from the LA Clippers
The 9th pick from the Utah Jazz
The 14th pick from the Philadelphia 76ers
Three lottery picks. None of them their own.
In a normal draft, that would be an asset haul. In the loaded 2026 class, it is franchise-altering. The headliners include Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke center Cameron Boozer, and BYU star Aj Dybantsa. Even players outside the top five project as long-term starters.
If Oklahoma City wants immediate star power, it could combine picks to leap into the top-5. Adding depth is an option as they could walk away with three cost-controlled rotation pieces. If it wants to swing bigger, it has the capital to pursue any disgruntled star in the league.
This isn’t a theoretical future. It is an active pipeline.
The Dynasty Path Is Sitting Right in Front of Them
Oklahoma City already owns the West. Now it owns the draft board. The team is well positioned to add its most valuable pick since Holmgren without sacrificing a single asset from its current roster.
The Thunder are young, elite, and inexpensive in key areas. They have a top-tier developmental structure. And they have a war chest of picks that rivals every rebuilding team in the league while operating as the best team in basketball. That combination doesn’t happen often. When it does, it usually defines a decade.
The harsh truth is simple: Sam Presti and the Thunder are nowhere near their ceiling. And the rest of the NBA may be witnessing the early stages of a dynasty built to last far longer than anyone expected.
Justin Marks Takes a Sly Dig at NASCAR’s Underhanded Techniques Protecting Its Stock Car Monopoly Amidst Court Trial
A lawsuit from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports is threatening to expose NASCAR’s iron grip on stock car racing, and an old social media post from Trackhouse Racing’s Justin Marks could be the smoking gun. The basic premise is that the two teams have accused NASCAR of running a monopoly over stock car racing. Of course, the sport’s officials have denied the claims and are fighting back. However, Trackhouse Racing’s Justin Marks might have evidence against them.
Back in 2022, he tweeted something that sounded like a great idea. The NASCAR and MotoGP team owner proposed a unique exhibition NASCAR race event. Unfortunately, nothing really came of it and the idea was soon dead in the water. The intention was to celebrate the history of NASCAR through the years, which sounds really fun.
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Justin Marks found out why NASCAR killed off the idea
As he explained on social media, the exhibition would last for four races. Each race would represent a different era, from the 1970s to the 80s, the 90s and the 2000s. Of course, finding NASCAR Cup cars from each era will not be an easy task, from a logistical standpoint. However, Marks had a solution for that little problem. As a matter of fact, he suggested searching for restored, track-ready cars and inviting several legendary drivers to race them.
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Unfortunately, NASCAR must have seen this innocent suggestion as a threat to their reign. Barely a couple of days later, the series filed a trademark for ‘NASCAR Classic’, which was obviously a reference to Marks’ idea. It talked about sanctioning racing events, an online database for historical rulebooks, and licensing historical specifications to third parties to use in racing events. The entire thing unfolded in the span of 2 days.
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All of this just lends credence to the accusations of running a monopoly. Especially when people consider the fate of the SRX Series, which only lasted 3 years. The Tony Stewart-owned series was a massive hit with the American racing community and even drivers, some of whom raced in it. However, NASCAR felt threatened by its popularity and swiftly moved to successfully shut it down. It does make one wonder just how far the stock car racing series is willing to go to preserve its own reign.
This did nothing to kill off Marks’ ambition
It is quite safe to say that Justin Marks is a very enterprising man. After all, it’s not easy to own a team spanning across multiple motorsports. Aside from NASCAR, his Trackhouse Racing team also operates in the MotoGP series and recently celebrated a maiden win. The organisation also runs part-time in the IMSA Series, having run the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2025.
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Frankly, the multi-sports presence is not a novel concept, as Chip Ganassi Racing used to do it. Back then, CGR competed in NASCAR and IndyCar, but has since pulled out of the former to focus on IndyCar. Finally, there is Team Penske, which is active in NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA, World Endurance Championship, and even Formula E. Once upon a time, they also partnered with Dick Johnson Racing in Supercars, but ended the partnership in 2020.
Maybe Justin Marks is trying to become the next Roger Penske and build his own motorsports empire. For the moment, he is looking forward to the 2026 season for both of his teams. When it comes to NASCAR in particular, it is incredibly exciting for him, owing to the star-studded line-up. In 2026, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen are back once again. Only this time, they have a new face in the lineup, and his name is Connor Zilisch. The teenager has already turned heads with his Xfinity Series run, where he very nearly won the title. So there are a lot of expectations for the upcoming Cup campaign.
Players to have MLB success after playing in Japan or Korea
The Blue Jays made what figures to be one of the more intriguing moves of the offseason on Tuesday when they agreed to terms with right-hander Cody Ponce on a three-year, $30 million deal, a source confirmed to MLB.com.
Ponce was once a top 10 prospect for the Brewers after they drafted him in the second round in 2015, but he struggled to find his footing in the Minors before eventually being traded to the Pirates in 2019. The righty made his MLB debut in 2020, but he put up a 5.86 ERA in 20 appearances from 2020-21.
Now, the 31-year-old Ponce will look to build off that success as he returns to the Majors. It may not be the path he envisioned for himself a decade ago, but plenty of players have revitalized their big league dreams after spending time playing in Japan or Korea.
A first-round pick by the Nationals in 2014, Fedde was ranked among the club’s top prospects alongside the likes of future stars Juan Soto and Trea Turner. Despite the high expectations, Fedde struggled to gain footing in the big leagues, posting a 5.41 ERA over 102 outings (88 starts) from 2017-22. He made 21 appearances (12 starts) for the 2019 World Series-winning club, though he did not appear in the postseason.
After recording a 5.81 ERA for the Nats in 2022, Fedde switched gears and decided to sign with the NC Dinos of the KBO League. The move proved to be a positive one for the righty, who went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA in his lone season in Korea. Fedde returned to the Majors in ’23, racing out to a 7-4 start with a 3.11 ERA for the White Sox before being one of the most sought after arms at that season’s Trade Deadline.
An eighth-round pick by the Rays in 2010, Kelly toiled around the Minors for a few seasons before having a bit of a breakout season in ’14 when he went 9-4 with a 2.76 ERA with Triple-A Durham. Still, it wasn’t enough to break into the big leagues, so Kelly opted to sign with the SK Wyverns of the KBO League following the season. He went on to go 48-32 with a 3.86 ERA over four seasons in Korea, capped off by a dominant outing in Game 3 of the 2018 Korean Series en route to helping his team win the title.
Kelly’s success earned him a two-year deal from the D-backs, and he went on to become a top-of-the-rotation starter for more than a half-decade. After posting a respectable 4.27 ERA from 2019-21, Kelly fully broke out during the 2022-23 seasons. He went 13-8 with a 3.37 ERA in ’22, then helped lead the D-backs to the NL pennant in ’23, when he went 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA during the regular season before going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts.
Mikolas’ first taste of the big leagues came in 2012 when he posted a 3.62 ERA over 25 relief appearances for the Padres. He spent the majority of the ’13 season in the Minors, then was acquired — and converted to a starter — by the Rangers ahead of the ’14 campaign. Mikolas struggled in his new role, posting a 6.44 ERA over 10 starts before taking his career to Japan for the ’15 season.
Mikolas had immediate success in Japan, going 13-3 with a 2.11 ERA with the Yomiuri Giants in 2015. He followed it up with a 2.45 ERA in ’16 and a 2.25 ERA in ’17. The Cardinals gave him another big league opportunity in ’18, and he picked up right where he left off in Japan. Mikolas went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 32 starts with St. Louis, earning his first career All-Star selection and finishing sixth in NL Cy Young voting. He earned another All-Star nod in ’22 and became a mainstay in the Cardinals’ rotation.
Thames made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays in 2011, hitting 12 home runs in just 95 games while posting a 105 OPS+ — but he struggled to build off that success in ‘12. He hit just three home runs and had a 77 OPS+ in 46 games before being traded to the Mariners at the Trade Deadline. Thames didn’t perform much better in Seattle and spent the entire ’13 season in the Minors. He was traded to the O’s in July of that season and later designated for assignment in September.
Following his down 2013 season, Thames was offered a contract by the NC Dinos of the KBO League. Thames dazzled during his time in Korea, averaging 41 homers and 127 RBIs in his three seasons with the Dinos. Those power numbers earned him a big league offer from the Brewers — and he kept raking in his return to The Show. Thames teed off for 31 homers in his first season back in 2017, then added 16 homers in an injury-plagued ’18 season and 25 homers in ’19. Overall, he hit 72 home runs in 383 games — an average of 30 homers per 162 games — with a 118 OPS+ in his three seasons with the Brewers after returning from Korea. After a down 2020 season with the Nationals, Thames wrapped up his professional career with one season in Japan.
A highly touted prospect after being selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 1999 Draft, Lewis had trouble living up to the lofty expectations. He put up a 7.08 ERA in 41 appearances (30 starts) with the Rangers from 2002-03, then made just three starts in ’04 before undergoing rotator cuff surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He was claimed off waivers by the Tigers that offseason, though he missed the entire ’05 campaign while rehabbing.
After struggling to get on track with the Tigers in 2006 and the A’s in ’07, Lewis signed with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan. He proceeded to go 26-17 with a 2.82 ERA in 55 outings over the next two seasons, prompting the Rangers to give him another look in 2010. He rewarded the club by winning a dozen games and posting a 3.72 ERA over 32 regular-season starts as the Rangers clinched their first postseason berth in more than a decade. Lewis went 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts that postseason to help Texas win its first pennant. He became a rotation staple over the next half-decade, earning 65 wins and posting a respectable 4.27 ERA over 161 starts from 2010-16.
MLB playoffs? What Cincinnati’s Hall of Fame desert says about Reds
Wittenmyer & Williams is a regular point/counterpoint column from Enquirer Reds reporter Gordon Wittenmyer and sports columnist Jason Williams. This week, they dive into the correlation between the Hall of Fame and playoff success and what it says about the Reds.
Wittenmyer: Hey Jdub, you’ll never believe what I saw watching football on Sunday. They showed the playoff picture on the screen and listed the Bengals
Dana White Weighs Eye-Poke Fallout: ‘Harder Penalties’ May Be Only Answer
Tom Aspinall is still recovering from the eye poke. That abruptly ended his first defense as undisputed UFC heavyweight champion against Ciryl Gane in October, and the incident has reignited a long-running debate in MMA: what can actually be done about eye pokes?
The foul, which occurred in the UFC 321 main event, turned a marquee title fight into a no-contest and left fans. Fighters, and officials frustrated. While some have renewed calls for equipment redesigns or rule overhauls, UFC CEO Dana White says the real solution might be much simpler and harsher.
The Eye Poke That Ended a Heavyweight Title Fight
In the Gane fight, the referee did correctly call the eye poke and paused the action, but there was no immediate penalty issued to Gane. Aspinall, clearly compromised, was eventually unable to continue, leading to the no-contest ruling.
As is often the case. The controversy didn’t just center on the foul itself, but on the lack of consequences in the moment.
Eye pokes are categorized as accidental fouls more often than not, but when one derails a main event especially a heavyweight title fight the backlash is amplified dramatically.
Dana White: “Harder Penalties” Over Technical Fixes
Speaking on the Triggernometry podcast, White said he’s less interested in technical fixes and more in deterrence.
“Getting poked in the eye by anybody isn’t good,” White said. “We’ve messed around with gloves, we’ve tried to do all these things. I think the big talk is if there’s harder penalties for doing it. Guys would be a lot more conscious of it.”
White pointed out that many eye pokes result from fighters extending their fingers while trying to measure or block strikes, a habit that’s hard to completely eliminate in a dynamic fight.
“You always have these guys where you’re throwing punches and I’m blocking your punches with my hands out and fingers extended and then you get a guy that reaches out to catch something and the other guy is coming forward, it’s going to happen.”
Despite the outsized attention on high-profile incidents. White argued that eye pokes are still relatively rare in proportion to the volume of fights.
“It doesn’t happen as much as it seems. I can’t remember the number … it’s like a hundred or something eye pokes over thousands of fights.”
Jon Jones ruined Dana White’s planned super fight which eventually led to his rival outdoing him
Jon Jones has had a love/hate relationship with the UFC for a long time.
In a bid to convince the promotion to let him return at the White House in 2026, Jones recently apologized to Dana White for how their negotiations played out earlier this year.
The saga regarding the heavyweight title may have led to a lot of criticism surrounding ‘Bones’ but it certainly wasn’t the only time that he’s caused frustration.
White was furious with Jones after he had to cancel a UFC PPV for the first time due to him not accepting a replacement opponent for a light heavyweight title defense.
In 2017, it looked like things were finally falling into place for the champion once again, only for the wheels to fall off in dramatic fashion.
Will Dana White change his mind on Jon Jones fighting at the White House?
Does the consensus greatest of all time return on this card? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Jon Jones missed out on the chance to become a champ-champ due to his doping violation
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier remain fierce rivals to this very day after sharing the Octagon with each other on two occasions.
After their UFC 200 rematch was canceled due to ‘Bones’ being suspended due to a doping violation, he appeared to have finally put this behind him when he returned at UFC 214 in December.
Jones produced arguably the most impressive win of his career by stopping Cormier in the second round to win the title only for the result to be overturned due to another doping violation.
What’s the best win of Jon Jones’ career?
With 22 UFC wins to pick from, let us know what you think is Jones’ best accomplishment inside the Octagon.
Jon Jones’ most notable wins:
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The belt was returned to a disappointed ‘DC’ while Jones’ suspension was reduced significantly following his cooperation and an independent arbitrator declaring that he didn’t intentionally cheat.
This still derailed the promotion’s plans for him following this emphatic performance, which Dana White revealed when he reacted to the news of Jones’ positive test.
The UFC president revealed that there were talks about the light heavyweight champion moving up to heavyweight to challenge Stipe Miocic for the title.
It would have ‘probably’ taken place at UFC 218 in Detroit, an event that took place on this day eight years ago.
By the time that Jones would return to the Octagon in December of 2018, the man he “beat” at UFC 214, Cormier, had moved up to heavyweight and dethroned Miocic to accomplish something that his greatest rival didn’t by becoming a simultaneous two-weight champion.
UFC 218 didn’t have a super fight at the top of the card but it certainly didn’t need it
The card that fans got for UFC 218 may not have been the one that the UFC originally hoped for, but that didn’t make it any less memorable.
Max Holloway may have fairly accurately replicated his first win over Jose Aldo when beating him for a second time to defend the featherweight title, but it was impressive nonetheless.
The real highlights from this event came elsewhere, with Francis Ngannou delivering a contender for the most devastating knockout of all time when he put Alistair Overeem out cold with an uppercut.
Jon Jones Uses Khabib’s Name to Reignite Beef with Daniel Cormier
The bitter, decade-long feud between UFC legends Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier has once again exploded onto social media. The latest chapter began over the Thanksgiving holiday when Cormier, now a prominent UFC commentator, supposedly questioned why Jones was not with his family under a video post showing Jones eating local food during his trip to Chechnya.
Jones, who recently revealed he was approached about a charity grappling match against Cormier, did not take the jab lightly. He fired back with a multi-layered retort on X (formerly Twitter) that extended the conflict beyond their personal history and involved one of Cormier’s closest friends and former training partners, undefeated UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Despite news of Cormier’s comment gaining traction, no actual source was given as to which post he commented on, and no comment on Instagram was ever found.
Jones didn’t care whether or not this comment was verified, however, and on Thanksgiving Day itself, he posted this in response:
Notably, Jones’ latest post dragged retired UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Cormier’s close friend and former teammate, into the fray by referencing “those Khabib gifts.”
This is a direct nod to Khabib’s recent sale of digital hat NFTs on the Telegram platform, a venture launched with Telegram CEO Pavel Durov that was mocked by Nurmagomedov’s former UFC rival, Conor McGregor.
Though Jones used Khabib’s business venture as a punchline, he responded to Durov on X, saying, “Aight @durov, get me a link on Telegram my guy. I see everyone making the move.”
What started as a punchline turned into what seems like a genuine interest in Khabib’s NFT venture.
A Feud That Refuses to Fade
Despite both men being out of active MMA competition, the animosity clearly persists, at least on Jones’s end.
Outside of bringing up Cormier’s name, Jones’ focus remains on coming out of retirement, returning to UFC competition, and getting the chance to fight on the promotion’s historic White House card, even if Dana White has admitted his hesitancy in booking Jones for the event.
The prospect of a charity grappling match, which Jones claims to have agreed to, offers a potential final chapter to their story. Even in retirement, Jones tries to find innovative ways to ensure his greatest rival is always thinking about him.
UFC 323: Dvalishvili Vs. Yan 2 Full Fight Card Betting Odds
The final UFC pay-per-view card of 2025, and the ESPN era, is nearly upon us. That event, UFC 323, takes place on Saturday, December 6 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Two title fights headline the UFC 323 fight card. We look at the betting odds for each of the bouts scheduled for the event.
In the UFC 323 main event, UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his title for the fourth time in 2025, when he faces former champ Petr Yan in a rematch. With a win, Dvalishvili will become the first UFC champion to defend a UFC title four times in a calendar year.
The co-main event of UFC 323 finds UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his crown against the surging Joshua Van.
UFC 323 Pay-Per-View Card Betting Odds
Merab Dvalishvili (-415) vs. Petr Yan (+315)
Alexandre Pantoja (-225) vs. Joshua Van (+190)
Brandon Moreno (+105) vs. Tatsuro Taira (-125)
Henry Cejudo (+225) vs. Payton Talbott (-265)
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Jan Błachowicz (-135) vs. Bogdan Guskov (+115)
UFC 323 Preliminary Card Betting Odds
Grant Dawson (-214) vs. Manuel Torres (+184)
Terrance McKinney (+140) vs. Chris Duncan (-160)
Maycee Barber (-180) vs. Karine Silva (+155)
Nazim Sadykhov (+113) vs. Farès Ziam (-133)
UFC 323 Early Preliminary Card Betting Odds
Marvin Vettori (-115) vs. Brunno Ferreira (-105)
Edson Barboza (+250) vs. Jalin Turner (-300)
Iwo Baraniewski (-190) vs. İbo Aslan (+165)
Mansur Abdul-Malik (-1200) vs. Antonio Trócoli (+750)
Muhammad Naimov (+205) vs. Mairon Santos (-240)
*Fight card subject to change
**Odds via BetOnline
UFC 323 Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Petr Yan
Merab Dvalishvili (21-4), a long-time training partner of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped into the spotlight of the promotion’s 135-pound division in September 2014 when he scored a unanimous decision winover then-champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306.
The 34-year-old Dvalishvili joined the UFC in 2017 as much-hyped prospect. At the time, Dvalishvili was 7-2 and had won and defended the Ring of Combat bantamweight crown.
Dvalishvili did not have a smooth start to his UFC run, losing his first two fights. Falling to Frankie Saenz by decision, and the second, to Ricky Simon, via submission. In September 2018, things clicked in place for the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, and he has not lost since.
Heading into UFC 306, Dvalishvili was on a 10-fight winning streak. Prior to his matchup against O’Malley, Dvalishvili had defeated Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight. Dvalishvili extended that streak to 12 when he defended his title with a unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.
Dvalishvili faced O’Malley in a rematch at UFC 316. O’Malley had not fought since he lost his title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306. Despite making wholesale changes to his life and training heading into UFC 316, Dvalishvili easily dispatched O’Malley in their second meeting, ending the fight in the third round via submission.
In his most recent title defense, Dvalishvili outworked Sandhagen, earning a unanimous decision win (49-45, 49-45, 49-46).
Petr Yan (19-5) is on the rebound. The 32-year-old former UFC bantamweight champion was 1-4 between March 2021 and March 2023, but has gone 3-0 with three decision wins in his past three outings.
Yan won the vacant UFC bantamweight belt by trouncing former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo in July 2020. Yan’s run with the belt was short, as he lost the title in his first attempted defense. Yan handed the strap to Aljamain Sterling in March 2021 after Yan blasted Sterling with an illegal knee that prevented Sterling from continuing.
In October 2021 Yan picked up the interim bantamweight title with a decision win over Cory Sandhagen. Yan’s next outing was a title unification matchup with Sterling. Sterling retained the belt with a split-decision win.
Yan followed his loss to Sterling with a split-decision setback to Sean O’Malley in October 2022. He then dropped a March 2023 scrap to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. Yan got back in the win column in March 2024 with a decision win over Song Yadong.
Following that victory, Yan earned a decision win over former UFC flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo in a five-round affair in November 2024. In his most recent outing, Yan earned a decision over Marcus McGhee in a three-round bout in July.
The former champion heads into the UFC 323 fight card as the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.
We will have more on UFC 323 as fight night approaches.
Merab Dvalishvili Breaks Rules’: UFC 323 Star Breaks Down Bantamweight Champ’s Legendary Title Run
In a sport defined by strategy and discipline, Merab Dvalishvili’s title reign is a masterclass in pure, unfiltered chaos. And it’s working. The Machine is set to run it back with Petr Yan on December 6 at UFC 323. A match that feels like another chapter in the reign of the pound-for-pound king of the bantamweights. As he prepares for his next challenge, his unique, relentless style has even his fellow fighters on the UFC 323 card trying to make sense of his dominance.
Payton Talbott, who will be fighting Henry Cejudo at the event, had heaps of praise for Merab Dvalishvili. Talbott recently appeared on Brian Campbell’s podcast, and the topic of conversation shifted to the chaos-driven dominance of Merab. He was very expressive in his description of the champ’s eccentricity.
“Merab is just a special case because he kind of just like breaks the rules and it works for him. So it’s like, you know, you can think, well, yeah, of course I would land this here in this exchange, but yeah, the guy just breaks rules, and he just fights goofy, and it works for him.”
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Talbott added that judging Merab from a distance doesn’t make sense, saying, “It’s easy to be a critic when you’re watching, so I try not to take it too seriously.”
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The only thing that can stop the 34-year-old is the clock, as no one has yet found an answer to his ceaseless style of wrestling. The Machine once attempted about 49 takedowns in one round against Talbott’s UFC 323 opponent, Cejudo, an Olympic wrestler.
Dvalishvili is not wasting any time in building up his legacy. He is already preparing for his fourth title defense of the year. The main event of UFC 323 will see him face Petr Yan again. The quick return is not a surprise because Merab left UFC 320 practically unhurt after he floored Cory Sandhagen and proved to everyone once more why the title has been stationary for weeks. Another win over ‘No Mercy’ would not only elevate Merab above the other contenders in his division, but it would also allow him to surpass Dominick Cruz in the all-time rankings of the bantamweights.
Merab’s year of dominance earns top honor
Merab Dvalishvili has been an impressive contender for the Fighter of the Year honors throughout the whole year leading to the upcoming UFC 323, and moreover, it is a very powerful 2025 performance that will be in favor of his being declared one of the greats in the sport.
The Georgian bantamweight king clinched the award during fight week, adding to the ESPY Award for Fighter of the Year that he won back in July. He then fights Petr Yan on December 6, possibly making history of being the first UFC champion to defend a title four times in one year. Just the figures tell an incredible story.
Dvalishvili would become a joint holder with Kamaru Usman of the second place on the list of all-time consecutive wins at UFC with 15 victories, and only Islam Makhachev and Anderson Silva would be ahead of him. He opened his 2025 campaign with a dominant decision against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January, followed it up with a submission of Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June, and a unanimous decision victory over Sandhagen at UFC 320 in October.
One thing that makes this situation even more incredible is that Dvalishvili has been competing with injuries that would put most athletes out of action. He fought with a broken toe against O’Malley and had to cope with a back injury and a staph infection while he was fighting Nurmagomedov. The man keeps going because he simply doesn’t know how to quit.
Dvalishvili was the lone ESPY nominee who notched up three title fight victories during the eligibility period, and by this, he took the honor from Islam Makhachev, Kayla Harrison, and Dricus Du Plessis. However, the Georgian is not very much interested in mid-year awards. He wants to end 2025 with a bang that will remove all doubts.
Even rival Umar Nurmagomedov has acknowledged this point, saying, “I think he deserves to be the fighter of the year because he is going to defend the title for the fourth time. Nobody is doing that. He’s very active. It’s amazing.” The statistical superiority is ridiculously high. Dvalishvili has the UFC record for the most career takedowns with 117, a number that keeps rising with every match.
His fighting style disregards all the rules of fight strategy; he goes for an average of 31.3 takedowns in a five-round fight, a rate that would exhaust ordinary humans before the end of the second round.
The main event at UFC 323 is not just a matter of defending a title. It is about establishing a legacy that appeared impossible. Can the Machine repeat what happened back in 2023?
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Petr Yan Height and Reach: UFC Stats, Physical Attributes & Fighting Style
When Petr Yan steps into the Octagon, he doesn’t tower over his opponents or overwhelm them with size. Yet he remains one of the most technically precise fighters the bantamweight division has ever seen. That contrast of modest physical tools paired with elite skill is a big part of what made “No Mercy” a UFC champion and why he now sits at #3 in the bantamweight rankings as he prepares for his rematch against the current champion, Merab Dvalishvili, at UFC 323.
And as fans study his stats and wonder how he measures up against taller, longer opponents, let’s start with the basics with Yan’s height and reach before breaking down how he weaponizes them in ways most fighters can’t!
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How tall is Petr Yan? Height, weight, and reach measurements
According to his official UFC profile, Petr Yan stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and competes at 135 pounds in the bantamweight division. His reach, an important metric for striking specialists, sits at 67 inches, which is fairly average for the weight class.
Yan fights out of Russia and represents Team BK Arkhangel Mikhail, holding the nickname ‘No Mercy’ for good reason. Born on February 11, 1993, the 32-year-old uses a switch stance, allowing him to flow between orthodox and southpaw depending on range, pressure, or opponent.
His martial arts story began early: taekwondo in grade school, then boxing in his teenage years, eventually earning the respected Russian designation of ‘Master of Sport.’ That boxing base became the backbone of his MMA success, especially as he climbed through Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), where he became bantamweight champion before signing with the UFC.
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But despite his physical measurements being fairly standard, Petr Yan’s toughness, pressure, and technical discipline quickly set him apart. And that brings us to the real question: how does someone with average measurables turn into one of the most polished strikers the division has ever seen?
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Physical disadvantage overcome by Yan’s technical skill and boxing prowess
Petr Yan’s rise didn’t happen because he was the biggest or the most explosive athlete. It happened because he learned to turn fundamentals into weapons. Long before he entered the UFC, Yan showed his potential in intense battles against Magomed Magomedov in ACB, where he proved he wasn’t just another aggressive bantamweight; he was a technician in the making.
When he joined the UFC, he immediately began overwhelming quality opponents. Fighters like Jimmie Rivera, John Dodson, and Urijah Faber, who had long been considered elite, found themselves struggling to win even a single round.
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A big part of that success comes from his comfort in moving forward. Yan’s pressure is not reckless; it’s measured, consistent, and suffocating. Opponents know that if they allow him to march ahead unchecked, he will gradually dismantle them. So what’s the antidote? They must disrupt his rhythm. Threaten knees. Pivot before his feet set. Step into his space rather than concede it. Fighters who fail to interrupt Yan’s forward motion usually get swept into his pace.
His high guard is another signature. Many MMA fighters use high guards to protect their head, but ‘No Mercy’ elevates the technique by pairing it with subtle defensive tools taken from boxing, with hip folds, elbow adjustments, and constant upper-body movement. These micro-motions make him a slippery target. Even body shots, typically the best counter to a high guard, become difficult to land cleanly.
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And while the Russian fighter’s defense is sophisticated, his counterattacks are what truly keep opponents honest. Every punch caught on his forearms becomes a chance for a “catch-and-shoot”, a technique where he immediately fires back after absorbing the shot on his guard, a technique that was also utilized to great effect by Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson during his time.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Yan’s game is his footwork. Fans often talk about his big movements, shifts, blitzes, and stance switches, but it’s his small steps, the tiny angle changes, that allow him to evade while still being in a perfect position to return fire. Those steps make him appear calm, almost unbothered, even when opponents throw combinations.
That combination of composure, pressure, and economy of movement is how Petr Yan bridges physical gaps. Add in his plethora of trips, takedowns, and clinch work, and you get a fighter who is a tough out for anyone in the bantamweight division. As he prepares to face Merab Dvalishvili again at UFC 323, the question isn’t whether Yan has the reach or the size; it’s whether ‘The Machine’ can once again keep him from turning the fight into the technical showcase that made him a champion in the first place!
Merab Dvalishvili Breaks Rules’: UFC 323 Star Breaks Down Bantamweight Champ’s Legendary Title Run
The only thing that can stop the 34-year-old is the clock, as no one has yet found an answer to his ceaseless style of wrestling. The Machine once attempted about 49 takedowns in one round against Talbott’s UFC 323 opponent, Cejudo, an Olympic wrestler.
Dvalishvili is not wasting any time in building up his legacy. He is already preparing for his fourth title defense of the year. The main event of UFC 323 will see him face Petr Yan again. The quick return is not a surprise because Merab left UFC 320 practically unhurt after he floored Cory Sandhagen and proved to everyone once more why the title has been stationary for weeks. Another win over ‘No Mercy’ would not only elevate Merab above the other contenders in his division, but it would also allow him to surpass Dominick Cruz in the all-time rankings of the bantamweights.
Merab’s year of dominance earns top honor
Merab Dvalishvili has been an impressive contender for the Fighter of the Year honors throughout the whole year leading to the upcoming UFC 323, and moreover, it is a very powerful 2025 performance that will be in favor of his being declared one of the greats in the sport.
The Georgian bantamweight king clinched the award during fight week, adding to the ESPY Award for Fighter of the Year that he won back in July. He then fights Petr Yan on December 6, possibly making history of being the first UFC champion to defend a title four times in one year. Just the figures tell an incredible story.
Dvalishvili would become a joint holder with Kamaru Usman of the second place on the list of all-time consecutive wins at UFC with 15 victories, and only Islam Makhachev and Anderson Silva would be ahead of him. He opened his 2025 campaign with a dominant decision against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January, followed it up with a submission of Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June, and a unanimous decision victory over Sandhagen at UFC 320 in October.
One thing that makes this situation even more incredible is that Dvalishvili has been competing with injuries that would put most athletes out of action. He fought with a broken toe against O’Malley and had to cope with a back injury and a staph infection while he was fighting Nurmagomedov. The man keeps going because he simply doesn’t know how to quit.
Dvalishvili was the lone ESPY nominee who notched up three title fight victories during the eligibility period, and by this, he took the honor from Islam Makhachev, Kayla Harrison, and Dricus Du Plessis. However, the Georgian is not very much interested in mid-year awards. He wants to end 2025 with a bang that will remove all doubts.
Even rival Umar Nurmagomedov has acknowledged this point, saying, “I think he deserves to be the fighter of the year because he is going to defend the title for the fourth time. Nobody is doing that. He’s very active. It’s amazing.” The statistical superiority is ridiculously high. Dvalishvili has the UFC record for the most career takedowns with 117, a number that keeps rising with every match.
His fighting style disregards all the rules of fight strategy; he goes for an average of 31.3 takedowns in a five-round fight, a rate that would exhaust ordinary humans before the end of the second round.
The main event at UFC 323 is not just a matter of defending a title. It is about establishing a legacy that appeared impossible. Can the Machine repeat what happened back in 2023?
Tom Aspinall Contemplates Boxing Move as Dana White Disappoints Him Over Eye Poke Controversy
Heading into UFC 321 in October, Tom Aspinall was preparing to defend his heavyweight title for the first time. Meanwhile, his father and long-time trainer, Andy Aspinall, was already thinking ahead to a potential switch to boxing. “The money is more money. He has three more fights on the contract, and I don’t want to sign a new contract personally,” he told RMC Sport Combat. Clearly, neither of them could have predicted what was about to unfold for ‘The Honeybadger.’
On fight night, fans expecting 25 minutes of heavyweight chaos instead got less than five minutes—and a wave of controversy. Tom Aspinall was poked in the eye by Ciryl Gane, leading to the bout being ruled a no-contest. In the aftermath, experts like Michael Bisping claimed Aspinall’s father made a mistake discussing boxing plans publicly instead of handling it man-to-man. Now, Aspinall appeared on The AH Show to clarify his stance on the transition.
Tom Aspinall clears the air about his move to boxing
Speaking to the heavyweight champion, Helwani raised his father’s comments about a potential move to boxing. He noted that some experts viewed it as an unnecessary distraction heading into the fight, prompting him to ask Aspinall how he truly felt about the idea. “My dad said that he wanted me to box from the beginning. And also, those remarks were coming from my dad and not me,” Aspinall told Helwani. “I’m a prizefighter… because we want to fight for the most money possible.”
Aspinall then clarified why his father made those statements. “My dad, being a dad, if he sees me going out there and risking my life, then he wants me to do it for the most money possible… It wasn’t like in a public negotiation with the UFC or anything like that. He was just speaking honestly,” he added. When asked if the UFC was ticked off by the comments, Aspinall revealed he didn’t even hear about it until after the fight.
Pressed directly on whether he actually plans to transition to boxing, Aspinall admitted he’s keeping the door open. “Never say never, but… I got more to do with the UFC. So right now and before the fight, that wasn’t really something that I was thinking about,” he said during the interview with Helwani. As for the future? “I don’t know, I have no idea. I have no idea.” Still, he emphasized that none of the chatter about boxing distracted him before the fight.
After UFC 321, Aspinall now has two more bouts left on his UFC contract. The first is expected to be a rematch with Ciryl Gane in an attempt to right the wrongs. While no date or venue has been finalized, the rematch feels inevitable given Dana White’s confirmation and the general sentiment surrounding their first encounter. But that wasn’t the only headline. Aspinall also revealed that he was disappointed by Dana White’s actions after the controversial fight.
Aspinall hasn’t spoken to Dana White since the fight
Later in the interview, Helwani brought up Dana White’s post-fight press conference comments, where White claimed Aspinall could not continue. Helwani noted that White didn’t defend him and even seemed irritated by the outcome. “I was very disappointed,” Aspinall reacted to White’s comments. When asked whether all the criticism could have been avoided had White simply stated that Aspinall was poked in the eye and that it was illegal, Aspinall admitted, “It definitely didn’t help the cause. Definitely didn’t.”
The Brit also revealed that he has spoken to the UFC since the incident, though not directly to Dana White. “I’ve spoken to the UFC since, but I’ve not spoken to… I don’t really… Me and Dana don’t really speak like that anyway… ever,” he told Helwani. The lack of a personal relationship didn’t bother him, but he was frustrated with White for the health updates he shared publicly. “He started giving updates that there was nothing wrong with my eye when that isn’t the case. So, I’ve done a lot for the UFC. So yeah, disappointing,” Aspinall added.
While communication with UFC leadership has been limited, Aspinall confirmed the promotion has been checking on his availability to return. “I’m not in a position to be able to answer that right now. We sent them all the doctor’s reports and stuff. So that’s all we can do,” he said. Aspinall recently released a medical report revealing he suffered “significant bilateral ocular trauma.” He also criticized Ciryl Gane, calling him a cheater for repeatedly attempting eye pokes throughout the first round.
All things considered, Tom Aspinall now finds himself in a complicated spot after the controversial UFC 321 incident. Neither Dana White nor many fans are pleased with how the fight ended, and the pressure is on for Aspinall to make a strong comeback and silence the criticism. Do you think he can right the wrongs?
What Is Petr Yan’s Net Worth in 2025? UFC Career Earnings, Sponsors, and More
Petr Yan’s resume as a former bantamweight champion with 19 professional victories, and his wins over legends like Urijah Faber and Jose Aldo, does most of the talking for him. Yet as he heads toward his rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323, fans aren’t just discussing his path back to the belt. They’re also asking how much ‘No Mercy’ has earned over a decade of elite competition.
Yan’s rise has been steady, disciplined, and built on consistency rather than spectacle. From his ACB title run to capturing UFC gold against Aldo, every milestone has added another layer to his financial success. But how much is the former champion actually worth today? And which fights shaped his biggest paydays?
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What is Petr Yan’s estimated net worth as of 2025?
As of 2025, Yan’s net worth sits at an estimated $1.5–$2 million, depending on the source. In March 2024, he was widely reported to hold a net worth of around $1.5 million, largely accumulated through a decade of professional fighting, endorsements, and sponsorships.
Petr Yan has been competing since 2014, and nearly all his career income stems from what he’s earned inside the cage. Over time, he added additional revenue streams with brand deals, sponsorships, and partnerships to supplement his fight purses. But the real story of the Russian fighter’s financial growth becomes clear when you look at his biggest UFC paydays, and some of them may surprise you.
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Major UFC payouts: Biggest fight purses and performance bonuses
Yan’s earnings jumped significantly once he entered championship territory. According to MMASalaries.com, which publishes estimated payouts based on publicly available information, his fight purses and bonuses reflect a career built on high-stakes competition. These estimates may not represent actual official figures, but they offer a reliable snapshot of Yan’s financial progress. Here’s a breakdown of some of his largest paydays:
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UFC 299 vs. Song Yadong (2024)
Yan earned an estimated $411,000, including a $200,000 base salary, $200,000 win bonus, and $11,000 in sponsorship income.
UFC 280 vs. Sean O’Malley (2022)
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Despite the split-decision loss, Yan banked $311,000, which included a $250,000 base purse and a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus and sponsorship income.
UFC 273 vs. Aljamain Sterling (2022)
This title rematch saw one of his biggest career totals—an estimated $1,152,000, supported heavily by pay-per-view revenue, with 600,000 buys and a matching $600,000 PPV payout.
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UFC 267 vs. Cory Sandhagen (2021)
Yan earned an estimated $482,000, including a $200,000 bonus and the same amount as base salary, and a $50,000 Fight of the Night award.
UFC 245 vs. Urijah Faber (2019)
His head-kick knockout brought him $187,000, boosted by a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Outside the cage, though, Petr Yan has also built financial stability through strategic partnerships and endorsements.
Yan’s Brand endorsements and sponsorship deals
Over the years, Petr Yan has partnered with brands such as Reebok (during their UFC outfitting era), Hayabusa, Gorilla Energy, and Parimatch. These deals strengthened Yan’s income even when he wasn’t competing, giving him a consistent revenue stream between fights.
As for his personal life, ‘No Mercy’ currently resides in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, although little is publicly known about his property or real estate investments. He reportedly owns a Mercedes gifted by a sponsor. Now, with his rematch against Merab Dvalishvili approaching, one thing is certain: another championship run would only add to his legacy and net worth!
Why Is Petr Yan Called ‘No Mercy’? Origin and Meaning Behind the Nickname
Petr Yan has never been the biggest bantamweight, the loudest, or even the flashiest. Yet as he enters UFC 323 to challenge Merab Dvalishvili again, he remains one of the most feared technicians in the division. His record says plenty as a former undisputed champion with 19 career wins, and a highlight reel full of brutality, but his nickname carries even more weight. “No Mercy” isn’t just branding. It’s a preview of what awaits anyone who tries to slow him down.
And if you’ve watched Yan fight, you already know it fits. He doesn’t shout, doesn’t strut, and rarely smiles on fight week. But once the cage door closes, everything changes. So how did the quiet kid from Dudinka end up with one of the most intimidating monikers in modern MMA? And how did that name evolve as he matured from a street-tough brawler into one of the sport’s most disciplined specialists?
How Petr Yan got the ‘No Mercy’ nickname
The exact reason why Petr Yan is called ‘No Mercy’ is still a mystery, but it’s definitely linked to his habit of finishing his fights. In a conversation with the UFC, Yan once said, “Well, it’s just my style of fighting. I’m not forcing the finish, but if I see the opportunity to finish the fight, I will take it. And if my future opponents are getting intimidated while looking at my fights, then so be it, I have my own path, and if there’s anyone standing [in] my way – it may end badly for them.”
And that edge followed him through Russia’s regional scene and into the UFC, where he finished names like Urijah Faber, Douglas Silva de Andrade, and José Aldo en route to the bantamweight throne. Fans didn’t need an explanation. His fights told the story. But if the nickname was born from his natural aggression, what kept it alive was something far more evolved: his transformation into a calculated, disciplined machine.
Petr Yan’s fighting style transformation from aggression to discipline
There was also a time when Yan would show no mercy on the streets. However, with time, he matured as he began spending his time and energy in training. ‘No Mercy’ said, “In the past, I was very aggressive and fierce on the streets. I was spending my energy there. Now I’m a professional, it’s my job, I’ve matured a lot, and I understand that I need to put my energy [into] my professional fights. So outside of fighting, I’m calm, but inside the cage, I’m facing guys who are there to beat me, so I need to be aggressive to break them physically and sometimes even mentally.”
Yan is certainly a man who loves to finish his fights, as seen in his seven wins via KO/TKO, and one via submission. The trend of finishing fights began from his amateur mixed martial arts career. Competing in the Cup of Russia 2014, the bantamweight fighter won two back-to-back bouts via KO. The trend continued when ‘No Mercy’ shifted to the professional realm and fought under the banner of Baikal Storm. Needless to say, he won via a knockout.
When Yan entered Absolute Championship Berkut in 2015, his second bout became his only submission victory via guillotine choke. The lone submission win of his career came in just 47 seconds at ACB 19. His next win came via KO in the first round, when he competed at CSFR. After ending four fights by decision, he put his ACB career to an end with a spectacular knockout at ACB 71.
But what shocked the fighting community was the skills Yan showed when he knocked Teruto Ishihara out with punches in the first round of his debut in the UFC. The fight against Douglas Silva de Andrade ended with a corner stoppage win for Yan. However, when he faced Urijah Faber back in UFC 245, he showed absolutely no mercy when he head-kicked Faber and knocked him out. But his true strength was showcased in the fight against Jose Aldo at UFC 251. It was the bout that got him the bantamweight belt as he defeated Aldo by fifth-round ground and pound.
That’s why his nickname still fits, not because Petr Yan is reckless, but because he’s relentless. What started as youthful aggression grew into a refined philosophy: seize the moment, finish the fight, and never let hesitation take the wheel. As he steps into another title fight at UFC 323, one question lingers: Will “No Mercy” reclaim the belt that made his name echo across the division?
Serena Williams has taken the first step toward a comeback to tennis
Serena Williams has taken the first step that would be required ahead of a comeback to tennis, registering with the sport’s drug-testing body, a spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said Tuesday.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
It was not immediately clear when or where — or even if — Williams actually will play again. Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment.
Williams, who is now 44, was one of the biggest stars of any sport, a dominant talent on the court and still someone drawing attention away from it. If she does end up returning to the tour, it would be a significant story line.
Her decision to place her name back in the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts, was first reported by Bounces.
“She is on the list and back in the testing pool,” ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett wrote to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Athletes returning to testing need to provide information on their whereabouts — details on their location when they are not at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while they are on the list and later comes back needs to be available for testing for six months before they are allowed to return to competition.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competition this July at age 45 after nearly 1 1/2 years away from the tour; she never had announced her retirement. At the U.S. Open, Venus became the oldest player to play singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her back on tour. They claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
Serena Williams takes step necessary to return to professional tennis but says she’s ‘NOT coming back’
By Jill Martin, CNN
(CNN) — More than three years since playing her last match, 23-time grand slam singles champion Serena Williams recently has taken a step that would be necessary should she want to return to professional tennis.
Williams, 44, appears on a list on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) website showing players registered in the international testing pool. The document is dated October 6, 2025.
But, it seems as if the tennis legend is not planning a comeback at the moment.
“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” Williams said on X. “This wildfire is crazy.”
Williams last played in 2022, when she lost in the US Open to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović. At the time, she did not use the word “retirement,” instead saying she was “evolving away from tennis.”
Appearing on the list didn’t necessarily mean Williams would return to competitive action. CNN Sports has reached out to Williams’ representatives, the WTA Tour and the ITIA for comment.
Adrian Bassett, a spokesperson for the ITIA, told The Athletic on Tuesday: “She has notified us that she wants to be reinstated into the testing pool. I do not know if this means she is coming back, or just giving herself the option. All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts.”
Williams is still shown on the ITIA retired players list, showing her as retired since September 3, 2022.
Retired players may not compete unless they’ve given at least six months’ written notice of their intent to return to tournament play as well as make themselves available for testing for a period of six months before returning to competition, according to tennis anti-doping rules.
Serena Williams not returning to tennis, despite rumors
Serena Williams has no plans to return to tennis.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion took to social media on Tuesday and said she is not returning to the sport despite swirling rumors of a potential comeback.
Serena Williams says she’s not returning to tennis
Serena Williams threw cold water on the idea that she might be preparing to return to tennis, writing on social media Tuesday that she is “NOT coming back,” after a spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the sport’s drug-testing body.
That is the first step that would be required by a player seeking to come out of retirement.
The 44-year-old Williams, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 US Open. At the time, Williams said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
It was not clear when or where — or even if — Williams actually will play again, and she later posted: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
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Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment.
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In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, US Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: “We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
Williams was one of the biggest stars of any sport, a dominant talent on the court and still someone drawing attention away from it. If she were to end up returning to the tour, it would be a significant story line, of course.
Her decision to place her name back in the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts, was first reported by Bounces.
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“She is on the list and back in the testing pool,” ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett wrote to the AP on Tuesday.
Athletes returning to testing need to provide information on their whereabouts — details on their location when they are not at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while they are on the list and later comes back needs to be available for testing for six months before they are allowed to return to competition.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competition this July at age 45 after nearly 1 1/2 years away from the tour; she never had announced her retirement. At the US Open, Venus became the oldest player to play singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her back on tour. They claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
Serena Williams Shuts Down Speculation She’s Returning to Tennis: ‘NOT Coming Back’
Serena Williams is shutting down speculation that she’s returning to tennis.
After The Athletic reported that Williams, 44, has requested to reenter the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)’s International Registered Testing Pool — a requirement for active players for drug testing — which had fans thinking she was eyeing a return to the sport, the tennis superstar took to X to set the record straight.
Serena Williams insists ‘I’m NOT coming back’ despite rumors
Tennis great Serena Williams took to X on Tuesday to insist that she is not planning a return to the court, hours after news broke that she has re-entered the sport’s drug-testing pool.
“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote. “This wildfire is crazy-”
Williams played her last match on Sept. 2, 2002, a loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the U.S. Open. The next day, Williams registered as retired with the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts in the sport, meaning she was no longer subject to regular drug testing.
An ITIA spokesperson confirmed to The Times on Tuesday that Williams is back in the agency’s drug-testing pool. Retired players “may not return to sanctioned events unless they have made themselves available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months prior to the event in question,” according to the ITIA website.
That is why talk of a potential Williams comeback was spreading like “wildfire” before the 44-year-old attempted to extinguish the flames on X. The mother of two did not explain why she is back in the testing pool. A representative for Williams did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Times.
Williams famously avoided the word “retirement” when she announced her plan to step away from tennis in an August 2022 column in Vogue.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution,” she said. “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
Serena Williams Signals Possible Return to the Court
One of the greatest tennis players of all time has just made a significant move that could signal a grand return to the game.
Serena Williams, 44, has surfaced on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) latest list of players in its registered testing pool, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
The testing pool list, last updated on Oct. 6 with Williams’ name among registered players, does not include all active players—only those deemed highest priority in the top 100, who must register their whereabouts every day and participate in random drug testing.
Williams can return to competition after six months in the pool, potentially allowing her to play in tennis tournaments as early as April 2026.
The Daily Beast contacted Williams’ representatives for comment on her potential return but received no immediate response.
On Tuesday afternoon, Williams posted a message to Twitter denying that she was returning to the game. “OMG y’all I’m NOT coming back,” she wrote. “This wildfire is crazy.”
“She has notified us that she wants to be reinstated into the testing pool,” Adrian Bassett, a spokesperson for the ITIA, told The Athletic. “I do not know if this means she is coming back, or just giving herself the option. All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts.”
The 23-time major champion announced her retirement in 2022 in a Vogue essay, writing that she was “evolving away from tennis, toward other things” that were important to her, including her family and venture capital firm.
Last week, the mother of two posted photos of herself on the tennis court with her youngest daughter, Adira River Ohanian, whom she shares with husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, 42. “This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter,” Williams captioned the post, without making any further public comments about a potential return.
Williams’ older sister, Venus Williams, 45, returned to the court in July after a 16-month hiatus due to her struggle with uterine fibroids. “The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,” Venus said about Serena while discussing her return at the DC Open competition.
In August, after Venus competed in the Women’s Doubles with Canadian player Leylah Fernandez instead of her sister—with whom she won 14 major titles—Serena posted a joking, mocking TikTok, appearing to roll her eyes at the new duo and look unimpressed.
According to The Athletic, if Serena Williams returns from retirement, the most likely tournament for her to compete in is the star-studded U.S. Open mixed doubles in 2026.
Serena Williams takes step toward potential tennis comeback: report
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Tennis legend Serena Williams reportedly took a step toward returning to competition.
Williams, 44, has re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) registered testing pool for the first time since she retired in 2022, according to Bounces. She last played in the 2022 U.S. Open, where she advanced to the third round before being defeated by Ajla Tomljanovic.
When Williams retired, she applied for official retirement, meaning that she would not have to tell the ITIA her whereabouts for random drug testing. To re-enter as a retired athlete, Williams must be available for out-of-competition testing for six months before being allowed to enter an event.
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Williams’ name was on the ITIA’s updated testing-pool list on Oct. 6. Just because Williams’ name is on the list does not mean that a return to play is imminent.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion being listed is the requisite first step for any retired player who would like the option of competing again. If Williams remains on track throughout the process, she could return in April 2026.
TENNIS LEGEND SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY IN SCHOOLS
Williams’ sister, Venus, took a break but never formally retired, which allowed her to compete after 16 months away from competing.
Serena Williams first sought reinstatement this past August, just before the U.S. Open, according to Bounces report. However, due to the re-entry process, she was unable to play.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Williams’ representatives for comment.
Williams is second all-time in Grand Slam singles titles to Maragaret Court, who won 24. Williams, with 23 championships, has taken the first step in trying to get that 24th championship, if she chooses to compete again.
Serena Williams sets the record straight on her possible tennis return
Serena Williams is shutting down buzz that she might be planning a tennis comeback.
“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” Williams wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.
The former tennis pro’s career became the focus of conversation after it was reported that Williams had requested to re-enter the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)’s International Registered Testing Pool — a requirement for active players for drug testing.
According to the Atlantic, an ITIA spokesperson told the outlet that Williams’ re-entering the testing pool doesn’t make her potential return official. However, the rep said he does “not know if this mean she is coming back” or if Williams is “just giving herself the option” for a comeback.
“All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts,” Bassett said.
The reported move caused several of the retired athlete’s fans to question why she might be interested in re-entering the ITIA in light of her admission.
“Then why did you apply to reenter the testing pool?” one netizen wrote.
The rest of Williams’ fans weren’t as happy to see the tennis star’s news as several admitted to being in denial under the tweet.
“She retired, my denial did not. That’s the real wildfire here,” wrote a social media user.
Another wrote: “We have decided on your behalf.” Meanwhile, a third added: “The wildfire is a reflection of how much people miss you.”
Williams announced she would be retiring from professional tennis in August 2022 after she finished competing in the US Open.
She played her last match in September, which ended in a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanović.
“These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter,” the mom of two wrote in a personal essay for Vogue.
“There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain,” she shared. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads.”
Serena Williams Breaks Silence on Comeback Rumors After Her Latest Decision
The 44-year-old Serena Williams, celebrated as one of tennis’ all-time greats, hasn’t played since her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open. Though she insisted she wasn’t “retiring” and was simply “evolving” away from the sport, renewed buzz about a possible comeback has followed her ever since. However, now, the 23-time Grand Slam icon has poured cold water on the speculation, signaling that a return to competitive tennis isn’t on her horizon.
Serena Williams is pushing back against growing talk of a tennis comeback. She denied the speculation in a direct post on X.
“Omg, y’all, I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” she wrote on Tuesday.
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The rumors started after she filed paperwork with the ITIA in September. This filing exempted her from strict whereabouts rules. The move caught fans’ attention and sparked new theories about a return.
Under ITIA and WADA rules, any player who wants to compete again must follow out-of-competition testing rules. They must be available for testing for six months before entering an event. Williams’s name appeared on the agency’s testing-pool list dated 6 October.
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An ITIA spokesperson confirmed that she had asked for reinstatement. The spokesperson also stressed that being on the list does not prove an athlete is preparing for competition. It only shows they are meeting eligibility requirements if they choose to return.
The spokesperson added more detail. “Serena Williams is back on the Registered Testing Pool list,” they said. They explained that athletes returning from retirement “need to make themselves available for testing for six months before they can compete again,” as required under WADA rules.
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The registered pool is selective. It includes top singles players, notable doubles and wheelchair athletes, and players coming back after long breaks.
Some fans believed the comeback rumors because of Williams’s own comments in 2022. At the time, she hinted that a return was possible. “The chances of me returning are very high,” she told. “You can come to my house and [see], I have a court.”
Adrian Bassett, another ITIA spokesperson, also weighed in. He told reporters on Dec. 2 that entering the testing pool does not confirm anything. He said he does “not know if this mean she is coming back” or if she is “just giving herself the option.” He added, “All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts.”
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And perhaps, this is also not the first time comeback rumors have followed the tennis icon this year.
Serena Williams sparked speculation of a US Open return in 2025
Rumors of a Serena Williams cameo at the US Open circulated quietly this year. Many focused on the mixed doubles event, which has become a two-day showcase filled with star wildcards. But Williams was still listed as retired, so she was not eligible to enter.
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People close to the process believe she considered a return earlier than this autumn. One attempt to rejoin the testing pool happened in August. This was just before the US Open.
The timing suggested she hoped to play doubles with her sister, Venus. But those plans collapsed once the strict six-month testing rule became clear. This same rule once stopped Andy Roddick from making a late doubles cameo in 2014.
Venus Williams did not face the same problem. She never formally retired and avoided the procedural barriers. This summer, she returned after a 16-month break and earned a singles win in Washington.
She also pushed No. 11 seed Karolína Muchová to a deciding set in New York. In doubles, she reached the US Open quarter-finals with Leylah Fernandez. Venus is expected to resume her schedule in Auckland early next season.
Serena’s name appearing again in ITIA documents does not confirm a comeback. It only resets her eligibility timeline.
If she stays in the testing pool without interruption, she could compete as early as mid-2026.
Whether she wants to play singles again, reunite with Venus in doubles, or simply keep her options open is still unknown.
Hero World Challenge prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions
Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas will host Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge this week. The first round begins on Thursday morning as the field of 20 players compete through the weekend. Below, we search for the best value prop bets for the 2025 Hero World Challenge from BetMGM Sportsbook’s odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
The headliner of this tournament is the 2-time defending champion, Scottie Scheffler. He’s trying to make history by winning it for the third straight year, and he’ll be competing with the likes of Cameron Young, Robert MacIntyre, J.J. Spaun and Aaron Rai. Wyndham Clark has the longest odds of any player in the field at +5000.
Albany Golf Course features a unique layout with 5 par 3s and 5 par 5s, yielding some impressively low scores each year. Scheffler won at 25-under par last year, matching the score of Bubba Watson in 2015 for the lowest since the tournament moved to Albany.
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Hero World Challenge – Top-5 picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 6:13 p.m. ET.
Cameron Young (+120)
Young had a third-place finish at this event along with a 13th and 15th in his last 3 starts. He was one of the hottest players in the world this fall and could keep that going this week in the Bahamas where he’s played well before.
PGA: Hero World Challenge odds, picks, predictions
Keegan Bradley (+175)
Bradley is always a player to watch on a course where iron play is important, especially with 5 par 3s and scoring opportunities on the 5 par 5s. He notched a top-5 finish here last year and will try to make it back-to-back this week.
Jordan Spieth (+240)
Spieth has longer odds for a top 5 but in his last start at this event, he finished sixth. In a 20-man field, it’s reasonable to think he could come in fifth or better, especially with the lack of star power at the top behind Scheffler.
Hero World Challenge – Top-10 picks
Andrew Novak (-110)
Novak has the second-longest odds to finish top 10 but all that requires is him finishing better than half of the field. At -110 odds, that’s a fair bet. It’s hard to find much value in this market because of the limited field.
Hero World Challenge – Matchups
Suggested play is golfer in bold.
Cameron Young (-105) vs. Robert MacIntyre (-118)
MacIntyre is a world-class player who performs well on links courses, but so is Young – and he’s got a good enough track record to warrant a pick in this matchup.
Keegan Bradley (-110) vs. Hideki Matsuyama (-110)
Matsuyama won here in 2016, but he wasn’t in great form last year and didn’t have the season that Bradley did.
Hero World Challenge – Top American
Cameron Young (+800)
Scheffler is predictably the heavy favorite, but Young is second and a legitimate contender.
Hero World Challenge – First-round leader
Keegan Bradley (+1400)
Look for Bradley, who finished fifth last year, to get off to a good start this week in Albany.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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How to watch Connor Bedard, Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights NHL livestream today
One of the league’s hot young stars faces one of the best teams in the league, as Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks pay a visit to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.
Watch the NHL on ESPN+
After many rough and bumbling seasons, the Blackhawks finally look like a team on the rise. Bedard has been one of the top scorers this season and has helped keep Chicago up near a playoff spot as we head into the holiday season.
The former Regina Pat has 37 points so far this season, placing him tied for second with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, both trailing Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. While the Hawks do not necessarily live or die with Bedard, the playmaker’s ability to be a game-changer has been noticeable this year.
The Hawks currently sit fourth in the Central Division, hanging on to the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
The Golden Knights have not been perfect this year, with injuries to the likes of Mark Stone and Adin Hill hindering the team. Yet, even though the team has lost 14 of its 15 games, Vegas is sitting third in the Pacific Division.
NHL HOCKEY
Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-5) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (11-6-8)
When: Tuesday, December 2
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Where: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Stream: ESPN+
Check out the NHL standings and scores here
Heavy Trade Interest Growing in Sherwood as Canucks Bide Time
Kiefer Sherwood continues to be talked about as one of the most sought-after trade targets well ahead of the NHL trade deadline. The Vancouver Canucks made it known they were open to moving veterans and pending UFAs, and Sherwood is among the most attractive on their roster, mainly due to his low cap hit. According to Pierre LeBrun, the level of interest is significant.
With a bargain $1.5 million cap hit, playoff-ready physicality, and steady production, Sherwood checks every box for contenders looking to add bite and depth to their lineup.
Who Is Already Calling About a Sherwood Trade
LeBrun reports that the Minnesota Wild are among the teams that have already checked in, despite initially searching for a top-six forward. Montreal and Dallas have also kicked tires, joining what he describes as a “long list” of teams doing their homework. Sherwood’s style makes him an easy fit almost anywhere, which is why his market appears to be expanding rather than narrowing.
The Canucks, however, aren’t in a rush. Vancouver wants a complete understanding of the market before moving one of their most valuable trade chips. What could complicate—or elevate—the situation is the possibility of teams being willing to negotiate an extension as part of the deal. If a contender is prepared to sign Sherwood long-term, that added security could increase the return and push Vancouver toward action.
For now, Sherwood’s market is heating up, and Vancouver is waiting for the right deal before trading one of the more interesting pieces this season.
Ice rink for 2026 Olympic hockey tournament is creating concerns
The men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics will feature NHL players for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, and that is creating a lot of excitement for the tournament. What is not creating excitement is the state of the arena that is set to host those games at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
There are problems. Multiple problems.
Ice rink for 2026 Olympic hockey tournament is creating issues
The most important problem so far is the simple the fact the PalaItalia Santa Giulia, a 16,000-seat venue which will host 33 games, including both the men’s and women’s gold medal games is not yet completed just two months away from the opening ceremonies. The NHL has been concerned about the lack of progress as far back as 2023, and according to The Athletic this week the
NHL sends memo about wearing helmets in pregame warmups
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL has sent a memo to its teams about a rule that requires certain players to wear helmets in pregame warmups.
The memo was sent to all 32 clubs on Tuesday night. All players who debuted in the 2019-20 season or later are required to wear helmets during warmups.
Within the past few days, Ottawa and New Jersey were in violation of Rule 9.6, which went onto effect in 2022. The Senators, playing at Vegas, were hoping to end a losing streak at T-Mobile Arena, while the Devils were celebrating defenseman Brenden Dillon’s 1,000th game.
Neither team was expected to be punished beyond a warning.
Players who have been in the NHL since before 2019 are grandfathered into being able to choose whether to go helmet-less. The league also has barred players from continuing to play without a helmet during games and prevented them from removing the head protection before fighting.
Injuries have happened during warmups from falls or errant pucks, including Taylor Hall getting cut by a skate in 2012.
Visors on helmets were agreed to by the league and the NHLPA in 2013, also grandfathered. Four players remain without one.
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Carter Hart makes NHL return with Golden Knights after acquittal
LAS VEGAS — Goalie Carter Hart, one of five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault in July, made his first NHL appearance in nearly two years Tuesday night and received an enthusiastic reaction from Golden Knights fans during pregame introductions.
Hart certainly received the loudest response before Vegas’ home game against Chicago, and if there were any boos, they were difficult to hear.
Some fans also held signs supportive of Hart.
Hart was the first of those five players to agree to an NHL contract. The league ruled those players were eligible to sign deals beginning Oct. 15 and to play starting Dec. 1. Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract and has been working with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson, Nevada.
After he agreed to sign, Hart read a statement to reporters that, in part, said he wanted
Schaefer and Wiesblatt’s first NHL goals lead Predators over Flames 5-1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt each scored their first NHL goal, Juuse Saros made 27 saves and the Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault also scored, and Nicolas Hague had a pair of assists for the Predators, winners of three of four.
Morgan Frost scored and Devin Cooley and Dustin Wolf combined for 23 saves for Calgary, which concluded a five-game road trip 2-2-1.
Schaefer scored the game’s first goal at 6:24 of the opening period.
Parked just outside the crease, Shaefer collected a loose puck and slid it past Cooley for his first goal, playing in his third NHL game.
Saros’ best stop came on a breakaway by Jonathan Huberdeau with 3:45 remaining in the first. Huberdeau forced a neutral zone turnover from Hague and then skated in all alone on Saros, who denied Huberdeau’s backhand with a sprawling left pad save.
Stamkos made it 2-0 at 5:04 of the second.
After taking a pass from Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Evangelista carried the puck behind the Calgary net and found Stamkos on the doorstep. The goal was the 1,200th point of Stamkos’ career, becoming the 53rd player in NHL history to reach that mark.
Marchessault extended the Nashville lead to 3-0 with 5:35 left in the second and Wiesblatt followed 1:07 later, scoring his first career NHL goal on a tap in off of a Bunting pass. Tuesday was NHL game number 28 for Wiesblatt, a Calgary native.
Cooley made 12 saves before being replaced by Wolf at the start of the third.
Bunting scored the only goal against Wolf, who made 11 saves.
Frost spoiled Saros’ shutout bid with a power-play goal 13:39 of the third.
Up next
Flames host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Predators visit the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
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Schaefer and Wiesblatt’s first NHL goals lead Predators over Flames 5
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt each scored their first NHL goal, Juuse Saros made 27 saves and the Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault also scored, and Nicolas Hague had a pair of assists for the Predators, winners of three of four.
Morgan Frost scored and Devin Cooley and Dustin Wolf combined for 23 saves for Calgary, which concluded a five-game road trip 2-2-1.
Schaefer scored the game’s first goal at 6:24 of the opening period.
Parked just outside the crease, Shaefer collected a loose puck and slid it past Cooley for his first goal, playing in his third NHL game.
Saros’ best stop came on a breakaway by Jonathan Huberdeau with 3:45 remaining in the first. Huberdeau forced a neutral zone turnover from Hague and then skated in all alone on Saros, who denied Huberdeau’s backhand with a sprawling left pad save.
Stamkos made it 2-0 at 5:04 of the second.
After taking a pass from Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Evangelista carried the puck behind the Calgary net and found Stamkos on the doorstep. The goal was the 1,200th point of Stamkos’ career, becoming the 53rd player in NHL history to reach that mark.
Marchessault extended the Nashville lead to 3-0 with 5:35 left in the second and Wiesblatt followed 1:07 later, scoring his first career NHL goal on a tap in off of a Bunting pass. Tuesday was NHL game number 28 for Wiesblatt, a Calgary native.
Cooley made 12 saves before being replaced by Wolf at the start of the third.
Bunting scored the only goal against Wolf, who made 11 saves.
Frost spoiled Saros’ shutout bid with a power-play goal 13:39 of the third.
Up next
Flames host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Predators visit the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
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Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Stamkos gets 1,200th NHL point, Predators cruise past Flames
Stamkos became the 53rd player in NHL history, and sixth active, to reach the mark when he gave the Predators a 2-0 lead at 5:04 of the second period on a wraparound pass from Luke Evangelista. Ryan O’Reilly led a 2-on-1 rush with Evangelista, who went around the net and found Stamkos on Devin Cooley’s blocker side.
It was Stamkos’ 589th career goal, the fifth most in League history at the time of the milestone point behind Brett Hull (656), Alex Ovechkin (653), Mike Gartner (636) and Dino Ciccarelli (608).
Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 27 saves for the Predators (9-13-4), who have won three of their past four. Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt each scored his first NHL goal.
Morgan Frost scored for the Flames (9-15-4), who have lost three of their past four (1-2-1). Cooley allowed four goals on 16 shots before he was replaced after two periods by Dustin Wolf, who made 11 saves.
Schaefer gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 6:24 of the first period on a rebound of a shot attempt from Fedor Svechkov.
Jonathan Marchessault extended it to 3-0 at 14:25 of the second on a wrist shot from the slot. He had missed the previous two games because of a lower-body injury.
Wiesblatt pushed it to 4-0 at 15:32 on a redirection of a pass from Bunting.
Bunting made it 5-0 at 2:59 of the third period on a rebound of a deflection off Frost’s stick.
Frost’s power-play goal cut it to 5-1 at 13:39 with a one-timer from the slot on a backhand pass from Nazem Kadri.
Wiesblatt honors late brother after 1st NHL goal
Ozzy Wiesblatt scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday and immediately took the opportunity to honor his late brother.
The Nashville Predators rookie scored late in the second period of the 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames, and, while skating back to the bench, pointed to the sky to pay tribute to his older brother Orca.
Orca passed away in a car accident in September at 25 years old. Like his brother, Orca was a professional hockey player. He was set to compete for the Allen Americans of the ECHL this season.
After the game, Ozzy said the meaningful tribute for his brother was always the plan after scoring his first goal.
“It’s just relief for me,” Wiesblatt told the media postgame. “Obviously I’ve thought about pointing to the sky for my brother for a while now. Just a cool feeling, and obviously that one’s for him.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Robby Stanley contributed to this report
NFL RedZone significantly increases commercials in Week 13
So much for “commercial-free football.”
NFL RedZone, one of the most popular sports telecasts, has increased the number of commercials during its seven-hour broadcast. At the beginning of the season, the league said it would be airing only four 15-second ads throughout its telecast in Week 1. But during Sunday’s Week 13 broadcast, RedZone aired 16 advertisements ranging from 15 to 20 seconds long, according to Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter.
The telecast ran two minutes of double-box advertisements, evenly split across the early and late windows of games. The league ran the same number of double-box ads in Week 1. The broadcast also displayed a 30-second double-box ad with DraftKings once the games ended. RedZone added the double-box advertisements in 2025 as a way to monetize the show.
It also continued to run its graphic banner ads (each around 20 seconds) and is now airing more sponsored segments throughout the show. Carpenter found that Allstate sponsored a 30-second “Good Hands” segment, and Progressive, Lowe’s, DraftKings, Mercedes-Benz and Accenture each had their own sponsored segments.
In total, combining double-box ads, banner ads and sponsored segments, NFL RedZone aired 16 elements of sponsored content for a combined total of five minutes and 10 seconds during Sunday’s broadcast.
Several fans on social media voiced their frustration about the increased number of advertisements, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions or stop watching the telecast altogether. NFL insider Adam Schefter’s Sept. 4 X post defending the move — saying “viewers will be served 1-2 total minutes of ads in :15 increments. This comes out to anywhere between 0.25% – 0.5% of the total time, considerably less than other sports/entertainment programs” — also resurfaced and was heavily criticized.
The decision to put ads on RedZone rests entirely with the NFL, whose multibillion-dollar business depends on licensing its product to TV networks — and on those networks selling commercial time to companies eager to reach the league’s tens of millions of weekly viewers.
Though it was expected that RedZone would slowly integrate more advertisements into its telecast, the stark change is still unusual for fans who’ve heard host Scott Hanson’s catchphrase of “Seven hours of commercial-free football starts now” for years. But the broadcast still remains wildly popular and is one of the unique telecasts across sports.
NFL Week 14 Power Rankings: Cowboys & Bears Rise, Chiefs and Ravens Tumble
Thanksgiving week is over in the NFL, but it brought a ton of thrilling matchups with it. The Thanksgiving Day slate did not disappoint, with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Cincinnati Bengals all securing upset victories. Then on Sunday, we saw multiple games come down to the wire, including an overtime thriller on Sunday night.
It was a fantastic week of football, which has shaken up the NFL standings. That means we have quite a few teams making a big jump or taking a big tumble in our NFL Week 14 power rankings.
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32. Tennessee Titans (1-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: 32
Week 13 Result: 25-3 loss to JAX
PFF Rankings: Offense 31st, Defense 17th
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Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at CLE
Before we get into a lot of the changes, the bottom three teams in our rankings stayed the same from last week. The Tennessee Titans remain the only one-win team in the NFL, so they maintain their bottom spot.
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31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
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Week 13 Result: 31-14 loss to LAC
PFF Rankings: Offense 29th, Defense 32nd
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:05 pm vs DEN
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Las Vegas keeps on making a case for being the worst team in the league, but as long as Tennessee stays in current form, they’ll avoid the bottom spot. Still, they are a very bad football team, and that won’t change by the end of the year.
30. New Orleans Saints (2-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
Week 13 Result: 20-17 loss to MIA
PFF Rankings: Offense 28th, Defense 18th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at TB
The New Orleans Saints could’ve tied this game up and possibly sent it to overtime, but they got greedy and went for two after a late touchdown, and Miami picked it off and returned it the length of the field for two points, sealing the game. I thought Tyler Shough looked better than his stat line indicated, but it’s yet another loss for New Orleans, who are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
29. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Week 13 Result: 26-0 loss to SEA
PFF Rankings: Offense 30th, Defense 22nd
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs WAS
The Minnesota Vikings are BAD. The only thing saving them from being 31st is their play early in the season, but they’ve been so horrible in recent weeks, I might just have to drop them to 31 next week if they don’t figure things out. J.J. McCarthy isn’t the answer, and apparently neither is Max Brosmer, though I don’t think anyone ever thought he was.
28. New York Giants (2-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Week 13 Result: 33-15 loss to NE
PFF Rankings: Offense 22nd, Defense 30th
Week 14 Matchup: Bye
The New York Giants have been a really fun team despite their 2-11 record. They are certainly better than their record indicates, but you can only be so good when you’re 2-11. Jaxson Dart and Co. didn’t look great against New England on Monday, but then again, not many people have looked good against the Patriots.
27. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Week 13 Result: 26-8 loss to SF
PFF Rankings: Offense 32nd, Defense 2nd
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs TEN
After Shedeur Sanders’ first win, many wanted to see Cleveland put on a show against the San Francisco 49ers. That was not the case, though. They were ran out of the building, losing by three scores, and their offense looked completely stagnant. Even their defense, which has been elite in recent weeks, looked pretty bad.
26. Washington Commanders (3-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Week 13 Result: 27-26 (OT) loss to DEN
PFF Rankings: Offense 14th, Defense 29th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at MIN
The Washington Commanders took the Denver Broncos to the wire on Sunday night, but lost in overtime on a failed 2-point conversion. Marcus Mariota led their offense to 26 points against a very stout Denver defense, which really impressed me. I think they made the right choice going for two and the win; they just couldn’t get it done.
25. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
Week 13 Result: 27-24 loss to NYJ
PFF Rankings: Offense 13th, Defense 16th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs SEA
The Atlanta Falcons were without Michael Penix and Drake London again on Sunday, but their struggles didn’t come on offense; they came on defense. They scored 24 points, but gave up 27 to the Jets, who have one of the worst offenses in the league. It’s another loss for Atlanta, which falls to 4-8.
24. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Week 13 Result: 20-17 loss to TB
PFF Rankings: Offense 21st, Defense 23rd
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs LAR
The Arizona Cardinals came up just short this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they fall one spot in our power rankings. Their defense performed better than I thought, but their offense really struggled against Tampa. Arizona now owns the 8th pick in the draft despite having just three wins.
23. New York Jets (3-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
Week 13 Result: 27-24 win over ATL
PFF Rankings: Offense 27th, Defense 20th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs MIA
The Jets earned their third win of the season over the Falcons, which now gives them the 7th overall pick in the draft. They have now won three of their last five after starting 0-7, and they just look like a much better team than the one that took the field early in the year. They’re not great by any means, but they’re improving in year one under Aaron Glenn.
22. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
Week 13 Result: 20-17 win over NO
PFF Rankings: Offense 24th, Defense 21st
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at NYJ
Mike McDaniel is hanging on to his job by a thread. It felt like there was a chance he’d be fired midseason, but the Dolphins have won four of their last five and have a real shot to be 6-7 after next week. The turnaround in Miami has been incredible, so we’ll see if McDaniel can save his job by the end of the year.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
Week 13 Result: 32-14 win over BAL
PFF Rankings: Offense 23rd, Defense 31st
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at BUF
The Bengals picked up a massive win on Thanksgiving, taking down the Baltimore Ravens in convincing fashion. They are now two games back in the AFC North and have a real shot of winning their division, but they’re going to need a win this week with one of Baltimore and Pittsburgh guaranteed to move to 7-6.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
Week 13 Result: 26-7 loss to BUF
PFF Rankings: Offense 26th, Defense 9th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at BAL
Speaking of the Steelers, they suffered an embarrassing defeat to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but there’s a pretty clear floor below them and Cincy, so they could only really drop so far. I have a ton of concerns about this time, primarily on offense, heading into the home stretch, but with the AFC North as weak as it’s ever been, they still have a good shot at the playoffs, especially if they can secure a big win over Baltimore on Sunday.
19. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 11th
Week 13 Result: 32-14 loss to CIN
PFF Rankings: Offense 20th, Defense 15th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs PIT
The Ravens won five straight to get them into the lead of the AFC North, but they looked horrible against Cincinnati on Thanksgiving. They were blown out, and now they host their arch rivals on Sunday with the winner taking control of the division. This is arguably the biggest game of the weekend, so it should be a fun one.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Week 13 Result: 20-17 win over ARI
PFF Rankings: Offense 24th, Defense 12th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs NO
The Bucs squeezed out a win over Arizona on Sunday, and now sit at 7-5 and are alone atop the NFC South. However, Carolina is right on their tails at 7-6, and with the Panthers on a bye this week, Tampa must beat New Orleans if they want to maintain the division lead. They should be able to, but this game is massive for the NFC South race.
17. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Week 13 Result: 31-28 win over LAR
PFF Rankings: Offense 18th, Defense 23rd
Week 14 Matchup: Bye
The Panthers earned one of the most improbable wins of the season on Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams were my No. 1 team last week, and even though Carolina was 6-6, I didn’t think they stood a chance against LA. Well, they did, and now they’re 7-6 and right behind Tampa in the South. They’ll be rooting for the Saints heavily this weekend.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Week 13 Result: 25-3 win over TEN
PFF Rankings: Offense 16th, Defense 11th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs IND
The Jacksonville Jaguars dominated the Titans on Sunday, but that isn’t really anything to brag about. It’s hard putting an 8-4 team at No. 16, but that just shows you how tight the top half of the league is. There are 12 teams with 8+ wins, and four more in that 6-7 range that are still very good teams. Jacksonville just draws the short end of the stick here.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Week 13 Result: 31-28 loss to DAL
PFF Rankings: Offense 11th, Defense 7th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 8:20 pm vs HOU
The Chiefs are still so hard to rank for me. They are a very good team. All of their losses have been by one score to some of the best teams in the NFL, but they just can’t seem to win close games. I had to drop them significantly now that they’re back at .500 with just five games to play, but I still think they’re better than a lot of teams out there. If they played New England today, I wouldn’t feel great about picking the Patriots because this roster is that talented. They just need to figure out how to win again.
14. Houston Texans (7-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Week 13 Result: 20-16 win over IND
PFF Rankings: Offense 17th, Defense 3rd
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 8:20 pm at KC
The Houston Texans are peaking at the right time. They’ve won four straight games and are finally putting that vaunted defense to good use. They are just one game out of the AFC playoffs at the moment, and now they have to travel to Kansas City on Sunday night. This is a massive test for Houston, and if they win, they might just ride the momentum into the postseason.
13. Detroit Lions (7-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Week 13 Result: 31-24 loss to GB
PFF Rankings: Offense 3, Defense 4
Week 14 Matchup: Thursday, 8:15 pm vs DAL
The Detroit Lions are the opposite of the Texans right now. They’re falling off at the wrong moment. They’ve lost four of their last seven and three of their last five, and now find themselves sitting at 7-5. The only reason they’re above Houston is that, when they’re playing well, they’re one of the most explosive teams in the NFL.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Week 13 Result: 31-14 win over LV
PFF Rankings: Offense 19th, Defense 13th
Week 14 Matchup: Monday, 8:20 pm vs PHI
The Los Angeles Chargers took a step back when they lost to the Jaguars, 35-6, but a big win over the Raiders should get them rolling again. This is still a very good offense (especially once Omarion Hampton comes back), and this defense can shut teams down when they’re playing well. They have a high ceiling, but they cannot afford more games like the one against Jacksonville.
11. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Week 13 Result: 20-16 loss to HOU
PFF Rankings: Offense 4th, Defense 25th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at JAX
The Colts have faced two of the best run defenses in the NFL the past two weeks, and they’ve lost both of those games. That’s not a coincidence. When Jonathan Taylor’s struggling, so is the rest of their team. Daniel Jones is injured and has never been capable of carrying an offense. They have to play Seattle and Houston in two of their remaining five games, so if they drop both of those, they’ll be 11-6 and likely the 3-seed in the AFC. Not bad, but a far fall from where they were just a month ago.
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Week 13 Result: 31-28 win over KC
PFF Rankings: Offense 5th, Defense 28th
Week 14 Matchup: Thursday, 8:15 pm at DET
Jerry Jones’ moves seem to be paying off quite a bit. This defense is really coming around, but their offense is also getting back to its early-season form. They are still multiple games out of the NFC playoff picture because the 7-seed is 9-4, but if they can beat Detroit this weekend, they keep their odds alive. Right now, they’re playing like a top-10 team.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Week 13 Result: 24-15 loss to CHI
PFF Rankings: Offense 12th, Defense 14th
Week 14 Matchup: Monday, 8:20 pm at LAC
This was a horrific loss for the Philadelphia Eagles. They looked awful offensively, and their defense didn’t look all that great either. This Chicago defense is not very good, and all they could manage was 15 points, seven of which came in garbage time. They need to figure things out fast because they’ve dropped two straight, and this offense just looks worse and worse each week. The only reason they’re in the top-10 is that this roster is still exceptionally talented.
8. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Week 13 Result: 31-24 win over DET
PFF Rankings: Offense 7th, Defense 6th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs CHI
The Green Bay Packers picked up a massive Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions, and now they’re just one game out of the NFC North lead. Chicago maintains possession of the North, but if Green Bay can knock them off in Lambeau, they’ll be the new leaders in the division. It should be a very fun matchup.
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Week 13 Result: 26-8 win over CLE
PFF Rankings: Offense 9th, Defense 27th
Week 14 Matchup: Bye
The 49ers saw a decent bump in our power rankings after a three-score win, and some other top teams lost this week. Their offense didn’t look great, but they did enough to get the win. And their defense continues to look much improved from the unit that gave up 20+ in seven of their first 10 games. They’re improving and getting healthier every week, and they’re easily a top-10 team.
6. Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Week 13 Result: 26-7 win over PIT
PFF Rankings: Offense 8th, Defense 19th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs CIN
The Bills have gone win-loss-win-loss-win in their last five games, and currently find themselves at 8-4. I always expect to rank Buffalo lower than I do, because every time I drop them significantly, they just win. I just trust Josh Allen too much to put this team any lower than No. 6 for now.
5. Chicago Bears (9-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 13th
Week 13 Result: 24-15 win over PHI
PFF Rankings: Offense 10th, Defense 26th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at GB
I was wrong about the Chicago Bears. I’ve been waiting for them to lose because they kept narrowly beating bad opponents, but they are a very good team. I do still have some concerns with how Caleb Williams will perform under the brightest of lights and with a lot of things defensively, but they keep winning, and right now, that’s all that matters.
4. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Week 13 Result: 26-0 win over MIN
PFF Rankings: Offense 2nd, Defense 5th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at ATL
The Seahawks absolutely dominated the Vikings on Sunday. Their offense wasn’t great, but it didn’t have to be. Their defense shut out the Vikings and forced five turnovers in the 26-0 win. I would’ve liked to see more from Sam Darnold and Co. this week, but they’re still a top-five team in my eyes.
3. Denver Broncos (10-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Week 13 Result: 27-26 win over WAS
PFF Rankings: Offense 15th, Defense 8th
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:05 pm at LV
The Broncos looked a bit off on Sunday night. They let the Commanders take them to the wire, and it took an incredible defensive play to win the game. But great defenses make great plays in big moments, so it’s what we should expect from this unit. They will keep Denver in every game they play; their offense just needs to be more consistent, especially after ending regulation with a pick and three punts.
2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Week 13 Result: 31-28 loss to CAR
PFF Rankings: Offense 1st, Defense 1st
Week 14 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at ARI
I still think the Rams have what it takes to win the Super Bowl this year, despite their loss this weekend. Matthew Stafford is the best QB in the NFC, and their defense is still great. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re back at No. 1 by the end of the regular season.
1. New England Patriots (11-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Week 13 Result: 33-15 win over NYG
PFF Rankings: Offense 6th, Defense 9th
Week 14 Matchup: Bye
We have yet another No. 1 team in our power rankings this week. The Pats have slowly been climbing each and every week, but now there’s nowhere else for them to go. They have a bye next week, so unless LA or DEN really convince me (which will be hard to do against bad opponents), they’ll remain No. 1 next week as well.
Bills’ Christian Benford: Scores first NFL touchdown in win
Benford recorded two tackles (one solo), an interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown during Sunday’s 26-7 win at Pittsburgh.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Benford came into the backfield on a corner blitz, putting him in position to scoop up an Aaron Rodgers fumble at the Steelers’ 17-yard line and dash into the end zone. He had a relatively slow start to the year, but things appear to be picking up for him with a Week 14 tilt versus the Bengals around the corner.
How to Bet on Football: NFL Betting Strategies
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Curious as to how to bet on football? This quick guide to NFL betting strategy will show you how to move beyond guesses and start making informed picks, because in the most-bet sport in America, a plan beats luck.
We’ll go over practical football betting tips on choosing a trustworthy sportsbook or betting app, beginner-friendly strategies and advanced tactics. Let’s get into it:
How to Choose an NFL Sportsbook
Picking the right book matters as much as picking the right side. Here’s what to look for when perusing different ones:
Legal & regulated only: use a licensed U.S. sportsbook in your state. You’ll get verified odds, secure banking, geolocation compliance, and responsible-gaming tools.
Welcome bonus that fits your plan: you will often receive a Bet & Get (
Linebacker Eku Leota returns to the NFL
One Auburn alumnus returned to the NFL on Tuesday, while two other former Tigers lost their roster spots in the league.
The Arizona Cardinals signed linebacker Eku Leota for their practice squad, the Cleveland Browns released linebacker Eugene Asante from their practice squad and the New York Jets waived defensive tackle Byron Cowart from its injured reserve.
Leota played in three games for the New Orleans Saints as a practice-squad elevation this season, getting on the field for 31 special-team plays.
Each NFL team is allowed to elevate two of its practice-squad members to active status for each game. But no player can be elevated more than three times by a team in one season.
The Saints released Leota from their practice squad on Nov. 25.
After entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2023, Leota played in eight games with the Carolina Panthers. After Leota played in the Panthers’ first two games of 2024 and recorded his first NFL sack and three tackles for loss in the season-opener, Carolina waived Leota.
Leota joined Pittsburgh’s practice squad one week later and spent the rest of the 2024 season there, playing in one game. The Steelers waived Leota in their roster reduction from the preseason to the regular season in August, and the Saints signed him for their practice squad on Sept. 2.
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Asante had been on the Browns’ practice squad since Oct. 14, but he had not appeared in a game.
Asante started his NFL journey as an undrafted rookie with the Miami Dolphins in May. In the Dolphins’ 14-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason finale on Aug. 23, Asante sustained an ankle injury, and Miami waived him with an injury settlement three days later.
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Cowart had been on injured reserve on Aug. 26 because of an ankle injury. By leaving the Jets’ injured-reserve list, Cowart will have an opportunity to play in 2025, if healthy. But he needs a team.
If Cowart doesn’t play, this season will follow the recent pattern of his career.
Once ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the 2015 signing class, Cowart played at Auburn in 2015 and 2016 before being granted his release early in the 2017 season. Cowart cited his lack of playing time and the health of his mother as the reasons he sought to leave the Tigers. Cowart played at Maryland in the 2018 season.
Cowart joined the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played in five games as a rookie, then made 14 starts in his second season.
Cowart did not play during the 2021 season. He opened training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list with an undisclosed injury and never came off it.
After playing all 17 regular-season games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, Cowart didn’t play in any NFL regular-season games in 2023, even though he appeared on the rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Dolphins.
In 2024, Cowart played in 15 games, with seven starts, for the Chicago Bears and recorded 2.5 of his career 3.5 sacks.
Cowart signed with the Jets as a free agent in March.
Justin Herbert injury already weighs heavy on Eagles vs. Chargers NFL predictions
The Los Angeles Chargers have quickly morphed into one of the toughest teams to predict going into Week 14 thanks to the Justin Herbert injury and resulting surgery.
Usually, terms like injury and surgery make things pretty easy to predict in the NFL.
But in Herbert’s case, there’s a chance he will still be able to play, if not at a high level, when his team plays the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night in primetime.
Herbert suffered a fracture in his non-throwing hand during the win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13. Surgery followed the next day.
Understandably, NFL predictions are all over the place, all things considered.
RELATED: Disturbing video appears to show Raiders targeting injured hand of Chargers QB Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert injury swings NFL Week 14 predictions
On paper, the Chargers-Eagles matchup is a tough call when both teams are fully healthy. Both squads are playoff contenders, if not outright Super Bowl contenders, should they get hot during the postseason.
But over at CBS Sports, the actual end predictive result of Monday’s matchup hinges all on Herbert, as noted by John Breech:
“The Chargers QB has a broken left hand, and right now, it’s unclear if he’ll be playing on Monday night against the Eagles, which means one thing: I have to make two picks for the game.
IF HERBERT DOES NOT PLAY: Eagles 24-17 over Chargers
IF HERBERT PLAYS: Chargers 24-20 over Eagles”
RELATED: Chargers’ Derwin James, Khalil Mack have words on Maxx Crosby over Justin Herbert hit
Even Herbert being on the field makes for a tough call, though. He actually returned to the win over the Raiders, finishing with 151 passing yards and two touchdowns. But he couldn’t take a handoff from under center.
Moving forward, the Chargers have been very open about the fact that backup Trey Lance will, at the very least, handle all goal-line situations. Herbert being in and otherwise limited to pistol and shotgun looks could make things predictable.
There’s also the post-surgery factor, as it’s probably a little different playing with the injury after an operation that needs protection.
Regardless, for those who actually want to predict games, Week 14’s Monday night, cross-conference showdown was one to avoid even before this unpredictable element entered the equation.
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More Los Angeles Chargers News:
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An NFL head coach reportedly wanted to hire Ben Johnson in a completely different role
Upstart defensive coordinator Ben Johnson? The thought might not be as crazy as it sounds.
Chicago Bears reporter Brad Biggs mentioned on 670 The Score’s Mully & Haugh show that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor tried to lure Johnson to Cincinnati’s defensive staff.
Taylor and Johnson both joined the Dolphins staff in 2012 and worked together through the 2015 season, when the former left to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Johnson remained with Miami through the 2018 season.
Taylor became the Bengals’ head coach in 2019. Interestingly, that was the same year Johnson made the jump to Detroit after getting axed by new head coach Brian Flores. Based on everything we now know, I think that might’ve been when Taylor tried to bring him aboard. I find it hard to believe that he would try to lure him away from the Lions (although I suppose it’s possible), and it makes sense that he was putting together his staff at that point.
I know some might be saying,
How to Buy Las Vegas Raiders Gear: Shop NFL Jackets and Hoodies, Holiday Gifts
The holidays are here, officially marking the beginning of the shopping season, and Pro Standard is offering some of the highest-quality Raiders gear on the market this year.
The Raiders brand is built on a bold, hard-edged identity that has remained remarkably consistent since the team’s early days. Their iconic silver-and-black colors, pirate shield logo, and commitment to toughness have created a distinct image that stands apart in the NFL. Even as the team has moved from Oakland to Los Angeles and now to Las Vegas, the brand’s visual and cultural elements have remained intact, contributing to a sense of continuity and authenticity.
Their popularity stems from a combination of on-field history, cultural influence, and a passionate, rebellious fan base. The Raiders have long been associated with an underdog, anti-establishment spirit that appeals to people far beyond football. Music, fashion, and street culture embraced the Raiders’ look decades ago, transforming the team into a global cultural symbol.
As one of the most popular franchises in sports, Raiders gear is a great gift idea this time of year. Pro Standard has you covered with a wide array of styles, sizes, and options to choose from when picking the best items to go with.
Jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, hats, sweatpants, and more are all available, and right now, Pro Standard has select items marked down for the holiday season, making this the best time to buy.
Click on any of the links to order now. Pro Standard has you covered with officially licensed Las Vegas Raiders luxury sportswear.
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How to Buy Dallas Cowboys Gear: Shop NFL Jackets and Hoodies, Holiday Gifts and Deals
The holidays are here, officially marking the beginning of the shopping season, and Pro Standard is offering some of the highest-quality Cowboys gear on the market this year.
The Dallas Cowboys brand is built on a polished, iconic identity centered around the star logo, one of the most recognizable symbols in sports. Their clean blue-and-white color scheme, massive national fan base, and long-standing association with excellence and entertainment have made the Cowboys synonymous with the idea of “America’s Team.” The organization’s emphasis on visibility, tradition, and spectacle, from the stadium experience to its media presence, reinforces a brand that feels both classic and larger than life.
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NFL Announces Late Change to Bears Schedule
It’s that time in the season when the NFL is flexing games and solidifying the timing of other ones. Towards the end of the season, the NFL looks at which teams are the hottest in the NFL and likes to put them in the spotlight, and with the Chicago Bears having a 9-3 record and being playoff favorites, they certainly qualify.
So, the Bears are on top of the world, or at least the NFC, and they’re one of the most talked-about teams in the league right now. So, the NFL wants to put them in front of as many eyes as possible, and that means changing the timing of some games.
It’s always best to know as soon as possible when game times change. That’s why there are only certain games the NFL is allowed to flex, according to their rules, and those games have to be flexed within a reasonable time. According to the official NFL rules, for Sunday night flexing, the NFL can flex up to two games taking place between Weeks 5 and 10. For Weeks 11 thru 17, the NFL is allowed to flex as many games as it wants, which seems generous. But, the league has to announce any changes no later than 12 days in advance of the flexed games.
Then, for Monday night flexing, the NFL can flex any time between Weeks 12 through 17, and they have to announce those changes no later than 12 days before the game. For Thursday night flexing, the NFL is allowed to flex up to two games between Weeks 13 through 17.
Chicago Bears Games Against Green Bay Packers Changed
Flexing season is here, and the Bears’ Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers has been changed. Even though the Bears are looking ahead to their game against the Packers on Sunday, December 7, they also have one two weeks later.
For Week 16, the Chicago Bears will take on the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, December 20, at 7:20 p.m. CST on Fox. That game will mark the second of a doubleheader on the network, with the other one being the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles playing in the first game at 4 p.m. CST.
So, for those who had plans to watch the Week 16 Packers and Bears game, make note of the change.
Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson Praises Caleb Williams
Words get misconstrued in the NFL, and after comments Bears head coach Ben Johnson said about quarterback Caleb Williams after the team’s win over the Eagles, some thought Johnson was dissing Williams. The original comments were, “We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it, and none of us are pleased with that right now.”
On Monday, December 1, Johnson addressed that and cleared the air. But, Johnson changed his tune on Monday, stating, “I think when I made that comment yesterday, it’s easy to construe it as I’m not happy with the quarterback,” he said, according to NBC Sports. “That’s not the case whatsoever. He continues to get better each and every week, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how he played last week.”
So, rest easy that all is well between Johnson and Williams. Johnson sees an opportunity with this 9-3 team now, and he’s just trying to squeeze as much juice as he can out of his key players.
NBA Fans Make Feelings Clear on Joe Mazzulla’s Antics During Knicks-Celtics
Tonight, as the Boston Celtics took on the New York Knicks at TD Garden, one moment stood out. On the nationally televised broadcast, fans and commentators were shocked as, in the first quarter, Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson was fouled off the ball immediately, sending him to the free-throw line.
Those unfamiliar with these teams’ matchups probably questioned why Boston was giving away free points, but everything soon became clear. Robinson, a notoriously bad free-throw shooter, missed three of his four foul shots before being benched, leaving the Knicks’ offense stuck.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is no stranger to using strange tactics to take any advantage over his foes, and this one in particular has been witnessed multiple times before. During last year’s playoff series between the two teams, Mazzulla heavily employed the ‘Hack-a-Robinson’ play, where his players would run to the center and foul him as soon as he touched the floor, completely neutralizing his absurd offensive rebounding skills.
NBA Makes Historic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Announcement on Tuesday
Breezing through competition and MVP numbers aren’t the only things Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is accomplishing this season. Making NBA history is another thing on his checklist. He just surpassed Wilt Chamberlain in one record, on track to match his second one. While showing effortless consistency, he’s now joined Michael Jordan in an exclusive club.
After building up to it since the start of the season, it’s offfical. The NBA announced today that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Jordan are the only guards ever to average 30+ points per game and shoot 50% or better from the field in each of three straight seasons.
This comes after Sunday night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers. Apart from beating Portland 115-123, SGA had an easy-breezy 26 points while 8-for-15 from the field (53.3%).
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Michael Jordan made this record for five seasons from 1987-88 through 1991-92, that’s overlapping with his MVP years. SGA has been this consistent for three seasons, including his championship and MVP season in 2024-25. He’s on pace to make it to a fourth season.
They’re going into tonight’s game against the Warriors as a 20-1 team and the most fearsome team in the league. SGA’s Jordan and Wilt records add a whole other layer. And what’s cooler? Maybe we’ll hear Jordan’s opinions on it.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s thoughts on Michael Jordan comparisons
The Warriors vs Thunder game airs on NBC tonight. Between this game, we’re going to see a special segment with His Airness himself. It’s not clear if it’s another short interview from MJ”s Insights to Excellence or new segments. If it were live, maybe Mike Tirico or his colleague would ask him about SGA’s new record.
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Shai has been collecting the Michael Jordan comparisons for a while now. Most recently from Paul Pierce and that did not go down well. We’ve however never heard from the 6x NBA champion what he thinks about it the way we’ve got a few of his opinions on Anthony Edwards.
When the season began, and SGA was on track for this particular Jordan record, the 27-year-old had a level-headed response. “To be in those conversations, if I’m even in them, is why you play the game and what you dream about as a kid. It’s an honour.”
On the way to this Jordan moment, Shai surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s second-longest streak of 20+ point games on Sunday. He’s got 93 consecutive games with 20+ points, on track to match Wilt’s longest streak of 126 in February 2026, and doing it while rarely playing in the last quarter.
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These two records prove his consistent contribution to the team. But it also shows where Wilt carried the offensive load and Jordan himself showed frustration over carrying the team, SGA is surrounded by teammates who can share the offense with double digits of their own and still win a game.
Nets rookie Danny Wolf running with his first NBA opportunity
It was all premeditated, no matter how much Danny Wolf said it was a joke.
Prior to Monday’s clash with the Hornets, the rookie was going around to his Nets teammates, telling them he was going to “catch a body,” he admitted after the 116-103 win.
He felt like he had missed out on an opportunity in Saturday’s game against Milwaukee. So, as the Nets held the lead in the fourth quarter, Wolf saw an opening and took it.
With nearly two minutes to play, Egor Dëmin passed the ball off to Wolf at the top of the key. Unguarded, he sprinted down the lane for a poster dunk over Miles Bridges. The Nets bench was thrown into hysterics.
Both Nic Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. ran over for a chest bump with the No. 27 pick.
“I mean, I didn’t know he had it in him,” Claxton said. “Honestly, it caught me off guard, but it was a magnificent dunk… He manifested it before the game. He told me and Day’Ron [Sharpe] ‘I’m gonna catch me one, too.’ He went out and did it.”
“I’ve seen it in practice,” coach Jordi Fernández added. “I’m very happy for him… Those are big-time energy plays. That’s for all his teammates, for the crowd.”
The 21-year-old forward, who was called up from G-League Long Island when Porter was sidelined for two games with lower back tightness, has taken the long-awaited NBA opportunity and run with it.
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He recorded all 10 of his points on Monday in the final frame after not playing in the third quarter, and it led to his first NBA win and the first home victory for the Nets this season.
In three games, the Michigan product has averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 44 percent shooting.
“Obviously coming into the NBA, you don’t really know exactly the fine details as to what you’re getting yourself into,” Wolf said. “I mean, I look back on the first month, and you’re not getting the opportunity and you’re sitting on the bench. You just have that itch to play. I think going down to Long Island, the coaching and front office told me that how you look at it is what you’re gonna get out of it. That’s what I’ve said from Day 1 and credit to a lot of the guys who kind of passed that mindset on to me.”
Terance Mann (right rib soreness) has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game in Chicago.
With Porter healthy, Wolf’s minutes will vary, but he has made a case to stay in Brooklyn for the near future.
Celtics Knicks NBA Jaylen Brown
But this time, Boston did not crumble. Instead, it received critical contributions from forward Jordan Walsh down the stretch and held on for a 123-117 win, maintaining the momentum from Sunday’s big victory over the Cavaliers.
Jaylen Brown had 42 points on 16 of 24 shooting to lead Boston, and Derrick White added 22 points. Walsh had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist in the fourth quarter alone for Boston, which shot 56.3 percent from the field and made 33 of 47 2-pointers (70.2 percent).
Mikal Bridges scored 35 points to lead the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns added 29. But star guard Jalen Brunson was just 6 for 21 from the field for 15 points.
The Celtics led by 18 with 11 minutes left. But the Knicks needed just one minute to slice that deficit in half with a 9-0 burst that was highlighted by a Jordan Clarkson 4-point play.
The Celtics called timeout and steadied themselves with a Sam Hauser 3-pointer that was followed by an Anfernee Simons three-point play. But the resistance was fleeting.
This time, the Knicks uncorked another 9-0 flurry in just 44 seconds. Hugo Gonzalez was whistled for a flagrant foul when he hit Bridges on a 3-pointer. Bridges hit all three free throws and the Knicks capitalized on the extra possession with a Towns three-point play on a putback. Then with 6:29 left Bridges hit another 3, pulling New York within 102-99.
The Celtics received lifts from unlikely sources. Josh Minott hit a 3-pointer, and Walsh converted consecutive putbacks to push the lead back to 109-101.
After the Knicks pulled within 113-110 on a Bridges 3-pointer with 2:40 to play, Walsh attacked a baseline close-out and converted a tough layup. The Knicks made a final push, getting a basket and a 3-pointer by Bridges to pull within 119-115 with 44.2 seconds left.
After a Brown turnover, though, Bridges missed a 3-pointer that could have brought the Knicks within 1. Walsh then put his final imprint on the game by winning a key jump ball.
Before the game, Mazzulla was asked what these Knicks do differently now that Mike Brown is their coach. He said the team is crashing for more offensive rebounds, and firing up more 3-pointers. It is an approach Mazzulla can probably get behind.
The Knicks generated wide-open 3-pointers on their first two possessions, and even though they missed one, the looks were a harbinger for the rest of the quarter. New York hit three 3-pointers in the first two minutes, and Miles McBride and Josh Hart combined to start 5 for 5 from beyond the arc to push New York to a 25-12 lead.
The Celtics, meanwhile, started 0 for 8 from long range, but used some hustle plays to keep the Knicks within reach. Two offensive rebounds on one trip led to a Neemias Queta alley-oop, and Walsh stormed in for a follow slam.
But Brown’s three turnovers were a hindrance, including when Hart had nowhere to go when he retrieved a loose ball near midcourt with the shot clock running down, and Brown bumped him to reset the possession.
Later in the quarter, the Celtics intentionally fouled Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ poor-shooting big man, dusting off a strategy they deployed during last season’s conference semifinals.
Robinson was just 1 for 4, but on the Celtics’ third attempt they were whistled for an away-from-the-play foul, giving Brunson a technical free throw. They did not try it again during the half.
Towns steamrolled the Celtics in the first 90 seconds of the second quarter. He bookended a 3-pointer with two baskets inside to stretch the lead to 39-25, New York’s largest.
But Hugo Gonzalez, who has proven he can be a pest against any opponent despite being just 19 years old, stepped forward and helped slow Towns on consecutive possessions. He held his ground despite the massive size difference.
At the other end, Brown wiped away his sluggish start with a dominant stretch. In less than a minute he made a layup, hit a 3-pointer and converted a 3-point play, igniting a 12-0 run that flipped the energy in an unusually Knicks-heavy crowd. He had 18 points in the period.
Gonzalez, who played the entire second quarter, remained disruptive with his defensive versatility. He slid over to Brunson and stripped the Knicks’ All-Star point guard, leading to a Payton Pritchard layup that gave the Celtics a 56-49 lead and capped a 31-10 surge.
Boston was 16 for 18 in the paint in the first half.
In the third quarter, Brown could not quite duplicate his 18-point second quarter, but he certainly came close.
He gave the Celtics their first double-digit lead (63-52) with a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer.
And Boston mostly maintained that lead with Brown pulverizing the Knicks with midrange jumpers. Then in the final minutes, the rupture Boston had been building toward arrived.
Brown called for an isolation against Robinson, an elite one-on-one defender, and shook him with a crossover before hitting a jumper. On the final possession he set up the same play, with the crowd buzzing in anticipation. The Knicks were anticipating it, too, and sent a double team Brown’s way. So he willingly made the pass to an open White, whose 3-pointer capped a 12-0 burst and sent Boston to the fourth quarter with a 94-76 lead.
Brown had 15 points in the third quarter and entered the fourth with 37 on 15 for 22 shooting.
Ex-Knick Danilo Gallinari retires after 16 years in NBA
Danilo Gallinari is calling it a career.
The former Knick and 16-year NBA veteran announced he was retiring from professional basketball on Tuesday in a heartfelt social media post.
“Today, with a heart full of gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from the career I’ve always dreamed of,” the 37-year-old wrote on X, while also sharing a montage of career highlights.
After four years playing professionally in his native Italy, Gallinari was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Knicks. He remains the second-highest player picked from Italy.
He spent two and a half years in New York, averaging 13.7 points (shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range), 4.3 points and 1.5 assists per game.
In the middle of the 2010-11 season with the Knicks, Gallinari was traded to the Nuggets in the three-team blockbuster that landed Carmelo Anthony in New York.
He spent the next six years in Denver and saw his points per game rise to 16.2.
Gallinari then bounced around the NBA, playing for the Clippers, Thunder, Hawks, Wizards, Pistons and Bucks.
He finished with 11,607 points, the most by an Italian in the NBA.
This year, while he did not play in the NBA, he suited up with Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico, winning a title and Finals MVP.
“It’s been an incredible journey filled with countless memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” he wrote in his social media post. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Player Stats, Box Score and Game Recap (Dec 2, 2025) – 2025-26 NBA Season
As the Boston Celtics hosted the New York Knicks tonight, it was the battle of the top scorers in the league. Jaylen Brown has kept the Celtics alive as the 9th ranked scorer in the league right now. Jalyen Brunson is a close 10th. And their ranks constantly switch up. Tonight might also change that. Both teams want to keep winning streaks alive, only one will. After a very close game, the Celtics defeated the Knicks 123-117.
New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics player stats and box score
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics
Knicks vs Celtics: Game summary and key moments
Anytime the Knicks and Celtics clash, it’s a landmark game. Derrick White was back for a game where the Knicks were favored to upset the Celtics. And the opposite happened.
Reggie Miller and Spike Lee cut it up on NBC’s Knicks-Celtics pregame show
Reggie Miller and Spike Lee might as well exchange friendship bracelets.
The Pacers legend and the Knicks superfan have come a long way since their verbal sparring matches at Madison Square Garden in the 1990s, with Miller putting his arm around Lee when the director made a brief appearance on the NBA on NBC broadcast of the Knicks’ 123-117 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday night in Boston.
Lee, decked out in Knicks attire, stood next to Miller when Mike Tirico remarked that it was “so nice to see you two together.”
“You know we talk about it all the time, people think that we hate each other,” Lee said. “And it’s completely false. It’s nothing but love right here.”
But Miller chimed in, suggesting that the “love” wasn’t always the case.
“It’s love now, it wasn’t so much years ago,” Miller joked.
“Yeah, it was 30 years ago,” Lee replied, leading Tirico and Miller to burst into laughter.
Lee and Miller became attached in history during the heated Knicks-Pacers playoff games in the 1990s, where the two had several infamous verbal altercations that made headlines across the country.
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The most memorable interaction came during Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals when Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Knicks blew a 12-point lead, which led to Miller making a choking gesture toward Lee sitting courtside.
Things have warmed between the two, and last year during the Eastern Conference Finals between New York and Indiana, Miller appeared on “Inside the NBA” with Lee sitting right beside him decked out in full Knicks attire.
Lee wasn’t the only Knicks fan in the building on Tuesday night in Boston.
Also on hand for the game at TD Garden was Knicks great Patrick Ewing.
The star power wasn’t enough, though, as the Knicks fell to the Celtics.
Michael Jordan Admits Helping Anthony Edwards Solve NBA Problem as 44-Point Game Sinks Pelicans
Next time Anthony Edwards says he chatted with His Airness, you best believe it. When he did flex about his casual conversation with Michael Jordan earlier this year, most felt it was another moment of Ant being a braggart playing into his Adidas commercial persona. Now the man himself confirmed it happened. Jordan just makes it sound more realistic than it felt.
MJ’s Insights to Excellence was back on NBC tonight on a day the Minnesota Timberwolves got an OT 142-149 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. In the latest microdose of MJ’s insight, Mike Tirico asked him about advising players like Antman.
“I had a conversation this summer with a high executive at Minnesota and he was talking about Anthony Edwards,” MJ said. “I heard during the course of the year that they were double-teaming (him). He didn’t know how to deal with the double team…”
This confirms what a Wolves insider revealed in January about Ant personally reaching out to MJ. He’s sought lessons on getting to his spots and shooting over defenders from the man who did that on any given Tuesday for 15 seasons.
Edwards was apparently frustrated about getting doubled. Jordan flipped that mindset around. “Well, that’s the highest respect that you can ever get if a team feels like they got to double team you. Now you figure out how to break the double team.”
Jordan told him about moving without the ball, getting into scoring positions, the likes. But changing his perspective was the most useful advice. When MJ says, “those are the types of conversations I try to have when players seek that information,” the impact it had on Ant was palpable.
The Wolves are not looking like the contenders they were last season. After a losing skid and struggling against injury-ridden teams, the nothing-to-lose last-seeded Pelicans made it very tough for them. It fell on Ant to rally an astounding 44 points to salvage Minnesota with an OT win.
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Ant was not the only one getting the MJ comparisons. But he was one of the few who could say he chatted up the legend himself.
Former Laker Elden Campbell, known for his effortless style, dies at 57
Former Lakers center Elden Campbell, who played 8 ½ seasons of his 15-year NBA career with the Los Angeles team he watched while growing up here and attending Morningside High, has died. He was 57.
Former Lakers teammates and friends offered their condolences Tuesday.
The 6-foot-11 Campbell, who was drafted by the Lakers in the first round out of Clemson in 1990, averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds over his career. He won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, getting his title with a win over the Lakers.
Campbell was known for his seemingly effortless style of play and calm and easy-going demeanor.
Former Laker Byron Scott, who said he knew Campbell’s family because Scott also grew up in Inglewood and went to Morningside, said the news was painful to hear. Scott and Campbell were teammates on the Lakers when Scott returned for his final season back with L.A. in 1996-97.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” Scott told The Times. “He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man.”
Campbell averaged 14.9 points per game with the Lakers during the 1996-97 season playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Campbell’s best season was with the Charlotte Hornets, when he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.
“This one hurt to the bone,” Cedric Ceballos said on Instagram about his former Lakers teammate. “Grew up as kids together.”
Campbell was part of the 2025 SoCal Basketball Hall of Fame Class.
After leaving Clemson, Campbell was viewed as a big man with vast potential who would become a force in the NBA. He never quite lived up to that billing, but he was a good defender and had a nice scoring touch.
NASCAR Broadcaster Wins America’s Heart With Bold 3-Word Call on Supercars’ Championship Controversy
Leigh Diffey has been in NASCAR fans’ living rooms for years, calling everything from photo finishes at Talladega to playoff chaos under the lights at Phoenix. Whether it’s IndyCar, IMSA, NASCAR, or even Olympic track, he has a way of making a moment feel bigger than the screen it’s broadcast on. When he’s locked in, and the field is door-to-door, his energy sounds like racing distilled into words.
But even the best have off days. Last year, Diffey had the kind of broadcasting nightmare nobody wants: he called the wrong winner in the Olympic 100-meter final. Live TV, cameras rolling, millions watching, and the call went out early.
He apologized immediately and owned it, but clips like that don’t disappear on the internet. For some NASCAR fans already skeptical of “outside voices” coming into the booth, it only added fuel. The takes came fast: “washed,” “lost his touch,” “not clutch when it matters.” Fair or not, the narrative stuck.
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So when chaos erupted in the 2025 Supercars Championship, a surprising group was watching closely: American NASCAR fans.
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Because that championship looked awfully familiar. Broc Feeney dominated the season. Fourteen wins, pole after pole, consistency that made the rest of the field look like background noise. Then the playoff-style format reset the points, one bad weekend flipped everything, and Chaz Mostert walked out with the official title.
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Sound familiar? It should. NASCAR fans have been arguing for a decade about dominant seasons being erased by one late caution, one restart, or one pit call. So when Feeney showed up at the season-ending gala and still won the Jim Richards Award for best overall driver and the Barry Sheene Medal for fan and media MVP, a lot of American fans felt déjà vu. The people who watched every lap said Feeney was the guy. The format said otherwise.
That’s when Leigh Diffey did something nobody expected. He saw Red Bull Ampol Racing’s post congratulating Feeney on his awards and simply quote-tweeted it with three words: “The real champion!”
No hedging. No corporate finesse. No polite neutrality. Just a call that picked a side and shook both continents. NASCAR fans on X immediately lost it.
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Fans gave Leigh Diffey a standing ovation
One guy summed it up: “Leigh Diffey is the GOAT commentator for a reason.” Another went full caps-lock: “Holy sh*t, the only person in mainstream media to support the true champion, unlike the pigs in the trough.” Harsh, but you could feel the relief. Finally, somebody with a big microphone said the quiet part out loud.
NASCAR fans jumped in: “Imma need you to bring this same energy to the 2026 NASCAR season.” Because we all know the feeling. We’ve watched a driver dominate thirty-five races just to lose the title because a caution fell wrong on the last night. When Diffey looked at Feeney’s season and called him the real champion, every American fan who’s ever screamed at a playoff finish felt seen.
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The love kept pouring in. “I knew I liked you for a reason, Leigh.” Simple, sweet, and probably the best thing you can hear after taking heat for a year. People remember the Olympic mistake, but also the passion in his voice when the cars are side-by-side on the last lap. Three little words just reminded everyone why they turn the volume up when he’s on the call.
Of course, someone had to challenge him: “Now say the same about NASCAR, Leigh. Win your credibility back in the SERIES YOU WORK FOR.” Fair play.
Leigh Diffey makes his living in the NBC Cup Series booth. If he’s brave enough to call the Supercars emperor naked, fans want that same fire when the Cup trophy gets handed out because of a green-white-checkered. Do it once or twice, and the Olympic clip becomes ancient history.
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At the end of the day, Diffey didn’t start the argument; he just picked the lane most fans were already driving in. Chaz Mostert is the champion on paper and always will be. Broc Feeney is the guy who looked fastest every weekend and took home the awards that actually measure exactly that. Diffey looked at both trophies, shrugged, and said who he thought deserved the big one.
Three words, zero apologies, and suddenly half the motorsport world is ready to run through a wall for Leigh Diffey again. Sometimes all it takes is someone willing to say what everybody else is thinking.
Denny Hamlin testifies that signing NASCAR’s charter deal would have been a ‘death certificate’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin outlined the precarious situation facing NASCAR teams, testifying Tuesday in the federal antitrust trial against the stock car series that the race team he co-owns spent more than $700,000 to the series in 2022 alone and how agreeing to its charter proposal last fall would have been like signing his own “death certificate.”
Hamlin was the first witness called when testimony began Monday in the antitrust case brought by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by fast-food franchiser Bob Jenkins. The two teams contend that NASCAR is a monopoly that has handcuffed teams with a no-win revenue model.
Hamlin returned to the stand for more than three hours and was asked about line items in 23XI Racing’s budget. He noted how more than $703,000 three years ago was spent on costs to NASCAR ranging from entry fees, credentials for team members to enter the track and even access to Internet signals. He also said he and Jordan spent $100 million to build 23XI and “all it takes is one sponsor to go away and all our profit is gone.”
All 15 of NASCAR’s teams had been vocal for over two years that the last charter agreement made it impossible for them to turn a profit and they demanded four changes in prolonged negotiations. When the final offer came from NASCAR and lacked most of what the teams asked for, 23XI and Front Row refused to sign and instead sued.
23XI has turned a profit in all but one of its five seasons, but its financial success is largely a product of Jordan’s star power drawing top-dollar sponsors. Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffery Kessler told the jury Monday that a NASCAR-commissioned study found that 75% of teams lost money in 2024.
Hamlin testified that the TV deal NASCAR signed ahead of the 2025 season has not been a boon to race teams because of a shift toward streaming services and big-ticket sponsors want to be on television. He also referred to a meeting with NASCAR chairman Jim France, who indicated teams are spending too much and it should only cost $10 million per car. Hamlin testified it costs $20 million.
“We cannot cut more. Tell me how to get my investment back? He had no answer,” Hamlin said.
As for refusing to sign the charter agreements last fall, Hamlin said the last-ditch proposal from NASCAR “had eight points minimum that needed to be changed. When we pointed that out we were told ‘Negotiations are closed.’”
“I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” he said, later adding: “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow as a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part. You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly and I knew It wasn’t right. They were wrong and someone needed to be held accountable.”
Under cross-examination, Hamlin was asked why he paints a rosier picture of NASCAR on podcast appearances. He replied that he is regurgitating NASCAR talking points because any negative comments can lead to retribution.
“You can take all my things out of context and paint a picture that everything is fine,” he said. “The reality is, (being) negative affects me in (technical inspection), getting called to the hauler, NASCAR not liking what I said.”
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
NASCAR is owned and operated by the Florida-based France family, which founded the series in 1948. Kessler said over a three-year period almost $400 million was paid to the France Family Trust and a 2023 evaluation by Goldman Sachs found NASCAR to be worth $5 billion. The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024, while Jenkins testified in a deposition he has lost $60 million over the last decade and $100 million since starting his team in 2004.
NASCAR contends it is doing nothing wrong and has not restrained trade or commerce by its teams. The series says the original charters were given for free to teams when the system was created in 2016 and the demand for them created a market of $1.5 billion in equity for chartered organizations.
Hamlin countered that 11 of the original 19 chartered organizations are out of business; all three of 23XI’s charters came from teams that ceased operations. NASCAR also said each chartered car now receives a guaranteed $12.5 million in annual revenue, up from $9 million. Hamlin testified it costs $20 million to bring a single car to the track for all 38 races and that figure does not include any overhead, operating costs or a driver’s salary.
F1 title comes down to a three
All Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Season Wrap: Kyle Larson secured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship while taking advantage of a late caution that allowed him to overtake Denny Hamlin in overtime. Larson’s victory marks the 15th Cup title for Hendrick Motorsports and coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jeff Gordon delivering Hendrick its first championship.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Season Wrap: In only his second year of racing, Jesse Love claimed his first Xfinity Series championship after passing Connor Zilisch in the final laps at Phoenix Raceway.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Season Wrap: Corey Heim set a season record for wins with his 12th victory coming in the series finale at Phoenix. Heim had a dominant season in which he extended the record for laps led to more than 1,500.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA 1
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Site: Abu Dhabi
Track: Yas Marina Circuit
Race distance: 58 laps, 190.2 miles.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 4:30 a.m., sprint qualifying, 8 a.m.; Saturday, sprint race, 5:30 a.m., qualifying, 9 a.m.; Sunday, race, 8 a.m. (ESPN).
Last year: Avoiding an early-race collision between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris managed to win the season-ender and seal the constructors’ title for the McLaren team.
Last race: Max Verstappen kept his title hopes alive in Qatar, taking the win after a lap-7 safety car and strategic pit for tires that helped him pull clear of the McLarens.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Season Wrap: Alex Palou won his third consecutive series championship, securing the title in four of the last five seasons.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Season has concluded.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Season has concluded.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com
_____
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Michael Jordan Betrayed? Courtroom Stunned as NASCAR Reveals Denny Hamlin’s Secret Demand to Abandon 23XI
The Charlotte courtroom was already humming when Denny Hamlin took the stand. Everyone expected a few hours of charter talk and lawyer-speak. Instead, they got fireworks, sarcasm, and one bombshell text message that had jaws dropping.
By the time NASCAR’s attorney dropped line after line of tough questions, the room felt more like a Sunday showdown at Bristol than a federal antitrust trial.
Denny Hamlin goes scorched earth on NASCAR
NASCAR’s lawyer Lawrence Buterman came out swinging, throwing everything from driver contracts to revenue splits at Hamlin. Every time Buterman tried to paint 23XI as hypocritical for having its own exclusivity rules, Denny Hamlin fired right back with one sentence.
“We’re not a monopoly, you are.”
He said it so many times it almost became the chorus of the day.
When Buterman brought up the September 6 letter explaining why 23XI wouldn’t sign the charter deal, Hamlin didn’t flinch. He called NASCAR’s so-called concessions “small tweaks” and ripped the seven-year flat payout as ridiculous.
“You force us to buy all the cars and parts, but we don’t own any of it. How stupid is that?” he said.
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He compared it to renting a house forever, while the landlord keeps raising the rent and never lets you paint the walls.
The Team Owner Council got the same treatment. Hamlin called it window dressing.
“Anytime they feel threatened, they create a committee to make it look collaborative, but there’s no vote, no veto, no power.”
He even joked they could make teams race in Dubai tomorrow, and nobody could stop them.
Then came the Driver Ambassador Program. Hamlin admitted it puts money in his pocket but said he hates it anyway because it forces teams to loan their stars to NASCAR’s sponsors and give up forty percent of the cash.
Buterman tried a cheap shot, asking, “So you don’t want drivers to get paid?”
Hamlin smiled and shut it down. “Teams pay drivers, not NASCAR. And most drivers don’t win the number of races I do.”
The real gasp came when Buterman pulled up a text where Hamlin asked Michael Jordan to find someone to buy him out of 23XI. You could hear the air leave the room. But Hamlin didn’t panic. He explained that the reason he said that was because he wanted the success or failure of 23XI to depend on his own terms, and not under somebody’s control.
And that frustrated request to ‘buy him out’ was just his way to make the team owners realize the seriousness of it and get their attention. Which he eventually got, as Hamlin mentioned that they eventually ‘figured it out’. It was just a normal disagreement, the kind every partnership has.
End of story. Still, the fact that the text existed at all had everyone wondering what else happened behind those closed doors.
The same week Hamlin was battling lawyers in Charlotte, his fiancée Jordan Fish reminded everyone there’s a softer side to the story.
From courtroom drama to delivery room comedy
Back in June, Fish gave birth to their son Jameson Drew, and the way she tells it, the whole thing played out like a feel-good movie.
Taylor took fifty minutes, Molly took nine, so Jordan figured Jameson would be quick too. Nope. She started pushing at 10:10 a.m., and the little guy took his sweet time, finally arriving at 1:53 p.m. after some complications. The nurses rolled in a mirror so she could watch, and Hamlin turned into the world’s most attentive coach, handing out water, applying lip balm, keeping the mood light.
At one point, he asked how her lips were feeling. Jordan Fish, high on every drug known to medicine, cracked, “Which ones?” The entire room lost it—nurses, doctor, everybody. She said it felt like a sitcom scene she wished someone had filmed. Jameson came out eight pounds four ounces, healthy and perfect, and big sisters Taylor and Molly haven’t stopped hugging him since.
Hamlin even skipped the Mexico race to be there, proof that no matter how heated the courtroom gets or how big the fight with NASCAR becomes, some things still come first. One day, he’s telling a federal jury the sport is broken, the next, he’s putting lip balm on his fiancée and laughing through labor. Same guy, two very different battles, and somehow he’s still standing in the middle of both.
Hamlin Calls Charter Deal a ‘Death Certificate’ in NASCAR Lawsuit
The NASCAR lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR entered Day 2 with long hours of tense testimony, as Denny Hamlin explained why his team chose to take the league to court.
Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI with Michael Jordan, walked the courtroom through financial numbers, past conversations with NASCAR leadership, and the reasons he believes the current system makes long-term team growth almost impossible.
He said the 2025 charter proposal would leave 23XI in a dangerous spot, and he described a tight financial picture that gives teams little room to survive. His answers stayed firm and detailed as lawyers pressed him on past comments and internal team practices.
Denny Hamlin Calls 2025 Charter Agreement a “Death Certificate”
Hamlin told the court that the proposed 2025 charter deal would put 23XI at major risk. The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi report Hamlin calling the offer “essentially my (team’s) death certificate for the future,” saying the team would “not… in business if we sign this (within) 10 years.” He argued that the current system pays teams a fixed amount instead of giving them a set share of growing media revenue. In his view, that structure benefits NASCAR and the France family, while teams continue to face rising costs each season.
Hamlin also described a 2023 meeting with NASCAR chairman Jim France that left him “very, very discouraged.” According to Hamlin, France said the “problem in NASCAR is teams spend too much money and suggested that teams should operate on around $10 million per year. Hamlin told the court that this does not match real-life team spending needs, saying, “We’ve cut this grass so short, we’re down to the dirt.”
Financial Pressure Takes Center Stage in the NASCAR Lawsuit
Hamlin explained that 23XI runs with a small 2.26 percent profit margin. He said he owes Michael Jordan tens of millions of dollars in loans tied to team operations and buildings. When NASCAR’s attorney, Lawrence Buterman, asked why the teams were seeking $205 million in damages, Hamlin replied, “We want to be made whole for what you guys did to us.”
Autoweek’s Deb Williams wrote, “In testimony today, Denny Hamlin said he filed the antitrust suit against NASCAR because ‘it’s time for a change. “
NASCAR attorney showed examples of Hamlin praising NASCAR’s business model and the Next Gen car, including comments from the Kenny Wallace podcast. Hamlin said those comments did not reflect what he truly believed, explaining, “All my public (comments) are out of context… You give me talking points, I say it to make fans feel happy.”
Racing America’s Toby Christie reported a similar exchange. “When pressed on why he didn’t say anything negative about the Next Gen car on the Kenny Wallace podcast, Hamlin said, because if he says anything negative about NASCAR, he gets a lashing. So, when he speaks publicly, he delivers the positive talking points that they give him.”
NASCAR Questions 23XI’s Own Internal Choices
NASCAR attorney argued that 23XI uses restrictive practices too, pointing to attempts to “lock up” Corey Heim, paying drivers a smaller revenue share than NASCAR pays teams, and putting Riley Herbst under an exclusivity clause.
Hamlin replied, “We are not a monopoly. The driver has options. That’s the difference. It’s not anti-competitive if the driver has options.”
His point was that drivers can move to other teams, while NASCAR controls the entire top level of the sport.
NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin Tears Up in Court While Discussing Ailing Father
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin took the stand on Monday, December 1, in his company’s antitrust case against NASCAR, breaking down in tears during his emotional testimony.
“We got to when I was about 20 and a decision had to be made, I could keep racing or go out and work for my dad’s trailer business,” Hamlin, 45, testified in court after he was asked how he got into racing.
He told the Associated Press in October that his father, Dennis Hamlin, is battling “serious illness” at age 75 and that 2025 would be his last chance to see Denny win the NASCAR Cup Series. Denny is widely viewed as the greatest driver in the sport’s history to never win the Cup.
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” he said before the final race of the season.
Denny finished sixth at Phoenix Raceway, securing a second-place Cup finish behind Kyle Larson. He later revealed on a November episode of his “Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin” podcast that he can’t bring himself to watch the video of his dad cheering him on from home.
“Yeah, he was fine, very supportive,” Hamlin said. “He didn’t like the outcome, but I think he was still okay with the result. You know, he said to me, just like a lot of people say, he’s like, ‘I don’t know what to say. What am I supposed to say?’ He’s like, ‘You had it. You did it. You just don’t have the trophy.”
A little over a month after his season ended, Denny was in a Charlotte, North Carolina, courtroom representing 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with NBA legend Michael Jordan. 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are suing NASCAR, accusing the auto racing giant of acting as a monopoly based on “exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations,” according to the AP.
Denny told the court that his father is “not in great health” and detailed the sacrifices his family made to allow him to pursue his racing dreams. He previously told the AP that Dennis took out multiple mortgages on the family’s Virginia home and maxed out his credit cards to help Denny break into NASCAR.
“He was just so happy and he always tells me I’m the best, no matter if I win or not, he always says I’m the best,” Denny said in October. “He’s a big hype guy and I sat in his garage and talked with him, he’s got all my old memorabilia and it’s just good to reminisce. He’s a reminiscent guy and right now I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week.”
Going into that final race, Larson, 33, said that if he couldn’t win the Cup, he would like to see Denny do it for his dad.
“I could see how [his dad] absolutely gives extra motivation, and I think sympathy goes a long way,” he said. “It’s not going to stop me from wanting to beat him, but there’s a lot of reasons a Denny Hamlin championship would feel good.”
Fiery Testimony From 23XI’s Denny Hamlin In Day 2 Of NASCAR Trial
The second day of the NASCAR Anti-Trust Trial in Federal Court in Charlotte, North Carolina included 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin saying signing the NASCAR Charter Agreement would have been like signing his own “death certificate.” Also, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Scott Prime compared how LIV Golf disrupted golf and NASCAR was fearful of the same happening to stock car racing.
At times, the cross-examination was “contentious” according to the Associated Press.
Two NASCAR teams including 23XI co-owned by former NBA legend Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports are suing NASCAR over monopolistic practices and violation of anti-trust laws.
Tuesday’s Trial Testimony Begins With Denny Hamlin On The Stand
Hamlin spent a second day on the stand, including more than three hours on Tuesday, December 2. During the testimony, Hamlin revealed he makes approximately $14 million a year from Joe Gibbs Racing and emphasized how his co-ownership in 23XI Racing is an investment into the future of NASCAR.
According to The AP, Hamlin testified he is the 40 percent owner of 23XI and has invested $45 million into the team. During cross examination, Hamlin testified he has put in more than $10 million and the rest are though loans.
Hamlin and Jordan created 23XI Racing in 2021 and he projected a $900,000 profit in the first year. The team made more than $3 million in 2023 and built a $35 million shop that opened in 2024. NASCAR attorneys contended the budget for the shop was $9 million to $10 million and the team’s spending was “egregious”, according to the AP. Hamlin said the original budget was “pre-COVID” and did not include everything inside the facility.
NASCAR’s Cross-Examination
During cross-examination, NASCAR attorney Lawrence Buterman asked why 23XI Racing wanted $205 million in damages when emails showed a 10 percent return on investment. Buterman also said Hamlin told Jordan that the NASCAR Charter System and its Next Gen car made it a great time to invest in NASCAR but now claim it is part of NASCAR’s monopoly.
Hamlin and his attorney compared the charters to renting an apartment because both expire. Buterman fired back believing it was an unfair comparison because a home that is being rented can’t be sold by the renter, but the holder of a NASCAR charter can sell it.
Other major details that were revealed so far in court includes Hamlin saying it costs $20 million to run one race car per season. NASCAR CEO Jim France has said it should cost only $10 million a year, according to The AP.
Hamlin testified that he had a meeting with NASCAR Chairman Jim France and was told the teams are spending too much money and it should cost $10 million, not $20 million per year.
“We cannot cut more. Tell me how to get my investment back? He had no answer,” Hamlin said.
Also, $100 million is how much Hamlin said he and Jordan have spent on 23XI Racing since September 2020. During the pretrial discovery process, NASCAR made $100 million in 2024. That is also the amount Front Row Motorsports has lost since starting a NASCAR team in 2004, according to team owner Bob Jenkins, the other plaintiff in this lawsuit.
In 2023, Goldman Sachs evaluated NASCAR value at $5 billion, according to 23XI attorney Jeffrey Kessler.
NASCAR’s Prime Testimony
Scott Prime is NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. He took the stand on Tuesday and was grilled by Kessler, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
The plaintiffs believe NASCAR actions such as enforcing tracks with “exclusivity agreements, underpaying teams and putting intellectual property patents on its race teams to make them unusable elsewhere.”
Hamlin also testified that $703,000 three years ago was spent on costs to NASCAR ranging from entry fees, credentials for team members to enter the track and even access to Internet signals.
“All it takes is one sponsor to go away and all our profit is gone,” Hamlin said.
Background To The Charter Agreement And How It Led To a Trial
All 15 of NASCAR’s teams had been vocal for over two years that the last charter agreement made it impossible for them to turn a profit, and they demanded four changes in prolonged negotiations. When the final offer came from NASCAR and lacked most of what the teams asked for, 23XI and Front Row refused to sign and instead sued.
Ironically, 23XI has turned a profit in all but one of its five seasons, but much of that financial success is largely a product of Jordan’s star power drawing big-time sponsors. Kessler told the jury Monday that a NASCAR-commissioned study found that 75 percent of teams lost money in 2024.
Hamlin testified that the TV deal NASCAR signed ahead of the 2025 season has not been a boon to race teams because of a shift toward streaming services and big-ticket sponsors want to be on television.
NASCAR Charters And 23XI’s Technical Alliance With JGR
Other important details include 23XI pays Joe Gibbs Racing $8 million a year for its technical alliance and 23XI employs 140 people. The partnership with fellow Toyota team JGR includes putting the bodies on the car and other crucial information.
Hamlin testified that 23XI Racing has paid a total of $46.2 million for three successive NASCAR Cup Series Charters. Those Charters are now in limbo as 23XI did not sign the Charter Agreement in 2024.
Hamlin stressed the last proposal from NASCAR “had eight points minimum that needed to be changed. When we pointed that out, we were told ‘Negotiations are closed.’
“I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” he said, later adding: “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow as a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part. You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly and I knew It wasn’t right. They were wrong and someone needed to be held accountable.”
Hamlin’s Fear Of Retribution
Under cross-examination, Hamlin was asked why he portrayed NASCAR in a positive manner on podcast appearances. He replied he repeated NASCAR talking points because any negative comments can lead to retribution.
“You can take all my things out of context and paint a picture that everything is fine,” Hamlin said. “The reality is, (being) negative affects me in (technical inspection), getting called to the hauler, NASCAR not liking what I said.”
NASCAR Statement On Day 2
NASCAR released the following statement at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 2. Below is the statement in its entirety:
“Today’s testimony confirmed that 23XI Racing purchased from another team a Charter, Denny Hamlin signed it agreeing to all of its contractual terms, got paid every penny due under the 2016 Charter – and now they want to claim they should receive a 900 percent return for supposed damages under the 2016 Charter.
“Most of the testimony focused on the two-and-a-half-year negotiation over the 2025 Charter which 23XI and Front Row Motorsports did not sign. They made a choice to forfeit their Charters instead of signing them as 32 Charter holders did.
“The 2016 agreement was itself a multi-year negotiated agreement that delivered many fundamental wins for race teams, including guaranteed starting position in every race, contractually secured payments of over $300 million a year to teams and a valuable long-term asset they can buy, sell, or lease at will – as Front Row has done on several occasions. 23XI and Front Row both kept buying Charters at ever-increasing prices even though they now say that the 2016 Charters were unfair to the teams.
“Based on witness testimony and exhibits entered into evidence today, several key points about Denny Hamlin and 23XI were revealed:
“23XI has been profitable and the owners continue to do well financially:
“Mr. Hamlin alone is making $14 million by driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Jordan are charging their own team $1 million in rent for their $35 million Airspeed facility.
“23XI made profits of approximately $2.5 million in 2022 and $3.4 million in 2023, before the team began paying rent last year for the Airspeed facility owned by Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Jordan and paying legal fees for this litigation.
“23XI spent $28 million to acquire a third charter in 2024 after acquiring two charters for $13.5 million (2021) and $4.7 million (2020).
“According to Plaintiffs’ own expert, 23XI was worth at least $160.2 million just four years after it began racing.
“Mr. Hamlin made it clear he ‘took care of his people,’ but 23XI pays its drivers only approximately 22 percent of its revenues even though its counsel pointed out that athletes get paid far more on a percentage basis in other sports.
“Exhibits also showed Mr. Hamlin’s business partners believe he is an elite driver but was a cost control problem for 23XI.
“When Mr. Hamlin pitched Mr. Jordan on building a team, he projected a 10 percent ROI. And now, 23XI’s owners want at least $205 million in damages, a 900 percent return on investment (ROI). His comments on the witness stand show he believes that NASCAR should subsidize their racing operations while they keep all their own sponsorship revenues.
“Mr. Hamlin acknowledged that none of the alleged anticompetitive claims brought in his lawsuit against NASCAR were raised during negotiations for the 2025 charters, including in the 8-point letter that was the subject of much of today’s events.”
The NASCAR Anti-Trust Trial is expected to last for two weeks and will resume on Wednesday, December 3.
Hamlin, NASCAR share terse exchanges in court as antitrust case continues
NASCAR used Denny Hamlin’s own words against him Tuesday to paint the picture that what he has stated about the sport doesn’t match what he’s accusing them of in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit.
Hamlin began the day on the witness stand to pick up where he left off Monday during the opening day of the 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports versus NASCAR battle. It took less than half an hour for Hamlin to finish answering questions from one of the team’s attorneys, during which he pointed out financial numbers, including the team’s NASCAR expenses of $703,000 for entry fees, licenses, testing, internet, and data.
“We get charged for the WIFI at the racetrack,” Hamlin quipped.
It was during this part of Hamlin’s testimony that he explained NASCAR Cup Series teams had been telling NASCAR for years they were struggling. Hamlin, however, was given the impression that the 2025 charter agreement would be better, which would help the teams. He also strongly rebuked the second seven-year extension in the charter agreement because it does not include a negotiation opportunity, and teams could be in a position to not receive any additional revenue from NASCAR.
“Yes,” Hamlin admitted when asked if it was hard not to sign the 2025 charter agreement. It felt like a “death certificate for the future.”
The rest of the morning featured Hamlin under cross-examination from one of NASCAR’s attorneys, Lawrence Buterman. It was during these questions that Hamlin, multiple times, got terse on the stand as he took exception to NASCAR’s questions and inferences.
It started when Hamlin’s pitch deck for Michael Jordan to launch 23XI Racing was dissected. Buterman pointed out that Hamlin listed multiple positive points for Jordan about getting into the sport, including Bubba Wallace having over $17 million in sponsorship, the Next Gen car, and the charter system.
In the lawsuit, however, Buterman pointed out that Hamlin is using the same examples to harm his race team. Hamlin accused Buterman of twisting words. He further said that he was repeating what NASCAR had told the industry about what the car would do for costs, which turned out not to be true.
Buterman spent quite a bit of time bringing up previous comments Hamlin has made, both publicly and privately, about the sport, all of which have been positive and contradict what the lawsuit alleges.
Hamlin took clear exception to this line of questioning. In addition to saying his public comments are taken out of context because he’s doing NASCAR a favor by being positive, he claimed that if he doesn’t do that, he gets in trouble. And then Hamlin refuted the notion that his comments can’t be trusted.
The positive comments in public are “talking points” and to make the fans happy.
Buterman moved on to positive comments had made privately. One example was a text message exchange with a reporter from The Athletic in which Hamlin praised NASCAR/ISC for reinvesting money into the sport with its repave projects that are well done, while then criticizing Speedway Motorsports for the botched jobs they do and taking the money and running.
Hamlin said in those messages that Speedway Motorsports is “miles behind” ISC in promotion, attendance, and facilities.
Other private messages used as examples included Hamlin talking with fellow executives from 23XI Racing about meeting financial goals for the race team. There were also emails where Hamlin expressed that he wouldn’t build a team to lose money, and they haven’t. Again, Hamlin said he is being a cheerleader and saying positive things because he doesn’t want his partners to get ill will toward NASCAR and leave.
There were also multiple financial figures that came out during Hamlin’s testimony:
· It took nearly $100 million to build and run 23XI Racing, but Hamlin says that doesn’t account for the $40 – 60 million that it takes to go racing.
· 23XI Racing is paying $1 million in rent to Hamlin and Jordan, who own the Airspeed building.
· Hamlin makes approximately $14 million as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.
· Hamlin stated he invested $45 million into 23XI Racing, but Hamlin’s lawyer told NASCAR that as of Aug. 2024, he had only put in $10 million. Hamlin owes the remaining amount on loans.
· 23XI Racing was estimated to be worth $160.2 million as of the end of 2024.
· Hamlin said COVID-related inflation made the cost of Airspeed exceed projections, which were about $10 million. It ultimately was $35 million, and Hamlin said the initial projection also didn’t include anything past the four walls.
Hamlin was later asked if he was aware that his 23XI Racing partners had expressed in their own private communications that he was a “terrible businessman.” After acknowledging that he was, Hamlin not only disagreed with those statements, but said that it’s the job of others to disagree and keep things in line when it comes to finances.
In further expressing how there can be disagreements between partners, Hamlin said it was the reason why there were communications about him telling 23XI Racing to find someone to buy him out of the team as early as 2023. Hamlin said that was looking for attention and just kicking and screaming over how to run the team the way he wanted. A compromise was eventually met, according to Hamlin.
Buterman used it as a pushback to Hamlin’s claims about being in the sport for the long haul – the same case he made when pointing out to Hamlin that he had communicated in 2024 about getting a third charter, building up its worth, and then selling a portion of it. But Hamlin said that was about getting some money back.
The rest of the afternoon saw NASCAR executive vice president Scott Prime on the witness stand. Prime was grilled by the team’s lead counsel, Jeffrey Kessler, over emails and pitch decks that had been previously released but were now being seen and heard by the jury for the first time. Among them were NASCAR’s contingency plans if none of the teams signed the charter agreement, as well as internal messages expressing frustration with the negotiation process.
Prime is expected to return to the stand on Wednesday.
Live Updates From Lawsuit Between NASCAR, FRM, and Michael Jordan’s 23XI
After more than a year of legal red tape and several heated back-and-forth arguments between the two opposing sides, the lawsuit brought against the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) in October 2024 (by teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports) has made it to trial.
The two opposing sides will spend the better part of the next two weeks in a courtroom in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a jury decides whether NASCAR is using its monopolistic power illegally and damaging the financial stability of teams competing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
In-court sessions will begin Monday, December 1 with jury selection and opening statements, and will last for a total of 10 in-court days spanning the next two weeks – the final day scheduled to be December 12.
The majority of NASCAR’s media members are on-site in Charlotte to hear the details of the trial, and stand witness to what could be an explosive trial. With no electronic devices permitted in the courtroom, updates will come during court breaks.
Racing America on SI will have live updates from the trial as they become available. Our editor-in-chief, Toby Christie, will also be on site.
Hamlin’s Tuesday Testimony Lasts Four Hours
NASCAR Claims Lawsuit Was Plan of Polk, 23XI All Along
Hamlin Emotional in Monday Testimony During NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit
NASCAR, Teams Present Opening Statements
Hamlin, Polk Barred From Courtroom Until After Testimony
Judge Bell Upset With Opening Statements from Both Sides
Jury Selected for NASCAR v. 23XI/FRM Antitrust Case
Potential Witness List Revealed for NASCAR Antitrust Trial
Hamlin’s Tuesday Testimony Lasts Four Hours
By: Joseph Srigley – Tuesday, December 2nd
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, continued his testimony in federal court on Tuesday morning, with NASCAR getting the opportunity to cross-examine the Chesterfield, Virginia-native for the first time in this case.
Lawrence Buterman, a member of NASCAR’s legal council, led the charge on the cross-examination and notably asked Hamlin about whether the public could trust what he’s saying, considering he’s been quoted using NASCAR talking points in the past.
That seemed to be a major part of NASCAR’s strategy when interrogating Hamlin, referring specifically to an appearance he made on the Kenny Wallace Podcast, where he praised the NextGen car as being great for the sport, and had similar comments about NASCAR’s planned trip to Mexico City in the Summer of 2025.
Hamlin quickly clapped back at NASCAR’s council in a feisty manner, a demeanor that several onlookers say the 44-year-old driver maintained throughout the entire three-plus hour testimony, but what he had to say, was even more interesting.
“Because, if I say anything bad, I get a lashing from NASCAR,” Hamlin said about his positive comments on the Kenny Wallace Podcast. “So, publicly, it’s all sunshine and rainbows. My job is to take the talking points NASCAR says to him [Wallace] and say them publicly. If he says anything bad, he gets a phone call from NASCAR.”
That was just one piece of the wide-spanning testimony that was given on Tuesday by the 60-time race-winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, which included several financial figures, both involving 23XI Racing and himself.
23XI Racing, owned by Hamlin, Curtis Polk, and Michael Jordan, is one of the few NASCAR Cup Series teams that are currently operating in the black, according to financial documents made available prior to the start of the trial. The team, which fields three NASCAR Cup Series entries has a profit margin of 2.26%, but Hamlin maintains that considering the $40 million of sponsorship they bring in, that isn’t substantial, at all.
“I’m one sponsor away,” Hamlin said. “All it takes is one to go away, and all of the profit is gone.”
As the collective losses of NASCAR Cup Series teams increases year-over-year, Hamlin suggests that could partly be due to the new media rights agreement. With sponsors wanting to be seen on television, a move towards streaming and away from network television limits their exposure with a drop in ratings, which makes companies less willing to spend money.
The teams have brought their concerns to NASCAR, and Steve Phelps, the Commissioner of NASCAR, promised a paradigm shift, but nothing like that materialized at all, Hamlin claimed during his testimony.
Hamlin has spent the last two decades making a career for himself in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, as his days of being a full-time driver continue to wind down, the 44-year-old is more than aware that his legacy for the next couple of decades likely lies within the walls of Airspeed, explaining that the reason he didn’t sign this Charter Agreement was because “this is his death certificate.”
“It’s time for change,” Hamlin said. “I’ve spent 20 years trying to change this sport and grow it further.”
Hamlin specifically mentions a meeting that he had with Jim France, CEO of NASCAR, in a Nashville hotel, where he left feeling “very discouraged” about the state of negotiations. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver says that France believes the issue lies within the teams overspending, and that he would like it if costs could be cut down to $10 million per entry… a mark which Hamlin thinks is unrealistic, considering it would involve cutting spending in half.
Another part of Tuesday’s testimony included an attempt by the defendants to paint the picture of reckless spending at 23XI Racing under the guise of Denny Hamlin, between a $35 million race shop and an extravagant holiday party in 2021, in which the team spent 17% of their operating budget.
NASCAR Claims Lawsuit Was Plan of Polk, 23XI All Along
By: Joseph Srigley – Monday, December 1st
In the first day of the NASCAR v. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust lawsuit in Charlotte, North Carolina, NASCAR continued to hold firm in the stance they’ve had since the complaint was first filed last October.
John E. Stephenson, Jr. made that clear very quickly when delivering NASCAR’s opening statements on Monday, asking the jury a simple question: “Why are we here?”
READ MORE: NASCAR Claims Lawsuit Was ‘Curtis Polk and 23XI’s Plan From The Start’
The first of 10 scheduled days of this trial included jury selection (where six jurors and three alternates were selected out of a pool of potential candidates), opening statements were heard from both sides, and the first part of testimony from Denny Hamlin, one of three co-owners of 23XI Racing.
After all of that came to a natural stopping point, around 5:00 pm local time, Judge Bell dismissed both parties and all the interested onlookers, and both went their separate ways without making any comments, whatsoever. About 90 minutes later, though, NASCAR broke its silence and made its stance known following an eight-hour day in court.
However, one of the last talking points or observations from NASCAR’s side on Monday is a bit jarring. Seemingly answering the question posed in their opening statement, the sanctioning body believes that they are here, in this antitrust lawsuit because this was the plan of Curtis Polk and 23XI Racing all along… and that’s the reason why this has all played out to this point.
“It’s important to talk about the truth in this trial, so let’s do that – this lawsuit was Curtis Polk and 23XI Racing’s plan from the start. That’s why we are here today.”
Hamlin Emotional in Monday Testimony During NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit
By: Toby Christie – Monday, December 1
At the end of the first day of NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit, brought against them by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, Denny Hamlin was called to the stand as the first witness to give testimony in the trial.
In the opening moments of said testimony, which concluded around 5:00 PM ET and will resume when the court’s recess lifts at 9:00 AM ET, the 60-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winner showed lots of emotion when the topic came up of how he made it to the NASCAR Cup Series.
As Hamlin relived his time climbing through the lower levels of racing on his path to NASCAR, he was overcome with emotion when thinking of his father, who has undergone struggles with his health recently. After a few moments, Hamlin was able to compose himself and finish out the first part of his testimony, where he explained to the jury who he was and ins and outs of NASCAR and how the Charter System works for NASCAR team owners.
READ MORE: Hamlin Emotional in Testimony on Day 1 of Antitrust Lawsuit Against NASCAR
While the only evidence that had been shown all afternoon came courtesy of three charter sales, where 23XI Racing purchased charters from Germain Racing (2020), StarCom Racing (2021), and Stewart-Haas Racing (2024), things didn’t remain entirely civil on Hamlin’s side, as he bashed NASCAR for poaching sponsorship from teams.
Hamlin explained to the jury that NASCAR’s taking Germain Racing’s primary sponsor, GEICO, led to the team folding its operations, which was the only reason that the charter was even available in the first place to get the organization into the NASCAR Cup Series.
Other nuggets were revealed throughout the afternoon including that 23XI Racing pays an annual $8 million to Joe Gibbs Racing for a technical alliance which supports the three-car NASCAR Cup Series program.
NASCAR, Teams Present Opening Statements
By: Joseph Srigley – Monday, December 1st
Both sides of this lawsuit were allowed to present their opening statements on Monday afternoon.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports asserted in their opening statement that the evidence they hold would show that NASCAR engaged in anti-competitive behaviour while negotiating and theorizing the Charter Agreement.
On the other hand, NASCAR says that the teams only brought up the anti-trust charges after the talks had concluded, and that the actions of both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have signaled that the teams have benefited from the Charter Agreement.
Claire B Lang reports that Judge Bell was quoted telling the six jurors on the panel for this case to keep an open mind when the evidence does start coming in — throughout two and a half hours of opening remarks, there has been no evidence presented yet.
Hamlin, Polk Barred From Courtroom Until After Testimony
By: Joseph Srigley – Monday, December 1st
Judge Kenneth Bell confirmed on Monday afternoon that both Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk (co-owners of 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan) will not be allowed to be in the courtroom until their testimony has been heard, a decision that Bell says he made “very reluctantly”.
This decision was made in hopes of “only trying this case once”, according to Bell, with NASCAR invoking a rule about having just a single corporate representative for each side (which in this case, is NBA superstar Michael Jordan). The main reason for this, is so that no technicality is brought up that would throw this case sideways in the event of an appeal from the losing party.
Hamlin and Polk will be present for Monday’s opening statements and then will leave the courtroom until their testimonies are heard. No date has been set for those testimonies, yet.
Judge Bell Upset With Opening Statements from Both Sides
By: Joseph Srigley – Monday, December 1st
It did not take long for the sparks to fly in the courtroom in the NASCAR v. 23XI/FRM antitrust lawsuit, but I don’t think anybody expected the frustration to come from the bench. After reviewing opening statements on Monday, Judge Kenneth Bell wasn’t happy with either side.
Bell stated that both opening statements – the one from NASCAR and the one from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports – featured arguments that were impermissible, and as a result, he has chosen to ban the presentation of exhibits during their statements.
“If we can be less confrontational about it next time, maybe you’ll get to do what you want to do,” Bell was quoted as saying.
Jury Selected for NASCAR v. 23XI/FRM Antitrust Case
By: Joseph Srigley – Monday, December 1
The first step of this antitrust case when both parties arrived at court on Monday was to select the jurors who would ultimately decide on this case. The final panel of jurors included six jury members and three backups.
According to Matt Weaver of Motorsport, the candidate pool was notably asked (among other questions) whether they were familiar with Michael Jordan and if they had any strong opinions about him, one way or the other. Jordan, an NBA Hall of Famer, is a major part of this case as the majority owner of 23XI Racing.
There was one candidate that did, in fact, have some pretty strong feelings about Jordan, and after being dismissed from his duty as a potential juror, made a fist pump gesture at the NASCAR Cup Series team owner, which not only garnered a chuckle from Jorda, but from everybody involved.
Candidates were dismissed for a variety of reasons; including one that worked at Hendrick Automotive Group, one that knew a great deal about NASCAR and all of the parties involved. There was a third juror dismissed because he couldn’t hear the judge and needed to get his hearing aid fixed.
Johnny Stephenson of Alson & Bird is now the arguing attorney for NASCAR, and spent the morning introducing himself to Judge Bell.
Potential Witness List Revealed for NASCAR Antitrust Trial
Jim France
Timothy Frost
Heather Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Brian Herbst
Bob Jenkins
Lesa France Kennedy
Michael Jordan
Jonathan Marshall
Steve Newmark
Steve O’Donnell
Steve Phelps
Curtis Polk
Scott Prime
Daniel Rascher
Anthony Smith
Edward Snyder
Jordan Bazant
Tim Clark
Rick Hendrick
Ron Drager
Jerry Freeze
Rob Kauffman
Ben Kennedy
Steve Lauletta
Gene Mason
Gene Mato
Roger Penske
John Probst
Cal Wells III
Edwin Desser
Kevin Murphy
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Niece Motorsports Continues to Round Out 2026 Truck Series Lineup
Niece Motorsports is piecing together the lineup for its No. 42 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for the 2026 season.
The team announced in November that Tyler Reif will serve as the anchor driver for the Craftsman Truck Series entry. Reif made his Craftsman Truck Series debut with Niece in the 2025 season finale, finishing ninth at Phoenix Raceway.
The 18-year-old from Henderson, Nevada was part of an ARCA Menards Series West owners championship in 2024, and finished second in the ARCA Menards Series East championship standings in 2025.
Michael Jordan’s Lawsuit Against NASCAR Gets its Day in Court
Basketball legend Michael Jordan’s lawsuit against NASCAR saw its first day in court on Monday in a jury trial that could change the very fabric of elite motorsports.
Filed on antitrust grounds by Front Row Motorsports and Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing, which the basketball legend owns alongside his business manager Curtis Polk and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, the lawsuit alleges that NASCAR has been practicing a monopoly through its charter system – the elite motorsport’s version of the franchise model that guarantees the team’s “car a spot in the 40-car field for all 38 races, as well as a defined payout from the weekly purse,” per the Associated Press.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing were the only two teams out of 15 to refuse to sign NASCAR’s renewal of their charter agreement in late 2024, arguing that the terms fell short of what they sought after 2 years of negotiations.
“Even with the charters, the teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable,” noted the AP. “The teams wanted the charters to become permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues, and a voice in governance.”
“The two organizations argue NASCAR holds too strong a hold on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations,” it added.
The two teams have also sued NASCAR to recover their legal costs and financial losses after a year without being chartered.
NASCAR, however, has claimed that it has not violated antitrust laws by not restraining trade, arguing that the charter agreement presented in late 2024 actually increased payouts. The elite motorsports league also noted it offered cars to enter races as “open teams,” allowing them one of four non-chartered spots on qualifying speeds. 23XI and Front Row competed as open teams, allegedly costing millions of dollars in potential purse money.
NASCAR Insider Explains Dire Consequences for Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan if NASCAR Wins the Lawsuit
After much await, the NASCAR anti-trust lawsuit trial has finally begun on Monday, December 1. What started off last year as an accusation of monopolistic control and unfair charter terms by the teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on NASCAR has hopefully reached the beginning of its end. Right now, with strong evidence from both parties, it’s hard to say whose favor the case will go to. But what is not hard, according to an insider, is understanding the consequences for the plaintiff teams if NASCAR comes out as the winner.
Will 23XI and FRM stay after losing?
Recently, Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass explored a what-if scenario where NASCAR wins the lawsuit.
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He told Roy Akers, “If NASCAR wins, both 23XI and Front Row, they would have to try and race as open teams. Front Row is committed to racing through 2026. 23XI, they’ve told their employees that they’ll pay them through 2026, I’m not sure exactly what their obligations to their sponsors are. Certainly, they would appeal, but the question is, how much longer can they go.”
Front Row’s case is a bit clearer. They will likely be continuing through 2026, even as an open team. The spice is about 23XI’s status. Co-owner Michael Jordan, who’s also the corporate representative for the team throughout the trial, has hinted at shutting down the team if NASCAR wins.
And whoever loses, it’s no surprise that the losing party will certainly appeal. But Pockrass asks the right question — how much longer can they go?
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And it’s not just the teams who’d lose. In either case, NASCAR itself would also pay the price, as it will lose its most high-profile minority team owner, who will take away that fanbase with him, too.
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“I would not expect them to be racing in 2027 if they lose this case. I would expect that their charters will be sold. Well, they don’t really have the charters, since they never signed for them.
“The charters that are not being used would be sold, and those organizations would need to find employees and equipment. 23XI and Front Row would certainly be spots where they could potentially buy some equipment and find some employees.”
The teams could go on slowly for a year, but not beyond that. Because it’s not just up to them. Sponsors, money, and such things ultimately overpower the will to stand up for what’s right.
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Meanwhile, as the trial begins, the teams have already irked Judge Kenneth Bell.
Judge Bell makes a stern call for the opening statements
When it was time for the opening statements, instead of simply using written data, both parties went overboard and presented a lot of visual aids and exhibits to prove each other wrong. But Judge Bell’s patience was tested.
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Judge Bell banned the use of visuals and exhibits from the opening statements. He asked to simply use words to begin the case first.
Another reason he banned it is that it contained inadmissible evidence, which is something that the jury cannot see right now.
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Meanwhile, the jury has been picked, and both parties have their list of witnesses ready for the trial.
From 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports: Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan, Curtis Polk, Steve Lauletta, Gene Mason, Bob Jenkins, and Jerry Freeze.
From NASCAR: Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy, Ben Kennedy, Brian Herbst, Steve O’Donnell, Steve Phelps, Scott Prime, Tim Clark, Greg Motto, John Probst, and Ron Draeger.
Miraculous Studio, Former F1 Driver Team on Women’s Racing Franchise
Zag, the studio behind the blockbuster franchise “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir,” is teaming with former F1 driver Carmen Jordá to turn on the girl power with “Carmen,” a first animated feature film set in the world of women’s motorsports.
“Miraculous” co-creator and producer Jeremy Zag is developing the feature and a franchise (ranging from scripted, live experiences and consumer products) inspired by Jordá. The project will look to appeal to Gen Z audiences with themes of empowerment, cinematic storytelling and full-on action.
Zag has also enlisted high profile producing partners on “Carmen,” including Michael Gracey, the filmmaker of “The Greatest Showman” and “Better Man;” and Cross Creek Pictures’ Tyler Thompson, who’s produced “Black Swan” and “American Made;” alongside former HBO Max and Netflix executive Andrea Puig who is joining as executive producer.
The film will follow Carmen as she navigate a brutal racing universe and is forced to overcome doubt, pressure and heartbreak. “Carmen must push beyond her limits to reclaim her dream and discover who she truly is,” reads the synopsis.
“At Zag, we’ve always believed in creating heroes who inspire kids to believe in themselves,” said Zag, whose “Miraculous” franchise portrayed the first female-powered superhero set in Paris. “When I met Carmen, her journey and perseverance impressed and inspired me. I’m excited to let her personal story guide us as we imagine a new hero for tomorrow,” continued Zag, who just celebrated the 10-year anniversary of “Miraculous” with Mediawan’s chairman and co-founder Pierre-Antoine Capton.
Jordá, meanwhile, said, “Racing has shaped my life. Partnering with Zag means turning my passion into a story that can inspire millions of young girls around the world. I want them to know they can dream big, fight hard, and take their place on the track — just like I did.”
A former development driver of Lotus and Renault in Formula 1, Jordá became the 11th woman in history to be included in a driver line-up for a prestigious F1 team. She’s also an advocate for female race car
drivers and inclusion throughout motorsports.
Gracey said, “Carmen’s journey boasts a story of resilience and unwavering self-belief, even in the face of tempting limitations.”
The filmmaker praised Jordá for “her fearlessness and ambition,” which “are the qualities of true heroes.” “It’s a privilege to let them guide our narrative – and hopefully inspire the generation discovering her.”
Thompson said he was “excited to join the incredible team to bring Carmen’s story to life for so
many audiences around the world. What she’s done in her sport is truly remarkable.”
Puig said “Jeremy’s artistic sensitivity and instinct for talent make him a true pioneer in storytelling and musical creation, building worlds with lasting emotional impact.”
The executive said Zag has captured “Carmen’s fight and spirit in motorsport through characters only he can bring to life.” “Being able to share a female story driven by grit, speed, and ambition with the world is a dream come true,” Puig added.
The world of women in motorsports has been trending in recent years. Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, for instance, produced a docuseries about female drivers of Formula 1’s F1 Academy which found a home at Netflix.
Zag is also currently developing a second “Miraculous” movie with producer John Cohen (“Despicable Me,” “The Angry Birds Movie”) and writer Matt Roller (“Rick And Morty,” “Community”). The first opus “Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir” was a global hit in 2023. While it streamed on Netflix in a number of territories such as the U.S., Canada and Latin America, the film thrived at the box office across most of Europe where it opened theatrically, grossing over $40 million.
UniFirst Continues Partnership With Elliott, Announces 2026 Races
UniFirst’s partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and Chase Elliott continues into 2026, with the brand offering primary sponsorship for Elliott’s No. 9 entry in the NASCAR Cup Series for five races.
UniFirst and Hendrick Motorsports’ partnership enters its seventh season in 2026. Elliott is the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, with 21 wins in his career since debuting in 2015.
“We’re excited for another season of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and Chase Elliott,” said David Katz, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at UniFirst. “The team consistently represents the highest levels of performance and integrity, and we are proud to have our brand associated with them. We are looking forward to getting back on the track and are looking forward to bringing home some wins in 2026.”
The first race of the UniFirst partnership in 2026 will be the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on March 22. The UniFirst car returns to the track one week later at Martinsville Speedway on March 29.
The UniFirst No. 9 Chevrolet will tackle another short track, Richmond Raceway, on Saturday, August 15. The entry then heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 on October 11.
The last race of the year for the UniFirst car will be the Xfinity 500, also at Martinsville Speedway, on November 1, one week before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.
“I’m eager to see what 2026 has in store for our No. 9 team after a solid 2025,” said Elliott. “We’ll have the UniFirst colors on board at tracks where we had some promising runs last year, and that makes me confident we can build on those and hopefully get UniFirst to victory lane in the process.”
UniFirst was the primary sponsor for Elliott in five races during the 2025 season as well. Elliott earned two top-10 finishes in those races, with eighth-place results at Darlington and the Charlotte ROVAL.
As the Official Workwear Provider for Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst supplies uniforms, workwear and facility services to the team as well as its sister company, Hendrick Automotive Group.
Elliott earned two wins, 11 top-fives and 19 top-10s during the 2025 season, where he finished eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings.
Following the season, Elliott was named the NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver for the 2025 season. It is the eighth consecutive year Elliott has been voted Most Popular Driver. His father, 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, was voted Most Popular Driver 16 times during his career.
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Alek Manoah, Angels agree to free-agent contract (source)
Alek Manoah and the Angels have agreed to a free-agent deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. The deal is expected to be for one year and worth $1.95 million. The club has not confirmed the move or the terms.
Manoah, who was non-tendered by the Braves, represents a reclamation project for the Angels. Entering his age-28 season, he last pitched in the big leagues in May 2024 with the Blue Jays, the team with which he debuted, became an All-Star and pitched parts of four seasons. But his time in Toronto ended on a disappointing note.
The righty underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024, the culmination of a rough stretch that began a season earlier when underperformance led to a demotion to Triple-A. The downturn was unexpected, as Manoah was coming off an All-Star campaign in 2022, a season in which he went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA and finished third in AL Cy Young balloting.
Once he returned from Tommy John surgery, Manoah made 10 rehab starts for the Jays in 2025, with the final seven coming for Triple-A Buffalo. He pitched to a 2.97 ERA in Triple-A before being designated for assignment on Sept. 23. The Braves claimed him on waivers shortly after on the idea that he could potentially regain his 2022 form, but Atlanta ultimately did not tender him a contract for 2026.
If Manoah could return to the ‘22 version of himself, the one who was among the most dominant pitchers in the game, it would spell trouble for hitters and would be a big boost to the Angels’ staff. He held opponents to one or no runs 14 times in 31 starts that season and pitched to a 0.94 ERA over his final seven games.
Ryan Weiss agrees to free-agent contract with Astros (source)
HOUSTON — The Astros added some depth to their starting rotation on Tuesday by agreeing to a Major League deal with right-hander Ryan Weiss, a source told MLB.com. The deal, which is pending a physical, was not confirmed by the club.
Weiss, 28, spent the past two seasons pitching in Korea, posting a 3.16 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with 305 strikeouts in 270 1/3 innings with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. The 6-foot-4 Weiss was drafted by the D-backs in 2018 out of Wright State and has pitched in 132 career Minor League games (47 starts) with Arizona and Kansas City, reaching Triple-A in 2021-23. He also pitched in China in ’23.
The Astros will return Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier to the top of the rotation, with hopes that Spencer Arrighetti will be healthy. Weiss will add some depth, along with Lance McCullers Jr., Colton Gordon and Jason Alexander. AJ Blubaugh (ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club’s No. 16 prospect) and J.P. France will be in the mix in spring camp as well, but the Astros are still in the market for another starter.
Houston signed right-hander Nate Pearson, a former first-round pick of the Blue Jays, to a one-year deal in October. He’s expected to pitch out of Houston’s bullpen. Pearson, 29, split last season between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs before being released on Sept. 21.
Cody Ponce, Blue Jays agree to free-agent contract (source)
The busy Blue Jays continued revamping their pitching staff by coming to a three-year agreement with well-traveled right-hander Cody Ponce, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal is expected to be worth $30 million, per a source. The club has not confirmed the move, which comes on the heels of Toronto signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract.
After four seasons overseas, the 31-year-old Ponce (he’ll turn 32 in April) returns to the Majors looking like a different pitcher than he was during his first stint, in 2020-21. That transformation didn’t really take place until 2025, though.
Ponce pitched in Japan’s NPB, for the Nippon Ham Fighters and Rakuten Golden Eagles, from 2022-24. His results there didn’t stand out, but everything changed when Ponce moved over to Korea’s KBO in 2025. Pitching for the Hanwha Eagles, Ponce made 29 starts and went 17-1 while leading the KBO with a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings.
According to pitching analyst Lance Brozdowski, Ponce’s four-seamer averaged 95.5 mph in the KBO and reached into the upper 90s. He also threw a changeup (a “kick change” to be precise) that was a dominant pitch, getting Ponce a whiff on 46% of opponent swings, including 39% in the strike zone. Ponce also throws a cutter (which could also be termed a hard slider) and an occasional sinker.
That uptick in stuff should give Ponce a much better chance to get Major League hitters out than during his previous MLB stint, when his four-seamer averaged 93.2 mph and his changeup was a little-used fifth pitch in his repertoire. Without an effective changeup as a centerpiece, left-handed batters teed off on Ponce, slugging .703 with nine homers in 101 at-bats in the Majors.
Ponce has a power pitcher’s frame: 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds. The Pomona, Calif., native stayed home to pitch at Cal Poly Pomona, before the Brewers took him in the second round of the 2015 Draft. He made it to Double-A with Milwaukee before the club traded him to Pittsburgh in a 2019 Deadline deal for Jordan Lyles.
Ponce made his MLB debut early in the shortened 2020 season, and over the next two years, he appeared in 20 games for the Pirates, including five starts. He went 1-7 with a 5.86 ERA, serving up 13 homers in 55 1/3 innings. The Pirates released him after the 2021 season, when he made the move to Japan.
Now Ponce becomes the latest pitcher to attempt a successful return to MLB after taking advantage of an opportunity in the KBO. One recent example is Erick Fedde, who enjoyed a similarly lights-out season in Korea in 2023, then returned to sign with the White Sox. In 2024, Fedde posted a 3.30 ERA over 31 starts for Chicago and St. Louis, which acquired him in a Deadline deal. There’s also Merrill Kelly, who spent four seasons in the KBO and is now going into his eighth in MLB after returning to sign with the D-backs in December 2018.
Blue Jays sign Cody Ponce: What to know as righty comes back to MLB after successful stint in Korea
The Toronto Blue Jays have reached an agreement with free-agent starter Cody Ponce on a three-year pact worth $30 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Ponce is the second starter the Blue Jays have added in the past week. They also officially announced their seven-year deal with Dylan Cease, a $210 million pact that’s the largest free-agent contract ever handed out by the Toronto franchise.
Ponce, 31, has not pitched at the MLB level since 2021. He spent last season with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, starting 29 times and amassing a 1.89 ERA and a 6.15 strikeout-to-walk ratio. CBS Sports ranked Ponce as the 45th-best player on the market. Here’s what we wrote at the time:
Ponce, 32 come April, will return stateside after spending a few years overseas, first in Japan and then in South Korea. He’ll look nothing like he did during his first 20 career MLB appearances. These days, he’s capable of touching into the upper-90s with his heater and throws, among other secondaries, a quality splitter. There are enough KBO-to-MLB pitching success stories — ranging from someone with staying power, in Merrill Kelly, to more fleeting cases, like Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen — to envision a team giving Ponce a rotation spot on a multi-year pact to demonstrate where he lands on that spectrum.
Here’s more to know about the Ponce signing.
The Blue Jays have a rotation surplus
In addition to Cease and Ponce, the Blue Jays had Shane Bieber remain in his contract rather than execute an opt-out clause and enter free agency. Factor in Kevin Gausman, star rookie Trey Yesavage, and José Berríos, and Toronto has the luxury of having more capable starters than rotation slots. And that’s without mentioning Bowden Francis, who has started nearly 30 times the past two years, or Eric Lauer, who had a 3.18 ERA in 104 innings in 2025.
PitcherIPERASO/BB
Kevin Gausman
193
3.59
3.78
Trey Yesavage (MLB)
14
3.21
2.29
Shane Bieber
40.1
3.57
5.29
José Berríos
166
4.17
2.46
Dylan Cease
168
4.55
3.03
Cody Ponce (KBO)
180.2
1.89
6.15
Of course, that’s a good problem to have at this or any point in time because it gives the Blue Jays options and contingency plans. They can entertain trading from that group, and they can toy with shifting a couple members to the bullpen. They can also enter camp knowing that if and when an injury happens — and pitchers are known for getting hurt on occasion — they have internal backups already in place.
Keep in mind, the Blue Jays didn’t have that luxury entering last year, when they had to rush to sign Spencer Turnbull and José Ureña to serve as stopgaps on an injury-ravaged staff.
Bullpen, shortstop remain questions for AL champs
What else do the defending American League champions need to do this winter? A few things.
Foremost, the Blue Jays have been linked to most of the high-leverage relievers of note, including right-hander Pete Fairbanks. It stands to reason they’ll attempt to add quality instead of quantity to their relief corps. That’s because Toronto is starting to run into a numbers game with its pitching staff. With Ponce included, the Blue Jays now have nine pitchers who cannot be optioned to the minors. If Yesavage is part of the Opening Day rotation — and you would assume he is — then Toronto really has only three
MLB Network breaks ground on new facility set for ’28 season
“When you look at the MLB Network logo, it’s built around home plate,” said Bill Morningstar, MLB Network’s president. “That’s symbolic because the network serves as the home for fans of baseball across the entire U.S. Today is a big moment for us.”
“When you have a network that’s won more than 40 Emmys in different categories and produces the kind of content that we see on the network every day, it needs a facility that lives up to that standard,” Manfred said. “We settled on this building because we believe that we can build out a first-in-class production operation that’s fitting for the great work.”
“Everyone that works in the business understands that our media environment is changing very rapidly,” Manfred said. “We deal with it every day. We manage it as best we can. But one thing that I have tried to be clear about is that the MLB Network is central to our strategic approach to the media environment. It is central because the network produces tremendous high-quality content.
“You see it, you hear it from our most avid fans; it’s where they go to learn about baseball. You see it when you visit ballparks and clubhouses; players go to our network to learn about baseball, and that’s probably the highest compliment that can be paid to the network and the content it produces.”
“Out of the ashes of that infamous Marcal fire came Crow Holdings,” Mayor Colletti said. “They came to the planning board, they were all open arms wanting to do the right thing for the town. I must say, they did. We insisted on a building that did not look like a warehouse, that it was the cornerstone of our town, and we would want that to be part of the new look. … They did everything right, crossed every T and dotted every I. I think it’s because of that that it conjured the interest of Major League Baseball.”
Expected to be operational for the 2028 MLB season, the 207,000-square-foot commercial building will house all of MLB Network’s production studios and offices, as well as the Major League Baseball Film & Video Archive. The new facility will feature the latest cutting-edge technology and design, enabling the network to stay at the forefront of production excellence and innovation.
“When we first heard that the Major League Baseball Network might have an interest in this building, we sort of pinched ourselves,” Machemer said. “The history of this site is really unique, and [MLB and the Network] really embody what the possibilities in the future could be.”
2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Blue Jays Bolster Bullpen With Ponce Deal
It’s never too early to look toward the 2026 MLB season, and that starts with keeping tabs on all the deals.
Here are all the notable free agency signings, trades, and extensions throughout the offseason:
Dec. 2
Blue Jays sign RHP Cody Ponce
Reported terms: Three years, $30 million
Astros sign RHP Ryan Weiss
Reported terms: One year, $2.6 million (option that could exceed $10 million over two years)
Angeles sign HP Alek Manoah
Reported terms: One year, $1.95 million
Dec. 1
Mets sign RHP Devin Williams
Reported terms: Three years, $45 million
Nov. 29
Orioles sign RHP Ryan Helsley
Reported terms: Two years, $28 million
Nov. 26
Blue Jays sign RHP Dylan Cease
Reported terms: Seven years, $210 million
Nov. 25
Red Sox land RHP Sonny Gray from Cardinals
Reported terms: Gray reworking contract, will receive $31 million in 2026 and a $10 million mutual buyout for 2027
Cubs sign RHP Phil Maton
Reported details: Two years, $14.5 million with a club option for 2028
Nov. 24
Semien to Mets; Nimmo to Rangers
Reported terms: Mets acquire INF Marcus Semien; Rangers acquire OF Brandon Nimmo
November 19
Braves, Astros trade infielders
Reported terms: Braves acquire INF Mauricio Dubón, Astros acquire INF Nick Allen
Braves re-sign RHP Raisel Iglesias
Reported terms: One year, $16 million
November 18
Angels trade Taylor Ward
Reported terms: Orioles receive OF Taylor Ward; Angels receive RHP Grayson Rodriguez.
Four players accept qualifying offer (one-year, $22.025 million deal):
New York Yankees OF Trent Grisham
Chicago Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga
Detroit Tigers IF Gleyber Torres
Milwaukee Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff
November 17
Padres re-sign LHP Hart
Reported Terms: Padres sign LHP Kyle Hart to a one-year, $1.2 million contract that includes a club option for 2027
November 16
Dodgers, Mariners trade pitchers
Reported Terms: Dodgers acquire RHP Tyler Gough; Mariners acquire LHP Robinson Ortiz
November 11
Rays trade CF Kameron Misner to Royals
Reported Terms: Rays acquire Misner; Royals acquire player to be named later
November 5
Rays trade RHP Cole Wilcox to Mariners
Reported Terms: Mariners acquire Wilcox; Rays get cash considerations
November 4
Cubs trade RHP Andrew Kittredge to Orioles
Reported Terms: Orioles acquire Kittredge; Cubs get cash considerations
How to Buy Los Angeles Dodgers Gear: Shop Luxury MLB Jackets and Hoodies, Holiday Gifts and Deals
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The Dodgers have produced legendary players, memorable postseason runs, and a style of baseball that attracts both lifelong fans and newcomers. Beyond the field, the team’s presence in movies, music, and LA’s broader creative culture has cemented them as a symbol of the city itself. This blend of on-field achievement and cultural impact makes the Dodgers one of the most beloved and recognizable franchises in sports.
As one of the most popular franchises in sports, Dodgers gear is a great gift idea this time of year. Pro Standard has you covered with a wide array of styles, sizes, and options to choose from when picking the best items to go with.
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Dave Dombrowski & Phillies Confront Serious Kyle Schwarber Challenge as $4B Rival Threatens Offseason Heist
MLB’s uncertainty season is here. With 2025 wrapped, every team is reshuffling, fixing flaws, and chasing difference-makers. And no name is hotter on the stove than Kyle Schwarber. The latest club jumping into the mix? The San Francisco Giants.
Schwarber is coming off a season where he hit 56 homers and posted an MLB-best 132 RBIs. While many insiders believe the Phillies will get him back, that has not stopped other teams from making a bet, and this increased further after the star player rejected the $22.025 million qualifying offer from Philadelphia.
And if MLB Network’s Jon Morosi is to be believed, Schwarber is also gaining some interest from the Giants and Buster Posey.
Speaking in an interaction on MLB Network, Morosi said, “I think that having Buster Posey now fully comfortable in this role, he now has his own manager that he has hired, a lot of young energy with the Giants, and I was told they’ve actually already inquired about Kyle Schwarber’s market. Very interesting!”
While Morosi acknowledged that the discussion about Schwarber ending up with the Giants has not been as much, he highlighted Posey’s potential to make a huge impact, thereby giving the Phillies a setback.
“I do think Schwarber is one of the players the Giants are watching most carefully,” Morosi reiterated.
Interestingly, this comes at a time when the Annual Winter meetings are scheduled to take place in less than a week, between December 8-10, in Orlando, where the fate of many of these players will be decided.
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For the unversed, the Giants are not the only team to show interest in Schwarber. Previous reports have also linked him to teams including the Red Sox, Reds, Pirates, and the Orioles.
However, the Giants won’t be facing an easy route to the Schwarber Pursuit. Besides the challenges they face from rivals, there is a bit of a financial crisis as well. A recent report suggested that the Giants will have to make serious considerations before offering 9-figure deals, and signing Schwarber for anything less would be pretty tricky.
San Francisco’s financial challenges stem from deferred payments to Blake Snell and from managerial contracts that affect operational cash flow.
Another factor that adds to this problem is the Giants’ acquisition of Rafael Devers from the Red Sox and their coverage of his contract through 2033.
This cost the franchise over $250 million, further burdening it. Hence, it will be interesting to see how their latest desire for Schwarber unfolds.
But amidst this uncertainty, what is more interesting is that Schwarber himself is not ruling anything out and keeping all doors open.
Kyle Schwarber makes feelings known on free agency
Kyle Schwarber’s potential has made him a top candidate for many teams. One such team that he is being linked to is the Reds, and Cincinnati native Schwarber gave a cryptic message about what he wishes to do in free agency.
Schwarber was in Cincinnati on Wednesday, November 19, when he spoke with reporters and addressed his free agency. While he did not make any official announcement, he did not fail to highlight that he is keeping all options open.
“I grew up going to games here (in Cincinnati). I grew up sitting in the bleachers and watching a lot of games… You have your hometown team that’s calling… You always have to listen and keep different options open, and let’s see what happens,” Schwarber said, igniting serious questions about his Phillies return.
Now, as the offseason evolves, it would be interesting to see if the 32-year-old will continue his journey in Philadelphia or look for other alternatives. Can the Giants make a steal? Well, only time will tell.
Todd Dunivant hired as New York City FC sporting director
NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Dunivant, a veteran of 13 Major League Soccer seasons, was hired Tuesday as sporting director of New York City FC.
Dunivant, who turns 45 on Dec. 26, replaced David Lee, who left on Sept. 30 to become president of soccer operations and general manager of Sporting Kansas City.
Dunivant was a defender for San Jose (2003-04), the LA Galaxy (2005-06 and 2009-15), New York Red Bulls (2006-07) and Toronto (2007-08). He has been general manager of the second-tier Sacramento Republic since 2018 and president since 2021.
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MLS Make Historic Announcement Before Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps Cup Final
Major League Soccer has reached its final stage. Everything is set, and Inter Miami CF will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium on Dec. 6 in the 2025 MLS Cup.
Lionel Messi’s team made history by reaching the championship final for the first time since its founding in 2020. They achieved this after eliminating Nashville SC in the best-of-three round, FC Cincinnati in the semifinals, and New York City FC in the Conference Final, crowning the Herons as Eastern Conference champions.
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps reached this stage after eliminating FC Dallas in the best-of-three round, LAFC in the semifinals, and San Diego FC in the Western Conference Final.
As expected, Thomas Muller has grabbed all the headlines, as in his first MLS season, he managed to help his team reach the championship final.
This represents a 23% increase from last year. Partly, the difference stems from seeing Messi and his teammates in the late stages of the competition this year, whereas last season they were eliminated in the best-of-three round against Atlanta United.
Furthermore, the arrival of other superstars like Son Heung-min and Muller is also a factor. We also cannot overlook the emergence of San Diego FC as, objectively speaking, one of MLS’s best teams in its inaugural season.
Although Muller’s contract with Vancouver ends at the end of this month, it is expected to be extended for one more year. Additionally, Son is under contract with LAFC through 2027 and Messi with Miami through 2028, so interest in MLS does not appear likely to drop suddenly in the coming years.
2025 NewsTribune Girls Tennis Players of the Year: L-P’s Julia Garcia, Dagny Greer
La Salle-Peru’s Dagny Greer and Julia Garcia had plenty of motivation going into the Class 1A Ottawa Sectional this fall.
For Greer, a senior, it was her last chance to qualify for state. For Garcia, it was her only opportunity to advance to state as she’s a foreign exchange student from Brazil.
“We were like, ‘We need to go to state,’” Garcia said. “I wanted to have that experience, and Dagny, it’s her last year because she’s a senior, so that motivated me because I wanted her to have that experience. I think both of us wanted to have that experience, so we played our best.”
The Cavalier duo, who entered as the No. 6 seed, placed third at the sectional to earn a trip to state.
“I just think it’s so cool that in her one year here she made it to state,” Greer said. “And my last year as an L-P student, I also made it to state. It was just very fulfilling and rewarding. It made the rest of the tennis season worth it.”
Greer and Garcia were the area’s only state qualifiers. They finished with an 11-7 record and placed second in the No. 2 doubles bracket at the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament.
For all they accomplished this season, Greer and Garcia are the 2025 NewsTribune Girls Tennis Players of the Year.
“I thought the season ended as well as we were hoping for,” L-P coach Aaron Guenther said. “Putting them together midseason on the fly made for some tough adjustments, but they were able to come together, really jell well and played well enough to make state.”
Greer started the season as a singles player, but as Guenther watched Greer and Garcia play and saw results and matchups, he felt the two would make a strong doubles team.
“Dagny is tall and long, so she’s able to be the finisher at the net and she had singles experience from earlier in the year, so that really helped her with her baseline game,” Guenther said. “Julia has a motor that doesn’t stop, so she’s able to hunt down every ball she can get when she’s on the baseline then up at the net she has great touch to where she could always finish the ball and put it where it needed to be.”
Greer and Garcia first played together Sept. 23, beating Rochelle’s No. 2 doubles pair.
“With her being from Brazil, it was very different than being with someone who I’ve known for a few years,” Greer said. “But, honestly, I think that kind of made it better. We had to get to know each other and how each other played and how we could work together.
“If things went wrong on the court, it didn’t affect our friendship outside. Whether we had a bad match or bad game, we came back stronger and didn’t let it affect our dynamic.”
Garcia said the pair’s connection grew through the season.
“We helped each other to be our best,” Garcia said. “When I made a mistake, she would come help me and I would help her. Not being angry with each other for our mistakes and our communication for sure helped.”
The pair showed their ability to overcome past mistakes at the sectional.
Greer and Garcia lost to Ottawa’s Rylee Harsted and Brooklyn Byone 6-4, 6-0 at the conference tournament but came back to beat the Pirate pair 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the sectional third-place match.
“That was probably our best match of the season,” Greer said. “We played amazing.”
At state, the L-P duo lost both of its matches, including a 6-0, 6-0 first-round loss to Deerfield’s Shir Paz and Anna Dickinson, who went on to place third.
“It was mind-blowing,” Garcia said about going to state. “In the beginning, I didn’t even consider that going to state was something that was going to happen. Going to state and seeing all the girls who practice their whole lives was really incredible. Getting to know other people and see how they got there was cool.”
Garcia played tennis when she was around 5 years old but gave up the sport after about a year. She returned to it this fall when she arrived at L-P.
“I knew that sports would make my life here easier with making friends, and I really like to play sports,” said Garcia, who plans to play soccer in the spring. “I always wanted to come back to tennis but never could.
“Most of my friends are from tennis, and being friends with them helped me make other friends. Now I have really good friends I’m going to have for life, so that’s really good.”
Greer grew up playing volleyball but switched to tennis as a freshman.
“I decided I didn’t want to play volleyball in high school, but I still wanted a sport during the fall because I’d never really had a time where I hadn’t played a sport,” Greer said. “I was, like, ‘I’ll try tennis for fun,’ and I really liked it.
“The girls I played with my freshman year, who were a year older than me, they were such good teammates. The way that coach [Scott] Blessman coached my first two years made me want to stick with it. He’s was a very fundamental. He’s a good coach for when you’re starting out. He made it fun, but I also learned so much. I like the dynamic [of tennis]. I think it’s a lot of fun and it’s actually a lot harder than I feel people give it credit for. It’s work, and I really enjoyed that about it.”
Nicola Pietrangeli, Italy’s most accomplished tennis player before Jannik Sinner, dies at 92
ROME (AP) — Nicola Pietrangeli, the Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s whose records were only recently broken by Jannik Sinner but who remains the Davis Cup all-time leader in wins, has died. He was 92.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation announced Pietrangeli’s death on Monday, without providing a cause.
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Nicola Pietrangeli, Italy’s most accomplished tennis player before Jannik Sinner, dies at 92
Mr. Pietrangeli was the first Italian player to win a Grand Slam trophy, triumphing at the French Open in 1959. He defended that title a year later and his record of two Grand Slam singles titles among Italian players wasn’t broken until Sinner won his second straight Australian Open title in 2025 to increase his total to three.
Sinner has now won four majors.
“I won $150 for the 1960 title, which covered two months rent for my home in Rome,” Mr. Pietrangeli told the Gazzetta dello Sport in 2020.
He was also runner-up at Roland Garros in 1961 and 1964, losing both finals to Spanish player Manuel Santana. He won the doubles title in Paris in 1959 with Orlando Sirola.
“In 1964 Santana and I made a bet whereby the loser would pay for dinner,” Mr. Pietrangeli said. “I honored the agreement and 10 of us went out that night, including our wives, and Manolo invited (Spanish soccer player) Luisito Suárez.
“I spent my entire earnings from the tournament to cover the evening.”
He also reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1960 and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in 1957.
“Nicola Pietrangeli was not only the first to teach us what it really meant to win, on and off the court. He was the starting point for everything that our tennis (movement) has become,” said Italian federation president Angelo Binaghi.
In Davis Cup, Mr. Pietrangeli holds the record for most total wins and most singles wins, having played 164 matches for Italy. His singles record was 78-32 and his doubles record was 42-12. He also formed half of the most successful Davis Cup doubles partnership with Sirola, the pair winning 34 of their 42 matches together.
Mr. Pietrangeli led Italy to the Davis Cup final twice, losing both times away to an Australia team featuring Rod Laver and Roy Emerson.
Mr. Pietrangeli finally raised the Davis Cup trophy as captain in 1976, when he coached Adriano Panatta, Corrado Barazzutti, Paolo Bertolucci, and Antonio Zugarelli to the title with a win over Chile played amid the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
There were calls for Italy not to travel to Chile but Mr. Pietrangeli pushed for the Azzurri to go.
“That was really my biggest contribution for that final,” he said. “Without me, Italy would have not traveled to that final and we wouldn’t have won.”
Italy didn’t win the Davis Cup again until Sinner led the Azzurri to the title in 2023 and 2024; and then Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli led Italy to a third straight Davis Cup — and first on home soil — in Bologna last month.
“Nicola Pietrangeli was the true embodiment of everything Davis Cup represents — passion, prestige, and pride in representing your nation,” said International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty.
“As well as reaching the top of the game as an individual, Nicola truly understood what it meant to play tennis for something bigger than himself, and his incredible achievements are carved into the 125-year history of the Davis Cup,” Haggerty added.
After his playing and coaching career was finished, Mr. Pietrangeli became a sort of “godfather” for Italian tennis. He was a fixture in the front row at the Foro Italico for the Italian Open, a tournament he won in 1957 and 1961 — beating Laver in the latter final.
In 2006, the statue-lined Pallacorda court at the Foro Italico — considered one of the most picturesque stadiums on the circuit — was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli.
He said he wanted his funeral to be held on the court named after him.
There will be a public viewing of Mr. Pietrangeli’s body on the court on Wednesday, followed by a brief memorial service, the Italian federation announced. The funeral is then to be held in a different location.
Nicola Chirinsky Pietrangeli was born in Tunis, which was a French colony at the time, to an Italian father and a Russian mother.
Mike Tyson issues letter voicing support for Muhammad Ali Revival Act for boxing
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is the latest high-profile name to throw his support behind the Muhammad Ali All-American Boxing Revival Act, which aims to bring UFC-style promotion to the sport of boxing.
In a letter sent to Congress and obtained by MMA Fighting, Tyson backs the bill, which was initially proposed by Congressman Brian Jack (R-Georgia) and Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), who trained and fought in MMA before making her way into politics. The bill was introduced just as the UFC’s owners at TKO Group Holdings are preparing to launch Zuffa Boxing in 2026 with financial backing from Saudi Arabia.
“The current system works well for fighters like myself who were able to compete and have negotiating power with promoters,” Tyson wrote in his letter. “Unfortunately, the majority of professional boxers never reach that level of influence. This bill does not take opportunities away from anyone; rather, it creates new paths for fighters seeking greater financial stability. The proposed reforms provide meaningful benefits for fighters.
“Establishing a per-round minimum ensures that every athlete who steps into the ring receives fair compensation for the risks they take with their body and mind. The requirement for mandatory health insurance is equally critical-no fighter should ever have to choose between paying medical bills and pursuing their career. I’ve seen too many of my peers face that impossible decision.”
Proponents of the bill have repeatedly stated that the new revival act doesn’t change the language of the original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, which was signed into law back in 2000 with the aim of protecting athletes from exploitation and conflicts of interests such as managers also acting as promoters in the sport.
Instead, the new revival act seeks to introduce Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO), which would allow UFC style promotion in the sport of boxing. That would include a promotion like Zuffa Boxing to maintain its own rankings and issue its own championship titles.
The bill has faced both support and criticism from the combat sports community with many former UFC athletes speaking out against that style of promotion being allowed in boxing while prominent regulators such as Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, voicing his support.
Now Tyson is backing the bill as well with his letter sent to Congress.
“Muhammad Ali has always been my hero, both inside and outside the ring,” Tyson said in his letter. “Supporting these revisions honors the spirit of the original Ali Act by closing loopholes that have allowed some promoters to regain monopolistic control over fighters’ careers.
“This new legislation restores balance-allowing boxers to choose their own path while preserving the integrity of the sport. The Act does not alter the opportunities of those who are comfortable with the current system; it simply adds options for fighters who wish to pursue a different path that better suits their career goals.”
At his peak, Tyson was one of the most well-known boxers in the history of the sport while reigning as heavyweight champion. The now 59-year-old veteran most recently set foot in the ring this past November when he engaged in a fight with Jake Paul with the event airing on Netflix with more than 100 million viewers tuning into watch the match.
UFC 324’s Sean O’Malley Speaks Out Against Dana White’s Halftime Announcement
UFC 324 is going to be crazy in the best possible way and is headlined with Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje, followed by the monster co-main of Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison. Fans are still not over with the ecstatic moment of Paddy’s wild TKO victory over Michael Chandler, a fight that clearly marked ‘The Baddy’s’ character as one of the UFC’s most electrifying players.
However, the fight announcement created a bit of a strange feeling and raised some questions as it directly linked Paddy to a feud with Ilia Topuria that has been simmering for a long time. This rivalry of verbal exchanges, bottle-throwing drama, and continuous tension had built up to exploding insults. Many expected Dana White to push this storyline. But the exchange of that high-voltage matchup for Gaethje felt unexpected, and Sean O’Malley did not hesitate in pointing out the uncomfortable halftime introduction that brought this about.
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Sean O’Malley believes Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria was the real plan
During his latest podcast, Sean O’Malley explained everything while kicking back with his crew and anticipating his return to the bantamweight division fight with Song Yadong at UFC 324. This will be his comeback fight after losing to Merab Dvalishvili, the cardio monster who has been bulldozing the division; hence, momentum is very important.
Despite being focused, Sean still felt it was strange how the UFC 324 reveal was.
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“Dana revealed the fights of 324. Paramount. Paddy versus Justin… Dana, the number one fight promoter in the world, definitely brings the energy when he goes live on Insta or YouTube. He brings the energy. This one felt weird.”
If Sean’s antennas went up, you can be sure that something was wrong with the vibe. Then he came up with the theory that the fans have been talking about for months.
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“I don’t know if it was the you know my theory is it was supposed to be Paddy versus Ilia. That’s what was supposed to happen, and you know they were really trying to get that fight to happen and they couldn’t do it.”
With the ups and downs between Pimblett and Topuria, the insults, the airport drama, the bottle-throwing. Sean was not demeaning the Gaethje fight; he was merely indicating how the announcement resembled a last-minute switch from a rivalry that was screaming for a cage.
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Dana White dragged into chaos after Max Holloway–Charles Oliveira BMF fight appears, then disappears
From the very beginning, UFC 324 has been nothing short of a mess. And now Dana White has become even more involved in the turmoil since the UFC Brazil account has very briefly posted and subsequently deleted what seemed to be a third title fight: Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira for the BMF belt.
Although the post was only live for a few minutes, it was enough time for the fans to go crazy and start doubting what the UFC has actually prepared. The now-deleted post, which was in Portuguese, was advertising the fight, saying that it is a clash of “hard-shelled” fighters. The description very well matches Holloway and Oliveira, two competing athletes who consider the damage as non-existing background sound.
Holloway won the BMF title after he took apart Justin Gaethje and Oliveira is still one of the deadliest finishers in the world. The BMF rematch between them is going to be extremely charged with a special kind of energy because their first fight was stopped by an injury to Oliveira, thus creating an unfinished story that the fans have been longing to get back for years.
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This is the reason why this “leak” caused such an instant explosion among the fans. The very fact that there was already criticism over UFC 324’s interim lightweight headliner made the idea of Max and Charles finishing the night a total chaos-and-violence-like upgrade that the supporters were asking for.
However, Dana White’s announcement during the NFL Thanksgiving game did not include Holloway–Oliveira making the sudden post and its disappearance even stranger.
Mentions of Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira together are like striking a match in the MMA world that instantaneously ignites the interest. Do it during a card already in trouble, and the volume only gets higher, particularly with Dana White’s name being part of the confusion.
Alexandre Pantoja Reveals Why Joshua Van is ‘Dangerous’
Alexandre Pantoja recently shared his thoughts on Joshua Van ahead of their flyweight title fight at UFC 323. The reigning flyweight champion isn’t overlooking the young, surging contender as he aims to continue his reign. UFC 323 takes place this Saturday and marks the promotion’s final pay-per-view under its current media rights deal with ESPN.
Pantoja has already had a legendary title reign. He has defeated several top contenders, some more than once, and now looks to add Van to the list.
During an interview with Stake, Pantoja acknowledged that Van’s journey to the UFC and his personal hardships make him a dangerous opponent. ‘The Cannibal’ explained that the flyweight contender has overcome significant obstacles, giving him extra motivation to become champion.
“Moving from his country, coming to America, starting something new, losing his father, and needing to take care of his mother. That’s a dangerous combination,” Pantoja said. “A lot of fighters are very good, they choose to fight, they chose to be athletes. But when a fighter has something more, like [Van] has, you need to be very sharp.”
He continued:
“[Van’s] young, hungry, motivated and has a reason why he fights. This makes it very, very tough for me.”
Alexandre Pantoja Intends to Deliver Dominant Performance at UFC 323
Alexandre Pantoja also shared insight into his mindset ahead of UFC 323 and revealed that he aims to deliver a dominant performance. The fight will mark his fifth title defense since becoming champion in 2023.
Pantoja has solidified his status as one of the greatest flyweight title reigns in UFC history. He still has a long way to go if he wants to surpass Demetrious Johnson‘s flyweight title defense record. However, there’s no denying he is one of the greatest flyweights of all time.
Speaking with Stake, Pantoja said he believes he needs a dominant win to silence his critics.
“You’re never good enough, you know? And I really don’t care. I do my job. I go very hard every day in the gym. My training partners know how much I want it,” Pantoja said. “I don’t just want to go on Dec. 6 to defend the belt, I want to conquer, I want to prove I’m the champion of the world.”
Pantoja Aiming for Top Spot in UFC Pound-for-Pound Rankings
Pantoja also revealed that he is aiming for the top spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He has been a fixture in that debate alongside champions, including Merab Dvalishvili and Islam Makhachev.
Currently, Makhachev holds the No. 1 spot after moving up to welterweight and defeating Jack Della Maddalena to become the new champion.
If Pantoja wants that spot, he faces tough competition. Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title against Petr Yan in the UFC 323 main event. That fight marks his fourth consecutive title defense this year, which would further strengthen his case.
Pantoja opened up about his aspirations, expressing his excitement on showcasing his skills.
“You have great pound-for-pound champions too, for example Makhachev, [Ilia] Topuria, Merab. Everybody does such an amazing job. I want to be the best of the best,” Pantoja told Stake. “I want to be the number one pound-for-pound fighter, I have a huge chance to prove that on Dec. 6. I’m starting to think about how I can show everybody how good I am.”
Ronda Rousey vs. Katie Taylor Boxing Match Reports Met With Harsh Verdict From MMA Rival
Ronda Rousey‘s return to combat sports should have sparked nostalgia. Instead, it came as an unexpected plot twist. A potential boxing bout versus Katie Taylor, one of the best pure boxers alive, sent shockwaves through both sports, not because fans were excited, but because the matchup felt almost absurd. ‘Rowdy’ hasn’t fought in almost a decade. Taylor is fresh off a historic trilogy win.
Nonetheless, plans are underway for a 2026 Las Vegas showdown backed by Netflix. And in the midst of the newfound hype, someone who knows Ronda Rousey better than most chimed in. Cris Cyborg didn’t just roll her eyes at the rumor; she torched it. The rivalry between them never found closure inside a cage, but outside of it? The heat never cooled. With a single tweet, Cyborg reminded everyone why.
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Cris Cyborg tears down the Ronda Rousey–Katie Taylor idea
So, when journalist Lance Pugmire tweeted the bout was “in the works,” Cyborg didn’t wait. She attacked the idea in her own style: “I once saw Ronda shadowboxing, and her shadow won! Zero chance she fights boxing,” she wrote in a tweet. No pause, no politeness, no benefit of the doubt. In her opinion, Ronda Rousey has no place in a boxing ring—unless her opponent is Gina Carano in a nostalgia bout.
Against Katie Taylor? “Zero chance,” she wrote, doubling down. The truth is that Cris Cyborg isn’t just being petty. ‘Rowdy’ has not fired a competitive punch since 2016. Taylor, on the other hand, has headlined at Madison Square Garden, ruled two divisions, carried women’s boxing on her back, and attracted Netflix-level viewership.
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Rousey’s admission of severe brain trauma in her autobiography, along with two recent pregnancies, makes the idea of her competing against one of the sport’s finest technicians seem overly optimistic. Nonetheless, the rumors persist, fueled by the spectacle energy that only Ronda Rousey can generate. That’s what makes Cyborg’s jab so effective—it cuts through the fantasy.
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Still, the rivalry between them never died for a reason. ‘Rowdy’ was once an unstoppable force. Cyborg was the immovable object the UFC never booked. And now, with talk swirling and speculation rising, Cyborg appears determined to remind fans that if Rousey returns, a boxing ring is the last place she should be. And it’s not like she is out of options either, as Kayla Harrison‘s manager recently called out Ronda Rousey for an epic dream fight once ‘Doug’ is done with Amanda Nunes.
Kayla Harrison’s manager wants her to fight Rousey
And that’s where Kayla Harrison comes in—not as another critic, but as the only name that makes sense if Ronda Rousey decides to fight again. Because, while Cris Cyborg is closing the boxing door, Harrison’s group is attempting to open a whole different one. Ali Abdelaziz did not mince words when he laid out her strategy: Amanda Nunes first, and if Kayla “dominates,” Ronda Rousey will be next.
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He said, “Kayla beats [Amanda] by dominating fashion and stops her, and after that, Kayla will have two options. Ronda Rousey will come out of the grave and step up and she will have to pay for everything she’s said and done, cause a lot of beef happened.” It was not said for shock value. Harrison and Rousey go way back—judo teammates, friends turned rivals, the kind of history you can’t manufacture.
According to Abdelaziz, if ‘Doug’ defeats Nunes at UFC 324, she will face either Valentina Shevchenko in a superfight or Ronda Rousey in a final showdown. It’s unclear whether ‘Rowdy’ really entertains the idea, but this is the first fight in years that connects her past, pride, and legacy.
While the Katie Taylor talks dominate headlines, the MMA world is whispering a different storyline—one based on old connections, old tension, and unfinished business. If Ronda Rousey ever decides to fight again, Kayla Harrison’s team believes it will not be for boxing glory. It will be for closure.
Tony Ferguson fought Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje – here’s who he’s backing at UFC324
Tony Ferguson is perhaps the best man to tell you who to pick in the interim lightweight title main event of UFC 324.
Former interim lightweight champion Ferguson fought Justin Gaethje at the beginning of the pandemic, losing that fight by TKO in the fifth. Three years later, he took on Paddy Pimblett in one of his final UFC outings and went the three round distance.
Now, he will be watching on as his two rivals compete for that same belt he once held years ago. And he believes that the ‘interim’ part will play a big part in the result if the fight becomes gritty and comes down to who wants it more.
Tony Ferguson picks Paddy Pimblett to beat Justin Gaethje at UFC 324
After having fought both men, Tony Ferguson’s take on the UFC 324 main event is arguably one of the most insightful you will find. He and Gaethje went five hard rounds, while he was closer to the end of his run against Pimblett.
And Ferguson is backing the Brit, noting that this ‘interim’ belt means a whole lot more to the rising Brit than it does to an aging veteran like Gaethje, who has already held that gold. “Justin doesn’t want another interim belt,” he told Ariel Helwani on his Uncrowned show this evening.
Justin Gaethje has 6 finishes inside the UFC Octagon, while Paddy Pimblett has 5. Whose highlight reel is better?
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“Paddy’s not bad, dude. He’s very beatable, and Gaethje is very beatable as well, but when it comes to the passion, man, how exciting Justin Gaethje has always been about not getting that real title shot — they just keep dangling it right there.
“Paddy’s in for a new treat. Paddy’s the one who has never fought for a belt. He’s going in there to try and get that, and he’s going to feel a little bit fresher. He’s going to have that excitement, in my opinion.
“So if I were going to try and place a bet, I would go with the new kid that’s going in for the new opportunity, rather than the old kid who fought for the belt. It’s going to go to Paddy, but best of luck for both of them, I hope they knock each other the f— out.”
Dana White Blamed as $1.2M UFC Star Claims Backstage Politics Triggered Heartbreaking Title Shot Snub
Lerone Murphy has built his career on a simple formula: show up, stay undefeated, and make himself undeniable. At 17-0-1, with a net worth reportedly touching $1.2 million, he has done everything a rising featherweight contender is supposed to do. Yet when the UFC and Dana White unveiled their first major slate for 2026, a seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast era set to begin on CBS and Paramount, Murphy’s name was nowhere near the title picture. Instead, the company doubled down on a rematch for UFC 325: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2 in Sydney, Australia.
The announcement dropped on Thanksgiving Day, a holiday surprise that left the community buzzing. Still, no reaction landed harder than Murphy’s. The undefeated contender had been circling the title for months, waiting for a crack at Volkanovski. And when he realized he wasn’t in the equation, the disappointment hit deeper than any punch he’s taken in the Octagon.
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Lerone Murphy breaks his silence on Dana White and the UFC skipping him for a title shot
In a recent interview, ‘The Miracle’ told Ariel Helwani that “Yeah, you know what? When I first found out, I didn’t even… Do you know what? I fell out love with it for a bit, I’m not gonna lie.”
He explained that he had originally turned to MMA because he believed “Oh, but boxing, because I thought there’s no politics here. I thought it was just simply do the work, the best fight the best, and that’s the way it goes.” Instead, the rematch announcement made him feel like the sport he trusted had shifted beneath his feet.
That’s when the heartbreak turned into perspective. Murphy recalled, ”But that’s what hurt me the most a bit. It’s like at the end of it… And then I kind of thought it over and it’s like… get over it is what it is it’s business just keep fighting keep doing what you’re keep winning and we’ll get there eventually and I think it’s inevitable that it’s gonna happen…”
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His road, he said, has “never been easy from the get-go,” and this setback is simply another bend in a long, winding story. But why did this title shot go to Diego Lopes again? That’s the question haunting fans.
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Lopes last fought Volkanovski at UFC 314 and lost a clean unanimous decision. Since then, he has only competed once, stopping Jean Silva at Noche UFC in September. Solid, yes. But enough to leapfrog a 17-0-1 contender with a bulletproof résumé? Many aren’t convinced.
Still, he isn’t sulking. If anything, the Manchester native is using this moment to sharpen the edge that kept him undefeated for nearly a decade. Murphy grew up in Old Trafford, dreamed of football glory, and wound up becoming one of the UFC’s most promising British prospects. His life is proof that detours sometimes lead to destiny, even when they come disguised as delays.
And that’s what makes the politics sting so much. Fans often assume an undefeated record guarantees opportunity. But as Lerone Murphy’s experience shows, meritocracy in MMA isn’t always straightforward. Broadcast deals, star power, market timing, all of it swirls together backstage long before bouts are booked on paper. And whether Dana White intended it or not, Murphy feels like the latest casualty of those invisible gears as even the champion has come out with a surprising take on the whole situation!
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‘The Great’ claims Murphy and Movsar Evloev were “deserving” of the title opportunity
Alexander Volkanovski didn’t hide from the confusion. In fact, he leaned straight into it. After all, how often does a reigning champion defend his belt against someone he just beat for the vacant title earlier? So when he addressed the UFC 325 matchup on YouTube, he spoke the same question fans have been asking: why Lopes again, and why now?
The champion admitted, “Obviously, we all know that I wanted to fight earlier, I thought it was going to be December.” For a moment, it even looked like Lerone Murphy would be his next challenger as he continued, “then I guess UFC they’re waiting for Jean Silva and Lopes. Then they were saying Lopes and obviously, we’re like, we just fought that guy.”
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But even ‘The Great’ had to pause when the promotion and Dana White circled back to Lopes. Yet business kept moving, and the UFC dangled something he couldn’t refuse, a title defense in Sydney as he stated, “‘We’ll give you Sydney.’ I’m like, alright, I’ll wait for that. Then it was looking like it wasn’t going to happen, but then did happen, which was great.”
Still, Alexander Volkanovski didn’t pretend that meritocracy added up. He openly named the contenders he believed earned the shot with, “I thought Movsar was deserving, Lerone Murphy, I thought they were the two guys. They were the guys I called out.”
That leaves fans with a lingering question: if performance, record, and momentum aren’t enough, what truly decides a title shot in the modern UFC? Lerone Murphy has chosen to swallow the politics and keep marching, trusting that persistence will eventually corner fate. But the irony is hard to miss as the fighter who built his career on being undeniable is now being asked to wait his turn while the business moves without him.
UFC Star Reveals What it’s REALLY Like Training With Controversial Influencer
UFC star Lerone Murphy has revealed what it’s really like training with, and sparring, Andrew Tate.
The controversial influencer returns to combat sports on the 20th of December against Chase DeMoor in a Misfits heavyweight title fight in Dubai. Tate remains in shape year-round, but the boxing bout will be his first fight since he retired from kickboxing in 2020 with a record of 76-9-1.
To get ready for DeMoor, and a run in 2026 that could see him compete 10 times — perhaps, even, against the likes of KSI or Darren Till, among others — Tate flew by private jet to the United Arab Emirates last month and has been vlogging his workouts, padwork, and general training.
But one fighter who has seen him spar up front, Murphy, lifted the lid on what Tate’s camp is like when talking on The Ariel Helwani Show via Uncrowned.
What it’s REALLY Like Training With Andrew Tate
A 34-year-old featherweight, Murphy has climbed the rankings to become a bona fide threat to the champion, Alexander Volkanovski, should they ever fight. And this week, Murphy told Helwani that the relationship with Tate came around through a mutual friend Luke Barnatt, also an experienced MMA fighter with 5-6 fights in the UFC.
Murphy said he got an invite from Barnatt because he and Tate thought the UFC star
Oleksandr Usyk’s Deontay Wilder Callout for Next Fight Has Boxing Fans Comparing Him to Dana White
The new crop of heavyweight contenders may be eager to test themselves against Oleksandr Usyk, but the Ukrainian superstar has his sights set elsewhere. At 38, with only a few years left in the sport, Usyk wants to cross off every major name in the division before he hangs up the gloves. That list includes former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, a once-feared knockout artist now well past his prime.
Usyk has no shortage of challengers after defeating Daniel Dubois earlier this year to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. But his reign didn’t last long—WBO stripped him of the title, which now belongs to Fabio Wardley. The Brit has already expressed interest in sharing the ring with ‘The Cat.’ He’s not alone, as contenders like Agit Kabayal and Moses Itauma have also raised their hands. Still, Usyk seems to have already made up his mind.
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Oleksandr Usyk wants just one man
Speaking to Boxing King Media at the WBC convention, Usyk opened up about his plans for 2026. “I think next year, I want to fight with Deontay Wilder,” he said. “For me, I think it’s interesting. He’s a world champion guy, this is a very famous guy, this is a strong guy. One of his great heavyweights in the last 10 years. Special information. I speak with my team, I say, this is my first task.”
When asked who else Oleksandr Usyk is considering, he made it clear that there is no Plan B. “We didn’t talk about this. We didn’t speak about this. Now I have only one option with Deontay,” Usyk concluded. Wilder, of course, has struggled since his losses to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021, dropping two of his last four bouts. He did, however, rebound earlier this year with a knockout win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
To Deontay Wilder’s credit, he also appears interested in the matchup. “We have plans for next year, and we’d like Oleksandr Usyk to be part of them,” Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel told Sky Sports. “If we receive the right offer, we would be open to that fight.” The showdown is unusual in that Usyk could defend his titles against rising contenders, but seems determined to chase the fight he wants—something not uncommon in boxing.
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However, this choice has prompted some fans to draw parallels with UFC CEO Dana White’s recent matchmaking decisions after Happy Punch shared Usyk’s comments.
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Dana White catches strays
Reacting to Usyk’s choice, fans quickly flooded the comment section with mixed opinions. One user drew a direct comparison to the UFC’s recent matchmaking decisions. “This is some UFC-level match-making,” the user commented. The remark referenced the UFC pairing Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, despite Arman Tsarukyan earning the No. 1 contender spot after defeating Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar.
Another user echoed the sentiment, bringing Dana White into the conversation. “Bro is doing the Dana White WWE matchmaking 😂😂😂,” they wrote. From their perspective, Usyk is simply opting for an easier final fight—one that guarantees a payday and a high chance of ending his career on a win.
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Not everyone was critical, though. One fan embraced the idea. “Honestly, I’d love to see it. It’s new, it’s different, and it might even be competitive,” the user commented. However, in reality, the matchup is far from competitive on paper. Wilder has relied almost entirely on his power, while Usyk has dominated the heavyweight landscape with elite skill and wins over the division’s top names.
Another user understood the narrative surrounding Wilder at this stage of his career. “Wilders just signing up at this point to say I got KOd by all the greats! 😂,” they wrote. To date, Wilder’s only knockout losses have come at the hands of Tyson Fury and Zhilei Zhang.
A different commenter viewed the matchup as the final piece of Usyk’s mission. “He [is] trying to clean out an era of boxing and prove he [is] the best savage,” the user said. Still, names like Joseph Parker remain, opponents that Usyk would be skipping over.
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In any case, Usyk appears set on the path he wants to take. Fans aren’t entirely against it, but many are aware of how this choice sidelines more deserving contenders. What do you think about the potential fight?
Female MMA Fighter Knocking Out Male Sparring Partner Has UFC Fans Divided
Sparring sessions are meant to provide a controlled environment to sharpen skills. But that doesn’t mean they’re free of risk—especially when punches and kicks start flying. Something similar unfolded recently at the Syndicate Mixed Martial Arts gym in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC’s No. 10–ranked women’s bantamweight was working with a male training partner when things took an unexpected turn. Who?
Well, it was none other than undefeated [in the UFC] bantamweight Jacqueline Cavalcanti, who is fresh off her unanimous decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva on November 9. A clip recently shared by Full Send MMA captured the moment at her gym, where Cavalcanti was sparring with an unidentified training partner. But a perfectly timed left knee to the face sent him crashing down, turning a routine session into a viral moment.
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Cavalcanti’s counter from hell
“Undefeated UFC women’s bantamweight Jacqueline Cavalcanti was sparring recently and landed a perfectly placed knee that accidentally put her male training partner on the canvas and had him shaking things out afterwards,” Full Send MMA wrote on X alongside the clip. Meanwhile, the clip showed Cavalcanti firing off a combination before her sparring partner dipped low to grab her leg.
But he was caught off guard when Cavalcanti countered with a sharp left knee that landed square on his face. The impact sent him falling backward onto the canvas as the 28-year-old immediately moved in to check on him. Despite the brutal-looking shot, he didn’t appear to be knocked out cold—just dazed by the unexpected strike.
Cavalcanti joined the UFC in September 2023, debuting against Zarah Fairn after winning an LFA title. Since then, the Brazilian-Portuguese bantamweight has put together an impressive 5-0 record. At 28, she’s the youngest fighter in the women’s bantamweight top-10 and is widely seen as one of the division’s most promising prospects.
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The division is currently led by champion Kayla Harrison, who is set to defend her title against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324. Still, despite Cavalcanti’s rising stock, fans weren’t exactly impressed with the viral sparring clip.
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Jacqueline Cavalcanti is accused of ego-training
Unlike reactions after usual knockouts, Jacqueline Cavalcanti’s knockout received a lukewarm welcome. One user downplayed her skills. “The right shot with enough power to the chin can KO anyone,” the user wrote. Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, she hasn’t been able to score a knockout in the Octagon.
The next user defended the male sparring partner. “For anyone questioning dude’s chin, when it’s perfectly placed, there’s literally nothing you can do. [The] system just gets overridden, doesn’t matter how good your chin is,” the user commented. From the looks of the clip, the sparring partner went low to grab her leg at the wrong time.
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Meanwhile, this user blamed Cavalcanti for overdoing it in sparring. “Ego training, why are you throwing a full power knee without pulling it in sparring?” the user wrote. But it didn’t look intentional. And things can get heated during sparring, even when the intention isn’t to hurt anyone.
Another user decided to poke fun at the Brazilian-Portuguese fighter. “So [Jacqueline Cavalcanti] is only capable of finishing someone in the gym?” the user asked sarcastically. She has scored knockouts in the past, but it was during her stint in other promotions.
Someone else took things a little further, accusing Cavalcanti of staging the entire thing. “Worst part is he was the only one wearing headgear.. Probably staged,” the user commented. However, there’s nothing to prove the accusation.
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Having said that, it appears Jacqueline Cavalcanti will have to replicate that knockout in the Octagon to get in the good graces of the fans. But what did you make of the KO?
Michael Chandler Confirms Conor McGregor Fight Signed and Sealed for White House Event
After years away from the Octagon, former UFC double champion Conor McGregor is finally eyeing a massive comeback in 2026, just in time for the historic UFC White House event. Anticipation is skyrocketing, and although nothing is officially announced, Michael Chandler has emerged as the clear frontrunner to welcome McGregor back.
Chandler famously waited two years for their first bout at UFC 303, only to suffer back-to-back losses that frustrated fans. Despite doubts surrounding a rematch, he remains unwavering in his belief. In a new video update, ‘Iron’ confirmed the fight agreement is signed, sealing their highly anticipated showdown for the White House stage.
The fight’s already happening. He’s brought in guys to his training camp to mimic my style. That fight has already been signed, sealed and delivered since June of 2024. I’ll fight Conor, June, South Lawn, White House, God bless.
Michael Chandler via Instagram
Moreover, the Irishman had already confirmed he will fight Chandler at the White House event next year, creating massive excitement. ‘Mystic Mac’ boldly predicted a first-round knockout victory and claimed he expects to earn well over $100 million from the contest.
Apart from this, McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, also stated that Chandler will likely be their first official opponent since UFC 264, and their training camp has already begun.
According to Kavanagh, McGregor has gotten extremely serious about his return and has been putting time and effort into training. The fighter has deactivated his social media and has stayed out of the limelight in order to focus on his training. Moreover, he has also talked about embarking on a spiritual journey in order to get back to his old self.
McGregor recently revealed he underwent a psychedelic treatment in Mexico, describing the experience as deeply transformative for his life. He claimed the powerful session made him feel spiritually reborn, helping him confront personal struggles he had long tried ignoring privately.
The Irishman also said he felt saved by God during the process, emphasising renewed gratitude, purpose, and clarity moving forward.
Michael Chandler plans to beat Conor McGregor at the White House event
Conor McGregor is clearly not the same anymore, as he is currently 1-3 in his last 4 bouts inside the Octagon. Moreover, that single win also came against a washed Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. Apart from this, the Irishman failed to topple the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier, who also handed him his first TKO loss at UFC 257.
However, despite his worrying inactivity and inconsistent performances, he remains a fan favourite because of his knockout power. Fancy still believes McGregor can produce magic anytime since his dangerous left hand continues threatening opponents with brutal fight-ending consequences.
The Irish superstar can definitely compete against someone like Michael Chandler, who has also been struggling to secure consistent victories lately. For the unversed, Chandler is 2-5 inside the Octagon and recently lost a brutal bout against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami.
However, he appears fully determined to change the narrative by imposing relentless pressure and attempting to completely break McGregor. In a recent interview, the former 3-time Bellator 155lbs kingpin talked about his game plan against McGregor.
Go out there and not just beat Conor but dominate him and just systematically and surgically break the man down. I’ve dreamt about it. I’ve visualized it ever since this announcement was made that we were doing this fight on the White House lawn and I believe it’s going to come to fruition.
Michael Chandler via MMA Fighting
Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner Trigger Harsh Verdict From Italian Star on Modern Tennis Level
The 2025 season has undoubtedly been the year of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, no doubt. The two once again split the Grand Slams between themselves this year, with Sinner taking the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz grabbed the French Open and the US Open. They met six times in six finals, including three Slams, two Masters 1000s, and the ATP Finals. Safe to say, 2026 is in for another round of their competitive energy, but an Italian legend sees more than just that.
Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci recently discussed a perceived flaw in modern tennis during an appearance on DJ Radio. They highlighted how the sport’s elite level lacks the balance and variety of past eras. Their comments sparked debate about today’s dominant players.
“If we look at the elite of the seventies,” Panatta said, “Each of the top ten won at least one Grand Slam. The competition was much more balanced; anyone could lose. Today, Alcaraz and Sinner can’t lose anything.” The 1976 French Open champion pointed to this shift as evidence of reduced unpredictability at the top.
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The former Italian pro criticized the homogenization of modern tennis and the absence of diverse playing styles. “Alcaraz and Sinner are very good, but today almost everyone plays the same. Björn Borg and Guillermo Vilas have always beaten opponents with a similar style of play. But if they played against me or John McEnroe, they would lose because we play differently. There’s no such thing as a true attacker these days.” He argued that such variety once defined the game’s excitement.
The pair noted that Novak Djokovic stands alone in challenging Alcaraz and Sinner. Driven by his competitive hunger, the Serbian pursued them in the 2025 rankings, though he struggled for consistency beyond his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. No other rival has mounted a serious threat.
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Potential contenders like Ben Shelton, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and João Fonseca have emerged in discussions. Djokovic remains viable, but prospects for Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev appear to wane. Still, no one has disrupted the “New Two” atop the ATP rankings. On the other hand, while Panatta sees a clear flaw, another former pro views the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry positively!
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American ex-pro points out the advantage of the Alcaraz and Sinner rivalry.
Five months have passed by since Alcaraz and Sinner delivered that epic French Open final. They battled through five grueling sets over five-plus hours. It stands as the longest final in Roland Garros history. Andy Roddick, though, still thinks about it.
He dove back into the magic on his Served podcast alongside co-host Jon Wertheim. The former No.1 captured the essence perfectly: “An absolute force of mental anguish, athleticism, drama, peaking at the right time.” He made it clear this went beyond victory. It shaped an entire generation. Roddick kept the praise flowing. “Everything you could ever want in a match, this was. That’s before we get to sportsmanship. That’s before we get to humanity.” His words hung in the air like the tension on court that day.
During the final, Sinner struck first with commanding wins in the opening two sets. Triumph looked locked in. But Carlos Alcaraz flipped the script. He seized the third set and edged the fourth in a nail-biting tiebreak to square things up. Philippe-Chatrier buzzed with raw intensity. Pressure crushed most players there. Alcaraz thrived on it. He saved every critical point, broke back fiercely, and dragged the fifth into a tiebreak. Roland Garros saw its first final-set tiebreak ever. The crowd lost it when he clinched the win.
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Roddick zeroed in on what elevates their rivalry. “Both these guys do things the right way. You’re not cheering for or against. Maybe you are, but you’re cheering for them together, right? They make each other better. We want this rivalry.” Pure fire meets total respect.
Now, the 2026 season looms with fresh Sincaraz sparks. They team up for an exhibition in South Korea before the Australian Open heat. Sinner hunts a three-peat down under, and Alcaraz chases his Career Slam. Who will prevail? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
‘Marty Supreme’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews: Is Timothée Chalamet’s Sports Comedy A Winner?
Reviews are out for Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet in a movie loosely based on table tennis champ Marty Reisman. What are Rotten Tomatoes critics saying about it?
While Marty Supreme doesn’t open in theaters until Dec. 25, the review embargo for the film was lifted on Monday. The official logline for Marty Supreme reads, “Marty Mauser (Chalamet), a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.”
ForbesAwards Season: NBR, NYFCC Picks And Critics’ Choice Nods This Week
Directed by Josh Safdie, the ping pong period comedy also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler, The Creator), Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher.
As of the publication of this article, Marty Supreme has earned a 96% “fresh” critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus, Popcornmeter score and audience summary are still pending.
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What Are Individual Critics Saying About ‘Marty Supreme’?
Peter Debruge of Variety is among the top critics on RT who gives Marty Supreme a “fresh” score, writing in his review summary, “In the defining performance of his still-burgeoning career, Timothée Chalamet — aka ‘Marty Supreme’ — makes you want to believe in this instantly iconic character too … even if sometimes you also want to strangle him.”
David Ehrlich of IndieWire also praises Chalamet in his fresh review summary on RT, writing, “Chalamet makes one of the most colossal movie performances of the 21st century seem as natural as a lay-up.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney also declares Marty Supreme a big winner on RT, writing in his “fresh” review summary, “As a kinetic portrait of a life in perpetual motion, Marty Supreme is a wonder.”
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Clarisse Loughrey of the Independent (UK) is also high on the film, writing in her “fresh” review summary on RT, “If Marty Supreme exists to prove that Timothée Chalamet could have easily kicked it with the New Hollywood icons of the Seventies, the Harvey Keitels and the Gena Rowlandses, then point proven. He’s truly one of our greatest talents.”
William Bibbiani of The Wrap is the only top critic on RT as of the publication of this article who gives Marty Supreme a “rotten” score, writing, “Shallow self-congratulation for American moxie at the expense of everyone and everything around us.”
Rated R, Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, opens in theaters nationwide on Dec. 25.
‘Marty Supreme’ review: Timothée Chalamet wins in the best movie of the year
Ping pong tends to be grouped with smaller, niche sports like bowling and badminton; built for basements and ESPN3 at 2 a.m.
But tiny table tennis is part of one big piledriver of a movie called “Marty Supreme,” starring a career-best Timothée Chalamet.
It’s cinematic Mountain Dew. You’ll be wired for the entire two and a half hours.
Not only does his striving New York paddler Marty Mauser exhilaratingly beat the bejesus out of little plastic balls. Bones break, tempers flare, there’s sex, police chases and a whoopsie incineration.
Yet for all the coursing adrenaline and cortisol that immediately bring to mind writer-director Josh Safdie’s previous breakneck film, “Uncut Gems” with Adam Sandler, “Marty Supreme” is also a charmer and a shameless flirt.
It makes you laugh hard and often, and even blush a bit. There’s ample heart and passion in Marty’s messy race to the top. And the 1950s Big Apple ensemble is so authentic it’s as if the filmmakers kidnapped a downtown deli.
What a winner “Marty Supreme: is. Safdie, his team and especially his ace star are serving the best movie of the year.
The speed-demon film follows the 2025 trend of sports flicks that aren’t really sports flicks, including “Christy” with Sydney Sweeney and Benny Safdie’s “Smashing Machine.”
This story, however, is fictional — although the title character is loosely inspired by ping pong champ Marty Reisman. So it’s not burdened by the familiar and dusty path of biopics. The zigzagging plot is wildly unpredictable.
So is the brilliant Chalamet. His neurotic, uncomfortably direct, “Fake it till you make it” Marty is right up there with Leonardo DiCaprio’s fraudster in “Catch Me If You Can,” only with the danger of Matt Damon’s Tom in “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” He has a hint of bogus heiress Anna Delvey to him. It’s a sensational, next-level performance.
Spitfire Marty is actually among the world’s best table tennis players from the start. Even so, as the sport is exploding in popularity in Japan, it earns crickets Stateside. He makes zilch doing what he’s best at, and works in his uncle’s shoe store to get by. But it’s not enough.
To bankroll his lofty dreams, he’s forced to lie, coerce, threaten, schmooze and sneak his way to hopefully becoming the Michael Jordan of table tennis.
And he won’t let anyone or anything disturb his plan, including people he ostensibly loves. There’s Rachel, the married woman he’s sleeping with, stunningly played by Odessa A’Zion.
Later, the unibrowed Casanova gets involved with Kay Stone, the married starlet he’s, um, also sleeping with, who Gwyneth Paltrow lends Hollywood gravitas, curiosity and that unmistakable Goop sternness.
Safdie has really ingeniously cast this thing. There are plenty of famous faces with Five Boroughs credi, such as Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as her sister. Blink and you’ll miss David Mamet as a Broadway director.
What’s cool is that Safdie has also creatively snapped up non-actors who are all ideal for larger-than-life New Yorkers. Billionaire Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis is — I kid you not — a revelation as Marty’s best friend’s annoyed dad.
And “Shark Tank”’s Kevin O’Leary makes a memorably snarling villain as Milton Rockwell, a pen manufacturer CEO that offers Marty the chance to sell out for big bucks.
For expert dribbling, Safdie has real basketball players Tracy McGrady and Kemba Walker play Harlem Globetrotters.
On the subject of globetrotting, for a ping pong player, Marty jet-sets like he’s James Bond. The film goes from the Lower East Side, to the Ritz in London, to a Parisian cafe and a Tokyo amphitheater. Ambition reigns supreme.
One of Safdie’s most inspired flourishes, though, is his incongruous use of 1980s music in a 1950s movie. There’s no soothing “Earth Angel” or jukebox “Tutti Frutti” here. Instead we get “Forever Young” and Tears For Fears.
That’s still nostalgic, for sure, but in a completely different way. Those sounds perfectly evoke John Hughes, “Ferris Bueller,” “The Breakfast Club” and fond memories of teenage rebellion.
Spot on.
Because, at its core, “Marty Supreme” is a film about youth, and how dumb, impulsive and euphoric it can be.
Of course, there’s more to the message than recklessness rules. In the end, Marty faces facts that carefree, consequences-be-damned spontaneity has an expiration date. It stops being cute. Chalamet’s last shot brought me back to his breakout role in “Call Me By Your Name” just seven years ago.
Last year at the SAG Awards, the star gave a controversial victory speech in which he boldly announced, “I want to be one of the greats.”
Really, Chalamet is a dreamer a lot like Marty. Only there is one important difference. As is obvious from this extraordinary movie, he’s well on his way to making it happen for real.
Critics Can’t Stop Talking About Timothée Chalamet In ‘Exhilarating’ Sports Drama Marty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet has been involved in a number of award-worthy projects over the past couple of years, including last year’s A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two. He’s not slowing down, either, with Marty Supreme hitting the 2025 movie calendar this month and already generating Oscar buzz for its lead actor. Critics have seen the upcoming A24 film, and they’re definitely fanning those flames.
Marty Supreme stars Timothée Chalamet as table tennis player Marty Mauser in a sports dramedy from Josh Safdie that’s loosely based on real-life champion Marty Reisman. Gwyneth Paltrow is returning to the big screen for the first time since Avengers: Endgame, and for a sports movie about ping pong, the trailer looks pretty intense. It seems like David Ehrlich of IndieWire would cosign this sentiment, as he calls Chalamet’s performance “legendary” in an “agonizing” epic about the true cost of greatness. He gives it an A, writing:
David Rooney of THR describes what Timothée Chalamet does in Marty Supreme as “Duracell Bunny physicality” and says the movie as a whole “is a wonder.” It strikes the critic as funny that this is Josh Safdie’s first feature since 2008 without his brother Benny, because, as Rooney puts it:
Michael Calabro of IGN rates it an “Amazing” 9 out of 10, saying that Marty Supreme is equal parts fun and stressful. The film combines Josh Safdie’s chaotic directing style with Timothée Chalamet’s charisma to make a movie that is, “without a doubt, one of the year’s best films.” Calabro continues:
Pete Hammond of Deadline praises all of the efforts behind the scenes of Marty Supreme, including production design, the period costuming and the musical score in creating what is so much more than a sports biopic. Of course, he also lauds the lead actor, comparing his talents to Adam Sandler’s in Uncut Gems. Hammond writes:
Time Magazine’s Stephanie Zacharek seems to be the rare outlier, as the critic pushes back against the notion that audiences are supposed to relish Marty’s passion despite how many people he has to steamroll to get to greatness. Such an idea can be fun, but this movie is as “hollow as a ping pong ball,” Zacharek says, all the way up to the main character’s unrealistic redemption. The critic says:
Margaret Court Fires off a Confident Claim Amid Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam Record Talk
Novak Djokovic is really close to achieving something incredible in tennis. He just needs one more major win to break a record that’s been around for more than fifty years. With his 24th Grand Slam title win at the 2023 US Open, the Serbian superstar has matched the all-time singles record set by Australian legend Margaret Court back in 1973.
Every year, and with each tournament, everyone in the sports world is keeping an eye on Djokovic, who’s now 38, to see if he can finally snag that elusive 25th title. It would really solidify his status as the undisputed numerical king of the sport. This chase has really turned into a key story in the final chapters of his career. But for the woman whose record he’s after, the thought of being surpassed doesn’t bring anxiety. Instead, she feels a calm confidence and believes in the lasting impact of her own, bigger legacy.
According to We Love Tennis, the 83-year-old Court shared her thoughts on Djokovic’s pursuit, highlighting two different milestones in the conversation. She shared a down-to-earth perspective on her singles tally, saying, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the record of 24 wins is broken.” She was really clear about how she feels about her other achievement, saying, “But I don’t think the 64-win record will ever be. Whatever tennis does, it can never erase what I’ve achieved.”
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She has an incredible total of 64 Grand Slam titles across all disciplines: 24 in singles, 19 in women’s doubles, and a record 21 in mixed doubles. This combined haul really shows off her versatility and dominance, something we don’t see often in today’s tennis. It’s what Court believes makes her record truly untouchable. Her confidence comes from a career that was both incredibly productive and truly historic.
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She’s the only tennis player, whether male or female, to have snagged the “Career Boxed Set”—winning the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles at all four major tournaments, and she’s done it not just once, but twice!
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Her 1970 season is still considered one of the highlights of the sport, as she managed to win the calendar-year Grand Slam, taking home all four major singles titles. Also, her 11 Australian Open singles titles are a tournament record for any player. This achievement happened during a time when the event’s remote location kept many top international stars from making the trip, which often comes up in discussions about how strong her competition really was.
Another perspective on the Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic comparison
For sure, the discussion around Novak Djokovic’s achievements in the modern era versus Margaret Court’s accomplishments from the pre-and-early Open Era is always a hot topic.
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Prominent tennis historian Steve Flink has shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s chase for a 25th major, saying, “What I don’t understand is his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam. It makes sense in terms of surpassing Margaret Court. But it’s a false argument, a false target. Mainly from the media, because they constantly place his photo next to Margaret’s.”
Flink went on to say, “He’s not in competition with Margaret Court because she isn’t even in the conversation for the greatest female player of all time. She’s far from it. Every expert would rank [Martina] Navratilova, [Steffi] Graf, Serena Williams, and [Chris] Evert above Margaret.”
So, with all this information, it has got a lot of fans thinking that Djokovic, with his 24 titles all earned in the super competitive Open Era against big names like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and now Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, has pretty much locked in his place as the greatest, no matter the number.
Serena Williams Drops the Truth Bomb on the Negativity That Tried to Break Her: “Join the Crowd”
Over two decades after her breakthrough at the 1999 US Open, Serena Williams began a journey that would redefine greatness. The American pro won 73 tour-level singles titles, including a staggering 23 Grand Slam singles crowns: 7 Australian Opens, 3 French Opens, 7 Wimbledons, and 6 US Opens. Serena’s impact on tennis is immense. Despite the hurdles, she carved a path and made it work!
In a new cover story for Net-A-Porter published on December 1, Serena reflected on a life-changing choice she made as a teenager. “I was so young, but I said I’m never going to read anything about me,” she recalled. That moment came at 17, right after winning her first title. Even then, Serena knew protecting her peace was crucial to surviving under the spotlight.
As a Black woman rising in tennis, Williams didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. “Growing up and being Black in tennis, it’s just like, well, that comes with negativity…,” she said. “You have something mean to say, get in line. You got to go way back. It’s going to take you a few days to get there. Join the crowd.” This honesty is classic Serena: Bold, self-aware, and a little defiant.
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Over 1,011 WTA Tour matches, Williams faced players born from 1966 to 2003, spanning nearly 40 years of tennis generations. She became the statistical queen of her era. Serena rewrote what dominance means on court. Breaking into a sport long seen as predominantly white, she battled criticism, racial bias, and scrutiny that tested her toughness again and again.
This isn’t the first time she’s opened up about what helped her through harsh criticism. In the first episode of Stockton Street, talking with her sister Venus in September, Serena was impressed by her sister’s wisdom. “In sport, to be a champion, you have to have brutal honesty,” the seven-time Grand Slam champ said. “If you’re not honest with yourself and completely open, you cannot hide from yourself. You can’t pretend, you can’t shut that part off.” Serena couldn’t agree more.
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She also revealed a raw confession about the self-talk that once held her back. “‘You were too big, and you needed to be lighter, and you needed to have an opportunity to run faster,’” she said. “I mean, those were the talks I had to have with myself later. But you have to be honest with yourself, right? If you can’t, no one else can.”
Serena retired in 2022, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape women’s sport. Conversations about Black women in athletics, she said, have “changed.” Now thriving beyond tennis, Serena remains very much in the spotlight. Her power was never limited to the baseline. Yet, as she admits, her journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
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Serena Williams speaks up on the new challenges she faces
On November 20, Williams opened up on Instagram about a recent slump that’s felt all too familiar. “So, I don’t know what’s happened to me lately. I’ve been so lazy, and I was training earlier this year for a half-marathon, and it didn’t go so well. I mean, it was going good, then I got injured. I sustained an injury in my leg,” she said, catching everyone’s attention with that honest vibe.
It’s well known that Serena’s no stranger to injury battles. Back in 2010, she stepped on broken glass which cut deep and caused tendon damage. That injury meant two surgeries and nearly a year off the court—a serious setback that tested her resilience.
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Then came Wimbledon 2021, when a painful hamstring injury forced her out mid-match. Many saw that moment as the beginning of her farewell from the sport. Maybe those memories surfaced as she prepared for this half-marathon, because bouncing back from injury is never a smooth ride.
She keeps it real about where she’s at now: “That was four months ago, maybe five, and I haven’t really done cardio since. So, I’m back at it. The half-marathon I wanted to do is in February; I think I can still make it. I just got to get serious. The only thing I’m really good at, like, focus on is tennis.”
Now, with the American legend revealing how she handled the stress of criticism back in the day and kept her head high, there’s no doubt she is working past these injuries to get back on her feet. What do you think?
Corona del Mar girls tennis stays proud after undefeated run ends in state
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Corona del Mar’s undefeated season ended in the CIF State girls tennis championships on Saturday but that didn’t wipe away its pride in a campaign full of accomplishments.
Los Altos of the Central Coast Section edged the Sea Kings 4-3 at Fresno State, dashing Corona del Mar’s quest for a perfect season and state crown.
Corona del Mar ends a historic season with a 24-1 record.
“Incredible season,” said Corona del Mar coach Jamie Gresh, who missed the state final because of recent hip surgery. “An amazing experience to watch this team go undefeated during regular season, win Southern Section, win regional and compete their hearts out in state finals.”
Corona del Mar collected two points in doubles against Los Altos and one in singles as the teams competed in the third state final.
The Sea Kings’ No. 2 doubles team of seniors Sasha Briggs and Isabel Roytman, and the No. 3 pair of sophomore Madi Jackson and freshman Olivia Lew each collected wins.
Freshman Addie Dinicola won at No. 4 singles for Corona del Mar.
Last year, Los Altos lost to undefeated Palos Verdes 5-2 in the state finals.
The Sea Kings’ highlighted their season by capturing CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF-USTA Southern California Regional titles. They won their first section title since 2019 and first regional crown since 2017.
Senior Emilie Lew claimed the singles title in the Sunset League for the champion Sea Kings. Freshman Sienna Lynn and sophomore Julia Cross took the league title in doubles.
Hero World Challenge odds, picks and PGA Tour predictions
The PGA Tour is in the Bahamas this week for the 2025 Hero World Challenge, an event hosted by Tiger Woods. The elite-field tournament starts on Thursday at Albany Golf Course as Scottie Scheffler looks to win it for the third straight year. Below, we look at Hero World Challenge odds from BetMGM Sportsbook’s odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
There are only 20 players in the field this week, led by Scheffler and fellow Ryder Cupper, Cameron Young. Robert MacIntyre and J.J. Spaun are also among the favorites. Scheffler is trying to become the first player ever to win the Hero World Challenge 3 years in a row after successfully defending his title last year.
Albany Golf Course is a par 72 and 7,449 yards long, hosting the Hero World Challenge for only the 10th time. Ernie Els designed the course, which is a links design with open fairways and plenty of water hazards to keep players honest. Scheffler tied the tournament record (for Albany) at 25-under par last year, matching Bubba Watson’s score in 2015.
Watch the PGA Tour on Fubo!
Hero World Challenge – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7:18 p.m. ET.
Cameron Young (+1200)
Young has finished 13th, 15th and third in his last 3 starts at this event, showing that his length and driving prowess give him a slight advantage. And his 13th-place finish last year was before he truly started heating up late in the season.
Keegan Bradley (+1600)
Bradley is coming off a strong 2025 campaign and now heads to the Bahamas where he finished fifth last year after coming in 13th the year prior. He’s always a good driver and all-around ball-striker, which fits this course well.
Hero World Challenge picks – Contenders
Sepp Straka (+2200)
Straka is a great big-game hunter when it comes to events with marquee players, which applies this week with Scheffler in the field. Straka was the runner-up when Scheffler won in 2023 and finished T-9 last year, so he’s had good results here.
Hero World Challenge picks – Long shots
Jordan Spieth (+2500)
Spieth had a disappointing 2025 season and failed to make the Ryder Cup, but he can get a fresh start beginning this week in the Bahamas. He finished sixth in his last appearance in 2023.
Brian Harman (+3300)
Harman has some of the longest odds in the field but has come in 12th and eighth in his last 2 starts at the Hero World Challenge.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
Two leagues, five majors, 41 events: Gary McCord’s vision for pro golf
Why Nick Faldo says it could be tough for Rory McIlroy to win another major
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Rolapp Outlines Case for Compressed 2027 PGA Tour Schedule
When Brian Rolapp stepped in as the PGA Tour’s new CEO earlier in 2025, he framed his ambition around three guiding principles: parity, scarcity, and simplicity. With those priorities in mind, the Tour is now openly entertaining a sweeping re-think of how the season is structured.
At the RSM Classic, Harris English signaled what could be a profound shift: the Tour may move to a far smaller schedule of just 20-22 tournaments per year, roughly half of what fans have grown accustomed to. The motivation? To make each tournament more meaningful, encourage the best players to show up consistently, and avoid diluting the talent across dozens of weak-field events.
“We’ve got some smart guys at the helm. Now with Brian Rolapp coming in, he’s seeing the PGA Tour in a different light,” English said.
“Sometimes change is good. I get that they want all the best players playing together more often, and the talk of the Tour potentially starting after the Super Bowl I think is a pretty good thing because we can’t really compete with football. So we’ll see where it goes.”
What Would a Compressed PGA Tour Calendar Look Like?
During a recent interview at CNBC’s CEO Forum, Rolapp said that starting the season after the NFL’s Super Bowl “makes sense,” and that compressing the calendar could help reclaim attention in a crowded American sports landscape.
That would mark a dramatic departure from the current tradition of beginning in January, often with events in Hawaii and early-season West Coast swing tournaments.
Under this scenario, many long-standing early events might be cut entirely or moved to new dates. Even beyond timing, the structure of tournaments may change: the distinction between “signature” or “elevated” events and regular tournaments could vanish. Instead, all events would be equal in status–with the hope that every tournament draws strong fields because top players would be expected to attend each one.
Beyond the core 20–22 tournaments, leftover weeks and lower-tier tournaments could be reimagined: perhaps folded into a revamped developmental circuit (or expanded second-tier tour), or consolidated into a fall season with a different competitive purpose. The idea is not just to cut tournaments, but to make each event count and to create a post-season model that feels logical, competitive, and digestible for golf fans and casual sports watchers alike.
Why Now? The Rationale from Rolapp and Others
To Rolapp, the overhaul isn’t just about scheduling; it’s about making the Tour’s product more compelling. He argues that the sport has grown into a patchwork of events that exist largely because someone found a course, sponsor, or date–rather than being designed as parts of a cohesive whole.
By reducing the number of events and focusing on “bigger” tournaments, the Tour can emphasize scarcity–when top players tee it up less often, each appearance becomes more desirable. The hope is that fans, broadcasters, and sponsors will take notice when each tournament promises a strong field and competitive drama. Similar to how marquee events work in sports like tennis or the NFL.
Moreover, by potentially avoiding a head-on clash with American football (one of the biggest draws in U.S. sports), the Tour could reclaim television attention and fan focus.
“These are the types of debates we’re [Future Competition Committee] having,” Rolapp said. “How does the schedule look? How do you make bigger events? How do you actually stream them together in a season that you can understand? Part of professional golf’s issue is it has grown up as a series of events, that happened to be on television, as opposed to how do you actually take those events, making them meaningful in their own right, but cobble them together in a competitive model, including with a postseason that you would all understand whether you’re a golf fan or a sports fan.”
Risks, Doubts, and What’s Still Unsettled
Of course, nothing is official yet. Rolapp and the Tour’s leadership have stressed that these are still ideas under discussion.
Additionally, some critics argue that making every tournament “equal” might dilute the prestige of majors or formerly elevated events. And for players outside the top tier, a leaner calendar could mean fewer playing opportunities. Potentially narrowing the pathway for rising stars or fringe pros.
The uncertainty may also impact courses, sponsors, and regional fans–especially in areas that have long depended on hosting tournaments for local pride and economic benefit.
“Every sport has stars, but what really makes sports work is really the middle class,” Rolapp said. “So, in my old job, sure, we put the Kansas City Chiefs on primetime as much as we can, but that’s not why the NFL was so successful; it was because when the Bengals are good, you watch, and when the Lions are good, you watch. The middle class matters. You cannot build a lifelong sport that outlives your stars if you don’t build a system that works beyond your stars. …
“I will do whatever makes the PGA Tour stronger.”
Paige Spiranac Backs Scottie Scheffler and Co. Over Social Media Struggles: ‘Mentally Messes You Up’
How many times have you opened Scottie Scheffler’s, Tiger Woods’s, or Rory McIlroy’s social media and thought it didn’t tell you about their personal lives? How many times has that feeling of feeling close to your favorite golfers lingered? We have seen many golfers not share so much online, and Paige Spiranac has a reason. She also believes players deserve more sympathy for being away from the spotlight than we give them.
On the We Need a Fourth podcast, host Brian Baumgartner asked, “Do you think that the PGA Tour players are making a mistake by not giving more access to themselves?” Spiranac didn’t hesitate.
“They’re [LeBron James and Steph Curry] also so engaging on social media, and they just seem to be able to block out the noise, but I think the difference with golf is … it just mentally messes you up. And so I think having more of that outside noise really does impact your game and how you’re playing on a professional level,” she told Baumgartner.
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Golf is heavily reliant on a player’s mental steadiness, and even the slightest distraction can throw players off balance. But that’s not all. Spiranac then dove into golf’s traditional culture. She explained that because “golf is stuffy” as a game, even sponsors are very concerned about their brand image. And that puts a strain on the players.
“I think a lot of players are scared to speak their mind or show personality because you’re going to get backlash from your more traditional conservative brands…” she added.
Anyone “who has a difference of opinion” gets scrutinized immediately or becomes a victim of online hate. And she used Rory McIlroy‘s example.
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Earlier this year, he skipped post-round interviews at both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, citing frustration and personal reasons. The media painted him as distant and closed off, but as Spiranac explained, being yourself in golf can quickly turn a player into a villain, especially when people don’t agree with you.
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“But it’s just the community of golf and the environment that’s just bred from traditionalism and how conservative it is that I think a lot of players just kind of shy away from that,” Spiranac pointed out.
Another point with respect to the lack of social media activity might be that they need permission from the PGA Tour to post.
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Why PGA Tour Players Struggle with Social Media
Unlike athletes in other sports, who freely use social media to build personal brands and connect with fans, PGA Tour players operate under tight restrictions. The Tour controls their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), meaning golfers essentially need permission every time they want to post a video on Instagram or YouTube. This basically suppresses fan engagement and limits players’ ability to grow their own profiles, keeping them largely invisible to younger audiences, who mostly consume content online.
Even with initiatives like the Players’ Impact Program (PIP), which is now discontinued, players lacked media rights. The reason why it was created in the first place was to increase player reach, but with the tour controlling players’ media rights, it was going in the opposite direction. Without the ability to create and share their own content, golfers remain disconnected from the fans and the growth opportunities that social media offers.
The PGA Tour has started making small adjustments, quietly updating media guidelines since the Player Equity Program came into effect, to allow some content to be posted from practice rounds and pro-ams. But still, for most of it, the players require Tour approval. This, coupled with the game’s traditionalism, is the main reason golfers struggle to connect with fans and build their personal brands.
CEO Brian Rolapp’s Old Mindset Could Spell Trouble for the PGA Tour, Warns Analyst
Is golf becoming the NFL? With Brian Rolapp’s NFL experience, the question is justifiably looming. Moreover, golf relies on the traditional American crowd and tends to lose its popularity when the more modern and flashy NFL season starts. Is that why Rolapp was rolled in? Could be. Yet, Eamon Lynch from Golfweek does have some caution to spare.
“The debate about optimal PGA Tour scheduling is myopically focused on another league—the NFL,” wrote Lynch in his weekly column. “That ignores two things: a core golf fan base that needs to be sustained with at least a partial menu and the fact that only the American market is distracted by football,” followed by “Rolapp’s last job involved catering to NFL fans. He shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking his current job asks the same.”
Golf is not just for the Americans. This criticism by Lynch is simple to follow. As the NFL season rolls in from September to October, the PGA Tour scales back its main events. After the TOUR Championship, we entered into the fall stretch of the event. That, let’s be honest, is not as religiously followed as the core FedEx Cup season. But Lynch argues that making space for another event does not make sense for a game like golf. And that too is due to a paranoid hypothesis of losing core viewership.
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It’s partially because golf’s committed audience is not like football’s hyper-concentrated, jubilant crowd (barring the Ryder Cup circus). Golf depends on providing a year-round event for fans who follow it each week. They don’t vanish for half the year just because football kicks off. Hollowing out four months of the schedule just to avoid a domestic viewing conflict is, in Eamon Lynch’s view, a surrender rather than a strategy. Such warnings have ensued before as well.
The second point that he puts forth is a more damning one. A belief that “only the American market is distracted by football” is delusional. Golf’s ecosystem stretches through several continents. The PGA Tour’s second- and third-best players are from Europe. NFL, there is barely a blip, and that too is due to America’s heavy commercialization. This American-centric tunnel vision wastes the potential of actually elevating the Tour’s global outreach. This has always been the norm. Like the time when the PGA Tour came into existence in the 1930s, and the European Tour was formed almost 50 years later.
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Talking about the European Tour, a lesson could be learned from them. At a time when the PGA Tour’s best players were resting, the DP World Tour players were competing all over the globe, from Dubai to India to, of course, Europe. This week, Rory McIlroy has flown into Australia for the Crown Australian Open. Now, who’s to say that only Americans would be tuning in for these events?
Coincidentally, though, McIlroy himself has advocated for an NFL-like schedule for the entirety of golf. But that’s mainly because of the condensed nature of the sport. Events are lined up week after week, with the Majors at times infused between them. In all honesty, the European talisman would prefer the Brian Rolapp administration any day over Jay Monahan‘s.
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And there’s a reason for that. Brian Rolapp was brought into the picture to undo some of Monahan’s slip-ups. The opacity with which he dealt with the PIF-LIV Golf deal and his inability to actually merge the two ultimately led to his ouster. The ex-NFL executive, on the other hand, seems more focused on the PGA Tour rather than the Saudi-backed league. He’s adding more courses from South America, working towards relaxing the overflowing schedule, and has also roped in exemptions for the Masters for global winners.
Still, old habits take time to die, and that’s what Eamon Lynch warns him of.
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Why is Brian Rolapp’s and PGA Tour’s vision being narrowed, anyway?
As per Eamon Lynch, this is no coincidence. The rise of the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), or as he calls them, “the finance bros,” has influenced these decisions. These investors’ focus is on quarterly returns (they have invested around $1.5 B). Instead, they should be on the long-term health of golf’s competitive ecosystem. As a carpet rolls out, these pressures somehow dovetail with Rolapp’s ‘NFL conditioned instincts,’ believes the Golfweek analyst.
That’s why he wants a balance to be struck.
“A delicate balance needs to be struck between current priorities and longer-term opportunities,” wrote Lynch. “The decision shouldn’t fall to finance bros or football fanatics inclined to declare five months of the calendar off limits.”
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Where to stream the Penguins vs. Flyers NHL rivalry matchup today for free
Two in-state rivals headline the NHL’s schedule on Monday night, as the Pittsburgh Penguins pay a visit to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Since the two teams entered the league during the league’s expansion in 1967, the two sides have had many memorable battles. From famous playoff clashes to outdoor games, the rivalry between the Pennsylvania foes has always been must-see television.
The teams entered the 2025-26 season in the same boat. Both have had years of disappointing results, with both sides having missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yet, the Penguins and Flyers have had promising starts to the season, giving both fanbases hope that their teams will be able to make a push for the postseason.
For the Pens, led by veteran stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the team got off to a hot start. However, the team has cooled off and has fallen back to the Wild Card spot.
The Flyers have a solid youth movement, with Matvei Michkov wowing patrons on a nightly basis.
Heading into Monday night, the teams sit just two points apart in the ever-competitive Metropolitan Division, but both are in a playoff spot.
NHL HOCKEY
Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-5) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (14-7-3)
When: Monday, December 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Channel: NHL Network
Check out the NHL standings and scores here
Dillon reflects on career ahead of 1,000th NHL game
Brenden Dillon always dreamed about playing one game in the NHL, and now he’s suiting up for his 1,000th.
After starting his career as an undrafted free agent, the New Jersey Devils defenseman is set to hit that impressive milestone during Monday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MSGSN).
To mark the occasion, after Monday’s morning skate, Devils team reporter Amanda Stein showed Dillon a photo of himself as a young boy skating with his dad, and asked him what he would tell that little boy today.
The photo elicited a strong emotional reaction from the 35-year-old skater.
“I just wanted to get one,” he said through the tears. “I’m just happy. So thankful to be playing the best game in the world. … It’s been awesome.”
Dillon started his NHL journey in 2011, when he was signed to the Dallas Stars as a free agent. In 2014, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks and played there until 2020, when he was traded to the Washington Capitals.
The following season, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. After three years there, he signed with the Devils in 2024 and is currently in his second year with the team.
Rocking a special “Dilly 1,000” hat after morning skate, Devils defenseman Luke Hughes talked about his relationship to Dillon and his impact during his time with the team.
“He’s an unbelievable person and fits in unbelievably on our team,” Hughes told the media on Sunday. “And just as a person, he’s one of my really good friends.”
He continued, “Playing 1,000 games in this league is such an honor, especially as an undrafted guy. He’s just a really special person and I’m really happy for him and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
Dillon has nine points so far this season (three goals, six assists) in 25 games played. Throughout his career, he has 42 goals and 179 assists.
“Every step and every level there are so many people that make this,” Dillon said. “And there are fortunate things too, and I’ve just been so lucky and appreciative.
“I just love coming to the rink,” he continued. “It’s been so amazing since I came here to the Devils and everywhere I’ve played. … I wouldn’t change it for anything. I love being a hockey player.”
Penguins vs. Flyers free live stream: How to watch NHL game online
The Pittsburgh Penguins face the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa.
Here are your best options to watch the game if you don’t already have cable:
Watch for free with a trial of DIRECTV or FuboTV.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NHL regular season
Who: Penguins vs. Flyers
When: Dec. 1, 2025 (12/1/25)
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena
TV: NHL Network
Live stream: DIRECTV (free trial), FuboTV (free trial)
Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press:
Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-5, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (14-7-3, in the Metropolitan Division)
Philadelphia; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Flyers head into a matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins as winners of three consecutive games.
Philadelphia has a 5-0-1 record in Metropolitan Division games and a 14-7-3 record overall. The Flyers serve 10.9 penalty minutes per game to rank sixth in league play.
Pittsburgh is 12-7-5 overall with a 4-1-3 record in Metropolitan Division play. The Penguins are 2-3-2 in games decided by a single goal.
Monday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Flyers won the previous meeting 3-2 in a shootout.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyson Foerster has 10 goals and three assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Bryan Rust has seven goals and 11 assists for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 6-2-2, averaging three goals, 4.7 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
Penguins: 4-3-3, averaging 2.5 goals, 3.6 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Flyers: None listed.
Penguins: None listed.
Alaska sports notebook: Swayman continues strong NHL season start, Anchorage beats Kenai River in NAHL
Anchorage’s Jeremy Swayman picked up his 10th and 11th wins of the season between the pipes for the Boston Bruins this last week, taking just 16 games — his fewest so far — to reach the double-digit mark. In a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders on Wednesday, the former South standout made a whopping 44 saves on 45 shots. Three days later, he followed it up with a 3-2 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, making 24 saves on 26 shots.
“I just want to do my job,” Swayman said after his 44-save night. “The motivation is right in front of me seeing how these guys battle, compete, block shots. I’m not going to leave them hanging behind them.”
Staying in the rink, fresh off splitting a two-game series with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on the road, the Anchorage Wolverines returned home to face off with their other in-state rivals on the day before Thanksgiving. Thanks to another multi-goal game by leading scorer Luc Bydal, who led the team with a pair, they were able to skate into the holiday break with a convincing 6-3 win over the Kenai River Browns Bears.
“Wednesday’s game against Kenai was a gritty team win,” head coach Mike Aikens said. “We are battling injuries, physical and mental fatigue, and sickness, so I was very proud of our guys to find a way to get two points. We have some time off this week, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The last game before some scheduled time off is always a dangerous one, so it was nice to head to break with a win and great momentum as we head on the road until after Christmas.”
At the high school level, reigning Division I state champion West Anchorage headed into the holiday weekend on a heater after closing it out with a 4-1 win over Eagle River on Tuesday.
“It was a great win for us,” head coach Rob Larkey said. “We came in off a hard game the other night, and these guys have really improved and they’re improving throughout the year.”
Special teams were the key to deciding this game as three of the Eagles’ four goals came on power plays where they had the numbers advantage in the ice. Meanwhile, their penalty kill was on point for the most part, allowing the Wolves’ lone goal of the game while shorthanded in the opening period, but they didn’t let them take advantage of other opportunities.
“We just had a couple of breaks and capitalized on it, and it kind of deflated (Eagle River) a little bit but I think they stuck with us the whole game,” Larkey said.
Anchorage’s Daishen Nix recorded a pair of 26-point games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in a pair of losses in the NBA G-League last week. Against the Austin Spurs in a 118-100 loss last Monday, he flirted with a double-double with a team-leading 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. In a 134-125 loss to the Osceola Magic on Saturday, he nearly had a triple-double by tying for the team lead with 26 points, leading with 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
Anchorage’s Sayvia Sellers helped the University of Washington women’s basketball team continue its undefeated start to the season on Saturday. The former Anchorage Christian star tied for the team lead in scoring with 17 points in a 67-50 win over UC San Diego, which included knocking down a trio of 3-pointers and recording five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
Anchorage’s Mikayla Johnson led the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team to a 67-53 bounce-back win over Chicago State in the second game of the Florida Gulf Classic on Saturday. The former Bartlett standout recorded her first double-double of the season by leading the Panthers with 17 points and finishing second in rebounds with 10.
Palmer’s Patrick MacMahon had a career day for the Montana State men’s basketball team in a narrow 84-81 loss to Utah State on Saturday night. The former Colony star led the Bobcats with a career-high 26 points and a season-high eight rebounds to go along with three assists and a steal.
[UAA men’s basketball winning streak snapped in Tundra Tip-Off finale]
Anchorage’s Alani Makihele and Thomas Whitte faced off for the final time at the collegiate level in the 51st Battle for the Fremont Cannon between University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Reno on Saturday. Makihele and the UNLV Rebels racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense against Whitte and the Wolves in a 42-17 win. The two former West High standouts starred for the Eagles before becoming rivals at the next level, and even though his team got blown out in this matchup, Whitte had a solid game with a solo tackle for a loss of 2 yards.
Alexey Toropchenko is the latest NHL player to be sidelined by a bizarre off
“I just know it was a home accident, so we’re going to leave it at that,” coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the team’s morning skate Monday.
Toropchenko is the third NHL player this season to get injured away from the rink, joining a dubious list of maladies over the past decade or so.
Jack Hughes cut a finger at an off-night dinner
New Jersey Devils leading scorer Jack Hughes had surgery on Nov. 15 to repair a finger injury from a freak accident at dinner at a steakhouse in Chicago two nights earlier. Hughes was expected to miss roughly two months.
The team declined to reveal which finger or fingers were affected, other than to say Hughes underwent an operation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. A photo posted on social media of Hughes dining in the city with pop star Tate McRae showed his right hand bandaged.
Hughes, the top pick in the 2019 draft who is expected to be on the U.S. Olympic team in February in Milan, missed the end of last season and the playoffs after shoulder surgery. That was a hockey injury, as Hughes went right shoulder first into the boards after getting tangled up with Vegas’ Jack Eichel during a game in early March.
Eetu Luostarinen is out after a barbecue accident
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are bidding for a threepeat and going through a stretch without Eetu Luostarinen after coach Paul Maurice said the Finnish center was out because of “a barbequing mishap.”
Luostarinen was listed as week to week after Maurice announced the injury on Nov. 19. The team did not seem to have a concrete timeline for when Luostarinen might be ready to return.
Ilya Samsonov was involved in an ATV crash in Russia
In between the time the NHL paused its season because of the pandemic in March 2020 and resumed to hold the playoffs in quarantined bubbles that summer, the Washington Capitals lost the services of goaltender Ilya Samsonov.
According to reports in Russia, Samsonov fell off an all-terrain vehicle in Magnitogorsk and injured his neck and back. He played two more seasons with the Capitals before bouncing around to Toronto and Vegas and landing back home in the KHL for this season.
David Pastrnak injured a thumb in a post-dinner fall
The Boston Bruins’ long 2019 playoff run had plenty of drama even before captain Zdeno Chara broke his jaw in the Stanley Cup Final against St. Louis. Winger David Pastrnak injured his left thumb in a fall while walking to his transportation after a sponsorship dinner in February, the team said.
Pastrnak had a tendon procedure and missed more than a month. Only Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos had more points than Pastrnak’s 15 from the time he returned until the end of the season and recently scored his 400th career regular-season goal.
Dustin Penner wrenched his back eating pancakes
Veteran forward Dustin Penner missed a Los Angeles Kings game in January 2012 after throwing his back out while eating pancakes his wife made that morning. Penner called it an isolated incident and hoped it would not become chronic.
“Woke up fine, sat down to eat and it locked right up,” Penner told the Kings website at the time. “It never happened to me before. I couldn’t stand up.”
Penner practiced the next day, got back in the lineup for the next game and only missed five the rest of the season. He had 11 points on the Kings’ run to their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
NHL has a shots-on-goal problem, but the Colorado Avalanche do not
Shots on goal are becoming a tougher commodity to collect in the NHL, except for the Colorado Avalanche.
NHL clubs are averaging 27.7 shots on goal per game through November. That would be the fourth-lowest total in league history, and the fewest since teams averaged 27.5 in 2001-02.
All three of the years with fewer shots on goal came between 1997-02, otherwise known as the heart of the “dead puck” era.
“It’s a commitment to play the right way early (in the season), same as what we’re doing,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “You’ve got to earn your scoring chances, and you’re trying to keep the other team from getting theirs.
“Look at the standings and how important the games are. There’s no easy teams to play against. … Every game is important, so it just kind of drives the buy-in and the commitment from all teams to defend the right way.”
The Avs have been immune to this trend, much like they have overcome the league-wide parity this season and bulldozed their way to a 18-1-6 start. Colorado leads the league with 33.9 shots on goal per game.
Colorado has had 32 shots on goal or more in 18 of the 25 games. The Avs have poured 35-plus shots on net in 12 games, two more than the Carolina Hurricanes for tops in the NHL.
There are 28 teams in the league who have hit 35 shots six times or fewer. Even the Hurricanes have not been able to escape the slog. Carolina defeated Calgary in a 1-0 overtime tilt Sunday that featured just 32 shots combined — the Hurricanes outshot the Flames, 17-15. Colorado’s season low was 23, in the season opener at Los Angeles.
“That’s a good question,” Avs defenseman Josh Manson said of the declining totals. “Could be defensive systems. I think guys are blocking more shots. It’s more of a puck possession game now. These young kids are super talented, so maybe they’re just holding onto the puck more and looking for the right opportunities.”
To Manson’s point about hunting for shot quality over quantity, the league average save percentage has also dropped to .897. That’s down from .900 last season, and part of a steady decline from a two-year run at .915 (2014-16) that proceeded tweaks to equipment sizes for goaltenders.
Teams averaged\\\\\ 3.14 goals per game in 2022-23, but that has dipped to 3.01 last year and 3.03 this season.
Just as an example to show how quickly it has shifted, the Edmonton Oilers averaged 34.0 shots per game in 2021-22. That would be first this season, but it was good for 10th just four years ago.
Why are the Avs still able to rack up 30-plus shots on goal per night, while five of the eight teams that played Sunday finished with 18 or fewer?
Part of it is just pure talent. Colorado has a deep collection of high-end offensive players, fronted by arguably the two best players in the world in December 2025 — Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
Part of it is Bednar’s systems and overall philosophy about how the game should be played. And part of it is how well the Avs turn defense into offense, whether that means turning the puck back in their favor while still in the offensive zone, in the neutral zone or from their own end in a full-ice counter attack.
“It’s a fun style of hockey, ” Manson said. “What I love about it is when we are playing well, it’s when we are committed on the defensive side. Then we can really play fast from there, because we’re turning pucks over.
“That’s when it’s the most fun, because we’re playing well defensively, we are creating all these chances and we are wearing other teams down.”
Colorado has outshot its opponent 17 times and been even in four games. Of the five times a foe has outshot the Avalanche, three times it was by two or less.
“We don’t want to take stupid shots, but we know you’ve got to get pucks to the net and bodies in front,” Avs forward Ross Colton said. “We preach that with our skill, we are going to check pucks back after we shoot it. With our work ethic, our structure, we are going to get it back and keep attacking.”
FOOTNOTES: Valeri Nichushkin practiced Monday with the Avs. Bednar said he is a possibility to return to the lineup Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Nichushkin has missed the past eight games with a lower-body injury. … MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and Parker Kelly all missed practice because of illness, while Victor Olofsson was out for a maintenance day.
Did Devils break NHL rule by ditching helmets in warmups?
The Devils had a nice moment in warmups on Monday, honoring Brenden Dillon by ditching their helmets for hats that read “1,000 Dilly” to honor the defenseman’s 1,000th game.
Here’s the downside: They may have violated a league rule in doing so.
The league added a requirement in 2023-24 which mandated helmets in warmups. The change applies to anyone joining the league in 2019-20 or later. It is part of the official rulebook.
HAVE YOU JOINED OUR YOUTUBE PAGE? DEVILS REPORTER RYAN NOVOZINSKY BREAKS DOWN EVERY GAME — WITH YOUR HELP
Rule 9.6 of the NHL rulebook states that it is “mandatory for all players who entered the NHL beginning with the 2019-2020 season or later to wear their helmet during pre-game warm-up.
“To be clear, all players who entered the League prior to the 2019-2020 season and who are currently playing are exempt from this mandate.”
The Devils have six players — Dawson Mercer, Paul Cotter, Arseny Gritsyuk, Cody Glass, Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec — who made their debuts during or after the 2019-20 season.
NJ Advance Media reached out to the NHL for comment.
We’re told the Devils have not heard from the league at the time of publication.
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A similar incident occurred during the Senators vs. Sharks game this week, causing the league to reportedly “act” after some players violated helmet rule in warmups.
The “act”? Essentially a stern warning.
“We intend to send a reminder to Clubs regarding our collectively bargained rule requiring helmet use during warm-up,” Daly wrote in an email to Bay Area News Group. “I don’t anticipate that San Jose will be singled out or disciplined.”
The Devils are currently in a physical tilt with the Blue Jackets at Prudential Center. The game — which has featured a bevy of fights and big checks — is tied 2-2 entering the third period.
Rangers’ unconventional Artemi Panarin solution for power play
After losing one of the top power-play defensemen in the NHL for at least the next several weeks, the Rangers are going to try something unconventional to spark their inconsistent season.
With former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox placed on long-term injured reserve with an apparent left arm injury, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, at least initially, plans to deploy the five-forward power-play alignment he used late in Saturday’s home loss to the Lightning.
All-Star winger Artemi Panarin will man the blue line with the man advantage to start Tuesday’s game against the Stars at the Garden after working with fellow forwards Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle during Monday’s practice in Tarrytown.
“[Losing Fox is] very bad,” said Panarin, who is tied with Fox for the team scoring lead with 26 points. “He is a great player who generates for us, the first pass out of our zone to send us to the O-Zone, so just everything. A big power-play loss too. He’s great on the power play. Just very sad for him.
“It’s pretty sad, but we can’t do anything now. We don’t have time to figure out being sad for us. Just gotta score again.”
Panarin acknowledged he doesn’t have extensive experience in that role but said he often switches places with Fox during the normal flow of the power play.
Sullivan said Panarin’s vision and ability to get his shot through to the net made him the natural fit — along with potentially Zibanejad — among the forward corps to play at the top.
To wit, during practice, Panarin rifled a wrister from the top of the right circle that beat goalie Jonathan Quick over the right shoulder
The Rangers ranked 12th in the NHL through Sunday’s league action with a power-play efficiency of 21.3 percent, but they improved to 29 percent over 15 November games (fifth best) and an NHL-best 40 percent over their past nine contests.
“When I switch with Foxy, I’ve been there a few times in the game, so it’s kind of not really new for me,” Panarin said. “I switch with him a lot, but now I gotta stay there. I like [playing the point] actually. I think I have more options and more play with the puck, which I like.
“I will try obviously being a little safer, trying to play a little safer up top. But I also can’t be, like, too conservative because it’s obviously not working like that.”
CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS
Sullivan also said the decision to go with Panarin as the quarterback rather than turning to a veteran defensemen such as Braden Schneider or Vladislav Gavrikov or rookie Scott Morrow is because he doesn’t think that’s “the strength of their games to this point.”
“We’re trying to put a power play together that we think gives us the best opportunity to have success,” Sullivan said. “Obviously, Foxy, I think, is an elite power-play defenseman, with how he distributes the puck up there and the way he sees the game. He’s got really good instincts. We don’t think that’s necessarily the strength of some of the other guys.”
The 23-year-old Morrow, who has appeared in four games for the Rangers and 12 for AHL Hartford, ran the second power-play unit in practice alongside forwards Alexis Lafrenière, Jonny Brodzinski, Conor Sheary and Noah Laba.
Sullivan said for Morrow to be given a chance on the power play, he needs to be more “assertive and make decisions with conviction and not being in between” while “eliminating hesitation from his game.”
Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston named NHL’s first star of the week amid dominant stretch
Wyatt Johnston’s dominant stretch isn’t going unnoticed by the NHL.
On Monday, the Dallas Stars center was named the NHL’s first star of the week. Johnston earned the weekly award for his performance in games between Nov. 24-30.
It was an impressive week for Johnston, who posted his 200th career point and 100th career assist in a win over the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 25. Johnston finished the week with nine points (five goals, four assists) as the Stars came away with four consecutive wins.
Johnston also scored a pivotal goal against the Utah Mammoth on Nov. 28 and posted a hat trick against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 30.
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The Stars center was joined by Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel and Washington’s Tom Wilson in earning weekly awards. Hagel was the second star of the week, while Wilson was the third star.
Johnston ranks third on the Stars’ roster with 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 26 games this season. The Stars return to the ice Tuesday, facing the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
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Canadiens Throw Monkey Wrench NHL Free-Agent Market: Insider
The Montreal Canadiens could have inadvertently thrown a monkey wrench into the NHL free-agent market with a recent contract extension.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Habs could have made the 2026 NHL free-agent market a little less enticing. During the December 1 edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman discussed how the Canadiens’ extension of Mike Matheson took a key piece out of next offseason’s free-agent pool.
The Canadiens extended Matheson on Friday to a five-year, $30 million contract, David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reported.
The deal is great for both Matheson and the Canadiens, but not so much for teams looking to bolster their blue line. Matheson was one of the hottest names at last season’s trade deadline. This summer, chatter picked up around the 31-year-old defenseman, as his impending UFA status made him a viable trade candidate.
However, the Canadiens weren’t hearing any of it. They went ahead and extended their assistant captain, keeping him in the fold for the foreseeable future.
Other teams looking for help on the blue line may have to pivot to other, older players. The UFA market will feature some household, albeit older, names.
In the meantime, the Habs’ defensive core looks solid with Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and Matheson all signed to long-term deals.
Matheson Didn’t Want to Leave Montreal
One of the key issues Friedman underscored was how Matheson did not want to leave Montreal. Matheson joined the Habs ahead of the 2022-23 season as part of the Jeff Petry trade. Since then, he’s been a mainstay. The veteran blueliner had his best season in 2023-24, scoring 11 goals and 61 points in 82 games.
Last season, Matheson saw a dip in his offensive numbers, but maintained his generally reliable two-way presence. He was instrumental in helping the Habs return to the postseason after a short hiatus.
It’s worth pointing out that Matheson was a good soldier during the Canadiens’ short retool/rebuilding, enduring a couple of really tough seasons.
Now, the team has rewarded their veteran stalwart’s loyalty. The two sides can now confidently move forward as the club looks to become a serious playoff contender this season and beyond.
Canadiens Needed to Take Care of Other Business First
There was one other interesting point Friedman made. The notable insider pointed out that the Canadiens needed to take care of other pressing business matters before extending Matheson.
The first issue was Noah Dobson. Once the Habs were able to land Dobson via trade, the focus turned to signing him to an extension. That deal came relatively quickly.
Then, the biggest issue remained Lane Hutson. Things could have potentially gotten away from the Canadiens with Hutson. However, both sides worked out a very amicable agreement.
Once Hutson was signed, the onus turned to Matheson. As Friedman pointed out, Montreal GM Kent Hughes was Matheson’s agent at one point. So, the familiarity allowed the two sides to show patience and trust.
That situation enabled Matheson and the Habs to work out a deal that benefits both sides. Now, the real work begins as the Canadiens attempt to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2021.
Patriots make it look too easy in win over lowly Giants
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The mark of a good NFL team is their ability to put bad teams away with ease. The New England Patriots made a statement against the New York Giants on Monday night, 33-15.
Drake Maye and the Patriots offense made it look easy from the start.
He found Kayshon Boutte on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to help take a commanding 17-0 lead. He then dropped an absolute dime to Kyle Williams on a 33-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
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Maye’s touchdowns helped the Patriots take a 30-7 lead into the locker room and New England didn’t look back from there.
The second-year quarterback was 24-of-31 with 282 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Giants’ defense was able to get to him three times. Patriots tight end Hunter Henry led the team with four catches for 73 yards.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson had 67 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The Patriots’ defense was able to keep rookie Jaxson Dart at bay for the most part. He was roughed up at points during the game, taking huge hits. He finished 17-of-24 with 139 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Darius Slayton. He added 20 yards on the ground.
The Giants had their share of head-scratching moments during the game.
YOUNGHOE KOO’S FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT GOES HORRIBLY WRONG AS SPECIAL TEAMS WOES CONTINUE FOR GIANTS
Kicker Younghoe Koo, somehow, got caught up in the field as he tried to kick a field goal in the second quarter. The Giants tried to make the most out of it but Jamie Gillan was stopped before he could even think about throwing the football.
Earlier in the game, Dart took a couple of hits from the Patriots defense. First, linebacker Harold Landry III hit Dart near the helmet as he tried to avoid him. There was no penalty flag thrown on the play. On the following drive, Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss trucked Dart as he was running up the sideline. It sparked a brief skirmish and a penalty on Giants tight end Theo Johnson.
New York looked completely out of sync the entire game, underscoring why they are now a 2-11 team. The defense allowed big plays early and often and failed to stop Marcus Jones on a punt return. He returned one to the house 94 yards.
With the win, New England is back on top of the AFC with an 11-2 record and completed a feat not seen since the 1999 Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots are the first team with a 10-game winning streak after losing 13 or more games in the previous season.
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The Patriots have a slim lead over the Denver Broncos, who moved to 10-2 on the year after an overtime win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.
NFL Week 13 2025 scores: Bills, Texans, Cowboys get big wins
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Week 13 of the NFL season provided some incredible games starting with Thanksgiving Day and carrying through Sunday.
Two games on Thursday were decided by three points while Thanksgiving and Black Friday featured upset victories by the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears. The Kansas City Chiefs fell to the Dallas Cowboys and are seeing their playoff hopes hang on by a thread.
Meanwhile the Buffalo Bills were able to bounce back from a head-scratching loss to the Houston Texans. Speaking of the Texans, they made the AFC South race more interesting with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
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The playoff races have tightened and there’s only about a month left of the season.
Read below for the complete scoreboard.
Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025
Green Bay Packers 31, Detroit Lions 24
Dallas Cowboys 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28
Cincinnati Bengals 32, Baltimore Ravens 14
Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
Chicago Bears 24, Philadelphia 15
Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025
Carolina Panthers 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 6
Los Angeles Chargers 31, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26
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Monday, Dec. 1, 2025
New England Patriots 33, New York Giants 15
Drake Maye passes for 2 TDs, Patriots become 1st team to 11 wins, defeating Giants 33-15
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye passed for two touchdowns, Marcus Jones had a 94-yard punt return for a TD and the New England Patriots became the first NFL team to reach 11 wins this season, beating the New York Giants 33-15 on Monday night.
It was the 10th straight win for the AFC-leading Patriots (11-2), the franchise’s longest streak since winning 10 consecutive games in 2015. Coach Mike Vrabel also became the third coach since 1970 to have a win streak of 10 or more games in his first season with a team.
NFL Monday night: Former Alabama prep star becomes league career leader
Marcus Jones returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown to send the New England Patriots on their way to a 33-15 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.
With its 10th consecutive victory, New England became the first NFL team to reach 11 wins in the 2025 season.
Jones’ touchdown return came off a 54-yard punt by New York’s Jamie Gillan and put the Patriots ahead 10-0 with 5:17 left in the first quarter as they raced to a 30-7 halftime lead.
The punt return was the 75th of Jones’ career, qualifying the former Enterprise High School and Troy standout for the NFL’s career record book, and his 14.63-yards-per-return average went to No. 1 in league history.
Jones replaced George McAfee, who averaged 12.78 yards on 112 punt returns for the Chicago Bears from 1940 through 1950, with three years missed for military service in World War II.
Later in the game, Jones had punt returns of 17 and 13 yards, bringing his all-time best average to 14.64 yards.
Only twice in NFL history has a player from an Alabama high school or college had a longer punt-return touchdown than Jones did on Monday night.
On Nov. 24, 1968, San Diego Chargers cornerback Speedy Duncan from Druid High School in Tuscaloosa returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in a 37-15 loss to the New York Jets in an AFL game.
On Jan. 1, 2017, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill from West Alabama returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in a 37-27 victory over the Chargers.
The third punt-return touchdown of Jones’ career was his second of 2025. Jones returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown during a 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 28.
Jones’ Monday-night effort tied the franchise record for the longest punt-return touchdown, equaling Julian Edelman’s 94-yarder in a 38-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2, 2011.
New England quarterback Drake Maye completed 24-of-31 passes for 282 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions on Monday night.
In addition to Jones, who started at cornerback for the Patriots, seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the New York-New England game:
Christian Barmore (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Patriots. Barmore made five tackles.
Carlton Davis (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Patriots. Davis made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up two passes.
Patriots tight end CJ Dippre (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) started at cornerback for the Giants. Flott made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama) made two tackles on defense, recorded one tackle for loss and had one tackle on special teams.
Giants offensive linebacker Evan Neal (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) made one tackle.
Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) did not record any stats.
Darius Slayton (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Giants. Slayton had two receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown. Slayton’s first touchdown of the 2025 season came on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Jaxson Dart as New York reduced New England’s lead to 17-7 with 12:46 left in the first half.
Patriots wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (Hueytown) dressed for the game but did not play. Winston had started the previous two games and thrown for 567 yards in a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 16 and a 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 23. Winston returned to the sideline with the return of rookie QB Jaxson Dart from a concussion.
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New England (11-2) does not play against until Dec. 14 as the Patriots enter their bye week. New England will return against the Buffalo Bills at noon CST Dec. 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
New York (2-11) also is set for its open date in Week 14 of the NFL season. The Giants return against the Washington Commanders at noon Dec. 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Analyst Debates Matthew Stafford’s MVP Chances After Disastrous Game
Matthew Stafford entered the Week 13 matchup against the Carolina Panthers throwing for 27 straight passing touchdowns without an interception, with his last INT coming in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.
The quarterback was able to extend his touchdown streak to 28 passes and broke the all time record from future NFL Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who he was tied with. Then it went south for Stafford against the Panthers.
The Los Angeles Ram threw for 2 interceptions in the game and recorded a fumble loss in the loss to Carolina.
Stafford credits the Panthers defense for doing a good job on defense on the first interception and takes some of the blame on the second interception of the game and on the fumble loss. His total turnovers on the season are 4 INTS and 5 fumbles on the season, only losing two of the fumbles.
“Obviously, we’re not going to win a lot of games when I turn [the ball] over three times,” the QB said after the game. “Don’t expect it moving forward. Just continue to trust my fundamentals. Go out there and play… I’m doing all the stuff I can to make sure I play at a high level, which didn’t happen for me today.”
Through the 12 weeks before, the 17 season vet as been playing like an MVP candidate. But will one rough game in the season derail him from the award?
Matthew Stafford MVP Chances Going Down?
While the Rams suffered the loss in Week 13, the team was still able to put up a fight, losing only by a field goal — all of LA’s losses this season have been from a one score game. In the loss to the Panthers, Matthew Stafford threw for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns.
After Stafford’s bad game, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan called it an overreaction if the quarterbacks’ chances of winning MVP were out the window.
“Stafford came into Week 13 as the betting favorite to win NFL MVP, as the Rams quarterback had been on an absolute tear. He had thrown 28 straight touchdowns without an interception, which was the longest streak in NFL history. However, that streak was snapped with a first-quarter interception,” Sullivan wrote.
“Naturally, this puts a dent into Stafford’s MVP bid and could cost him his standing as the betting favorite. However, it’d be a step too far to say that his pursuit is over… If Stafford bounces back with strong performances over the next few weeks against opponents like the [Detroit] Lions (Week 15) and [Seattle] Seahawks (Week 16), his stock could be back up.”
The QB threw for 30 touchdowns and 2,830 yards in the previous 10 games for the Rams this season. It was an out of the norm game for Stafford, but still has plenty of time to get bad into the groove of things and get his name atop of the MVP list.
Who Else Is In The MVP Conversation?
From what has appeared to be a later career resurgence, Matthew Stafford is playing better than he did in the early part of his career. It isn’t uncommon for quarterbacks to get better as they age, take Tom Brady as an example.
While Stafford is still one of the top contenders to win the award, he has to worry about his competition to become the most valuable players of the 2025 season. The award has become dedicated for quarterbacks and there are a couple of players who have their names in the hat.
New England Patriots second year quarterback Drake Maye is looking like the franchise quarterback and has led the team to a complete turn around of the 2024 season. Maye is in top five of the passing yards and touchdowns on the season, and with the chance of leading the Patriots to the number one seed in the conference.
Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen is having another solid season and could be on his way to win his second MVP in a back-to-back award winning seasons.
There are still five more weeks in the season for Stafford to cement himself as MVP and possibly send his career off in a high note.
Patriots Get Best News Ever Before Bye Week
The New England Patriots in Week 12 barely escaped from Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium with a 26-20 win over the Bengals, as they lost four key players to injuries, including two members of the starting offensive line, left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson, charged with protecting sophomore quarterback and MVP candidate Drake Maye.
After that costly game, New England entered its only Monday Night Football game of the season — facing the New York Giants, with a degree of uncertainty about whether their so-far storybook season was about to come to a crashing halt.
Instead, the Patriots played what was very likely their best game of the season, dominating on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams, from start to finish for a 33-15 win that was not as close as the score made it look.
And that was not the only inspiring news for the Patriots.
Patriots Make New England History With Win
The win was history-making, in that it gave the Patriots a 10-game winning streak — the only such streak in the history of the franchise led by any quarterback other than the future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
Brady quarterbacked the Patriots for 19 full seasons, and in that span led the team not only to six Super Bowl victories, but to five winning streaks of 10 games or more.
But since the team’s founding in 1960 as one of the original franchises in the American Football League, 35 other quarterbacks have started games for the Patriots, who were known as the Boston Patriots until 1971, playing in college football stadiums in the Boston area — and even sharing the iconic Fenway Park with Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox from 1963 to 1969.
Not one of those quarterbacks presided over even a portion of a 10-game winning streak — until Monday night when the 23-year-old Maye, the Patriots’ 2024 first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall out of North Carolina), led the team to its 10th consecutive victory.
New England Again Reigns Atop NFL
The Patriots have not lost since Week 3, when they committed five turnovers, essentially handing the Pittsburgh Steelers a 21-14 victory.
The unprecedented achievement for the Maye-led Patriots may have seemed like the best news ever, but it wasn’t even the best news of the night.
The Patriots now head into their long-awaited bye week carrying the best record in the NFL at 11-2, and also becoming the first of the NFL’s 32 teams to win 11 games this season.
Their record, of course, also puts them atop the AFC, meaning that if they can hold on to their spot over the season’s final four games, the Patriots would earn a bye out of the first round of the playoffs — getting a much-needed extra week to rest and recover from injuries before jumping straight to the divisional round.
Browns Get Brutal Message Over 49ers’ Jauan Jennings Situation
The San Francisco 49ers stretched their winning streak to three games with a 26-8 triumph over the Cleveland Browns on November 30 at Huntington Bank Field.
However, 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings found himself under scrutiny once again amid a potential on-field incident. A Browns player accused Jennings of unsportsmanlike conduct following a heated exchange.
The situation escalated after Maliek Collins went down with an injury, with Jennings reportedly taking things personally during interactions with the Browns’ defense.
Nonetheless, despite the commotion that the wide receiver generated in the Cleveland dressing room, one former NFL player is coming to his defense. During a December 1 appearance on KNBR, Tim Ryan spoke about how Jennings has this ability to get under opponents’ skin.
“I think part of why people get so agitated with Jauan is because of his style of play, which is as physical as it gets,” Ryan said. “It’s not dirty, but he’s going to play ball the way Kyle Shanahan wants him to in terms of his blocking. He’s going to block to the whistle and finish if he’s got you locked up.
“Hell, the referees will even penalize him for legal plays. Remember the Arizona game last year at the end of the season? So I think that’s part of it. And aside from that, Cleveland is probably overreacting with their defensive linemen. But it is what it is, man.”
Browns Players Didn’t Hold Back on Jauan Jennings
After the San Francisco win, Browns’ Shelby Harris was one of the players who publicly criticized the 49ers wideout for his actions after the game. Moreover, he didn’t hold back on his language, wanting to make his feelings about Jennings clear.
“He’s a h–, and I want that known,” Harris said (h/t Camryn Justice of WEWS).”I see why he got punched in the [groin] because he said some things you should never say to another man. But I don’t respect it—saying that and then running behind your O-line is some real soft stuff, and I want that known. I see exactly why they punched him in the [groin]. I’m surprised nobody has punched him in the jaw yet.”
Meanwhile, Myles Garrett was another player who didn’t hold back his remarks when talking about the situation with Jennings.
“So, he had a lot to say that was demeaning and disparaging towards some of our players,” Garrett said (h/t 49ers Web Zone). “And I was just trying to separate everybody. And I tried to go up and ask for what the problem was, and then he started coming at me and, I mean, some guys just roll like that.
“I don’t feel like that belongs in the game. But, hey, if that works for him and them, then more power to him.”
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Talks Latest Jauan Jennings Situation
Although San Francisco didn’t address the situation after the game, they did so the following day. On December 1, during a conference call with reporters, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the postgame accusations.
“My understanding was it had nothing to do with Maliek,” Shanahan said (h/t 49ers Web Zone). “We’ve got so much love for Maliek. It just sounded like there was players standing around for a while because of the injury, and then they got chirping at each other.
“I don’t know what words were said, but it sounded like he offended some guys with the words. But it was just about words during an injury timeout.”
Shanahan acknowledged that he had spoken with Jennings about the incident.
“I asked him about it, but I love how Jauan plays,” Shanahan said. “I think Jauan plays to the whistle as well as any player in this league. He is extremely aggressive and plays as hard as he can to the whistle, and he’s been doing that—as Niner fans know, and you guys know—since he’s been here.
“I think sometimes that offends other players and rubs people the wrong way because they’re not used to people going that hard to the whistle. But I think what J.J. is very good at is not breaking rules.”
Lakers vs Suns: How to watch NBA game tonight (Dec 1, 2025)
Tonight’s pro basketball slate features the Los Angeles Lakers facing off against the Phoenix Suns in this exciting NBA Western Conference matchup. Tipoff takes place at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET (8 p.m. MST) on Monday, December 1, and the only way to watch is streaming on Peacock.
• The only way to watch the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA basketball is with Peacock Premium, NBC’s streaming service. If you need to know more about Peacock and how to get it on your TV for this game, we have you covered with our Peacock streaming guide.
What TV channel is the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns game on today, or is it streaming only?
When: 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET (8 p.m. MST) on Monday, December 1.
Where: crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, CA
What TV channel is the game on? Peacock is not a TV channel, and there is no TV broadcast for this game. This game is only available to watch live streaming on Peacock.
How to watch the game streaming live: You have to sign up for Peacock Premium ($10.99/month) to watch this game live on your TV, computer, phone, or tablet with the Peacock app. To sign up, follow the sign-up instructions on the Peacock home page, and it will walk you through how to sign up quickly. Once you have signed up, you can download the Peacock app (for Apple/iOS or for Google Android) and sign in on your phone, computer, smart TV, or other streaming device.
Lakers vs. Suns spread, latest betting odds
Spread: LAL: -5.5 | PHX: + 5.5
Over/Under: 235.5
Get promo codes, signup deals, and free bets from our Oregon Betting News home page.
How to Watch Mavericks vs Nuggets: Live Stream NBA, TV Channel
The Denver Nuggets (14-5) return home from a win as they host the Dallas Mavericks (6-15) at Ball Arena on Monday night.
How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets
When: Monday, December 1, 2025
Time: 9:00 PM ET
TV Channel: Altitude Sports, KTVD (Denver, CO)
Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)
Denver improved to 8-2 on the road Saturday night, cruising to a 130-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. Nikola Jokić sat most of the fourth quarter, still finishing with 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Jamal Murray scored 24 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. came off the bench for 23. Bruce Brown dished 10 assists as well. The Nuggets remain without starters Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring).
Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history with a 35-point game as he led the Mavericks to a 114-110 win over the LA Clippers to salvage a split in Los Angeles for the Mavs. Flagg also grabbed eight rebounds while Klay Thompson scored 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to key the Dallas rally. Naji Marshall added 18 points and eight boards. Anthony Davis, who had returned from a calf injury in Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, rested on the back end of the back-to-back.
Jokić averages 28.9 points to go with NBA-leading 12.4 rebounds and 10.9 assists. Murray gets 24.0 points per game for Denver. Flagg, who turns 19 on Dec. 21, averages 16.7 points for the Mavericks while P.J. Washington gets 16.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. D’Angelo Russell posts 11.9 points and a team-best 4.8 assists a night, but has fallen out of the rotation, playing just once for 10 minutes in the team’s last five games.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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How to Watch Lakers vs Suns: Live Stream NBA, TV Channel
Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers take on Devon Booker and the Phoenix Suns in this Monday night NBA matchup at Crypto.com Arena.
How to Watch Lakers vs Suns
When: Monday, December 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Live Stream: Peacock (watch now)
The Lakers head into this game riding a seven-game winning streak, boasting a 15–4 record, and looking to build on last night’s 133-121 win. Their offense has been humming with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves logging big scoring nights, while their overall team shooting and defensive fundamentals have combined to make them one of the toughest opponents in the Western Conference. LeBron James is expected to be available again after a one-game rest, potentially restoring even more balance and leadership to L.A.’s rotation.
The Suns come in somewhat banged up, but will have their best player, Devin Booker, who is averaging 25.7 points and nearly 7 assists per game. Their offense has shown flashes this season, averaging 116.7 points a night, and they’ll need to rely on that scoring punch, coupled with crisp defense, to try to slow down L.A. If the Suns can regain rhythm, particularly from the three-point line, and avoid defensive lapses, they could challenge the Lakers’ streak and make this a competitive one.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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Malik Monk gets fined by the NBA for ridiculous flop
Malik Monk was caught in 4K this week.
The NBA announced on Monday that the Sacramento Kings guard Monk has been fined $2,000. Monk was hit with a postgame flopping fine after a league office review of a play from Sunday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
During the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., Monk was jostling for position down low with Grizzlies center Zach Edey off a defensive rotation. As Edey made contact with him, Monk floundered dramatically and hit the floor in a heap (also taking out Kings teammate Zach LaVine in the process).
You can see the video of the play at the link here.
6-foot-3 Monk had to do something there to contend with the 7-foot-3 Edey, and he even managed to fool referee Scott Foster, who called an offensive foul on Edey on the spot. But the day after the Grizzlies won the game over the Kings by a final score of 115-107, the NBA league office is issuing a retroactive flopping fine to Monk.
Nets win battle of NBA tankers against Hornets
It was another battle of two of the top NBA tankers.
The Nets and Hornets met to open the NBA season in October, and the Nets looked the part of one of the league’s worst teams this year in a 19-point loss.
This time around, it was a competitive battle until the end, when the Nets pulled away for a 116-103 win that saw 11 lead changes at Barclays Center on Monday to end their four-game losing streak.
After a third quarter powered by rookies Drake Powell and Ben Saraf outside of Michael Porter Jr.’s season-best 3-point shooting efforts, the Nets held their largest lead of the game (seven points) at the time and were tasked with holding on to it — something they have had ongoing difficulty with.
Within four minutes, the Hornets cut it down to three points.
However, the Nets went on a run and the mood changed in the arena when a Porter 3-pointer was followed by a dunk from Noah Clowney to take a game-high 10-point lead with under five minutes to play.
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And it didn’t stop there.
Danny Wolf, who didn’t score any of his 10 points until the fourth quarter, went on to sink a 3-pointer and complete a 3-point dunk play to extend the Nets lead to 114-100 with nearly two minutes to play.
They never lost it from there in one of the best team efforts this season for the Nets.
Porter led the Nets with 35 points, shooting 7-of-11 from deep.
Claxton had his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Clowney added 18.
Despite Charlotte beating the Nets bench in points, Brooklyn’s reserves came out on top.
Powell impressed off the bench with 10 points along with four assists and three steals, and Saraf added seven points, including a key 3-pointer in the third quarter.
The game started messy with an opening 3-pointer by Kon Knueppel, with the Nets seeming unsure who was going to guard him. Yet, it proceeded to be a back-and-forth fight.
Charlotte’s sloppiness benefitted the Nets, totaling 11 turnovers in the first half to give away 17 points.
Porter getting hot didn’t hurt either.
He had 17 first-half points and was keeping the Nets competitive in his return after he was sidelined for two games with lower-back tightness.
One of Porter’s outside shots put the Nets within one point of Charlotte and on the following possession, he grabbed a steal and found Egor Dëmin for a dunk to take a 55-54 lead — the first of the game for the Nets— but it was short-lived.
A Knueppel deep shot spoiled it. However, as time ran out, Clowney had a layup to enter the half tied 59-59.
Report: Bulls Have Considered Making $175 Million Blockbuster Trade
The Chicago Bulls have gotten off to a slow start to begin the 2025-26 NBA season. With 20 games already in the books for the team, they hold a 9-11 record.
Obviously, that isn’t where the Bulls wanted to be. They were hoping to take a big step in the right direction towards being a contender in the Eastern Conference. Due to their slow start, some changes could be considered.
Josh Giddey has turned into a franchise cornerstone for Chicago and locked in with the team on a lucrative long-term extension during the offseason. Building around him will be a top priority for the Bulls moving forward.
Read more: Lakers Hit With Bad News on Long-Rumored Trade Target
That being said, Chicago has reportedly considered pursuing a blockbuster trade before the NBA deadline this year.
According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, the Bulls have considered the idea of trading for Dallas Mavericks superstar big man Anthony Davis. He has been rumored to be a potential trade candidate this season.
Devin Booker Makes NBA History Before Alarming Injury vs Lakers
Devin Booker’s night was off to a decent start on Monday.
As the Phoenix Suns star went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was able to make some NBA history by becoming the third-youngest player in the league to reach 17,000 points and 3,600 assists. Only LeBron James and Oscar Robinson did it faster.
Booker didn’t have too much time to build on the impressive accomplishment, though. Unfortunately, the star guard left the game with an injury.
According to reports, Booker is dealing with a right groin injury. As the second quarter played out, his absence was concerning. Before the Lakers and the Suns would reach overtime, Booker was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
He left the game with 11 points, three assists, and two blocks in 10 minutes of action.
Now, all eyes will be on the All-Star-caliber scorer as his setback could have a massive impact on Phoenix.
This season, the Suns have been one of the hottest teams in the league. Although they had quite the roster shake-up, parting ways with multiple All-Stars such as Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns have managed to maintain a winning record so far.
Heading into Monday’s action against the Lakers, Booker’s Suns had a 12-9 record. They are looking to avoid dropping three games in a row, and they’ll have to spend a half without Booker in the mix.
This season, Booker has been healthy enough to play in every game for Phoenix, leading up to Monday’s action. In 21 games, he was shooting 45 percent from the field and 31 percent from three, taking 5.8 shots from deep per game. Booker has posted averages of 25.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists.
The star guard is working on notching his fifth All-Star nod. After Monday’s game, the Suns will get a handful of days off before returning to the court to face the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Booker’s status for that game is now in question, as he’ll have to go through some testing to reach an injury diagnosis.
Takeaways from 4th straight road loss in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. — The tank is empty.
The Chicago Bulls are long past running on fumes. For weeks they’ve been cruising downhill while averting their eyes from the gauge sitting on “E,” hoping a miracle would allow them to make it one more block, one more exit before clunking to a standstill.
There isn’t another choice. The Bulls are down to three members of their typical starting lineup. By the end of Monday’s 125-120 loss to the Orlando Magic, their injury report listed seven absences. But the NBA schedule doesn’t stop — or slow — for any team. What they have simply will have to do.
Against the Magic, that was enough for three quarters — and nothing more.
The Bulls did all they could. They built a 15-point lead on sharpshooting from Ayo Dosunmu and dogged finishing from Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. When Kevin Huerter went to the locker room with an adductor injury six minutes into his outing as a starter, Tre Jones filled in eagerly.
But in the final two minutes of the third quarter, the engine started to choke.
It was the pressure that did it. The Magic were unrelenting on the boards, at the perimeter and in the open court. They poked and prodded at the ball, baiting the Bulls into technical fouls and frustrated errors as the lead bled away. The lead changed five times in the fourth quarter as Orlando racked up 40 points to close the game at a dead sprint.
“It sucks,” center Nikola Vučević said. “I don’t know exactly the reasons why we have so many injuries, but it’s frustrating to see guys go down. You feel for them. You know how much work they put in, how much time they put into their bodies to be ready to play, and when it happens like that it’s frustrating.
“But it is what it is. We have to move on.”
The Bulls landed in Orlando with an extensive injury report and played Monday without Coby White (left calf strain), Isaac Okoro (back), Jalen Smith (hamstring) and Dalen Terry (calf strain). They suffered another loss when Huerter was ruled out.
Center Zach Collins is working his way back from a wrist fracture but hasn’t been cleared to play. That leaves the Bulls with only five members of their preferred 10-man rotation. To add insult, rookie Noa Essengue is sidelined with a shoulder injury, preventing the Bulls from finding even a slim silver lining from their current situation.
Here are three takeaways from the loss.
1. Losing the boards
As the ball arced downward toward the rim midway through the second quarter, Desmond Bane lowered his shoulder and pushed. Bane wasn’t subtle about it. He pressed both hands flat against Giddey’s torso, knocking into the taller Bulls guard with his shoulder before extending his arm.
It took only two bumps for Bane to displace Giddey off the low block — where he should have held superior positioning to secure the ricocheting ball — and knock him against the baseline. Giddey stood a full arm’s length away when Bane grabbed the rebound, giving the Magic guard plenty of room to toss in a simple layup.
These types of miniature errors in boxing out hounded the Bulls, who gave up 12 offensive rebounds. They were fortunate Orlando converted them into only 15 second-chance points.
But more than half of those points occurred in the fourth quarter as the Bulls failed to maintain the energy of the first half, giving up five offensive rebounds in the fourth. A series of second-chance opportunities — including a spray-out 3 by Bane off consecutive offensive rebounds and a put-back dunk by Wendell Carter Jr. — served as the final nails in the loss.
Coach Billy Donovan felt the Bulls gave better effort on the defensive boards than in previous games, but that didn’t match the results in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we did a good job physically because they’re a big, strong, physical team,” Donovan said. “I felt like we were finding a way to manufacture enough points, but those rebounds could have really helped us build a lead out a little bit. In particular, that stretch there hurt us.”
2. Failure to launch
Somewhere between takeoff and landing at the rim, the Bulls often seem to run out of steam. They take the most attempts inside the restricted area (32.8 per game) of any team in the league. But once they reach the rim, the Bulls struggle to capitalize. Their 60.4% shooting percentage in the restricted area is the second-worst in the league.
One key source of inefficiency is allowing opponents to affect the shot. Teams average 6.1 blocks per game against the Bulls, and that number rose to 6.6 per game in November, the highest in the league. The trend continued against the Magic, who tallied 11 blocks, including four by Goga Bitadze.
These stops were sudden and equal-opportunity. Jalen Suggs scooped away a Jones attempt at a reverse layup. Bitadze slapped the ball off the backboard in transition. Jonathan Isaac tailed Buzelis and extended one long arm up, up and over the smaller forward to poke away his fadeaway attempt.
The Bulls shot 65.5% inside the restricted area. Nine of their 10 misses were blocked shots.
3. Big minutes for Lachlan Olbrich
The injury pileup translated into significant minutes for two-way players Lachlan Olbrich and Emanuel Miller, who both made their first appearances in the first quarter.
Olbrich, a second-round draft pick, is an unproven option in the frontcourt for the Bulls, who planned to have the rookie spend most, if not all, of his debut season with Windy City in the G League. Instead, Olbrich was thrust into the secondary rotation to add needed size for the Bulls, playing a total of 12 minutes.
Although Olbrich didn’t score, his production on the boards (four rebounds) and as a physical antagonist to the bullying Magic was a helpful addition off the bench.
Knicks in league of their own with 40-point quarters
Early in the season, the Knicks have shown that when they are clicking offensively, they are almost unguardable.
During their 116-94 win over the Raptors on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks recorded 41 points in the first quarter — the ninth time this year they’ve scored 40 or more points in a quarter.
They are in a league of their own in that category.
Their nine such quarters lead the NBA.
Entering Monday, five teams were tied for next closest at six.
“We’re extremely comfortable,” Josh Hart said on Sunday of the scoring outbursts. “I think we’re starting to make reads and starting to play off each other’s movements and those kinds of things and knowing where guys are going to be and knowing certain spots. So we’re getting more and more comfortable.”
Jalen Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
In four games last week, Brunson averaged 28.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range. The Knicks went 4-0 during that stretch.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic raved about Brunson ahead of Sunday’s game.
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“We had a discussion about that this morning in the coach’s meeting — he is the type of player that I can put in the category of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic,” Rajakovic said. “Different position, obviously, but guys who are just playing at their own pace. You cannot speed them up. Their awareness is amazing. At any point of time they know where the hand of the defensive player is. What is the footwork, how can they get by somebody, how can they get to their sweet spot from the floor? How can they score from there, how can they playmake from there? And he’s elite at doing it.”
“He’s not the strongest, not the fastest, but his skill level and shooting ability is amazing and that makes him one of the biggest offensive weapons in the league.”
Mitchell Robinson is not listed on the Knicks injury report, meaning he is likely to play against the Celtics on Tuesday in Boston, the first leg of a back-to-back — the Knicks host the Hornets on Wednesday.
Robinson has not yet played back-to-back this year. Unless that changes, that means he will likely sit out Wednesday’s clash.
Chet Holmgren’s Dominant Start Makes Him Early DPOY Favorite
NBA champion center Chet Holmgren is wasting no time rewriting the early-season awards race. The Oklahoma City Thunder center has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner for the 2025–26 Defensive Player of the Year award after the league’s first quarter, a dramatic reversal from last season when a hip fracture limited him to 32 games and knocked him out of award eligibility.
Holmgren’s Odds Lead the Field
Holmgren enters December as the betting favorite. According to Fox Sports, he currently holds +130 odds, ahead of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (+350) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (+600). Market projections tell a similar story. Prophetx gives Holmgren a 40 percent chance to win the award, doubling Wembanyama’s 20 percent and comfortably leading Mobley (12 percent), Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (9 percent), and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5 percent).
The rise is a reflection of strong defensive performance and a perfect storm around the rest of the field. Cleveland hasn’t matched last year’s blistering start that fueled Mobley’s DPOY push, while Wembanyama remains sidelined with a calf injury and has no timetable for return. According to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, it is unlikely Wembanyama will participate in the NBA Cup, putting him behind the league’s 65-game award eligibility rule for the second straight season.
Defense That Changes Oklahoma City’s Identity
The numbers support Holmgren’s case. Through 20 games, he is averaging 18.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, and nearly one steal per game, while shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three. But the defensive metrics carry the real weight.
According to 3stepsbasket, Oklahoma City owns a 102.8 defensive rating with Holmgren on the floor, placing him in the top one percent among all players in limiting opponent scoring. It is a notable improvement from last year’s 103.9 defensive rating in his minutes. Oklahoma City is also +10.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court, demonstrating that his defensive presence is not only elite in isolation but also elevates the entire unit.
These numbers matter for voters. Defensive Player of the Year has increasingly rewarded players whose impact extends beyond raw block and steal totals. Holmgren’s positioning, shot deterrence, weak-side timing, and ability to guard in space give the Thunder rare versatility at the five. His presence allows Oklahoma City to maintain their aggressive perimeter schemes without sacrificing rim protection.
Thriving Even Without Full Personnel
Holmgren’s case becomes stronger when considering context. Oklahoma City has dealt with lineup instability, including missed games from Jalen Williams, an All-Defensive candidate last season, and defensive cornerstone Lu Dort. Yet the Thunder remain one of the league’s most disciplined units. Their rotations stay sharp, their paint coverage remains tight, and their defensive identity never wavers.
Why Holmgren Leads the DPOY Race Now
With Mobley’s Cavs looking inconsistent and Wembanyama fighting both injury and the 65-game threshold again, Holmgren has the clearest runway. More importantly, his individual performance has matched the moment. His defensive rating, availability, and impact metrics position him as the league’s most influential defensive player through the first quarter.
If he remains healthy and Oklahoma City continues its strong play, the path for Holmgren to secure his first Defensive Player of the Year award is already taking shape.
Judge Slams Both Sides In Opening Day Of NASCAR Anti-Trust Trial
Just hours into the first day of the NASCAR trial that began on December 1, Judge Kenneth D. Bell slammed both sides, issuing a warning following opening statements.
The highly publicized antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports versus NASCAR opened in Federal Court in Charlotte North Carolina on Monday. Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, was in attendance.
Both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports chose not to sign the charter agreement last year, leading to the antitrust lawsuit that was filed in October 2024. Both teams accused NASCAR of operating as a non-competitive monopoly.
The plaintiffs believe the charter system and exclusive agreement put limits on commercial pursuits and profit potential.
NASCAR has denied these allegations and insisted its contracts and supplier agreements are in line with what is considered standard practices for any auto racing series.
The charter system began in 2016.
Judge Issues Warning Over Opening Statements
Shortly after the jury was chosen, opening statements were read in the afternoon. The Athletic reported that Judge Bell issued an impassioned warning to both sides for delivering opening statements “riddled with impermissible arguments.
Emotional Denny Hamlin is first witness at NASCAR antitrust trial
“We got to when I was about 20 and a decision had to be made, I could keep racing or go out and work for my dad’s trailer business,” Hamlin testified, adding that he later was thinking about what retirement looked like and found a team going out of business. He needed a partner and turned to Jordan, who he had developed a friendship with when the Basketball Hall of Famer owned the Charlotte Hornets and Hamlin was a season-ticket holder.
“If I can’t be successful with Michael as a partner, I knew this was never going to work,” he said.
The references to his early days in auto racing and the sacrifices his family made were intended to show how difficult it is for both team owners and drivers to make it at the top level of the sport. He said he never would have been able to start 23XI in 2021 had he not partnered with Jordan.
Because of Jordan’s presence with the team, Hamlin testified, 23XI has turned a profit in all but one of its five seasons of operation. His attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said in his opening statement that fast-food restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins has never turned a profit since starting his Front Row team in 2004.
Front Row won the 2021 Daytona 500. At the heart of the lawsuit is NASCAR’s revenue sharing model, which 23XI and Front Row argue is unfair to race teams that often operate at a loss. Hamlin testified it cost $20 million to bring a single car to the track over a 38-race season, not including overhead expenses such as driver salary.
Kessler said a NASCAR-commissioned study found that 75 percent of teams lost money in 2024.
“So, why would these people do this if you are just going to lose money because NASCAR isn’t giving you a fair deal?” Kessler said as Jordan watched from the gallery. “Because you love stock car racing, and there’s nowhere else to do it.”
The charter agreements signed for this year that triggered the lawsuit guarantee the teams $12.5 million in annual revenue. NASCAR argues the guaranteed payouts are an increase from $9 million from previous agreements, but Hamlin noted that 11 of the first 19 chartered teams are no longer in business. All three charters 23XI purchased came from teams that ceased operations.
Hamlin said 23XI paid $4.7 million for its first charter, $13.5 million for its second and $28 million for its third, acquired late last year.
The charter system guarantees a car a spot in the field each race week as well as a percentage of the purse and gives team owners an asset to sell should they want to get out of the business.
NASCAR attorneys argued that the charter system has created $1.5 billion in equity for the 36 chartered teams. Prior to the charter system, teams raced “open,” with no guarantee they’d make the field or earn a payout.
The case has churned through hearings and arguments for more than a year despite calls from other NASCAR teams to settle. US District Judge Kenneth Bell even helped mediate a failed two-day summit in October.
A NASCAR victory could put 23XI, Front Row, and their six combined cars out of business. Their charters — now being held by NASCAR — would likely be sold. The last charter went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is interest from potential buyers including private equity firms.
A win for the teams could lead to monetary damages and the potential demolition of NASCAR as it is run today. The judge has the power to unravel a monopoly, and nothing is off the table — from ordering a sale of NASCAR to the dismantling of the charter system.
The charter system introduced in 2016 is NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used by most professional sports leagues. Even with the charters, teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable. They wanted more favorable terms for the charters, including having them made permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues, and a voice in governance.
23XI and Front Row also argue NASCAR has a vice grip on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup Series schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations. The two were the only teams out of 15 to not sign the charter extension a year ago and instead went to court.
NASCAR says it has not violated antitrust law because it has done nothing to restrain trade beyond normal business practices. NASCAR has also cited the option for cars to enter races as “open teams” and try to make the field in one of four non-chartered spots on qualifying speed. 23XI and Front Row raced this season as open teams, and while their combined six cars made every race, it cost the organizations millions in purse money.
The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
NASCAR executives in the courtroom included chairman Jim France and vice chair Lisa France Kennedy, two scions of the family that founded NASCAR in 1948 and still owns it.
Huge stakes on the line as federal antitrust trial opens in Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The federal antitrust trial against NASCAR opened Monday with the star power of Michael Jordan on hand as a jury of nine was seated to hear allegations that the stock car series is a monopolistic bully that leaves its teams no option but to comply with rules and financing they don’t agree with.
The retired NBA Hall of Famer is the co-owner of the 23XI Racing team at the top Cup Series level. 23XI and Front Row Motorsports sued the series last year rather than sign extension agreements on new charters, which are franchise-type designations that serve as the framework for the revenue stream between NASCAR and the teams.
The stakes are huge: The charters are at the heart of NASCAR’s business model — they guarantee a car a spot in the field each race week as well as a percentage of the purse — and the disputes over how they work have dominated the series of late. A loss for the two teams could oust them from the series while a loss for NASCAR could mean a fundamental restructuring of how the series operates.
Six men and three women were seated for a trial expected to last two weeks before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who asked for opening statements to be completed later Monday. Bell ruled that 23XI co-owner and star driver Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, the longtime business manager for Jordan and part of the team’s ownership group, will be sequestered after opening statements before they testify.
Jordan’s presence in the courtroom gallery near Hamlin was a factor: Among those dismissed from serving on the jury was a man who said he can’t be impartial because “I like Mike” and another who said he had Michael Jordan posters on his walls growing up. A juror said they were a North Carolina fan but noted the football team at Jordan’s alma mater is not “doing too well right now” to which the retired star shook his head and laughed.
NASCAR executives in the courtroom included chairman Jim France and vice chair Lisa France Kennedy, two scions of the family that founded NASCAR in 1948 and still owns it.
23XI and Front Row were the only two teams out of 15 to refuse to sign extensions on new charter agreements last fall. The teams wanted multiple concessions, and when they didn’t get them, they went to court. The case has churned through hearings and arguments for more than a year despite calls from other NASCAR teams to settle. Bell even helped mediate a failed two-day summit in October.
A NASCAR victory could put 23XI, Front Row and their six combined cars out of business. Their charters — now being held by NASCAR — would likely be sold. The last charter went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is interest from potential buyers including private equity firms.
A win for the teams would lead to monetary damages and the potential demolition of NASCAR as it is run today.
The judge has the power to unravel a monopoly, and nothing is off the table, from ordering a sale of NASCAR to the dismantling of the charter system.
The charter system introduced in 2016 is NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used by most professional sports leagues. Being chartered guarantees that car a spot in the 40-car field for all 38 races, as well as a defined payout from the weekly purse.
Even with the charters, the teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable. The teams wanted more favorable terms for the charters, including having them made permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues and a voice in governance.
23XI and Front Row also argue NASCAR has a vice grip on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup Series schedule and its control of the rules and regulations.
NASCAR says it has not violated antitrust law because it has done nothing to restrain trade beyond normal business practices.
NASCAR has argued that payouts in the 2025 charter agreement increased and prove the series is not anticompetitive. NASCAR has also cited the option for cars to enter races as “open teams” and try to make the field in one of four nonchartered spots on qualifying speed. 23XI and Front Row raced this season as open teams, and while their combined six cars made every race, it cost the organizations millions in purse money.
The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
Behind-the-scenes drama
The discovery phase was brutal for both sides. The antitrust allegations have exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps was among leadership who in a discussion with other NASCAR executives called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “dinosaur,” an “idiot” and a “stupid redneck.” The discussion also included a reference that Childress “owes his entire fortune to NASCAR” and needed “to be taken out back and flogged.”
Another NASCAR executive alleged that fans of the sport can’t read, and multiple series leaders admonished Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart’s summer short-track series, SRX, and threatened to have it the killed because NASCAR drivers were participating.
On the other side, the president of 23XI was found to have said France had to die in order to receive favorable charter terms, Hamlin admitted his dislike for the France family, one of Jordan’s advisers said Hamlin wasn’t a good businessman and Jordan joked that he loses more money in a casino than he pays one of his drivers.
Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner who less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the trial.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Denny Hamlin breaks down in tears as the first witness testifying at NASCAR antitrust trial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The landmark federal antitrust trial against NASCAR opened Monday with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin breaking down in tears minutes into his testimony as the first witness in a case that could upend the venerable stock car series.
Hamlin’s 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports claim the series is a monopolistic bully that leaves its teams no option but to comply with rules and financing they don’t agree with.
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NASCAR Lawsuit: Denny Hamlin Breaks Into Tears as Antitrust Trial Begins in Federal Court
It’s NASCourt Day!
The NASCAR lawsuit trial has officially begun, pulling the entire industry into a courtroom showdown that’s been building for months. What started out as a simple dispute over the NASCAR charter system evolved into a high-stakes drama over the months. Leaked emails, tense negotiations, scathing accusations – you name it, and the NASCAR lawsuit has delivered it.
And now on Day 1 of the trial, all eyes turned to the witness stand as NASCAR called its first voice. It was none other than Denny Hamlin – driver, team owner, and one of the most outspoken figures in the case. However, what happened next was far from standard testimony. It set the tone for a trial that promises emotion, confrontation, and a deeper look into the human cost behind the business of racing.
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An emotional start to the NASCAR lawsuit trial
Denny Hamlin was barely into his testimony when the entire courtroom felt the emotional weight he carried as a driver, team owner, and the face of the NASCAR lawsuit. As he began, a simple question about his NASCAR journey and the man behind it (his father) made Hamlin emotional, and he finally broke down. It was an unexpectedly raw start to what would become one of the most revealing stretches of the trial’s opening day.
As you might know, Denny Hamlin’s parents have made significant sacrifices to support his motorsports career, including taking out multiple mortgages and using all their credit cards when Denny was starting. His father, Dennis, has been battling a serious illness for a while now. Hamlin recently expressed his desire for his father to see him win the championship. Despite the heartbreak of his 2025 championship loss, Hamlin’s father’s unwavering support and sacrifices remain a powerful motivator for him to continue pursuing the title in 2026.
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Once composed after a few minutes, Hamlin took the court through the origin story of 23XI Racing. He detailed how the idea formed, how Michael Jordan came on board, and what it took to turn that vision into a fully operational Cup Series team. But sentiment quickly gave way to hard numbers. Numbers, he argued, prove how unsustainable the current charter system is for modern teams.
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Hamlin shared that 23XI paid:
$4.7 million for its first charter,
$13.5 million for its second, and
$28 million for its third
Hamlin personally holds a 40% stake in each purchase.
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In total, the team is “in for over $45 million” on charters alone. Add in $35 million for the Air Speed shop, the $8 million alliance fee to Joe Gibbs Racing (about $2.66 million per car), and the staggering revelation that it costs $20 million just to put one car on track for 38 races, excluding driver salary or overhead.
When asked how his rocky 2025 season went, Hamlin quipped, “Can I plead the fifth?” But when the focus returned to the charter system, his tone sharpened. Asked why he considers the system unfair, he replied, “Your costs aren’t covered to put on their show.”
Denny Hamlin‘s 40-minute testimony ended not with closure, but a pause. His testimony resumes Tuesday as the NASCAR lawsuit trial continues.
Fans Erupt as Crash-Prone NASCAR Driver Snags Shock Niece Motorsports Deal
The new year is expected to be an innovative turning point for NASCAR. Especially for the Craftsman Truck Series, as Ram is making a comeback. The new OEM has already partnered with Kaulig Racing, which will likely involve adding a legendary NASCAR veteran to its roster of drivers. But while this news has thrilled fans, the announcement of another Truck driver did not elicit the same reaction.
Niece Motorsports had an eventful 2025 season, with Kaden Honeycutt’s abrupt mid-season departure. Rookie Andrés Pérez de Lara fetched impressive finishes like three top-ten results. Matt Mills was also there in the mix, posting improved milestones. But 2026 may be a little different – as their new teammate comes with an infamous resume.
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A history of carnage hovers over Niece
Conner Jones has been regarded as an exceptional talent – he has won in the CARS Tour and the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing competition. Jones has also already made 27 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts and picked up his best finish of 11th at Charlotte in 2024. So, he has big plans for 2024 – he will drive for Niece Motorsports. Bob Pockrass wrote on X, “Now catching up on some other news … Conner Jones will drive select events in the Niece No. 42 truck in 2026. Tyler Reif will be the “anchor” driver (Reif will have the most races).”
However, driving the No. 42 for Niece Motorsports feels ironic for Connor Jones. That is because of his history of carnage; in the 2024 NCTS Homestead-Miami race, Jones drove his No. 66 Front Row Motorsports truck right through Matt Mills’ No. 42 Niece Truck. The 42 slammed the outside wall hard, immediately bursting into flames. Following the incident, Mills had to be taken to the hospital, and Jones was hit with a two-lap penalty and a one-race suspension.
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Yet Niece Motorsports has chosen to forget that history, as Conner Jones ran select starts for the team this year. The 19-year-old’s best result was 18th at Bristol. Cody Efaw, President and CEO of Niece Motorsports, praised him. “Conner really did a good job in the races he ran for us this year, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the improvement he’s made with his race craft. There were a few times that he performed as our best-running truck out there, and I think he has been pretty overlooked. As he continues to gain experience, I think he will have a good shot at succeeding next year.”
Conner Jones also did not hide his enthusiasm. “I’m thrilled to continue this journey with Niece Motorsports. I’ve been able to learn so much already this year, getting to work with the crew chiefs on both the Nos. 44 and 41 teams, and I’m looking forward to continuing that behind the wheel of the No. 42.”
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However, fans are definitely not looking forward to the 42’s new driver. That is because their memory is a bit stronger than Niece’s.
NASCAR fans predict a tumultuous season
Although Niece Motorsports brushed off the 2024 controversy, fans could not. In fact, the team offering Conner Jones the exact Truck number that he had wrecked felt jaw-dropping. Somebody wrote, “The irony of going to the 42 of all numbers that Niece had to offer.” Given the tradition of NASCAR drivers to hold grudges and build up rivalries, it seems even more strange. One fan invoked the memory of Matt Mills’ spine-chilling wreck again: “Still can’t believe he’s driving for Niece Motorsports after intentionally wrecking one of their trucks last year at Homestead-Miami.”
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What’s more, Conner Jones’ history of carnage does not stop with just the Homestead incident. This year in February, he got into a scuffle with one of his own crew members during a short-track race. Then, at a CARS Tour race at Langley Speedway, he got into a fistfight with competitor Parker Eatmon. So, fans predicted a costly year for Niece Motorsports. Somebody wrote, “I give it 4 races before the checks don’t cover the amount of torn up race trucks niece is going to have to deal with.” Another fan predicted Niece’s added duties: “Good news!! Niece is going to keep about a dozen extra fabricators in jobs now.”
NASCAR tolerates such carnage-inducing drivers, as it helps create storylines for the sport. Besides Conner Jones, another big example of a rabble-rouser is Carson Hocevar. The Spire Motorsports driver has caused havoc from Trucks to Cup races. So one fan wrote, “There’s always has to be a couple of drivers in the sport that somehow, someway, just manage to stick around.”
Nevertheless, fans will witness Conner Jones in Trucks. With the new season a couple of months away, let’s wait and see how he performs.
NASCAR Claims Lawsuit Was ‘Curtis Polk and 23XI’s Plan From The Start’
In the first day of the NASCAR v. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust lawsuit in Charlotte, North Carolina, NASCAR continued to hold firm in the stance they’ve had since the complaint was first filed last October.
John E. Stephenson, Jr. made that clear very quickly when delivering NASCAR’s opening statements on Monday, asking the jury a simple question: “Why are we here?”
RELATED: Live Updates From Lawsuit Between NASCAR, FRM and Michael Jordan’s 23XI
The first of 10 scheduled days of this trial included jury selection (where six jurors and three alternates were selected out of a pool of potential candidates), opening statements were heard from both sides, and the first part of testimony from Denny Hamlin, one of three co-owners of 23XI Racing.
After all of that came to a natural stopping point, around 5:00pm local time, Judge Bell dismissed both parties and all the interested onlookers, and both went their separate ways without making any comments, whatsoever. About 90 minutes later, though, NASCAR broke its silence and made its stance known following an eight-hour day in court.
In an email correspondence sent to members of the media, NASCAR said: “As you know, the antitrust trial initiated by the only two race teams who elected not to sign the 2025 Charter Agreement that is threatening to change the future of NASCAR, began today in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina.”
“NASCAR has worked tirelessly for nearly eight decades to give fans a thrilling and unforgettable experience, while also ensuring that teams have a contracted revenue stream, guaranteed weekly racing entries that deliver sponsorship dollars, and long-term equity value. That’s what we are in court to protect for the sport, the team and fans.”
In this message, NASCAR also made clear its three largest takeaways from the first day in court.
NASCAR claims that the teams asked the sanctioning body for the charter system and helped to negotiate the deal and all its terms, including a commitment to be all-in to grow the NASCAR Cup Series. The sanctioning body says that at every turn, they’ve kept their word and paid every single dime promised to teams over the last nine years.
In this latest round of negotiations for the 2025 Charter Agreement, NASCAR says that none of this anticompetitive conduct was brought up in two-plus years of negotiations, which “consisted of 70 meetings, correspondence and drafts of the 2025 Charter Agreement.”
Letters sent by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports explaining why they wouldn’t be signing the Charter Agreement last September allegedly did not include any mention of these anticompetitive practices, either, NASCAR says.
“If the system is unfair, anticompetitive and below market, why did 23XI Racing buy a charter not once, not twice, but three times? And why did Front Row Motorsports but, sell and lease its own charters multiple times? And why did they want them forever? Remember, teams received charters for free and they’re worth over $45 million.”
However, one of the last talking points or observations from NASCAR’s side on Monday is a bit jarring. Seemingly answering the question posed in their opening statement, the sanctioning body believes that they are here, in this antitrust lawsuit because this was the plan of Curtis Polk and 23XI Racing all along… and that’s the reason why this has all played out to this point.
“It’s important to talk about the truth in this trial, so let’s do that – this lawsuit was Curtis Polk and 23XI Racing’s plan from the start. That’s why we are here today.”
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Testimony begins in NASCAR antitrust lawsuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The landmark federal antitrust trial against NASCAR opened Monday with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin breaking down in tears minutes into his testimony as the first witness in a case that could upend the venerable stock car series.
Hamlin’s 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports claim the series is a monopolistic bully that leaves its teams no option but to comply with rules and financing they don’t agree with.
As Jordan watched from the gallery, Hamlin began to cry and had to stop and compose himself when asked how he got into racing. He disclosed to The Associated Press last month that his father is dying, and he said on the stand he was emotional because his dad “is not in great health.”
“We got to when I was about 20 and a decision had to be made: I could keep racing or go out and work for my dad’s trailer business,” Hamlin testified, adding that he later was thinking about what retirement looked like and found a team going out of business.
He needed a partner and turned to Jordan, with whom he had developed a friendship when the Basketball Hall of Famer owned the Charlotte Hornets and Hamlin was a season ticket holder.
“If I can’t be successful with Michael as a partner, I knew this was never going to work,” he said.
The references to his early days in auto racing and the sacrifices his family made were intended to show how difficult it is for both team owners and drivers to make it at the top level of the sport. He said he never would have been able to start 23XI in 2021 had he not partnered with Jordan.
Because of Jordan’s presence with the team, Hamlin testified, 23XI has turned a profit in all but one of its five seasons of operation. His attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said in his opening statement that fast-food restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins never has turned a profit since starting his Front Row team in 2004, a team that won the Daytona 500 in 2021.
Kessler said a NASCAR-commissioned study found that 75% of teams lost money in 2024 and added that over a three-year period almost $400 million was paid to the France Family Trust. He said a 2023 evaluation by Goldman Sachs found NASCAR to be worth $5 billion. NASCAR is currently run by Jim France, son of founder Bill France Sr.
“What the evidence is going to show is Mr. France ran this for the benefit of his family at the expense of the teams and sport,” Kessler said.
At the heart of the lawsuit is NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model, which 23XI and Front Row argue is unfair to race teams that often operate at a loss. Hamlin testified it cost $20 million simply to bring a single car to the track over a 38-race season, not including overhead expenses such as driver salary and business operations.
“So why would these people do this if you are just going to lose money because NASCAR isn’t giving you a fair deal?” Kessler asked. “Because you love stock car racing, and there’s nowhere else to do it.”
The charter agreements signed for this year that triggered the lawsuit guarantee the teams $12.5 million in annual revenue per chartered car. NASCAR argues the guaranteed payouts are an increase from $9 million from the previous agreement, but Hamlin noted that 11 of the first 19 chartered teams are no longer in business.
All three charters 23XI purchased came from teams that ceased operations, and Hamlin said 23XI paid $4.7 million for its first charter, $13.5 million for its second and $28 million for its third, acquired late last year. He acknowledged purchasing the third charter was a risk because of the pending litigation — and the price concerned him — but it was required if 23XI intends to build itself into a top team.
The charter system guarantees a car a spot in the field each race week as well as a percentage of the purse and gives team owners an asset to sell should they want to get out of the business.
NASCAR attorneys argued that the charter system has created $1.5 billion in equity for the 36 chartered teams. Prior to the charter system, teams raced “open,” with no guarantee they would make the field or earn a payout.
“The France family built NASCAR from nothing. They are an American success story,” Johnny Stephenson said in the opening statement for NASCAR. Stephenson is a colleague of Christopher Yates, who had previously handled most of the courtroom arguments for the defendants.
“They’ve done it through hard work over 75 years. That’s the kind of effort that doesn’t deserve a lawsuit. That’s the kind of effort that deserves admiration.”
The case has churned through hearings and arguments for more than a year despite calls from other NASCAR teams to settle. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell even helped mediate a failed two-day summit in October.
A NASCAR victory could put 23XI, Front Row and their six combined cars out of business. Their charters — now being held by NASCAR — likely would be sold. The last charter went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is interest from potential buyers, including private equity firms.
A win for the teams could lead to monetary damages and the potential demolition of NASCAR as it is run today. The judge has the power to unravel a monopoly, and nothing is off the table, from ordering a sale of NASCAR to the dismantling of the charter system.
Jordan’s presence factors into the trial
Jordan’s presence in the courtroom gallery near Hamlin was a factor: Among those dismissed from serving on the jury was a man who said he can’t be impartial because “I like Mike” and another who said he had Michael Jordan posters on his walls growing up.
A juror said they were a North Carolina fan but noted the football team at Jordan’s alma mater is not “doing too well right now,” to which Jordan shook his head and laughed.
NASCAR executives in the courtroom included Chairman Jim France and vice chair Lesa France Kennedy, two scions of the family that founded NASCAR in 1948 and still owns it.
Hamlin will resume testimony Tuesday morning. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, 23XI minority owner Curtis Polk, France Kennedy and other top executives had to leave the courtroom after opening arguments because they are all potential witnesses.
Who Are the Potential Witnesses and Jury Members in the NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit? What We Know After Selection
The NASCAR lawsuit has finally hit its trial phase. On December 1st, key individuals from 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, NASCAR, and other concerned race teams attended a federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina. Attorneys on both sides posted strong arguments, expanding on the antitrust lawsuit that was filed by Michael Jordan and Co. back in October 2024. However, the decision for those arguments will be taken by the jury, a crucial part of the legal process.
What is the Jury Selection Process in the NASCAR Case?
Alongside the opening arguments of the entities, the jury selection also happened on Monday morning. It went relatively quickly and with one hiccup. One of the jurors chosen was released soon after for necessary family obligations and replaced in short order.
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However, more hiccups emerged pertaining to choosing an impartial group related to a case with the most famous athlete in the world, Michael Jordan. The 6-time NBA champion and Chicago Bulls legend had two fans among the prospective jurors, and they were dismissed. “I like Mike,” one man explained before pumping his fist at Jordan on his exit. Another man confessed to having Jordan’s posters as a youngster. One woman, a fan of 23XI Racing’s rival, Hendrick Motorsports, was also dismissed.
Yet most of the prospective jurors had little knowledge about the case itself, or even NASCAR. Only three of 23 remaining candidates admitted to knowing of the lawsuit, and three of the remaining 19 people later said they were race fans. The final jury consisted of six men and three women.
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Why Jury Composition Matters in a High-Profile Sports Lawsuit?
The dismissal of the prospective jurors is significant in the NASCAR antitrust case. It demonstrates how such high-profile lawsuits work and how potential biases are filtered out of the jury selection process. Referred to as ‘voir dire’, or Latin for ‘to speak the truth’, the process is designed to seat a fair and impartial jury.
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Potential jurors are first picked from public records, such as registered voter lists or driver’s license databases, in the relevant judicial district. They must be a US citizen and at least 18 years old, without a disqualifying felony conviction. Then the judge and attorneys from both sides question all jurors to uncover potential biases, as were revealed in the NASCAR lawsuit. In sports cases, fandom, team loyalty, and perceptions of athletes can be big factors in biases. Then, media consumption and financial biases also count.
Which Key Figures Could Potentially Testify as Witnesses?
Denny Hamlin already occupied the witness stand on Monday morning. He told the jury that NASCAR team owners are “essentially just professional fundraisers” due to NASCAR’s business model. He said that 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with Michael Jordan, had to generate $45 million in sponsorship revenue to make a minor profit.
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While this started the trial, other witnesses will be lined up soon over the next two weeks. Potential witnesses include Michael Jordan as well, a key figure behind the start of the lawsuit. Other notable figures who could take the stand include NASCAR CEO Jim France, whom Hamlin and Jordan have accused of running the ‘monopolistic’ business model. Then there are other NASCAR racing team owners, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske, who have also raced under the same model.
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What Role Do Team Executives and NASCAR Officials Play in Testimony?
The role of the team executives and NASCAR officials would be to confirm or negate the attorneys’ statements. Jeffrey Kessler, representing Michael Jordan and Co., laid out a chart of evidence that may show NASCAR locked up the racetracks and the race cars and also restricted teams’ eligibility to illegally maintain their monopoly. Kessler also presented a NASCAR-commissioned study that revealed 75% of teams lost money in 2024. Team executives would be there to testify to these claims.
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Kessler also said NASCAR was valued at $5 billion by a Goldman Sachs evaluation in 2023. In a counter-argument, NASCAR attorney John E. Stephenson highlighted the benefits that teams enjoy. He said that they generated a combined $640 million on average in sponsor dollars per year. Currently, teams are receiving $431 million from the new media rights deal and the sport’s charter system, which guarantees certain revenues to teams. Hence, the words of both team heads and NASCAR officials will count a lot with these claims.
What Happens Next? Trial Expectations and Legal Boundaries
If NASCAR wins, the lawsuit would reinforce the league’s business model for its 77 years in existence. 23XI and FRM would probably have to race as “open” teams in 2026. Both Cup Series teams would also face a substantial risk of shutting down within a year, based on any potential appeals.
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On the other hand, if 23XI and FRM attain legal victory, then it could reshape the very foundation of the sport. The judge will rule on the financial damages to the plaintiff teams, and the figures could triple under the law. What’s more, the judge will also decide on antitrust remedies. These can include mandating track sales, modifying or eliminating charters, abandoning the Next Gen car program, or removing exclusivity provisions.
With the jury now seated and the first testimony finally delivered, the lawsuit trial is officially underway. Now, NASCAR is either one step closer to reinforcing its legacy or facing a complete teardown of the sport’s foundation.
Denny Hamlin’s Wounds Pried Open in Courtroom as Sad Reality About NASCAR’s Place in America Surfaces
“We knew we were going to have a reset,” NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps said in early November. He referred to the drop in NASCAR’s TV ratings for the 2025 season, affected by the broadcast changes. However, a month after the championship weekend, deeper faults are visible in the sport. They were revealed on the first day of the NASCAR lawsuit’s trial, which featured Denny Hamlin.
Exposing Denny Hamlin’s and NASCAR’s scars
A jury of six men and three women was selected for the NASCAR lawsuit’s trial phase. Seated inside a federal courthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, these individuals’ statements were shocking for the NASCAR community. Prior to the jury selection, most of the prospective jurors knew little about the case itself or even NASCAR. Only three of 23 remaining candidates at one point said they had even heard of the lawsuit, and three of the remaining 19 people later said they were race fans.
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“It might have been rough for some to hear but I do believe the jurors when they say they don’t follow NASCAR or don’t know much about it. Many are transplants from other cities and if you aren’t in the area north of the city, it isn’t like people are talking NASCAR all the time,” journalist Bob Pockrass wrote on X.
This revelation exacerbates the already drowsy situation of the sport’s popularity. The NASCAR Cup Series experienced a 14 percent drop in television ratings for the 2025 season. The championship race at Phoenix Raceway drew 2.77 million viewers on NBC, down from the 2.9 million it drew last year.
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Accompanied by this revelation was Denny Hamlin‘s tough time in the witness stand. The 60-time Cup Series race winner and co-owner of 23XI Racing rolled out his testimony for a duration of 40 minutes. It included 23XI’s $8 million payment to Joe Gibbs Racing for its alliance and the absence of 11 of the 19 original charter teams. It also included the jurors asking Hamlin about his season, upon which he emotionally pleaded for the Fifth Amendment. Yet he went on to explain about his ailing father’s struggles to pay for his career.
“Court done for today. Opening statements and about 40 minutes of Denny Hamlin testimony. Hamlin teared up when talking about his family investing in his racing,” Bob Pockrass wrote. A fan took Hamlin’s side: “Asking about Denny’s season is like putting salt in the wound. That’s horrible and I don’t even like Denny.”
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Clearly, the NASCAR lawsuit’s first day of trial ended with shocking elements for fans. However, one endearing element was also present.
Validating the NBA legend’s presence
Although Denny Hamlin had a tough time on Monday, his co-owner had a different experience. Michael Jordan, a 6-time NBA champion and Chicago Bulls legend, can give goosebumps to anybody when he walks into a room. Although he is going up against a 77-year-old stock car racing enterprise, Jordan’s fame knows no bounds. The ultra sports star had that impact on some of the prospective jurors, who confessed to being fans and were thereby dismissed. That is what Jenna Fryer, covering the trial for the Associated Press, explained in detail.
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“Jordan’s presence in the courtroom was a factor: Among those dismissed from serving on the jury was a man who said he can’t be impartial because ‘I like Mike’ and another who said he had Michael Jordan posters on his walls growing up. A third dismissed juror pointed and winked at Jordan as he left the courtroom while the juror said they were a North Carolina fan but noted the football team at Jordan’s alma mater “aren’t doing too well right now’’ to which the retired star shook his head and laughed,” Fryer tweeted.
Clearly, Michael Jordan would turn heads no matter which direction the NASCAR lawsuit takes. Let’s wait and see what unfolds in the following days.
Inter Miami schedule, Lionel Messi stats: When is MLS Cup Final vs Vancouver?
Lionel Messi continues to torch Major League Soccer defenses as he chases Inter Miami’s first MLS Cup.
The Herons are one win from the lifting the silverware; Messi was instrumental in their 4-0 Eastern Conference semifinal win at FC Cincinnati with a goal and three assists, and then set up Miami’s third goal in a 5-1 shellacking of NYCFC in the Conference Final.
MORE — MLS Cup Playoffs schedule, scores, format
Inter Miami’s foe in the final? Thomas Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Can the German star again deny Messi and boss Javier Mascherano a glittering final prize?
The David Beckham-owned Miami have been among the favorites to win it all in MLS all year, but they were last year and got dumped out of the playoffs by Atlanta United.
Can this year be different?
What are Lionel Messi’s stats in MLS with Inter Miami?
2023 season
MLS: 6 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
Leagues Cup: 7 games, 10 goals, 1 assist
US Open Cup: 1 game, 2 assists
All competitions: 14 games, 11 goals, 5 assists
2024 season
MLS: 22 games, 21 goals, 11 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 3 games, 2 goals, 2 assists
All competitions: 25 games, 23 goals, 13 assists
2025 season
MLS: 32 games, 34 goals, 18 assists
Leagues Cup: 4 games, 2 goals, 2 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 7 games, 5 goals, 1 assist
Club World Cup; 4 games, 1 goal
All competitions: 47 games, 42 goals, 21 assists
Leo Messi’s career stats with Inter Miami
MLS: 61 games, 57 goals, 44 assists
Leagues Cup: 11 games, 12 goals, 3 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 10 games, 7 goals, 3 assists
US Open Cup: 1 game, 2 assists
Club World Cup; 4 games, 1 goal
All competitions: 87 games, 77 goals, 42 assists
Leo Messi’s awards with Inter Miami
2023 Leagues Cup
2024 Supporters’ Shield
2024 MLS MVP
2025 MLS Golden Boot
2025 Eastern Conference Champion
Inter Miami 2025 Playoff Schedule
Round one series vs Nashville SC
Game 1: Oct. 24 at Miami — Won 3-1 — 2 goals in 90 minutes
Game 2: Nov. 1 at Nashville — Lost 2-1 — 1 goal in 90 minutes
Game 3: Nov. 8 at Miami — Won 4-0 — 2 goals, 1 assist in 90 minutes
Inter Miami wins series 2-1
Conference semifinals
vs Inter Miami at FC Cincinnati — Won 4-0 — 1 goal, 3 assists in 90 minutes
Conference final
vs New York City FC — Won 5-1 — 1 assist in 90 minutes
U.S. Soccer has bold plans for the World Cup legacy
By ANNE M. PETERSON
Associated Press
The last time the United States hosted the World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation built on the the financial infusion and the public’s excitement to help launch Major League Soccer two years later.
Much has changed with the 2026 World Cup. This time the tournament is hosted by three nations, with the United States joined by Mexico and Canada. And the financial windfall will go to FIFA, which is running the tournament for the first time rather than a local organizing committee, such as the one in 1994 that used its $40 million surplus to fund the U.S. Soccer Foundation — the charitable arm of the national federation.
So what will the World Cup’s legacy be for U.S. soccer’s governing body? The not-for-profit is undertaking ambitious and sprawling projects to boost the game from the youth ranks to the pros.
U.S. Soccer’s ultimate aim is to spread the sport at the youth level through school and community programs, expand fundraising efforts and position the U.S. professional leagues and national teams for future success.
It’s a tall order, CEO JT Batson admits.
“We already have this massive engine that is people who love soccer in this country, and the infrastructure of our professional leagues and clubs, and all the youth soccer across the country. That’s a really powerful group that if organized and supported, can do some pretty incredible things,” he said.
Soccer Forward, the federation’s legacy project announced last year, has started to roll out. With the motto “Soccer Everywhere for Everyone,” it sells schools on expanded soccer programs, brings mini-fields into communities where soccer doesn’t have a big footprint, and supports community-led efforts to grow the game at a grassroots level. It includes everything from best practices for fundraising, to securing grants for building soccer fields, to tips for youth coaches.
U.S. Soccer says such initiatives are sorely needed: One in four schools have no sports programs.
But it goes beyond just the game, with elements of health and charity. In October, the Kansas City Current partnered with Soccer Forward for an event at the Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy. More than 100 girls took part in small-sided soccer games and programming focused on women’s health. The girls also packaged hygiene kits for women in need.
An emphasis on equity in the sport was aided by a $25 million donation from Michele Kang, owner of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, as well as Lyon and the London City Lionesses in Europe. The money will be used to grow the women’s game through research and innovation projects.
Batson said the goal is to ensure that “everyone who wants to play soccer can play, and that we have the right resources going to the right levels of the game to achieve the right resources.”
That means there’s an opportunity not just to benefit the kids who want to play recreationally, but to also bring future players into the game who may go on to academies, colleges or professional soccer careers.
“I think one of the big shifts for U.S. Soccer is sort of articulating ourselves as being in service to soccer, and we take that very seriously around our role of supporting those who are brining soccer to life in communities all across the country,” Batson said. “This is a huge flipping of how U.S. Soccer sees itself and the role we play with our members and everyone else who loves soccer, and (we) are trying to do things every day to earn the trust of those folks to continue on that journey with us.”
Former Deloitte executive Dan Helfrich, hired as the USSF’s chief operating officer this month, will help oversee In Service to Soccer, the federation’s overarching strategy.
“It is our responsibility to drive lasting legacy from hosting the World Cup,” Helfrich said. “We take that responsibility very seriously and believe that we will have national holistic impact that comes from this World Cup, not just sporadic impact limited to a few communities or cities.”
To achieve these lofty goals, U.S. Soccer needs funding. So the federation has also launched the Behind the Dream campaign which aims to raise $250 million — and also hopes to capitalize on the excitement of the World Cup.
In many countries the government helps fund sports federations. For example, the English Football Association gets funding from several government entities, including Sport England. Sports federations in the United States are non-profit organizations.
U.S. Soccer has put an emphasis on fundraising in the past two years. In 2023, U.S. Soccer’s expenses exceeded its revenues. That has since flipped.
U.S. Soccer took in $257.4 million in revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, a 36% increase over 2024, in part because of fundraising and sponsorship deals in anticipation of the World Cup.
“U.S. Soccer is in a fortunate position by virtue of our financial growth to be able to invest in our soccer strategies at unimaginable levels, even five years ago,” Batson said. “And we also have been very intentional about learning from other very successful movements to say `OK, how do we approach this in a way that leads to the outcomes that we care about.’”
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FKA twigs Announces 2026 Tour, Shares New “Love Crimes” Video: Watch
Less than a year after wrapping up her last run of live performances, FKA twigs is going back on tour. Beginning in March of next year, the Body High Tour will bring twigs to theaters and arenas across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom in support of Eusexua and its companion album, Eusexua Afterglow. Opening at select shows are Yves Tumor, Eartheater, Tokischa, and Brutalismus 3000. Scroll down to see the full list of dates.
Afterglow came out last month, alongside an alternate version of Eusexua that swapped out four of the album’s original tracks for new songs. Today, twigs has also shared a video for the Afterglow track “Love Crimes” directed by Jordan Hemingway, who has helmed nearly all of the visuals for Eusexua and its follow-up.
See where the Afterglow track “Hard” falls on Pitchfork’s new list “The 100 Best Songs of 2025.”
FKA twigs:
03-14 Miami, FL – Factory Town *
03-16 Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
03-18 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem +
03-21 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
03-22 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway +
03-34 Toronto, Ontario – Coca-Cola Coliseum +
03-26 Chicago, IL – Wintrust Arena +
03-27 Minneapolis, MN – The Armory +
03-30 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium #
04-02 Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater #
04-03 Vancouver, British Columbia – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre #
04-04 Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds #
04-07 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
04-12 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
04-19 — Indio, CA @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
04-23 Mexico City, Mexico – Pepsi Center WTC
06-04 Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena ^
06-06 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome ^
06-08 Paris, France – Adidas Arena ^
06-10 London, England – O2 Arena ^
06-12 Berlin, Germany – Velodrom ^
MLB Remaining Free Agents List
NEW YORK (AP) — The 165 remaining free agents (q-rejected qualifying offer from former team):
AMERICAN LEAGUE
ATHLETICS (3) — José Leclerc, rhp; Scott McGough, rhp; Sean Newcomb, lhp.
BALTIMORE (4) — Zach Eflin, rhp; Jorge Mateo, of-inf; Gary Sánchez, c; Tomayoki Sugano, rhp.
BOSTON (7) — Alex Bregman, 3b; Lucas Giolito, rhp; Liam Hendriks, rhp; Steven Matz, lhp; Dustin May, rhp; Rob Refsnyder, of; Justin Wilson, lhp.
CHICAGO (4) — Tyler Alexander, lhp; Miguel Castro, rhp; Martín Pérez, lhp; Michael A. Taylor, of.
CLEVELAND (3) — Jakob Junis, rhp; John Means, lhp; Lane Thomas, of.
DETROIT (7) — Alex Cobb, rhp; Kyle Finnegan, rhp; Tommy Kahnle, rhp; Rafael Montero, rhp; Chris Paddack, rhp; Paul Sewald, rhp; José Urquidy, rhp.
HOUSTON (4) — Victor Caratini, c; Craig Kimbrel, rhp; Brendan Rodgers, 2b; q-Framber Valdez, lhp.
KANSAS CITY (6) — Adam Frazier, 2b; Randal Grichuk, of; Hunter Harvey, rhp; Michael Lorenzen, rhp; Luke Maile, c; Mike Yastrzemski, of.
LOS ANGELES (10) — Tyler Anderson, lhp; Andre Chafin, lhp; Luis García, rhp; Kyle Hendricks, rhp; Kenley Jansen, rhp; Yoán Moncada, 3b; Luis Rengifo, 3b-2b-of; Hunter Strickland, rhp; Chris Taylor, of-2b; José Ureña, rhp.
MINNESOTA (1) — Christian Vázquez, c.
NEW YORK (8) — Cody Bellinger, of-1b; Paul Blackburn, rhp; Paul Goldschmidt, 1b; Jonathan Loáisiga, rhp; Amed Rosario, inf-of; Austin Slater, of; Luke Weaver, rhp; Devin Williams, rhp.
SEATTLE (5) —.Caleb Ferguson, lhp; Mitch Garver, c; Luke Jackson, rhp; Jorge Polanco, 2b-3b; Eugenio Suárez, 3b.
TAMPA BAY (3) — Adrian Houser, rhp; Pete Fairbanks, rhp; CoCo Montes, 2b.
TEXAS (12) — Shawn Armstrong, rhp; Patrick Corbin, lhp; Danny Coulombe, lhp; Jon Gray, rhp; Merrill Kelly, rhp; Tyler Mahle, rhp; Chris Martin, rhp; Phil Maton, rhp; Hoby Milner, lhp; Dylan Moore, ss; Donovan Solano, inf; Rowdy Tellez, 1b.
TORONTO (6) — Chris Bassitt, rhp; q-Bo Bichette, ss; Seranthony Domínguez, rhp; Ty France, 1b; Isiah Kiner-Falefa, inf; Max Scherzer, rhp.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA (3) — Jalen Beeks, lhp; q-Zac Gallen, rhp; Elvin Rodríguez, rhp.
ATLANTA (6) — Pierce Johnson, rhp; Ha-Seong Kim, ss; Tyler Kinley, rhp; Charlie Morton, rhp; Marcell Ozuna, of; Connor Seabold, rhp.
CHICAGO (11) — Ryan Brasier, rhp; Willi Castro, of; Aaron Civale, rhp; Brad Keller, rhp; Drew Pomeranz, lhp; Taylor Rogers, lhp; Carlos Santana, 1b; Michael Soroka, rhp; Caleb Thielbar, lhp; q-Kyle Tucker, of; Justin Turner, 1b-3b.
CINCINNATI (8) — Miguel Andujar, of; Scott Barlow, rhp; Austin Hays, of; Zack Littell, rhp; Nick Martinez, rhp; Wade Miley, lhp; Emilio Pagán, rhp; Brent Suter, lhp.
COLORADO (3) — Orlando Arcia, inf; Kyle Farmer, inf; Germán Márquez, rhp.
LOS ANGELES (7) —Michael Conforto, of; Andrew Heaney, lhp; Kiké Hernández, of-inf; Clayton Kershaw, lhp; Michael Kopech, rhp; Miguel Rojas, ss; Kirby Yates, rhp.
MIAMI (0)
MILWAUKEE (5) — Rhys Hoskins, 1b; Danny Jansen, c; Shelby Miller, rhp; Jordan Montgomery, lhp; Jose Quintana, lhp.
NEW YORK (10) — Pete Alonso, 1b; q-Edwin Díaz, rhp; Griffin Canning, rhp; Starling Marte, of; Cedric Mullins, of; Tyler Rogers, rhp; Drew Smith, rhp; Gregory Soto, lhp; Ryne Stanek, rhp; Jesse Winker, of.
PHILADELPHIA (10) — Harrison Bader, of; Walker Buehler, rhp; Max Kepler, of; Tim Mayza, lhp; J.T. Realmuto, c; David Robertson, rhp; Jordan Romano, rhp; q-Kyle Schwarber, dh-of; q-Ranger Suárez, lhp; Lou Trivino, rhp.
PITTSBURGH (2) — Andrew McCutchen, of; Tommy Pham, of.
ST. LOUIS (1) — Miles Mikolas, rhp.
SAN DIEGO (9) — Luis Arraez, 1b; q-Dylan Cease, rhp; Nestor Cortes, lhp; Elias Díaz, c; Jose Iglesias, inf; q-Michael King, rhp; Martín Maldonado, c; Ryan O’Hearn, 1b-of; Robert Suarez, rhp.
SAN FRANCISCO (4) — Wilmer Flores, 1b-dh; Tom Murphy, c; Dominic Smith, 1b; Justin Verlander, rhp.
WASHINGTON (3) — Josh Bell, 1b; Paul DeJong, ss; Derek Law, rhp.
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Mets Tabbed to Nab $31 Million All-Star, Intriguing Pitcher in Trade
After falling just two games short of a trip to their fifth World Series in franchise history in 2024, then following it up by signing generational slugger Juan Soto to a record, $765 million, 15-year free agent contract— and amassing the second-largest payroll in MLB — the New York Mets attacked the 2025 season as a frontrunner to get to the World Series this time, and even win it.
But things didn’t quite work out that way. Blowing a 5 1/2 game lead in the National League East as late as June 12, the $342 million team collapsed to the point where they missed the playoffs completely, winning just 28 of 65 games after the All-Star break to end up with just 83 wins, 13 games off the pace set by the division-winning Philadelphia Phillies.
Where do the Mets go from there? Clearly, some serious changes are needed to the roster. The Mets have already lost their all-time home run king, Pete Alonso, to free agency — unless they are somehow able to re-sign him — and they cast off their longest-tenured player in outfielder Brandon Nimmo, dealing the 10-year veteran to the Texas Rangers for defensive-minded second baseman Marcus Semien.
Wild 3-Team Trade Brings Arenado to New York
Now, an MLB analyst writing for MLB.com has come up with a new trade proposal that would shake up the Mets core, while also helping the American League Championship Series runners-up, the Seattle Mariners, in a wild, three-team trade that also ropes in the St. Louis Cardinals.
The blockbuster deal put forth by MLB.com scribe Anthony Castrovince would relieve the rebuilding Cardinals of the $31 million they would owe, over the next two seasons, to eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. In the deal, Arenado goes to the Mets where he would serve as an immediate upgrade both at bat and in the field over the duo of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, who split hot-corner duties at Citi Field this year.
Though Arenado suffered a season-long slump in 2025, the Mets would be banking on a return to something closer to his career .846 OPS performance at the plate.
Unique Pitching Prospect Also Part of Deal
The Mets would surrender no more than their No. 30 prospect, righty pitcher Camden Lohman, in the deal, because the core of the trade is Cardinals super-utility player Brendan Donovan, who goes to the Mariners. The Mariners, in turn, send their No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, 21-year-old outfielder Lazaro Montes.
For absorbing Arenado’s contract, the Mets also get a bonus — Mariners’ 2024 first-round draft pick out of Mississippi, Jurrangelo Cijntje, a 22-year-old pitcher who grew up in Curaçao — home of future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen and Boston Red Sox Gold Glove center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela — and who has one unique characteristic that sets him apart from any other pitching prospect.
He throws with either hand — a true switch-pitcher.
Switch Pitching More Than Gimmick
But his ambidextrous ability is more than a gimmick. After just one minor league season that saw the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder advance quickly to the Double-A level, Cijntje rose to become the No. 8 prospect in the Mariners’ system.
As a right-hander, the prospect reaches 98 mph with his fastball, per an MLB Pipeline scouting report, with a 90 mph slider as well as a changeup.
Pitching southpaw, “he’s more reliever-ish, using a lower slot to get outs with a sweeping low-80s breaker and a low-90s fastball,” the Pipeline scouting report states.
In his brief minor league career, the Mariners have used Cijntje as a right-handed starter on Saturdays, with a relief appearance each Wednesday, pitching from the left side.
Blue Jays Predicted to Return to World Series With Dylan Cease in Rotation
The Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest signing of the offseason so far Wednesday, signing starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Blue Jays, fresh off a devastating loss in Game 7 of the World Series, are taking the necessary steps to return to the Fall Classic, and MLB Network host Yonder Alonso believes they’ll do just that.
More news: Former Mets, Dodgers First Baseman Dies
MLB Expert Wrong About Red Sox Star Alex Bregman
The Boston Red Sox were fortunate to have Alex Bregman as a member of the organization in 2025.
Bregman helped balance the lineup with much-needed right-handed pop and was arguably even more important in the clubhouse than he was on the field. That’s not to say he wasn’t great on the field. He absolutely was. But that goes to show how big a voice he was with the team in general.
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The Red Sox are the best fit for Alex Bregman
For the amount of chatter around Bregman, you’d think he spent years in Boston but this is a guy with just 114 regular season games under his belt with the organization. He made the most of them and even was in a small group of players who met with Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy, management, and ownership to discuss the future of the organization. That’s how important a piece he was.
It would be great to have him back with the franchise in 2026, but there will be competition. In fact, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand tabbed the Detroit Tigers as the
Mets signing Devin Williams to three-year deal in MLB free agency
Devin Williams is leaving the Yankees, but he isn’t going far.
The reliever, who arrived in The Bronx a year ago in a trade from Milwaukee and lost his role as closer, is headed to the Mets, The Post confirmed.
The 31-year-old agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal that includes some deferred money.
It will be another change of scenery for Williams, who was expected to lock down the closer role with the Yankees, but instead struggled enough that they traded for David Bednar at the deadline to close games.
Williams’ arrival in Queens could impact the Mets’ pursuit of Edwin Diaz, who opted out of his contract earlier in the offseason and is a free agent.
Diaz is coming off another stellar year with the Mets, fully recovered from the torn patellar that cost him the 2023 season.
Williams’ arrival is part of what’s already been a busy offseason for David Stearns, as the Mets have shaken up their coaching staff and traded Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien.
Pete Alonso, another key free agent, remains on the market.
Mets signing ex-Yankees closer Devin Williams in MLB free agency, per report
Devin Williams is changing boroughs. Williams and the New York Mets have agreed to a three-year contract, reports The Athletic. The deal is worth $45 million, plus a bonus and deferrals, according to the New York Post. The team has not yet announced the move.
Williams, 31, spent this past season across town with the Yankees and had a turbulent season, throwing 62 innings with a 4.79 ERA. He allowed 37 runs in 2025 after allowing 33 runs combined from 2022-24. Williams was dominant at times, however, and he finished the season with 90 strikeouts in those 62 innings. He was a trusted late-inning reliever in the postseason.
MLB News: Troubled $50M Star Ditches Yankees To Join $3.2B NY Rival After Juan Soto Betrayal
For the second offseason in a row, the New York Mets have snagged a free agent right out of the Yankees’ reach. Devin Williams’ free agency didn’t come with the same noise as Juan Soto’s last year. However, the $3.2 billion Mets didn’t hesitate to grab the two-time All-Star off the market.
Williams signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Mets, with $5 million deferred.
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Per sources, his contract with the Mets is a straight three-year deal with no opt-outs or options. He’s locked in to help anchor the back end of their bullpen.
Given Williams’ struggles with the Yankees last season, many believed he might settle for a short-term deal to rebuild his value. But once Ryan Helsley secured a two-year, $28 million contract, it was clear Williams would still draw plenty of interest. And he did.
The Story is still developing….
Devin Williams to Mets deal’s impact on relief market
1. The first question on everyone’s mind: Does this mean the Edwin Díaz era is over in Queens, or is there a chance they are going to try to build a super bullpen?
The Williams signing doesn’t take the Mets out of the mix for Díaz, but it’s certainly a nice insurance policy if Díaz signs with another club. But even if the Mets bring back their closer, let’s not forget that Williams has had some of his greatest seasons in a setup role.
Williams won the Trevor Hoffman Award in 2020 while setting up for Josh Hader, then made the All-Star team in 2022 in the same role before Hader was traded a couple weeks later. And although Williams would surely like to close, his new contract is paying him “closer money,” so whether that means pitching the eighth or ninth likely won’t be as important for him.
The Mets ranked ninth in the Majors last season with a 3.93 bullpen ERA, and that was with Díaz posting a 1.63 ERA in a bullpen-high 66 1/3 innings. We knew the Mets were going to be in the bullpen market this winter with Díaz on the open market, but rival executives have assumed that New York would be looking to acquire at least two relievers if not more, so the idea of them building a super bullpen would not be a shock to anybody.
2. If the Mets do move on from Díaz, they have presumably “saved” some money with this Williams deal, presumably to target a big name elsewhere. Of the remaining top free agents, who do you think they are most likely to sign?
Well, some of that could depend on whether the Mets still make a push to re-sign Díaz, who will cost them somewhere in the range of $20 million per year over four or five seasons. And even if Díaz goes to another team, I would expect the Mets to spend some more money on the bullpen as mentioned above.
As for the top free agents, the most likely scenario is a reunion with Pete Alonso, though that’s hardly a lock. If Alonso leaves New York, the Mets could pivot to Kyle Schwarber to replace the thump in the lineup. And while sources don’t tab the Mets as favorites for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, New York does have a vacancy in the outfield after trading Brandon Nimmo. Given the Mets’ payroll and Steve Cohen’s desire to win, I will never say never when it comes to any free agent ultimately landing in Queens.
3. We’ve seen two big-name relievers (Williams and Ryan Helsley) go off the market in the last few days. Should we expect there to continue to be a run on relievers? And if so, who do you think is next?
Even with Williams and Helsley off the market, there is no shortage of proven back-end relievers available. Díaz is the top option available, but he’s also going to be the most expensive.
With Williams signing for three years and $45 million and Helsley getting two years and $28 million from the Orioles, the market for non-Díaz closers appears to have been set. That should get things moving on the relief market, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more late-inning options start to come off the board.
If I had to guess who would be next, I would go with Fairbanks. According to sources, the Blue Jays and Marlins are among the teams interested in the former Rays closer, while the Orioles were also in on him before the Helsley deal.
4. Williams was the closer for the Yankees last year, and Weaver is also a free agent. Should we assume they will be a player for one of the top remaining relievers, such as Díaz or Suarez?
Just as we expected the Mets to be in the market for a closer with Díaz on the market, it’s been a given that the Yankees will be looking for bullpen help this offseason. But David Bednar was excellent for the Yankees in his 22 appearances after the Trade Deadline (10 saves, 2.19 ERA) and could be the closer next season, making it less urgent to spend big on one of the top relievers. That’s not to say the Yankees won’t be in the market for another reliever or two, it just doesn’t need to be Díaz or Suarez.
The Yankees are still trying to bring back Bellinger, or, if he signs elsewhere, replace him with another impact bat. Starting pitching is also on New York’s wish list as Gerrit Cole will be returning from Tommy John surgery, Carlos Rodón will miss the start of 2026 following surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow and Clarke Schmidt is expected to miss most of next season following his own Tommy John surgery.
MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Prepare to Sacrifice Jarren Duran in Hot Pursuit of Royals’ $13.25M SP
Beyond re-signing Alex Bregman, the Red Sox’s top priority is landing a No. 2 starter to pair with Garrett Crochet. To make that happen, they could part ways with one of their All-Star outfielders. Intriguingly, both MLB’s Mark Feinsand and Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter had one name in mind—Jarren Duran.
The Red Sox might have to consider parting with Duran, especially now that the Kansas City Royals have declared that 2024 All-Star lefty Cole Ragans isn’t “off limits” in trade discussions.
But it should also be noted that Royals GM J.J. Picollo has made it clear that it would take a “really big return” to land Ragans.
Ragans earned his extension by turning in a strong 2024 season that saw him post a 3.14 ERA across 32 starts. This year, though, he missed three months with a strained rotator cuff. That limited him to only 13 starts and a less impressive 4.67 ERA.
The left-hander, a 2016 first-round pick by the Rangers out of North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, isn’t the one the Kansas City Royals plan to move cheaply.
Luckily for the Red Sox, Jarren Duran’s trade value is too good to ignore.
Although the Royals would ideally like to add a right-handed hitting outfielder, they aren’t locked into that requirement. So, Duran, who hits from the left, would make an interesting option in this trade package.
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The thing is, Boston’s outfield is crowded anyway. And Duran is seemingly the odd man out in the Red Sox outfield.
They don’t have to move him if they believe he’s their best outfielder. However, considering how crowded the group is, dealing with him before next season would make a lot of sense.
Ragans just signed a three-year, $13.25 million extension with Kansas City back in February. Just in case Duran doesn’t qualify as the kind of “really big return” the Royals want, the Red Sox could sweeten the deal by including left-hander Kyle Harrison.
Harrison is the same pitcher Boston acquired from the Giants in the stunning June 15 trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco.
The Red Sox may have to act fast to get Ragans, especially with the Mets also projected to make a run for the All-Star.
The proposed Mets–Royals trade would be a threat to the Red Sox
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently reported that the Mets are projected to swing a deal for Royals All-Star starter Cole Ragans.
“To NYM: LHP Cole Ragans
To KC: RHP Jonah Tong, OF Carson Benge, IF/OF Ronny Mauricio, 1B Ryan Clifford”
It’s a steep price for the Mets to pay. However, that kind of return would give the Royals a much-needed boost in offensive talent. Meanwhile, New York would secure the No. 2/3 starter they’ve been searching for.
Cole Ragans also brings a very team-friendly contract. Given that he signed a three-year, $13.25 million deal before the 2025 season, it’s an easy commitment for the Mets.
If the Royals were to trade Cole Ragans to the Mets, New York would be getting a starter capable of racking up strikeouts. In 2024, Ragans earned an All-Star nod. He posted a 3.14 ERA across 32 starts while fanning 223 batters. Injuries limited him to just 13 starts in 2025, yet he still managed over 90 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.
Ragans is projected to post a 3.77 ERA over just over 100 innings next season. With the other moves the Mets are expected to make, they won’t be leaning too heavily on him as some teams might.
Still, New York remains one of the most intriguing teams to watch this offseason. Big decisions loom involving Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. Both of them appear to have a wide market of potential suitors.
Alexander Volkanovski thinks others deserved title shot before Diego Lopes
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headlines the UFC 325 fight card in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 1 in a rematch against No. 2 ranked Diego Lopes, but believes others were more deserving of the title shot. The fight promotion made the announcement.
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria Given Final Lifeline in MMA Legend’s Stand Against UFC’s Crucial Panel
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria was supposed to be the superfight that defined an era. A few months ago, it looked like the UFC’s largest potential showdown: two double champions, two unbeaten runs in new divisions, and a pound-for-pound clash waiting to explode. But instead of growing, the momentum faded. New contenders surged, new narratives formed, and with ‘El Matador’ stepping away until mid-2026, the spark cooled.
And if there was anyone who saw it coming, it was none other than Chael Sonnen. In his opinion, the fight lost steam not because the matchup became less appealing, but because both divisions suddenly had bigger, more urgent problems to solve. Islam now has Kamaru Usman waiting at welterweight. Ilia Topuria is quickly closing in on Arman Tsarukyan. So what’s the fix? Well, ‘The American Gangster’ has an answer.
The only way to make Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria matter again
Chael Sonnen’s take is simple: the fight no longer works as champ vs. champ because both fighters are already facing serious threats. “The fight’s gotten further apart. It’s not overly interesting anymore… We’re not certain Islam can get over on Kamar. We’re not certain Ilia can get over on Tsarukyan.” In short, the intensity faded as their divisions became louder than the super-fight.
However, ‘The American Gangster’ also noted a wrinkle created by the rankings committee—and the storyline he believes both guys should be competing for. When Makhachev won the welterweight title, the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking quietly returned to him. ‘El Matador’ did not lose, get downgraded, or even fight, but he still lost his top rank.
Pointing it out, Sonnen didn’t hold back further in his YouTube video, as he went off on the rankings commission: “If the rankings committee had integrity, they would have kept Islam at number one… but they lack integrity.” Whether you agree or disagree, Sonnen believes one thing is clear: something was taken from Ilia Topuria, and that alone breathes new life into the match.
And Ilia Topuria seems fully committed. He’s already proposed a catchweight fight with no belts on the line, suggesting they create “a Pound-for-Pound title” specifically for that night. For him, the Dagestani has always been the goal—the third belt, the legacy drive, the battle he’s been chasing for a year.
Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev wants either a massive paycheck to cut back down or a meeting at 170. The only challenge is timing. Topuria will not return until mid-2026 for personal reasons, while Makhachev is ready now with lined-up contenders.
But if both decide that the pound-for-pound crown—the sport’s unofficial throne—is worth fighting for, Chael Sonnen believes the solution is already clear: a catchweight battle where pride, not gold, is the prize. And while that fight remains unbooked, Ilia Topuria is already claiming the upper hand outside the cage.
‘El Matador’ beats Islam Makhachev outside the Octagon
While the potential superfight remains frozen by scheduling, one scoreboard has already shifted. Ilia Topuria soared to 12 million followers overnight, surpassing Islam Makhachev’s 11.9 million and becoming the fourth-most-followed fighter in UFC history.
It happened quietly—with no marketing campaign or fight-week push; just a surge of over 700,000 new followers that instantly reframed their rivalry. One thing is now obvious: ‘El Matador’ commands a level of global attention that even double-champ frontrunners rarely achieve. And he did it while inactive—not training, not promoting—simply letting the momentum carry him.
What this essentially says is simple: Islam Makhachev dominates the competitive spotlight as the reigning welterweight champion. Ilia Topuria now owns the cultural spotlight—the kind that fuels superfights and gives a catchweight matchup more buzz than any belt could. Two divisions, two champions, two different types of pressure—both headed toward the same collision course, whether the bout happens next year or the one after.
Aspinall Diagnosed With Bilateral Brown’s Syndrome
UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has been diagnosed with Bilateral Brown’s syndrome, a condition in both eyes which may require surgery, after his no-contest with Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall’s first defense as the heavyweight champ ended in a no-contest at UFC 321 last month after he could not continue following the first-round due to an accidental double eye-poke from Gane. The champ received a mixed reaction, with some questioning whether he was looking for a way out. Jon Jones responded by trolling Tom, as he posted an image of a duck with an eye-patch on his Instagram profile. This was to mock those who suggested that he was ducking Tom.
Brown’s syndrome is where the tendon behind the eye restricts its movement, making it difficult or impossible for the eye to move upward, particularly when looking inward. He is also suffering from “persistent” double vision. More than a month after the incident, Aspinall is still suffering from symptoms and has not yet been cleared by medical professionals to return to fighting.
Reaction
“We’ve got to see how it goes over the next few weeks. Obviously that’s down to the specialists and stuff, but I’m not in the gym training at the moment. I’m not doing anything MMA wise at the moment. I’m just following the doctor’s orders right now and seeing what happens with the health. I’m obviously very keen, very keen to get back and beat this guy up. But I’ve got to be 100% right. So whenever the eye’s good to go, that’s when I’ll do it,” Aspinall said
“[He has] not yet medically cleared for combat activity. Depending on clinical progression, targeted periocular [surrounding the eyeball] steroid injections or surgical intervention to address persistent motility [movement] impairment may be required if symptoms fail to resolve,” Medical report
Arman Tsarukyan’s Own Misfortune Blamed for UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett Snub
Nobody expected the lightweight picture to fall apart this fast. What should have been a straightforward path to Ilia Topuria‘s first title defense has devolved into a tangle of pulled contenders, poor timing, and a matchup that feels more promotional than competitive. And right in the center of the storm is Arman Tsarukyan.
Because, as outrageous as the UFC 324 announcement was, one thing stood out above everything else: the No. 1 contender was not included. Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett is a great bout, but does it have any merit? Rankings? Logic? None of it made the cut. And if you ask Renato Moicano, there’s only one person responsible for the mess the division is stuck in.
Moicano blames Arman Tsarukyan’s own misfortune for the UFC 324 snub
Renato Moicano did not hold back. He flat-out said that Arman Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from UFC 311 “f—– up the division,” claiming that things began to unravel when ‘Ahalkalakets’ was unable to face Islam Makhachev. “If Arman fought that night, the division would keep going,” he insisted, emphasizing how bizarre things appear now.
Especially with ‘El Matador’ now on a break, an interim title fight centered on a contender with one recent win, and Pimblett with zero victories against top-ten opponents. Moicano believes that is precisely why Gaethje–Pimblett feels flimsy. “It’s going to be a paper champ,” he stated, denying the legitimacy of an interim belt, which exists primarily because the real champion is unavailable.
And beneath the fury was a sharper point: Arman Tsarukyan‘s bad luck didn’t just hinder his personal climb; it jammed the entire system, allowing the UFC to shift from merit-based to star-first matchmaking. Meanwhile, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is watching the fallout with clear irritation. He’s already hit back, stating, “This isn’t family issues — this is the UFC’s game plan,” accusing the organization of paving the way for Paddy Pimblett to face Ilia Topuria.
He further doubled down: “Paddy is easy work. Justin is easy work. Ilia is easy work… nobody is on my level.” But confidence doesn’t solve what Moicano sees as the core problem: the night Arman couldn’t make the walk is when everything shifted. Justin Gaethje and ‘The Baddy’ are now fighting for an interim belt that half the division is side-eyeing, while Tsarukyan is on the outside looking in.
One injury and one withdrawal, and the entire weight class changed. Whether fair or not, that’s how ‘Money’ sees it, and that’s how UFC 324 ended up being the biggest “what just happened?” moment of the year. But that doesn’t mean everyone is ignoring it already — especially not Arman Tsarukyan, who picked his side in the UFC 324 main event.
Tsarukyan goes off on Paddy Pimblett in brutal UFC 324 verdict
So, when the UFC officially announced Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan took it personally. The frustration that had been building throughout the matchmaking process suddenly boiled over, and he directed it all at ‘The Baddy.’ If he couldn’t fight for the interim belt, he’d at least make it clear to the world what he thought of the man who replaced him.
“It’s a business to build Paddy and make him easy fights,” he told ESPN MMA, adding that he hopes Gaethje “beats his a-” and fans can “forget about Paddy for the rest of our lives.” Then he described, in graphic detail, how they would fight: “With Paddy, I’m never going for the choke. I’m going to elbow him all day, all night and make his face bleed.”
The rant continued to escalate, from offering to fly out and assist ‘The Highlight’ in shutting down Pimblett to stating, “I hate that guy,” and threatening “a real Armenian slap” if they crossed paths. This wasn’t promo talk; it was pure frustration from a top contender watching the belt he earned slip into someone else’s hands. And if Justin Gaethje accepts his offer, UFC 324 may be the night Tsarukyan fights without even entering the cage.
Tyron Woodley Rejects Dana White’s Welterweight GOAT Pick in Fiery Message to Kamaru Usman
The explosive beef between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman may heat up again. Just before UFC 322, where Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena, UFC CEO Dana White appeared on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. While there, the 56-year-old hailed ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ as the greatest welterweight in the history of the promotion. He, of course, overlooked a man who many thought was the real welterweight GOAT.
Well, needless to say, it’s Georges St-Pierre, who defended his title a record nine times. Naturally, Dana White’s declaration was met with scorn, especially thanks to his falling out with St-Pierre. Tyron Woodley, however, has a slightly different theory about why Usman has secured a special place in White’s heart and his welterweight GOAT rankings. In an interview with MMA Fighting, the former welterweight champion held up a mirror to his old rival.
Kamaru Usman was the biggest brown-noser, says Woodley
“Kamaru is not the greatest welterweight of all time,” Woodley told MMA Fighting. Instead, Woodley, who claims to be well aware of the politics behind the scenes in the UFC, believes Usman rose in Dana White’s GOAT rankings for a very different reason. According to him, Usman earned favor by staying in White’s good books. “But he is… the one [who] kissed the most a—. He’s the one [who’s like,] ‘Oh, let’s have uncle Dana on my podcast.’ Let me accept every fight.”
“Let me go to Vegas and sit and just loiter in his office every week and just try to stay in his good graces and accept whatever offer,” Tyron Woodley added. ‘The Chosen One’ essentially accused Usman of benefiting from the infamous ‘Dana White Privilege,’ the same advantage that has boosted many UFC careers that didn’t necessarily deserve the spotlight.
“You’ll be rewarded because you took last-minute notice fights, you fought injury, you didn’t complain about money, you didn’t ask for more, you didn’t ask questions, and you always was trying to be goody two-shoe and brown-nosing. So yeah, he’s the biggest brown-noser in the welterweight division,” Woodley said during the interview.
Despite the criticism, Woodley acknowledged Kamaru Usman’s talent but refused to accept that his legacy towers over Georges St-Pierre. “He’s a good fighter. He stayed disciplined, but that’s what he is. He’s not the greatest. Well, how can you even say that? Once you say he’s the greatest, and you’re trying to say he’s better than George, like nobody is even listening to you after that,” he added.
Woodley, of course, defended his welterweight title four times before losing to Usman at UFC 235 in March 2019. He then suffered three consecutive losses before parting ways with the promotion. Since then, ‘The Chosen One’ has not returned to MMA, but has had a couple of boxing matches against Jake Paul, which he lost. He is currently preparing for his boxing match against fellow UFC legend Anderson Silva on December 19, on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua.
Kamaru Usman, on the other hand, has expressed interest in facing Islam Makhachev at welterweight, a matchup Makhachev has also been open to. Whether that fight materializes remains to be seen. Still, if Usman truly has the ‘Dana White Privilege,’ as Woodley alleges, the bout may not be far-fetched. Coming back to Woodley, he went on to reveal his own version of the UFC welterweight GOAT rankings.
Tyron Woodley has him and Usman tied at third
Tyron Woodley isn’t shy about where he believes he stands in the welterweight hierarchy. And he’s putting himself right alongside his former rival. Reflecting on the division’s history, Woodley said, “When you really think about the era they did it, it’s Georges No. 1, I would say it’s Matt Hughes No. 2… We got a chance to sit back and watch those two guys and then kind of carve out our deal. I would say me and Usman are probably tied for third.”
But Woodley also feels the story between him and Usman remains unfinished. He argued that the fight fans saw wasn’t reflective of who he was at the time. “He fought a s—t hole of a version of me… I don’t even remember the fight.” Pointing to Usman’s history of granting rematches, Woodley added, “I’m the only one that didn’t get a chance… because they knew that 9 out of 10 times… I’m going to win.”
Having said that, it appears Tyron Woodley isn’t holding on to any ill will against Dana White or Kamaru Usman. However, he refuses to overlook the advantages handed to his rival, while he had to struggle. But do you agree with him? Who is your welterweight GOAT?
Tom Aspinall on Ciryl Gane: ‘I think he’s a big cheater’
Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been on the mend since being poked in the eye by former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event in October.
Late in the opening round of the title bout, Gane unintentionally eye poked Aspinall rendering him unable to continue. The fight was ruled a no contest and Aspinall retained the belt, but he’s not so sure the foul was accidental.
The champion has been sidelined since UFC 321 unable to train. He’s been evaluated by specialists and is reviewing his options.
Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman is ‘Least Deserving’ Title Fight, Claims UFC Welterweight Star
UFC 322 caused major shifts in the welterweight division after Islam Makhachev captured the championship. The win opened the door for a wave of young and hungry contenders now vying for their chance at the belt. Despite this growing field, Makhachev has shown interest in giving Kamaru Usman the first title shot. However, Sean Brady has argued that this direction is not the right move for the division.
Before UFC 322, Brady held the #1 ranking at welterweight and was positioned for a title fight with a win. His knockout loss to undefeated contender Michael Morales pushed him down to #7. Brady entered the event on a three-fight winning streak that included an impressive submission against former champion Leon Edwards. The setback significantly changed his trajectory in the title race.
Makhachev secured the welterweight title with a dominant one-sided performance against Jack Della Maddalena. The Dagestani champion later identified Usman as the only plausible option for his first defense. This stance sparked renewed debate within the division. Brady responded with firm criticism, arguing that the choice ignored more deserving contenders.
There’s no way Ian gets it next, I don’t think so. First of all, the least deserving of it is Kamaru Usman. I don’t know how they’re fine angling this, trying to push him to the title. Mutual friendship, same manager… I understand what they’re trying to do, but that’s bullsh*t. I personally, obviously he beat me, I think Morales is the most deserving out of everybody. Undefeated, 19-0. Just beat me. I was the number one contender.
Sean Brady via Steady Picks
Brady had already voiced doubts about Makhachev’s reign even before UFC 322 took place. He questioned whether the new champion would stay at 170 pounds or attempt to return to lightweight to reclaim the belt from Ilia Topuria. According to Brady, such uncertainty risked leaving the welterweight division without consistent activity. He believed this instability could slow the division’s overall progress.
Brady also pointed to the managerial ties between Makhachev and Usman, both longtime clients of Ali Abdelaziz. He raised concerns that shared representation could influence matchmaking decisions. Usman’s long championship history and high-profile status added further layers to the discussion. He argued that these factors should not outweigh recent performances in determining title opportunities.
Interestingly, Brady was not the only welterweight questioning the idea of Makhachev facing Usman next. Ian Garry also pushed for a title shot after his win at UFC Qatar and dismissed Islam Makhachev’s interest in Kamaru Usman. With several contenders vocal about their positions, the division remains highly competitive. The next steps for the new champion will directly shape the path forward at 170 pounds.
Undefeated welterweight questions Islam Makhachev’s performance at UFC 322
Islam Makhachev’s dominant showing against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 raised discussions about how his style translates at 170 pounds. The performance prompted several ranked fighters to reassess their own positions in the division. Among them, undefeated Kazakh phenom Shavkat Rakhmonov has emerged as one of the most vocal.
Arman Tsarukyan reacts to being left out of interim lightweight title fight
When UFC CEO Dana White announced that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett would be fighting for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event, no one was more outraged than top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Champion Ilia Topuria announced that he’s taking a break from fighting while going through a divorce. According to top contender Arman Tsarukyan, the fight promotion had planned for Pimblett and Topuria to fight in January, but Topuria’s personal situation derailed the booking.
Corona del Mar girls’ tennis finishes as state runner-up
The Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis team had a remarkable season.
It was undefeated until the very last match, when the Sea Kings ran into a team that was making a return appearance in the CIF State championship match and trying to earn some redemption.
Northern California champion Los Altos edged Southern California champion Corona del Mar, 4-3, in the CIF State championship match on Saturday at Fresno State.
Corona del Mar, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 champion that was making its first state title match appearance, finished its season 24-1.
The Sea Kings were able to meld strong senior and freshman classes to keep their season going until the final weekend of November. It ended with one last road trip, with the players carpooling up to Fresno with parents on Friday in preparation for Saturday’s state championship match.
“This was definitely my favorite season [at CdM],” senior singles player Polina Briggs said in a phone interview. “I feel like we bonded so well and we’re all super-close. We tried our best in every match. I’m really proud of us for getting this far and competing at a high level.”
The CIF State championship match followed the Southern California Regional format, with four singles players and three doubles teams. It matched the top-heavy nature of Los Altos with CdM’s depth, with results that were perhaps predictable.
Corona del Mar took a 3-0 lead relatively quickly. Freshman Addie DiNicola earned a win at No. 4 singles, as did seniors Sasha Briggs and Isabel Roytman at No. 2 doubles and sophomore Madi Jackson and freshman Olivia Lew at No. 3 doubles.
Los Altos, which had lost in the CIF State championship match to Palos Verdes last year, relied on some of its studs to rally.
“They definitely gave us a good challenge, because they’re definitely the best team we’ve played,” CdM sophomore singles player Julia Cross said. “They’re just super-duper strong at the stop … They have four super-good players, and all of those players were able to pull out wins. That’s how they got four sets to help their whole team win.”
Los Altos topped the CdM freshman tandem of Sienna Lynn and Brynn Patterson at No. 1 doubles in three sets, then won a trio of singles sets to edge out the win.
The Eagles’ No. 1 player, Wake Forest commit Bella Mariona, beat CdM senior Emilie Lew in straight sets at No. 1 singles. Then, Los Altos’ Emily Wu edged Polina Briggs, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, at No. 2 singles.
The final set to complete was No. 3 singles, with Los Altos’ Pallavi Mallampati earning a 7-5, 6-7, 6-0 victory over Cross.
“I guess we were trying to get an upset in one of the singles matches, but it just didn’t really happen,” Polina Briggs said.
CdM coach Tyler Gaede, who led the Sunset League champion Sea Kings on court during the last couple of weeks of the postseason as head coach Jamie Gresh recovered from hip surgery, said he was proud of the fight.
“We gave it our best shot,” Gaede said. “The girls played and competed phenomenally … A couple of points go a different way, maybe it shakes out differently. But just to hang in there in two three-setters at the end of a match, you’re competing really, really hard at that point.”
Roytman said having one more match with her team meant “everything” to her as a senior.
“I’ve always put my all into this team,” Roytman said. “I made some of my best friends on this team, lifelong friends. To get to senior year and have such a good season, it’s just such a good moment. This loss, it’s bittersweet, 100%. I wouldn’t have even expected us to come this far, to be honest.”
Though the team season is over, six Corona del Mar players will still continue in the CIF Southern Section Individuals tournament in both singles and doubles.
All of the Sea Kings’ CIF Individuals entrants — Emilie Lew and Polina Briggs in singles, plus the doubles teams of Lynn and Cross and Roytman and Sasha Briggs — have advanced to at least the round of 32. The action resumes Wednesday at Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, with round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinal matches.
“I’m very grateful that it’s gone on for this long, and I’m trying to hold onto it as much as I can,” Roytman said. “This is one more thing to look forward to, that we can cheer each other on to make it as far as we can.”
See who wins vote for Akron’s top volleyball, tennis, soccer players
Athletes from Aurora, Hudson and North high schools won the voting as Akron-area high schools’ top athletes in girls volleyball, girls tennis and boys and girls soccer for 2025.
With football the only fall sport still competing, we are spending the next several weeks highlighting the standout performers in each fall sport before winter sports are in full swing.
Emerson Spiesz of Aurora is the girls volleyball winner and Emma Liu of Hudson is the girls tennis winner. Spiesz received 50.50% of the votes cast and Liu received 49.32% of the votes cast.
Ava Bell of Hudson is the girls soccer winner and Mmunga Almasi of North wins for the boys. Bell received 60.27% of the votes cast and Almasi received 37.44% of the votes cast.
Watch Ohio High School Sports Live on the NFHS Network all season
A total of 11,380 votes were cast overall.
Look for more on each athlete below. The Akron Area Best of the School Year voting continues on beaconjournal.com next Tuesday.
Mmunga Almasi, North, sr.
Was named All-Ohio and City Series Most Valuable Player after collecting 14 goals and 12 assists to lead the Vikings to a Division III district final and the City Series championship.
Ava Bell, Hudson, sr.
Was named the district offensive player of the year and All-Ohio after leading the Explorers to the Division II state final and a Suburban League National Conference championship with 25 goals and seven assists.
Emma Liu, Hudson, so.
Was the singles runner-up at the Division I state tournament after winning Suburban League National Conference, sectional and district titles. She finished with a 16-3 overall record at No. 1 singles, losing only seven sets all season.
Emerson Spiesz, Aurora, sr.
Was named District 3 Division III player of the year after compiling 53 aces, 386 digs, 113 assists and 345 service receptions. She led the Greenmen to the first regional semifinal appearance in program history.
A look at the 2025-26 Akron-Area High School Athlete of the Week winners
Date – girls winner | boys winner
Sept. 6 – Abby Alden, Archbishop Hoban soccer | Buddy Willig, Norton football
Sept. 12 – Ava Brooks, Norton tennis | Donevan Noah, Tallmadge cross country
Sept. 19 – Addison Hovey, Woodridge tennis | Angelo Gotto, Barberton football
Sept. 26 – Gabriela Iler, Revere tennis | Atticus Sloan, Woodridge cross country
Oct. 3 – Bree Carpenter, Ellet soccer | Marlin Engram Jr., East football
Oct. 10 – Maggie Gerschutz, Wadsworth cross country | Phil Partin, Manchester football
Oct. 17 – Makayla Martuccio, Tallmadge cross country | Anderson Seredick, Nordonia cross country
Oct. 24 – Elizabeth Coleman, Highland golf | Crew McDaniel, Hudson cross country
Oct. 31 – Brooklynn Hampton, Archbishop Hoban soccer | Nick Myers, CVCA soccer
Nov. 7 – Allison Hay, Tallmadge cross country | Sam Hopp, Twinsburg cross country
Nov. 14 – Samantha Dehrmann, Archbishop Hoban volleyball | Marty Tobin, Walsh Jesuit football
Former World No. 12 Borna Coric Takes Bold Decision After Major Surgery
Borna Coric has given Croatian fans many exciting moments during his 12-year career. In March this year, the 28-year-old celebrated a major milestone by winning his third straight ATP Challenger title and his first pro trophy on home soil at the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Zadar Open. However, his season was interrupted in mid-May by a shoulder injury. Now, with the 2026 season approaching, he has shared exciting news about his return.
After a long season, while many players have already wrapped up their year, Borna Coric used this period to undergo surgery. The former 12th-ranked ace had been struggling with a shoulder issue since May.
“Unfortunately, due to a shoulder injury I suffered in May during training, which has been bothering me since I had to have surgery, I want to greatly thank Dr. Olivier Verborg and the entire team at Hospital AZ Monica for their incredible care and professionalism. The doctor was very pleased with the outcome of the surgery and the overall condition of the shoulder, so I still have some tennis left,” he explained in his latest IG Post.
Coric still managed to produce strong results before the injury worsened. With a 26-13 record across all levels this season, he stood out as the only player to win three Challenger titles.
He triumphed on the indoor hard courts of Lugano in Switzerland and Thionville in France. He then moved to Croatian clay and added another trophy at home.
He also claimed the Open Aix Provence Crédit Agricole title earlier this year, where he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the final. These victories showed he could still compete at a high level despite physical setbacks.
However, after that run, Coric struggled to maintain form. He fell in French Open qualifying and exited in the first round of the US Open. His shoulder issues clearly affected his consistency and confidence on court.
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With recovery now underway and a comeback approaching, Coric has also spoken about the hunger and determination of ATP Challenger players. His words reflect both admiration for them and motivation for his own return.
Borna Coric emphasizes how Challenger events helped revive his form
The ATP Challenger Tour is not usually seen as the fastest path to climb up the world rankings. But for Borna Coric, choosing to skip the Sunshine Swing in early season this year and compete on the Challenger circuit proved to be a smart risk. The decision brought him strong results and revived his season in a big way.
Coric went on an impressive 16-match winning streak and captured three titles in a row. His victory on clay in Zadar, Croatia, came after back-to-back hard-court wins in Lugano, Switzerland, and Thionville, France. These results lifted him back into the Top 100 less than two months after falling to No. 143 in April.
When asked by former world No. 25 Mischa Zverev whether he had ever won three straight tournaments at any level, Coric said he might have done it once as a junior.
“I’ve never done it on the Challenger Tour or for sure on the ATP Tour,” he told Zverev. “It was definitely a special feeling, and I didn’t expect to do it.”
The Croatian turned to the ATP Challenger Tour after a difficult 2024 season, where he finished with a 12-19 record. His struggles continued into 2025, with early losses at the Australian Open and Montpellier 250 pushing him down the rankings to No. 143. He realized he needed a fresh start, and the Challenger circuit offered that opportunity.
Coric explained that his goal was not necessarily to win titles right away. “My approach was definitely not to go there and to win the tournament. My approach was just that I needed to play matches because I’ve lost many first turns in a row, and I didn’t have enough matches in my opinion,” he said.
Those matches proved valuable, giving him rhythm and confidence. The wins then followed naturally as his game settled and his form returned.
Now, with his shoulder recovery underway and his motivation renewed, the Croatian hopes to return to the main ATP Tour soon. The challenge ahead is tough, but Coric believes he still has good tennis left in him and is ready to face the pressure again.
AI influencers are now boasting personalities, backstories and even making ill-advised decisions
Aitana Lopez is an influencer who makes as much as $11,000 per month.
She regularly globetrots between New York City and her home in Catalonia, Spain, promotes beauty brands, Black Friday, her favorite songs and posts plenty of thirst traps.
Just don’t expect to encounter her in the airport’s first-class lounge.
That’s because despite her detailed backstory and natal chart, mapping the sky at the exact moment of her birth, the 27-year-old beauty is an AI creation.
She’s part of a new breed of digitally created avatars winning the battle for the public’s attention, joined by the likes of chart topping “singers” Solomon Ray and Breaking Rust and “blonde bombshell” Mia Zelu, who stole the show at the Wimbledon tennis tournament — even though she wasn’t physically there.
“We used to do campaigns [with humans],” said Andrea Garcia, creative director at an AI agency The Clueless, which created Aitana.
“This is different. [With humans] you have limitations based on time and how often you can redo a photo. There is no margin for error. With AI we can make changes very easily.”
After all, AI creations never have a bad hair day, miss a note when recording, are always on time, never complain and never get caught in the kind of messy scandals humans are prone to.
Aitana has made promo videos for Amazon, while huge global brands such as Calvin Klein, Prada, Samsung and YouTube have all used AI influencers.
Garcia points out that her agency invested serious time and capital into Aitana, who was “birthed” through a proprietary software program they developed.
“We enter all kinds of information about her,” she told The Post. “We put in details about her childhood, what she likes to do during free time, favorite movies, her nemeses when she was little.
“Her favorite food is pizza and her first concert was to see an orchestra. Her father likes classical music.”
It also takes time, skill and intelligence both artificial and human to create the photos and digital videos which appear on Aitana’s stream, where she looks almost real enough to be a flesh and blood human.
Sometime in December it’s expected Aitana will be able to hold five-minute conversations with fans, who will, of course, have to pay to chat with her via a platform called Fanvue.
Garcia is as protective of Aitana as she is real life influencers. “She feels like a friend but even more like a daughter,” she added.
Agencies who make these digital personalities argue their creations are no different to cartoon characters or superheroes who have been prevalent in society for decades, and nobody questions them, so what’s the big deal?
In the music industry, AI artists are taking off, whether most of the listeners realize they’re real or not.
AI generated Christian recording artist Solomon Ray topped the Billboard gospel charts with his song “Find Your Rest.” He’s cleverly billed as a “Mississippi-made soul singer,” and has over 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, where he even sports a blue “verified artist” tick.
Forrest Frank, who had a number one Christian hit of his own, pointed out on social media how “AI does not have the Holy Spirit inside of it. So, I think it’s really weird to be opening up your spirit to something that has no spirit.” On the upside for Ray, at least he could not have been emotionally hurt by that comment.
Similarly, AI generated singer Breaking Rust ascended the county and western charts, causing outrage — particularly for breaking into a genre which prides itself on authenticity.
Human singer Breland described the ascent as “absolutely a bad sign for the future of music … [and] a concern for everyone in the music industry.”
However, fans vote with their ears, and appear to show very little concern.
Other projects are starting to blur the lines between reality and the artificial world even more.
Mia Zelu generated a lot of press with her striking Wimbledon Center Court photo, apparently duping a cricket star, and plenty of her 218,000 followers. Her pictures are all very realistic with the only obvious clue she’s not real being her description as a “Digital Storyteller & Influencer-AI.”
She even posts comments describing her feelings with typos, such as a picture on a rainy night captioned: “There’s something about rainy nights here that feels so familiar. Aaaand yes i got a could.”
One of the most followed AI influencers, Lil Miquela, caused serious backlash when she posted about being diagnosed with leukemia. It may have been orchestrated, at least partially, in a bid to humanize her — but flipped out bonafide humans.
A typical response read: “This is so gross, especially for ppl actually struggling with cancer.”
The post was a sponsored partnership with a bone marrow donation organization called NMDP.
In a response to People magazine, NMDP’s Senior Vice President for Strategy & Innovation, Erica Jensen, tried to justify the project.
She wrote, “By introducing a fictional and scientifically accurate diagnosis into social feeds, NMDP reached a younger generation while protecting real patients from additional emotional or physical burden.”
However, unlike humans diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, Lil Miquela will be OK.
Hollywood has played a key role in the development of the technology which creates AI generated characters, through its innovations in digital animation and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI).
However, the introduction of one computer generated personality, Tilly Norwood — engineered, for some reason, to have a more British name than is possible in the real world — also caught major flack.
Partly as she was unveiled at the Zurich film festival by her creator Eline Van der Velden, who described her as “the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.”
Actors and unions immediately fought back against the “scary” character and bemoaned her “stealing away human connection.”
Van der Velden has defended herself, posting online, “Creating Tilly has been, for me, an act of imagination and craftsmanship, not unlike drawing a character, writing a role or shaping a performance.”
Tilly’s online account now has a number of disclaimers making it clear she is an AI project.
Madeline Salazar, a human content creator who discusses AI and posts as ImMadSal, finds it all overblown.
“I think it’s an unrealistic threat that an AI actress would star in a movie alongside human stars,” she told The Post. “They may take the place of background actors, but I view AI as a kind of animation. People were being overly dramatic”
Salazar is one of the first people to test out a conversation with Aitana. During that, she asked if humans should be worried.
“We’re not competitors, we’re a dream team,” Aitana replied.
However, she ominously added: “But I’ll say this: If you block me, I might go into revenge glitch mode,” indicating a shade of jealousy all-too humanistic for many.
Why Alexander Bublik Almost Retired Before 2025 ATP Season
Few players enjoyed a better 2025 ATP season than Alexander Bublik. The Kazakh upset several top-ranked players and ended the year with a career-high world ranking of No. 11.
The 28-year-old has been on tour since 2016, but had never gained serious momentum until this season. Bublik finished with a singles record of 37-22 and four titles. Plus, he scored upset wins over Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, and Tommy Paul, among others.
But Bublik’s season started off slow, as he entered his breakout season considering retirement. In an interview with D. Gessner of Tennis Magazin, Bublik revealed the unbelievable reason why he almost retired before his breakout year.
Milpitas pickleball and tennis courts reopen after upgrade
Play pickleball!
After a brief closure for renovations, the Hall Memorial Park pickleball and tennis courts have officially reopened.
The upgraded facility now has two dedicated tennis courts and six dedicated pickleball courts, all of which have been resurfaced. Visitors will also find a new spectator viewing area, improved signage and a streamlined queueing system designed to make joining a pickleball match easier.
In response to community feedback, the city has also installed acoustic sound-dampening panels to help reduce noise for nearby neighbors. The pickleball courts were a source of years-long debate between players who wanted to make the courts permanent and residents who expressed frustration over pickleball-related noise, traffic and safety issues.
Milpitas on Instagram
The City of Milpitas recently launched an Instagram account at @milpitasgov, calling it a “front-row seat to everything happening in our vibrant city.”
“Your likes, comments and shares help us showcase the spirit of Milpitas and strengthen our community conversation,” reads a news release.
Photos with Santa
Santa will be available for photo ops at the Great Mall in Milpitas in until Christmas Eve. Families can reserve a time slot at https://whereissanta.com/mall/0117.
Great Mall shoppers can also meet Santa this season at various events. Caring Santa is an event for children with special needs and their families. Reservations are required for this private, sensory-friendly experience happening Sunday, Dec. 7, 9-11 a.m.
Furry friends are invited to the mall for pet photos with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 6, 9-11 a.m.
A special gift of milk, cookies and a surprise toy will be given with each photo package purchase, while supplies last. Friday, Dec. 12 – Sunday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The New Off‑Season: How Exhibitions Became Tune‑Ups For Tennis Stars
Tennis has no offseason. What used to be a time for rehab, home and holiday, has evolved into perpetual exhibitions.
In late November, Carlos Alcaraz skipped the Davis Cup Final to recuperate from a hamstring injury. Jannik Sinner opted out of the Davis Cup Final too.
Yet, in less than a week, Alcaraz will be in Newark, N.J. to play Frances Tiafoe in an exhibition match called A Racquet at The Rock. The next day, Alcaraz will play in the Miami Invitational against Joao Fonseca, in a baseball stadium. In January, Alcaraz and Sinner will play in an exhibition in Seoul, South Korea, mere weeks before the Australian Open.
Although many top players complain that the season is too long, they keep adding unofficial matches to their schedule. The lure of guaranteed money, little pressure and a chance to spar against other top players, make offseason exhibitions ideal tune-up tournaments.
Tiafoe and Alcaraz met in the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina in December, 2024. Alcaraz finished 2024 ranked No. 1.
Still, some accuse Alcaraz of hypocrisy. Why criticize the length of your season if you keep extending your schedule?
During a press conference regarding the Six Kings Slam exhibition in October, Alcaraz explained his stance to BBC Sports.
“All I can say is it’s a really different format, different situation playing exhibitions than the official tournaments, having 15, 16 days in row, having such a high focus and demanding physically,
Egyptian Pro Calls Out WTA for Denying Equal Chances on Tour: “Doesn’t Want to Help”
The lives of tennis stars often look glamorous: powerful, polished, and padded with prize money and endorsements that set them up for life. But beyond the spotlight, lower-ranked players face a starkly different reality. Mayar Sherif, now ranked No. 108, voices that truth as she calls out the WTA for offering unequal opportunities to compete, revealing how the sport’s sheen can hide the struggles of those fighting to break through.
After reaching the Argentina Open WTA 125 final by defeating Caroline Dolehide, the Egyptian ace voiced her frustration with striking clarity.
“I’d like the WTA to help us. If you organize a tennis tournament, you have to give all the players the chance to play. It can’t be that the tournament director doesn’t want to help you. (Translated from Spanish)”
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Her criticism emerged amid a growing storm surrounding her current visa complications. Unable to enter Ecuador, she revealed the pressure weighing on her. “The pressure is at its peak. We’re all playing to qualify for Australia, and on top of that, I don’t have the visa to go to Quito.”
Sherif, now 29, went on to underline how widespread the issue has become for certain players. She added, “Sada Nahimana (from Burundi 🇧🇮) and I are facing visa problems, and that shouldn’t happen. All the other players don’t need visas. It’s crazy.”
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This struggle carries even more weight considering Sherif’s groundbreaking rise. She became the first Egyptian woman to win a WTA Tour title after defeating Maria Sakkari in the Parma final, a moment that symbolized a new era for African and Middle Eastern tennis representation.
Yet her journey now highlights a troubling pattern. Sherif is far from the only player to confront bureaucratic barriers that hinder competition and ranking opportunities.
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In 2023, Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw from the National Bank Open in Toronto after her visa application was rejected.
She shared her disappointment, saying, “I wanted to inform you that, unfortunately, I have to withdraw from the tournament in Toronto due to my visa not being approved. It’s truly disappointing. It’s very sad to miss one of my favorite tournaments.”
And this is hardly the first time WTA athletes have called out the organisation. Beyond visas, issues related to expenses, logistics, and support continue to fuel concerns about mistreatment across different tiers of the tour.
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Financial struggles mount for WTA Players outside the Top 100
Players outside the Top 100 continue to reveal the harsh financial realities of the tour. Many admit that their prize money does not cover the basic costs of competing. Their expenses often exceed their earnings by a wide margin.
Slovakian player Katerina Stresnakova shared one of the most striking examples. She once played without a coach because she could not afford one.
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She said, “This year so far, I’ve made $4947 in earnings, and I’ve spent about $10,998. It’s without a coach because I can’t afford it.”
American Madison Sieg echoed the same struggle. She explained that her expenses were far higher than her income on tour. Sieg admitted, “I’ve spent about 25,000 dollars, and I’ve made about $3993 without a coach. It’s probably more.”
Financial strain is not the only issue. Unequal treatment also surfaced during this year’s French Open. Iga Swiatek raised her voice for more night sessions for women’s tennis at Roland Garros this year. She kept a calm tone but still made her point clearly.
Swiatek said women deserved the same consideration in scheduling. She stated, “I think it should be equal. Like, personally, it’s not like, you know, I have big feelings about it because I just do my job. I adjust to the schedule that I’m given.”
The concerns over inequality now join another growing problem on the WTA Tour: visa complications. Several players have faced delays and obstacles while trying to enter countries hosting tournaments.
With financial struggles, scheduling concerns, and travel issues piling up, the call for action grows louder.
It may be time for the WTA to step forward and enhance its support for players at WTA 125 events, allowing them to compete fairly for a spot at the 2026 Australian Open.
Nicola Pietrangeli, Italy’s tennis maestro who danced on clay, dies at 92
Dec 1 (Reuters) – During a break in the French Open final, in 1960, Nicola Pietrangeli took his shoes off in the locker room. His socks were red with blood.
In the first three sets, Chile’s Luis Ayala had been tormenting Pietrangeli with drop shots and lobs, forcing the Italian tennis player to sprint forward and back until the skin peeled off his feet.
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He played the rest of the gruelling match on raw flesh. Still, he danced across the court with the elegance of a matador — and claimed his second Roland Garros crown.
His prize money: $150, he later recalled.
Before the sport began to turn professional in 1968, and long before the vast financial rewards of modern tennis, Pietrangeli was a master on clay — and Italy’s greatest player.
All-WNC girls tennis teams
The 2025 All-WNC Girls Tennis teams have been announced, recognizing top players and a coach of the year.
Brevard freshman Sophie Owen was named Player of the Year after a 16-1 season and reaching the state semifinals.
Hendersonville and Carolina Day both advanced to their respective state championship finals before being defeated.
The Citizen Times and Times-News have released the 2025 All-WNC Girls Tennis teams, including player and coach of the year.
Hendersonville advanced to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A dual team state finals, where it fell to Pine Lake Prep. Carolina Day lost to Cape Fear Academy in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association dual team state championship.
All-WNC girls tennis player of the year
Sophie Owen
Brevard | Fr.
Owen went 16-1 in the No. 1 spot for the Blue Devils. She also earned the top seed in the NCHSAA 4A individual state tournament before falling in the semifinals to the eventual state champion.
All-WNC girls tennis teams
First Team
Madi Burleson
West Henderson | Jr.
Burleson compiled a 14-3 record as the top singles player for the Falcons. West Henderson reached the fourth round of the NCHSAA 5A dual team playoffs.
Ellie Dukowicz
Carolina Day | Sr.
Dukowicz went 10-2 in the No. 1 singles position and 9-2 in the No. 1 doubles position for the Wildcats. She helped lead Carolina Day to the NCISAA 3A state championship, where it fell to Cape Fear Academy.
Zoe Lynch
Roberson | Jr.
Lynch had a 9-2 record in the No. 2 spot for the Rams and helped them reach the fourth round of the NCHSAA 6A dual team playoffs. She also had a 13-1 record in doubles.
Evelyn Merrell
North Buncombe | Sr.
Merrell went 13-2 as the No. 1 singles player for the Black Hawks and had a 7-1 record in doubles.
Shea Sullivan
West Henderson | Sr.
Sullivan guided the Falcons to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 5A dual-team playoffs. As West Henderson’s No. 2, she went 12-0, then, in the No. 1 doubles position, she had a 5-1 record.
Second Team
Natalia Cogdill, North Buncombe, Jr.
Sophia Gallian, Hendersonville, Sr.
Lila Hipp, Brevard, So.
Faye Klutke, Carolina Day, Jr.
Madalynne Phillips, Owen, So.
Ella Tiller, Pisgah, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Tom Cartier
Carolina Day
Cartier led his team to a 12-3 record and to the NCISAA 3A state championship match, where it fell to Cape Fear Academy, which has won the last five state titles 5-1.
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
14 US stadiums proposed for 2031 Women’s World Cup; Levi’s and Oracle Park listed as possibilities
By RONALD BLUM
NEW YORK (AP) — The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Levi’s stadium in Santa Clara, a 2026 World Cup site, and Oracle Park in San Francisco were included as possibilities.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included” beyond the specified 14 “as part of the broader bid framework with the understanding that they will continue to be equally considered for the purposes of stadium selection.”
“By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” the bid book stated.
The 2026 U.S. sites included in the 2031 proposal are Arlington, Texas (AT&T), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz), East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife), Houston (NRG), Inglewood, California (Sofi), Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead) and Seattle (Lumen Field).
The seven others are Charlotte, North Carolina (Bank of America), Denver (Empower Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank), Nashville, Tennessee (Geodis Park), Orlando, Florida (Camping World), San Diego (Snapdragon) and Washington, D.C. (proposed NFL venue on the RFK Stadium site).
Orlando and Washington were sites of the 1994 men’s World Cup.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Other U.S. venues listed as possibilities are Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) and Santa Clara, California (Levi’s), all venues for next year’s men’s World Cup.
Additional sites included were Baltimore (M&T Bank), Birmingham, Alabama (Protective), Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports Illustrated), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase), Nashville (Nissan), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America First Field) and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James).
Second possible sites in cities, all with lower capacities, were included for Houston (Shell Energy), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field).
Indianapolis was listed for a proposed stadium.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was the only 2026 World Cup venue not included.
Chicago was not listed after dropping out of bidding to host in 2026 because of what it said were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
Additional possibilities in Mexico are Pachuca (Miguel Hidalgo) and Querétaro (Corregidora) along with Universitario as an alternate choice in Monterrey. Saprissa was listed as an alternate site in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Organizers envision fan festivals and watch parties in conjunction with games. Revenue from marketing and sponsorships is projected at $1.4 billion.
___
Gillette Stadium among possible US stadiums for 2031 Women’s World Cup bid
Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium was not among 14 American sites listed as primary potential hosts for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, but is among additional possibilities listed for consideration, according to a bid book submitted to FIFA by the United States Soccer Federation.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a US-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six US stadiums, including seven to be used for next year’s men’s World Cup, were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation 2031 tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
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Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10 to 20 percent of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
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Fifty sites were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included” — including Foxborough — beyond the specified 14 ”as part of the broader bid framework with the understanding that they will continue to be equally considered for the purposes of stadium selection.”
“By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” the bid book stated.
The 2026 US World Cup sites included in the 2031 proposal are Arlington, Texas (AT&T); Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz); East Rutherford, N.J. (MetLife); Houston (NRG); Inglewood, Calif. (Sofi); Kansas City, Mo. (Arrowhead); and Seattle (Lumen Field).
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The seven others primary choices are Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America), Denver (Empower Field); Minneapolis (US Bank); Nashville, Tenn. (Geodis Park); Orlando, Fla. (Camping World); San Diego (Snapdragon); and Washington, D.C. (proposed NFL venue on the RFK Stadium site).
Gillette is among a slew of additional US venues listed as possibilities, as are men’s World Cup sites Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) and Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.) That group also includes:
Baltimore (M&T Bank, home of the NFL’s Ravens)
Birmingham, Ala. (Protective)
Carson, Calif. (Dignity Health Sports Park)
Cincinnati (TQL)
Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field)
Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field)
Frisco, Texas (Toyota)
Glendale, Ariz. (State Farm)
Harrison, N.J. (Sports Illustrated)
Indianapolis (a proposed downtown soccer stadium)
Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum)
Miami (Chase Stadium, set to open in 2026)
Nashville (Nissan Stadium)
New York (Etihad Park, set to open in 2027)
Orlando (Inter & Co)
Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl)
St. Louis (Energizer Park)
San Francisco (Oracle Park)
Sandy, Utah (America First Field)
Tampa, Florida (Raymond James)
Second possible sites in cities, all with lower capacities, were included for Houston (Shell Energy), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field).
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was the only 2026 World Cup venue not included.
Chicago was not listed after dropping out of bidding to host in 2026 because of what it said were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica, for 2031 as well.
Four LA area stadiums among those proposed as possible sites for 2031 Women’s World Cup
By RONALD BLUM
NEW YORK — The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament. Among those are SoFi Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
The bidders project the women’s tournament would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included” beyond the specified 14 “as part of the broader bid framework with the understanding that they will continue to be equally considered for the purposes of stadium selection.”
“By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” the bid book stated.
The 2026 U.S. sites included in the 2031 proposal are Inglewood (Sofi Stadium), Arlington, Texas (AT&T), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz), East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife), Houston (NRG), Kansas City (Arrowhead) and Seattle (Lumen Field).
The seven others are Charlotte, North Carolina (Bank of America), Denver (Empower Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank), Nashville, Tennessee (Geodis Park), Orlando (Camping World), San Diego (Snapdragon) and Washington, D.C. (proposed NFL venue on the RFK Stadium site).
Orlando and Washington were sites of the 1994 men’s World Cup.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Other U.S. venues listed as possibilities are Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) and Santa Clara, California (Levi’s), all venues for next year’s men’s World Cup.
Additional sites included were the Rose Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Carson’s Dignity Health Park, along with Baltimore (M&T Bank), Birmingham, Alabama (Protective), Carson (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports Illustrated), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase), Nashville (Nissan), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America First Field) and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James).
Second possible sites in cities, all with lower capacities, were included for Houston (Shell Energy), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field).
Indianapolis was listed for a proposed stadium.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was the only 2026 World Cup venue not included.
Chicago was not listed after dropping out of bidding to host in 2026 because of what it said were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
Additional possibilities in Mexico are Pachuca (Miguel Hidalgo) and Querétaro (Corregidora) along with Universitario as an alternate choice in Monterrey. Saprissa was listed as an alternate site in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Organizers envision fan festivals and watch parties in conjunction with games. Revenue from marketing and sponsorships is projected at $1.4 billion.
14 US stadiums proposed among 20 possible sites for 2031 Women’s World Cup
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included” beyond the specified 14 “as part of the broader bid framework with the understanding that they will continue to be equally considered for the purposes of stadium selection.”
“By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” the bid book stated.
The 2026 U.S. sites included in the 2031 proposal are Arlington, Texas (AT&T), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz), East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife), Houston (NRG), Inglewood, California (Sofi), Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead) and Seattle (Lumen Field).
The seven others are Charlotte, North Carolina (Bank of America), Denver (Empower Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank), Nashville, Tennessee (Geodis Park), Orlando, Florida (Camping World), San Diego (Snapdragon) and Washington, D.C. (proposed NFL venue on the RFK Stadium site).
Orlando and Washington were sites of the 1994 men’s World Cup.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Other U.S. venues listed as possibilities are Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) and Santa Clara, California (Levi’s), all venues for next year’s men’s World Cup.
Additional sites included were Baltimore (M&T Bank), Birmingham, Alabama (Protective), Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports Illustrated), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase), Nashville (Nissan), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America First Field) and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James).
Second possible sites in cities, all with lower capacities, were included for Houston (Shell Energy), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field).
Indianapolis was listed for a proposed stadium.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was the only 2026 World Cup venue not included.
Chicago was not listed after dropping out of bidding to host in 2026 because of what it said were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
Additional possibilities in Mexico are Pachuca (Miguel Hidalgo) and Querétaro (Corregidora) along with Universitario as an alternate choice in Monterrey. Saprissa was listed as an alternate site in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Organizers envision fan festivals and watch parties in conjunction with games. Revenue from marketing and sponsorships is projected at $1.4 billion.
___
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14 U.S. stadiums proposed among 20 possible sites for 2031 Women’s World Cup
The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included” beyond the specified 14 “as part of the broader bid framework with the understanding that they will continue to be equally considered for the purposes of stadium selection.”
“By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale,” the bid book stated.
The 2026 U.S. sites included in the 2031 proposal are Arlington, Texas (AT&T), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz), East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife), Houston (NRG), Inglewood, California (Sofi), Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead) and Seattle (Lumen Field).
The seven others are Charlotte, North Carolina (Bank of America), Denver (Empower Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank), Nashville, Tennessee (Geodis Park), Orlando, Florida (Camping World), San Diego (Snapdragon) and Washington, D.C. (proposed NFL venue on the RFK Stadium site).
Orlando and Washington were sites of the 1994 men’s World Cup.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Other U.S. venues listed as possibilities are Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) and Santa Clara, California (Levi’s), all venues for next year’s men’s World Cup.
Additional sites included were Baltimore (M&T Bank), Birmingham, Alabama (Protective), Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports Illustrated), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase), Nashville (Nissan), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America First Field) and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James).
14 U.S. stadiums proposed for 2031 Women’s World Cup
The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said “other suitable cities are included
FIFA tix prices could make it most expensive sporting event ever
Fans hoping to watch the men’s soccer World Cup championship game live and in person next year may want to take out a personal loan for $200,000.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey could end up being one of the most expensive sporting events ever, according to SeatPick, with ticket resale prices expected to shoot through the roof as the start of the 23rd edition of the international tournament fast approaches.
The FIFA World Cup games will be staged in stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Tickets don’t go on sale to the general public until Dec. 11. But FIFA has started selling private suites for the final match for an eye-watering $199,000.
In addition to unfettered field views, the suite tickets provide you and your guests with preferred entry, direct seating access, a private bathroom, champagne upon arrival, and dedicated food and beverage service throughout the game.
By comparison, this upcoming Super Bowl’s most expensive ticket for this year’s big game in San Francisco runs nearly $27,000, while the most expensive tickets for the European UEFA Champions League’s final match are priced around $35,000, according to data analyzed by SeatPick, a platform that tracks and aggregates resale tickets across the market.
The starting price for World Cup Final tickets is $5,867.
Even the average World Cup Final ticket price — at nearly $13,000 — is still significantly more expensive than the average Super Bowl ticket, which is around $8,400.
“Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are already reaching record highs, which comes as no surprise, given the extraordinary global demand and limited ticket availability,” offered SeatPick CEO Gilad Zilberman. “With such a unique tournament spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and hosted in some of the world’s most modern stadiums, higher pricing levels are almost inevitable.”
Zilberman said the strong resale demand for these events shows just how much anticipation surrounds them.
“While the elevated prices may be challenging for some fans, they also demonstrate the scale of enthusiasm and global appeal that only the World Cup can generate,” Zilberman said.
U.S. Soccer Reveals 14 Possibles Cities And Stadiums For 2031 Women’s World Cup
The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament.
FIFA released the bid books Friday for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30.
Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Proposed ticket prices of $35 for the cheapest seats in the opening round to $120 to $600 for the final were listed in a ticket grid. FIFA has refused to release a grid for next year’s men’s tournament, saying only prices initially ranged from $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing. The bid book said premium seating would average 10%-20% of capacity at the majority of 2031 stadiums.
Fifty sites in all were mentioned in the joint 2031 bid. Final decisions likely will not be made for several years.
The bid book also said
2031 Women’s World Cup: U.S. soccer names 14 potential cities, stadiums
The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American cities as well as several possible venues for the 2031 Women’s World Cup.
Here are the proposed U.S. stadiums:
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
NRG Stadium, Houston
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Geodis Park, Nashville
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Lumen Field, Seattle
New Commanders Stadium, Washington D.C
Orlando and Washington hosted the 1994 men’s World Cup.
In total, 50 cities were in the 2031 bid. It’s likely a final decision won’t be made for several more years.
Mexico’s three sites for next year’s World Cup also are proposed for the women’s tournament, Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron) and Monterrey (BBVA), along with a fourth in Torreón (Corona).
National stadiums are proposed in Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough was listed a possible venue, as were Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The trio are all venues for the men’s World Cup in 2026.
Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, was the only 2026 World Cup venue not included in the 2031 bid.
Additional sites included were Baltimore (M&T Bank), Birmingham, Alabama (Protective), Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports Illustrated), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase), Nashville (Nissan), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America First Field) and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James).
Second possible sites in cities, all with lower capacities, were included for Houston (Shell Energy), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field).
Indianapolis was listed for a proposed stadium.
Chicago was not listed after dropping out of bidding to host in 2026 because of what it said were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
Optum Golf Channel Games 2025: Sam Burns player profile
The inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games takes place Dec. 17 at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in Jupiter, Florida. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will each captain a team in five innovative competitions in which players will battle each other and the clock.
Team Scheffler consists of Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns and Luke Clanton. Team McIlroy includes Luke Donald, Shane Lowry and Haotong Li.
Sam Burns
Age: 29
Country: United States
Career PGA Tour: 5
Majors: 0
2025 Highlights
Burns lost a playoff to Ryan Fox at the RBC Canadian Open but nearly won the U.S. Open the following week. Burns held the outright lead after Rounds 2 and 3 before running into trouble Sunday at Oakmont and shooting 78 to tie for fourth. He was a captain’s pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team thanks in part to his six top-10s on the season.
The Optum Golf Channel Games’ five competitions will test all aspects of a player’s game, including power, accuracy, short game and focus. Here’s a statistical look at Burns, including where his numbers rank among the eight players in the competition.
2025 PGA Tour stats (OGCG rank)
Spain’s Puig Pulls Away To Win Australian PGA Championship
With a superb Sunday round of 66 at Royal Queensland Golf Club, Spaniard David Puig won his first DP World Tour event as a full-time member, taking home the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
With the win, Puig became the first Spanish player to win the event since the late Seve Ballesteros won at Royal Melbourne in 1981 at the age of 24. In that win, Ballesteros, in his typical dramatic fashion, came back from five strokes down in the final round to claim the title.
“Really happy about that and excited and proud of all the work that I’ve been putting in and obviously, my name being with Seve’s name as the only two Spaniards to have won this event makes it even more special,” Puig said.
Starting the final round tied for the lead at 13-under par, the LIV star pulled away early, making three straight birdies starting on the second hole and never looked back. After holding a four-shot lead for the majority of the round, Puig coasted to the finish and finished 18-under par, good for a two-shot win over China’s Wenyi Ding.
Ding birdied four of his last 5 holes on the front nine to pose a challenge but Puig played flawless golf on Sunday, as he had for much of the tournament. Puig played his final 40 holes bogey-free to pull away from a field that included multiple LIV Golf members, and PGA Tour stars Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott and Ryan Fox.
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The win was Puig’s third as a professional and first since the Malaysian Open in 2024. “I really had a lot of close calls in a few events this year and last year, and wasn’t able to pull through, and if feels unbelievable, especially winning here in Australia,” said Puig after Sunday’s round.
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is a co-sanctioned event between the Australian PGA and the DP World Tour. The DP World Tour is already starting its 2025-26 season, just weeks after Rory McIlroy won his seventh Race to Dubai title to end last season.
LIV phenom David Puig joins Seve with rare Australian PGA win
As LIV Golf prepares to begin its next season in February, two of the breakaway league’s young stars have racked up impressive international wins during the fall.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin won the Hong Kong Open to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters and Open Championship. On Sunday, David Puig joined his idol Seve Ballesteros as the only golfer from Spain to win the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
The 23-year-old Puig never got to watch Ballesteros play in person, but the Fireballs GC member noted that Seve’s influence has been passed down through generations of Spanish golfers, and Puig has watched his highlights and learned important lessons from Ballesteros that he passed on to Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm.
“My name, being with Seve’s name as the only two (Spaniards) … makes it even more special,” Puig said. “I never saw him play in person, which sucks to be honest. I watched replays of every major he won and all he did. He’s such a big figure for Spanish golf. His presence and everything he accomplished; it’s marked in Spanish players and in a way we try to be like him.
“Play with that freedom … attitude, behavior and how much he cared and hopefully we’re kind of on the right path.”
Puig was brilliant over 72 holes at Royal Queensland. The Arizona State product made just two bogeys during the tournament and didn’t drop a shot over the weekend. He entered Sunday tied for the lead with Ricard Gouveia and Anthony Quayle. But he quickly separated himself on Sunday, making three straight birdies on the front nine starting at No. 2. That hot start was good enough for Puig to coast to a two-shot victory over China’s Wenyi Ding.
With the victory, Puig became the first non-Australian to claim the title since Harold Varner III did so in 2016. The win was also Puig’s first on the DP World Tour. His previous victories came on the Asian Tour.
“It feels amazing. I’ve really had a lot of close calls in a few events throughout this year and last year and I kinda wasn’t able to pull it through,” Puig said. “I was definitely nervous but I think I kinda kept my composure pretty well and obviously that start (to the final round) helped a lot.”
And now, David Puig’s name sits next to Seve’s.
‘Trait is so rare:’ Tiger Woods’ legendary caddie helped spark Australian PGA run
Tiger Woods’ legendary caddie Steve Williams won’t be on Anthony Quayle’s bag for long, but his impact was felt during this week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
The 31-year-old Quayle is a new member of the DP World Tour and will have Williams on the bag for two weeks before he heads over to Europe. Williams, who caddied for Tiger Woods in 13 of his major wins and for Adam Scott during his 2013 Masters win, had a big impact on Quayle during this week’s proceedings at Royal Queensland.
Quayle opened with a four-under 67 and backed it up with a 66. A Saturday 67 put him in a three-way tie for the 54-hole lead alongside David Puig and Ricardo Gouveia.
As Quayle made his way around Royal Queensland, Williams’ experience, conviction and temperament helped steer him away from trouble and into contention. Williams’ impact was evident during the second round when he called Quayle off an approach shot to change clubs. Quayle listened to the advice, stuffed the shot and made birdie.
“It’s unbelievable; that trait is so rare,” Quayle said of Williams’ conviction, via Golf Digest Australia’s Evin Priest. “I think he is really putting his neck on the line. It’s cool for a player [to see that]. I felt like he wouldn’t be doing it unless he was 100 percent set [sure], and I felt pretty confident as soon as he did. His language and how he delivers the message eliminates any doubt and I felt like that new plan was the only plan and then just executed.”
Quayle said that Williams won’t be a permanent fixture on his bag, but the 62-year-old will pop up from time to time.
How often Williams’ caddies for Quayle, who earned his DP World Tour card via the Australian Tour’s Order of Merit, is yet to be seen. But he’ll relish the opportunity to soak up knowledge from Williams whenever he gets the chance.
“He’s probably the most positive and clear caddie that I’ve ever worked with,” Quayle said of Williams after the first round, via news.com/au. “He probably has a reputation for being quite intense, but my experience today wasn’t that at all. It was just very direct (with) ‘this is what we need to do here, you think you can do it? Yes, let’s do it then’. There was no room at all for any sort of doubt at any point. It just didn’t seem to creep into my mind. Anytime I did make a little bit of a mistake, it wasn’t like he was jumping on me. It was like ‘yeah, that’s fine mate, everyone makes bad swing from time to time, let’s make a good one on the next one.’
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp addresses potential for big schedule changes
The PGA Tour’s new CEO Brian Rolapp promised “significant change” during his introductory press conference. Rolapp, who spent years at the NFL as commissioner Roger Goodell’s right-hand man, wants to build his PGA Tour around parity, scarcity and simplicity — just like the NFL.
Of course, Rolapp’s promise of change had everyone wondering exactly what he plans for the PGA Tour to look like once those changes are instituted. At last week’s RSM Classic, Ryder Cupper Harris English offered some clues as to what Rolapp might be planning to tweak as he gets under the hood.
“We’ve got some smart guys at the helm. Now with Brian Rolapp coming in, he’s seeing the PGA Tour in a different light,” English said.
“Sometimes change is good. I get that they want all the best players playing together more often, and the talk of the Tour potentially starting after the Super Bowl I think is a pretty good thing because we can’t really compete with football. So we’ll see where it goes.”
English isn’t the first player to correctly note that golf can’t “compete” with the NFL. In 2005, Tiger Woods said he believed the PGA Tour season should end around Labor Day before football starts. The PGA Tour tweaked the FedEx Cup Playoffs schedule to avoid the NFL in 2019. In 2014, at the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy praised the NFL for its scarcity, which keeps fans wanting more.
All that’s in line with Rolapp’s three pillars. English noted that a change to a 20- or 22-event schedule might not occur until 2027.
During an interview with CNBC’s CEO Forum, Rolapp didn’t shy away from English’s revelation that the PGA Tour is considering shrinking the schedule and potentially tweaking it to avoid his former employer.
“Nothing has been decided, and Harris’ comments have been getting a lot of attention, but Harris’ comments really reflect a lot of conversations that have been going on,“ Rolapp said. “If you dig deeper into what he said, it’s really not that complicated. If you are going to compete with football in this country for media dollars and attention, it’s a really hard thing to do. The majority of golf is played in the summer and gets people’s attention, so looking at schedules to help optimize that calendar is certainly something we talk about.”
When Rolapp first started as the CEO of the PGA Tour, he created a Future Competition Committee, which is chaired by Tiger Woods, to help look at all the ways the PGA Tour can improve its product with the focus on creating a product that connects the regular season and the postseason that fans can more easily understand instead of just having a lot of unconnected events jammed together.
“These are the types of debates we’re having,” Rolapp said of the Future Competition Committee. “How does the schedule look? How do you make bigger events? How do you actually stream them together in a season that you can understand? Part of professional golf’s issue is it has grown up as a series of events, that happened to be on television, as opposed to how do you actually take those events, making them meaningful in their own right, but cobble them together in a competitive model, including with a postseason that you would all understand whether you’re a golf fan or a sports fan.
“So, those are the questions we’re asking how to make bigger and better events, how to put them in the calendar where fans will watch more and how to put it in a competitive model that not only golf fans, but sports fans will embrace. Those are all the things we’re discussing. Nothing’s been decided, but that’s the committee’s job.“
When asked whether starting the season after the Super Bowl was on the table, Rolapp said he “could see” it happening.
As Rolapp tries to make the PGA Tour competitive in the battle for attention, it’s clear that everything is on the table and big changes are coming. The only question is when they will officially arrive.
David Puig pulls away to win Australian PGA
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — David Puig pulled away with a 5-under 66 for a two-shot victory Sunday in the Australian PGA Championship, joining Seve Ballesteros as the only Spanish winners.
In a final round at Royal Queensland that began with 31 players within six shots of the lead, Puig made a flurry of early birdies to seize control. He finished at 18-under 266 for his third professional title, winning by two shots over Wenyi Ding (66).
It was the first European tour title for Puig, who played his college golf at Arizona State. He previously won on the Asian Tour and LIV Golf.
Nick Voke of New Zealand made three birdies on the back nine for a 66 to tie for third with Marc Leishman (67). Anthony Quayle, who started the round tied with Puig, shot 73 and tied for 10th.
Other tours
Nastasia Nadaud of France earned her first Ladies European Tour title with a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory in the season-ending Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana. Shannon Tan won the Order of Merit. … Ryuichi Oiwa birdied the last hole for a 7-under 65 and defeated Kosuke Sunagawa with a birdie on the second playoff hole to win the Casio World Open for his first Japan Golf Tour title. … Poosit Supupramai of Thailand made birdie on the final hole for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot victory in the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat. It was his first Asian Tour title and enabled him to keep his card in the season finale. … Dean Germishuys shot 3-under 69 for a one-shot victory in the Fitch and Leedes PGA Championship on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. … Ai Suzuki closed with a 3-under 69 and defeated Chisato Iwai in a playoff to win the JLPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup on the Japan LPGA.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Pro sings ‘Sweet Caroline’ with crowd, then makes clutch par at Australian PGA
Golf is a game of focus and precision, and while most tour pros require nerves of steel to get the job done — sometimes, a bit of fun can inspire some magic on the course. That’s exactly what happened to Daniel Hillier at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Hillier, who was one off the lead coming down the stretch, was standing on the green of the par-3 17th hole staring down a daunting 10-foot putt for par to stay at 12-under and keep himself in the fight. As he read his putt, fans in the surrounding box seats began singing along to Neil Diamond’s, Sweet Caroline.
What started as a mere murmur grew into a roar after Hillier threw his arms into the air and joined the crowd, punching the air as he conducted and sang along.
His light-hearted attitude, along with the overall atmosphere, seemed to ease the tension surrounding the crucial putt he faced. Hillier resumed his pre-shot routine as the crowd continued belting out the lyrics. As he stepped up to the ball and fixed his gaze on the hole, fans fell silent, waiting to see if he would sink the putt.
He made a smooth stroke, and as the ball dropped into the cup, the crowd erupted. Hillier tossed the ball into the stands and walked off the green with a wide smile.
Ultimately, it was David Puig of Fireballs GC who claimed the BMW Australian PGA Championship title. But Hillier undeniably won over the fans with a performance that was “so good, so good.”
While the Australian PGA Championship brought dramatic swings and flashes of brilliance, Hillier’s “Sweet Caroline” moment will likely remain one of the tournament’s most unforgettable highlights for those who witnessed it during the final round.
What John Daly achieved 11 times that Tiger Woods never managed on the PGA Tour
John Daly is a golfing juggernaut in his own way and when it comes to Tiger Woods, he has one up on the 15-time major winner.
As we all know, Woods’ career far outweighs that of Daly in terms of success and achievements.
However, both Daly and Woods are regarded as two of golf’s great personalities and over the decades they’ve been on TOUR, they’ve provided their own unique moments.
Woods, of course, has a record 82 PGA Tour wins to his name and countless other records.
But when it comes to one particular metric on TOUR, it is John Daly who has the upper-hand on Tiger.
John Daly’s longest drive achievement that Tiger Woods never matched
Given the power and speed with which Tiger Woods used to hit the golf ball, it is quite the surprise to see he never actually led the season average for driving distance.
Woods is one of the biggest names in the sport never to achieve it but when it comes to Daly, it was no issue.
In terms of long drive average, Daly was the king. He was the longest hitter on TOUR a whopping 11 times and became the first player to average over the 300 yard mark.
In his last ever year as the longest, Daly averaged north of 306 yards before Hank Kuehne came along in 2003 and 2004 and obliterated that mark.
As for Woods, he never quite managed to be the top dog. Indeed, per Statmuse, Woods peaked in 2005, when he hit it an average of 316.6 yards off the tee.
The longest driver on the PGA Tour in 2025
Many will see this headline and think that Rory McIlroy is the main man for distance in 2025.
However, that is not the case. Instead, it is young up and comer Aldrich Potgieter who takes the crown for the last 12 months.
The young South African averaged 325 yards off the tee, eclipsing Cameron Champ’s 2024 record of 320.7 yards.
However, where McIlroy does reign supreme is he still holds the record for longest average distance.
In 2023, the grand slam champion averaged 326.3 yards, which remains a PGA Tour high and will take some topping.
READ MORE: David Puig reacts on social media after winning the Australian PGA Championship
David Puig wins Australian PGA with bogey
BRISBANE, Australia — Spain’s David Puig has claimed the biggest title of his professional career and joined countryman great Seve Ballesteros by winning the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.
Co-leader entering Sunday’s final round, Puig’s nerveless final round 5-under 66 was built on a flurry of early birdies to break free of a congested leaderboard, which saw 31 players within six shots of the lead at the start of the day.
Puig became only the ninth international winner of the event and just the second since 1998, joining compatriot Seve Ballesteros — a former world No. 1 and five-time major champion — who won the tournament in 1981 as the only other Spanish player to claim the title.
“It feels amazing. I’ve really had a lot of close calls in a few events throughout this year and last year and I kind of wasn’t able to pull it through,” the 23-year-old, who plays on the LIV Tour said. “It feels unbelievable especially to win here in Australia and I played some awesome golf so I’m really excited and happy.”
A simple two-putt for par on the par-4 18th was enough for a two shot victory over China’s Wenyi Ding and his third professional title, but first on the DP World Tour.
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Ding finished at 16-under 268 and also had a final round 66.
Local favorites Marc Leishman (15 under, tied third) and Min Woo Lee (14 under, tied fifth) were both in contention at the turn but couldn’t find the putts they needed to get back in contention.
New Zealander Nick Voke (66) made three birdies on the back stretch to finish in a tie for third with Leishman.
Former world No. 1 and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott (69) finished seventh at 13 under 271 and will rue a number of birdie misses that would have had him right in the mix in his native Queensland state.
While other contenders slipped, Puig held his nerve and made birdie on the 13th and saved par at the 14th to keep Ding at arms length as the Chinese player birdied the 16th and 17th in a late charge.
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“I was definitely nervous but I think I kind of kept my composure pretty well and obviously that start (to the final round) helped a lot.” said Puig, who only made two bogeys all week and none on championship Sunday.
The Australian PGA is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australia and the European tour, which is starting its 2025-26 season just two weeks after Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy will highlight the field in next week’s Australian Open.
Sergio Garcia Declines to Speak as Potential LIV Golf Developments Come to Light
The Fireballs GC boys have been bringing resplendent success to their CVs. A week ago, Josele Ballester claimed his first professional title at the PIF Saudi International. And then yesterday, following him on a cue, David Puig got his first DP World Tour victory at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. Captain Sergio Garcia couldn’t hide his pride with an unfaltering smile while speaking to GolfMagic about the same. And behind that gush, there is another simmering reason, one which he isn’t yet ready to accept or deny.
For a while, there have been rumors that the Fireballs are heading for a complete Spanish roster in the upcoming season. It was reported that Abraham Ancer would soon leave Garcia’s shadow to join Joaquin Neimann‘s Torque GC. If that happens, Spaniard Luis Masaveu would find a pathway to the Fireballs. When GolfMagic asked for confirmation from the veteran captain, Garcia refused to comment.
These rumors first saw the light when Ten Golf initially published the report. Neimann’s Torque GC has had an open spot ever since Mito Pereira got relegated. If Ancer does end up making the move, it would be rather seamless with his Mexican identity. Torque GC already has a heavy Latin American lens with Niemann hailing from Chile, Sebastian Munoz from Colombia, and Carlos Ortiz from Mexico as well. A similar lens, with a Spanish hue, covers the Fireballs.
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With Puig, Ballester, and Garcia all Spanish, Luis Masaveu’s entry will be like a lost puzzle piece. The Madrid-born player has already played nine times this season for the Fireballs. But due to his decision to focus on the Challenge Tour, he stepped away, which led Ballester to take the spot. But even in those limited LIV appearances, Masaveu was able to deliver decent results.
The 22-year-old logged a T14 at Singapore and a T20 in Korea. Further, he helped the Fireballs claim victory in Adelaide, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He ended the 2025 season finishing 52nd on the individual LIV standings. On the Challenge Tour, he claimed a T3 at the Challenge de España. So if he does end up coming back, Garcia will not have to think twice about signing him.
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“The Fireballs, we look strong. We look good,” he told GolfMagic.
Presently, the Fireballs GC is ranked eighth in the Team Championship and third in regular-season standings. For Garcia, this is a much-needed validation since he had been facing immense troubles from the DP World Tour side.
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Next year, as per reports, the 2017 Masters Champ will lose his Tour status. This comes right after he paid all his outstanding fines, unlike some of his fellow mates (yes, Jon Rahm). He could also not make his way to this year’s Ryder Cup, a blow that evidently broke his heart. Sergio Garcia has the highest Ryder Cup record (28.5), which is believed to be unbreakable.
So if his Fireballs GC does end up assuming an all-Spanish color with such talented stars, it will be a hot season for LIV, and a warm one for Garcia, who requires that heat.
“I’m excited to see my teammates play that well… really looking forward to next year and to keep that run going,” he tells GolfMagic.
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The bigger LIV implications behind Garcia’s all-Spanish team
The significance of an all-Spanish Fireball GC extends beyond national pride. Such a restructuring will help LIV evolve its identity. Sergio Garcia’s team has organically become a four-tier representation of Spain’s modern golf era. Garcia is the experienced major champ, David Puig is a young pro, Josele Ballester is the reigning US Amateur Champ, and Luis Masaveu will be the emerging Challenge Tour force.
This entire image will run exactly parallel to Jon Rahm‘s Legion XIII, although it has a little different flavor. Rahm’s team is more about a single superstar (himself), but if the rumors were to be true, Fireballs would offer a better storyline with more depth and generational continuity.
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From a competitive standpoint, the Abraham Ancer-to-Torque GC and Masaveu-to-Fireballs GC, the changes are quite fitting. Torque GC would gain a proven ball striker in Ancer, who is also the winner of LIV Hong Kong and has been a consistent top-10 golfer. They’re currently ranked 4th in the regular-season standings, with only one win.
Hence, if such a change occurs, it will give balance to both teams. And with Sergio Garcia’s unwillingness to comment, it only elevates the speculations.
Wayne Gretzky is 1st player in NHL history with 3,000 points (playoffs included)
Dec. 1
1936 — End Larry Kelley of Yale is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
1951 — Arnold “Showboat” Boykin of Mississippi scores seven touchdowns in a 49-7 rout of Mississippi State.
1956 — The United States beats the Soviet Union 89-55 to win the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Melbourne Olympics. Bob Jeangerard (16), K.C. Jones (15), Jim Walsh (14) and Bill Russell (13) each score double-digits.
1959 — Louisiana State halfback Billy Cannon is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
1961 — Paul Arizin of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 33 points in 138-177 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to become the third NBA player to reach the 15,000-point plateau.
1973 — Jack Nicklaus wins the Disney World Open to become the first professional golfer to surpass $2 million in career earnings.
1980 — South Carolina running back George Rogers is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
1984 — Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie is named the 50th Heisman Trophy winner.
1990 — Ty Detmer of Brigham Young wins the Heisman Trophy. Detmer, who had set or tied 25 NCAA passing and total offense records, becomes the first BYU winner and third consecutive junior winner.
1996 — Wayne Gretzky becomes the first player in NHL history to reach the 3,000 point plateau.
2001 — North Texas (5-6) loses to Troy State 18-16 to become the third team to go to a bowl with a losing record. The Mean Green, bound for the inaugural New Orleans Bowl as the Sun Belt Conference champion, joins SMU (4-6 in 1963) and William & Mary (5-6 in 1970) as the only teams to play in a bowl game with losing records.
2003 — Sylvester Croom becomes the Southeastern Conference’s first black head football coach, accepting an offer to take over troubled Mississippi State.
2004 — McKendree College coach Harry Statham tops Dean Smith with his 880th career victory, an 83-72 win over Maryville. Smith, with 879 wins, still holds the NCAA record for career victories because all of Statham’s wins are at the NAIA level.
2012 — Landon Donovan scores the tiebreaking goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, and David Beckham leaves the MLS as a two-time champion with the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup.
2013 — Josh Gordon has 10 catches for 261 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland’s 32-20 loss to Jacksonville. He becomes the first player in NFL history to record 200 yards receiving in consecutive games.
2015 — The Philadelphia 76ers end the longest losing streak in the history of major professional sports in the United States, topping the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 to snap a 28-game skid.
2018 — In a dramatic twist on last season’s national championship game, Jalen Hurts comes off the bench to pass for one touchdown and run for another in the fourth quarter, rallying No. 1 Alabama to a 35-28 win over No. 4 Georgia for the Southeastern Conference title.
2018 — Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury fights to a split draw, with Wilder retaining his WBC heavyweight title after knocking down his British challenger twice at Staples Center.
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Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Penguins assign forwards Tristan Broz, Danton Heinen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned forwards Tristan Broz and Danton Heinen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Sunday.
Broz, a rookie, was recalled to the NHL roster on Monday and made his NHL debut on Wednesday in a 4-2 home win against the Buffalo Sabres. Opening the contest as the third line center, Broz logged 11:30 of ice time on 15 shifts and had two shots.
The 21-year-old was a healthy scratch for the team’s two most recent games, a 4-2 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday and a 7-2 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
At the AHL level, Broz has been productive. Primarily skating as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top center, Broz leads that team in goals (eight) while generating 13 points overall in 18 games.
A second-round draft pick (No. 48 overall) in 2021, Broz is in the second year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $925,000.
Heinen, 30, has split the 2025-26 campaign between the NHL and AHL rosters. After clearing waivers on Oct. 3, Heinen was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Largely deployed as a top-six center with that club, Heinen led the AHL in scoring with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 10 games by the time he was recalled to the NHL club on Nov. 4.
That production has not translated to the NHL level. Primarily operating as a bottom-six winger with some time on the second power-play unit, Heinen has appeared in nine NHL contests and recorded a single assist while averaging 12:15 of ice time.
Heinen is in the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit $2.25 million. With his assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, $1.15 million of his salary cap hit will come off the books for the NHL club per league rules.
Following these transactions, the Penguins now have 21 active players on the NHL roster, two short of the NHL limit of 23. That figure includes rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke, who is currently with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning assignment.
NHL EDGE stats: Sneaky offseason movers in 2025-26
NHL.com’s fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we look at the advanced metrics behind some sneaky offseason movers who are standing out during the 2025-26 season.
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There have been plenty of surprising players who changed teams in the offseason and have strong advanced metrics.
The biggest offseason moves were the Vegas Golden Knights landing forward Mitch Marner and the Carolina Hurricanes signing Nikolaj Ehlers. But one of the top standouts this season among players who changed teams has been Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras, who is tied with Marner for the highest points-per-game average (1.00; 24 points in 24 games) and is one point behind him for the most points among offseason movers.
Ehlers has elite underlying metrics, ranking among the forward leaders in hardest shot (93.63 mph; 97th percentile), max skating speed (23.05 mph; 93rd percentile), offensive zone time percentage (47.8; 99th percentile; seventh at position) and long-range shots on goal (14; 99th percentile; tied for eighth) this season. Zegras is excelling from midrange areas, ranking among the forward leaders in midrange shots on goal (21; 88th percentile) and midrange goals (five; 95th percentile). In terms of total skating distance, Marner (77.06 miles; 93rd percentile) and Zegras (72.60; 87th percentile) are shouldering heavy workloads.
Here are some under-the-radar players who have been important offseason additions for their respective teams:
Josh Doan, F, BUF
Acquired from the Utah Mammoth on June 26 as part of the JJ Peterka trade, Doan ranks tied for third on the Buffalo Sabres in points (16 in 25 games). Doan, who’s 23 years old and the son of former NHL player Shane Doan, is also tied for second on the Sabres in goals (eight; one more than his total from last season) behind Tage Thompson (12).
Per NHL EDGE stats, Doan ranks fifth in the entire NHL in high-danger shots on goal (41; eight more than last season’s 33 in 51 games with Utah). Doan also ranks highly among forwards in high-danger goals (six; 91st percentile), hardest shot (89.06 mph; 88th percentile) and long-range shots on goal (seven; 88th percentile).
Brent Burns, D, and Victor Olofsson, F, COL
Burns, the oldest player to play in an NHL game this season (40 years, 261 days), has played 950 consecutive games, the longest active streak and fourth longest in League history. He has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and 52 shots on goal in 25 games after signing with the Colorado Avalanche on July 2; they have the best record in the NHL (18-1-6; 42 points), are leading the League in goals per game (4.12) and allowing the fewest per game (2.08). Per NHL EDGE stats, Burns has 33 long-range shots on goal, one behind his teammate Cale Makar (34 long-range shots on goal; tied for seventh), who leads their position in points (32 in 25 games).
The Avalanche had another sneaky offseason pickup in forward Victor Olofsson, who signed with them Aug. 20 and has 16 points (six on power play) in 25 games. The 30-year-old ranks among the forward leaders in average shot speed (63.20 mph; 95th percentile), midrange goals (four; 91st percentile), midrange shots on goal (32; 98th percentile) and offensive zone time percentage (46.7; 96th percentile) this season.
Emil Heineman, F, NYI
Acquired by the New York Islanders from the Montreal Canadiens on June 27 as part of the Noah Dobson trade, Heineman ranks sixth in the entire NHL in hits (89) and is tied for second among offseason movers in goals (10; behind Kreider’s 11). Heineman, who’s 24 years old, is one of three players in the NHL with at least 16 points and 70 hits this season (others: Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks, Dylan Cozens of the Ottawa Senators) and has found chemistry with center Bo Horvat on the Islanders’ top line; all six of Heineman’s assists have been on goals by Horvat.
Per NHL EDGE stats, Heineman ranks in the 85th percentile or higher among forwards in the following categories:
Max skating speed: 23.40 mph; (97th percentile)
20-plus mph speed bursts: 61 (91st percentile)
High-danger goals: five (86th percentile)
Midrange goals: five (95th percentile)
Midrange shots on goal: 22 (89th percentile)
Dan Vladar, G, PHI
Vladar, who signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, is 10-4-1 with a .912 save percentage in 15 games this season, emerging as their No. 1 goalie option under new coach Rick Tocchet. With Vladar, the Flyers have been one of the most-improved defensive teams; in terms of goals allowed per game, Philaelphia ranks tied for ninth-fewest (2.79) this season after finishing fifth-worst (3.45) in that category last season. The Flyers have not had a Vezina Trophy finalist since Roman Cechmanek in 2000-01 (finished second behind Dominik Hasek).
Per NHL EDGE stats, Vladar ranks second behind Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals for the NHL lead in high-danger save percentage (.874) among goalies who have played at least 10 games this season. The 28-year-old also ranks among the top 10 in even-strength save percentage (.920; tied for eighth) and percentage of starts with greater than a .900 save percentage (80.0; 12 of 15; second).
Golden Knights vs Sharks: Vegas holds on for 4-3 win as Lindbom earns first NHL victory
The Golden Knights vs Sharks matchup delivered a result Vegas badly needed. The Knights snapped a four-game skid with a 4–3 win at T-Mobile Arena, getting Carl Lindbom’s first NHL victory and a surge of offense that arrived at exactly the right time. Vegas moved to 11–6–8 with the win.
Vegas built a 4–1 lead behind strong special teams and a dominant second period, then tightened defensively late to secure the result.
Golden Knights vs Sharks: Lindbom’s first win lifts the room
The Golden Knights vs Sharks storyline centered on Carl Lindbom finally breaking through. The rookie made 18 saves, including several in-tight stops during San Jose’s late push.
After the game, teammates mobbed him at the horn.
“He’s a great kid who works hard,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You want to get that first one under your belt, and he earned it.”
Colton Sissons echoed the feeling: “That was huge. The whole room was pumped for him.”
Second-period surge changes the game
Vegas took control with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Tomas Hertl scored twice on the night, including a power-play tip-in during the second period, while Mitch Marner added a wraparound finish that gave Vegas breathing room.
“That’s the hockey we want to play,” Sissons said. “We kept coming, played direct and finally got rewarded.”
Cassidy noted the team’s improved urgency: “We controlled play by managing pucks and getting inside. That’s when we look like us.”
Sharks push late, but Vegas holds the line
Although San Jose cut the lead to 4–3 with goals from Will Smith and William Eklund, Vegas defended its blue line with structure in the third. Lindbom tracked clean looks, and the Knights limited rush chances by winning numbers through the middle.
“We made Smith and Celebrini earn their ice,” Cassidy said. “Other than one three-on-two, we didn’t give them much.”
Despite a late cross-checking penalty, Vegas closed the door in the final minute.
What’s next for the Golden Knights
Vegas improved to 11–6–8 and now looks to build momentum after breaking its skid. The Golden Knights return to the ice Tuesday against Chicago, a 10–9–5 team that leans on structure and low-event hockey.
A strong start, plus another steady performance from Lindbom or the defensive core, could help Vegas stack points heading into December.
Related stories
Bussi makes 15 saves for 1st NHL shutout, Ehlers scores in OT in Hurricanes’ 1-0 win over Flames
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first NHL shutout, Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 2:52 of overtime and Hurricanes beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Sunday for their second straight victory.
Ehlers beat rookie goalie Devin Cooley after Taylor Hall put the puck on net. Ehlers scored his fifth goal of the season and first in seven games. Sean Walker also assisted.
Bussi played back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career.
Cooley stopped 16 shots. The Flames lost for just the second time in their last six games. They were shutout victims for the third time this season.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal returned from a three-game injury absence. He played slightly more than 14 minutes.
Up Next
Flames: At Nashville on Tuesday night.
Hurricanes: Host Toronto on Thursday night.
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Bussi makes 15 saves for 1st NHL shutout, Ehlers scores in OT in Hurricanes’ 1
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first NHL shutout, Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 2:52 of overtime and Hurricanes beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Sunday for their second straight victory.
Ehlers beat rookie goalie Devin Cooley after Taylor Hall put the puck on net. Ehlers scored his fifth goal of the season and first in seven games. Sean Walker also assisted.
Bussi played back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career.
Cooley stopped 16 shots. The Flames lost for just the second time in their last six games. They were shutout victims for the third time this season.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal returned from a three-game injury absence. He played slightly more than 14 minutes.
Up Next
Flames: At Nashville on Tuesday night.
Hurricanes: Host Toronto on Thursday night.
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Johnston’s hat trick leads Stars past Senators 6-1 for 4th consecutive win
DALLAS (AP) — Wyatt Johnston’s fourth career hat track included two power-play goals, giving him an NHL-best 12, and Jason Robertson had the winning goal and two assists in his 400th career NHL game as the Dallas Stars beat the Ottawa Senators 6-1 on Sunday night.
Johnston also had an assist to match a season high with four points.
Mavrik Bourque and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who have won four consecutive games and are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.
Dallas backup goaltender Casey DeSmith is 6-0-2 after making 15 saves. Dallas allowed a season-low 16 shots on goal.
Robertson’s goal came 44 seconds after Jake Sanderson tied the score 1-1. Dallas outscored Ottawa 3-1 in the second period following a scoreless first.
Johnston and Robertson share the team lead with 16 goals each, tied for fourth in the NHL. Robertson has points in 10 of his last 11 games (13 goals, 9 assists) and leads Dallas with 35 points (fifth).
Linus Ullmark stopped 20 shots for the Senators, who are 3-3-0 heading into the finale of a season-long seven-game road trip.
The Stars’ 38 points are second most in the NHL but four behind league-leading Colorado in the Central Division.
Dallas’ NHL-best power play has scored 29 times in 26 games. Last season, the Stars’ 29th power-play goal came in game No. 49 on Jan. 26.
Mikko Rantanen had a season-high three assists.
The Senators went 6-4-3 in November, their first winning mark in the month since 2016-17.
Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel left late in the second period with an apparent injury to his left leg. He went into the boards after getting hung up with Ottawa’s Fabian Zetterlund.
Up next
Senators: At Montreal on Monday.
Stars: Begin a road back-to-back on Monday against the New York Rangers.
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Johnston’s hat trick leads Stars past Senators 6
DALLAS (AP) — Wyatt Johnston’s fourth career hat track included two power-play goals, giving him an NHL-best 12, and Jason Robertson had the winning goal and two assists in his 400th career NHL game as the Dallas Stars beat the Ottawa Senators 6-1 on Sunday night.
Johnston also had an assist to match a season high with four points.
Mavrik Bourque and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who have won four consecutive games and are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.
Dallas backup goaltender Casey DeSmith is 6-0-2 after making 15 saves. Dallas allowed just 16 shots on goal, which was a season low for both teams.
Robertson’s goal came 44 seconds after Jake Sanderson tied the score 1-1. Dallas outscored Ottawa 3-1 in the second period following a scoreless first.
Johnston and Robertson share the team lead with 16 goals each, tied for fourth in the NHL. Robertson has points in 10 of his last 11 games (13 goals, 9 assists) and leads Dallas with 35 points (fifth).
Linus Ullmark stopped 20 shots for the Senators, who are 3-3-0 heading into the finale of a season-long seven-game road trip.
The Stars’ 38 points are second most in the NHL but four behind league-leading Colorado in the Central Division.
Dallas’ NHL-best power play has scored 29 times in 26 games. Last season, the Stars’ 29th power-play goal came in game No. 49 on Jan. 26.
Mikko Rantanen had a season-high three assists.
The Senators went 6-4-3 in November, their first winning mark in the month since 2016-17.
Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel left late in the second period with an apparent injury to his left leg. He went into the boards after getting hung up with Ottawa’s Fabian Zetterlund. Coach Glen Gulutzan said after the game that Bichsel will be evaluated on Monday.
Up next
Senators: At Montreal on Monday.
Stars: Begin a road back-to-back on Monday against the New York Rangers.
___
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Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
NHL roundup: Wyatt Johnston (3 goals), Stars pound Senators
Wyatt Johnston posted the fourth hat trick of his career and added an assist to lead the Dallas Stars to their fourth straight victory with a 6-1 thrashing of the visiting Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Johnston’s three goals give him 16 on the season, including an NHL-best 12 on the power play after two on Sunday. The 16 overall goals ties him for the team lead with Jason Robertson, who had a goal and two assists in the win. Mavrik Bourque and Jamie Benn also scored. Mikko Rantanen added three assists, and Roope Hintz helped on two for Dallas, which is 10-1-1 in its last 12 games.
Casey DeSmith made 15 saves for the Stars. Dallas’ backup goalie is now 6-0-2 in his last eight starts. Defenseman Lian Bichsel left the game with 4:21 left in the second after hitting the boards with an apparent leg injury.
Jake Sanderson scored for Ottawa, with assists from David Perron and Nick Cousins. Senators netminder Linus Ullmark saw his personal three-game winning streak end as he stopped only 20 shots.
Hurricanes 1, Flames 0 (OT)
Nikolaj Ehlers scored with 2:08 remaining in overtime to give Carolina a narrow victory over Calgary in Raleigh, N.C.
Ehlers notched his fifth goal of the season by crashing the net and converting on a delivery from Taylor Hall, who had the puck coming down the left side. Sean Walker also assisted on the goal.
Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first career shutout as the Hurricanes won their second game in a row and improved to 8-3-1 at home this season. Devin Cooley stopped 16 shots for the Flames, who were held without a shot in overtime.
Blackhawks 5, Ducks 3
Connor Bedard had two goals and two assists to help Chicago rally from a three-goal deficit and beat visiting Anaheim.
Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Greene and Colton Dach also scored, and Spencer Knight made 23 saves for the Blackhawks, who had lost five in a row (0-4-1).
Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist and Olen Zellweger and Chris Kreider also scored for the Ducks. Anaheim goalie Petr Mrazek had 13 saves before leaving with a lower-body injury midway through the third period. Ville Husso replaced him and surrendered one goal on one shot.
Capitals 4, Islanders 1
Tom Wilson scored twice and Logan Thompson carried a shutout deep into the third period for Washington, which continued surging with the victory over reeling New York in Elmont, N.Y.
Aliaksei Protas and Alex Ovechkin added empty-netters in the final 71 seconds for the Capitals, who have won four straight games and seven of their past eight (7-1-0). Thompson made 30 saves and has allowed only four goals in his last three outings.
Wilson notched an assist for a three-point afternoon, while Ovechkin added an assist against the Islanders, who fell to 1-3-1 on a seven-game homestand that began after a 6-1-0 road trip.
The Winners and Losers of the NFL Week 13
Every week this NFL season, we will break down the highs and lows—and everything in between—from the most recent slate of pro football. This week, a prime-time game finally delivered the drama, the Panthers pulled off a massive upset to shake up the NFC playoff race, the Texans surged past the Colts, Max Brosmer had a very unfortunate NFL debut, and more. Welcome to Winners and Losers.
Winners: Bryce Young and Dave Canales
Double-digit underdogs are now 2-14 in 2025, and the winners in both of those games have been the Panthers, who knocked off the Rams on Sunday in one of the biggest upsets of the season Carolina was outgained and gave up 7.4 yards per play to Matthew Stafford’s Rams, but won the turnover battle 3-0 and controlled the clock with over 35 minutes of possession. Head coach Dave Canales’s strategy was to shorten the game and essentially turn the contest into a series of dice rolls. It worked. The Rams got only three drives in the second half. They went three-and-out on their opening possession of the third quarter, scored a touchdown on their second, and their third ended with a Stafford sack-fumble just before the two-minute warning. The Panthers killed the clock and ran off with a 31-28 win.
The turnovers won Carolina the game, but with Los Angeles scoring on almost every other drive—the Panthers forced only one punt all game—the Panthers’ offense also played a big role in the outcome. Bryce Young’s clutch play ended up making the difference. He was unproductive and inefficient on early downs, but saved his best for high-leverage situations on third and fourth downs.
Bryce Young, Week 13 vs. Los Angeles (TruMedia)
Young threw two of his three touchdowns on fourth down, including the game-winner to Tetairoa McMillan on fourth-and-2. Carolina’s offensive line held up admirably against L.A.’s havoc-wreaking pass rush, and Young took advantage of the extra time in the pocket. On the game-winner, he got through his full progression without finding an open receiver, but McMillan broke open late in the play and Young lofted it up and over the defender in a trail position.
Earlier in the game, Young hit Jalen Coker deep down the right sideline for his other fourth-down touchdown, and also found Coker over the middle for the third-down conversion that clinched the game. On the latter play, the window was wide open thanks to a botched coverage, but Young delivered an accurate throw with good timing.
Young didn’t really push the ball downfield outside of those three plays on a wet and windy day in Charlotte. Canales preferred a schemed-up approach in the passing game with screens and quick passes to the flat.
Canales cooked up Young’s first touchdown with a swing screen to Chuba Hubbard.
No matter how this season ends for Young, who is playing to get his fifth-year option picked up, Canales has earned himself another season in Carolina. He hasn’t turned Young into a star, but he’s helped the former no. 1 pick get to the point where he can turn in this kind of performance every so often. Most impressively, Canales has gotten a mediocre Panthers roster to 7-6 and within a game of the Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South, with Tampa Bay coming to Charlotte in three weeks. It’s been seven years since this team has had something to play for so late in the season. That ought to be good for a few Coach of the Year votes on its own.
A division title may be in the realistic range of outcomes, but it’s still not the most likely outcome. The truth is, this Panthers team isn’t nearly as good as its record—or Sunday’s result against one of the league’s best teams—implies. They’ve been outscored by 50 points this season. Only nine teams have a worse point differential, per TruMedia. They also rank in the bottom 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The win over the Rams was impressive, but this is the same Panthers team that got throttled by the 49ers last Monday night and is just three weeks removed from a double-digit home loss to a dreadful Saints team. None of that will matter if Carolina finishes strong in its last four after next week’s bye.
The Panthers may have to go 3-1 to have a shot at making the playoffs. They’ll likely be underdogs in each of their last three games, but Canales and Young seem to be at their best when expectations are low.
Winner: The Bears
The Bears didn’t play Sunday but may have been the day’s biggest winner. They entered Thanksgiving week just hoping to keep up in the NFC playoff race. But they won a tough road game against the Eagles on Friday to move to 9-3, and by late Sunday afternoon, the Bears were leading the entire conference thanks to Carolina’s win over the Rams. Chicago has the edge over Los Angeles (also 9-3) right now because of a better conference record, while the Rams have a head-to-head win over 9-3 Seattle.
With no head-to-head matchups between the Rams and Bears, homefield advantage in the NFC could come down to conference record, where the Rams have to make up some ground after letting the Panthers game slip away.
With five in-conference games remaining, the Rams have time, but they can’t afford to blow any more opportunities like they did on Sunday. I’d still back Los Angeles as the favorites in the NFC even after the loss to Carolina. It’s not a result that should alter our perception of this team. Stafford’s three turnovers cost the team the win, but outside of those three bad plays, the offense was as productive as it had been all season. Even when including the turnovers, it was still an impressive performance for Sean McVay’s team. It was a 98th-percentile game by success rate, 96th percentile by yards per play, 88th percentile by points per drive, and 74th percentile in expected points added per play, according to TruMedia. The Rams averaged over 7 yards per carry on the ground, and their 71.4 percent success rate was tied for the highest mark in a game this season. Stafford averaged 8.7 yards per attempt. The Rams are going to be just fine.
But Los Angeles did give its chief rivals for the top seed a wider margin for error going forward. The Bears are going to need it with a difficult schedule to close out the regular season. They’ll play the Packers twice in the next three weeks and finish with games against two playoff contenders in San Francisco and Detroit. The Week 15 Browns game might be the only game in which Chicago is favored. Only four teams have a tougher strength of schedule over the final month of the season, which explains why the Bears currently have just a 7 percent chance of earning home-field advantage, per The Athletic’s Playoff Predictor.
Probability of winning the NFC (The Athletic)
Ben Johnson’s team has the inside track to the no. 1 seed in the NFC, but it will need its “good” to get “better” and better to get “best” if it’s going to hang on.
Winner: Sunday Night Football Viewers
It has been nearly two months since we’ve seen a competitive game on the NFL’s flagship broadcast. The last Sunday Night Football game decided by fewer than eight points was way back in Week 6. The drought is over, thanks to the Broncos and Commanders, who gave us a wild overtime affair that came down to a failed two-point try. Denver’s Nik Bonitto swatted Marcus Mariota’s throw out of the air and secured his team’s 10th win of the season.
The game was entertaining, but it wasn’t well played on either side. Denver QB Bo Nix treated the national audience to the signature Bo Nix Experience. There were a handful of highlights, including this incredible touchdown throw to Courtland Sutton:
But every time Cris Collinsworth started to question the un-Bo-lievers, Nix would turn around and prove the haters right. A beer league softball player could have picked Nix off here:
Bobby Wagner barely budged and Nix hit him right between the numbers for the interception.
Nix played a relatively clean game outside of that brutal mistake. There were some wayward passes to open receivers, but he took only one sack (though it was a costly one on a third down late in the fourth quarter) and protected the football. That was enough for Denver’s defense, which had turned in another solid effort before Mariota nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback while fighting his own inner bozo. Mariota nearly cost Washington a chance for a game-tying field goal when he kept this QB draw RPO and was nearly brought down inbounds with just 12 seconds remaining—and the Commanders out of timeouts. Mariota’s miracle escape from what looked like a sure sack led to a defensive pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga, which wiped out a game-ending interception.
But Mariota came up clutch in overtime with a third-and-14 conversion on a long pass to Deebo Samuel after he had a long touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin wiped out by a 50-50 holding call.
Mariota eventually found McLaurin for a touchdown a few plays later, but couldn’t connect on the ensuing two-point try for the win. (It’s worth noting that RB Jeremy McNichols was wide open, if only Mariota had been able to loft the pass over Bonitto to him.) Mariota’s first touchdown of the game came on one of the best catches of the season, as Treylon Burks pulled off a convincing Odell Beckham Jr. impersonation on this one-handed snag in the back corner of the end zone.
Washington put up a good fight in a losing effort and gave us a nightcap worth watching. With a rising Texans team taking on the desperate Chiefs next Sunday, we may not have to wait too long for the next one.
Winner: The Dramatic AFC South
The NFL’s least interesting division for the last, I don’t know, 15 years, is now demanding our attention. On Sunday, the Texans went into Indianapolis and beat the Colts 20-16 and the Jaguars snuffed out a Titans team that’s already planning its offseason vacations. Those results created a logjam at the top of the standings, and with five weeks left, the AFC South is the league’s most competitive division.
The Jaguars are in first place, the Colts have the division’s best point differential, but the Texans have to be considered the favorites here, right? Just based on past winning experience alone? The Colts and Jaguars are not to be trusted. They have quarterbacks with terrifying turnover tendencies, play-calling head coaches with dicey moments at the end of games, and defenses with a ceiling of “fine.” The Texans, meanwhile, have the division’s best quarterback, the best coach, and an elite defense. I’m not in the business of giving betting advice, but the Texans are +350 to win the division. That should be getting hammered. Houston has the easiest schedule down the stretch, per Tankathon, and the Jags and Colts still have two games against one another while the Texans’ last remaining divisional game is at home against Indy.
I think I’m ready to give up on the Colts after these last two weeks. It’s hard to get the thought of Shane Steichen going into a shell against Kansas City out of my head. Then we found out last week that Daniel Jones is playing with a freaking leg fracture. And now cornerback Sauce Gardner, the team’s big trade-deadline acquisition, will be out at least a few weeks after leaving Sunday’s loss with a calf injury.
Against Houston, Indianapolis needed to get more out of Jonathan Taylor, who ran for 85 yards on 21 attempts and didn’t have a single run go for more than 15 yards. He’s had only four such runs over the last month of games and just one in the last two weeks, per TruMedia. He had 15 over the first 10 games of the season.
Houston still has its issues—the run game is horrible and the offensive line is leaky—but the offense should get a major boost with C.J. Stroud returning from a concussion and putting an end to the nonsensical QB controversy talk. Davis Mills strung together a few wins against bad teams, but Stroud has been the better quarterback by both the numbers and eye test.
Stroud vs. Mills, 2025 season (TruMedia)
Stroud has quietly been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league after a slow start to the season. He ranks fifth in EPA per dropback since Week 4, per TruMedia. He falls to 13th in success rate and yards per dropback, so Stroud is still seeking consistency in the passing game but he’s throwing the ball well. After knocking off the rust against the Colts with a bad pick early in the second quarter, Stroud averaged 0.33 EPA and 7.3 yards per dropback. His postgame assessment of the performance was spot on.
The Texans still can’t run worth a damn, but Stroud and Nico Collins give the offense a fighting chance, and the defense can take care of the rest.
Loser: Mike Tomlin
Sunday’s game could not have gotten off to a more Steelers-ish start. That’s not a compliment. Buffalo and Pittsburgh played 30 minutes of sloppy-ass football; the Steelers defense forced two turnovers, and used the short field off one of those Bills’ mistakes to score the half’s only touchdown. When the Steelers do pull off an upset, that’s the general blueprint; they muck up the game and wait for the other team to make game-losing miscues. Buffalo made their mistakes early, with Josh Allen throwing a pick, which slammed the brakes on a promising opening drive. A fumble by running back James Cook gave Pittsburgh’s offense the short field it needed to find the end zone.
The Steelers came out of the second quarter with a 7-3 lead on the scoreboard and a 2-0 advantage in the turnover battle. It all fell apart in about five minutes of game time in the third quarter. Aaron Rodgers got decked from behind, coughed up the ball, and watched Bills cornerback Christian Benford return it for six. Rodgers ambled back to the sideline with a bloody nose and an injured left hand that kept him out of the game long enough for Mason Rudolph to throw a duck directly to Benford’s chest. Pittsburgh’s lead and the turnover advantage were gone, and that was that. An Allen touchdown pass gave the Bills a 16-7 lead that felt insurmountable even with Rodgers dragging himself back onto the field, even as he bled through the bandage on the bridge of his nose. By late in the game, a constant stream of boos had evolved into a “Fire Tomlin” chant.
I’ll give Rodgers credit for gritting it out in the second half, but he did not want to be there. You can see the apathy in his Next Gen Stats passing map.
Rodgers completed just 48 percent of his passes despite a low average depth of target (4.4 yards) and pressure rate (23 percent). He lost an average of 0.46 EPA per dropback and 83 percent of his yardage came after the catch. Rodgers called it a “boo-worthy performance” so at least he’s self-aware.
The defense also deserved some boos in the second half. The Bills were missing their two starting offensive tackles and had a center battling through an elbow injury and they still bullied the Steelers in the trenches. Cook ran for 144 yards on 32 carries, and Allen went for 38 yards on his four designed rushes—including Allen’s record-breaking touchdown run late in the game. A bummed out T.J. Watt said after the game that he’d never seen an opponent run the same play over and over without fail.
The play was good old-fashioned “Duo,” a downhill run concept consisting of double teams across the blocking front. Per Pro Football Focus, the Bills ran Duo 19 times and had a success rate of 57.9 percent. Only two teams have had more attempts of one run concept in a single game this season. Buffalo had the highest success rate of any of the top-10 games, so Watt wasn’t exaggerating.
The loss dropped the Steelers out of first place in the AFC North, and they’ve got the Ravens in Baltimore next week in what could be the beginning of the end for Rodgers and Tomlin in Pittsburgh if the fans get their way. The Steelers opened up as 6.5-point dogs in that division contest. Their 41-year-old quarterback is (literally) battered and bruised.
Even the defense, which has been the bedrock of the Tomlin model the past few years, is getting punked on a regular basis. The vibes are horrendous right now and could get a lot worse over the last month.
Winner: J.J. McCarthy’s Reputation
McCarthy missed Sunday’s game in Seattle because of a concussion, and was on the sideline in street clothes with a clipboard in his hands as he watched Max Brosmer’s sacrificial NFL debut. The undrafted rookie backup threw four interceptions in what was statistically the worst game of the season for any quarterback by total EPA, per TruMedia. It was the third worst on a per dropback basis. Only Jake Browning’s Week 3 game for Cincinnati in Minnesota and Tua Tagovailoa’s depressing Week 7 clunker for Miami in Cleveland were worse. But neither of those games had a play as laughably inept as Brosmer’s falling, underhanded interception that was returned for a touchdown.
What the hell was Brosmer thinking?! How did he envision that play ending? I get that it was fourth down, so even a desperate heave is more preferable to a sack, but he threw directly into the teeth of the coverage, with a clear path for the defender to race to the end zone. Look, McCarthy has stunk it up, but he’s never done something that egregiously bad. At least not yet.
That we’re using an undrafted rookie as a measuring stick for a top-10 pick in his second year tells you everything you need to know about how McCarthy’s season is going, but Brosmer’s exceptional stinker does shed a more positive light on McCarthy’s recent performances. The Vikings’ offensive situation may not be as nurturing as it appears on paper. Brosmer was bad all on his own but also had three of his passes dropped and was pressured on 33 percent of his dropbacks. He didn’t get any support from the run game, either. Aaron Jones didn’t have a single successful run on Sunday. His backup, Jordan Mason, had just two. Not many quarterbacks would have succeeded in that sort of environment against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Perhaps McCarthy would have performed even worse than Brosmer did in Seattle. That we didn’t get a chance to find out is enough to make McCarthy a winner. It was certainly the most enjoyable Sunday he’s had since returning from a high ankle sprain in early November. After all, it was the first time he went a week without throwing an interception since his return.
Loser: QB Sneaks
Has the QB sneak been figured out? Eh, probably not, but it sure felt like it in Week 13. Only 10 of the 16 sneaks teams ran this week went for a first down, per TruMedia. That’s a 62.5 percent success rate, the fifth lowest of any week in the past five seasons. The three fumbles on sneaks were the most in a single week over the same span. Even the league’s best practitioners of the play had trouble. Jalen Hurts had the ball ripped from him in a tush push scrum in Philadelphia’s 24-15 loss to Chicago on Friday.
The Colts now have to run their sneaks with rookie tight end Tyler Warren in order to protect Jones, who had been a perfect 12-for-12 on sneaks before his leg injury. Warren fumbled away his first sneak attempt of the season on Sunday against the Texans. Another rookie tight end, Cleveland’s Harold Fannin, also fumbled on a sneak attempt in the Browns’ 26-8 loss to the 49ers. Texans tight end Cade Stover was stuffed on back-to-back sneak attempts on third and fourth down. And Saints QB Tyler Shough ran into a brick wall in the final minute of Saints-Dolphins, sealing a 21-17 win for Miami.
Commanders’ Treylon Burks wows NFL fans with incredible touchdown catch
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks captivated the NFL world on Sunday night as he made an incredible one-handed touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos.
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota led the team down the field on a drive that was about to cross the 5-minute mark. On the 10th play, he threw a lob pass to Burks in the corner of the end zone.
Burks got his right hand up and caught the football over Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
Burks came down with the ball for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Commanders took a 14-13 lead with the score.
NFL fans’ jaws dropped after watching the play. Burks’ catch was quickly compared to the grab former New York Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. made against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.
It was those types of plays that Burks was expected to be making routinely when the Tennessee Titans selected him in the first round of the draft in 2022.
He was selected No. 18 overall out of Arkansas but his time with the Titans didn’t go to plan.
He only scored one touchdown in 27 games.
Burks’ appearance with the Commanders on Sunday was only his third game with Washington. He had four catches for 72 yards with the team coming into the matchup.
The touchdown was Burks’ second of his career. Plays like that will help him make a case to stay on the roster.
State NFL roundup: Former Troy star breaks loose for Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and threw for 151 yards on Sunday – 94 yards less than his season average.
But the Chargers still beat the Raiders 31-14 as running back Kimani Vidal ran for 126 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries and caught an 11-yard pass.
The former Troy standout scored on a 59-yard run 57 seconds into the second half as Los Angeles took a 21-7 lead.
“Huge day for Kimani,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Just so many guys stepped up. I mean, we really wanted to win, and the guys went out and played great. Kimani Vidal gave us a huge spark. That was, I think, one of the great runs, and he did that all game. He was really good in protection as well.”
The touchdown was the longest run of Vidal’s NFL career, and he reached a career single-game high for rushing yards, too. On Oct. 12, Vidal had run for 124 yards on 18 carries in a 29-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Vidal was among the 29 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
One other former state players was involved in the Las Vegas-Los Angeles game:
Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
More stories on the NFL
Alabama NFL roundup: Dallas Turner fills up stat sheet for Vikings
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s ‘competitive greatness’ makes the difference for Miami
In the other Sunday games:
Carolina Panthers 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
Mike Jackson (Spain Park) started at cornerback for the Panthers. Jackson made one tackle and intercepted one pass. Jackson picked off a short pass by quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown as Carolina took a 14-7 lead with 1:10 left in the first quarter. The sixth interception of Jackson’s career was his third of the 2025 season and produced his first pick-six. But it was not Jackson’s first NFL touchdown. On Sept. 18, 2022, Jackson picked up a blocked field-goal attempt and ran 86 yards for a touchdown in the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Panthers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) made one tackle.
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Browns safety Christopher Edmonds (Samford) made one tackle on special teams.
Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at defensive end for the 49ers. Huff made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road) started at running back for the Browns. Judkins ran for 91 yards on 23 carries and caught three passes for 18 yards.
Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) made one tackle on special teams and recovered one fumble. Luter recovered a muffed punt at the Cleveland 18-yard line with 13:27 remaining to set up a touchdown that gave San Francisco a 23-8 lead.
Forty-Niners defensive back Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive. A quadricep injury kept Wright out of the lineup.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Colts running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) did not record any stats.
Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.
Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had five receptions for 98 yards and a 7-yard touchdown run. On the third rushing attempt of his NFL career, Collins scored on an end-around with 12:38 to play to break a 13-13 tie.
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.
Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at left guard for the Texans.
Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) started at cornerback for the Texans. Lassiter made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope) dressed for the game but did not play.
Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) had a 37-yard kickoff return.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.
Colts safety Trey Washington (Hewitt-Trussville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Dolphins offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible play.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen) did not record any stats.
Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had two receptions for 25 yards.
Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (Jackson, South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams made eight tackles and broke up two passes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy) started at wide receiver for the Buccaneers. Johnson had a 5-yard reception.
Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Titans offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made three tackles and recorded two sacks. Hines-Allen has 5.5 sacks in the past five games.
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) came in to kneel down three times to finish the final 1:49 of the game.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) did not record any stats. Jacksonville elevated Silmon-Craig from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Titans guard Clay Webb (Oxford, Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seattle Seahawks 26, Minnesota Vikings 0
Seahawks safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones (Saraland) did not record any stats in his first game for Seattle. The Seahawks elevated Jones from their practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seahawks nose tackle Bubba Thomas (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) dressed for the game but did not play. Grable came off injured reserve on Saturday and was eligible to play for the first time this season on Sunday.
Steelers defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes (Northridge, North Alabama) did not record any stats.
Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 40.3 yards on four punts. Waitman had a 35-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 18-yard line, a 51-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 23 (moved back to the 13 by a holding penalty), a 26-yard punt downed at the Buffalo 20 and a 49-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 17.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) did not record any stats.
Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) ran for 20 yards on four carries.
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made six tackles on defense, broke up one pass and had one tackle on special teams.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.
The 2025 season is the 12th that Mark Inabinett has covered players with Alabama football roots in the NFL. Inabinett’s byline appeared in a newspaper for the first time in 1976. The intervening years have…
Alabama NFL roundup: Dallas Turner fills up stat sheet for Vikings
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner filled up the stat sheet during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Turner made five tackles, recorded two sacks, registered three quarterback hits, broke up one pass and forced two fumbles.
Turner’s effort did not keep the Vikings from losing, however, as Seattle scored a 26-0 victory by spoiling rookie quarterback Max Brosmer’s first NFL start with four interceptions.
Turner entered Sunday without a forced fumble in his 28 NFL games.
On Turner’s first sack of Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks recovered the football at their 46-yard line for an 8-yard loss with 13:24 left in the second quarter. Seattle finished that series with a field goal for the game’s first points.
On the Seahawks’ next possession, Darnold fumbled again when sacked by Turner, and this time, Minnesota recovered the football at the Seattle 13-yard line. But the Vikings squandered the opportunity when Brosmer threw an interception on fourth-and-1 that linebacker Ernest Jones returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Turner had 4.5 sacks in his first 25 NFL games. He has four sacks in his past three games.
“I mean, it was just playing fast,” Turner said. “Just the more familiar that we get with the defense, just the deeper we get into the season, you know, just the faster we jell together, the faster we play. And I feel like that was just what happened today.”
Turner was among the 38 former Alabama players who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Eight other former Alabama players were involved in the Minnesota-Seattle game:
Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Vikings. Allen made six tackles.
Josh Jobe started at cornerback for the Seahawks. Jobe made two tackles and broke up one pass.
Ryan Kelly started at center for the Vikings. Kelly left the game with a hip injury.
Seahawks offensive tackle Amari Kight (Thompson) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jalen Milroe was designated as the Seahawks’ emergency third quarterback. Milroe could play only if Sam Darnold and Drew Lock could not.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts did not record any stats.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) did not attempt any kicks.
More stories on the NFL
State NFL roundup: Former Troy star breaks loose for Chargers
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s ‘competitive greatness’ makes the difference for Miami
In the other Sunday games:
Carolina Panthers 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) made one tackle.
A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 15-of-20 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and ran five times for 23 yards. Young threw touchdown passes of 35 yards to running back Chuba Hubbard as Carolina tied the score at 7-7 with 7:38 left in the first quarter, 33 yards to wide receiver Jalen Coker as the Panthers took a 24-21 lead with 8:48 left in the third quarter and 43 yards to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as Carolina went ahead 31-28 with 6:34 remaining. The final two TD passes came on fourth-down throws.
RELATED: BRYCE YOUNG’S 2 FOURTH-DOWN TOUCHDOWN THROWS FUEL UPSET OF RAMS
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond had an 18-yard reception and a 9-yard run.
Browns running back Jerome Ford had three receptions for 17 yards.
Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had three receptions for 26 yards.
Forty-Niners quarterback Mac Jones handled the offense to finish the game for San Francisco. He had a 3-yard run and a kneel-down that lost 1 yard on the game’s final two snaps.
Forty-Niners running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) ran for 26 yards on eight carries.
Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Browns.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made four tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris made one tackle on special teams.
Colts defensive tackle Tim Smith is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Henry To’oTo’o started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick made seven tackles, recorded one sack and forced one fumble. Fitzpatrick also scored two points when he intercepted a 2-point conversion pass and returned it to the other end zone. By denying New Orleans’ opportunity to tie the game at 19-19, Fitzpatrick gave Miami a four-point lead with 1:17 to play. Because of the defensive 2-pointer, the Saints had to try to score a touchdown after they recovered an onside kick at their 45-yard line.
RELATED: MINKAH FITZPATRICK’S ‘COMPETITIVE GREATNESS’ MAKES THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE DOLPHINS
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and intercepted one pass. After Miami recovered a New Orleans fumble at the Saints 37-yard line in the second quarter, McKinstry picked off a pass by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the goal line on the next snap. McKinstry has three interceptions this season after not having any as a rookie in 2024.
Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 12-of-23 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran four times for 4 yards.
Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had three receptions for 40 yards.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison made one tackle.
Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams did not record any stats.
John Metchie III started at wide receiver for the Jets. Metchie had four receptions for 19 yards and a rushing attempt that lost 2 yards.
Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville) started at safety for the Jets. Moore led New York with 10 tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. The rookie reached a career high for tackles in the game.
Jets running back Keilan Robinson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks did not record any stats. Tampa Bay elevated Banks from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell made one tackle.
Dalvin Tomlinson started at nose tackle for the Cardinals. Tomlinson did not record any stats.
Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Titans cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal) was designated as a game-day inactive. An Achilles tendon injury kept Armour-Davis out of the lineup.
J.C. Latham started at right offensive tackle for the Titans.
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Los Angeles Chargers 31, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Chargers.
Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Da’Shawn Hand started at defensive tackle for the Chargers. Hand shared a sack, the seventh of his career.
Chargers running back Najee Harris is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Chargers punter JK Scott averaged 57.5 yards on two punts. Scott had a 57-yard punt for a touchback and a 58-yard punt returned 2 yards to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was designated as a game-day inactive.
Tyrell Shavers started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers did not record any stats.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Commanders wide receiver Trey Amos is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Commanders wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho was designated as a game-day inactive.
Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Broncos outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin) made one tackle for loss.
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made four tackles and broke up one pass as he returned from a three-game absence because of a pectoral injury.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.
The 2025 season is the 12th that Mark Inabinett has covered players with Alabama football roots in the NFL. Inabinett’s byline appeared in a newspaper for the first time in 1976. The intervening years have…
Auburn NFL roundup: Derrick Brown makes key plays in upset of Rams
Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford had thrown 28 passes and been hit by the Carolina Panthers once on Sunday when he dropped back from the Rams 22-yard line facing a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
That’s when Stafford got hit for the second time, and this time, Panthers defensive end Derrick Brown knocked the football out of the veteran quarterback’s hands. Carolina recovered and ran out the clock on a 31-28 victory.
“It kind of developed,” Brown said of his strip-sack. “Coming around, (defensive end Tershawn Wharton) getting high, forcing the quarterback to step up in the pocket. Coming around, seeing (outside linebacker) D.J. (Wonnum) take the inside move and then watching everything go down. Just came around and seeing him standing there and try to go get it.”
The Rams entered the game with the NFC’s best record at 9-2 and had won six games in a row. The Panthers were 6-6 and coming off a 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
“Nobody gave us a shot all week, right?” Brown said. “So, I mean, everybody within this locker room, it’s been that way since we were one and three and everybody was like, ‘Here we go again.’ And for us to be able to sit in here and be able to have that resilience just to come to work every single day and put our best foot forward and go out here and try to win these games. I mean, that’s what it’s been from Day 1 when we showed up at OTAs. Many people didn’t see the vision, but we knew if we just keep working, we’ll have opportunities.”
With the score tied 7-7 in the first quarter, Brown tipped a pass by Stafford with Los Angeles at the Carolina 8-yard line, and safety Nick Scott intercepted the football in the end zone. Stafford hadn’t been intercepted since Sept. 21.
“There’s a resilience and depth of character with Derrick where he’s not concerned with what’s happening on the other side of the ball,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “And when the offense might be struggling for a series or two, you’re going to get the same Derrick Brown regardless whatever the score is. We’re up or down, you’re going to get the same Derrick Brown.
“And that’s what I love to point to for the whole group. Like guys, let’s just continue to do our job well. Let’s continue to empty the tank every time you’re out there on the field, whether it’s in practice or the games, and that’s what continues to show up for Derrick.”
Brown was among the 16 former Auburn players who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Two other former Auburn players were involved in the Los Angeles-Carolina game:
Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was designated as a game-day inactive.
Rams cornerback Roger McCreary (Williamson) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
More stories on the NFL
Alabama NFL roundup: Dallas Turner fills up stat sheet for Vikings
State NFL roundup: Former Troy star breaks loose for Chargers
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
In the other Sunday games:
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns linebacker Eugene Asante is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns tight end Sal Cannella is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) did not record any stats.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Jets defensive tackle Byron Cowart is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jamien Sherwood started at linebacker for the Jets. Sherwood made four tackles and broke up one pass.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe did not record any stats.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Titans linebacker Dorian Mausi did not record any stats.
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars offensive tackle Kilian Zierer is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seattle Seahawks 26, Minnesota Vikings 0
Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall made one tackle.
Vikings linebacker Austin Keys made one tackle on special teams.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) made two tackles on special teams.
Los Angeles Chargers 31, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made two extra points.
Chargers long snapper Josh Harris handled the snaps for four extra points, two punts and one field goal.
Raiders wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Chargers wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith was designated as a game-day inactive.
Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues made one tackle.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Steelers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Commanders quarterback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville) made six tackles and broke up one pass.
Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Commanders. Jones made six tackles.
Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 29-of-45 passes for 321 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran twice for 16 yards. Nix had an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton as Denver took a 13-7 lead with 23 seconds left in the first half.
RELATED: BRONCOS QB BO NIX AFTER OVERTIME VICTORY: ‘PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE’
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.
Banged-up Patriots eye 10th win in a row, wary of Giants
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have the best record in the NFL, haven’t lost in two months and have only a matchup with one of the league’s worst teams standing between a 10th consecutive win and their bye week.
But that doesn’t mean the Patriots (10-2) are taking anything for granted heading into Monday night’s game with the New York Giants (2-10).
Part of the reason is that New England will enter the game with two starters missing on an offensive line that has been of the league’s durable this season. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell left last week’s win over Cincinnati with a knee injury that has since landed him on injured reserve. Left guard Jared Wilson will also be out this week with an ankle injury.
The group of Campbell, Wilson, center Garrett Bradbury, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses have started 11 of the first 12 games this season. The lone deviation from that quintet had been in Week 4 when Ben Brown started in place of Wilson, who was inactive with ankle and knee injuries.
Mikaela Shiffrin Enjoys the Perfect Homecoming, Cheering Her Favorite NFL Team After Major Copper Mountain Milestone
Mikaela Shiffrin added another milestone to her legendary career with her victory at Copper Mountain, continuing her dominance on snow. After the win, she revealed her obsession with the feeling of skiing from start to finish. But there’s one more thing that thrills her just as much, and that’s cheering for her favorite NFL team – the Denver Broncos.
Shiffrin cemented her GOAT status by winning her 104th FIS Ski World Cup. That’s also her 12th win on her home turf, Colorado. But to celebrate her win in the Copper Mountain women’s slalom, she tuned in to watch the battle between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders on November 30. Shiffrin shared a picture of the celebration on her Instagram Story, with a half-eaten burger in her hand, and the television showing the live stream of the Broncos’ match.
In the caption, she wrote, “Burgers & @broncos to celebrate a biggg day 🥰.”
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The celebration didn’t just stay in the realm of Instagram. As the Broncos secured a win over the Commanders with a score of 27-26, Shiffrin ensured to bring the celebration to X. She reposted a celebratory post by the Denver Broncos, showcasing a photo of Jahdae Barron being lifted. And the caption had a similar tone to that of the IG Story.
Shiffrin, on the X repost, quoted, “Let’s gooooo!! Perfect way to spend a Sunday night… @Broncos W + @SNFonNBC + a 🍔 at home with the fam.🥰”
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Copper Mountain welcomed Shiffrin with the kind of electric atmosphere reserved only for hometown heroes. Fans lined the finish zone, waving flags and cheering long before she even stepped into the starting gate. Despite the jet lag and travel fatigue, she posted the fastest times in both runs and secured a ticket to the Olympics. And that came because of the support from her home crowd.
Weighing in on that win, Mikaela Shiffrin stated, “(A fourth Olympics) is pretty incredible. When you’re at the top of sport, some of these things, they become like an expectation. The world just expects it. `How excited are you to go to the Olympics?’ Technically, I haven’t qualified yet. But when I can say I’ve qualified, that’s a huge step, and we have to celebrate those moments.”
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And to express her gratitude as a Coloradan, she stood up to support the Denver Broncos through social media. Of course, this isn’t the first time Shiffrin has expressed her support for the NFL team. She previously cheered them for clinching an NFL playoff spot earlier in January. And her support of her home teams extends beyond the NFL.
How does Mikaela Shiffrin support teams from Denver?
To show her support for her home teams, Shiffrin took a dive into the world of the National Women’s Soccer League as well. In May 2025, she became a co-owner of the Denver NWSL team, as they’re set to debut in 2026. Needless to say, the Olympic alpine skiing champion was pretty thrilled with her new role.
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“I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home. The sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and—most notably—the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today.”
She continued. “To be part of it, and to help bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado, is not only an incredible investment opportunity—but it is both an honor and a joy. Shout out to the city of Denver—I’m so excited to support the home team!”
Additionally, her support shone through when she decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with the Denver Nuggets. Yes, Mikaela Shiffrin took her mother, Eileen, to a game between the Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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And as her support for Denver’s teams continues to shine, Shiffrin’s Copper Mountain victory felt like the perfect homecoming. Celebrating with family, cheering on the Broncos, and embracing her Colorado roots, she blended triumph with hometown pride, closing a milestone weekend with the spirit that defines her.
The evolution of Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte: From broken ankle to NFL success
FOXBOROUGH – Kayshon Boutte was riding high.
Days after catching a go-ahead touchdown to help lift the Patriots over the Titans the receiver was back at his Massachusetts home doing what he loves — playing with his 3-year-old son, Kylan.
The father-son combo kicked the soccer ball together and then ran around the backyard with their dog, a 100-pound, 1-year-old Cane Corso named Bella.
The receiver was exhausted and recovering from his second straight road game, but in this moment, his enjoyment of being a dad exceeded his need for sleep
“You just gotta learn how to balance life outside of football,” Boutte said. “It can be tiring, but I mean, it’s all worth it.”
Boutte’s football journey hasn’t been easy, but the 23-year-old is finally on the right path and in a place he always knew he would be: as a sure-handed, capable receiver in the NFL.
After signing with LSU out of high school, that looked like a given. He was projected to be the next in the line of great Tigers receivers.
A broken ankle during his sophomore year at LSU led to two surgeries and a long recovery. The setback cost him in performance, draft status, money, and reputation.
An elite prep sprinter, Boutte didn’t have the same burst in 2022 after a coaching change at LSU, a disappointing season led him to declare for the NFL draft after his junior season.
The wide receiver fell to the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
“I wasn’t gonna sit there and beat myself up about it,” Boutte said. “The only way to get through it was work.”
Boutte never stopped believing.
In his third season with the Patriots, he looks like the player who sparked such high expectations early on. Those who know him say Boutte’s resurgence in New England shouldn’t be a surprise.
“I always knew I could get back to where I was,” Boutte said. “I just think everybody stopped believing for a second. I feel like now, everybody’s back on the train. It’s kind of how it goes. But I don’t really buy into too much of the noise. Just be me at the end of the day.”
A natural talent
Boutte was bored, so naturally, he went outside to play with Ali.
The black lab seemed giant to Boutte, who was 5 years old. To entertain himself, Boutte chased the family dog around his family’s property.
But when Ali chased him, Boutte realized how athletic he was. As years passed, it got harder and harder for the black lab to catch him.
“You know how they always say, you run faster when you’re in fear?” Boutte said. “It was just that thought of a dog chasing me and then just running away from it. I think you really reach your full speed by doing that. And I think that’s when I started getting into the track and running the football.”
Growing up in New Iberia in Southern Louisiana, Boutte started playing football when he was 5. He was a standout on the track and a legend in youth football. By middle school, he was getting recruited to other high schools, but opted to stay and play in his hometown for Westgate.
“Every time he touched the ball, he was scoring. He just had exceptional speed,” said Westgate coach Ryan Antoine, who first saw Boutte when he was in sixth grade. ”You could tell he was just a natural athlete. He was just different.”
The year before Boutte arrived, Westgate was 0-10. He went to high school as a running back, where the team showcased his elite speed. Even before his first game, Boutte made a list of goals. He wanted:
To earn a football scholarship to LSU
Win a Louisiana state championship in track.
He crossed one of those off as a freshman, winning the 400-meter state title. He also added a state championship in the 60-meter dash to his resume. Boutte also set Westgate High School records in the 100 meters (10.97), 200 meters (21.25), and 100-meter hurdles (15.47).
Moving to receiver as a sophomore helped him achieve the other. It took him two seasons to achieve one dream, signing with LSU.
“I’ve never had a kid that wants to compete like Kayshon,” Antoine said. “It could be shooting the basketball, it could be walking outside, it could be getting first to lunch. Kayshon is going to compete, and he’s not going to stop until he’s the best at it.”
Boutte returned too early
When he arrived on campus, Boutte had high expectations.
At LSU, wide receiver coach Mickey Joseph had a type. He only wanted to recruit athletes whom he thought could be first-round picks. That’s why he successfully recruited Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall.
After Jefferson, Chase, and Marshall’s time in Baton Rouge was over, Joseph had a plan to restock LSU’s receiver room. It started with Boutte (class of 2020), Malik Nabers (2021), and Brian Thomas (2021).
“(Boutte is) one of them. He’s at the top of the charts, talent-wise,” Joseph said. “I didn’t deal with you if I didn’t think that you were going to be a high draft pick one day… He ran into some injuries, but I always thought he was first-round talent.”
The above-mentioned receivers all went in the first round except Marshall, a second-round pick. Boutte’s downfall came from the ankle injury and new coach Brian Kelly’s staff, who didn’t know him.
In 2020, when Chase and Marshall opted out of the COVID season, Boutte became the Tigers’ top option. He caught nine passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the first game of his sophomore year.
A year later, his world came crashing down. On Oct. 9, he suffered his broken ankle. Eight days later, LSU coach Ed Orgeron was fired. The chain of events was catastrophic.
Boutte needed multiple ankle surgeries and still has two steel plates and six screws inside his leg. The recovery was brutal. After graduating from crutches, Boutte made his way around the LSU campus on a motor scooter. As the depression set in, so did embarrassment.
This once-promising receiver fell off his scooter one of the first times he was making his way around campus.
“I was a little hurt at first,” Boutte said. “Depressed, just trying to figure out how to get through everything, not being able to walk. Now crutches. Now, scooter, falling off the scooter, trying to get used to the change.”
The next season, Brian Kelly took over at LSU. Despite the surgeries and Boutte’s diminished speed, the program cleared him for offseason activities in June after holding him out in the spring.
Joseph knew it was wrong.
“They brought him back too early. That’s not knowing the kids. If you know, Kayshon, he’s gonna tell you, ‘I’m good, coach, I’m ready to go,’” Joseph said. “But as a coach, you gotta know the kid and say, ‘Ah, he’s not good. He’s not moving right.’ But if you didn’t recruit him, you don’t know the way he moved in high school. You don’t know how he moved when he first got (LSU).
“When they were talking about playing him, I said, ‘This is too early. He’s gonna end up damaging the ankle again.’”
It was difficult for Joseph to watch Boutte play in his final season at LSU. He shuddered when he saw him run at the NFL Combine.
As a senior in high school, Boutte ran a 4.37 40-yard dash. At the Combine, Boutte ran a 4.50, and his draft stock plummeted.
Newfound maturity
Boutte was 20 years old when the Patriots drafted him. Three years later, he’s still one of the youngest players on the roster. After having success early, he needed to mature.
In 2024, he was arrested for underage gambling and fraud charges after placing bets on sporting events while at LSU. Charges were dropped when Boutte completed a gambling awareness program, and due to him not placing bets against himself or the team.
As a rookie, he caught two passes for 19 yards and was buried on the depth chart by Bill Belichick after failing to get his feet in bounds on a fourth-quarter pass in his first NFL game.
In his second NFL season, Boutte became openly frustrated with his lack of targets, revealing that he “demanded” to see more passes in a game against Houston.
Even from afar, Antoine could see Boutte’s frustration.
“It pissed me off. Kayshon is near and dear to me,” Antoine said. “I know how great of a person the kid is, and so people saw something that’s in a totally different light.”
Joseph was worried too. He visited Boutte during a game in Miami during his rookie season. He got the sense that the receiver wasn’t gelling with Belichick and gave him a pep talk. Joseph told him to keep his head up and not to do anything that would make him look bad with the Patriots staff.
“It looked like Belichick really didn’t care for him too much,” Joseph said. “I think (Mike) Vrabel runs a different ship. I think it’s a better culture, better atmosphere. And it fits him.”
The low points have made this season sweeter for Boutte and those who have always been in his corner. After realizing he needed to grow up, that’s happened, on the field and at home.
His maturation has been one of the biggest storylines of the Patriots’ 2025 season.
This year, he looks like that five-star recruit. Before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 9, Boutte was on pace to surpass the 900-yard receiving mark this season. He was second in the NFL in yards per reception (18.7) and tied for eighth in touchdown catches. The receiver returned to action last week in Cincinnati.
“I’ve watched so many people turn their backs on him. I’ve watched so many people forget about who this kid truly is,” Antoine said. “And now he’s humbled, and now he’s hungry, and now he’s back to the Kayshon I always knew.”
Part of his growth came at home. The newfound maturity that’s come from fatherhood has led to better results with the Patriots.
Four days after he played soccer with his son, Boutte was an in-game captain for the Patriots’ matchup with the Browns. The receiver finished with 75 yards and a touchdown that day. He’s proud of who he’s become.
“You mature as life goes on. As much as you go through is as much as you’re gonna grow, honestly,” Boutte said. “I think just part of what I went through shaped me and who I am today.”
Browns special teams? I can’t take it anymore! – Terry Pluto
CLEVELAND, Ohio – I don’t know how Kevin Stefanski watches this every week.
I’m talking about the Browns’ special teams – HIS special teams.
“I’m responsible for all of it,” said the Browns head coach. “I’m involved in all of it. We’ll get it coached up.”
Stefanski was talking about a massive special teams failure … again. This time, after Sunday’s 26-8 loss to San Francisco.
There was Skyy Moore’s 66-yard punt return. That put the ball on the Cleveland 16-yard line, setting up a 49ers TD.
I watched Moore running right through the Browns coverage unit and I wanted to scream, “They should be embarrassed!”
There is no screaming – or cheering – in the press box. But there’s a lot of moaning after debacles like that.
Moore’s run was the THIRD punt return of at least 60 yards allowed by the Browns this season. That’s three in 12 games.
Want to turn that frown upside down? This one didn’t go for a touchdown. The other two did: 74 yards (the Jets) and 65 yards (the Lions).
The Browns also have allowed a 99-yard kickoff TD return.
In the last two seasons, the Browns have coughed up five touchdowns on punt or kickoff returns – the most in the NFL.
It’s beyond embarrassing
The Browns had two other special teams disasters Sunday.
Rookie Gage Larvadain muffed a punt that San Francisco recovered on the Cleveland 18-yard line. That led to a 49ers TD.
Larvadain also fumbled another punt, which the Browns recovered.
The strangest special teams play of the game was when Cleveland’s Malachi Corley caught a kickoff headed out of bounds on the 5-yard line. He was tip-toeing the sidelines as he made the catch.
If Corley had simply let the ball land out of bounds (as it was destined to do), the Browns would have had the ball on their own 40-yard line. That’s the rule and Corley should have known it.
Instead, he caught the ball … stepped out of bounds and the Browns had the ball on their own 5-yard line.
Stefanski says things like, “We’ll get that fixed.” He takes responsibility, but nothing changes.
The Bubba Ventrone Era
In 2023, the Browns decided to move on from special teams coach Mike Priefer. They were so impressed with Bubba Ventrone, they gave him the title of Assistant Head Coach to leave the Colts as special teams coordinator and take the same job with the Browns.
The Browns were convinced Ventrone would raise their special teams to a higher level. He had been a terrific special teams player for New England and the Browns.
But since he came here, the Browns special teams have gone from mediocre to self-destructive.
After the Browns gave up TDs on a punt and kickoff in their 27-20 loss to the Jets on Nov. 9, Stefanski said this about Ventrone:
“I have a ton of faith in Bubba. I have a ton of faith in our special teams. We have to be better – that’s the case. There are ways that we can try to be better. We’ll continue to coach our guys hard. We’ll continue to give them the techniques to use. But I trust our guys, I trust that we’ll get back to work.”
None of this is to question the effort of Ventrone or the other coaches who work with special teams. But the NFL is a bottom-line business, and the Browns special teams are near the bottom in ranking in several important areas.
It’s incomprehensible that Ventrone would come back in 2026, even if Stefanski remains as head coach. I wondered if someone else on the staff right now should have a chance to take over the unit.
Former John Carroll defensive coordinator Kyle Hoke joined the Browns as assistant special teams coach in 2025. Hoke had been a safeties coach for several Division I college teams. Is he an option? Is there someone else on the staff?
The best Browns special teams coach that I observed was Brad Seely. He is 69 and retired after the 2020 season. But I would bring him in as a consultant. Or at least send him some videos. Ventrone played for Seely in Cleveland and New England for four seasons.
Are the Browns going to endure this same ineptitude on special teams for the rest of the season without trying something (or someone) else?
That’s a question the front office should ask Stefanski.
Trevon Diggs reflects on injury recovery amid pending Cowboys return
The Dallas Cowboys returned to practice on Sunday afternoon as the team begins to ramp up its preparations for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Detroit Lions to kick off Week 14 of the NFL season.
When the team returned to practice, it received some great news in the secondary. All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs took the field and opened his 21-day window as he returns from IR.
Diggs was placed on injured reserve on October 25, just one day before the Cowboys faced the Denver Broncos in Week 8, due to a concussion suffered in a mystery accident at his home and knee soreness.
MORE: 3x Super Bowl winner says Cowboys remind him of another championship team
There is no official date for Diggs’ return to game action, but he is hoping to be active against Detroit.
Amid his pending return to the field, Diggs spoke to the media and opened up about his injury recovery. Diggs says he feels
Cooper Flagg drops 35 points to break one of LeBron James’ NBA scoring records
A day after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 10 assists in a loss to the Lakers, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg made some more history in a 114-100 win against the Clippers Saturday night. Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 35 points. Flagg did so at 18 years and 343 days, which is five days faster than when LeBron James did it in his rookie season.
Flagg also did it more efficiently than James did, going 13 of 22 from the floor (59.1%), while adding eight rebounds and two assists. He was aggressive from the opening tip, racking up 21 of his 35 points in the first half.
Things came easy for Flagg in the first half, as James Harden’s level of defense was minimal at best, and non-existent on most occasions. The Clippers orange-red jerseys were actually quite fitting for the occasion, as their defense looked like traffic cones out there as Flagg knifed his way to the iron for countless layups with minimal rim pressure.
Despite the poor defensive display from the Clippers, who rank 26th on that end of the floor and have now lost four consecutive games, it was an impressive feat from the rookie. You could tell Flagg looks far more comfortable on the floor, and he’s been more assertive in looking for his own shot, even when the game is on the line.
It was Flagg who made a pull-up, mid-range jumper with under two minutes to go to put the Mavericks back out in front against the Clippers. He once again answered the call with 45 seconds to go, when he attacked the rim out of a pick-and-roll and took it straight at Clippers big man Ivica Zubac. Flagg got the foul call and nearly got the shot to fall after the whistle blew, but made sure to convert both free throws to put the Mavericks up by four points.
It felt like Flagg’s first signature win of his career, and an inflection point of his rookie season that should earn him more attention for Rookie of the Year. If you were to take a poll right now, many would vote Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel for the award. He’s leading all rookies in scoring (18.4), is averaging 5.7 rebounds and three assists, while shooting incredibly efficiently, too (47% FG, 41.3% 3FG). But over the last five games, Flagg has surpassed Knueppel’s production. He’s averaging over 20 points on shooting 48.1%, while tacking on 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists during the span.
In the last five games, we’re seeing a version of Flagg everyone expected to get from the opening tip of the season. But a failed point guard experiment and clunky lineup rotations made it seem as though the Mavericks weren’t putting Flagg in the best position to succeed. However, since benching D’Angelo Russell in favor of Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard as the point guard duo, and better floor spacing created by the absence of Anthony Davis, the former Duke phenom has flourished.
His averages are up across the board, and while his 3-point shooting is suffering, he’s settling for fewer 3s and instead wrecking havoc inside the arc. His 3-point shot was always going to be a work in progress, but what’s important is he’s been more efficient from everywhere else recently.
Cooper Flagg’s stats
TimespanPPGRPGAPGFG%3P%
First 15 games
15.5
6.3
3.1
45.5%
29.3%
Last 5 games
20.2
7.2
4.4
48.1%
11.8%
It’s a small sample size, and integrating Davis back into the starting lineup will be an interesting thing to watch, but if Flagg maintains this level of play from the past five games, he’ll have certainly done enough to seriously challenge his former Duke teammate for Rookie of the Year.
Knueppel’s still putting up massive numbers, but he’ll also have to make some adjustments of his own now that Brandon Miller is back healthy in Charlotte’s starting lineup. Between LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Miller there’s a ton of scoring coming from that trio that Knueppel’s production might wane over the course of the season. The main reason he’s had so much opportunity is because of early-season injuries to both Ball and Miller, but if those two can remain healthy, Knueppel’s numbers may dip.
Either way though, Flagg’s recent scoring outburst felt like an
Celtics Cavaliers NBA Pritchard
CLEVELAND — Payton Pritchard has been waiting all season for a night like this, when the threes were splashing, his deceptive strength would lead to swished fadeaways, and he would carry the Celtics when they desperately needed a lift.
Without Derrick White and Neemias Queta, who both got the night off, the Celtics were spearheaded by the smallest man on the floor Sunday at Rocket Arena. Pritchard (42 points) helped Boston stave off multiple rallies and sank two free throws with 5.9 seconds left as the Celtics escaped Cleveland with a 117-115 win.
The Cavaliers looked cooked, but rallied by scoring 11 points in the final 72 seconds, including two long 3-pointers from Donovan Mitchell and another triple from Darius Garland with 1.2 seconds left to cut the Celtics lead to 116-115.
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Jaylen Brown was fouled and split to free throws, giving the Cavaliers a chance at a victory. But Boston rookie Amari Williams defended Evan Mobley well and forced an airball.
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Pritchard led all scorers on 15-for-22 shooting, while Brown collected his fourth career triple-double (19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists), despite an off shooting night.
Jordan Walsh helped with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including a key bucket with 2:24 left.
The shorthanded Celtics had no answer for Mobley, who scored the first 8 points of the third quarter and Jaylon Tyson, who added a 3-pointer to slice Boston’s lead to 65-62. But Pritchard sparked a game-changing run with some contested jumpers and finally a 3-pointer as the Celtics raced to an 86-65 lead.
Boos rained down from Rocket Arena as the Cavaliers lacked energy and were slopping. But Mobley kept plugging with a pair of dunks and a 3-pointer as the Cavaliers sliced 10 points off that lead by quarter’s end.
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Pritchard had 27 points entering the fourth while Mobley had 25 points and 10 rebounds.
In the first half, Brown was erratic from the field and Pritchard was in foul trouble, so coach Joe Mazzulla used Anfernee Simons to keep the Celtics offense respectable.
Simons responded with 16 first-half points, including a pull-up 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left to complete a 9-0 quarter-ending run and a 58-51 halftime lead.
Xavier Tillman actually stole the inbounds pass after the Simons bucket and flipped in a prayer but officials ruled he released it after the buzzer. Still, the Celtics built a lead despite 11 first-half turnovers and 2-for-9 shooting from Brown.
Pritchard finished with 18 points in less than 12 minutes on 7-for-8 shooting. With the Celtics shorthanded at center, Mobley had his way in the paint with 10 points and six rebounds while Garland added 8 points.
Mitchell was rather quiet in the first two periods with 5 points, but that included a resounding two-handed dunk on Simons.
Pritchard was on his way to a standout game, knocking down his first three shots, two of those 3-pointers as the Celtics raced to a 13-2 lead. His lone obstacle from a season-best night was foul trouble.
Pritchard picked up his first foul 19 seconds into the game and got his second halfway through the first quarter, making contact with Garland on a 3-point attempt, forcing Mazzulla to pull him despite 10 points.
The Cavaliers lead the NBA in 3-point attempts per game and chased down the Celtics with the 3-ball. Four of their first five field goals were 3-pointers, as the Celtics helped the Cleveland rally with a series of turnovers, including an offensive foul and fumbled pass from Brown.
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A night after pouring in 41 points against Minnesota, Brown scored 5 points in the opening quarter as the Celtics clung to a 28-26 lead. Their six turnovers led to 8 Cleveland points.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
Knicks put up another 40-point quarter in 18-point rout of Raptors
Forty-point quarters are supposed to leave a team feeling invincible. They’re the kind of offensive avalanches that make opponents crack under the weight of inevitability, the kind of runs that tell everyone: There’s nothing you can do to stop us.
The Knicks entered Sunday leading the NBA with eight such outbursts. They made it nine after hanging a 41-point opening period on the Toronto Raptors — the same Raptors they’ll face in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Dec. 9 — and briefly looked like they were rolling toward another runaway victory at Madison Square Garden.
It’s quite the accomplishment in a point-hungry NBA. The Knicks now have three more 40-point quarters than the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat, who are all tied at six. They even have a game with consecutive 40-point quarters, when they hung 83 points in the second half of a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers each have five such 40-point quarters. The Knicks have doubled up each of the league’s remaining 22 teams in the department.
Yet a familiar issue resurfaced on Sunday. Sure, the Knicks scored 41 in the opening period, but they generated just 18 points in the second quarter. The Knicks exhaled. Their defense loosened. Their urgency dipped. And when Scottie Barnes drilled three straight threes from the same spot at the top of the key, Mike Brown had enough. He called a timeout, and in the span of a few possessions, what looked like a laugher became a seven-point game at halftime.
New York ultimately won, 116-94, improving to 13-3 on the season and 10-1 at home. They pulled away late to reopen a 20-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter. But the pattern is becoming impossible to ignore: The Knicks can build leads. Protecting them is another matter.
“Just discipline. We got a little lazy at certain points in the game,” Josh Hart said in his walk-off interview. “They’re a good team, they made runs and we were able to weather the storm.”
A 40-point first quarter against Brooklyn on Nov. 9 gave way to a 40-point second quarter surrendered to the Nets without Cam Thomas. Against Memphis, a 42-point opener dissolved into a 39-point third quarter by the Grizzlies. Miami saw the Knicks drop 46 in the second quarter — and immediately allow 36 in the third of what became an eight-point escape.
Sunday followed a similar blueprint: a blistering start, then an abrupt stall. The Knicks didn’t give up 40 this time, but they took their foot off the gas — just enough of a lull to invite the Raptors back into the game.
“[They’re] extremely athletic. They’re big and have big wings, and they can shoot the ball very well,” head coach Mike Brown said ahead of tipoff. “They really get out in transition and punish you in transition. A lot of guys who can run well. They can score at all three levels, and then defensively, they’re aggressive, they create turnovers which creates points for them in other ways.”
Luckily for the Knicks, their opening 40-ball provided just enough cushion to absorb the turbulence that followed. Miles McBride came out flamethrowing, drilling four of his first five threes and single-handedly outscoring the Raptors, 12–10, to start the game. Toronto chopped the lead to as little as three midway through the third quarter — 7:08 on the clock, tension thick in the building — before New York rediscovered its rhythm and answered with another avalanche, this time a 34-point third period.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and Josh Hart added one of his most complete games of the season: 20 points (4-of-7 from deep), 12 rebounds and seven assists. Jalen Brunson chipped in 18 points, seven assists and six boards on what amounted to a relatively light workload. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures yet again, and Mitchell Robinson anchored the second unit with 15 rebounds — seven on the offensive glass — in just 17 minutes.
Immanuel Quickley delivered 19 points and seven assists in his return to The Garden, and Scottie Barnes added 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
The Knicks and Raptors will get another look at each other in nine days, but the stakes will be far heavier next time: a win-or-go-home NBA Cup quarterfinal in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena with a trip to Las Vegas on the line.
Maybe this is simply the nature of basketball — a game of runs, where even big leads evaporate and momentum swings on a couple of made threes. Maybe surrendering stretches is just part of the natural ebb and flow of a team that scores at such a high clip.
Or maybe it’s something worth monitoring. Because this version of the Knicks can build leads with ease, but learning how to extend them — not sit on them — will determine how high their ceiling really is. They’ve been fortunate so far, now 7–1 in games where they’ve posted a 40-point quarter.
But fortune doesn’t last forever.
James Harden Calls Out Clippers’
The Los Angeles Clippers continue to have a nightmare season with a 5-15 record. Kawhi Leonard’s previous injury time out hurt the team’s momentum. The Clippers fell apart during this time and still look weak despite the star returning to the court. Only one Western Conference team currently has a worse record to put them in a tough predicament.
Star guard James Harden made some interesting comments about the team having a “difficult situation” to play through right now. Phrases like this usually leads to more issues behind the scenes, but Harden made it clear he’s only talking about things being difficult on the court during actual games.
“Situation here is difficult,” Harden said to the media after Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks. “We’re not making shots offensively. Defensively, the game plan mistakes we allow to happen too many times. That’s one of the reasons why we lose games.”
The Clippers have been credited with having a great coach and front office to make this look even worse. Teams with high expectations losing this much and having players call out such mistakes prove there is something wrong right now with the Clippers from front to back.
Harden Was Upset After Brutal Loss
The reason for Harden’s comments wasn’t even the loss itself on Saturday, but it was who they lost against and how. The Dallas Mavericks did not have Anthony Davis on the court during the second half of a back-to-back. All betting sites made the Clippers the strong favorites since the Mavericks are one team that looks worse than them and is dealing with multiple injuries.
Los Angeles even looked like they had the game in control for the first half and most of the third quarter. Dallas making a big comeback with a hot finish made the Clippers look like jokes with a heartbreaking loss. Blowing a lead to another bad team missing some of their best players made Harden comment on this.
The belief of the former MVP is that the team is going through a difficult situation of not being able to score easy shots and making too many mental mistakes on defense. Harden has become more of a leader in Los Angeles than his previous teams to make this comment feel relevant.
Can Harden Help Clippers Fix Season?
One positive for the Clippers is that the Western Conference is not as deep as everyone expected. Last season saw the top eight teams all having records of 48-34 or better at a 58% winning percentage. Only five West teams are currently with a record of 58% or better to show more teams falling off.
The Clippers are currently just three games out of a play-in seed to show that still within a reach. A couple of hot weeks would put them into the play-in with a chance for the ideal sixth seed to guarantee a playoff spot. Leonard’s health and the team’s age issue harming their depth must both improve for ultimate success.
Harden is clearly the Clippers’ brightest spot this season and is on pace for another All-Star appearance. Averages of 27.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.9 rebounds make it one of Harden’s best starts to a season in many years. The Clippers will need more play like this from Harden to have any chance of success.
Heat’s Erik Spoelstra And Duncan Robinson Reflect On A True Underdog Story
Saturday night at the Kaseya Center, Duncan Robinson returned to face the franchise that helped him author one of the NBA’s more improbable stories.
As a junior in high school in Maine, a state that, with all due respect to Cooper Flagg, is not known for being a basketball powerhouse, Robinson came off the bench. Most players who reach basketball’s highest level are already local stars by the time they reach that age.
That didn’t convince Robinson that he wouldn’t live out his hoop dreams. After graduating, he played at a prep school. He parlayed that opportunity to a spot on the team at Williams College. The six-foot-seven sharpshooter maximized his time there, converting it into the chance to make the leap from Division III to the University of Michigan.
Robinson made his mark in Ann Arbor, but he was coming off the bench. Like his journey to get there, few NBA players can relate. However, even after going undrafted, he never abandoned his pursuit.
The Miami Heat saw his potential and took a chance on him. They signed the undrafted free agent to a two-way deal. That paid off in spades. Robinson became a prime example of
NBA consecutive scoring streaks: Player records to know
What’s more impressive: scoring 100 points in a single game or scoring 60-plus points in three straight games twice in the span of a month and a half?
Wilt Chamberlain accomplished both during a dominant stretch of the 1961-62 NBA season.
Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in pursuit of one of Chamberlain’s many other NBA scoring records. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard scored 26 points in a 123-115 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 30, marking his 93rd consecutive game with 20-plus points. It’s the second-longest streak of scoring at least 20 points in NBA history, trailing Chamberlain’s streak of 126 games (1961-63).
Take a look at other consecutive scoring streaks in NBA history below:
Most consecutive games with 10-plus points
1,295 – LeBron James, 2007-present
866 – Michael Jordan, 1986-2001
787 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1977-87
575 – Karl Malone, 1991-99
562 – Kevin Durant, 2009-17
Most consecutive games with 20-plus points
126 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-63
93 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2024-present
92 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1963-64
79 – Oscar Robertson, 1963-64
72 – Kevin Durant, 2015-16
72 – Michael Jordan, 1987-88
Most consecutive games with 30-plus points
65 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62
32 – James Harden, 2018-19
31 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
25 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1960
22 – Joel Embiid, 2023-24
Most consecutive games with 40-plus points
14 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
14 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961
10 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
9 – Kobe Bryant, 2003
9 – Michael Jordan, 1986
Most consecutive games with 50-plus points
7 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961
6 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
5 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
5 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961
4 – Kobe Bryant, 2007
4 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
Most consecutive games with 60-plus points
4 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
3 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
2 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1962
2 – Wilt Chamberlain, 1961
‘Story of the year’: Shorthanded Blazers test Oklahoma City, but fall in 4th
The broken record skipped some more Sunday night at the Moda Center.
There was another sidelined starter.
There was another “clutch-time” test.
And there was another loss for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder for three-and-a-half quarters, but didn’t have enough down the stretch to avoid the inevitable, falling 123-115 before 17,597.
Deni Avdija recorded his fourth-career triple-double, Toumani Camara had one of his best all-around games of the season and the Blazers matched the best team in the NBA blow-for-blow most of the night. But in the end, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander awoke from a slumber when it mattered most, Ajay Mitchell hit enough timely shots and the Thunder slithered away from the Moda Center with another win, extending their NBA-best record to 20-1.
“We knew that we had to take the fight to them today and bring a total team effort,” Blazers forward Kris Murray said. “And I thought we did that for 42 out of 48 minutes. That’s kind of been the story of the year.”
And the latest chapter included another notable absence. Donovan Clingan, the Blazers’ leading rebounder and their only player averaging a double-double (10.2 points and 10.0 rebounds), was stuck at home with an illness, leaving the team without yet another important piece. The starting center is the 10th Blazers player to miss time this season due to injury or illness, which has forced the team to play without its starting backcourt and all three of its point guards at various times this month.
The latest setback forced interim coach Tiago Splitter to try a new wrinkle, leaning on a starting lineup that did not feature a traditional center: Avdija, Sidy Cissoko, Murray, Camara and Jerami Grant.
“Jerami and I were trying to figure out which one of us was playing center today,” Murray said, joking.
The unconventional lineup worked for most of the game as the teams battled shaky long-range shooting, a see-saw matchup that featured 15 lead changes and 22 ties, and herky-jerky action littered with fouls (52) and free throws (69).
The Blazers’ defense bottled up Gilgeous-Alexander most of the night, thanks in large part to the tenacity of Camara, but the reigning NBA MVP finally broke free in the fourth quarter, right about the time the Thunder found a little mojo.
They first started to pull away at the beginning of the final period, when they opened with an 8-0 run to transform two-point deficit into a 93-87 lead. The Blazers (8-12) coughed up three turnovers and Chet Holmgren delivered an impressive block on a Shaedon Sharpe dunk attempt during the mini burst, which seemed to ignite Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.
All of a sudden, after hitting just 4 of 11 shots over the first three quarters, Gilgeous-Alexander was swishing tough fadeaways, draining contested pull-up jumpers and working his way to the free throw line. He made 4 of 5 field goals in the deciding period, during which he scored 10 of his team-high 26 points. Mitchell was equally clutch, producing 11 points, two rebounds and two assists in the fourth.
The Blazers held their own until the final minutes, however, using the dominance of Avdija, a couple big shots from Murray and a barrage of free throws to keep things close. When Murray swished a three with 2:58 left, the Blazers trailed just 107-105 and Moda Center was buzzing.
But Holmgren answered with a layup, Sharpe was whistled for an offensive foul in the backcourt and Gilgeous-Alexander nailed a 14-foot baseline jumper. He added two more clutch midrange jumpers over Camara during the final 1:23 to ice the win.
Camara, who defended the NBA’s second-leading scorer admirably most of the night, said he tried lean on his physicality, avoid falling for Gilgeous-Alexander’s patented pump fakes and keep him away from his “spots.” But it wasn’t enough.
“He’s very … slippery,” Camara said. “He is a very, very, very smart basketball player. So you’ve got to give him credit.”
And even in defeat, it was hard not to give the Blazers a little credit, too. Avdija finished with 31 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and 10 assists, producing his second triple-double in 10 days. Camara recorded 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while making five three-pointers. And Murray added 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in his second start of the season.
After becoming the only team to defeat the Thunder earlier this month, the Blazers gave them another test Sunday, a feat few teams have been able to boast. Oklahoma City’s averaging margin of victory this season is 15.5 points per game.
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“I hate to call this a moral victory, but I think we competed,” Splitter said. “I’m proud of the way they competed. … We had a chance to win the game. This is a great team and it’s hard to play against them. We tried everything we had. We (tried) different matchups. Going small. Going big. Zone. Trap. But at the end of the day, you’ve still got to make shots and they were able to make more than us.”
And at the end of the day, it added up to yet another loss for the Blazers in a game featuring “clutch-time” minutes, when the score is within five points in the final five minutes. Portland has played in 12 such games this season, going 5-7.
No one in the home locker room was using injuries as an excuse. But one can’t help but wonder what this gritty young team’s record might be if injuries hadn’t left the rotation depleted, if that record hadn’t skipped one more time on Sunday.
“I think we have a lot of key players missing and it’s very noticeable,” Avdija said. “But I’m so proud of the guys that (have) come in and filled those roles … because we’re in these games, we’re winning some games, we’ve given a fight to the champions of the NBA. You can’t take it for granted. We’re definitely missing the key guys and I hope they’re going to recover and come back soon. But I’m just going to say I’m proud … I can’t have no complaints.”
Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans Player Stats, Box Score and Game Recap (Nov 30, 2025) – 2025-26 NBA Season
After going undefeated in NBA Cup play, the Los Angeles Lakers are on a goal to extend their winning streak to seven games. LeBron James and Marcus Smart were ruled out, but they’re still looking formidable before the last-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. The shorthanded and very young Pelicans on the second game of a back-to-back set didn’t make it easy for the hosts. Tensions even flared a couple of times. However, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves led the Lakers to a 133-121 win and their seventh consecutive win.
Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans player stats and box score
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Pelicans
NBA roundup: Jalen Johnson’s career night lifts Hawks past 76ers in 2OT
December 1 – Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 41 points to lift the visiting Atlanta Hawks to a wild 142-134 double-overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 34 points for Atlanta, while Dyson Daniels pitched in with 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Johnson also contributed 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks, who played without Kristaps Porzingis (illness) in addition to Trae Young (knee).
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 44 points and nine assists, while Quentin Grimes chipped in with 28 points for the hosts. Joel Embiid (knee), who had missed Philadelphia’s previous nine games, scored 18 points but had only four rebounds in 30 minutes.
With the teams tied at 124-124 late in the first overtime, Maxey made a tough floater in the lane. However, he went 0-of-2 from the foul line with 4.6 seconds left. Johnson was fouled on the other end with 0.3 seconds left and made both free throws to force a second OT. In the second extra session, Maxey’s driving layup forged a 132-132 tie with 2:44 left. However, Johnson answered with a pair of 3-pointers to give Atlanta some breathing room.
Rockets 129, Jazz 101
Alperen Sengun scored a game-high 27 points and Kevin Durant added 25 to lead visiting Houston to a dominant win over Utah in Salt Lake City.
Steven Adams recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Amen Thompson made up for a lack of scoring (five points) with nine assists, eight rebounds and a steal. The Rockets cruised to a win as they shot 52.9% from the field, went 11-for-31 on 3-point attempts and outrebounded the Jazz 50-33.
Rookie Ace Bailey led Utah with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Lauri Markkanen added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Jusuf Nurkic posted 14 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Keyonte George had eight turnovers over a scoreless 19 minutes.
Knicks 116, Raptors 94
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points as New York notched its fourth straight victory, beating visiting Toronto.
Josh Hart compiled 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals for the Knicks, while Jalen Brunson paired 18 points with seven assists. Mitchell Robinson pulled in 15 boards off the bench in 17 minutes of action as New York outrebounded Toronto 61-40, including 25-14 on the offensive glass.
Immanuel Quickley had 19 points and eight assists for the Raptors, and Scottie Barnes added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Thunder 123, Trail Blazers 115
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and Oklahoma City increased its winning streak to 12 with a victory over host Portland.
Jaylen Williams tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his second game since his return from two wrist surgeries. Chet Holmgren added 19 points and nine rebounds as the defending champion Thunder won for the 20th time in 21 games this season. Their lone defeat came at Portland on Nov. 5 when they blew a 22-point lead and lost 121-119.
Deni Avdija recorded 31 points, a season-best 19 rebounds and 10 assists for the Trail Blazers, who fell for the ninth time in 12 games. Toumani Camara added 19 points and eight rebounds, and Jerami Grant scored 18 points.
Celtics 117, Cavaliers 115
Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 42 points and Jaylen Brown collected his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, as Boston edged host Cleveland.
Anfernee Simons added 18 points off the bench and Jordan Walsh posted career bests with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who built a 21-point lead before the Cavaliers mounted their unsuccessful comeback.
Cleveland’s Evan Mobley scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half and had 14 rebounds. Teammate Darius Garland had 21 points and eight assists, while Donovan Mitchell also made a run at a triple-double with 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Timberwolves 125, Spurs 112
Anthony Edwards scored 32 points on 13-for-18 shooting, and Minnesota finished strong to defeat San Antonio in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle added 22 points and matched his season high of 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who earned their second victory in as many nights. Donte DiVincenzo tallied 18 points, and Naz Reid scored 15 off the bench.
De’Aaron Fox scored 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting to lead the Spurs. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson finished with 22 points apiece. San Antonio was outscored 36-19 in the fourth quarter.
Grizzlies 115, Kings 107
Zach Edey had a career performance featuring 32 points, including all six in a lead-changing run late in the game, and Memphis surged past host Sacramento.
Edey’s 32 points were seven more than he’d scored in any previous NBA game. He hit 16 of his 20 shots on a night when he made neither a 3-pointer nor a free throw. The second-year pro also found time for a game-high 17 rebounds, the fourth-most of his career, and a career-best five blocks, helping the Grizzlies extend their winning streak to three.
DeMar DeRozan had a team-high 23 points and Malik Monk 21 for the Kings, who were outshot 52.3% to 45.7% overall and 37.5% to 29.6% on 3-pointers. The Grizzlies dominated on the boards 52-34.
Lakers 133, Pelicans 121
Luka Doncic scored 20 of his 34 points in the first quarter and added 12 rebounds with seven assists as host Los Angeles extended its winning streak to seven games with a victory over short-handed New Orleans.
Austin Reaves scored 33 points with eight assists and Deandre Ayton added 22 points with 12 rebounds before leaving in the fourth quarter with right knee discomfort. The Lakers won without LeBron James, who was resting a sore left foot on the first night of a back-to-back.
Saddiq Bey scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and Bryce McGowens added 23 points with seven rebounds and Jeremiah Frears 21 points for the Pelicans, who were without their top two scorers in Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Trey Murphy III (elbow) on the second night of a back-to-back.
–Field Level Media
NBA Fans Chime In on Luka Doncic’s Viral Stare-Down Moment
Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers took care of business against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Amid a comfortable victory in favor of the Lakers, Doncic had a bit of a dust-up with the notable rookie, Jeremiah Fears, which led to double-techs for the two NBA standouts.
It’s not unusual for a hard foul to lead to a verbal exchange, which causes players from both sides to get involved in an attempt to break things up.
For Lakers players, it was critical to ensure that Doncic doesn’t step over the line to get himself tossed, even though he was on the unfortunate side of the hard foul committed by Fears.
The fact that Doncic took an awkward landing, which could’ve resulted in an injury, he felt justified in his approach to Fears in that moment. The situation didn’t escalate much, as both players cracked smiles after before getting assessed technical fouls. Doncic did not address the moment following the matchup.
NBA World Reacts to Luka-Fears Dust-Up
@LakersLead: Luka Doncic gets into it with rookie Jeremiah Fears after he took expection to a foul. LUKA’S STANDING ON BUSINESS
@yspaah: Jeremiah Fears be getting in altercations every other game. Luka Doncic tonight. Jimmy Butler the other night. Naji Marshall. Ja Morant. I love my guy, ZERO FEARS
@ChristianCow_: Jeremiah Fears has more aura than Luka Doncic.
Doncic ended the night with a massive performance. He checked in for 35 minutes and shot 9-22 from the field, hitting 4-12 shots from beyond the arc. He collected 12 points from the charity stripe, completing the game with 34 points.
The Lakers’ star finished with a double-double, as he racked up 10 rebounds. He also produced seven assists and picked up one steal and one block.
@YappinYassss: Not luka and naji having the same interaction with Jeremiah Fears
@CantHoldBam: aye man jeremiah fears one of them ones fr. last night jimmy and now luka lol
@StopItSims: Last night it was jimmy butler, now it’s Luka Doncic. I like the Jeremiah fears kid, buddy got heart ain’t no back down in his blood
On the other side, Fears had a solid outing in 27 minutes of action. He shot 7-14 on the night, and went 6-6 from the free-throw line. Fears finished the game with 21 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. The 2025 seventh-overall pick out of Oklahoma has averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists so far this season.
As for Doncic, he’s been on a tear. Leading up to Sunday’s action, the star guard has been posting averages of 35.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 9.4 assists. He is making 47 percent of his shots from the field, and hitting on 34 percent of his threes.
After a 133-121 win over New Orleans on Sunday, Doncic and the Lakers will be back on the court to face the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Michael Jordan’s fight against NASCAR heads to court, could shake up motorsports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.
Michael Jordan’s fight against NASCAR heads to court, could shake up motorsports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has said that the series has tried hard to settle the case ahead of Monday’s trial.
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit was filed by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan, Hamlin and Jordan’s longtime business manager, Curtis Polk. They were joined by Front Row Motorsports, a team owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins that won the 2021 Daytona 500. The two were the only teams out of 15 to refuse to sign renewals on the charter agreements NASCAR presented to them in late 2024.
All 15 teams had been fighting for more favorable terms in the charter agreements over more than two years of negotiations, and the final terms fell short of what the teams had been seeking. 23XI and Front Row accused NASCAR of being a monopoly and sued under antitrust grounds.
What is a charter?
The charter system was introduced in 2016 and is NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used by most other professional sports leagues. Being chartered guarantees that car a spot in the 40-car field for all 38 races, as well as a defined payout from the weekly purse.
Even with the charters, the teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable. The teams wanted the charters to become permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues and a voice in governance.
23XI and Front Row felt the new charter agreements fell short of meeting those demands and refused to sign. The two organizations argue NASCAR holds too strong of a hold on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations.
23XI and Front Row are now also pursuing a large monetary sum from NASCAR to cover their legal fees and financial losses suffered this year from not being chartered plus the lawsuit.
NASCAR’s defense
NASCAR was founded 76 years ago by the Florida-based France family and says it has not violated antitrust law because it has done nothing to restrain trade beyond normal business practices.
NASCAR has argued that payouts in the 2025 charter agreement increased and prove it is not anticompetitive. NASCAR has also cited the option for cars to enter races as “open teams” and try to make the field in one of four nonchartered spots on qualifying speed. 23XI and Front Row have been open teams, and while their combined six cars made every race, it cost both organizations millions of dollars in purse money.
The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
Behind-the-scenes drama
The discovery phase has been brutal for both sides with the exposure of unseemly personal communications from top NASCAR executives as well as the two teams.
Phelps was among leadership who in a discussion with other NASCAR executives called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “dinosaur,” an “idiot” and a “stupid redneck.” The discussion also included a reference that Childress “owes his entire fortune to NASCAR” and needed “to be taken out back and flogged.”
Another NASCAR executive alleged that fans of the sport can’t read, and multiple series leaders admonished Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart’s summer short-track series, SRX, and threatened to have it the killed because NASCAR drivers were participating.
On the other side, the president of 23XI was found to have said NASCAR chairman Jim France had to die in order to receive favorable charter terms, Hamlin admitted his dislike for the France family, one of Jordan’s advisers said Hamlin wasn’t a good businessman and Jordan joked that he loses more money in a casino than he pays one of his drivers.
Who will be in court?
NASCAR has indicated it wants Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, the two most powerful team owners in the United States, and neither Hall of Famer wants to testify. They both filed a motion asking not to even be deposed, and if they must be, then the questioning must be limited to charters.
Hendrick and Penske are among a large group of owners who submitted declarations on NASCAR’s behalf in defense of the charter system. The declarations showed unity among the non-suing teams, who do not want the charter system to be disbanded, which could happen if NASCAR loses the case.
But, what NASCAR doesn’t spotlight is that many of the team owners still noted that the 2025 charter agreements are still short of all their asks.
Additionally, NASCAR has asked that some of the plaintiffs not be allowed to sit in court during the trial. It is presumed the ask is so that Jordan, a North Carolina native who led the University of North Carolina to a national championship and once owned the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, as well as Hamlin, not be given the opportunity to distract a jury.
A ruling on who can sit in court had not been made as of Sunday afternoon.
What are some outcomes
The case could still be settled at any time, even if a ruling is made and it goes to appeal.
If 23XI and Front Row win, the jury will determine actual monetary damages and Judge Kenneth Bell can adjust the figure and even triple it. Bell also would be charged with unraveling any found monopoly.
Among the threats to NASCAR are orders that the France family sell the sport, sell the tracks it owns, dismantle the charter system, order permanent charters — anything is possible.
If NASCAR wins, it is unlikely that 23XI and Front Row stay in business beyond 2026 and the six charters being held aside likely will be sold to other interested parties. The last charter sold went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is pressing interest from potential buyers including private equity firms.
___
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Antitrust allegations: Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing takes on NASCAR in court
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has said that the series has tried hard to settle the case ahead of Monday’s trial.
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit was filed by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan, Hamlin and Jordan’s longtime business manager, Curtis Polk. They were joined by Front Row Motorsports, a team owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins that won the 2021 Daytona 500. The two were the only teams out of 15 to refuse to sign renewals on the charter agreements NASCAR presented to them in late 2024.
All 15 teams had been fighting for more favorable terms in the charter agreements over more than two years of negotiations, and the final terms fell short of what the teams had been seeking. 23XI and Front Row accused NASCAR of being a monopoly and sued under antitrust grounds.
What is a charter?
The charter system was introduced in 2016 and is NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used by most other professional sports leagues. Being chartered guarantees that car a spot in the 40-car field for all 38 races, as well as a defined payout from the weekly purse.
Even with the charters, the teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable. The teams wanted the charters to become permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues and a voice in governance.
23XI and Front Row felt the new charter agreements fell short of meeting those demands and refused to sign. The two organizations argue NASCAR holds too strong of a hold on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations.
23XI and Front Row are now also pursuing a large monetary sum from NASCAR to cover their legal fees and financial losses suffered this year from not being chartered plus the lawsuit.
NASCAR’s defense
NASCAR was founded 76 years ago by the Florida-based France family and says it has not violated antitrust law because it has done nothing to restrain trade beyond normal business practices.
NASCAR has argued that payouts in the 2025 charter agreement increased and prove it is not anticompetitive. NASCAR has also cited the option for cars to enter races as “open teams” and try to make the field in one of four nonchartered spots on qualifying speed. 23XI and Front Row have been open teams, and while their combined six cars made every race, it cost both organizations millions of dollars in purse money.
The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
Behind-the-scenes drama
The discovery phase has been brutal for both sides with the exposure of unseemly personal communications from top NASCAR executives as well as the two teams.
Phelps was among leadership who in a discussion with other NASCAR executives called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “dinosaur,” an “idiot” and a “stupid redneck.” The discussion also included a reference that Childress “owes his entire fortune to NASCAR” and needed “to be taken out back and flogged.”
Another NASCAR executive alleged that fans of the sport can’t read, and multiple series leaders admonished Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart’s summer short-track series, SRX, and threatened to have it the killed because NASCAR drivers were participating.
On the other side, the president of 23XI was found to have said NASCAR chairman Jim France had to die in order to receive favorable charter terms, Hamlin admitted his dislike for the France family, one of Jordan’s advisers said Hamlin wasn’t a good businessman and Jordan joked that he loses more money in a casino than he pays one of his drivers.
Who will be in court?
NASCAR has indicated it wants Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, the two most powerful team owners in the United States, and neither Hall of Famer wants to testify. They both filed a motion asking not to even be deposed, and if they must be, then the questioning must be limited to charters.
Hendrick and Penske are among a large group of owners who submitted declarations on NASCAR’s behalf in defense of the charter system. The declarations showed unity among the non-suing teams, who do not want the charter system to be disbanded, which could happen if NASCAR loses the case.
But, what NASCAR doesn’t spotlight is that many of the team owners still noted that the 2025 charter agreements are still short of all their asks.
Additionally, NASCAR has asked that some of the plaintiffs not be allowed to sit in court during the trial. It is presumed the ask is so that Jordan, a North Carolina native who led the University of North Carolina to a national championship and once owned the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, as well as Hamlin, not be given the opportunity to distract a jury.
A ruling on who can sit in court had not been made as of Sunday afternoon.
What are some outcomes
The case could still be settled at any time, even if a ruling is made and it goes to appeal.
If 23XI and Front Row win, the jury will determine actual monetary damages and Judge Kenneth Bell can adjust the figure and even triple it. Bell also would be charged with unraveling any found monopoly.
Among the threats to NASCAR are orders that the France family sell the sport, sell the tracks it owns, dismantle the charter system, order permanent charters — anything is possible.
If NASCAR wins, it is unlikely that 23XI and Front Row stay in business beyond 2026 and the six charters being held aside likely will be sold to other interested parties. The last charter sold went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is pressing interest from potential buyers including private equity firms.
___
Michael Jordan’s fight against NASCAR heads to court
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
US Soccer has bold plans for the World Cup legacy
The last time the United States hosted the World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation built on the the financial infusion and the public’s excitement to help launch Major League Soccer two years later.
Much has changed with the 2026 World Cup. This time the tournament is hosted by three nations, with the United States joined by Mexico and Canada. And the financial windfall will go to FIFA, which is running the tournament for the first time rather than a local organizing committee, such as the one in 1994 that used its $40 million surplus to fund the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
Inter Miami schedule: When is Lionel Messi’s next MLS game?
Lionel Messi continues to torch Major League Soccer defenses as he chases Inter Miami’s first MLS Cup.
MORE — MLS Cup Playoffs schedule, scores, format
The Herons are two wins from the lifting the silverware, as Messi was instrumental in their 4-0 Eastern Conference semifinal win at FC Cincinnati with a goal and three assists.
That has set up a home game in the Eastern Conference final against New York City FC and Messi and Miami are now two wins away from winning MLS Cup.
The David Beckham-owned Miami have been among the favorites to win it all in MLS all year, but they were last year and got dumped out of the playoffs by Atlanta United.
Can this year be different?
What are Lionel Messi’s stats in MLS with Inter Miami?
2023 season
MLS: 6 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
Leagues Cup: 7 games, 10 goals, 1 assist
US Open Cup: 1 game, 2 assists
All competitions: 14 games, 11 goals, 5 assists
2024 season
MLS: 22 games, 21 goals, 11 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 3 games, 2 goals, 2 assists
All competitions: 25 games, 23 goals, 13 assists
2025 season
MLS: 31 games, 34 goals, 17 assists
Leagues Cup: 4 games, 2 goals, 2 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 7 games, 5 goals, 1 assist
Club World Cup; 4 games, 1 goal
All competitions: 46 games, 42 goals, 20 assists
Leo Messi’s career stats with Inter Miami
MLS: 60 games, 57 goals, 43 assists
Leagues Cup: 11 games, 12 goals, 3 assists
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 10 games, 7 goals, 3 assists
US Open Cup: 1 game, 2 assists
Club World Cup; 4 games, 1 goal
All competitions: 86 games, 77 goals, 41 assists
Leo Messi’s awards with Inter Miami
2023 Leagues Cup
2024 Supporters’ Shield
2024 MLS MVP
2025 MLS Golden Boot
Inter Miami 2025 Playoff Schedule
Round one series vs Nashville SC
Game 1: Oct. 24 at Miami — Won 3-1 — 2 goals in 90 minutes
Game 2: Nov. 1 at Nashville — Lost 2-1 — 1 goal in 90 minutes
Game 3: Nov. 8 at Miami — Won 4-0 — 2 goals, 1 assist in 90 minutes
Inter Miami wins series 2-1
Conference semifinals
vs Inter Miami at FC Cincinnati — Won 4-0 — 1 goal, 3 assists in 90 minutes
Ty Majeski Issues Striking Message Praising Bigley Memorial’s Rare Quality Over NASCAR’s Gimmicks
George Gorham Jr. just reminded everyone what real short-track racing looks like. At the 2025 Bigley Memorial 128, he started 12th, sliced to the front by lap 67, and checked out, winning by more than eight seconds in a race that went 126 laps straight green after one early yellow. No stage breaks, no overtime, no forced restarts. Just pure speed. Ty Majeski, who finished second, left the Freedom Factory grinning about how rare, and how good, that actually felt.
Majeski calls the Bigley Memorial “old school” racing
After the checkered flag, Ty Majeski didn’t hide how refreshing the whole night felt.
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“It’s great,” he said. “Just to have these races play out authentically, I think, is a good thing. Sometimes the cautions can breed cautions, and at this level, none of us can afford to tear up race cars with stages and stuff like that.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Bigley ran clean from lap three to the end. 126 green laps on a place that’s basically a third-mile on the apron and almost a half-mile up high. Gorham’s No. 10 was untouchable, Majeski’s backup car was strong but never close enough, and only three cars finished on the lead lap. Everybody else got lapped the honest way, by being slower, not by getting caught in someone else’s mess.
Majeski loved it. “I thought it was very refreshing to see a race go 126 laps green. You rarely see that in today’s day and age. So to me, that’s old school. I thought it was a great race tonight, and mostly everybody gave plenty of room out there and was very respectful.”
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That’s the keyword: ‘respectful’. Fifty of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country showed up — Cup guys, Truck guys, weekend warriors, all on the same track with big money and pride on the line. They raced hard without turning it into a demolition derby.
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George Gorham passed cars clean, Majeski followed the same line, and nobody felt the need to punt someone for position because the race was long enough for real speed to win. Even in a backup car after an oil-pump belt let go on his primary, Majeski knew the deal.
“I don’t know that there was really anything we could do to match what the 10 car had tonight.”
No excuses, no whining about cautions or restarts that never came. Just a nod to the guy who brought the fastest car and drove it perfectly. Majeski saved his sharpest take for the contrast with the big-league stuff.
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He called the constant-crash, stage-break, overtime-heavy races “derbies” and “weak.” At short tracks, teams can’t just grab another truck off the shelf. One wreck can end your whole season. So when a big race like the Bigley runs clean and green for basically the entire distance, it feels honest. It feels like racing instead of reality TV.
That same weekend vibe couldn’t be more different from what Majeski just lived through in the NASCAR Truck Series.
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How was Majeski’s NASCAR season?
The 2025 season ended with him second in points again, 10 top-fives, 18 top-tens, a 9.8 average finish, and not a single win. He took the No. 98 to Phoenix with a real shot at the championship, only to watch Corey Heim drive away with the trophy.
It was consistent, sometimes brilliant, but never quite enough under a format that loves chaos and late restarts more than season-long excellence. Next year, Majeski slides over to the No. 88 full-time, taking Matt Crafton’s seat when Crafton steps away.
With Heim moving up and the field wide open, a lot of people already have Majeski penciled in as the favorite, no matter how many stages or playoffs they throw at him.
One weekend, he’s moving on from a championship that slipped away because someone got a lucky caution or a perfect restart. Next, he’s celebrating a 126-lap green-flag clinic that rewards pure speed and respect.
Same driver, two different worlds. And if you ask Ty Majeski which one feels more like real racing, he just showed you his answer under the Florida lights.
After Denny Hamlin’s Heartbreak, Supercars’ Broc Feeney Makes the Biggest Case Against NASCAR’s Playoff System
Denny Hamlin had the 2025 NASCAR Cup finale in the palm of his hand. He led 208 laps (more than any Championship 4 driver ever), dominated Phoenix, and looked certain to finally grab that first title. But a late caution crushed his dreams. That one yellow flag at the end turned a season of brilliance into heartbreak. Now, across the planet, Supercars champion Broc Feeney has just become the perfect demo of why so many people hate that kind of ending.
Broc’s heartbreak echoes Hamlin’s loss
The race at the bp Adelaide 500 had not even started when on the very first lap, Ryan Wood’s aggressive move clipped the rear of Feeney, spinning him around. It sent him from the pole position to the back of the field, crushing his dreams and his season-long efforts.
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His voice cracked post the race, as he said, “That’s the new system they’ve got. You can have a shocker in the last race of the year and it all falls apart… No matter what happened today, the thing was going to break down unfortunately.”
While NASCAR handed its crown to the guy who got lucky with a caution and nailed a restart, Broc Feeney had rolled into the final round of the 2025 Supercars season carrying a points lead built the old-fashioned way. He had a stack of wins, a bunch of poles, and week after week excellence. No points resets, no knockout rounds, no single-race lottery. Just the driver and team who were flat-out best from February until now.
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Feeney hasn’t pretended to love every part of Supercars’ new finals-style twist this year, but he’s also made it clear he believes real racing should reward the guy who shows up fastest most weekends, not the one who survives the wildest scramble on the last day.
“I don’t think you’ll be hearing from me for a while, mate. I’ll be flying under the radar for a bit,” he added, making us realize the emotional toll he’s going through.
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Every race he wins, clean sweeps, every time he parks it on pole and brings it home up front, he adds another quiet brick to the wall marked “consistency still works.” Every long green-flag run he dominates is another reminder that you don’t need artificial drama when the best car and driver are allowed to prove it over ten months instead of ten laps.
People always argue that playoffs keep the championship alive until the final corner, and yeah, they create wild television. But watch Feeney rack up strong finishes the honest way, and it’s hard not to think the bigger drama is actually the slow-burn story of one team refusing to make mistakes while everyone else tries to chase them down.
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Denny Hamlin did everything right for thirty-six races and still walked away empty because one yellow fell at the wrong moment. Feeney’s season is living proof that when you let the points fall where they may, the guy in front at the end almost always deserves to be there.
If Feeney climbs the podium after the last race with the championship in his hands, he won’t just have a trophy and a cool accent. He’ll have the clearest real-world example in years that a title decided over a full season feels fairer, feels heavier, and can still keep every fan on the edge of their seat without turning the finale into a demolition derby or a coin flip.
His whole 2025 run is a calm, steady rejection of the idea that the only way to crown a champion is to throw away ten months of work and let one restart decide everything.
The same weekend the playoff format crushed Denny Hamlin’s dreams, he was already burning hot about something else: the way the press was framing his team’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. The trial starts on Monday, the preview stories have started dropping, and Hamlin read one he thought was pure spin.
Denny Hamlin says fans have been “brainwashed”
Hamlin jumped on social media and unloaded. He accused the ESPN writer Ryan McGee of letting NASCAR’s communications team basically co-author the piece, called it “propaganda,” and said it was full of “continuous lies” about what 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are actually fighting for.
Then he went nuclear: “Our fans have been brainwashed with their talking points for decades. Narratives pushed by the media that are intimidated by them. Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
To Hamlin, the connection is obvious. The same organization that can snatch a championship away with one poorly timed caution is the same one that owns the tracks, picks the parts suppliers, writes the charter rules, and keeps the lion’s share of the TV money while most teams lose cash every year.
Texts that surfaced in discovery show NASCAR executives bragging about killing Tony Stewart’s SRX series and talking trash about Richard Childress. Hamlin sees ‘monopoly’ written all over it.
The trial is scheduled for three weeks, but everyone knows appeals will probably stretch it out for years. Michael Jordan will be sitting in court every day as 23XI’s official representative.
One weekend, Hamlin watches a random caution steal the title he earned all year. Next, he’s telling the world the entire sport is built to keep teams under the thumb. And halfway around the globe, a kid named Broc Feeney is driving like the perfect answer: stay fast, stay clean, let the season decide.
NASCAR Issues Defiant
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ lawsuit against NASCAR is prepared to go to trial on December 1st. There have been positive and negative developments for both sides up until now, and the sanctioning body has attempted its best to push back the teams’ claims. With the hearing starting soon, it has now pushed back against the ‘anti-competitive’ and similar accusations, claiming that nothing they’re doing is actually illegal.
NASCAR takes a stand against ‘illegal’ allegations
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams in 2024 who refused to sign the Charter Agreement for the 2025 season. Subsequently, they filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. They alleged monopolistic practices in the sport regarding the Charter Agreement. The plaintiffs have claimed how NASCAR’s control over tracks, suppliers, and charters clearly amounts to ‘anti-competitive’ behavior. It limits any rival series from ever taking shape.
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However, right before heading into the hearing, NASCAR has claimed that it did not make any “illegal” decisions regarding the anticompetitive acts. The authorities further claim that if anything, any decision made has been to assist the TV deals (part of the Charter System) and has increased the overall charter payout. This strengthens their claim that what they’re doing is actually working.
However, there is more than just this lawsuit that NASCAR is battling.
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In light of the recent developments, Steve Phelps’ text conversations were publicized, along with other top authorities of the sport. The texts revealed defamatory remarks about veteran team owner Richard Childress. There is a slight possibility that Phelps might have another lawsuit coming towards him in this regard.
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Steve Phelps might be in another trouble amidst the NASCAR lawsuit
As mentioned, some of the text conversations that were surfaced and publicized as part of the lawsuit against NASCAR. These messages revealed derogatory and racial remarks used against Richard Childress, specifically from Phelps.
“Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged. He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to nascar,” one of his texts read.
There was quite a backlash in the community owing to the nature of the message and the strong language used against the 80-year-old team owner. RCR released a team statement following this. This made it clear that Phelps might land himself in legal trouble.
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“RCR and Richard Childress are deeply disappointed by the insensitive and defamatory statements made about Mr. Childress in recently surfaced text messages between NASCAR executives Steve Phelps and Brian Herbst,” the statement read. “These comments reflect the way certain NASCAR executives have historically viewed and treated many team owners like Mr. Childress, who have devoted their lives to strengthening the sport for its fans, its sponsors, and all who compete in it.”
There was also a mention of a possible lawsuit: “Mr. Childress and the organization will issue no further statements regarding these or other defamatory text messages that have recently surfaced, as legal action is being contemplated and discussed with legal counsel.”
NASCAR is under major scrutiny after the developments in the lawsuit. As it soon moves to trial, the authorities will need the best arguments to oppose the allegations. Their “illegal” message against the anti-competitive allegations seems to be a start for the same.
True Burden of NASCAR’s Next-Gen Surfaces as Michael Jordan’s 23XI/FRM Suffer Millions in Car Costs
NASCAR sold the Next Gen car the way everyone wanted: cheaper parts, less development, a real chance for smaller teams to run up front. It sounded great on paper. Then the bills started coming in. Instead of saving money, teams found themselves spending more than ever on parts and repairs that cost a fortune.
And just like that, the car that was supposed to level the field quietly became one of the biggest money pits the sport has ever seen. Now, Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are putting those numbers front and center in court.
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Next Gen promised savings, delivered pain
Court filings from the 23XI/Front Row antitrust lawsuit lay it out plain and ugly. In 2021, running the old Gen 6 car, 23XI spent about $2.8 million a year on car stuff. Switch to Next Gen, and that jumped to between $3.1 and $4.3 million every season from 2022 to 2024. That’s not a little bump; that’s hundreds of thousands extra just to keep the doors open.
Front Row Motorsports got hit even harder. Their cost per car sat around $2.9 million in 2021. By 2024, it had ballooned to $7.1 million. One mid-pack team almost tripled its yearly spend on the car itself, exactly the kind of team NASCAR swore the new model would help most.
Here’s why it hurts so bad. Teams can’t build anything anymore. Everything has to come from the same approved vendors at the same fixed price. Crash a quarter panel at Talladega? You’re writing a huge check to the only place allowed to sell you a new one.
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Need a different setup for a short track? Too bad, the parts list is the parts list. Denny Hamlin put it perfectly: teams aren’t racing by being smarter or more creative anymore; they’re racing to see who can afford to keep buying the same expensive pieces as the big dogs.
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The worst part? The on-track balance everyone hoped for never really showed up long-term. Sure, we get an occasional surprise winner, but look at the standings, and it’s still the usual suspects at the top. The rich teams still have the manpower, the simulators, the extra sets of tires, and now they also have the cash to eat the higher costs without blinking. Smaller teams are just trying to survive from weekend to weekend.
All of this is now Exhibit A in the lawsuit. If the judge looks at those skyrocketing budgets and decides NASCAR created a system where you have to overspend just to exist, the whole Next Gen experiment could be forced to change. There could be open suppliers, lower prices, maybe even real competition in the parts market.
What started as a promise to save money might end up costing NASCAR the way it does business. The scary thing is, none of this is new.
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Bill Elliott saw this coming almost twenty years ago
Back in 2008, Bill Elliott was already waving the red flag. He watched Hendrick, Gibbs, Roush, and Childress win everything and told anyone who would listen: the big teams have the army.
“You may have a day in the sun and shine once or twice, but year in and year out, they’re going to kick your butt. They’ve got the manpower. You’re going to kill your people trying to keep up.”
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He hated seeing legends like Bud Moore and Junior Johnson pushed out because they couldn’t match the spending. The Next Gen car was supposed to fix exactly that: lock the parts, shrink the budgets, give the little guy a fighting chance.
Instead, it just changed the game from “who can build the fastest car” to “who can write the biggest checks every week.” Trackhouse looked like the new kid on the block for a minute, but once the big teams figured out the new puzzle, the order went right back to normal.
Now Steve O’Donnell says NASCAR is studying ways to let teams tweak things again, maybe move away from single-source parts. That sounds nice until you remember Elliott’s warning: open the door to development, and the teams with the deepest pockets will just spend everyone else into the ground all over again. Damned if you lock it, damned if you open it.
From 23XI paying millions extra just to keep two cars on track to Front Row watching their budget almost triple, the Next Gen dream of affordability is looking more like a nightmare. And a Hall of Famer who saw the future in 2008 is probably sitting at home thinking, “Told you so.”
Michael Jordan’s fight against NASCAR heads to court
Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
“Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades,” Hamlin wrote on social media. “Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has said that the series has tried hard to settle the case ahead of Monday’s trial.
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit was filed by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan, Hamlin and Jordan’s longtime business manager, Curtis Polk. They were joined by Front Row Motorsports, a team owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins that won the 2021 Daytona 500. The two were the only teams out of 15 to refuse to sign renewals on the charter agreements NASCAR presented to them in late 2024.
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All 15 teams had been fighting for more favorable terms in the charter agreements over more than two years of negotiations, and the final terms fell short of what the teams had been seeking. 23XI and Front Row accused NASCAR of being a monopoly and sued under antitrust grounds.
What is a charter?
The charter system was introduced in 2016 and is NASCAR’s version of the franchise model used by most other professional sports leagues. Being chartered guarantees that car a spot in the 40-car field for all 38 races, as well as a defined payout from the weekly purse.
Even with the charters, the teams have argued that the revenue model is not viable. The teams wanted the charters to become permanent (they are renewable and revocable), a larger percentage of revenues and a voice in governance.
23XI and Front Row felt the new charter agreements fell short of meeting those demands and refused to sign. The two organizations argue NASCAR holds too strong of a hold on all aspects of the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusivity clauses, ownership of most of the race tracks on the Cup schedule, and its control of the rules and regulations.
23XI and Front Row are now also pursuing a large monetary sum from NASCAR to cover their legal fees and financial losses suffered this year from not being chartered plus the lawsuit.
NASCAR’s defense
NASCAR was founded 76 years ago by the Florida-based France family and says it has not violated antitrust law because it has done nothing to restrain trade beyond normal business practices.
NASCAR has argued that payouts in the 2025 charter agreement increased and prove it is not anticompetitive. NASCAR has also cited the option for cars to enter races as “open teams” and try to make the field in one of four nonchartered spots on qualifying speed. 23XI and Front Row have been open teams, and while their combined six cars made every race, it cost both organizations millions of dollars in purse money.
The pretrial discovery process revealed NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
Behind-the-scenes drama
The discovery phase has been brutal for both sides with the exposure of unseemly personal communications from top NASCAR executives as well as the two teams.
Phelps was among leadership who in a discussion with other NASCAR executives called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “dinosaur,” an “idiot” and a “stupid redneck.” The discussion also included a reference that Childress “owes his entire fortune to NASCAR” and needed “to be taken out back and flogged.”
Another NASCAR executive alleged that fans of the sport can’t read, and multiple series leaders admonished Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart’s summer short-track series, SRX, and threatened to have it killed because NASCAR drivers were participating.
On the other side, the president of 23XI was found to have said NASCAR chairman Jim France had to die in order to receive favorable charter terms, Hamlin admitted his dislike for the France family, one of Jordan’s advisers said Hamlin wasn’t a good businessman and Jordan joked that he loses more money in a casino than he pays one of his drivers.
Who will be in court?
NASCAR has indicated it wants Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, the two most powerful team owners in the United States, and neither Hall of Famer wants to testify. They both filed a motion asking not to even be deposed, and if they must be, then the questioning must be limited to charters.
Hendrick and Penske are among a large group of owners who submitted declarations on NASCAR’s behalf in defense of the charter system. The declarations showed unity among the non-suing teams, who do not want the charter system to be disbanded, which could happen if NASCAR loses the case.
But, what NASCAR doesn’t spotlight is that many of the team owners still noted that the 2025 charter agreements are still short of all their asks.
Additionally, NASCAR has asked that Polk and Hamlin of 23XI not be allowed to sit in court ahead of their testimony. A ruling on that had not been made as of Sunday early evening.
Jordan, a North Carolina native who led the University of North Carolina to a national championship and once owned the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, received an exemption to be in the courtroom for the entire jury. A spokesperson for the two teams said that Jordan and Jenkins plan to be the faces of their case.
What are some outcomes
The case could still be settled at any time, even if a ruling is made and it goes to appeal.
If 23XI and Front Row win, the jury will determine actual monetary damages and Judge Kenneth Bell can adjust the figure and even triple it. Bell also would be charged with unraveling any found monopoly.
Among the threats to NASCAR are orders that the France family sell the sport, sell the tracks it owns, dismantle the charter system, order permanent charters — anything is possible.
If NASCAR wins, it is unlikely that 23XI and Front Row stay in business beyond 2026 and the six charters being held aside likely will be sold to other interested parties. The last charter sold went for $45 million, and NASCAR has indicated there is pressing interest from potential buyers including private equity firms.
Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Prodigy Gets Real on His Back-to-Back Turkey Night Titles
If you follow grassroots racing, then you might very well know that Kyle Larson’s mastery of the Turkey Night Grand Prix is the stuff of dirt-racing folklore. The ‘Yung Money’ has won four times at the prestigious event (2012, 2016, 2019, and 2023). And now, a new chapter in Kyle Larson’s legacy at Turkey Nights is being written by his HMS prodigy.
With back-to-back wins, Larson’s young talent has proved that he isn’t just carrying the torch. In fact, he is shaping his own legend in a way. And in a post-race interview, he opened up about the brutally tricky race that pushed him harder than expected.
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Corey Day’s gritty fight
Unlike his win last year, Corey Day didn’t win the Turkey Night Grand Prix simply. Instead, he earned it the hard way. The 20-year-old prodigy revealed that this year’s race pushed him far, much farther than his previous experience and what he expected for this year.
“That race was a little bit harder than it’s been in the past for me. Just the track stayed around a lot longer and there’s multiple lines open whereas years passed it was just one preferred line,” Day explained. “You’re damned if you don’t run bottom the whole race so you get passed on the top, you move on the top, you get passed around in the bottom.”
The track was holding moisture for a lot longer than usual, and multiple racing lines stayed alive deep in the race. This kept Day guessing and adjusting till the end. In the end, though, Day’s instincts paid off.
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Day, who was engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Logan Seavey, where he and Seavey exchanged the lead on nine different occasions, finally took control on Lap 75 of the 98-lap race. From there, he held command till the end to take the checkered flag.
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By the end, he was calm, smooth, and unshaken, even as pressure shadowed every turn. It was the kind of drive that separates contenders from the names fans remember years and even many decades later. Thanks to this win, Day is now among the elites of the Turkey Night GP event.
His win makes him the youngest of just 10 drivers in history to claim multiple Turkey Night titles. Making the victory sweeter was the fact that he had turned 20 only a day before etching his name deeper into the event’s legacy.
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Day matches Bell’s feat
With his second straight Turkey Night Grand Prix win, Corey Day now also finds himself standing beside one of the event’s modern masters – his NASCAR compatriot Christopher Bell. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was the last driver to score back-to-back victories, pulling it off in 2017 and 2018. And if you remember, those wins weren’t flukes either. Bell had to outduel elite competition, including Kyle Larson (in 2018).
Back then, Bell had termed the event as “one of the most fun” races he’d ever run. That’s the benchmark Day just matched. That too, at only 20 years old. But there’s an even bigger comparison lingering in the background: Kyle Larson.
The four-time Turkey Night champion has long been the gold standard. Corey Day is widely considered Larson’s protégé. He is shaped by his driving style, his discipline, and his relentless adaptability.
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This year, though, it wasn’t Larson’s night. After qualifying 14th, he clawed his way through the field. However, in the end, he managed to finish fourth behind Corey Day, Logan Seavey, and Buddy Kofoid. A strong run, yes! But, not the ending he wanted, especially with his protégé stealing the spotlight yet again.
For Day, the parallels are undeniable: he has Bell’s consecutive-win statistic, and he’s slowly chipping away at Larson’s mythic status in the Turkey Night lore. Matching Bell is impressive. Doing it in Kyle Larson’s orbit makes it even louder.
Legal Expert Exposes NASCAR’s Vulnerability Ahead of Antitrust Lawsuit Showdown
The teams might be busy playing checkers in the NASCAR world right now, but the courtroom is playing something much more complicated and a whole lot higher stakes. As we stand on the eve of the antitrust battle between 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR, a quiet twist has emerged. The biggest advantage the plaintiff might have come from NASCAR’s own words. Before the jury even takes the seat, the legal board has shifted in ways no one expected, and one legal expert didn’t shy from pointing it out.
Attorney McMinimee backs Judge Bell’s judgment on market definition
Speaking on the Teardown podcast, Shannon McMinimee broke it down.
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“I think that was a smart choice for Judge Bell,” she said. “Because should the matter end up on appeal, that’s one of those decisions that an appeal court will look at for the first time under a standard called de novo. And the fact that he chose to use the definition that NASCAR put forward to him goes in favor of that decision being held to be appropriate. So big, big question already resolved before trial.”
Long before the trial begins, a court has already accepted one of the central contentions underlying the lawsuit by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. That NASCAR possesses monopoly power over a narrowly defined market known as “premier stock car racing.”
In November 2025, federal judge Kenneth Bell granted partial summary judgment for the plaintiff, agreeing that the relevant market is “premier stock car racing” (i.e., the entry of cars into NASCAR Cup Series races) and finding that NASCAR holds 100% market share in that market.
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This means that the market definition can’t be contested in court, as it’s implied that NASCAR acts as the sole buyer of services from competing race teams.
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What remains for trial, then, is not whether NASCAR is dominant but whether the sanctioning body unlawfully exercised that dominance by imposing unfair restraints on trade via the charter system, denying teams economic benefits, or structuring participation in ways that disadvantage certain teams.
“So, having to prove that NASCAR’s monopoly no longer on the table and that this is about the top level of racing in the United States, and that’s defined by the national NASCAR touring series. Already resolved,” McMinimee added.
Moreover, and importantly, for appeals or future judicial scrutiny, Judge Bell based his decision on definitions that came directly from NASCAR on filings.
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The court operated NASCAR’s own entry into the NASCAR series definition of a relevant market, a strategic choice because that means the plaintiffs aren’t arguing a novel or artificial market; they are using NASCAR’s admitted scope.
That alignment could make it harder for NASCAR to argue later that the market definition was contrived or unfair, strengthening the plaintiff’s position. But regardless of the outcomes, NASCAR will never look the same again.
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What are the possible outcomes?
The lawsuit could still be resolved at any stage, even after a jury verdict or during an appeal, meaning a settlement remains on the table, no matter how far the process moves.
If 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports prevail, the jury would calculate the financial damages, which Judge Kenneth Bell could adjust or even triple under antitrust law. He will also be responsible for deciding how to unwind any monopoly the court determines exists.
That opens the door for sweeping remedies such as forcing the family to divest from NASCAR, requiring the sale of NASCAR-owned tracks, restructuring or eliminating the charter system, or even mandating permanent charters. Almost anything becomes a legal possibility.
On the other hand, if NASCAR wins the case, the future looks far more uncertain for the two teams. Industry insiders suggest both teams may not be able to continue beyond 2026, and the six charters currently being withheld would almost certainly be sold off to new buyers.
With the most recent charter fetching $45 million and significant interest from investors, including private equity, NASCAR would have no shortage of suitors ready to step in. And now, as we’re just hours away from the lawsuit trial, all eyes and ears are going to be fixed as the organization’s future lies with the jury.
Rick Hendrick Might Slip Into Tricky Situation With His Hazy Past in the Ongoing NASCAR Lawsuit
Michael Jordan and Co. are taking NASCAR to court. In October 2024, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a suit against NASCAR under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. They accused the sanctioning body of anticompetitive practices, especially regarding the charter system. In the meantime, the other 13 of 15 Cup Series teams looked on and watched this legal drama as it unfolded over the past year.
Now, however, a non-participant in the NASCAR lawsuit is getting caught in the legal mess. That is none other than Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, which has won 15 of the last 30 titles. The sheen of protection that Hendrick had due to his lack of participation has dropped.
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Rick Hendrick’s past may come back to haunt him
In an episode of ‘The Teardown’, attorney Shannon McMinimee divulged interesting information. She shared how Rick Hendrick’s past conviction could be a factor in the NASCAR lawsuit. “When a witness testifies to evidence of a prior crime that was a felony that carried more than a year or more of jailtime, to be admitted so that the jury can weigh the credibility of the witness. There is an exception related to pardons if the pardon happened more than 10 years ago. But it is specific to what the pardon was granted for. Was it a pardon for which they found rehabilitation, or where they found actual innocence?”
Rick Hendrick‘s automotive empire started in his early ’20s, but he had no dearth of hiccups. In the mid-1990s, he was involved in a kickback scheme at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Some dealers were accused of bribing Honda officials to obtain franchises and scarce new vehicles. Accordingly, a federal grand jury indicted Hendrick on conspiracy, fraud, and money-laundering charges in 1996. After losing car dealerships and gaining a year of confinement, Hendrick received a pardon from President Bill Clinton in 2001.
This past may be in the spotlight as the NASCAR lawsuit enters its trial date on Monday, December 1st. On November 11th, Federal Judge Kenneth Bell ruled that team owners Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske must make themselves available as witnesses for depositions without any limitations on the topics. Both filed a brief to limit the deposition topics. The brief stated that they “agreed to give limited testimony regarding non-confidential matters at the trial of this case, but in a way that did not force them to ‘take sides’ in the lawsuit.”
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However, Judge Bell denied this request and said, “The trial of this matter will be publicly and fairly contested under the relevant rules and law, without regard to the notoriety of the companies and individuals involved. No company or individual will be accorded special treatment.”
Clearly, Rick Hendrick’s predicament is under the spotlight with the upcoming trial. And the tensions extend beyond Hendrick to cover the entire sport.
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A turning point in the sport’s history
In a 77-year-old sport that hosts stock car races, the most important moment will be off-track. It will unfold in a courtroom instead, with the highly contentious NASCAR lawsuit hitting its trial date. And fans and members of the sport are glued to this case, as its outcome could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States. The discovery phase has already brought out bitter inside information. This includes salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances, and a deep contempt between some of the top executives.
60-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, Denny Hamlin, is quite keen on the trial. He is also the co-owner of 23XI Racing and had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers less than a month ago. He issued a warning last weekend during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina. “Our fans have been brainwashed with (NASCAR’s) talking points for decades. Lies are over starting Monday morning. It’s time for the truth. It’s time for change.”
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The NASCAR world’s attention will be on the lawsuit for the next two weeks. Let’s wait and see what unfolds.
NASCAR Lawsuit: Roger Penske and Joe Gibbs’ Daughter in Law Could Play Crucial Role, Claims Civil Law Expert
On December 1, the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit finally goes to trial, ending months of escalating drama that’s gripped the sport like a season-long feud. What began as a dispute over charter renewals between NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports has spiraled into something far more explosive. Leaked text messages, heated emails, and behind-the-scenes power plays have painted an unfiltered picture of how tense and personal the standoff became.
Now, with the trial set to begin, the case has evolved beyond contracts and dollars. The spotlight is shifting toward the people who may hold the most sway with the jury. These are unexpected voices whose testimony could reshape the narrative entirely. And among them, according to a civil law expert, are Roger Penske and Heather Gibbs.
Heather Gibbs and Roger Penske enter the NASCAR lawsuit picture
“They’re [NASCAR] very invested in Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske testifying to take the chance of naming them late in the case as they did and depose before the trial,” said civil law expert Shannon McMinimee. “They clearly think that those are gonna be strong witnesses for them, and it is unusual to name people that you are out there saying are great witnesses for you as late as they did.”
She went on to say, “I think there are some people who are not parties to this case whose testimony is really gonna matter. I think one person whose testimony stood out to me was Heather Gibbs, who represented JGR in the negotiations.”
NASCAR CEO Jim France had previously pushed hard for both Hendrick and Penske to appear, confident that their testimony would bolster NASCAR’s defense in the antitrust showdown. But neither team owner was eager to take the stand. Both attempted to limit or narrow their involvement, filing motions to avoid broad questioning.
However, that effort didn’t go far. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker denied their attempts, ordering full depositions and trial testimony. Their words now carry potential weight that could tilt the scales in unpredictable ways. Moreover, McMinimee believes the true influence may come from witnesses outside the central dispute.
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Heather Gibbs brings a rare combination of personal connection and business clarity. As the widow of Coy Gibbs, she stepped into the role of preserving the family’s racing legacy, providing strategic advice and support to the entire management team. At the same time, she also became one of the most trusted real estate agents for NASCAR’s elite. She is often involved when major team owners buy or sell property.
During the heated charter negotiations, she authored a measured yet deeply personal letter urging NASCAR leadership to reconsider the structure and inequities teams faced. According to deposition transcripts, Jim France did not respond warmly to her concerns.
As the long-awaited trial begins, the unexpected influence of Penske, Hendrick, and especially Heather Gibbs could shape how a jury interprets the sport’s shifting balance of power. It could potentially redefine NASCAR’s future for years to come.
Bob Pockrass breaks down a grim scenario for 23XI and FRM
As the trial looms, the bigger question many insiders are asking is simple: What actually happens if NASCAR wins? Veteran journalist Bob Pockrass recently laid out a sobering picture. And according to it, that could reshape the Cup Series landscape overnight.
Pockrass explained that if the sanctioning body prevails, both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports would immediately find themselves competing as open teams. That means no guaranteed starting spots, no charter-backed revenue, and no safety net. In his breakdown, he emphasized that even with a legal victory of their own, this outcome (while less likely) remains possible for both organizations.
The consequences would be brutal. Without charters, teams lose access to major sponsor negotiations, playoff eligibility, and the financial stability that has allowed smaller and mid-tier outfits to survive. Pockrass noted that the ripple effect could be catastrophic: a year or less before both operations risk shutting their doors entirely.
Reflecting on the stakes, he wrote: “If NASCAR wins the case, 23XI and FRM would have to race as open teams (that could be the case even if 23XI and FRM win, although that’s less likely) — 23XI and FRM likely would shut down within a year pending any appeals.” It’s a stark warning from one of the sport’s most reliable voices, underscoring just how much hangs in the balance.
Adding fuel to the fire, tensions escalated earlier this week when 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin publicly blasted ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee. Hamlin accused McGee of “brainwashing fans” and crafting what he called a propaganda-driven take on the lawsuit. This is just another sign of how emotionally and politically charged this battle has become.
As both sides brace for courtroom combat, the future of two major NASCAR teams (and perhaps the entire charter model) now stands at a crossroads.
Jordan, NASCAR take fight to federal court
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan’s bitter fight against NASCAR heads to federal court Monday in a jury trial that could rip apart the top motorsports series in the United States.
The antitrust allegations leveled by Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed salacious personal communications, NASCAR’s finances and a deep contempt between some of the top executives in the sport and its participants.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who owns 23XI alongside Jordan and less than a month ago had the Cup Series championship slip through his fingers, warned this weekend that the gloves will be off during the two-week trial in the Western District of North Carolina.
Bob Nutting Branded MLB’s “Worst Owner” as Pirates Given Blunt Reality Check Amid Kyle Schwarber Plans
Paul Skenes gives the Pittsburgh Pirates a generational arm to build around, but owner Bob Nutting seems content to let the opportunity rust. While there are rumors that the Pirates might actually go out and spend some money and get Kyle Schwarber, the reality might be very different.
“Bob Nutting has simply been one of the worst owners in all of sports… when it comes to putting a good team on the field, he hasn’t done that,” said Robbie Hyde. “Schwarber would definitely help… but the Pirates would need more.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly shown interest in Kyle Schwarber this offseason, hoping his bat could lift their struggling offense. Schwarber led the National League in 2025 with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs, a massive upgrade over Pittsburgh’s league-worst 117 home runs last season. His power and run production would provide a much‑needed middle‑of‑the‑lineup presence for the Pirates.
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That interest comes as the Pirates hint at loosening the purse strings; their front office claims a more aggressive free agency strategy this winter. For a team with a strong young pitching core, adding a bat like Schwarber could finally give those arms the run support they’ve lacked.
Still, a full Schwarber signing appears unlikely. Analysts project his free‑agent market value at four to five years and roughly $30–$35 million per season, which would make him the highest‑paid hitter the Pirates ever pursued. Historically, the Pirates have only given a free agent more than $39 million once, to Francisco Liriano in 2014.
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Owner Bob Nutting’s long-term reluctance to spend deeply on the roster remains the biggest hurdle. Pirates fans have grown skeptical; despite promises, the club has rarely invested heavily in offense. Without a fundamental shift in the organization’s spending philosophy, a blockbuster Schwarber deal looks far more like wishful thinking than likely reality.
The Pirates’ potential Schwarber pursuit highlights a rare spark, yet reality keeps expectations grounded. Bob Nutting’s wallet remains cautiously closed, reminding fans that promises often outpace actual roster investment. Until Nutting chooses action over frugality, Pittsburgh supporters will continue hoping for wins without holding their breath.
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Pirates eye Ryan O’Hearn to boost power in 2026
The Pirates’ lineup has spent years looking like a science experiment gone wrong, and management seems ready to admit it. Enter Ryan O’Hearn, a left-handed slugger whose bat could finally give Pittsburgh some bite. As a player who is versatile enough to plug holes anywhere and proven to handle southpaws, O’Hearn might just be the punch the Buccos desperately need.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended 2025 with the lowest slugging percentage at .350. They recorded only 117 home runs, the fewest in Major League Baseball. The team scored 583 runs and had 561 RBIs, ranking last in both categories. High strikeouts, 1,422, combined with a .231 batting average, showed persistent offensive struggles.
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The Pirates are targeting free agents to address corner outfield and first base needs. Ryan O’Hearn hit 13 home runs and drove in 43 RBIs in 94 games during 2025. He reached base 42 times against left-handed pitchers, showing versatility beyond just power hitting. His ability to play multiple positions, including first base and outfield, fits Pittsburgh’s urgent depth requirements.
Offseason en la MLB, el otro
Para algunos, el béisbol terminó en 2025 con el bicampeonato de los Dodgers de Los Ángeles a comienzos de noviembre. Pero los fanáticos más férreos saben que el diamante no se apaga cuando cae el último out de la Serie Mundial. Se transforma. Diciembre puede ser tan emocionante, angustiante o decepcionante como los días en que se escucha el “Play Ball”. La diferencia es que ahora no se sufre por un turno al bate, sino por una firma, un movimiento, un rumor. El
25 MLB players on the brink of stardom in 2026
At 21 years old, it appears as though the world, or in this case Fenway Park, is his playground. After climbing the minor league ranks with ease, he showed in the second half of 2025 that he not only belongs, but that he has the potential to be the next best hitter in the game. That was evident in his .292 average as a rookie, along with an OBP that hovered at or near .400 for much of the season. His home runs will certainly see a spike after an offseason with the big club and the confidence that he built up to close out 2025. All of that has Anthony shaping up to be well on his way to being a key cog in Boston’s quest for its next title.
The Reds are blessed with some of the game’s best young arms. In Burns’ case, he is riddled with elite stuff that includes a wipeout slider that proves unhittable considering his 100-mph fastball. He had his ups and downs as a rookie in 2025, but some of that can be chalked up to a few rough outings and some bad luck. He has games with 10-plus strikeouts already, which demonstrates that despite being so young, he has no issue getting out veteran batters. Look no further than his K/9 ratio, which sits just under 14, a number that puts him among the game’s best strikeout pitchers.
The White Sox finally called up Teel in June 2025, and all he did was demonstrate why he has the makings of being the next best-hitting catcher. He ranked among the top at the position, posting a .375 on-base percentage and batting .273 with a 12.5% walk rate, a uniquely high number for such a young player. Giving him a full season at the big leagues should see him eclipse the 20-homer mark, putting him among the game’s best catchers at just 23.
The only thing that halted Langford’s 2025 breakout campaign was an injury, but even that wasn’t enough to stop him from leading the Rangers in multiple categories. His 22 homers were more than anyone on the team, as were his 22 stolen bases. The one area he could improve on is his strikeout rate (which he also led Texas in). Despite that negative mark, his .344 on-base percentage was second on the club. Langford is poised for a 30-30 season in 2026.
It was unfathomable what Wilson accomplished in 2025. He had a historically low strikeout rate that helped drive his .311 batting average, which was nearly 30 points higher at times during the season. Pitchers couldn’t get this out. The shortstop also flashed some power with 13 home runs, illustrating that he could very well take 20-25 balls out of the year as he gains more muscle. After all, he’s just 22. He would have taken home the AL Rookie of the Year in 2025 had it not been for his teammate. Wilson, who was an All-Star as well, even saw his name pop up on some MVP ballots.
The powerful 2024 first-round pick blasted his way through the minors, but didn’t have that same pop when he debuted with the Royals in 2025. It was clear last season that pitchers were peppering him with off-speed pitches, which he proved unable to handle consistently. He’ll need to refine his swing and approach this offseason, but there’s no doubt he’s on the brink of stardom. His minor league power numbers are off the charts. Caglianone can only go up from his .157 average in 2025, right?
The Braves always have some young talent in their organization. The 2025 NL Rookie of the Year displayed all of his tools as an all-around talent behind the plate, leading all rookies in the league in average (.274), home runs (19), and RBI (80). That was despite Atlanta utilizing both of its catchers in 2025. Moving forward, this will be Baldwin’s full-time spot with Sean Murphy hitting free agency. A 100-RBI season is on the table for this kid.
Stop me if you’ve seen this narrative before. Pittsburgh has yet another stud pitcher ready to take over the league. Chandler’s long-awaited call-up came towards the end of 2025 and was highlighted by a high strikeout rate and a remarkably low walk rate at just 3.2%. The latter was on full display over his final three starts after he didn’t give out a free pass to any batter in that timeframe. With further development of his slider and changeup, Chandler is in line to form a dominant 1-2 punch in Pittsburgh alongside Paul Skenes.
The 2025 postseason was Schlitter’s coming-out party. His Game 3 heroics in the AL Wild Card game against the rival Red Sox will live in Yankees’ lore. That was when he showed just how cold-blooded he is with an epic 12-strikeout, no walk outing to take home the winner-take-all game. Even before that, Schlitter was establishing himself as a nice piece for the New York rotation with a 2.96 ERA as a rookie. With expectations growing and his unflappable personality, Schlitter feels like a good bet to be the next star pitcher coming out of the Bronx.
His breakout has already occurred, with a monstrous 2025 highlighted by 31 home runs, 94 RBI, and 15 stolen bases, despite his 6-foot-7 frame. His exit velocity numbers are out of this world, confirming that future seasons of 40-50 homers are more than in his range of outcomes with Washington. A budding star, Wood is on this list because he has another level in him, and that one can get him into MVP discussions. With some improved discipline and a refined approach as he gets more experience, there’s no doubt that the counting numbers will be there for the clean-up hitter.
A playoff hero for Toronto after rapidly emerging from the minor league, Yesavage is going to be counted on heavily in what will be his first full season in 2026. It’s tough to label someone as being on the brink of stardom after having already cemented himself as a World Series legend, but Yesavage still has to go out and do it all over again over a full 162-game slate. The good news for him is that he clearly has all the tools to do so after rising from Single-A to the bigs in less than one season. Thanks to a devastating splitter, Yesavage set the rookie record for strikeouts in a postseason.
Doesn’t Colorado always have a way of finding someone with elite power and speed? Beck is the latest in the organization to reach the majors with five-tool potential. His 2026 success and likelihood of earning the star label will depend on his durability, as injuries have hampered him at various points in his young career. With Coors Field at his disposal, Beck has all the talent in the world to hit 25-30 homers and steal more than 30 bags, coming very near to a 20-20 season in 2025.
This one may be cheating since there’s no doubt he’s a star player. Belting 45 homers and driving in 110 runs will put you in that category rather quickly. He fits our criteria despite all of that because he’s just 22 years old and only has one All-Star selection. The sky is literally the ceiling for the Tampa Bay slugger. With improved defense, Caminero can be the best player in all of baseball at some point in his career.
Barger went on a legendary run during the 2025 playoffs after a solid regular season. His pinch-hit grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series has Toronto fans eager to see him finally put it all together over a 162-game season. He’s one of the oldest players on this list at 26, but that won’t get in the way of reaching stardom. If he can find a way to be a league-average hitter against lefties and avoid being a part of a platoon as he was in 2025, Barger will quickly become a household name.
Wait, isn’t he already a star? You wouldn’t be wrong to appoint the 2025 All-Star and Gold Glove winner into the upper echelon of players. Like a few others on this list, there’s another level he can tap into if he can lower his chase rate and raise his on-base percentage. He’s already among the few capable of being a 30-homer, 30-stolen-base player. Another strong showing in 2026, following his breakout 2025 campaign, will undoubtedly have him among the game’s next batch of stars.
It took a special rookie season to upend Jacob Wilson from taking home the honor. It turns out it was his teammate who put together the one rookie campaign that was stronger than Wilson’s. Kurtz took all of his minor league hype and turned it into a whopping 36 homers and 86 RBI. At this point, his eyes are set on adding an MVP to his mantle because he looks well-positioned to be someone who can lead his league in multiple hitting categories.
When it comes to the Reds ace, there’s no need to even look at the raw stats. Sit back and watch him over seven innings. You’ll see right away that he has the physical tools to be the game’s next best pitcher. With an overpowering 100-mph heater and a growing command of his secondary pitches, Greene is positioned to be a staple in the Cy Young voting over the next five-plus years. The problem for him over his first four years has been durability, topping out at 26 stars in 2024 before dropping down to 19 in 2025. A full season of him avoiding any extended run on the injured list would certainly warrant an astronomical season for Greene, who already has one All-Star selection under his belt with plenty of room for more.
Sasaki was the missing piece for the Dodgers’ bullpen. His 2025 rookie season was filled with road bumps, even teetering to the point of disappointment until he made the switch to the pen. That was where he put the Dodgers’ glaring weakness straight on his back, becoming a dominant closer utilized in high-leverage situations throughout their World Series title run. He’ll get a shot to return as a potential Ace for the Dodgers in 2026, but at this point, it’s hard not to envision him being used the same way in the 2026 playoffs. No matter where he’s at, it’s clear he’s got nasty stuff to work with.
The Mariners have become a pitching factory as of late. Woo has big league achievements already with an All-Star pick and a selection to the All-MLB Second Team. He is a star already, but his stardom can reach higher heights. The Cy Young is well within his reach after his 15-7 record and 2.94 ERA season. If he can stay a bit healthier and reach the 200-inning mark next season, he’ll certainly cement himself as a true ace.
The centerpiece of Houston’s Kyle Tucker trade, Smith had a rookie season that began hot but stalled out with a down second half. Pitchers knew how to attack him late in the season and made his lift difficult at the plate. For him to avoid a sophomore slump, he has to improve his plate recognition and hone in on his pitch. Out of all the guys on this list, he may be the only one whose spot on the Opening Day roster has any question. There’s a chance he goes back down, though it shouldn’t be for long if that’s the case. Smith has the tools to be a great hitter at the next level with a bit more emphasis on plate discipline.
The Brewers’ stud young pitcher earned a controversial All-Star selection after just five career starts. That speaks to his star value, making him a perfect name for this list. Midseason struggles elevated his ERA into the 4s, which is something he’ll aim to lower in 2026. With a high strikeout rate and a season under his belt, the upcoming season is shaping up to be the true breakout into stardom season for Misiorowski.
The unexpected ace of the Mets’ staff to close out 2025, McLean was utterly dominant after his August call-up. He pitched to a 4-0 record and sub-1.50 ERA in his first four starts. He finished 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA. The best for McLean is that he retains his rookie eligibility for 2026, making him the heavy favorite to win the award.
All this Brewers phenom has done over his first two years is put together back-to-back seasons of 20-homer, 20-stolen-base campaigns. All of that was before turning 22, too. His growth and climb into true stardom will require him to be a bit more disciplined at the plate. Improving his walk rate would maximize his speed on the bases and further separate him from his peers.
He was well on his way to being the NL Rookie of the Year before an injury derailed his season. He compiled a lowly 0.93 ERA over his final 11 starts, setting himself up with an 11-4 record and 2.67 ERA in his first year. A healthy 2026 will do wonders to establish him as the Cubs’ long-term ace.
The Marlins always find young talent. Ramirez leaves a lot to be desired as a defensive catcher, but offensively, he’s as gifted as they come. He’s among the few rookies at the position ever to hit 20 homers and showcased his speed with 16 steals. Cutting down his league-high errors at the position will be the top priority for Ramirez if he wants to become a true star in the game.
Highly Touted Rangers Prospects Predicted to Make Solid Impact on MLB Roster
The Texas Rangers are in a somewhat intriguing position when it comes to their 2026 roster and beyond. With Marcus Semien being dealt for Brandon Nimmo, the clear vision is to improve the offense of the lineup, which they did by bringing in Nimmo. There is still room to grow, though, and with a lot of money tied up already, the focus may turn to adding prospects to the roster throughout the year.
On a positive note, the Rangers have quite a few prospects who are rapidly progressing through the farm system, and even better, they have a few notable names who are nearing an MLB debut. While it may not be to start the season, some of their best young talents may make their way up throughout the 2026 campaign, providing a spark and backing up any injured players.
FanGraphs recently released their Steamer projections for every MLB team, and included among Texas’ roster were two pretty notable prospects, who they believe will not only make their debuts, but will also provide some really solid production throughout their first few appearances.
Which Two Prospects Will Make a Strong Impact in 2026, According to FanGraphs?
The two notable prospects listed on the FanGraphs projection system were infielder Sebastian Walcott and starting pitcher David Davalillo, both of whom are currently in Double-A Frisco. The No. 1 and No. 7 prospects in the Rangers system, according to MLB Pipeline, both ended up having some numbers when it comes to playing at the Major League level in 2026, and given how quickly both have been progressing, it makes sense to factor them in.
For Walcott, he is projected to play in 23 games, slashing .230/.303/.350 with two home runs, nine RBI, 10 runs, a 23.8% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate, 0.3 fWAR and 85 wRC+.
All things considered, this is about what should be expected for a player debuting mid-season and playing his first 23 MLB games at that age. His defensive projection is not too bad either, which is what helps out his overall fWAR.
As for Davalillo, he is projected to play in 14 games, starting two of them. In that span, he picks up 21.1 innings, a 3.96 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 7.83 K/9, 2.81 BB/9, 1.10 HR/9 and a 0.2 fWAR.
It is interesting to see them project him more as a bullpen pitcher, given he has started all but two appearances since the start of the 2024 season. Regardless, having his type of production out of the bullpen would be a good thing if the starting rotation is consistent.
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Stars who were traded as top prospects
• This list only goes back to when Baseball America began putting out an annual top 100 prospects list in 1990. To qualify, players must have ranked in the top 100 shortly before or after the trade. They also must have retained rookie eligibility when the trade occurred. (So, for example, no Pedro Martínez, whom the Dodgers dealt after his rookie year).
Dylan Cease, CHC to CWS, July 2017
Pre-2017 ranking: 77th (MLB Pipeline)
Eloy Jiménez (MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 prospect entering 2017) was initially considered to be the top prize in the package the White Sox received from the Cubs for veteran left-hander José Quintana prior to the 2017 Trade Deadline. However, Cease ultimately proved to be more valuable for the South Siders. Cease made 123 starts with a 3.83 ERA and a 10.8 K/9 over five years with the White Sox — peaking with a second-place finish in the 2022 AL Cy Young Award voting (2.20 ERA, 227 K’s) — before being traded to the Padres in 2024.
Gleyber Torres, CHC to NYY, July 2016
Pre-2016 ranking: 28th (MLB Pipeline)
As they pursued their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs made the surprising decision to include Torres in a package for All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, an impending free agent at the time. The move worked out well for both sides — the Cubs got their title, with Chapman playing a key role, while the Yankees added Torres to the fold before bringing back Chapman in free agency that December. Torres debuted in 2018 at the age of 21 and looked like a superstar in the making over his first two seasons, producing 62 homers with an .849 OPS and earning back-to-back All-Star selections. Although he never quite returned to those heights, Torres helped the Yankees make six postseason appearances with one World Series berth (2024) during his seven years with the team.
Dansby Swanson: AZ to ATL, December 2015
Pre-2016 ranking: 8th (MLB Pipeline)
This was a stunner. Just six months earlier, the D-backs had made Swanson, a Vanderbilt shortstop, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 Draft. He did nothing the rest of that season to call that pick into question, posting an .876 OPS in 22 Minor League games. But Arizona was trying to load up its rotation, signing free agent Zack Greinke to a big deal and then going after Miller, a 25-year-old righty who had pitched to a 3.27 ERA while making 95 starts for the Cardinals and Braves over the three previous seasons. The D-backs took immediate criticism for the trade, which also sent righty Aaron Blair (also a Top 100 prospect) and young center fielder Ender Inciarte to Atlanta. Indeed, the move proved disastrous for the D-backs. Miller battled injuries and ineffectiveness over three seasons in the desert, Inciarte became a three-time Gold Glove Award winner in Atlanta, and most importantly, Swanson spent six seasons as the Braves’ everyday shortstop, helping lead them to a World Series title in 2021.
Trea Turner: SD to WSH, June 2015
Pre-2015 ranking: 62nd (MLB Pipeline)
Because of a since-scrapped rule that prevented players from being dealt until a year after they were drafted, Turner was the unnamed “player to be named later” in a three-way trade from December 2014 between the Padres, Nationals and Rays, which sent Wil Myers (among others) to San Diego. Turner, who had been picked 13th overall in the 2014 Draft, began the ‘15 season in the Padres’ system until the trade could go through. The wait was certainly worth it for Washington, where Turner established himself as an elite shortstop and won a championship in 2019 before being traded to the Dodgers in 2021.
Anthony Rizzo: SD to CHC, January 2012
Pre-2012 ranking: 37th (MLB Pipeline)
A sixth-round pick, Rizzo spent his first four professional seasons in the Boston system before heading to San Diego in the Adrián González deal. The first baseman was only a Padre for about a year, which included a rough MLB debut (.141 in 49 games) but big numbers at Triple-A. Theo Epstein, who had drafted Rizzo with the Red Sox, then reacquired him for the Cubs, in a deal that sent pitcher Andrew Cashner to the Padres. Needless to say, the Cubs got the better of that one, with Rizzo becoming a championship-winning franchise cornerstone.
Carlos Carrasco: PHI to CLE, July 2009
Pre-2009 ranking: 28th (MLB Pipeline)
When the Phillies acquired Cliff Lee ahead of the 2009 Trade Deadline, Carrasco was part of the package that went back to Cleveland. The promising 22-year-old right-hander debuted that September, and while it took him a while to find his footing in the Majors, Carrasco posted a 3.41 ERA as a reliable starter for Cleveland from 2014-20 before a trade to the Mets.
Gio González: CHW to OAK, January 2008
Pre-2008 ranking: 23rd (MLB Pipeline)
González had a strange go of it early in his pro career. He ranked in the Baseball America top 100 in four different years but also was traded three times — from the White Sox to the Phillies, back to the White Sox and then to the A’s. The last of those deals, which sent Nick Swisher to Chicago, set up González for a starring role with the 2010-11 A’s (31 wins and a 3.17 ERA in 65 starts) before yet another trade, to Washington.
Elvis Andrus: ATL to TEX, July 2007
Pre-2007 ranking: 50th (MLB Pipeline)
While Mark Teixeira raked for the Braves after they acquired him at the 2007 Trade Deadline, the cost turned out to be steep. Andrus was the biggest piece, playing 1,652 games for Texas (second in franchise history) before a trade to Oakland. At the time Atlanta dealt him, though, Andrus was just a promising 18-year-shortstop who had yet to reach Double-A.
Hanley Ramírez: BOS to MIA, November 2005
Pre-2006 ranking: 19th (MLB Pipeline)
Ramírez had gotten all of two plate appearances in a Red Sox uniform as a 21-year-old shortstop in September 2005 before he was on his way to South Florida. Ramírez became a dynamic force with the Marlins, stealing 50-plus bases twice, hitting 20-plus homers four times and winning a batting title in 2009. Boston didn’t regret the trade, as Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell played key roles on the 2007 championship team. But there were regrets when Ramírez struggled after re-signing with the Sox before the 2015 season.
Scott Kazmir: NYM to TB, July 2004
Pre-2004 ranking: 8th (MLB Pipeline)
The Mets had selected Kazmir 15th overall in the 2002 Draft, and he did nothing to hurt his prospect status over the next couple of years, racking up strikeouts in the Minors. Yet a Mets team that would go on to lose 91 games gave him up to acquire pitcher Victor Zambrano, who would go on to make only 35 starts for the club. Kazmir became a three-time All-Star and helped the Rays make the 2008 World Series.
Adam Wainwright: ATL to STL, December 2003
Pre-2004 ranking: 32nd (MLB Pipeline)
Wainwright is a Georgia native who became the Braves’ first-round pick in 2000. The right-hander rose steadily through the Minors, but before he could make it Atlanta, he became the prize the Braves parted with to acquire another Georgia product, outfielder J.D. Drew. While Drew enjoyed a career year for the 2004 Braves before departing in free agency, Wainwright wrapped up his Cardinals career 20 years later.
Derrek Lee: SD to MIA, December 1997
Pre-1998 ranking: 47th (Baseball America)
The Padres picked Lee 14th overall in the 1993 Draft, and the 6-foot-5 first baseman backed that up in the Minors, including a 34-homer season at Double-A in 1996. But after Lee got a couple cups of coffee with San Diego in ‘97, he was used as trade bait for Kevin Brown, who was coming off an ace performance for the champion ‘97 Marlins. Brown was great in one season with the Friars, while Lee averaged 27 homers with the Marlins from 2000-03 before enjoying his best seasons with the Cubs.
Kenny Lofton: HOU to CLE, December 1991
Pre-1992 ranking: 28th (Baseball America)
A baseball and basketball player at the University of Arizona, where he played in the 1988 Final Four, Lofton was only a 17th-round pick. But he quickly impressed in pro ball, hitting .331 with 62 steals at Class A-Advanced Osceola in 1990. Lofton made a brief appearance in Houston in 1991, but with Steve Finley already manning center field there, Lofton was sent to Cleveland for pitcher Willie Blair and catcher Ed Taubensee. He immediately proceeded to win five straight MLB stolen base crowns while batting .316 in that span.
Moises Alou: PIT to MON, August 1990
Pre-1990 ranking: 37th (Baseball America)
Not only was Alou a prospect, he represented the next generation of a baseball family, following father Felipe and uncles Jesus and Matty. In July 1990, a 24-year-old Alou made his Major League debut with Pittsburgh, but he played all of two games before the NL East champions sent him to Montreal for pitching help, including Zane Smith (1.30 ERA the rest of that season). Despite injuries that wiped out two entire seasons (1991, ‘98), Alou would go on to star for the Expos — playing for Felipe — and finish his career with a .303 average and 332 homers.
MLB comparisons for Tatsuya Imai
With Imai posted by the Saitama Seibu Lions on the heels of Yamamoto’s heroic postseason performance for the Dodgers, that’s one of the questions that jumps to mind, fairly or not … especially after Scott Boras, Imai’s agent, said of the top international pitcher on the market:
High variance 2025-26 MLB free agents
There are a number of high-variance stars like Cease who remain unsigned, highlighted by the seven big names below. Which version of these players will their next teams be getting? It’s a question interested suitors are surely debating.
Pete Alonso, 1B
Alonso has remained one of MLB’s premier home run hitters since he burst onto the scene with a rookie-record 53 dingers in 2019, but his overall offensive output has fluctuated in recent years. Among qualifiers, his wRC+ ranked 15th (tied) in 2022 (141) and eighth in ’25 (141), but he fell outside the top 30 in both ’23 (120) and ’24 (121). While those swings in production aren’t that extreme, they’re concerning nonetheless for a player whose value is almost exclusively tied to his bat.
Cody Bellinger, OF
Bellinger’s career has been a study in extremes, from the heights of a 2019 NL MVP season to the lows of a non-tender just three years later. Even if we ignore his 69 wRC+ across 2021-22 and zero in on what Bellinger has done in three years since the Dodgers cut him loose, there are lingering questions about his offensive profile moving forward. Is he the near-league-average bat of 2024 (18 HR, 108 wRC+)? Or the standout of 2023 (26 HR, 135 wRC+) and ’25 (29 HR, 125 wRC+)?
Bo Bichette, SS
Bichette’s return to form in 2025 (18 HR, 134 wRC+) makes it easy to look past his curious dropoff in ’24 (4 HR, 70 wRC+), especially considering the injury issues he faced that year. The shortstop has been quite consistent otherwise, posting a wRC+ of 120 or higher in every other season during his seven-year career. Still, any team considering Bichette can’t entirely ignore what happened in 2024.
Zac Gallen, SP
Gallen had a 3.29 ERA, a 3.45 FIP and a 3.43 K/BB ratio over his first six seasons, peaking with a pair of top-five finishes in the NL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 (fifth) and ’23 (third). However, he regressed sharply in 2025, posting a 4.83 ERA with a 4.50 FIP and a 2.65 K/BB — all career worsts. Gallen’s strong track record may make him a popular target in free agency, but as the Red Sox learned after signing Walker Buehler last offseason, taking a chance on a rebound candidate doesn’t always work out.
Kyle Schwarber, DH
Schwarber hit a lot of home runs for the Phillies over the past four seasons — 187 of them, in fact, tied with Shohei Ohtani for second most in MLB behind Aaron Judge. That said, the version of Schwarber we saw in 2025, when he finished second in the NL MVP Award voting with 56 homers and a 152 wRC+ (sixth best in MLB), was levels above the one from ’22-23. While the DH went deep 93 times in that span, he also tied for 31st among qualifiers with a 124 wRC+ while hitting .207 with a .333 on-base percentage.
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Entering his age-34 season, Suárez is one of the biggest boom-or-bust hitters on the board. The third baseman fared so poorly over his first 79 games with the D-backs in 2024 (67 wRC+) that there were rumblings he could be designated for assignment. Suárez not only avoided that fate, he became one of MLB’s best hitters for more than a calendar year, ranking ninth with a 151 wRC+ while swatting 60 homers in 184 games from July 1, 2024, through July 30, ’25. However, his production dipped again following a trade to the Mariners, as he slashed .189/.255/.428 with a 91 wRC+ over 53 games for Seattle.
Devin Williams, RP
Williams was perhaps the game’s best reliever from 2020-24, but this past season marked a notable departure from his previous dominance. Traded from the Brewers to the Yankees last December, Williams opened 2025 as New York’s closer but lost his grip on the job multiple times en route to a 4.79 ERA. On a positive note, the right-hander’s underlying metrics paint a much rosier picture of his performance, as he ranked in the 95th percentile or better in expected batting average, whiff rate, chase rate and strikeout rate. He also looked more like his old self down the stretch, pitching to a 2.50 ERA with 34 K’s in his final 19 games.
Free agent match for every MLB team 2025-26
Remember that one? Every page was a story with a number of blank spaces, requiring players to fill those spaces in with different words to create the whole story.
With the Winter Meetings only one week away, we figured we would try a Hot Stove version of Mad Libs, where we fill in the blanks for all 30 teams with potential free-agent targets.
That means that a number of notable free agents were not included, but don’t read into that in terms of their overall markets. Players such as Robert Suarez, J.T. Realmuto, Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito will find plenty of suitors despite not being listed below.
Blue Jays: Kyle Tucker, OF
Toronto has already made the biggest splash of the offseason by agreeing to a seven-year deal with Dylan Cease, so why stop there? Tucker is the consensus No. 1 free agent on the market and would make a dangerous lineup even better. Just imagine the nightmare pitchers would face with Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting back-to-back for the next decade.
Orioles: Framber Valdez, LHP
Baltimore has already added a bat (Taylor Ward) and a reliever (Ryan Helsley), but the Orioles need starting pitching as badly as any team in the Majors, putting them in the market for the top arms. Valdez is the oldest of the bunch (he’s entering his age-32 season), but he has the longest track record, has postseason experience, and could sign for fewer years than some of the others.
Rays: Mike Yastrzemski, OF
The Rays need outfield help after posting a cumulative .663 OPS among the three spots, ranking 13th in the AL. Yastrzemski has been a consistent 2- to 3-WAR player throughout his career and has averaged 18 home runs and a .741 OPS in 135 games per season since the start of 2021.
Red Sox: Pete Alonso, 1B
First base was an issue for the Red Sox, who may not be sold on Triston Casas as the future at the position. Boston wants to add an impact bat, and few players on this year’s market can have the impact of Alonso, who slugged 38 homers with 126 RBIs and an .871 OPS last season.
Yankees: Bo Bichette, SS
Bichette and the Blue Jays could still have a reunion, but what if the Yankees made a strong bid for the shortstop? Many view Bichette as a future second baseman, but with Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery and Jazz Chisholm Jr. set to become a free agent next year, Bichette could step in at shortstop and give New York a long-term plan at second base if Chisholm leaves.
Guardians: Austin Hays, OF
Hays’ best seasons came between 2021 and ‘23 in Baltimore, but the 30-year-old had a solid year with the Reds in 2025. His 15 home runs, 64 RBIs and .768 OPS in 103 games would have made him the leader in all three categories in the Guardians’ outfield, as Cleveland ranked last in the AL in outfield OPS (.629).
Royals: Harrison Bader, OF
Kansas City got very little production out of center field last season (six home runs, 47 RBIs, .645 OPS), with Kyle Isbel getting about 70% of the at-bats. Bader had the best offensive season of his career in 2025, recording career highs in home runs (17), RBIs (54) and OPS (.796) while ranking in the 92nd percentile with 7 Outs Above Average.
Tigers: Alex Bregman, 3B
If this one seems familiar, it is. Bregman and the Tigers danced the free-agent dance last year before the third baseman signed with the Red Sox, but with no qualifying offer attached this year, could things be different? Detroit’s .628 OPS at third base ranked last in the AL, making the hot corner a clear need for the Tigers.
Twins: Rhys Hoskins, 1B
The Twins could use an upgrade at first base and a right-handed power bat, making Hoskins an ideal fit. He’s entering his age-33 season and played in only 90 games in 2025, but the veteran is only one year removed from a 26-homer season for the Brewers, a total he reached or exceeded in each of his five full seasons prior to last year.
White Sox: Adolis García, OF
García became a free agent after the Rangers non-tendered him, and although he hasn’t looked like the two-time All-Star who averaged 32 homers, 99 RBIs and a .777 OPS between 2021 and ‘23, García still averaged 22 home runs and 80 RBIs during the past two seasons, albeit with a .675 OPS. García could look to sign a one-year deal in an effort to re-establish his value.
Astros: Ranger Suárez, LHP
Hunter Brown emerged as the Astros’ ace in 2025, but with Framber Valdez likely headed elsewhere as a free agent, Houston will need to replace the sturdy, reliable left-hander. Suárez threw a career-high 157 1/3 innings last season, but his postseason track record — he’s 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 career appearances (8 starts) — is the best of the free-agent bunch.
Angels: Zac Gallen, RHP
The Angels’ eternal search for starting pitching continues this winter, and while they aren’t expected to be major players for the top four or five arms available, the idea of bringing in a former ace looking to re-establish himself could be appealing. Gallen had a career-high 4.83 ERA last season, but he threw 192 innings for Arizona, and he’s averaged more than 180 frames per season since the start of 2022 — a mark no Angels pitcher has reached since Andrew Heaney in 2018.
Athletics: Luke Weaver, RHP
Last summer’s trade of Mason Miller left a big hole in the Athletics’ bullpen, one they could look to fill via free agency. Weaver had two solid years with the Yankees, though his performance dipped last season after a hamstring strain sent him to the IL for three weeks in June. Still, the 32-year-old ranked in the top 20 percent of the league in chase, whiff and strikeout percentage in each of the past two seasons.
Mariners: Munetaka Murakami, 3B
The Mariners have had some success with Japanese players during the past 25 years, though most — aside from Ichiro Suzuki, of course — have been pitchers. Murakami is the most notable power hitter to come from NPB since Hideki Matsui in 2003, and with Eugenio Suárez likely to depart as a free agent, Seattle has a vacancy to fill at third base.
Rangers: Marcell Ozuna, DH
The Joc Pederson experiment did not go well for the Rangers, who ranked last in the AL with a .607 OPS out of the DH spot last season. Ozuna had a down year in Atlanta, hitting 21 home runs with 68 RBIs and a .756 OPS in 145 games, though he averaged 39 homers, 102 RBIs and a .916 OPS from 2023-24. The 35-year-old may not get back to those levels, but even last year’s production would be an upgrade for Texas.
Braves: Brad Keller, RHP
Keller had great success in a relief role with the Cubs in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances. The Braves had success converting Reynaldo López from a reliever into a starter, and Keller is a prime candidate to make that transition in 2026. Atlanta needs bullpen help, as well, so Keller would give the Braves options depending on how the rest of their offseason plays out.
Marlins: Kyle Finnegan, RHP
Miami ranked 12th in the NL with a 4.28 bullpen ERA last season, while saves leader Calvin Faucher blew five of his 20 save opportunities. The Marlins plan to spend ahead of next season, and while they are unlikely to spend big on the top closers, Finnegan would give them a proven arm in the back end of the bullpen.
Mets: Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
The recent trade of Brandon Nimmo opened a spot in the Mets’ outfield, creating an opportunity for Bellinger, who proved his ability to perform in New York during his first season with the Yankees. Bellinger would also provide first-base insurance in the event that Pete Alonso signs elsewhere.
Phillies: Rob Refsnyder, OF
Philadelphia’s top targets remain Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, but the Phillies could use a right-handed bat in the outfield to complement Brandon Marsh and/or Justin Crawford — especially if Harrison Bader signs elsewhere. Refsnyder, who can play all three outfield positions, had seven home runs and a .959 OPS in 138 plate appearances against lefties last season.
Nationals: Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF/DH
Washington has graduated a number of position players through its system over the past two years, but first base remains a need. O’Hearn made his first All-Star team in 2025, hitting 17 home runs with an .803 OPS in 144 games with the Orioles and Padres. The 32-year-old can also play right field, providing versatility to whichever team signs him.
Cubs: Michael King, RHP
Even with the return of Shota Imanaga via the qualifying offer, the Cubs are in the market for a frontline starter this offseason. King is one of the most talented arms available, and after missing a chunk of 2025 with a thoracic nerve injury and a knee issue, he could sign for fewer years than some of the other top starting pitchers.
Reds: Kyle Schwarber, DH
Schwarber hails from nearby Middletown, Ohio, and while free agents don’t tend to base their decisions on a desire to return home, it’s the one thing the Reds can offer that no other team can. Cincinnati needs a big bat, and while it remains to be seen whether the Reds will be willing to spend what it’s going to take to land Schwarber, the fit is perfect.
Brewers: Devin Williams, RHP
Williams’ lone season in New York did not go the way the free agent was hoping it would, potentially costing him some money this winter. What better place to sign to re-establish his value than Milwaukee, the site of his greatest successes? If Williams is looking for a one-year deal with an eye on testing free agency again next year, the Brewers could be the ideal landing spot.
Pirates: Eugenio Suárez, 3B
All signs point to the Pirates spending some money in free agency this winter, and given their need for offense, adding a two-time All-Star who slugged 49 home runs last season would be an ideal place to start. Suárez’s defense at third base is below average, but Pittsburgh could give him some at-bats at DH, as well.
Cardinals: Tyler Mahle, RHP
The Cardinals are clearly in reset mode after trading Sonny Gray, with more deals likely to come this winter. But St. Louis is in need of rotation help for 2026, and with long-term deals seemingly not in its plans, the club could look to starting pitchers willing to sign for a year or two. Mahle was 6-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 16 starts for the Rangers last season, but he hasn’t reached the 100-inning mark since 2022, so he could look to take a one-year deal with the hopes of putting together a healthy year before testing free agency again next offseason.
D-backs: Kazuma Okamoto, 3B
Having traded both Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez last summer, Arizona had openings at both corner-infield positions. Jordan Lawlar and/or Blaze Alexander could be the answer at third, but Okamoto — who can play either corner spot — could be an intriguing option at first. A six-time NPB All-Star, Okamoto hit 248 career home runs in 11 seasons with Yomiuri, including six straight 30-homer campaigns from 2018-23.
Rockies: Luis Arraez, 1B
Arraez had his lowest batting average (.292), OPS (.719) and OPS+ (99) of his career in 2025, but he still led the NL with 181 hits and had a 3.5% strikeout rate — the lowest any hitter has had since Tony Gwynn in 1995. The Rockies had the highest strikeout rate and lowest OPS of any team in the Majors, not to mention an opening at first base. Quirky stat: Arraez has never struck out in 53 career plate appearances at Coors Field.
Dodgers: Edwin Díaz, RHP
Even after signing Tanner Scott a year ago, the Dodgers found themselves searching for an answer in the ninth inning by the end of the season. Roki Sasaki filled the role through the postseason, but he’s expected to return to the rotation, leaving a vacancy in the ninth inning. Díaz opted out of the final two years of his record-setting, five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, and whether or not he exceeds that with his next deal, he’s a perfect fit for a team that never hesitates to spend.
Padres: Cody Ponce, RHP
San Diego has some major rotation issues, as Dylan Cease reached a deal with Toronto, Michael King is a free agent and Yu Darvish is slated to miss the season following elbow surgery. Without a ton of payroll flexibility, the Padres could be forced to think outside the box, and Ponce — who posted a 1.89 ERA in 180 2/3 innings for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO in 2025 after three seasons in Japan — is hoping to be the latest pitcher to find success in the Majors following a strong stint in Asia.
Giants: Tatsuya Imai, RHP
San Francisco has taken its shot at Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki over the past few years, only to watch all three sign with the rival Dodgers. Imai, one of Japan’s top pitchers, recently said he would “rather take them down” than sign with the Dodgers, so what better team to do that with than Los Angeles’ historic rival? Slotting Imai in a rotation with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray would give the Giants a boost in the competitive NL West.
Orlando Dreamers Have Realistic Dream Of An MLB Expansion Franchise
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has been saying for more than a year that he would like to add two expansion franchises by the end of the decade or the early 2030s.
Orlando is already positioning itself to land one of those teams. An ownership group called the Orlando Dreamers, fronted by Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, plans to bid for a franchise and already has funding in place and the land to build a stadium in the city.
Larkin grew up in Cincinnati and played his entire 19-year career with the hometown Reds from 1988-2004. However, Larkin has been an Orlando resident for nearly 30 years and thinks it is the perfect spot for an MLB team.
Le’Veon Bell Honors NFL, Boxing & Rap Career With Diamond Chain
Instagram/@moediamonds
Former NFL star Le’Veon Bell just turned his entire life story into drip — honoring his journey from college football to the pros and beyond with a custom chain … loaded with emerald, ruby, and diamond-encrusted logos for every chapter of his career!
TMZ Sports has learned … the three-time Pro Bowl running back linked up with his longtime jeweler, Moe Diamonds, in Miami to cop a new piece.
We’re told Bell, 33, decided on only two team logos for the chain — Michigan State University, where he played from 2010 to 2012, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He also included a Killer B — a reference to Bell, Antonio Brown andBen Roethlisberger during their time together on the Steelers.
It also highlights his post-NFL career … like the boxing gloves that salute his run in the ring. Bell has had several exhibition fights, including his knockout win against NFL legend Adrian Peterson. He also had three professional fights, and his latest win was against Tristan Hamm in 2024.
The microphone represents his music career as Bell — who goes by the rap name
Channel, time, TV schedule, streaming, Black Friday NFL game
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears travel to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in a Black Friday game in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season.
The Bears (8-3) are coming off another close victory, this one 31-28 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, behind second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and rookie head coach Ben Johnson. The Eagles (8-3)
The Bears and Eagles kick off at 2 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime. What you need to know about the game, including streaming info, odds, predictions and more:
Black Friday Football stream: Bears vs. Eagles on Amazon Prime
What channel is Bears vs. Eagles on today?
TV Channel: None
Livestream:Amazon Prime
The Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles will stream on Amazon Prime in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season. Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) call the game from the booth at Lincoln Financial Field, while Kaylee Kartung is on the sidelines.
Bears game today: When does the Bears game start?
Date: Friday, Nov. 28
Start time: 2 p.m. CT
The Bears vs. Eagles game starts at 2 p.m. CT from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stream Bears vs. Eagles on Black Friday Football on Amazon Prime
Bears vs. Eagles predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 25:
Spread:Eagles by 7
Over/under:44.5
Moneyline:Bears +255; Eagles -315
2025 Chicago Bears schedule
Complete 2025 NFL TV schedule: Every game, full channel lineup
Eagles vs Bears weather forecast for NFL Black Friday game
PHILADELPHIA − It might be difficult for the Eagles to duplicate their passing success against the Chicago Bears from their game against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 23.
That’s because once again, the wind will be a big factor in the Nov. 28 Black Friday game at Lincoln Financial Field.
And that goes for field goals as well. That’s something Eagles kicker Jake Elliott is preparing for, much like the Nov. 16 game against the Lions when Elliott hit three field goals, including a 49-yarder, in a swirling wind during the Eagles’ 16-9 win.
Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets
NFL Week 13 predictions, picks: Our experts face off on top games
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the CBS Sports family. We get a Turkey Day tripleheader on Thursday, as the Detroit Lions host Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, and Joe Burrow makes his return to the field against the Baltimore Ravens.
Elsewhere around the NFL, Shedeur Sanders will make his second NFL start against Robert Saleh’s defense as the San Francisco 49ers come to town, the Buffalo Bills look to get back on track against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots host the New York Giants on
This metro Atlanta couple spearheaded a change in football helmets
Erin and Lee Hanson founded the company that makes the Guardian Caps worn by many high school, college football and NFL players.
Lee and Erin Hanson, co-founders of Guardian Sports, hold Guardian Caps with Georgia Tech and UGA logos as they pose for a photo at Guardian Sports’ headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
In homes across the U.S. this holiday season, a familiar sound will likely be heard beneath the din of pots and pans — the crack of football helmets colliding.
A day of gratitude, Thanksgiving and the days surrounding the holiday are intertwined with watching football. One metro Atlanta couple has worked to make a game known for hard hits safer.
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Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller prepares for a defensive snap against Florida in an NCAA football game at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. Miller became the first Georgia player to wear a Guardian Cap in a game during the win over Florida. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Exterior of Hanson Group, which is a material science company that provided the expertise to develop the cap for Guardian Sports, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Falcons defense get ready to practice during training camp at the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch on Friday, July 26, 2024. The players are all wearing Guardian Caps. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
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Predicting the Patriots’ Pro Bowlers, Drake Maye running more and more Week 13 thoughts
Welcome to the Friday Five!
Each week during the NFL regular season, I’ll drop five Patriots-related thoughts on Friday to recap the week that was in Foxboro and look ahead to kickoff.
Ready, set, football.
1. Run, Drake, run?
There’s an old saying among offensive coaches.
If you can’t block ’em, read ’em.
Meaning, if your offensive line can’t block an edge defender or defensive tackle well enough, don’t. Leave him deliberately unblocked on an option run, where the quarterback can either hand the ball off or keep himself based on his read of the defender. If the defender pursues the running back at the snap, the quarterback keeps the ball and runs the other way. If he freezes, the quarterbacks hands the ball off and let his running back burrow behind a double-team working the other side of the defense.
Down two starting offensive linemen for the foreseeable future, calling more option runs with Drake Maye could help the Patriots in two ways.
No. 1: It might jumpstart a suddenly stalled run game that averaged 3.5 yards per carry last weekend versus a Bengals defense that had allowed more than 250 rushing yards in two of his last three games. The Patriots currently rank fifth-worst in the league by rushing DVOA.
No. 2: Option runs could heat up a suddenly cold red-zone offense that’s slipped to 20th in the league in touchdown percentage (55%) and has converted 44% of drives into touchdowns the last three weeks. In Cincinnati, the Pats were stuffed six times at the 1-yard line, including a few times on traditional handoffs.
Maye’s legs might also offset protection issues in the passing game, though offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have more levers to pull there. McDaniels can call short passes, misdirection plays or keep a running back or tight end in to block. Or both. The Patriots can go no-huddle to tire out the defense or dial up screens.
For now, it sounds like Mike Vrabel would prefer the Patriots not involve Maye as a runner, no matter how their rush offense is struggling.
“We’ve had some of those (option) plays, and we’ve called some of those plays. And so, you kind of want to be careful,” Vrabel said Wednesday. “Guys are going in concussion protocol left and right. Again, we’ll be willing to do anything to win a football game, but I think being smart is probably the biggest thing.”
But with five games left and a potential first-round bye at stake, if another battle comes down to the 1-yard line, might the Patriots be tempted by the reward of Maye running, risk be damned?
2. Pro Bowl Patriots
The NFL opened voting for the Pro Bowl on Thursday. So who in New England will make it?
Maye, for starters. He’s a lock.
None of the Patriots’ running backs warrant serious consideration. Stefon Diggs deserves a hard look, with 61 catches for 679 yards and three touchdowns this year.
How about Hunter Henry? Henry is second in the AFC in receptions and touchdown catches among tight ends.
Defensively, nickelback Marcus Jones should be a no-brainer. He might make the Pro Bowl as a returner, but he’s one of four defenders in the NFL with 50-plus tackles, three interceptions and a sack this season. Jones took one of those picks back to the house last Sunday.
The bet here is Maye, Diggs and Jones get the call. Shutdown cornerback Christian Gonzalez has not dominated like he did last year, and still doesn’t have an interception. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales can argue a strong case, but falls short in the name-recognition department, which makes Chargers veteran Cameron Dicker and Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn more likely selections in a fan vote.
Special teams ace Brenden Schooler could also make the cut, but he’s tied for 16th in special teams tackles through Week 12.
2. Vederian Lowe, better, stronger
The last time you saw Vederian Lowe playing left tackle for the Patriots, he had a torn labrum.
Lowe revealed Wednesday he tore his labrum in October 2024 during a win over the Jets and continued to play through the injury, which contributed to some of his worst games of the season.
The 26-year-old is now back in the starting lineup due to another injury, Will Campbell’s hurt knee, and feeling much stronger heading into his first start of the season; especially in his shoulder.
“If I had days rehabbing where I could pick and choose if I want to go upper or lower (body), I was going upper,” Lowe said Wednesday. “You know, getting the shoulder stronger, I wanted to come back better than how it was before. So that’s kind of the mindset I’ve been on, trying to get the shoulder as strong as I can, get it back, even stronger than I had it before.”
Lowe’s recovery extended into the summer, when he did not practice right away. He nonetheless made the team as one of the Patriots’ top offensive tackles behind Campbell and veteran right tackle Morgan Moses. Lowe may replace Campbell for the rest of the season, with the rookie going on injured reserve Wednesday in a move that will at least cost him the next four gmaes.
4. Barmore’s strange season
Let’s start with a reminder.
Sacks are not a perfect metric for pass-rushing impact. Every defender wants sacks, but the best pass-rushers don’t necessarily lead the NFL in sacks every year. They do, however, rank among the league leaders in pressures and pressure rate.
That said, while Christian Barmore ranks seventh among defensive tackles this season in total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, does that match the eye test?
No. Barmore has just one sack and six QB hits this season over a dozen games; numbers that more closely resemble his stat line from a year ago when he was limited to four games due to two bouts of blood clot-related symptoms. He’s logged a QB hit in just one of his last seven games. So what gives?
Hard to say. It would be unfair to allege Barmore is underachieving in light of his health situation, though the 26-year-old has often maintained he feels good. The Patriots have done well managing his workload to keep him available.
Perhaps the best way to describe Barmore’s lack of traditional rush is soft pressure. Not because he’s not there, but quarterbacks don’t feel him the way you would expect an $84 million defensive tackle to be felt. Basically, he’s in the neighborhood, just not knocking down the door.
5. Vrabel low on Thanksgiving
In a light moment at the end of his Wednesday press conference, Vrabel revealed Thanksgiving is not among his favorite holidays.
“Christmas is No. 1,” Vrabel said. “Fourth of July is a close second. (I’m a) big firework guy. And then it’s a toss-up: St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween.”
Still, Vrabel said he was plenty thankful.
“My family. I think that having them here this week is going to be good, going to be nice,” he said. “And then I would say the opportunity to coach this team. I think the players, the coaches, the staff. That’s what I’m thankful for. Got some good friends that have helped along the years.”
Today in Chicago History: Bears take Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers in first round of NFL draft
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Nov. 28, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 69 degrees (1905)
Low temperature: Zero degrees (1887)
Precipitation: 1.56 inches (1968)
Snowfall: 3.4 inches (1940)
1895: A Duryea “motocycle” won the first organized automobile race in the United States. The 55-mile route started in Chicago’s Jackson Park — amid snow and slush — and ended in Evanston. Of the seven competitors, only two crossed the finish line. The other five, according to the Tribune, “were lost — wandering aimlessly about the streets of Chicago or lying wrecked in some gutter along the way.”
The runner-up claimed the winner pushed his machine up a hill to reach the finish line. The unnamed winner — who crossed the finish line in 10 hours, 17 minutes — denied the claim. “No records, but various parts of the mechanism, were broken,” the Tribune reported.
The judges didn’t stay to watch the last competitor cross the finish line at 2 a.m. the next day — just two reporters witnessed it.
The NFL’s oldest rivalry continued at Soldier Field. A look back at the teams that started it all in 1920.
1920: The NFL’s oldest rivalry began. The Chicago Bears, then known as the Decatur Staleys, faced the Racine Cardinals — named after Racine Avenue where their home venue was Normal Park and not for the city in Wisconsin — for the first time. Paddy Driscoll kicked the deciding extra point in the Cardinals’ win and kept the Bears in poor field position all afternoon with his precision punts.
1929: The Cardinals had reason to offer thanks this Thanksgiving Day. They had coaxed future Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers, the former Stanford star, back into pro ball as a player-coach. And Nevers scored all of the Cards’ points in a 40-6 Comiskey Park thrashing of the archrival crosstown Bears. Gaining much of his yardage behind the blocking of tackle Duke Slater, later a judge in Chicago, and guard Walt Kiesling, later also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Nevers scored an NFL record of six TDs, which has since been tied. He also kicked four PATs for a 40-point total that still stands as the league one-game record.
1943: After a six-year absence from the game, 34-year-old Bronko Nagurski was brought back for the 1943 season and played tackle, but in the final game, with the Bears losing by 10 to the Cardinals and needing a win to clinch their division, they moved Nagurski to his old position of fullback and the rest is legend. In the fourth quarter alone, Nagurski carried 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown as the Bears rallied to win 35-24.
1964: The selection of Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1965 NFL draft remains the only time a team has selected two future Hall of Fame players in the first round of one draft.
The Bears acquired the No. 3 pick from the Steelers and used it on Butkus, a Chicagoan and a wildly popular choice whose name remains synonymous with Bears folklore. Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
“I hate to make a decision — you see, I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Butkus said. “Chicago’s my home and all things being equal, I probably would prefer to play with the Bears, but there are other things to be considered.”
Days later, Butkus signed with the Bears.
“I didn’t really like Denver’s approach. There’s more to it than just money and that’s all Denver wanted to talk about,” he said. “The only thing really on my mind right now is that I want to get back and get caught up with my schooling. I’ve been missing out too much.” (Butkus was a physical education major.)
‘When I get through with Chicago, they’ll be loving me.’ Looking back at first words from the Bears’ top draft picks.
Sayers, who was drafted fourth, also had doubt about signing with the Bears. He was also picked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the rival AFL.
“I’m happy to be a Bear,” Sayers told reporters after signing a contract with Halas. “I just got back from New York, where I was invited over to (Kansas City team owner Lamar) Hunt’s hotel. When millionaires start opening the door for me, I get suspicious.”
Neither Hall of Famer expressed jealousy or animosity toward the other.
“I met him early on in the All-Star games before we even got to the Bears,” Butkus said. “And I like to think we are good friends ever since. So there was never any animosity between offense and defense.”
In his autobiography, Sayers said of Butkus: “We remain great friends and have so many shared memories.”
The Rolling Stones in Chicago: A timeline of the band’s 55-year fascination with the city’s blues
1965: The Rolling Stones played their third Chicago concert at the Arie Crown Theater in less than 13 months, this time with the band’s first No. 1 U.S. hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” closing the show.
Want more vintage Chicago?
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
NFL Thanksgiving wrap: Burrow leads Bengals to win in return, Cowboys outlast Chiefs and Love shines in Packers win
Thanksgiving never, ever disappoints.
The holiday typically entails good food, good company and most importantly, good NFL action. And let’s just say, it delivered and more.
Here is a recap of the three games from Thursday.
Burrow returns in Bengals win
Isn’t football better when Joe Burrow is healthy and playing?
The 28-year-old returned from a nine-week absence following a turf toe injury to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 32-14 win over their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in Maryland.
Burrow threw 24-of-46 for 261 yards and two second-half touchdowns to snap Baltimore’s five-game winning streak.
But it was the Cincy defense that really came to play against the prolific Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore offense.
The Ravens – a team once considered among the preseason Super Bowl favorites – lost three fumbles in the first half and turned the ball over five times to fall to a disappointing 6-6 on the season.
The Bengals improved to 4-8 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive – the NFL Playoff Picture currently has Cincinnati sitting on a 2% chance to make the postseason.
“It’s no secret that every game from here on out is a must win,” Burrow told the NBC broadcast after the game. “Especially in the division. So, it was great to get this one, coming off a short week. This is a fun little moment with all these guys.”
Burrow also commended everyone in his life including family and medical staff for getting him back on the field.
The road doesn’t get much easier for the Bengals as they head to Buffalo to face reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Bills while the Ravens look to bounce back against another divisional opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cowboys quell Mahomes’ magic
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes came into Thursday’s game with something to prove.
The 30-year-old has only played the Dallas Cowboys once in his nine-year career and never in his home state of Texas so the Thanksgiving showdown meant a little bit more.
However, it was Dallas that outlasted the “Mahomes magic” in a 31-28 win at AT&T Stadium to spoil his homecoming.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw 27-of-39 for 320 yards, two touchdowns and a pick to help the five-time Super Bowl champs win their third straight game to improve to 6-5-1 on the season.
Dallas has beaten the last two Super Bowl champions in recent weeks – the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles – an achievement which led Prescott highlighted postgame.
“On top of where we put ourselves right before these games and just the place that we’re in, having to get these wins against two elite teams,” Prescott said.
“I mean, two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. Last year’s last year, but you’re talking about two organizations that obviously know how to win and we just beat them both in two great games.”
Mahomes, who played college ball at Texas Tech, had an outstanding game, throwing 23-of-34 for 261 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.
Dallas now heads to Detroit to play the Lions next Thursday while the Chiefs host the Houston Texans on December 7.
For the Love of the game
It hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for 27-year-old Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, but the fifth-year quarterback saved his best game for Turkey Day.
Love matched his career-high with four passing touchdowns to go with 234 yards through the air to lead the Packers to a 31-24 win over division rivals the Detroit Lions.
The Pack, who improved to 8-3-1 on the season, have swept both games against Detroit this season to own a tiebreaker and currently sit in second place in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears.
It was the third loss in five games for the Lions, who sit outside the NFC playoff picture with a 7-5 record. Quarterback Jared Goff was 20-of-26 for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Green Bay hosts the Bears on December 7 while the Lions welcome the Cowboys to Ford Field next week.
Football fans don’t have to wait long as the NFL plays on Black Friday with the Eagles facing Chicago at 3 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
$$$ College Football Week 14: Rivalry Week!
Hunter McCann has the Thanksgiving weekend Best Bet$ for college football, the NFL, the NBA and NHL!
Thursday
NFL:
Packers @ Lions: Lions -2.5
Chiefs @ Cowboys: o52.5 Total Points
Bengals @ Ravens: Bengals +7.5
College Football:
Navy @ Memphis: Memphis -5.5
Friday
College Football:
Utah @ Kansas: Utah -11.5 Ole Miss @ Mississippi State: Mississippi State +7.5
Iowa @ Nebraska: u39.5 Total Points
Georgia @ Georgia Tech: Georgia -13.5
Boise State @ Utah State: o55.5 Total Points
Texas A&M @ Texas: Texas A&M -2.5
Arizona @ Arizona State: Arizona State ML
NFL:
Bears @ Eagles: Bears +7.5
NBA:
Bucks @ Knicks: Knicks -7.5
Wizards @ Pacers: u240.5 Total Points
Bulls @ Hornets: Bulls -2.5
Magic @ Pistons: Magic +3.5
Spurs @ Nuggets: Spurs +8.5
Grizzlies @ Clippers: Clippers -5.5
NHL:
Avalanche @ Wild: Avalanche ML
Canadiens @ Golden Knights: Golden Knights Ml
Kings @ Ducks: u6.5 Total Goals
Flames @ Panthers: Panthers ML
Maple Leafs @ Capitals: u6.5 Total Goals
Mammoth @ Stars: Stars ML
Saturday
College Football:
Miami @ Pitt: Miami -6.5
Ohio State @ Michigan: o44.5 Total Points
LSU @ Oklahoma: u37.5 Total Points
Vanderbilt @ Tennessee: Tennessee -2.5
Oregon @ Washington: Washington +7.5
Alabama @ Auburn: u48.5 Total Points
NBA:
TBD
NHL:
TBD
Sunday
Josh Hart Breaks Silence After Robbery While NBA Fans Show No Sympathy
The NBA community was shaken when disturbing news broke earlier: New York Knicks guard Josh Hart had been the victim of theft of jewelry, valued at roughly $185,000. The audacity of the robbery, as well as the fact that the incident occurred around noon instead of the dead of night, has left observers stunned.
As the news of this incident broke, Hart broke his silence with a reflective message on X. He quoted the Bible verse Psalm 9:1, writing, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” The post highlights his focus on gratitude and faith, especially during the Thanksgiving season, rather than venting anger and frustration.
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The incident occurred during Hart’s stay at The Dominick Hotel on Spring Street in SoHo around 12:30 p.m. on 5th September. According to reports, the Knicks guard dropped off three watches and a bracelet inside of a duffle bag, and when he returned around an hour later, the case in the bag containing his valuables was missing.
He reported the theft on 8th September, but neither any arrests have been made nor suspect descriptions have been determined. The setting of the hotel makes this case even more confusing. The Dominick Hotel is an esteemed establishment at the intersection of SoHo and TriBeCa, and security for the hotel has been drawn much criticism for not noticing a robbery of this magnitude.
However, it seems like Hart isn’t stressing too much. Following his initial words on twitter, he reposted a fan joking that a disguised Jalen Brunson was the robber, writing, “Bro is the worst 😂😂😂.” The New York glue-guy seems to be taking this one step at a time, and clearly, isn’t too sensitive about the incident taking place.
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Ruthless Fans Poke Fun at Josh Hart’s Lost Timepieces
Fans took to social media quickly after news broke about Josh Hart’s robbery, with many zeroing in on the high-end watches stolen. Many pointed out the non-necessity of having luxury watches, with one fan commenting, “now-a-days watches…areNt needed… it’s a fashion statement… expensive ones say ‘Im a pretentious snob, rob me’.” The comment highlights the risk athletes and other rich citizens face when flaunting high value items in public.
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Others also reflected on the broader implications for personal safety, with one viewer sarcastically poking fun at Hart. “You know that things like this make me think 🤔 Are my $185K worth of watches safe when I travel?” their comment read. Despite the joke, the questions about security are valid, especially with the theft taking place at such a high-profile location.
Some focused on Hart’s choice to stay in a hotel despite already living in New York. One post read, “Why is he staying in a hotel when he LIVES IN NY? WTF,” suggesting that the decision unnecessarily exposed him to danger. It was revealed in some reports that the guard was in the Hotel to meet up with actor Ben Stiller and former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning for an event.
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Many jokes also joked about his teammates. Apart from the Jalen Brunson comment that Hart already responded to, one fan playfully wrote, “@joshhart don’t have any proof, but your buddy @mikal_bridges has been stealing everything lately.” This was a clever pun; Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has been having a standout defensive season this year, recording 2.1 steals per game, the third highest in the league.
Finally, some just joked about how little the loss of the watches would inconvenience a multi-millionaire like Hart. One comment read, “Great! Now he don’t know what time it is😠,” sarcastically poking fun at the fact that Hart, who has earned over $63.5 million during his time in the NBA.
Who plays on Black Friday? NFL TV schedule, college football and NBA
Looking to watch some more games on TV while feasting on your Thanksgiving Day leftovers?
Here’s a listing of what’s being played on Black Friday:
NFL schedule on Black Friday
3 p.m. — Bears at Eagles, Prime Video
Watch Eagles vs. Bears live on Prime Video
College football schedule on Black Friday
Noon — Ole Miss-Mississippi St., ABC
Noon — Iowa-Nebraska, CBS
Noon — Kent St.-N. Illinois, CBSSN
Noon — Utah-Kansas, ESPN
Noon — Ohio-Buffalo, ESPNU
3 p.m. — Air Force-Colorado St., Fox Sports 1
3:30 p.m. — Georgia-Georgia Tech, ABC, ACC Network
3:30 p.m. — San Diego St.-New Mexico, CBSSN
3:30 p.m. — Temple-North Texas, ESPN
4 p.m. — Boise St.-Utah St., CBS
7:30 p.m. — Texas A&M-Texas, ABC, SEC Network
7:30 p.m. — Indiana-Purdue, NBC, Peacock
9 p.m. — Arizona-Arizona St., FOX
Watch college football games live on Fubo
College basketball schedule on Black Friday
10:30 a.m. — Battle 4 Atlantis: Third Place Game, ESPN2
Noon — E. Illinois-Purdue, Big Ten Network
12:30 p.m. — UConn vs. Illinois, Fox
1 p.m. — Battle 4 Atlantis: Championship, ESPN2
2 p.m. — Oklahoma-Marquette, NBC
2 p.m. — Acrisure Series: Consolation Game, TRUTV
3 p.m. — ESPN Events Invitational: Imagination Bracket Championship, ESPN2
3 p.m. — Rady Children’s Invitational: Third Place Game, Fox
4:30 p.m. — Battle 4 Atlantis: Fifth Place Game, ESPNU
4:30 p.m. — Acrisure Series: Winners Bracket Game, TRUTV
5 p.m. — Battle in the Bay: Texas A&M-Florida St., ESPN2
5:30 p.m. — Rady Children’s Invitational: Championship, Fox
7 p.m. — Emerald Coast Classic: Depaul vs. Georgia Tech, CBSSN
7 p.m. — Ohio State-Pittsburgh, ESPN
7 p.m. — ESPN Events Invitational: Magic Bracket Third Place Game, ESPN2
7 p.m.— Battle 4 Atlantis: Seventh Place Game, ESPNU
7 p.m. — Acrisure Series: Winners Bracket Game, TRUTV
9:30 p.m. — Emerald Coast Classic: LSU-Drake, CBSSN
9:30 p.m. — ESPN Events Invitational: Magic Bracket Championship, ESPN
9:30 p.m. — Acrisure Series: Consolation Game, TRUTV
NBA schedule on Black Friday
7:30 p.m. — Philadelphia at Brooklyn, YES
7:30 p.m. — Bucks at NY Knicks, Prime Video
10 p.m. — Mavericks at Lakers, Prime Video
Watch NBA games live on Prime Video
NHL schedule on Black Friday
1 p.m. — NY Rangers at Boston, TNT
4 p.m. — New Jersey at Buffalo, MSG
4 p.m. — Philadelphia at NY Islanders, MSGSN
Soccer schedule on Black Friday
7 p.m. — Women’s International Friendly: Italy-USA, TNTGolf schedule on Black Friday
8 a.m. — Ladies Euro Tour: Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana, GOLF
9:30 p.m. — DP World Tour: BMW Australian PGA Championship, GOLF
Auto Racing schedule on Black Friday
8:25 a.m. — Formula 1: Practice, ESPNU
12:25 p.m. — Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying, ESPNEWS
Charles Oakley Says Knicks Can Make It To NBA Finals W/ Karl-Anthony Towns
TMZSports.com
Don’t worry, Knicks fans, the Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade will pay off soon … this according to Charles Oakley, who tells TMZ Sports his addition to the team can pave the way for an NBA Finals run!!
We spoke with the Knicks legend as he was giving away food at Melba’s of Harlem’s annual turkey drive this week … and asked if he believes his former team can make a run at the NBA championship again this season with KAT.
Bleeding Aussie Pro Forced to Stop Mid-Match Amid Grueling Face-Off
On a cool afternoon in Playford, the crowd had just begun to settle into the rhythm of an all-Australian QF showdown when an unexpected twist sent a ripple of concern across the tennis court. Rinky Hijikata, the 24-year-old rising star known for his grit and relentless baseline work, suddenly paused mid-rally, wincing as he looked down at his left knee.
A scrape – small but deep enough – had broken the skin. Blood began to trickle, and within moments, what had been a tense first-set battle came to an abrupt standstill. At 3-4, 15-15 on James McCabe’s serve, the chair umpire signaled a Medical Time Out (MTO) as the medical team rushed in to assess the injury.
For a player like Hijikata, whose game thrives on explosive movement and low-court coverage, a bleeding knee was more than just a stinging inconvenience. As he sat courtside, the medical team carefully cleaned the area, applying pressure and dressing the scrape while fans watched in quiet anticipation.
With the knee patched up, Hijikata returned to the baseline, ready to resume the dogfight. But the drama of the day wasn’t finished. Just when the match regained its rhythm, clouds that had been quietly looming overhead finally made their move. A drizzle became a downpour, and the umpire – after a few glances at an increasingly soaked court – called for play to be suspended. The QF was halted for a second time, this time by forces entirely out of the players’ control.
With a score of 7-6(2), 3-0 in favor of Hijikata, both Aussies will have to wait out the weather and the tension until the Playford skies clear and the battle can result. This match at the Challenger Playford, AU marks the fourth meeting between these two tennis stars (also the third faceoff in 2025). Currently, James McCabe leads the H2H record by 2-1. Can Hijikata maintain the lead and put things on level terms with his compatriot in the H2H sheet?
Time will tell! But how has Rinky Hijikata’s overall season been in 2025, and what are the major goals in his career? Let’s find out more about this young Aussie.
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Aussie tennis star Rinky Hijikata sets his sights higher, chasing glory beyond doubles success
Rinky Hijikata has always carried himself with the quiet determination of someone who knows there’s more inside him – more to show, more to prove, more to achieve. For years, fans have watched him dart around the court with that trademark grit, often shining brightest in the pressure-cooker moments in doubles. But as 2025 rolls on, the 24-year-old Aussie has begun rewriting his own script.
If we take a look at his career, he’s currently ranked 125th in singles, while it’s 58th in doubles. His best record at the majors in singles was reaching the fourth round of the US Open in 2023. But guess what? In doubles, he is already a Grand Slam champion! He won the doubles title at the 2023 AO alongside his compatriot Jason Kubler. Surprisingly, both Hijikata and Kubler have now suffered a painful blow at Playford this year! In 2025, he reached the finals of Wimbledon with the Dutchman David Pel, but their “incredible story” ended with a defeat against Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.
In October 2025, during a conversation on The Sit-Down podcast, Rinky Hijikata spoke about his tennis goals. After having already tasted success in doubles, he now wants to repeat similar feats in singles as well.
“I guess my dream’s kind of always been to play in those matches, in the singles court on those big courts against the best players in the world. That’s what I’ve always dreamt of doing.”
We saw him struggling a bit with an abdominal injury after the Wimbledon Championships. Injuries have been a serious hindrance in his tennis career at times. So, other than setting up big goals in singles, he also added a few other things that he wants to work on for better results.
“I definitely want to make sure I’m healthy first and foremost. I feel like that’s probably the most important thing, and then I just keep trying to do whatever I can to improve and maximize my tennis career.”
What are your thoughts on this young Aussie tennis star? Do you think he has some real potential to excel at the highest level? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Cricket anyone? Yes, between two Aussies at the Australian PGA golf tournament
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — With the high-profile Ashes cricket series between Australia and England underway, a pair of Australian golfers helped highlight the sport during the second round of the Australian PGA Championship on Friday.
Australia leads the five-test cricket series 1-0 after a win in the first match ending earlier this week in Perth, which was possibly why Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee were happy to be making a reference to cricket at Royal Queensland on Friday afternoon.
With the big-hitting Scott on the tee at the par-4 12th hole, the group on the green which included Lee waved Scott’s group up to tee off. Scott proceeded to drive the green on the 296-meter (323-yard) hole.
When the ball bounced on to the green, Lee used his putter in an obvious cricket stance in a comical attempt to bat away Scott’s ball.
Scott birdied the hole to finish with a 68. Lee had a 66 and both were among the leaders after two rounds.
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Yellow Apparel Takes Over the Australian PGA Championship
This year’s Australian PGA Championship saw a sea of yellow–not just as a fashion statement, but as a powerful tribute. Players, caddies, staff, and fans were encouraged to wear yellow apparel in memory of Jarrod Lyle.
The reason is deeply personal and poignant. Lyle, a beloved Australian golfer who passed away in 2018 after a long battle with leukemia, became synonymous with yellow in his final years. He regularly wore a bright yellow Titleist bucket hat, a style choice that symbolized his bravery and optimism during his fight against cancer.
The gesture isn’t new or superficial; it’s part of an ongoing tradition tied to Lyle’s memory and a broader campaign to support children and families facing cancer through the charity Challenge. Over the years, “Yellow Day” at the Australian PGA Championship has grown into a heartfelt moment of solidarity, remembrance, and fundraising.
Jarrod Lyle’s Legacy
Lyle’s career was a mix of talent, perseverance, and heart. Diagnosed with leukemia for the first time as a teenager, he endured multiple recurrences over his life. Yet each time he returned to competition, showing resilience and inspiring others.
His success on tour included two Nationwide Tour wins and a number of standout performances on the PGA Tour and in Australasia. But beyond scorecards and leaderboards, what many remember most is his trademark smile, positive energy, and the bright yellow hat that became a symbol not of illness, but of fighting spirit.
According to Golf Monthly, Lyle “reached a career-high of 142nd in the Official World Golf Ranking and had a best finish of T4th at the 2012 Northern Trust Open, now known as the Genesis Invitational.”
After his death in August 2018, at just 36 years old, the golf world united using color as a tribute. The inaugural “yellow tribute” saw players and caddies don yellow caps and ribbons at the 2018 PGA Championship.
His wife, Briony, made a brief statement following his passing:
“He [Jarrod] asked that I provide a simple message: ‘Thanks for your support, it meant the world. My time was short, but if I’ve helped people think and act on behalf of those families who suffer through cancer, hopefully it wasn’t wasted’.”
What The Yellow Means Today: Solidarity, Awareness, Hope
This year’s embrace of yellow at the Australian PGA Championship underscores how the golf community still carries Lyle’s memory forward. His bucket hat has evolved into a universal symbol of solidarity.
Solidarity among golfers: By wearing yellow, competitors show they remember what Lyle stood for–courage, perseverance, and humanity under pressure.
Support for cancer causes: The movement is tied to the Challenge charity, with fundraising efforts that help families battling cancer. Over time, the initiative has raised significant funds in Lyle’s name.
A reminder of life beyond the leaderboard: Golf can be a rigid, statistics-driven sport. Yellow Day re-centers the human side–health, community, and memory.
Ambassadors and the Impact of #DoingItForJarrod
One of the reasons Yellow Day has grown into such a powerful tradition is the lineup of ambassadors who have kept the cause alive. The charity behind the movement has attracted support from major Australian figures–including the Minogue sisters, two of the country’s most recognizable entertainers–along with several well-known golfers such as Grace Kim, Lucas Herbert, and Robert Allenby. Their involvement has helped extend the campaign beyond golf and into mainstream Australian culture, giving the movement visibility far outside the ropes.
Through the #DoingItForJarrod effort, the Lyle family and the broader golf community have raised well over AU$500,000 as of 2022, a staggering figure that reflects both the generosity of fans and the emotional connection many still feel toward the cause.
This year’s edition of the Australian PGA brought unexpected drama off the greens as well as on them. During the first round at Royal Queensland, two players, Daniel Gale and Kazuma Kobori, holed out for aces. Gale’s shot (while wearing a yellow Titleist hat) on the par-3 11th hole won him a brand-new BMW M5 Touring car (valued at roughly AU $300,000).
“The hole-in-one’s great,” Gale said. “I guess it helps relax me a lot because it’s quite a nice prize, but I’ve got a job to do this week and my focus doesn’t change.”
Meanwhile, Kobori’s hole-in-one came at the “Party Hole”–famously associated with a $1 million fan-payout prize if a pro manages an ace during the designated hole/time. Unfortunately for fans, the ace came at a time that didn’t qualify for the winnings (“only applies to Saturday’s third round”).
Struggling Smith’s 75 seals seventh straight missed cut
Cameron Smith has endured another hometown horror show, the three-time Australian PGA champion fading badly to card a four-over 75 and miss a seventh straight cut.
The local hope began his Friday round on the projected cut line at two under and had early looks at birdies, but twice left his ball on the lip of the cup.
After dipping below the line with a bogey on the 11th hole, a scrambling Smith watched par putts slide by on the 13th and 14th in miserable scenes at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
He made an eight-footer for birdie at the 17th party hole to offer a glimmer of hope, but then missed the 18th green and three-putted for a double-bogey to seal his fate.
He finished two over and a distant cry from a clogged leaderboard headed by early clubhouse leader Brett Rankin, Kazuma Kobori, Wenyi Ding and Anthony Quayle, who all had at least one hole to play, at nine under.
Rankin, seven under through 18 holes, earned the clubhouse lead at nine under despite a double-bogey on his penultimate hole.
He was later joined by 2023 champion Min Woo Lee, who made six birdies before a bogey on the last put him one shot back.
Cameron Davis, Daniel Hillier, Marc Leishman and Marco Penge (seven under) are all within striking distance on a crowded leaderboard, while Ryan Fox dropped three late shots to sit at five under.
Adam Scott (six under) is lurking thanks to a long birdie putt on the 17th, defending champion Elvis Smylie (two under) rallied to make the cut, but European drawcards Joaquín Niemann (even par) and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (five over) both struggled.
Smith endured one of his worst days as a pro to miss the cut at Royal Queensland in 2023, in tears after shooting a seven-over-par 78 on the Friday.
But he returned last year to finish runner-up, then lost a play-off at the Saudi International soon after.
That form deserted him, the former world No.2 and 2022 Open Championship winner the only player to miss the cut at all four majors this year.
He then fell short at his next two tournaments and will arrive in Melbourne for next week’s Australian Open on a winless streak that’s approaching two-and-a-half years.
Playing partner Lee, who broke through for his maiden US PGA Tour win this year, was immune to the carnage as he regularly picked up shots, and Davis showed no signs of rust in his first tournament since an early PGA Tour exit in August.
Leishman roused earlier in the day, chipping in for eagle from the seventh bunker then taking driver from the fairway to set up birdie in a thrilling three-hole sequence to finish his round.
The 42-year-old former Greg Normal Medal winner has never won a major Australian title, but pledged to stay bold in his quest for one.
NASCAR Expert Sheds Light on Missing Elements in Race Broadcast Despite Evolving Technologies
In 2025, NASCAR wanted to go above and beyond with its broadcasts. Striking a deal with media giants like Amazon Prime and Warner Bros. Discovery was part of this plan. From Prime’s novel streaming options to TNT’s energetic coverage, the broadcast deal brought many exciting features for fans. Nevertheless, criticism stemmed from the sport’s fanbase regarding multiple pitfalls.
Those blunders concerned technological mishaps like missed on-track action and excessive commercials. So, fans not only criticized the broadcast partners but also showed them the scope to do much more. One NASCAR expert recently revealed the stark contrast between the present and past broadcasts.
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Lack of stimulation in NASCAR
In a recent post on X, journalist Steven Taranto posted a clip from the 2001 Cup Series finale at New Hampshire. Broadcasters focused attention on the three-way fight for second in the Winston Cup standings between Tony Stewart, Ricky Rudd & Sterling Marlin. “$546,000 between second and fourth. It’s important!” one broadcaster said. An expert could not help highlighting the contrast with today’s broadcast. “This isn’t a criticism, but there is a stark difference between how NASCAR was presented 20 years ago vs. now. I think we don’t talk to our fans like we’re intelligent anymore, and we also don’t dive into the “little things” like this anymore.”
Currently, NASCAR employs high-tech tools in its broadcasts, a big leap from the situation two decades ago. Its SMT (Sportsmedia Technology) offers off-camera, interactive touchscreens providing an extensive library of current and historical data, real-time race statistics, and in-depth analysis tools. And yet fans are dissatisfied – because of the most rudimentary blunders. On top of that, the lack of intellectual stimulation is an added cause for unrest for experienced fans.
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Individual race purses are not disclosed in the present day. The total payout to teams in 2025 has been $431 million, compared to $333 million in 2024. A chartered race team can make up to $11-12 million based on its past two years’ performance. On the other hand, an open team would take in $2.9 million if they made every race. However, due to the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit, race purses are coming out to the public again.
In December 2024, journalist Jeff Gluck highlighted how race purses would heighten fans’ excitement. “You look back in the day and say, ‘Oh, Jeff Gordon made x amount of dollars this season, wow, that’s incredible.’ And you could look at all the payouts from back in the day. Think that was pretty cool. But I think the charters made it more complicated and are a reason why it’s less straightforward now. And harder to explain.”
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While race purses are kept hidden, NASCAR had to reveal charter figures recently.
Towering figures are out
The NASCAR lawsuit has been raging since October 2024. However, it recently picked up in terms of intensity, especially with the revelation of text messages. A series of messages on the part of NASCAR executives raised eyebrows across the community, as they involved pointed references and interesting tidbits. To add to that, a full transaction history of charter sales was included in the most recent documents unsealed in the lawsuit. This is the latest information revealed ahead of the trial date on December 1st.
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Introduced in 2016, the charter system guarantees teams a portion of the prize money. It is precisely this system that Michael Jordan and Co. are battling against, citing ‘monopolistic’ activities on the part of NASCAR. And the charter prices recently disclosed are hefty: Live Fast Motorsports sold its charter for $40 million in 2024, the highest price ever paid for an individual charter. Stewart-Haas Racing sold its three charters for a combined $84 million. These are only some of the multiple figures listed in the teams’ transaction history.
Clearly, NASCAR is revealing parts of its enterprise due to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, fans crave a little more information in broadcasts – let’s wait and see if the sport pays heed or not.
MLB Rumors: Phillies $100M Veteran’s Fate Sealed After Heated Dispute as 2 Strong Suitors Line Up
Despite a strong performance in the regular season, top players on $100M contracts, like Nick Castellanos, failing to make an impact resulted in the Philadelphia Phillies not making it to the World Series. Castellanos’ future with them is hanging in the balance. And now, rumors are that he is likely to be traded out of the team, with two potential suitors in line.
According to a recent post on X, an update by Jon Heyman of the New York Post says that the Phillies are planning a roster overhaul, and the latest rumor is that the $100M veteran is bound to be traded. The potential suitors are likely to be the Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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But what adds weight to this rumour is the fact that Castellanos has had a turbulent year with the Phillies. The veteran slugger, who is in the last year of a five-year, $100 million deal, had a fallout publicly with manager Rob Thomson, which might be a crucial reason for his decline and his trade. Following an inappropriate comment made towards Thompson resulted in him being benched and ending his 236-day streak as a starter.
Things only got worse going further. Even as Castellanos celebrated a career milestone in September after hitting the 250th home run of his career in the Phillies’ 8‑2 win over the Diamondbacks, he openly discussed his strained relationship with Thomson. “I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. I play whenever he tells me to play. Then I sit whenever he tells me to sit,” he said.
His numbers have dipped sharply this season. His OPS fell from .788 in 2023 to .742 in 2024 and then to .694 in 2025. Home run totals dropped from 29 to 23 in 2024 and then 17 in this season, while his slugging percentage slipped from .476 to .400. His stats are displaying a troubling trend for a player whose value has long rested on consistent power hitting.
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Amid all this, Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, also indicated a few months ago that tough decisions lie ahead for the team with respect to Castellanos. But he did indicate that he would rather not look too far ahead.
For Castellanos, a fresh start with the Marlins or the Pirates could offer a chance to reset away from the tension that has defined his recent seasons. But that will only happen if either team decides to make a move.
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Marlins & Pirates will weigh their options carefully for the Philadelphia Phillies veteran
Both clubs are reportedly weighing their options carefully, assessing how Nick Castellanos could fit into their lineups and budgets for 2026. As per a recent update by The Athletic, both teams have shown a sudden interest in “willingness to spend,” and with Castellanos’ future in the Phillies looking dicey, roping him in might be a possibility.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, after expressing interest in first baseman Josh Naylor, are also looking at designated hitter Kyle Schwarber while considering infielders Jorge Polanco, Ryan O’Hearn, and Kazuma Okamoto as perhaps more realistic free-agent options.
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The Miami Marlins, meanwhile, are active in the closer market, talking with free-agent right-hander Michael King and other starting pitchers, while also exploring upgrades at first and third base. Both teams are perennially among the bottom five in payroll and have faced past grievances from the MLB Players Association over their lack of spending.
Some player agents view the sudden interest of the Pirates and Marlins in the marketplace as more than a coincidence, especially with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after next season. “There is a possibility of a fight among clubs over revenue sharing, with the smaller markets seeing a greater contribution,” agent Seth Levinson said. Who do you think will end up with Nick Castellanos?
Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Biggest Grudge With Umar Nurmagomedov He Can’t Let Go Of
Merab Dvalishvili has moved past most rivalries, such as former Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley. But when it comes to Umar Nurmagomedov, things are a lot more personal. And the rivalry is far from over. The tension began when Umar pursued a title shot against the reigning Bantamweight Champion. The Young Eagle did everything in his power to get the title shot. He also verbally assaulted the Georgian fighter and claimed that the champion was ‘ducking’ him.
But Merab Dvalishvili’s reasoning for not accepting the challenge was simple, he believes Nurmagomedov has not done enough to challenge him for the title. The champion argued that Umar’s opportunity was largely influenced by his blood relation to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite all the tension and drama, the two eventually faced off. At UFC 311, Dvalishvili delivered a masterclass, showing the world why he is the champion. Even after more than eleven months, he admits he has yet to forgive Umar Nurmagomedov, as he recently revealed.
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Merab Dvalishvili slams Umar Nurmagomedov over “fake champion” claim
Merab Dvalishvili has come a long way since stepping into MMA. He overcame countless obstacles, arriving in America with nothing in his pocket. Yet, he never gave up on his dream of becoming a UFC champion. Even while working on a construction site, The Machine did everything he could to achieve his goal. There is no doubt that Devalishvili has worked hard to become the Bantamweight Champion. So, when Umar Nurmagomedov called him a ‘fake champion,’ the Machine took it personally.
“He wasn’t respecting me, and he called me a fake champion. He was tweeting, or maybe his assistant was, whatever it is. I know it wasn’t Ali because Ali reached out to me, and I talked to Ali, and he wasn’t helping him tweet. I kind of know who was helping him tweet. That’s why I was most mad about him. He didn’t respect me. And now he’s making excuses,” Merab Dvalishvili added.
At the same time, Merab Dvalishvili emphasized that he believes Umar Nurmagomedov does not write his own tweets, pointing out that many Russian fighters struggle with English. He shared these insights during the Pound for Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman.
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Now, with the Machine still holding a grudge against the Young Eagle, he is looking past Nurmagomedov and is interested in fighting someone whom he actually respects.
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Merab Dvalishvili welcomes the challenge against Alexandre Pantoja
Merab Dvalishvili may not be eager to fight Umar Nurmagomedov again, but he is never one to back down from challenges outside his division. Since joining the promotion, ‘The Machine’ has faced every contender in his path, recently defeating all of them. While the 135-pound champion has made it clear that he would never fight his friend Alexander Volkanovski, he is interested in fighting another champion, someone who he respects. It is none other than current Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“Umar hasn’t earned [the] fight against me, but facing Pantoja would be ‘honour,’ American fighters deserve to headline White House over me,” Dvalishvili said. “I would never match fix. Not even for $10m.”
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With nothing confirmed yet about Merab Dvalishvili’s next move, fans are left wondering what’s next for the bantamweight king. Could a rematch against Umar Nurmagomedov be on the horizon? Share your thoughts below.
Potential Ronda Rousey MMA Comeback Hyped as Kayla Harrison’s Post-UFC 324 Move Surfaces
Kayla Harrison is living in a moment many fighters spend a lifetime chasing. She’s co-headlining the UFC’s first Paramount-era card on January 24, defending her bantamweight crown against Amanda Nunes, the woman widely regarded as the GOAT of women’s MMA. And as she put it herself this week during an interview with Bloody Elbow, “I’m grateful for her willingness to come back and put her legacy on the line. Yeah, dude, all my dreams are coming true.”
Harrison isn’t just fighting for a belt at UFC 324, she’s fighting at the center of a seismic shift in the sport. A $7.7 billion broadcast deal and what could be the biggest women’s fight of 2026. But here’s the twist: while Harrison is preparing for a legacy-defining showdown with Nunes, her camp is already discussing what comes after, and those options might shake the division even harder than her title defense. According to her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, Harrison’s post-UFC 324 choices involve two giants of women’s MMA. One is a superfight. The other is a resurrection.
Kayla Harrison’s manager claims Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko are in their crosshairs next
That revelation came directly from Abdelaziz, who told TMZ Sports, “Kayla beats [Amanda] by dominating fashion, stops her, and after that, Kayla will have two options. Ronda Rousey will come out of the grave and step up and she will have to pay for everything she’s said and done, cause a lot of beef happened.”
The second option? He continued, “Or maybe Valentina [Shevchenko] is gonna go up [135 lbs.] and do a super fight. These are the two steps I’d love for Kayla to make.”
It’s rare to hear a manager speak so boldly, and even rarer when both potential opponents are two of the most decorated women in MMA history. To understand the magnitude of those names, look at the careers involved. Amanda Nunes, Harrison’s UFC 324 opponent, holds wins over Shevchenko and Ronda Rousey. She retired after beating Irene Aldana in 2023, entered the Hall of Fame in 2025, and still felt compelled to return because Harrison had become that good, that quickly.
‘Rowdy’, meanwhile, remains the most iconic figure in women’s MMA history. An Olympic judo medalist like Harrison, she went 12-0 before Holly Holm handed her a shocking knockout at UFC 193. One year later, Nunes finished the job. Rousey walked away from the sport, dominated WWE, built a family, and left MMA behind. Or so it seemed.
Because in the past few months, she has posted MMA-related training clips on Instagram, the kind of posts that make fans squint and wonder. Is she hinting at something? Is the fire back? She hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, but Abdelaziz’s comments poured gasoline on the speculation.
And if Rousey ever did return, a matchup with Harrison wouldn’t just be a superfight, it would be a historic collision. Two Olympic medalists. Two judo prodigies. Two athletes who met once before, all the way back in 2005, when an 18-year-old Rousey edged a determined 15-year-old Harrison in a tense judo match. In fact, Harrison herself believes she just needs two more wins to usurp Nune’s throne as the female MMA GOAT!
Harrison is aiming to be “the greatest of all time” with wins over Amanda Nunes and Shevchenko
So what does that road look like from Kayla Harrison’s perspective? In her mind, it’s surprisingly simple: beat Amanda Nunes, then beat Valentina Shevchenko. Two names. Two mountains. Two fights that could redefine her entire legacy.
As she recently told Bloody Elbow, “When I beat Amanda (and Shevchenko), that will make me the greatest of all time for a finite period of time, and then the next Amanda, the next Valentina, the next Kayla will come and stand on my shoulders.”
Her rise has been nothing short of electric. She submitted Holly Holm and outclassed Ketlen Vieira before taking Julianna Peña’s belt earlier this year. But her next challenge is not just another contender, it’s the woman who once ruled the division with an iron fist, making their Jan. 24 collision at UFC 324 far more than a title defense. It’s a battle for legacy.
And maybe that’s the magic of this moment. As the Paramount era launches and the spotlight brightens, it’s the start of a chase for greatness. A chase that might end with Kayla Harrison rewriting history or Ronda Rousey stepping out of the shadows to reclaim a throne she once ruled alone!
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to fight for featherweight title
A featherweight title fight rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will headline UFC 325 on Jan. 31, UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday.
The 145-pound title fight will take place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. It will mark Volkanovski’s first appearance in his home country of Australia since his unsuccessful, but riveting, lightweight title bid against then-champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February 2023 in Perth. Volkanovski rallied in the fifth round against Makhachev before ultimately losing a very close unanimous decision.
Volkanovski (27-4) will be seeking his second consecutive title defense against Lopes (27-27). He defeated Lopes via unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April. The championship bout was close, but not controversial. Judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46 and 49-45. Lopes forced the immediate rematch by knocking out Jean Silva in spectacular fashion in September.
The announcement left several featherweight contenders on the outside looking in, specifically Movsar Evloev (19-0) and Lerone Murphy (17-0-1).
Both took to social media to express their thoughts on the matchup.
Justin Gaethje-Paddy Pimblett fight opens UFC’s Paramount+ deal
The UFC will kick off its new partnership with Paramount+ with a bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship on Jan. 24 at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the matchup Thursday at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys-Kansas City Chiefs game on CBS. White also revealed that the co-main event on Jan. 24 will feature Kayla Harrison defending her bantamweight title against ex-champion Amanda Nunes.
The new deal with Paramount+ will make all UFC cards available to the streaming service’s subscribers in the United States and Latin America. It marks a change from the promotion’s previous strategy of selling marquee events on a pay-per-view basis.
What’s Next For Arnold Allen?
UFC featherweight Arnold Allen is reportedly set to face Jean Silva in his Octagon return at UFC 324, which would be under the first card of the UFC’s new broadcasting deal with Paramount+, with the card to take place on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Allen’s last fight was a win over Giga Chikadze at UFC 304 in July 2024, which ended his two-fight losing streak following defeats to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev. Allen knows a win puts him into the title conversation in a division where Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez and Aljamain Sterling are some of the names vying for a shot against the featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While the fight is not yet officially confirmed by the UFC, Allen vs. Silva appears to be in the works.
Options
The two most logical opponents for Allen are Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. Evloev currently sits at the top of the contender rankings and already holds a close decision victory over Allen from January 2024. If Evloev is not granted the next title shot, a rematch with Allen makes perfect sense. A win for Allen here would avenge the loss and give him an undeniable claim to the next title shot.
Yair Rodriguez could also be an alternative. He is a former interim champion, known for his unpredictable offense and would present a completely different challenge than the grappling-heavy Evloev. The winner would move directly into the championship conversation. A win over a former belt-holder like Rodriguez would carry significant weight for Allen’s resume.
Arman Tsarukyan Demands Answers After Paddy Pimblett Trolls Him Over Dana White’s UFC 324 Snub
Arman Tsarukyan believed he had done everything right. He walked into UFC Qatar as the favorite, dismantled Dan Hooker with a second-round submission, and left with a Performance of the Night bonus around his waist. So when he sat down with Ariel Helwani days later, he didn’t couch his words or soften his stance. “It’s 100 percent got to be me. No way they can give Paddy Pimblett that fight,” he said, insisting his resume spoke louder than any rivalry storyline the UFC preferred.
From his perspective, Pimblett’s rise had been more fairy tale than fight merit. And the idea that the Liverpool star could leapfrog him for a title fight? That was the final sting. But soon after, the landscape of the entire lightweight division shifted.
During the recent NFL broadcast of Chiefs vs. Cowboys, Dana White revealed that Ilia Topuria would not fight in early 2026 due to personal issues. “I don’t want to hold up the division,” Topuria wrote in his statement, asking the UFC to make “matchups needed” until he returned.
With that, the UFC moved quickly as Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett would headline UFC 324 for the interim lightweight title, and Arman Tsarukyan’s reaction came fast and blunt. No long message. No emotional thread.
Just one line on X: “make it make sense
And if that wasn’t enough, ‘The Baddy’ escalated the circus with a second post: a video of him and Gaethje together inside the Octagon, cut alongside an edited picture of Tsarukyan crying while Kendrick Lamar’s “TV Off” played in the background. And from Tsarukyan’s vantage point, the snub isn’t imagined, it’s personal.
He punched his ticket to a title shot when he beat Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, only for a back injury to rip that opportunity away days before UFC 311. Since then, he has been fighting to reclaim the spot he believes he already earned.
Watching Pimblett jump the queue for an interim title fight while he’s left waiting for a call? For a man who sees himself as the rightful No. 1 contender, that’s the kind of move that cuts deep. But beneath the trolling lies a deeper and more uncomfortable truth for Tsarukyan: his timeline just got longer, maybe much longer.
What does the UFC 324 snub mean for Arman Tsarukyan’s future?
Ilia Topuria’s hiatus means the undisputed title won’t be defended until late 2026 at best. Gaethje and Pimblett will first fight in January, and the winner still needs months to recover, renegotiate, and prepare for Topuria’s return.
So where does that leave Arman Tsarukyan? Realistically, staring down the possibility of spending most, if not all, of 2026 without a title shot. His résumé should make him undeniable, yet he’s learning the hard way that star power often jumps the queue. The storylines between Topuria and Pimblett have history. Gaethje is a guaranteed ticket seller.
But Tsarukyan, far and away the most skilled contender of the trio, is now stuck waiting for a belt he believes he already earned. It’s possible the UFC may offer him another fight, perhaps against another top-five opponent like Max Holloway, or even a rematch with Charles Oliveira, since their last fight ended in a close split decision.
It might even be a title eliminator. But that’s not the prize Arman Tsarukyan wants. He wants a division that rewards wins, not words. And that’s why his reaction felt so pointed. He isn’t just asking for a fight. He’s demanding an explanation. He’s asking the question every hardcore fan whispered after the announcement: If beating ranked contenders, headlining events, and finishing elite fighters doesn’t get you a title shot, what does?
Ilia Topuria taking extended break, interim title created
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria vacated his featherweight title to move up to the 155-pound weight class at UFC 317 last June. He faced former titleholder Charles Oliveira in the fight card’s main event and viciously knocked the Brazilian out in the first round to capture the lightweight crown.
With the win,
Shavkat Rakhmonov On His Return
UFC Welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov is ready to return to the Octagon after recovering from a knee injury, but has revealed that his desired opponent, Kamaru Usman, previously “turned him down.”
Rakhmonov, who holds a 7-0 record in the UFC, last fought in December 2024 when he secured a win over Ian Machado Garry to cement his spot as the No. 1 contender. He was initially booked for a title shot against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, but the injury forced him to withdraw. Rakhmonov understands he will likely need one more high-profile win to secure his title shot against the current champion (Islam Makhachev). With that goal in mind, the ‘Nomad’ wants a clash with Usman. However, Rakhmonov expressed doubt the fight will materialize, claiming Usman has turned down the fight previously.
Rakhmonov Reacts
“Of course, I would prefer to fight for the title next, but I think this timeline isn’t going to work for Islam, February or March. He will probably defend his belt in April, May, that time. Of course, if I can fight Islam next, I’m ready I can do it. I was also supposed to fight for the title, but I had a respectful reason not to take the opportunity and I was promised a title shot in the future.
“Again, if I have to fight before getting a title shot, I have no problem with that. I can prove again I’m the No. 1 contender. … The most intriguing fight for me is Kamaru Usman. But I don’t believe he’s going to accept a fight against me. He’s turned down fights with me in the past,” Rakhmonov said
The Approach
Rakhmonov’s strategy would be to maintain his high-pressure. Rakhmonov’s long-range karate stance and varied kick attacks would be the primary tool to disrupt Usman. He would utilize his reach advantage to land powerful straight punches and oblique kicks, forcing Usman to initiate the clinch or a takedown from a less stable position. While he is an elite grappler, Rakhmonov would likely employ his wrestling defensively first, frustrating Usman’s attempts to control the fight. Rakhmonov’s true grappling threat lies in his submissions, meaning Usman cannot simply hold a dominant position without fear of a submission attempt.
Usman’s main goal would be to make this a grueling fight by securing takedowns and landing short, controlling strikes that score points and stifle the “Nomad’s” offense. By constantly wrestling, Usman forces Rakhmonov to spend energy defending, preventing the high-output.
In the stand-up, Usman would rely on a high-volume, low-risk approach using the jab to find his distance and initiate the clinch. He would be highly cautious of Rakhmonov’s power and submissions, avoiding the in-the-pocket exchanges.
NFL Thanksgiving overreactions: Lions playoff hopes dashed?
The turkey has been carved, family football games in the backyard have been won, and the NFL has ripped through a wild Thanksgiving slate. Coming into Thursday, the league’s triple-header was described as monumental, and for good reason. This wasn’t your typical holiday slate with one game standing above the rest, as every game carried with it a massive weight in terms of the playoff picture.
We began the day with the Packers heading into the Motor City and taking down the Lions, while wrapping things up with the Bengals upsetting the Ravens in Baltimore. Sandwiched in between those two divisional matchups was the Chiefs and Cowboys squaring off in what was essentially a do-or-die contest for each of their playoff hopes, and Dallas coming away victorious.
NFL Thanksgiving grades for Week 13: Cowboys ace test against Chiefs, Bengals earn ‘A’ for shocking win
John Breech
Naturally, there are plenty of storylines that’ll come out of this trio of games from the holiday. But which storylines should we take a face value and which should we shrug off as nothing more than an overreaction? Thankfully, we’re here to help slice through those storylines and determine just that.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are dashed
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
The Lions are probably feeling dejected coming out of Thanksgiving, and for good reason. Their chances of winning the NFC North likely went up in smoke with their loss to the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. That completed the season sweep for the Packers, and dropped the Lions to a mere 1-3 record within the division. While that creates a near-impossible hill to climb for the NFC North crown, all is not lost in terms of the Lions getting into the playoffs. They are on the outside looking in on the playoff picture at the moment and have zero margin for error, but there’s still a path for them to get in at this current snapshot. If they take care of business over the next two weeks against the Cowboys and the Rams (no small task), they could play themselves back in the picture with some outside help.
Chiefs need to win out
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Things are getting pretty bleak for the Chiefs, who are now 6-6 on the season after a loss to the Cowboys. Not only does that dig them into a deeper hole in the AFC West race, but Kansas City’s playoff hopes are remarkably dwindling. At the moment, they are the No. 9 seed in the conference. With the main Week 13 slate still on deck, teams like the Houston Texans (6-5), Buffalo Bills (7-4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) could all push further ahead of them with wins on Sunday. Speaking of the Bills and Jaguars, Kansas City would need to finish the year at least one game above them as they each own the head-to-head tiebreaker. The same could be said for the Texans by the end of Week 14 after they visit the Chiefs at Arrowhead. If the Chiefs lose that game or any other contest over their final five games, it’ll likely be curtains for their playoff hopes.
Cowboys are going to make the playoffs
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
The Dallas Cowboys are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Jerry Jones’ club is riding a three-game winning streak, and the previous two wins include both clubs that were in the Super Bowl a season ago. While that has Dallas rightfully flying first class on cloud nine, these wins don’t necessarily indicate that they are a shoo-in for the playoffs. At 6-5-1, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done. If we strictly look at the wild card race, the Cowboys need to catch the likes of the Packers (8-3-1), 49ers (8-4), or Seahawks (8-3). Green Bay already won its Week 13 game, while San Francisco and Seattle are both favored to win their matchups on Sunday, potentially pushing them to nine wins on the year. That creates quite the gap for Dallas. Is it impossible? No, but not a lock as it may feel in this moment.
Packers are the real team to beat in the NFC North
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Thursday’s win over the Lions didn’t move the Packers into first place in the NFC North, but it may as well have. Being able to go into Detroit and pull out a win in that environment further showed that Green Bay is the team to beat in this division, even if they are momentarily looking up at the Chicago Bears. The Packers completed the season sweep of the Lions and have both of their contests against the Bears still left on the docket, giving them an opportunity to leap atop the NFC North by season’s end. Already, Green Bay is 3-0 in the division and is the more talented club when firing on all cylinders. Yes, they sometimes play down to their competition, but as the stakes rise as we head down the final few weeks of the regular season, I think their play will level up as well.
Bengals will make playoffs with Joe Burrow back
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Cincinnati is now 3-0 when Joe Burrow starts for them this season. The club was certainly happy to welcome him back under center on Thanksgiving as he helped pave the way to a pivotal win over the Ravens in Baltimore. Seeing No. 9 slinging it for two touchdowns has the Bengals dreaming of making the playoffs, but that’s no guarantee. Even if they end the regular season on fire as they did a year ago, they could, in a similar fashion, still miss out on the postseason. This victory pushes the Bengals to a 4-8 record on the season. With teams like the Bills and Jaguars coming into Week 13 at 7-4, there’s a hefty gap for them to notch a wild-card spot. Their best path would be to win the AFC North, where they now own a 3-1 record. That could prove valuable in tiebreaker scenarios, but it also involves both the Steelers and Ravens cratering. It’s possible one of those teams falls by the wayside, but Cincinnati would also have to win out. Even with their defense playing well on Thursday night, that side of the ball is still at risk of costing them key games and dashing their playoff hopes.
Lamar Jackson is in a slump
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Lamar Jackson isn’t right. Even as the Ravens were on their five-game winning streak heading into Thanksgiving, the offense didn’t exactly look right, and Jackson, in particular, seemed out of sync. He hadn’t thrown a touchdown in the two games entering Week 13, and not only did he fail the find the end zone again, but he also tallied three giveaways (one interception and two fumbles). In all, Jackson has five turnovers over his last three games with zero total touchdowns. Regardless of whether it’s health-related or not, if Jackson isn’t able to turn the tide soon, it could put the Ravens’ playoff hopes at risk.
Kurt Warner Drops Clear Message for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings still aren’t revealing whether J.J. McCarthy will be cleared in time for their Week 13 game against the Seattle Seahawks. The second-year quarterback is still working through concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain.
Signs are not promising, though. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on November 26 that McCarthy is not likely to suit up after being placed in the protocol.
While the focus this week is on McCarthy’s health, the NFL national media isn’t stopping there, discussing the player’s future as a quarterback for the Vikings. On the November 26 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show,” former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on McCarthy after watching the film on the young quarterback.
“I think the first thing is that sometimes you run into what I call natural throwers: the kind of players who can just pick up a football and let it fly. Guys like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes fit that mold,” Warner said. “Then there are others who aren’t naturally gifted in that way; they’ve put in the work and become effective, but it doesn’t come as effortlessly.
“That’s where I think J.J. falls. I don’t see him as a natural, more fluid thrower. Because of that, you notice quite a few accuracy issues in his passes. At Michigan, everything came out as a fastball, and it was hit or miss. That’s an area he still needs to develop. He’s got to get better at.”
Kurt Warner Talks Mental Aspect of QB for J.J. McCarthy
After discussing the physical aspects of McCarthy’s game, Warner touched on the mental side of the position, including decision-making. The former Arizona Cardinals signal caller noted that this a significant area of concern for him regarding the Vikings youngster.
“What I’m seeing a lot of times on tape is I believe J.J.’s hanging on routes way too long,” Warner added. “By the time he gets back to these other routes, he can’t see it. He doesn’t have time to verify it, or he’s late on those particular routes.
“And so my question becomes: is J.J. slow at processing things? Is he taking too long to see and determine whether he wants No. 1 or No. 2 before he gets to No. 3? Or is the system dictating him—you have to see one, see if one comes open, hang here until it gets to the top of the route before you can move on to the next one? And is that causing him to go through things slowly?”
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Yet to Be Ruled Out
As for this week against the Seahawks, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t ruling out McCarthy just yet after speaking with the media on November 26.
“He’s cleared enough of the protocol to at least participate in a limited capacity [on November 26]; that’s part of the next phases of it,” O’Connell told reporters. “He’s in the protocol, and as that goes and as the medical process plays out, I think as far as the zero hour, I don’t necessarily know if we’re looking at it like that. But you do want to take into account what his preparation been like, what has the practice week been like with what he’s able to do, while also knowing that ultimately this is not talking about a hand or an ankle or anything like that.
“We’re talking about his head, and it’s obviously something that, as a former player and just thinking about it from that context, we want to, for sure, make sure we defer to the medical team, but then also what we feel is best. We’re still not in place to declare anything yet, just listening to where it’s at right now and where it could get to. But we’re obviously going to be smart, both for what’s best for our team and what’s best, most importantly, for J.J.”
It’s U.S. Thanksgiving: Time To Assess The 2025-26 NHL Playoff Picture
Hockey Hall of Famer and current Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland is credited with introducing the idea that an NHL team’s place in the standings at U.S. Thanksgiving frequently foreshadows whether or not that team will make the playoffs.
Since the league went to the current wild-card playoff format in 2013-14 — excepting the two COVID-impacted seasons — 77 percent of teams in a playoff position by points on Thanksgiving go on to make the playoffs, according to ESPN Research.
In each of those seasons, between three and five teams fell out of the playoff picture and were replaced. This year, the standings are packed especially tight, which means there might be even more movement than usual.
With no games on Thursday due to the holiday, let’s take a look at where things stand.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Tampa Bay Lightning – 23 GP, 30 pts, .652
Ottawa Senators – 23 GP, 28 pts, .609
Boston Bruins – 25 GP, 28 pts, .560
Metropolitan Division
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New Jersey Devils – 23 GP, 31 pts, .674
Carolina Hurricanes – 23 GP, 30 pts, .652
Washington Capitals – 24 GP, 28 pts, .583
Wild Card
New York Islanders – 24 GP, 28 pts, .583
Pittsburgh Penguins – 22 GP, 27 pts, .614
Because teams have not played the same number of games, it’s fairest to rank them by points percentage.
In the Atlantic Division, that would move the Montreal Canadiens into second place, with 27 points and a .614 points percentage. Ottawa would drop to third and Boston would move out of a wild-card spot.
The biggest news here is the absence of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Between their Cup hangover and a long list of injuries which includes captain Aleksander Barkov and sparkplug Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers are out of the playoff picture, but only by two points. With their winning pedigree, don’t rule out the possibility of them getting back into the mix when they get healthy.
They’ve also done it before. In Paul Maurice’s first season behind Florida’s bench, the Panthers were one point out of a wild-card spot on Nov. 24, 2022 and even further back by points percentage. Then, they scrambled into the eighth seed before going on a run which ended against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup final.
The noteworthy teams that are in the heat of the battle are the Penguins, Bruins and Flyers. All three are back in the mix under new coaches, with Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse and Boston’s Marco Sturm at the helm for the first time at the NHL level.
If there was ever a year where the predictive nature of U.S. Thanksgiving is not guaranteed, this could be it. Just five points separate the East’s second wild-card team, Pittsburgh, from the last-place Buffalo Sabres. With nearly 60 games to play and the Olympic break also set to wreak havoc on NHL rosters down the stretch for the first time since 2014, the chase remains wide open.
Western Conference
Central Division
Colorado Avalanche – 23 GP, 39 pts, .848
Dallas Stars – 24 GP, 34 pts, .708
Minnesota Wild – 24 GP, 30 pts, .625
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks – 23 GP, 29 pts, .630
Vegas Golden Knights – 23 GP, 28 pts, .609
Seattle Kraken – 23 GP, 28 pts, .609
Wild Card
Los Angeles Kings – 23 GP, 28 pts, .609
Utah Mammoth – 23 GP, 27 pts, .563
In the West, the standings remain the same whether it’s total points or points percentage.
The big story in the Western Conference is the early dominance of the Colorado Avalanche. With captain Gabriel Landeskog back as an everyday player after missing three full regular seasons due to injury and goalies Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood and Trent Miner combining for an NHL-best 2.09 goals against per game, Colorado is the one team that has separated itself from the rest of the pack in the early going.
Colorado’s 2024 Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon also holds a five-point lead in the NHL scoring race and his team is averaging an insane 4.09 goals per game while having lost only once in regulation time in 23 games to date.
In a season where no one is really dominating — the Avalanche are dominating.
New teams in the Western Conference mix include the Anaheim Ducks, who have established a fun-to-watch run-and-gun style under their new coach, Joel Quenneville after seven years outside the Western Conference playoff picture. The Seattle Kraken also appear to have taken strides under their new coach, Lane Lambert, and the Utah Mammoth are pushing for their first playoff spot in their second year — and their first post-season run since the Arizona Coyotes got into the 24-team qualifying round and beat the Nashville Predators in the 2020 playoff bubble in Edmonton.
The most notable name missing from the Western picture is the Edmonton Oilers, but we’ve seen this movie before. The two-time Stanley Cup finalists have been notorious slow starters — to the point where coach Jay Woodcroft was fired when the team started 3-9-1 in 2023-24, then bounced back to get within a goal of championship. Edmonton’s goaltending is suspect but the team has proven time and time again that what you see in November isn’t what you’ll see in April.
Battling through the absence of 2025 Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck after arthroscopic knee surgery, the 2025 Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets are also currently on the wrong side of the playoff cutline.
The Western Conference playoff race is a little more spread out than the East. The Mammoth hold sole possession of the second wild-card spot and four teams are within three points: the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Oilers and Jets. It’ll be a tougher task for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames or Nashville Predators to work their way back into the mix. With so few teams out of contention, trade rumors have already hit gale force around all four those squads.
As the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday continues, the NHL schedule resumes Friday with 15 games staggered throughout the day. The action begins with the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting their former general manager, Steve Yzerman, and his Detroit Red Wings at noon E.T. at Little Caesars Arena.
Austin Cindric Reveals His Toughest Challenge Ahead of His Supercars Debut in Adelaide
Austin Cindric’s NASCAR season screeched to an end in early October. Despite winning in Talladega and cracking the playoffs and staying fairly consistent, an unexpected crash took out Cindric at the Charlotte Roval. It stemmed from Carson Hocevar’s contact, and Cindric was ejected from the playoffs. Although he could not end 2025 with a remarkable Cup Series result, he hopes to do so with a decent Supercars result.
The Supercars finale will be flagged off in Adelaide on Friday, with four dazzling finalists keen on the title. They are Broc Feeney, Chaz Moster, Will Brown, and South Australian driver Kai Allen. But while they focus on the championship, Austin Cindric will focus on managing a tough ordeal.
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Austin Cindric will have his eyes on the track
The Supercars championship will unfold at the Adelaide Street Circuit – and that dominates Austin Cindric‘s mind. With the high kerbs and especially the infamous Turn 8 sweeper, the street circuit is difficult, as Cindric said recently. “As I’ve said throughout the process, learning the track is going to be my biggest challenge here. It’s a difficult track and a track that all the guys that I’ll be competing against have a ton of laps around and really understand. I’ll learn more on my track walk and my first practice than I think I will in any of the prep work that I’ve done.”
Yet Austin Cindric has already wowed Supercars legends with his first session on Thursday. Driving the No. 5 Ford Mustang, Cindric ended the day 23rd of the 25 entries. He was ahead of two-time Supercars race winner Jack Le Brocq and PremiAir Racing rookie Jayden Ojeda. Cam Waters, Cindric’s Tickford Racing teammate, praised his American counterpart: “I think it’s an awesome start for him, obviously, he had a plan that he had to stick to in that session, and he did that. I think the great thing for him this weekend is that he’s got multiple sessions to build up to it, go through data, get back in the car.”
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Austin Cindric is the first American to compete in a Supercars event since 2019, when Alexander Rossi ran the Bathurst 1000. Besides Cindric, the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, Jesse Love, also did not look out of place in his Image Racing wildcard. He finished second to last and last in both sessions, but he was on the pace. In Practice 2, the 20-year-old was two tenths away from his nearest rival and is in the mix.
While Austin Cindric prepares for the finale on Friday, another Supercars legend is sure that he will do well.
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Observing the good signs
The 27-year-old Team Penske star made the trip to Australia not long after the NASCAR Cup Series season ended. Austin Cindric meticulously prepared, adjusting to the time zone difference, observing, and then making his first laps behind the wheel of the Gen3 Mustang last week, which Cindric said was better than NASCAR’s Next-Gen. The result of this preparation was visible to Garth Tander, who won his sixth Bathurst 1000 this year. He got an early indication of Cindric’s talents at the Sandown track.
In what was the 2022 Daytona 500 winner’s first taste of a Supercars event, the outcome was impressive. Garth Tander praised Austin Cindric: “He was putting the car in all the right spaces, he was right foot braking right from the start. His throttle application was nice; there was no wheelspin, and I knew straight away, as soon as I followed him, within half an hour of driving this car, he was going to be good. He was certainly not going to disgrace himself.” He added, “Just to be able to calm yourself down and get within 1.1 by the end, I think, is a really commendable effort.”
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Clearly, Austin Cindric may be more prepared than he is willing to divulge. Let’s wait and see how the Penske star performs in the Supercars finale.
Chiefs Put on Notice After Thanksgiving Loss to Cowboys
The Kansas City Chiefs lost their sixth game of the year on Thanksgiving Day, falling to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 31-28, and the Week 13 defeat came with a warning.
“The Cowboys with an impressive win, while the Chiefs… head into run the table territory,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport stated after the game, and he wasn’t the only one who made it clear that KC no longer has any room for error.
“Bigger than their sixth one-score loss on the national stage, where so many things went wrong, is the harsh reality and truth of where the Chiefs now stand. In their loss, any margin for error down the stretch is gone,” KC Star beat reporter Pete Sweeney agreed.
Meanwhile, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero noted that the Chiefs are “on the ropes at 6-6,” and opposing fans all over social media celebrated the fact that Kansas City is likely one loss away from elimination.
Chiefs’ Andy Reid Says Mentality Doesn’t Change With Backs Up Against the Wall
Following loss number six, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked about running the table and whether or not that changes KC’s mentality. Per Reid, it does not.
“Yeah, you know, we go in every week thinking that [we cannot lose another game],” Reid responded. “In this business, you stress to get your game plan down, and then practice it, and then go out and do it. So, there [are] no days off on that. It’s competition, and you’re giving it your all, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from the guys now.”
Similarly, quarterback Patrick Mahomes echoed Reid and those who put the Chiefs on notice after the game, acknowledging: “You’ve got to win every game now and hope that’s enough.”
Needless to say, the Chiefs put themselves in quite a pickle heading into December.
Looking at the KC’s Remaining Schedule After Week 13 Loss to Cowboys
It may feel like all is lost for the Chiefs after a crushing Thanksgiving Day defeat, but the reality is that it’s not, at least not yet.
Kansas City has five regular season games remaining in its 2025-26 campaign. They are:
At home against the Houston Texans.
At home against the Los Angeles Chargers.
On the road facing the Tennessee Titans.
At home against the Denver Broncos.
On the road facing the Las Vegas Raiders.
Two of those games are very winnable, and they are the two road games, which is a good sign. The Chiefs are typically hard to beat at Arrowhead Stadium, so if they can take care of business at home and win against two bottom-feeder opponents on the road, they’ll finish at a record of 11-6.
Now, that’s easier said than done, but it’s by no means out of the realm of possibility.
Going one step further, KC can also help itself by beating the Texans and Chargers, who are both currently ahead of them in the AFC wildcard race. So, those were going to be must-win matchups, no matter what happened in Dallas.
The biggest remaining challenge is likely Week 17 against the 9-2 Broncos, but the Chiefs will be hungry for revenge. Kansas City may be one loss away from elimination, but until they’re dead and buried, it’s foolish to write them off.